12-7-21
A NEW ADDITION WILL BE ADDED TO THE SAINT LANDRY PARISH JAIL AND A BUILDING ACROSS THE STREET WILL BE TURNED INTO ANOTHER JAIL, WHICH WILL ALLOW THE JAIL TO TAKE IN ONE HUNDRED MORE INMATES. RIGHT NOW, THE PARISH JAIL IS AT CAPACITY, AND AN ADDITIONAL ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-TWO INMATES ARE BEING HOUSED IN OTHER PARISHES, WHICH IS COSTING SAINT LANDRY PARISH AROUND NINETY-FIVE THOUSAND A MONTH, ACCORDING TO PARISH PRESIDENT JESSE BELLARD. AFTER THE RENOVATION TO THE JAIL IS FINISHED, IT WILL BE ABLE TO HANDLE UP TO THREE HUNDRED FORTY-TWO INMATES. CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN NEXT SUMMER AND IS EXPECTED TO TAKE A YEAR TO COMPLETE.
A JENNINGS MAN WAS ARRESTED EARLY SATURDAY MORNING AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY THREATENED HIS SISTER WITH A HATCHET. THE VICTIM SAYS HER BROTHER, THIRTY-EIGHT-YEAR-OLD JEREMY GATTE, THREATENED HER WITH THE HATCHET BECAUSE SHE REFUSED TO TAKE HIM TO THE STORE. JEFF DAVIS PARISH SHERIFF DEPUTIES SAY THEY FOUND THE HATCHET IN A CLOTHES BASKET AND THERE WAS DAMAGE TO A WALL FROM THE HATCHET. GATTE WAS CHARGED WITH DOMESTIC ABUSE BATTERY AND FACES ANOTHER CHARGE OF TAKING CONTRABAND INTO A PENAL FACILITY WHEN HE WAS FOUND WITH A BOXCUTTER IN HIS WAISTBAND.
THERE’S ANOTHER SIDE TO THE PANDEMIC FALLOUT. RETURNING TO NORMALCY HAS LED TO LESS THAN NORMAL BLOOD SUPPLIES. CAROLINE MARCELLO HAS MORE.
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A bipartisan group of Louisiana lawmakers on the House health care committee has voted against Gov. John Bel Edwards’ coronavirus vaccine mandate for some students, but the Democratic governor intends to overrule Monday’s rejection and enact the immunization requirement starting next year. The fate of the plan seems likely to be decided by the courts. Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry and the Edwards administration are at odds over whether the COVID-19 vaccine requirement can be legally enacted by the governor without support from the full Legislature. The state allows broad exemptions for parents and students who can submit a written dissent even if the coronavirus shots are mandated.
RAYNE POLICE ARE WARNING RESIDENTS ABOUT SCAM CALLERS CLAIMING TO REPRESENT ENTERGY AND OTHER UTILITY COMPANIES. OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS INQUIRIES ABOUT PEOPLE CALLING RESIDENTS AND CLAIMING TO REPRESENT ENTERGY OR OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPANIES AUTHORIZED BY THE CITY OF RAYNE. THE CALLERS CLAIM THEY ARE ATTEMPTING TO COLLECT A LATE PAYMENT OR INSTALL A SMART METER, BUT OFFICIALS SAY DO NOT SEND ANY MONEY BECAUSE IT’S A SCAM. IF YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE A VICTIM OF A SCAM, YOU SHOULD CALL THE LOCAL POLICE OR STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE.
DUSON POLICE CHIEF KIP JUDICE SAYS THE DEPARTMENT’S PURSUIT POLICY WILL GO UNDER AN EXPANDED REVIEW AFTER A PURSUIT BY DUSON POLICE RESULTING IN A MAJOR CRASH ON BERTRAND DRIVE IN LAFAYETTE LAST WEEK. MULTIPLE VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED AND EIGHT PEOPLE WERE SENT TO THE HOSPITAL, SOME WITH SEVERE INJURIES. IT BEGAN WHEN A DUSON OFFICER SPOTTED A STOLEN VEHICLE ON I-TEN AND CHASED AFTER IT. JUDICE SAYS, AFTER REVIEWING DASH CAM FOOTAGE, HE DETERMINED HIS OFFICER WAS NOT RECKLESS AND DID NOT DO ANYTHING TO ENDANGER OTHER PEOPLE.
Insurance companies operating in Louisiana will be charged at least $100 million to pay claims of two failed property insurers who went belly up in Hurricane Ida’s aftermath. But the cost of dealing with the insolvent insurers ultimately will fall on the state after insurance companies recoup the dollars through a series of premium tax credits. The Advocate reports the board of the Louisiana Insurance Guaranty Association voted to charge insurers 1% of their net written premiums to help fill its coffers to cover claims for customers whose insurers become insolvent. Its work is triggered after the insurance department took control of Access Home Insurance and State National Fire Insurance.
A CARENCRO WOMAN WILL SPEND FOURTEEN MONTHS IN JAIL AFTER PLEADING GUILTY TO USING HER EMPLOYER’S CREDIT CARDS FOR PERSONAL USE. FIFTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD YVETTE L. FONTENOT WAS AN OFFICE MANAGER FOR PERIODONTICS ASSOCIATES IN LAFAYETTE, WHERE SHE WAS AUTHORIZED TO USE COMPANY CREDIT CARDS FOR BUSINESS EXPENSES. SHE WAS ALSO FOUND TO HAVE PREPARED BUSINESS CHECKS WHICH SHE USED FOR PERSONAL EXPENSES. FONTENOT WAS ORDERD TO PAY NEARLY ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS IN RESTITUTION.
