2-29-16
Lafayette’s city leaders are examining a proposal to add a statue of a slave next to a statue of a Confederate general in downtown Lafayette, and to leave the statue just as it is. At issue is a monument to Confederate Gen. Alfred Mouton, which has become the subject of a heated public debate. Similar debates over Confederate symbols are taking place all over the nation since the slayings of nine black worshippers last June at a church in Charleston, South Carolina. The Advocate reports that adding a statue of a slave next to Mouton is one idea among many being looked at.
FIREFIGHTERS FROM CALCASIEU PARISH ARE ORGANIZING A 9/11 MEMORIAL STAIR CLIMB FOR LAKE CHARLES. THEY ARE HOPING TO GET AT LEAST 343 PARTICIPANTS FOR THE INITIAL CLIMB, WHICH WILL HAPPEN ON SEPTEMBER TENTH AT THE CAPITAL ONE BUILDING. 343 IS THE NUMBER OF FIREFIGHTERS KILLED AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER ON SEPTEMBER ELEVENTH, 2001. MONEY RAISED THROUGH THE EVENT WILL GO TO THE FAMILIES OF FALLEN FIREFIGHTERS THROUGH THE NATIONAL FALLEN FIREFIGHTER’S FOUNDATION.
Authorities are investigating a double homicide after two bodies were found inside a burning mobile home in St. Martinville and they say they have arrested a suspect following a high-speed chase. Local media are reporting two bodies were found inside a burning mobile home on Saturday in St. Martinville. Erin Foster, a West Feliciana Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman, told The Advocate that a suspect in the homicides was arrested near St. Francisville after police chased him. The suspect was identified as Derrick Siner.
Senators have started culling through cut and tax proposals backed by the House to rebalance this year’s budget. The Senate’s tax committee on Sunday advanced two measures that would generate sizable cash for this year’s budget: a 1-cent increase in the state sales tax and a change in the payment schedule for businesses to turn over the sales taxes they collect. Before passing the sales tax hike to the full Senate, senators changed the expiration date from the 18 months sought by the House to five years. But Senate leaders say the House hasn’t done enough to raise money to help bail out the budget.
THE WINGS OF FREEDOM TOUR IS MAKING A THREE DAY STOP AT THE LAFAYETTE REGIONAL AIRPORT. THEY ARE OFFERING TOURS OF CLASSIC MILITARY PLANES, INCLUDING A B-24 LIBERATOR, A B-17 FLYING FORTRESS, A B-25 MITCHELL, AND A P-51 MUSTANG. THE TOURS ARE FROM NOON TO 4:30 TODAY, 9 TO 4:30 TOMORROW AND FROM NINE TO NOON ON WEDNESDAY. THE TOURS COST TWELVE DOLLARS FOR ADULTS AND SIX DOLLARS FOR CHILDREN.
AN IOWA MAN WAS KILLED FRIDAY NIGHT IN A TWO VEHICLE ACCIDENT ON HIGHWAY 165 NEAR WOODLAWN. STATE TROOPERS BELIEVE THE PICKUP DRIVEN BY 70-YEAR-OLD WILLIAM L. TALBOT WAS STRUCK BY AN 18 WHEELER AS HE TRIED TO CROSS THE HIGHWAY. TALBOT, WHO WASN’T WEARING A SEATBELT, LATER DIED AT A HOSPITAL IN LAKE CHARLES. A PASSENGER IN THE PICKUP, WHO WAS WEARING A SEATBELT, SUFFERED MODERATE INJURIES.
STATE POLICE CANCELLED A MISSING AND ENDANGERED CHILD ADVISORY FOR A 17-YEAR-OLD GIRL FROM FRANKLIN LATE LAST NIGHT. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
VOICER I :18
A new real-time auto insurance monitoring system is now being used in some parts of Louisiana to help police enforce the requirement that drivers are up to date on paying their premiums. The American Press reports the new monitoring system is being rolled out in three phases, beginning with trial runs by state police in Baton Rouge and Monroe that started on Sunday. It will be launched statewide for all state police troops next before eventually being open to all police, according to state officials. Previously, police could only check to see if a driver had an insurance card and not if coverage had lapsed due to non-payment.
