2-28-18
A HEALTH CAREERS ACADEMY AT NORTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL IN LAFAYETTE WILL CLOSE AFTER THIS SCHOOL YEAR. LOW ENROLLMENT WAS CITED AS THE REASON WITH ONLY TWELVE STUDENTS IN THE PROGRAM THIS YEAR AND TEN APPLYING FOR NEXT YEAR’S PROGRAM. CHIEF ACADEMIC OFFICER ANNETTE SAMEC SAYS THEY BELIEVE TRANSPORTATION IS A FACTOR IN THE LOW ENROLLMENT NUMBERS, WITH THE DISTRICT ELIMINATING DOOR TO DOOR BUS SERVICE FOR ACADEMY STUDENTS. THOSE CURRENTLY IN THE NORTHSIDE PROGRAM CAN TRANSFER TO THE LAFAYETTE HIGH HEALTH ACADEMY IF THEY MEET ACADEMIC AND DISCIPLINE REQUIREMENTS.
A JEFF DAVIS PARISH SCHOOL BUS WAS STOLEN YESTERDAY AND LATER FOUND ABANDONED IN CROWLEY WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. JENNINGS POLICE CHIEF DANNY SIMS SAYS SURVEILLANCE VIDEO SHOWS A PERSON GETTING INTO A SCHOOL BUS IN THE JENNINGS HIGH SCHOOL PARKING LOT AT AROUND 3:30 YESTERDAY MORNING BUT IT WAS TOO FAR AWAY TO GET A DESCRIPTION OF THE SUSPECT. SIMS SAYS THE SUSPECT MANAGED TO START THE BUS AND DRIVE AWAY. THE BUS WAS FOUND IN THE 500 BLOCK OF SEVENTH STREET IN CROWLEY.
AN INDICTED GREMLIN GANG MEMBER WAS ARRESTED YESTERDAY FOR THE DECEMBER MURDER OF A EUNICE MAN. JEFF HORCHAK HAS MORE.
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Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry has joined with 19 other states in filing a federal lawsuit seeking to block the federal Affordable Care Act. The multi-state lawsuit was filed Monday in Texas, arguing the federal law’s individual mandate requiring people to buy health insurance is unconstitutional and the entire law should be deemed unenforceable. Landry, a Republican, called the mandate “unlawful” in a statement Tuesday. His position is at odds with Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards, a supporter of the federal health overhaul.
THE LAFAYETTE POLICE DEPARTMENT HELD A CHURCH SAFETY SUMMIT YESTERDAY AT THE CLIFTON CHENIER CENTER. IT WAS OPEN TO ALL CHURCH LEADERS IN ACADIANA. SOME OF THE ATTENDEES TOLD KLFY NEWS 10 THAT THEY NOW FEEL BETTER PREPARED SHOULD THEY FACE AN ATTACK, SUCH AS A MASS SHOOTING. LIVING GLORY PASTOR CARL BENTON SAYS HE’S IMPLENTING A SECURITY TEAM AT HIS CHURCH SO THE CONGREGATION CAN FEEL IT CAN PUT ITS GUARD DOWN AND WORSHIP GOD.
SASOL HAS HIRED 550 SKILLED WORKERS TO HELP BUILD AN ELEVEN BILLION DOLLAR ETHANE CRACKER AND DERIVATIVES PLANT IN WESTLAKE, WHICH HAS PUT TO REST CONCERNS ABOUT FINDING ENOUGH SKILLED CRAFT WORKERS. SPEAKING AT A STATEWIDE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT YESTERDAY AT THE LAUBERGE CASINO HOTEL, MICHAEL HAYES OF SASOL NORTH AMERICA SAYS IT HELPED THAT THERE WAS A DOWNTURN IN THE OIL INDUSTRY, HELPING THEM GET A LOT OF TALENTED INDIVIDUALS. HE SAYS 80 PERCENT OF THE WORKFORCE IS FROM LOUISIANA, AND OF THE LOUISIANA WORKERS, 90 PERCENT ARE FROM THE SOUTHWEST PART OF THE STATE. PHASED COMMISSIONING OF THE PLANT IS SET TO BEGIN THIS YEAR AND, BY 2019, SASOL WILL HAVE AN OVERALL EMPLOYMENT FORCE THAT EXCEEDS 1,150.
IOTA POLICE ARE STILL TRYING TO FIND A SUSPECT OR SUSPECTS IN A DECEMBER HOME BURGLARY IN WHICH FIREARMS WERE STOLEN. POLICE SAY THAT BETWEEN DECEMBER SECOND AND THE NINTH, A HOME IN THE 600 BLOCK OF SOUTH FIFTH STREET WAS BROKEN INTO AND THREE FIREARMS WERE STOLEN, INCLUDING AN AR-15, AND SOME SILVER DOLLAR COINS WERE ALSO TAKEN. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS URGED TO CALL CRIME STOPPERS OF ACADIA PARISH AT 789-TIPS. UP TO A THOUSAND DOLLAR CASH REWARD IS BEING OFFERED.
Louisiana’s attorney general isn’t recommending prosecution of two former Wildlife and Fisheries workers accused of keeping state-owned equipment paid with oil spill recovery money. A spokeswoman for Attorney General Jeff Landry said Tuesday the office isn’t suggesting Baton Rouge’s district attorney pursue charges against Eric Newman and Monique Savoy. Ruth Wisher said Landry’s office “determined there is currently insufficient evidence for a successful prosecution.” A June 2017 investigative report from the Legislative Auditor’s office said auditors looking for $55,000 in missing state-owned fishing equipment believe they found many of the items with Newman and Savoy.
