2/12/24
LAST WEEK, NEW IBERIA POLICE MADE THREE SEPARATE ARRESTS THAT INVOLVED SEIZING WEAPONS AND DRUGS IN EACH INSTANCE. ON TUESDAY, OFFICERS RESPONDING TO REPORTS OF SHOTS FIRED ARRESTED FORTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD MCARTHUR ROBERT OF NEW IBERIA AND SEIZED A FIREARM AND ONE-AND-A-HALF POUNDS OF MARIJUANA AT A RESIDENCE ON EAST PERSHING STREET. ON THURSDAY, POLICE ARRRESTED THIRTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD MARIO JACKSON OF NEW IBERIA FOR SIMPLE BURGLARY AND RECOVERED A STOLEN FIREARM AND SUSPECTED MARIJUANA. ON FRIDAY, NEW IBERIA POLICE ARRESTED THIRTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD MILTON ARCHANGEL OF NEW IBERIA AFTER A BRIEF PURSUIT AND HE REPORTEDLY WAS IN POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA AND A FIREARM AND ALLEGEDLY DROPPED A BACKPACK CONTAINING VARIOUS DRUGS.
LAST WEEK, THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED A REZONING PLAN. UNDER THE PLAN, SOME STUDENTS ZONED FOR CARENCRO HIGH SCHOOL WILL BE REZONED FOR NORTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL BEGINNING IN THE FALL. THE NEW CHANGE ADDS A PORTION BETWEEN I-TEN AND WEST PONT DES MOUTON ROAD TO THE NORTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL ZONE. BOARD MEMBER CHAD DESORMEAUX SAYS THE REZONING WILL AFFECT ABOUT ONE HUNDRED TEN STUDENTS.
THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES SAYS THEY WILL NOT BE PARTICIPATING IN THE SUMMER E-B-T PROGRAM. SECRETARY DAVID MATLOCK SAYS THEY ARE STAYING FOCUSED ON THEIR MISSION OF CHILDREN HAVING A SAFE HOME AND LEADING FAMILIES TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY. HE SAYS THEY WANT TO DELIVER THE BIGGEST IMPACT TO THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THEY SERVE WITHOUT ADDING PIECEMEAL PROGRAMS THAT COME WITH MORE STRINGS THAN LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS. EXISTING FEEDING PROGRAMS WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT INCLUDING THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OR SNAP.
A CHILD WAS STRUCK BY A CAR FRIDAY NIGHT NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF HODGES AND ELEVENTH STREETS IN LAKE CHARLES. THE BOY WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT. HIS CONDITION HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED. LAKE CHARLES POLICE SAY THE ACCIDENT WAS RELATED TO TRAFFIC FROM THE MERCHANT’S PARADE ROUTE.
RESIDENTS IN AN ABBEVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD, WHERE A NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD WAS SHOT AND KILLED THURSDAY NIGHT, SAY HE WAS BEING ROBBED BY A SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD, WHO WAS LATER ARRESTED. THE RESIDENTS ON ROBBIE CIRCLE SAYS THE TWO WERE MEETING FOR SOME TYPE OF EXCHANGE THAT WENT WRONG. THE MAN WHO WAS SHOT, NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD DYLAN WALKER, MANAGED TO MAKE IT TO A CIRCLE K CONVENIENCE STORE TO ASK FOR HELP BUT LATER DIED AT THE HOSPITAL. VERMILLION PARISH SHERIFF MIKE COUVILLON SAYS THE SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD WAS ON HOUSE ARREST AFTER PLEADING GUILTY IN DECEMBER TO SIX CHARGES INCLUDING SIMPLE BATTERY AND ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF A FIREARM.
Book displays highlighting black history or the accomplishments of those in the LGBTQ+ community at libraries in Lafayette parish have returned after being prohibited in 2022. Interim Library Director Sarah Monroe told The Advocate about her decision to allow the displays. She says it’s important that the community be represented in its libraries. Monroe replaced Danny Gillane after the Lafayette Parish Library Board fired him for implementing the ban.
THE ADVOCATE IS REPORTING THAT THE GOVERNOR’S CHIEF OF STAFF HAS WORKED AS A LOBBYIST FOR THE PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER. GOVERNOR LANDRY SINGLED OUT PENNINGTON TO RECEIVE MILLIONS OF RESEARCH DOLLARS AS PART OF THE PROPOSED SALE OF BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF LOUISIANA. THE ADVOCATE SAYS LANDRY AIDE KYLE RUCKERT HAD A LOBBYING CONTRACT WITH PENNINGTON UNTIL LATE LAST YEAR WHEN HIS WIFE TOOK IT OVER. LANDRY’S COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR KATE KELLY SAYS PENNINGTON IS A WORLD CLASS RESEARCH FACILITY AND THE RUCKERT’S FEDERAL CONTRACT WITH THE COMPANY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH POTENTIAL FUNDING FOR THE CENTER.
ON FRIDAY, A SAINT LANDRY PARISH GRAND JURY HANDED DOWN THREE INDICTMENTS IN UNRELATED INCIDENTS. EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD ABRAHAM GOODLEY WAS INDICTED FOR THE SECOND-DEGREE MURDER OF JOHN Q. DAVIS, WHO WAS SHOT AND KILLED IN HIS HOME ON DECEMBER TWENTY-SIXTH. FORTY-NINE-YEAR-OLD CRAIG MOORE WAS INDICTED FOR THE SECOND-DEGREE MURDER OF JOSEPH SYLVESTER JUNIOR, WHO DIED FROM A SINGLE GUNSHOT TO THE HEAD OUTSIDE OF CLUB REELS IN OPELOUSAS ON DECEMBER EIGHTEENTH. TWENTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD JACENTA LAZARE WAS ALSO INDICTED FOR SECOND-DEGREE MURDER IN THE SHOOTING DEATH OF LAQUANDA GUILLORY, WHO WAS KILLED IN HER VEHICLE WHEN SHE ARRIVED AT TWO THIRTY-NINE DYNASTY LANE IN OPELOUSAS.
