KAJN Jesus FM 102.9


2-19-15

State police say an 88-year-old New Iberia man died in a single vehicle crash on Louisiana Highway 177 in DeSoto Parish.  Trooper Matt Harris says Leo Gaudin Jr. was southbound around 4 a.m. Wednesday when his pickup ran off the road and struck a group of trees.  Harris says Gaudin, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was pronounced dead at the scene by the DeSoto Parish coroner.  This crash remains under investigation.

 

FOUR LAKE ARTHUR RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN ARRESTED ON DRUG AND WEAPONS CHARGES.  THE JEFF DAVIS PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE GOT A WARRANT TO SEARCH A LAKE ARTHUR RESIDENCE FOR DRUGS AND STOLEN GOODS.  THEY FOUND ITEMS IN A BARN THAT COULD BE USED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF METHAMPHETAMINE.  THE FOUR ARRESTED…31-YEAR-OLD BRENT BENOIT, 42-YEAR-OLD RONNIE BUMGARDEN, 39-YEAR-OLD KAREN DESHOTEL, AND 29-YEAR-OLD SIERRA DESHOTEL…WERE BOOKED INTO THE PARISH JAIL WITHOUT BOND.

 

A JUDGE HAS DISMISSED A WRONGFUL TERMINATION LAWSUIT AGAINST THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD AND INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT BURNELL LEJEUNE.  THE BOARD REMOVED FUNDING FOR THE SPECIAL ASSISTANT POSITION AFTER THE FIRING OF FORMER SUPERINTENDENT PAT COOPER, AND THAD WELCH DECLINED TO TAKE ANOTHER JOB.  THE ATTORNEY REPRESENTING LEJEUNE SAYS HE HAD TO IMPLEMENT THE BUDGET ADOPTED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD.  JUDGE HARRY RANDOW RULED THAT THE SUIT BY WELCH COULD NOT MOVE FORWARD BECAUSE OF A STATE LAW THAT PREVENTS SCHOOL EMPLOYEES FROM BEING SUED BECAUSE OF ACTIONS THEY TAKE THAT ARE PART OF THEIR JOB DUTIES.

 

More than 184,000 Louisiana residents enrolled for health insurance through the federal marketplace, before the sign-up period ended Sunday. That’s a growth of 82,000 people from last year.  The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released the latest enrollment data Wednesday. About 11.4 million people nationwide will get health insurance through marketplaces created under President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul.

 

A MAN, WHO WAS ALLEGEDLY INVOLVED IN A SHOOTING IN LAFAYETTE IN EARLY JANUARY, WAS EXTRADITED WEDNESDAY FROM CROWLEY TO THE LAFAYETTE PARISH CORRECTIONAL CENTER.  CROWLEY POLICE CHIEF K-P GIBSON SAYS THE U-S MARSHAL’S SERVICE TASK FORCE ON FRIDAY ARRESTED 34-YEAR-OLD LYNOL JAMES CHRISTIAN, AT A PLACE WHERE HE HAD BEEN LIVING ON WEST ELEVENTH STREET IN CROWLEY.  CORPORAL PAUL MOUTON OF THE LAFAYETTE POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THAT, ON JANUARY SECOND, CHRISTIAN ALLEGEDLY FIRED MULTIPLE SHOTS AT A VEHICLE THAT WAS SPEEDING AWAY FROM THE 21-HUNDRED BLOCK OF NORTHEAST EVANGELINE THRUWAY.  NO ONE WAS INJURED.

THE LAKE CHARLES CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY REJECTED A DEVELOPER’S PLANS TO BUILD A FOUR STORY HOTEL ON NELSON ROAD, ACROSS FROM PRIEN LAKE ELEMENTARY.  MANY NEARBY RESIDENTS WERE OPPOSED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OVER CONCERNS THAT IT WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE SCHOOL AND THE POTENTIAL HARM TO THE CHILDREN.  THE DEVELOPER, NEAL PATEL, SAYS THE 8-POINT-7 MILLION DOLLAR HOTEL WOULD HAVE BEEN A HILTON BRAND EXTENDED STAY HOTEL.  THE LAKE CHARLES PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION ALSO VOTED AGAINST THE PROJECT, BUT PATEL HOPED THE COUNCIL, WHICH HAS THE FINAL SAY, WOULD APPROVE IT.

A LAFAYETTE WOMAN DIED IN A MULTI-CAR CRASH TUESDAY NIGHT IN LAFAYETTE.  JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.

 

VOICER J :24

 

Reports outlining the fundraising and spending that candidates for statewide elected positions did last year are due to the state ethics board.  One of the heftiest campaign accounts belongs to state Treasurer John Kennedy. The Republican, serving his fourth term as treasurer, brought in more than $715,000 in 2014 and wrapped up the year with just under $3.5 million.  Kennedy hasn’t yet announced what position he’ll be seeking in the Oct. 24 election, saying he’s considering running for governor, attorney general or re-election to his current job.