12-3-19
RETAIL SALES CONTINUE TO CLIMB IN LAFAYETTE PARISH, EDGING CLOSER TO THE RECORD YEAR OF 2014. NEW DATA FROM THE LAFAYETTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY SHOWS THAT THERE WERE MORE THAN 531 MILLION DOLLARS IN SALES IN SEPTEMBER AND YEAR TO DATE SALES ARE AT FOUR-POINT-6-8 BILLION. THAT’S THE FIFTH STRAIGHT MONTH THAT SALES HAVE TOPPED 525 MILLION, WHICH IS ONE MONTH SHORT OF THE RECORD SET IN 2014. THE YEARLY TOTAL IS UP FIVE-POINT-TWO PERCENT OVER LAST YEAR AND EIGHT-POINT-SIX PERCENT AHEAD OF 2017.
A MAN WHO WAS ARRESTED AFTER TRYING TO FLEE IN A STOLEN VEHICLE FROM LAKE CHARLES POLICE ON SATURDAY NOW FACES AN ATTEMPTED FIRST DEGREE MURDER CHARGE. THIRTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD COURTNEY PETE OF LAKE CHARLES IS BELIEVED TO BE THE SUSPECT WHO SHOT A TAXI DRIVER IN THE FACE. IT HAPPENED ON WEDNESDAY WHEN THE TAXI DRIVER WENT TO PICK UP A FARE ON BRENTWOOD STREET BUT THE PERSON BEING PICKED UP SHOT HIM AND THEN TOOK CONTROL OF THE TAXI AND FLED TO TEXAS. PETE NOW FACES NUMEROUS CHARGES AND HIS BOND WAS SET AT ONE-POINT-SEVEN-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS.
THE SHERIFF OF ACADIA PARISH SAYS THE NUMBER OF DRUG ARRESTS IN THE PARISH IS SOARING AND THEY ALMOST CAN’T KEEP UP WITH IT. K-P GIBSON SAYS IT’S NOT UNUSUAL TO MAKE FIFTEEN NARCOTICS ARRESTS IN A MONTH, MANY OF WHICH TAKE WEEKS OF INTELLIGENCE AND SURVEILLANCE. HE TELLS KLFY TV THAT DRUG ADDICTION, USAGE AND DISTRIBUTION LEADS TO OTHER CRIMES SUCH AS BURGLARIES AND THEFTS, WHICH IS WHY RESIDENTS SHOULD REPORT DRUG CRIMES. YESTERDAY GIBSON RELEASED THE NAMES OF SEVEN PEOPLE ARRESTED ON NARCOTICS CRIMES IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.
Louisiana’s farmers have collected more than $180 million from President Donald Trump’s multibillion-dollar bailout package for farmers hurt by the United States’ trade war with China. The Advocate reports that U.S. Department of Agriculture figures show more than 75% of that aid went to Louisiana soybean farmers. But some farmers say the program hasn’t been enough to cover their costs, and they’re questioning whether they’ll continue to grow soybeans.
LAFAYETTE MAYOR PRESIDENT ELECT JOSH GUILLORY HAS NAMED ECONOMIC EXECUTIVE BETH GUIDRY AS HIS NEW CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER. MEGAN KELLY HAS MORE.
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JENNINGS POLICE SAY THEY ARE GETTING NO COOPERATION FROM THE GUESTS AT A PARTY FRIDAY WHERE A PERSON WAS SHOT AND KILLED. THE PRIVATE PARTY WAS HELD AT THE WARD EVENT CENTER ON SOUTH MAIN STREET AND ONE HUNDRED FIFTY PEOPLE WERE THERE. TWENTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD DAKOTA CHAISSON WAS SHOT INSIDE THE CENTER AND WAS TAKEN OUTSIDE WHERE FIRST AID WAS ADMINISTERED. POLICE IN A FACEBOOK POST HAVE ASKED THOSE WHO WISH TO LEAVE AN ANONYMOUS TIP TO CALL 275-9002.
A VERMILLION PARISH DEPUTY WHO WAS INJURED WHILE PURSUING AN ESCAPED JUVENILE SUNDAY AFTERNOON WAS RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL YESTERDAY. THE BOY WAS FLEEING IN A VEHICLE FROM DEPUTIES AND ABBEVILLE POLICE OFFICERS ALONG HIGHWAYS 167 AND 14. SHERIFF’S OFFICE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER DREW DAVID SAYS THE BOY SLAMMED HIS VEHICLE INTO A DEPUTY’S UNIT AND THEN FLED ON FOOT. HE WAS CAPTURED A SHORT WHILE LATER ALONG WITH A FEMALE PASSENGER.
MOST OF LOUISIANA’S OFFICE OF MOTOR VEHICLE BRANCHES REMAIN CLOSED AS STATE WORKERS CONTINUE TO RESPOND TO A CYBER ATTACK THAT HIT THEIR COMPUTER SERVICE TWO WEEKS AGO. MEGAN KELLY HAS THE UPDATE.
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