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MOVING SIX PORTABLE BUILDINGS TO SOUTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL WILL BE ON THE AGENDA AT THIS WEDNESDAY’S LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. THE BUILDINGS ARE NEEDED BECAUSE OF ENROLLMENT PROJECTIONS FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. IF APPROVED, THE BUILDINGS WOULD COME FROM OTHER SCHOOLS THAT ARE EXPECTED TO HAVE A LOWER ENROLLMENT NEXT YEAR, SUCH AS ALICE BOUCHER ELEMENTARY. THE COST TO MOVE THE BUILDINGS, HOOK UP UTILITIES, CONSTRUCT WALKWAYS AND FURNISH THEM IS EXPECTED TO EXCEED 600 THOUSAND DOLLARS.
A federal judge who retired from the bench in Louisiana last year amid struggles with alcoholism has died in her home. Citing a news release from Deputy Chief Mark Kraus, KPLC-TV reports that 60-year-old retired U.S. District Judge Patricia Minaldi was found dead in her Lake Charles home Saturday. Calcasieu Coroner
Her July 2017 disability retirement came after she had been on medical leave for months for treatment of severe alcoholism.
THE FOURTH SUSPECT WANTED IN CONNECTION WITH ILLEGAL ACTIVITY IN ST. MARTIN PARISH HAS BEEN CAPTURED. JEFF HORCHAK REPORTS.
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Louisiana is receiving $11 million as its share of a multistate settlement with Deutsche Bank over the manipulation of a key benchmark involving global interest rates. Attorney General Jeff Landry’s office, which was involved in the settlement, says $3 million will go to the Bond Commission and the remaining $8 million to the transportation department. According to the treasurer’s office, the $3 million will be used to pay down state debt, freeing up general state tax dollars for other spending areas. The $8 million will be available to pay for road construction debt, freeing up gasoline tax dollars to use on other projects.
When a restaurant dishwasher’s car was stolen, his co-workers pitched in to buy a replacement. Restaurant manager Chris Muffoletto tells The Advertiser that Kea Senegal had saved for months to buy the car only to have it stolen just before Thanksgiving from the restaurant parking lot in Lafayette. Muffoletto says he asked the staff at Ruffino’s on the River last week if they’d help and they raised $2,500 in three days. Muffoletto says a used-car dealer, Don’s Wholesale Automotive, heard about what they were doing, matched the donations and on Wednesday, Senegal was given a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu.
LAKE CHARLES POLICE ARE SEARCHING FOR A MAN WHO STRUCK AND KILLED A PEDESTRIAN AND FLED THE SCENE. POLICE, RESPONDING TO A CALL AT 6:58 SATURDAY MORNING, FOUND THE VICTIM LYING IN THE MEDIAN ON I-TEN EAST NEAR THE TRUCK STOP. HE’S BEEN IDENTIFIED As 58-YEAR-OLD JERRY HARRIS OF HOUSTON. POLICE GOT A DESCRIPTION OF THE SUSPECT’S VEHICLE AS A WHITE HONDA, BUT THEY DON’T KNOW THE MODEL. ANYONE WHO HAS INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CONTACT SERGEANT SAMMY KINGSLEY AT THE LAKE CHARLES POLICE DEPARTMENT.
VARIOUS LOCATIONS HAVE BEEN SET UP THROUGHOUT ACADIANA FOR TOMORROW’S ANNUAL FOODNET FOOD FOR FAMILIES DRIVE, WITH THE FOOD STAYING IN THE COMMUNITY WHERE IT IS DONATED. ONE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS BEING HELPED BY THE FOOD DRIVE IS THE CROWLEY CHRISTIAN CARE CENTER, WHICH SERVES ABOUT 500 FAMILIES PER MONTH. ONE OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE CENTER, MARILYN LAWSON, SAYS THEY DON’T HOLD ON TO THE FOOD BUT PASS IT ON AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE PERSONS IN NEED GET ONE TO TWO BAGS OF GROCERIES PER MONTH DEPENDING ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE HOUSEHOLD.
Gov. John Bel Edwards is urging Louisiana residents to make donations to their local food banks during the holiday period, saying supplies are low. The Democratic governor and his wife Donna went to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank to draw attention to the need for contributions. Edwards says food banks across the country have been offering assistance to areas hard-hit by recent disasters, depleting food bank shelves by lessening availability of bulk food products usually offered for the hungry. A list of food banks in Louisiana is online at gov.la.gov/FeedingLouisiana .
