2-24-15
MANY SCHOOLS IN ACADIANA ARE CLOSED TODAY DUE TO THE COLD WEATHER. JULIE DARCE HAS THE LIST.
WEATHER. JULIE DARCE HAS THE LIST.
VOICER B :10
SCHOOLS ARE ALSO CLOSED IN ALLEN, BEAUREGARD, CALCASIEU AND CAMERON PARISHES
Citing volatility in U.S. markets, another petrochemical company has decided to delay its decision to build a plant here. The American Press reports that Paul Carrico, president and CEO of Axiall, announced Friday that the company and its joint venture partner, Lotte Chemical of South Korea, have agreed to postpone a final investment decision to build an ethane cracker at Axiall’s Westlake plant.
Last February, Axiall and Lotte Chemical signed an agreement to build a $2 billion ethane cracker. Axiall’s announcement comes less than a month after Sasol executives chose to delay their $14 billion gas-to-liquids project in Westlake.
LAST NIGHT, THE PARENTS OF ELEMENTARY AND PRESCHOOL CHILDREN IN LAFAYETTE PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS LEARNED IF THEIR CHILD GOT INTO A SCHOOL OF CHOICE. THERE ARE A LIMITED NUMBER OF STUDENTS ALLOWED IN EACH SCHOOL OF CHOICE, SO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM HOLDS A COMPUTERIZED LOTTERY TO SELECT STUDENTS, AND THE REST ARE PUT ON WAITING LISTS. SCHOOLS OF CHOICE HAVE SPECIALIZED CURRICULUM, SUCH AS FRENCH AND SPANISH IMMERSION AND ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY ACADEMIES. THE LOTTERY FOR MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW EVENING, AND THE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WILL LEARN IF THEY MADE IT INTO A SCHOOL OF CHOICE ON THURSDAY EVENING.
Louisiana’s education superintendent is proposing to speed a review of the state’s use of Common Core and to delay consequences for the switch to the multistate education standards. The changes, announced Monday by Superintendent John White, seek to blunt efforts by Common Core opponents like Gov. Bobby Jindal to yank the standards from Louisiana’s public school classrooms. State regulations require a review of the English and math standards in 2016. White wants to move that review to this fall.
And State Education Superintendent John White says he’s concerned Gov. Bobby Jindal’s budget proposal will strip dollars for student testing. Jindal opposes Louisiana’s use of testing tied to the Common Core education standards. Jindal administration spokeswoman Meghan Parrish says no specific testing cuts are proposed in the governor’s spending recommendations for next year, which will be unveiled Friday. In a conference call Monday, White said he’s heard speculation Jindal’s budget would cut money the state education department uses to pay for standardized testing required under state and federal law.
THE NEWEST STATE REPRESENTATIVE SAYS HE KNOWS ITS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT IN HIS FIRST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WHEN THEY HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE UP A PROJECTED ONE-POINT-6 BILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR. 33-YEAR-OLD BLAKE MIGUEZ OF NEW IBERIA EASILY WON THE DISTRICT 49 SEAT SATURDAY, GARNERING 93 PERCENT OF THE VOTE. MIGUEZ SAYS HE DOESN’T FAVOR RAISING TAXES, SO THE REVENUE SHORTFALL WILL HAVE TO COME THROUGH SPENDING CUTS. HE TOLD THE ADVOCATE THAT HE WILL LEAN ON THE EXPERTISE OF VETERAN LEGISLATORS AND DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS.
The former police chief of Kinder has pleaded guilty to malfeasance in office and theft over $1,500 for allegedly using town credit cards to buy fuel for personal use.
The American Press reports that Gary Pelican, 53, pleaded guilty Monday just before his trial was scheduled to begin. Nine other counts of malfeasance were dismissed against him. He faces up to 15 years in prison and up to an $8,000 fine.
U-L RAGIN CAJUN BASEBALL COACH TONY ROBICHEAUX COULD REACH A MAJOR MILESTONE TONIGHT. HE’S GOING FOR HIS ONE THOUSANDTH WIN, AND IF IT HAPPENS TONIGHT, IT WILL BE AGAINST THE FIRST TEAM HE COACHED, MCNEESE STATE. ONLY 51 NCAA BASEBALL COACHES HAVE REACHED ONE THOUSAND VICTORIES, AND ROBICHEAUX WOULD BECOME THE 18TH ACTIVE COACH TO DO SO. HIS SON, AUSTIN, TELLS THE DAILY ADVERTISER THAT HIS GRANDFATHER, RAY, TAUGHT THEM THAT THE KEY TO SUCCESS IS TO GIVE EVERYTHING TO GOD, BECAUSE, IF YOU DON’T, IT WILL CATCH UP TO YOU.