2-10-15
A NEW UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT CODE FOR LAFAYETTE COULD GO BEFORE THE CITY PARISH COUNCIL FOR ADOPTION IN EARLY MAY. THAT’S ACCORDING TO CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, WHO GAVE A SUMMARY OF THE UPDATED DRAFT TO MEMBERS OF THE ACADIAN HOME BUILDERS ASSOCIATION AND THE REALTOR ASSOCIATION OF ACADIANA. CITY PARISH CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER KEVIN BLANCHARD SAID THE NEW CODE IS MEANT TO SIMPLIFY REGULATIONS BY MAKING THEM CLEARER FOR DEVELOPERS. CONSULTANT MARK WHITE SAYS IMPLEMENTING THE NEW CHANGES WILL BE DONE GRADUALLY.
SASOL EXECUTIVES ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THAT THEY HAVE HIRED FIVE LOUISIANA-BASED CONTRACTORS TO HELP BUILD THEIR NEW 8-POINT-9 BILLION DOLLAR ETHANE CRACKER AND DERIVATIVES PROJECT IN WESTLAKE. SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF U-S OPERATIONS MIKE THOMAS SAYS THESE APPOINTMENTS REFLECT THEIR COMMITMENT TO USE LOUISIANA BUSINESSES. SASOL IS HOSTING A BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY FORUM AT THE LAKE CHARLES CIVIC CENTER NEXT THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH FROM FOUR TO SEVEN. THOMAS SAYS LOCAL BUSINESSES WHO HAVE AN INTEREST IN WORKING ON THE PROJECTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND THE FORUM.
IN OPELOUSAS, A MAN WANTED FOR ATTEMPTED FIRST DEGREE MURDER, ESCAPED FROM POLICE CUSTODY LATE MONDAY EVENING. THEOBEGI LEVIER WAS HANDCUFFED WHEN HE JUMPED FROM A MOVING VEHICLE IN SOUTH OPELOUSAS. LEVIER IS BELIEVED TO HAVE SHOT A MAN IN THE NECK SATURDAY EVENING IN EUNICE DURING A ROBBERY THAT WAS DISGUISED AS A DRUG DEAL. ANYONE WITH KNOWLEDGE OF LEVIER’S WHEREABOUTS SHOULD CALL 9-1-1 IMMEDIATELY.
The number of workers’ compensation claims filed by Louisiana state employees dropped significantly over the last eight years. But a legislative audit says workers’ compensation costs for state agencies continued to increase. Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera’s office reviewed claims and costs for state employees from the 2006 through 2013 budget years. The performance audit was released Monday.
WHEN YOU’RE TRAVELING DOWN CAMELIA BOULEVARD IN RIVER RANCH, YOU MAY NOTICE SOMETHING DIFFERENT AT SOME OF THE INTERSECTIONS. THE TRAFFIC BOXES HAVE BEEN DECORATED WITH ART WORK AT THE SILVERSTONE AND SETTLER’S TRACE INTERSECTIONS. THE LAFAYETTE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU IS FUNDING ART WORK ON TEN OF THE TRAFFIC BOXES, AND THE FIRST TWO WERE UNVEILED YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. IT’S PART OF AN EFFORT TO GET MORE ARTWORK INTO PUBLIC PLACES IN LAFAYETTE.
A JEFF DAVIS PARISH MAN, WHO SEXUALLY MOLESTED HIS STEP-GRANDAUGHTER OVER A SIX YEAR PERIOD, WAS SENTENCED TO 17 YEARS IN JAIL. GERALD J. JOHNSON WAS ORIGINALLY CHARGED WITH AGGRAVATED INCEST IN 2011, BUT HE PLED GUILTY TO THE LESSER CHARGE IN NOVEMBER. MANDY MILLER WENT PUBLIC WITH THE ALLEGATIONS TWO YEARS AGO WHEN SHE LEARNED HE MAY GET LITTLE JAIL TIME WITH A PLEA DEAL. SHE SAYS THE ABUSE HAPPENED WHEN SHE WAS BETWEEN THE AGES OF EIGHT AND 14.
LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER ELECTRONICS RETAILER RADIO SHACK ANNOUNCED THEY WOULD BE CLOSING 24-HUNDRED STORES NATIONWIDE, THE LIST OF THOSE SHOPS SHUTTING DOWN HAS BEEN RELEASED. JULIE DARCE REPORTS.
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When they return for their next legislative session, state lawmakers will again debate whether to allow medical marijuana to be dispensed in Louisiana. Baton Rouge Rep. Dalton Honore, a Democrat, has pre-filed the legislation for consideration in the regular session that begins April 13. Sheriffs and district attorneys successfully stonewalled efforts last year to allow medical marijuana for people with serious illnesses. But supporters of the idea hope to change minds and set up guidelines allowing for the prescriptions.
