1-5-15
A recent assault near Vermilion Street has created renewed interest in increasing the number of security cameras in downtown Lafayette. In the Dec. 26 assault, an assailant attacked a 30-year-old Lafayette native as he walked home around 2 a.m.
Lafayette Police Department spokesman Cpl. Paul Mouton says the department is looking into implementing more cameras in the area there, but there’s no timeline for when or if it will happen. Lafayette Downtown Development Authority CEO Nathan Norris says the police department will first experiment with the surveillance cameras it hopes to install in 50 high-crime neighborhoods across town by 2016 before a decision is made about downtown.
A SULPHUR WOMAN, WHOSE HOME WAS DESTROYED BY A FIRE IN AUGUST, WAS ISSUED A COURT ORDER TO CLEAR HER LOT WITHIN THIRTY DAYS. THE REMAINS OF THE HOME ARE STILL THERE ON BALFOUR STREET, AND JAN ISTRE TELLS KPLC TV THAT SHE BELIEVES NEIGHBORS COMPLAINED, WHICH LED TO THE COURT ORDER. SHE SAYS SHE LOST EVERYTHING AND NOW THE COURT WANTS HER TO SPEND THE MONEY SHE HAS LEFT TO TEAR THE HOUSE DOWN. ISTRE HAS SET UP AN ACCOUNT AT GO FUND ME-DOT-COM WHERE PEOPLE CAN GIVE DONATIONS TO HELP HER OUT.
INVESTIGATORS ARE STILL TRYING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF A HOUSE FIRE FRIDAY NIGHT IN CROWLEY. IT TOOK FIREFIGHTERS ABOUT AN HOUR TO PUT OUT THE BLAZE AT A HOME ON EAST SPRUCE STREET. NO ONE WAS AT HOME AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. KATC TV IS REPORTING THAT THE FIRE IS BELIEVED TO HAVE STARTED IN THE LIVING ROOM.
IN SCOTT, A MAN WAS ARRESTED AFTER HE WAS ALLEGEDLY CAUGHT USING COCAINE IN A RESTAURANT BATHROOM. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
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EVERY YEAR PETCO STORES ACROSS THE NATION SELL CALENDARS FEATURING PETS, WITH ALL PROCEEDS GOING TO ANIMAL CHARITIES. THE PETCO STORE IN LAKE CHARLES HAS SOLD MORE OF THE CALENDARS THAN ANY OTHER STORE IN THE STATE. GENERAL MANAGER ED CHAVANNE SAYS THEY’VE SOLD 70 OF THE CALENDARS SO FAR, WHICH IS AROUND THREE TIMES MORE THAN NORMAL. THE HIGH SALES FIGURE IS LIKELY DO TO A LOCAL DOG, JEANIE, BEING CHOSEN FROM AMONG 13-HUNDRED DOGS TO BE IN THE CALENDAR.
THE NEW MAYOR AND POLICE CHIEF FOR OPELOUSAS AS WELL AS THREE NEW ALDERMEN TOOK THE OATH OF OFFICE AT A CEREMONY SATURDAY. NEW MAYOR REGGIE TATUM PLEDGED TO BE A FULL TIME MAYOR WHO WILL SEEK TO UNIFY IN ORDER TO MOVE FORWARD. THE NEW POLICE CHIEF, DONALD THOMPSON, SAYS HE WILL ACT ON THE CONCERNS VOTERS SHARED WITH HIM DURING HIS CAMPAIGN FOR ELECTION, INCLUDING WORRIES ABOUT BURGLARIES, ASSAULTS AND DRUG TRAFFICKING. NEITHER FORMER MAYOR DONALD CRAVINS OR POLICE CHIEF PERRY GALLOW ATTENDED THE CEREMONY.
A road project most Lafayette residents likely had never heard of a year ago has been quickly gaining momentum to become the next crossing over the Vermilion River. The Advocate reports city-parish government is moving forward with a $350,000 engineering study to narrow down the possible routes for the extension of South City Parkway in south Lafayette. Officials are considering buying 26 acres to secure much of the right of way for the road. Public Works Director Kevin Blanchard says the bridge is the No. 1 project in regards to reducing traffic.
Republican lawmakers are defending the No. 3 House GOP leader over a speech he gave 12 years ago to a white supremacist group. Rep. Steve Scalise (skuh-LEES’) of Louisiana says the speech was a mistake he now regrets. Party leaders, including House Speaker John Boehner, have backed him. Several rank-and-file lawmakers are adding their support, including Utah’s Mia Love, the first black female Republican elected to the House.
