12-31-18
LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS RAIDED A SUSPECTED STASH HOUSE IN DUSON WHICH CONTAINED MORE THAN 65 THOUSAND DOLLARS WORTH OF ILLEGAL DRUGS, AS WELL AS DRUG PARAPHERNALIA, TWO GUNS, AND MORE THAN 26 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN CASH. THERE WAS NO ONE AT THE HOUSE ON KEVIN DRIVE AT THE TIME OF THE RAID, BUT IT WAS PROTECTED BY TWO PIT BULLS AND A PYTHON, ACCORDING TO A NEWS RELEASE BY THE DUSON POLICE DEPARTMENT. A MONTH-LONG INVESTIGATION LED TO THE RAID. THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF’S NARCOTICS UNIT LATER ARRESTED 35-YEAR-OLD DONOVAN HOLLIER OF LAFAYETTE ON A CHARGE OF POSSESSION WITH THE INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE MARIJUANA AND WAS BOOKED INTO THE ACADIA PARISH JAIL ON A 150 THOUSAND DOLLAR BOND.
A Lake Charles boating club has organized a private-public partnership to put up channel markers along a bayou where water often hides cypress stumps and knees.
Ben Garber of the Lake Charles Sail and Power Squadron says that since Contraband Bayou isn’t used for commerce, the Coast Guard and Army Corps of Engineers can’t install markers. He tells The American Press his group spent about a year surveying the bayou. Darrell Walker of Blue Star Marine tells KPLC-TV that the stumps have damaged a lot of boats.
THE PARENTS OF THE BOY THAT WENT MISSING IN EVANGELINE PARISH HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AND NOW ARE FACING CRUELTY CHARGES. JEFF HORCHAK HAS MORE.
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The Federal Emergency Management Agency has reversed course and will go back to issuing and renewing National Flood Insurance Program policies, despite the ongoing government shutdown. FEMA announced the change of policy in a statement Friday, much to the relief of Louisiana homeowners and politicians. In a statement, U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy said FEMA had erred when it told insurers earlier this week that it said it cannot issue or renew NFIP policies during a partial government shutdown. The decision had caused numerous home sales to be delayed because buyers weren’t able to obtain flood coverage.
A PART OF SCOTT IS UNDER A BOIL ADVISORY DUE TO A WATER MAIN BREAK ON OLD SPANISH TRAIL BETWEEN L PROVOST ROAD AND SUNSET STREET. THE ADVISORY IS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE BETWEEN THE FRONTAGE ROAD NEAR THE HOLIDAY INN SOUTH TO PROVOST ROAD. THE WATER MAIN HAS BEEN REPAIRED AND CITY OFFICIALS SAY CUSTOMERS IN THAT AREA ARE EXPERIENCING LOW WATER PRESSURE WHICH SHOULD INCREASE GRADUALLY. POLICE SAY THE ROAD AROUND THE WATER MAIN BREAK REMAINS CLOSED.
THE ROBBERY OF THE LUCKY STAR CASINO IN LAKE CHARLES WAS DEEMED TO BE AN INSIDE JOB, RESULTING IN THE ARREST OF A SECURITY GUARD AND FOUR OTHER PEOPLE. CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF’S CHIEF DEPUTY STITCH GUILLORY SAYS TWO MASKED MEN ENTERED THE CASINO EARLY SUNDAY MORNING AND DEMANDED CASH. AN INVESTIGATION LED TO THE ARREST OF SECURITY GUARD BRANDON GUILLORY, HIS FIANCE AMIE NELSON, HER SON, TREVON GRAY, AND TWO FRIENDS, JASHONE DEAN BEVERLY AND JOSHUA STEWART. INVESTIGATORS WERE ABLE TO LOCATE ALL OF THE STOLEN PROPERTY AND RETURN IT TO THE CASINO.
EIGHT FIREWORKS STANDS IN LOUISIANA HAVE BEEN SHUT DOWN DUE TO THE SALE OF ILLEGAL FIREWORKS. THE STANDS WERE IN ACADIA, LAFAYETTE, ST. MARTIN, IBERIA AND SABINE PARISHES. THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL’S OFFICE ALSO CLOSED DOWN A WAREHOUSE IN ACADIA PARISH THAT WAS FOUND TO BE STORING HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF SUSPECTED ILLEGAL FIREWORKS. STATE FIRE MARSHAL H. BUTCH BROWNING SAYS THAT WHEN THEY BECOME AWARE OF QUESTIONABLE SALES AND OPERATIONS, THEY INVESTIGATE THOROUGHLY AND TAKE SWIFT ACTION IF IT IS NECESSARY.
LOUISIANA’S USE OF THE DEATH PENALTY HAS REACHED RECORD LOWS IN RECENT YEARS. ONE PERSON RECEIVED THE DEATH PENALY THIS YEAR AFTER NO DEATH PENALTIES IN THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS AND THE LAST EXECUTION IN THE STATE TOOK PLACE IN 2010. ROBERT DUNHAM OF THE DEATH PENALTY INFORMATION CENTER TELLS THE ADVOCATE ONE REASON FOR THE DECLINE IS PEOPLE REALIZING THAT WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS ARE A REALITY RESULTING IN INNOCENT PEOPLE BEING PUT TO DEATH. HE SAYS LOUISIANA HAS THE HIGHEST EXONERATION RATE OF DEATH ROW PRISONERS, WITH ELEVEN PEOPLE EXONERATED SINCE 1900.
