2-23-16
THOSE WHO ARE FOR AND AGAINST NEW PROPERTY TAXES IN LAFAYETTE PARISH VOICED THEIR OPINIONS AT THE MONTHLY ACADIANA PRESS CLUB MEETING. LAFAYETTE PARISH VOTERS, ON APRIL NINTH, WILL DECIDE THE FATE OF AN 11-POINT-5 MILL, THIRTY YEAR PROPERTY TAX THAT IS EXPECTED TO RAISE 380 MILLION DOLLARS AS WELL AS TWO SMALLER 10-YEAR TAXES. THOSE FOR THE NEW TAXES SAY THE FACILITY’S SITUATION IN THE PARISH IS DIRE AND WE CAN’T WAIT ANY LONGER TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT. BUT THE OPPOSITION CITED THE POOR ECONOMY AND THE STRAIN ON LOCAL BUSINESSES.
THE BEAUREGARD PARISH SHERIFF IS DEFENDING THE ACTIONS OF AN ANIMAL CONTROL DEPUTY, WHO SHOT AT TWO PIT BULLS, KILLING ONE OF THEM. SHERIFF RICKEY MOSES SAYS THE DEPUTY HAD GONE OUT TO WILLIAMS TRACTOR SUPPLY IN DERIDDER BECAUSE OF A REPORT THAT A BICYCLIST HAD BEEN ATTACKED BY THE DOGS, NEARLY KNOCKING HIM OFF HIS BIKE. MOSES SAYS THE DEPUTY SHOT THE DOGS IN DEFENSE BECAUSE THEY WERE BECOMING AGGRESSIVE TOWARDS HIM. THE OWNER OF THE DOGS, JOHN ARTHUR WILLIAMS, SAYS THE DEPUTY MURDERED AN INNOCENT DOG, AND HAS HIRED AN ATTORNEY TO CONSIDER HIS OPTIONS.
EUNICE POLICE SAY A MAN ROBBED A BANK MONDAY MORNING AND THANKED THE TELLERS BEFORE HE LEFT. JULIE DARCE REPORTS.
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The federal government is offering about 45 million acres for oil and gas leases in the central and eastern Gulf of Mexico at sales on March 23. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management says the Central lease sale covers 44.3 million acres off of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, at depths ranging from nine feet to more than 2 miles under water. The Eastern area offers about 595,500 acres of waterbottom that are at least 125 miles off of eastern Alabama and western Florida. The government received 195 bids on 169 tracts in the central area last March, down from 380 a year earlier and more than 500 in previous years.
A FEDERAL JURY FOUND A FORMER LAFAYETTE POSTAL WORKER GUILTY OF STEALING MONEY FROM THE MAIL. 49-YEAR-OLD CATE PLAUCHE WAS FOUND GUILTY OF ELEVEN COUNTS OF MAIL THEFT AFTER A ONE DAY TRIAL. PLAUCHE STOLE THE MONEY LAST APRIL WHILE WORKING AS A MAIL CARRIER FOR THE LAFAYETTE POST OFFICE. SHE FACES UP TO FIVE YEARS IN PRISON ON EACH COUNT, AS WELL AS A FINE OF 250 THOUSAND DOLLARS WHEN SHE IS SENTENCED.
A HEAD ON COLLISION SUNDAY ON L-A 27 NORTH OF ROUTE 66, THAT RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF TWO TEENAGE GIRLS FROM DEQUINCY, HAS PROMPTED STATE POLICE TO INCREASE PATROLS ON THAT HIGHWAY. SERGEANT JAMES ANDERSON OF STATE POLICE TROOP D CALLED THE ACCIDENT A HORRIFIC TRAGEDY. HE SAYS, SO FAR THIS YEAR, THEY HAVE INVESTIGATED FIVE FATAL CRASHES IN WHICH EIGHT PEOPLE, FIVE ON L-A 27. HE SAYS THEY ARE GOING TO ALLOCATE RESOURCES TO INCREASE PATROLS ON THAT HIGHWAY.
A FORUM IS SCHEDULED FOR THIS EVENING IN CROWLEY TO HEAR FROM THE CANDIDATES FOR POLICE CHIEF. CROWLEY ALDERWOMAN EZORA PROCTOR TELLS US ABOUT IT.
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IT TAKES PLACE AT 6-30 TONIGHT AT THE MARTIN LUTHER KING REC CENTER IN CROWLEY. THE ELECTION TAKES PLACE ON MARCH 5TH.
Republicans in the Louisiana House have started shaping their response to state budget problems, taking aim at consulting and professional services contracts.
The Appropriations Committee backed bills Monday that would force state contract cuts and require more reporting before deals are struck. The measures, which head to the full House for debate, are part of GOP lawmakers’ efforts to slash government spending more deeply than Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards proposes. Edwards has called for $160 million in cuts by June 30 and is asking lawmakers gathered in a special session to raise taxes to help stabilize the budget.
