2-19-16
A PUBLIC MEETING HAS BEEN SET FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT IN LAFAYETTE TO DISCUSS A PROPOSAL TO END EUTHANIZING HEALTHY CATS AND DOGS AT THE LAFAYETTE ANIMAL CONTROL CENTER’S SHELTER. LAFAYETTE MAYOR PRESIDENT JOEL ROBIDEAUX’S NO-KILL GOAL FOR THE SHELTER WAS ONE OF HIS FIRST PRIORITIES WHEN HE TOOK OFFICE LAST MONTH. LAST YEAR, THE SHELTER EUTHANIZED MORE THAN 27-HUNDRED CATS AND DOGS. THE MEETING TAKES PLACE WEDNESDAY NIGHT AT SIX AT THE PICARD CENTER FOR CHILD DEVELOPMENT.
A CAR WAS HIT BY A TRAIN LAST NIGHT NORTH OF DEQUINCEY. STATE POLICE SAY THE CAR GOT LODGED ON TRAIN TRACKS ON L-A 27 BETWEEN DEQUINCY AND SINGER AT AROUND 10 O’CLOCK LAST NIGHT. THE OCCUPANTS GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE BEFORE THE TRAIN HIT IT SO THERE WERE NO INJURIES. TRAFFIC ON L-A 27 WAS BLOCKED FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS.
ABOUT 65 IBERIA PARISH RESIDENTS ATTENDED A MEETING IN NEW IBERIA LAST NIGHT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PROPOSED SALE OF CLECO TO A PRIVATE EQUITY GROUP. CLECO HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR SUSAN BROUSSARD ASSURRED THOSE IN ATTENDANCE THAT THE SALE WILL NOT MEAN A RISE IN ELECTRICITY RATES AND NO EMPLOYEE WOULD LOSE THEIR JOB. YVONNE CAPPEL-VICKERY OF THE ALLIANCE FOR AFFORDABLE ENERGY, WHICH HOSTED THE MEETING, SAYS CLECO’S RATES ARE AMONG THE HIGHEST IN THE STATE AND SHE BELIEVES THE SALE WILL MEAN EVEN HIGHER RATES. THE LOUISIANA PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION WILL VOTE WEDNESDAY ON WHETHER TO ALLOW THE 4-POINT-9 BILLION DOLLAR SALE TO GO THROUGH.
Lawmakers in the Louisiana House have voted to scrap a heavily-criticized tax credit pushed by former Gov. Bobby Jindal to protect his anti-tax record. With a 95-0 vote Thursday, the House agreed to repeal the SAVE credit. The credit didn’t raise new money or cut anyone’s taxes. But it gave Jindal the ability to claim an offset against other tax hikes used to balance this year’s budget as he readied for his failed presidential campaign.
Lawmakers are clashing over a Louisiana tax credit for the working poor. The House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday debated competing bills about Louisiana’s Earned Income Tax Credit, aimed at working people with low to moderate incomes. Republican Rep. Tony Bacala is proposing to end the state tax credit to save Louisiana $47 million a year, to help offset a massive state budget gap. Democratic Rep. Walt Leger wants to double the credit, saying it could help offset the impact of a sales tax hike sought by Gov. John Bel Edwards.
NEARLY A DOZEN STUDENTS SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES AFTER A SCHOOL BUS CRASH IN SCOTT. JULIE DARCE REPORTS.
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AN EMPLOYEE AT THE GOLDEN NUGGET CASINO IN LAKE CHARLES WAS ARRESTED THURSDAY FOR THEFT. STATE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED BY THE GOLDEN NUGGET CASINO IN OCTOBER OF A POSSIBLE EMPLOYEE THEFT WHICH LED TO AN INVESTIGATION. SGT. JAMES ANDERSON SAYS THEY FOUND THAT 48-YEAR-OLD PATTIE SOMPHOU MANIPULATED THE CASINO COMPUTER SYSTEM SO CUSTOMERS WOULD GET EXTRA COMP POINTS. SOMPHOU FLED THE STATE WHEN THE ARREST WARRANT WAS ISSUED, BUT RETURNED YESTERDAY AND TURNED HERSELF IN ON CHARGES OF FRAUD AND THEFT.
TOMORROW NIGHT THE CROWLEY BRANCH OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN WILL BE HOSTING THE INFLUENTIAL WOMEN BANQUETS AT THE INTERNATIONAL RICE FESTIVAL BUILDING. ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS, DR. EZORA PROCTOR, SAYS THE PURPOSE OF THE BANQUET IS HONOR LOCAL WOMEN WHO HAVE GIVEN OF THEMSELVES, WITHOUT RESERVATION, FOR THE COMMUNITY.
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THE BANQUET BEGINS TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:30. FOR TICKETS, CONTACT DR. PROCTOR AT 783-80-94.
