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2-23-15

Louisiana voters have decided two special state House elections.  In District 29 in Iberia and Vermilion parishes, Republican Blake Miguez, president and CEO of SeaTran Marine, won Saturday’s special election. He will succeed Republican Simone Champagne, who resigned to become Youngsville’s chief administrative officer.  The Town Talk reports that in District 26 in Rapides Parish, retired Cleco executive Jeff Hall defeated two other Democrats to succeed Democrat Herbert Dixon, who resigned because he has cancer.

Investigators say a 73-year-old Lake Arthur man has been found dead inside his home after deputies found his vehicle on fire about 15 miles away.  The American Press reports the body of Charles Raymond Talen Sr. was found Saturday night.  Chris Ivey, criminal investigations commander for the Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office, says deputies went to the home after hearing that Talen’s white 2012 Hyundai was found abandoned and on fire in Vermilion Parish.  A deputy looked through a window of the home and saw Talen lying on the floor.

A Lafayette man who drove over his former girlfriend in a college parking lot has been sentenced to 15 years in prison.  The American-Press reports that 27-year-old Brian Anthony Woods was sentenced Friday.  Judge David Ritchie also ordered Woods to pay the woman’s medical expenses and to not have contact with her.  Woods pleaded no contest in November to attempted second-degree murder for the February 2012 incident at Sowela Technical Community College.

Threatened with the loss of up to half of their state financing, Louisiana’s higher education leaders are devising their own package of ideas to generate new cash for their campuses.  College system heads have asked for ideas from campus leaders, and they’ve been floating suggestions to lawmakers and Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration in behind-the-scenes discussions.  Among the concepts, campuses are looking for less micromanagement from state officials, so they can run their own purchasing and insurance operations with an eye toward finding savings. The Board of Regents will talk about some of the proposals Monday, as the higher education community tries to home in on ideas that can win approval in the legislative session that begins April 13.

AUTHORITIES ARE INVESTIGATING AN EARLY MORNING CRASH THAT CLAIMED THE LIFE OF A JEANERETTE MAN.  JULIE DARCE REPORTS.

 

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The neighbor of a woman found stabbed 16 times has been sentenced to two consecutive life terms.  The American Press reports that 27-year-old José Manuel Garcia Guevara also was sentenced Friday to 30 years for burglary.  Authorities say 26-year-old Wanda Barton was found dead by her in-laws on Feb. 20, 2008, in the kitchen of her Lake Charles home. Her 4-year-old stepson was also in the home.

THERE’S A NEW APP THAT WILL HELP KAYAKERS AND CANOERS NAVIGATE THE VERMILLION RIVER.  THE APP WAS DEVELOPED THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE BAYOU VERMILLION DISTRICT, THE LAFAYETTE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT AND THE TECHNOLOGY FIRM C-G-I FEDERAL.  GREG GUIDROZ, THE RECREATION AND EDUCATION COORDINATOR FOR THE BAYOU VERMILLION DISTRICT, GATHERED THE INFORMATION FOR THE APP, WHICH COVERS THE RIVER FROM THE NORTH LANDING NEAR INTERSTATE TEN TO THE GULF OF MEXICO.  HE TOLD THE ADVOCATE NEWSPAPER THAT THE APP WILL SHOW BOATERS DIFFERENT POINTS OF INTEREST SUCH AS WHERE TO PUT IN AND WHERE TO GET OUT, WHERE YOU CAN GO TO THE BATHROOM, AND THE LOCATIONS OF STORES ALONG THE RIVER.

 

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal will join the Family Research Council on a trip to Israel this fall.  According to the group’s event itinerary, Jindal and guests will arrive in Tel Aviv on Oct. 28.  The Advocate reports FRC President Tony Perkins, a Jindal ally and former state representative, and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum will join Jindal on the trip.  The website promoting the venture promises potential attendees the opportunity for meetings with “top national conservative and Israeli political, defense and religious leaders.”