2-19-24
LAFAYETTE FIREFIGHTERS BATTLED A HOUSE FIRE SATURDAY NIGHT THAT STARTED IN A PATIO FIREPLACE. THE HOUSE IS LOCATED IN THE FOUR HUNDRED BLOCK OF ENGLEWOOD DRIVE, BETWEEN THE ACADIANA MALL AND RIVER RANCH. FIRE OFFICIALS SAY SOMETHING COMBUSTIBLE IN THE FIREPLACE IGNITED AND SPREAD FROM THE PATIO. NO ONE WAS HURT.
OVER THE WEEKEND, ACTIVISTS HELD A RALLY AT A LAFAYETTE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER, WHERE AN ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL IS BEING HELD FOR ALLEGEDLY MURDERING AN IBERIA PARISH MAN. SYLVIA MASTERS HAS MORE.
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The Louisiana legislature will gather today for a special session that could reshape the state’s criminal justice system and the public safety sector. Among the more than two dozen bills filed ahead of session is legislation that proposes expanding methods to carry out death row executions, restricting parole eligibility, harsher penalties for carjackings, “immunity from liability” for law enforcement based upon a certain criteria and publicizing some juvenile court records.
FAMILY AND FRIENDS GATHERED YESTERDAY TO REMEMBER DERRICK THORNTON OF LAKE CHARLES, WHO WAS KILLED ONE YEAR AGO AT HIS HOME ON O’BRIEN STREET. THEY GATHERED IN FRONT OF A MURAL HE HELPED CREATE AT THE CORNER OF BROAD AND SHATTUCK STREETS. SEVERAL PEOPLE SPOKE IN REMEMBRANCE OF THORNTON AND A BALLOON RELEASE FOLLOWED. SEVERAL TEENS WERE ARRESTED LAST YEAR IN CONNECTION WITH THE DEATH OF THORNTON AND A SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD WILL BE TRIED AS AN ADULT.
A REPORT BY THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE HAS LED TO PLANS TO SPEND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON SECURITY UPGRADES FOR THE YOUNGSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE PROBE REVEALED SERIOUS DEFICIENCIES WITH THE SECURITY SYSTEM AT THE DEPARTMENT’S BUILDING ON FOURTH STREET. THE PROBLEMS CAME TO LIGHT AFTER THE RESIGNATION OF FORMER POLICE CHIEF RICKEY BOUDREAUX AND ALLEGATIONS OF WRONGDOING THAT INCLUDED MISSING EVIDENCE AND DRUG USE. THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IS LOOKING INTO THE ALLEGATIONS TO DETERMINE IF CRIMINAL CHARGES ARE WARRANTED.
AN OPELOUSAS POLICE OFFICER, ACCUSED OF A SHOOTING THAT LEFT THE POLICE CHIEF AND HIS WIFE INJURED, HAS SUBMITTED A LETTER OF RESIGNATION. FORTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD SAVANNAH BUTLER HAS BEEN ON PAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE SINCE SHE WAS ARRESTED ON CHARGES OF ILLEGAL DISCHARGE OF A FIREARM AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE. IN HER LETTER, BUTLER ASKED FOR SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS IN PAYOUTS FOR UNUSED LEAVE AND COMP TIME. THE OPELOUSAS CITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER THE REQUEST AT TOMORROW NIGHT’S MEETING.
Gov. Jeff Landry has declared a state of emergency due to a police officer shortage. Landry’s executive order issued Thursday lifts limits on how many new employees Louisiana sheriffs can hire and on payroll increases for their departments. Landry says police departments in the state are experiencing record-low employments “resulting in increased crime and less public safety.” He said that as of July, sheriff’s offices statewide were down 1,800 deputies.
THE ACADIA PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS INTRODUCED A STEM BUS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE SCIENCE AND MATH SCORES IN THE PARISH. THE BUS HAS ARTWORK ON THE OUTSIDE REFLECTING THE LOCAL CULTURE AND INSIDE AND OUTSIDE ARE DIFFERENT STATIONS TO HELP STUDENTS EXPAND THEIR SKILLS WHILE HAVING FUN. CROWLEY KINDERGARTEN WAS THE FIRST SCHOOL TO GET TO EXPERIENCE THE STEM BUS BUT IT WILL BE BROUGHT TO EACH SCHOOL THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT. LEAD SCIENCE TEACHER TERI TIEBEN TELLS KATC TV THAT EACH SCHOOL WILL EXPERIENCE SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN ORDER TO CATER TO THE NEEDS OF THAT STUDENT POPULATION.
