2-23-22
A JUDGE HAS RULED THAT THE MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING A LAFAYETTE POLICE OFFICER IN TWENTY-SEVENTEEN IS NOT COMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL. IAN HOWARD HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH FIRST DEGREE MURDER OF A POLICE OFFICER FOR THE SHOOTING DEATH OF CORPORAL MICHAEL MIDDLEBROOK, BUT HE’S PLED NOT GUILTY BY REASON OF INSANITY. IN DECEMBER, HOWARD WAS EVALUATED BY THREE MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, TWO OF WHICH DETERMINED HE WAS NOT MENTALLY COMPETENT TO PROCEED TO TRIAL. BECAUSE OF THOSE EVALUATIONS, THE JUDGE ORDERED HOWARD ADMITTED TO A HOSPITAL FOR NINETY DAYS FOR REHABILITATION, AND THEN THE JUDGE WILL DECIDE AGAIN IF HOWARD IS COMPETENT TO STAND TRIAL.
THE EVANGELINE PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT IS INVESTIGATING ITS FIRST MURDER OF THE YEAR. CAROLINE MARCELLO REPORTS.
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THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IS REPORTING THREE DEATHS FROM COVID-NINETEEN AMONG THOSE UNDER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN. HERE’S CAROLINE MARCELLO AGAIN WITH MORE.
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A federal judge has approved a settlement under which a synthetic rubber plant will pay $3.3 million in fines and $650,000 for improved air monitoring in several southwest Louisiana locations. Firestone Polymers also agreed to install numerous emission control systems at the plant in Sulphur. The Environmental Protection Agency and Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality filed the 115-page settlement and 127-page complaint together on Sept. 30. A company spokesperson said a few days later that the plant had reduced hazardous air pollutants about 97% since 2017.
A SURVEYING LETTER WAS SENT OUT TO SOME RESIDENTS IN SOUTH LAFAYETTE THAT SHOWS A PROPOSED EXTENSION OF KALISTE SALOOM ROAD. THE EXTENSION WOULD START SOUTH OF THE EAST BROUSSARD ROUNDABOUT AND CONNECT THROUGH A FIELD TO HOMEWOOD DRIVE IN THE RIVER WOODS NEIGHBORHOOD. SOME RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA WERE CONCERNED BECAUSE THE MAP APPEARED TO SHOW THE ROAD GOING THROUGH THEIR HOMES. BUT L-C-G COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA SPECIALIST TONYA TRCALEK SAYS IT WOULD RUN ALONG THE PUBLIC RIGHT OF WAY AND NOT AFFECT THEIR HOMES OR LANDS.
THE FAMILY OF EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD RAMSIE BAUMGARDNER, WHO LOST HER LIFE IN A COLLISION ON HIGHWAY ONE-SIXTY-SEVEN IN VERMILLION PARISH, ARE PUSHING FOR LIGHTS TO BE INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED ON THE HIGHWAY BETWEEN MAURICE AND ABBEVILLE. RAMSIE’S STEPMOTHER, KRISTI BAUMGARDNER, TELLS KLFY TV THAT THERE’S NOTHING THEY CAN DO TO GET RAMSIE BACK, BUT IF THEY CAN HELP AVOID IT FOR SOMEONE ELSE, IT WOULD MEAN THE WORLD TO THEM. DEIDRA DRUILHET WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT SAYS THEY ARE CONDUCTING A SPEED AND STUDY ASSESSMENT. THE FAMILY SAYS THE VERMILLION PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE HAS A SHORT-TERM PLAN TO PUT LIGHTS IN THE AREA
Louisiana’s Department of Public Safety and Corrections is resuming visitation at state prisons. The department says in a Tuesday news release those officials began phasing in visitation policies Monday. The department said declining COVID-19 numbers in the prisons and increasing vaccination rates among prisoners and the general public prompted the move. Numerous precautions remain in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19. All visitation will be non-contact and plexiglass barriers will separate the inmates and visitors.
THE ACADIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS STILL TRYING TO FIND WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR A DRIVE BY SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED AT THE KATHY APARTMENTS NEAR CROWLEY ON JANUARY TWENTY-THIRD. FIFTEEN TO TWENTY ROUNDS WERE FIRED FROM A FOUR DOOR GREY COMPACT SEDAN. MULTIPLE VEHICLES WERE HIT AS WELL AS THE APARTMENT BUILDING BUT NO ONE WAS INJURED. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THIS CRIME IS ASKED TO CALL SEVEN-EIGHT-NINE-TIPS. UP TO TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS IS BEING OFFERED FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO AN ARREST.
