12-4-15
The South Korea based Dongsung FineTec Co. Ltd. Says it will create 250 new jobs and make a $5 million capital investment in a cryogenic insulation manufacturing facility in Lake Charles. Senior Vice President James Choi said in a news release the jobs will have an average annual salary of $40,000, plus benefits. The company will lease an 11-acre site at the Port of Lake Charles’ Industrial Park East for its manufacturing complex. The company provides specialized high-performance insulation to liquefied natural gas plants and other industrial sites around the world.
NEARLY 300 PEOPLE ATTENDED A MEETING HELD AT THE MAIN LIBRARY BRANCH IN LAFAYETTE ABOUT THE I-49 CONNECTOR PROJECT. THE TURNOUT WAS UNEXPECTEDLY HIGH, LEADING FIRE CHIEF ROBERT BENOIT TO ORDER SOME PEOPLE TO SIT ON THE FLOOR OR STAND OUT IN THE HALLWAY DURING THE TWO HOUR MEETING WITH STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICIALS. THE PROPOSED SIX LANE CONNECTOR WOULD BE FIVE-AND-A-HALF MILES LONG FROM I-TEN TO THE LAFAYETTE REGIONAL AIRPORT, AND WOULD INCLUDE AN OVERPASS THROUGH DOWNTOWN. ACCORDING TO A REPORT FROM THE DAILY ADVERTISER, THE CONSENSUS OF THOSE IN ATTENDANCE IS THAT MANY PEOPLE IN LAFAYETTE DON’T WANT THE CONNECTOR.
THE FIRST TELEMEDICINE CLINIC FOR ST. MARTIN PARISH SCHOOLS WILL OPEN TODAY AT ST. MARTINVILLE PRIMARY SCHOOL. IT IS DESIGNED TO GIVE EASIER MEDICAL ACCESS TO STUDENTS WHO GO TO RURAL SCHOOLS. STUDENTS WILL BE MEDICALLY ASSESSED THROUGH AN AUDIO AND VISUAL LINK BETWEEN THE CLINIC AND THE SCHOOL. THE FIRST SCHOOL TO BE SERVED BY THE CLINIC WILL BE STEPHENSVILLE ELEMENTARY, LOCATED IN THE SOUTH PART OF THE PARISH, NOT FAR FROM MORGAN CITY IN ST. MARY PARISH.
Gov.-elect John Bel Edwards says he’ll issue an executive order when he takes office in January that bans discrimination in state government based on sexual orientation. Edwards, a Democrat, said Wednesday the edict will be similar to anti-discrimination orders enacted by Democratic former Govs. Edwin Edwards and Kathleen Blanco. Blanco’s order prohibited state agencies and contractors from various sorts of harassment and discrimination based on race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation or disabilities.
Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal and GOP former Gov. Mike Foster didn’t enact similar executive orders in office.
VOTERS IN CALCASIEU PARISH WILL DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO APPROVE A NEW PROPERTY TAX TO HELP FUND A 70 MILLION DOLLAR HURRICANE MUSEUM. THE POLICE JURY AGREED TO PUT THE TEN YEAR, ONE-POINT-5 MILL AD VALOREM TAX ON THE APRIL NINTH BALLOT, WHICH WOULD RAISE 15 MILLION DOLLARS. THE SECRETARY TREASURER OF THE HURRICANE MUSEUM, MARK MCMURRAY SAYS THEY’VE RAISED 42 MILLION DOLLARS, BUT IT APPEARS THEY’VE MAXED OUT THE DONOR AND STATE MARKETS. HE SAYS IF THE TAX IS APPROVED, THE HURRICANE MUSEUM WILL BE A REALITY, BUT WITHOUT IT, THEY MAY HAVE TO SHUT DOWN THE PROJECT AND RETURN THE MONEY RAISED SO FAR.
A SECTION OF SOUTHEAST EVANGELINE THRUWAY IN LAFAYETTE WAS CLOSED FOR A SHORT TIME LAST NIGHT. JULIE DARCE EXPLAINS WHY.
VOICER C :14
THE IBERIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS INVESTIGATING A SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION OF PERSHING AND ANN STREETS. A BICYCLIST FOUND A MAN LYING IN THE ROADWAY WITH A BULLET WOUND IN HIS STOMACH. HE WAS TAKEN TO AN AREA HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THE SHOOTING IS URGED TO CALL THE IBERIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE.
More than 43,400 Louisiana residents have signed up for health care coverage next year under the Affordable Care Act. The Advocate reports that the enrollment figure is nearly a quarter of last year’s total so far. Experts say many people are either waiting until the last minute, confused by changes, shopping around to avoid increased costs or just can’t afford it. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, consumers who had a plan in 2015 and don’t pick another by Dec. 15 will be automatically re-enrolled.
