2-13-17
A JUVENILE SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES AFTER BEING ROLLED OVER BY HIS OWN CAR. JULIE DARCE REPORTS.
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A Louisiana veterinarian has been charged with engaging in a scheme to influence the outcome of horse races by illegally treating horses with a synthetic drug.
The federal indictment accuses the veterinarian, Kyle James Hebert, of providing trainers with mislabeled syringes of dermorphin to inject in at least four horses that competed at Louisiana racetracks. The indictment returned Thursday says Hebert told trainers that the drug would make the horses “focus” and run faster. Hebert’s company operated veterinary clinics in Lake Charles and Sunset.
The St. Mary Parish School Board has unanimously voted to extend Superintendent Leonard Armato’s contract for an additional two years. The Advertiser reports Armato also received a $5,000 salary increase. Armato was first named superintendent in June 2015. The system, in a news release, said the parish has continued to gain notice “as a highly progressive, successful school system that is currently ranked 17th among Louisiana’s school district as recognized by school accountability formulas.”
Louisiana’s lawmakers are returning to Baton Rouge on Monday for a special session aimed at rebalancing a deficit-riddled budget. They’ll have to decide how deeply they’ll slash state spending to close the $304 million hole. The main debate will involve whether lawmakers want to use a state savings account as a short-term fix or whether they’ll make larger cuts with a goal of permanently shrinking the footprint of state government. The session must end by Feb. 22.
A NEW 5-POINT-1 MILLION DOLLAR CARGO FACILITY IS NEARING COMPLETION AT THE LAFAYETTE AIRPORT, AND LEASE DETAILS ARE BEING WORKED OUT SO FED EX AND UPS CAN MOVE IN. THE FACILITY WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN COMPLETED IN NOVEMBER, BUT AIRPORT OFFICIALS SAY ADDITIONAL SECURITY AND FENCING WAS NEEDED. AIRPORT DIRECTOR STEVEN PICOU INDICATED FEDEX WOULD BEGIN PAYING RENT IN MAY, ALTHOUGH, ACCORDING TO THE DAILY ADVERTISER, THERE’S BEEN TALK THEY WON’T MOVE IN UNTIL JUNE. THE AIRPORT COMMISSIONERS MAY REVIEW THE LEASES AT A SPECIAL MEETING WEDNESDAY.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES IS CLOSING ALL PUBLIC AREAS ON CALCASIEU LAKE TO OYSTER HARVESTING BEGINNING AFTER SUNDOWN TONIGHT. THE DEPARTMENT IN A NEWS RELEASE LAST WEEK SAYS THE OYSTER POPULATION HAS BEEN IN DECLINE FOR SEVERAL YEARS. THEY SAY A CONTINUED COMMERCIAL HARVEST MIGHT ENDANGER WHAT’S LEFT. THE SEASON OPENED ON NOVEMBER FIRST WITH A SEVEN SACK LIMIT PER DAY.
Two New Iberia men face sentencing May 5 for their roles in defrauding a trucking company out of more than $300,000. The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Lafayette says in a news release that 33-year-old Randy LeBlanc and 38-year-old Jahorae Johnson have pleaded guilty in the case. It involved false paperwork turned in to Acme Trucking Lines in New Iberia resulting in payment for trips that were not made.
Each faces up to 20 years in prison, though prosecutors have agreed to seek lighter sentences as a result of their cooperation.
Another state lawmaker has entered the race to be Louisiana’s state treasurer. Republican Rep. Julie Stokes, an accountant from Jefferson Parish, announced Friday that she will be a candidate on the Oct. 14 ballot. Also running so far is Republican Rep. John Schroder of St. Tammany Parish. The seat is open because Republican John Kennedy was elected to the U.S. Senate.
