2-3-22
NEW IBERIA POLICE ARE SEARCHING FOR A SUSPECT IN CONNECTION WITH A HOMOCIDE TUESDAY NIGHT. SYLVIA MASTERS REPORTS.
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After 19 years of service, a Louisiana mayor said Wednesday he’s calling it quits. Carencro Mayor Glenn Brasseaux announced he will not seek re-election in 2022. The Advocate reports Brasseaux’s retirement is effective Dec. 31, the last day of his fifth and final term. Braseaux was elected to the Carencro City Council in 1978 and served for 24 years before he was elected mayor in 2003.
A new leader is in place in Westlake. Daniel W. Racca was sworn in Tuesday as interim mayor during a special city council meeting. The vacancy was created when Westlake Mayor Robert “Bob” Hardey died of cancer Jan. 29. Racca will serve through December.
NURSING HOME DEATHS, THAT ARE AT LEAST PARTLY ATTRIBUTED TO THE OMICRON VARIANT OF COVID-NINETEEN, HAVE SURGED IN LOUISIANA, WITH MORE THAN FIFTY OVER THE LAST TWO WEEKS, ACCORDING TO STATE DATA. THERE WERE THIRTY-TWO DEATHS OVER THE SEVEN DAYS LEADING UP TO WEDNESDAY, MAKING IT THE DEADLIEST WEEK IN NURSING HOMES SINCE LAST SPRING. THAT’S ALSO WORSE THAN ANY WEEK DURING THE DELTA SURGE, WHEN THERE WERE TWO WEEKS IN SEPTEMBER WITH NINETEEN DEATHS EACH. THE STATE REPORTS A DEATH IF COVID WAS DETERMINED TO BE A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR OR IF THE PERSON WAS DIAGNOSED WITH COVID IN THE PRIOR SIXTY DAYS.
A MAMOU WOMAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY EXPLOITING A RESIDENT AT THE EUNICE MANOR NURSING HOME FOR FINANCIAL GAIN. THIRTY-YEAR-OLD TRANESSA COMPTON WAS BOOKED BY THE SAINT LANDRY PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE ON TWO HUNDRED FIFTY-NINE COUNTS OF ACCESS DEVICE FRAUD AND SIXTEEN COUNTS OF IDENTITY THEFT. COMPTON IS ACCUSED OF MAKING NUMEROUS CHARGES ON THE VICTIM’S CREDIT CARD IN IN NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER, TOTALLING MORE THAN EIGHTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. WHEN QUESTIONED AND PRESENTED WITH EVIDENCE, COMPTON DENIED THE ACCUSATIONS, BUT LATER CLAIMING THE VICTIM GAVE HER THE CARD TO USE TO BUY PRESENTS FOR HER CHILDREN.
ON TUESDAY, THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL INTRODUCED AN ORDINANCE TO PAY MORE THAN ONE MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE WORK THAT’S BEING DONE TO PUT OUT A TIRE FIRE AT THE SCOTT CONSTRUCTION DUMP LANDFILL. THE OWNERS OF THE LANDFILL HAVE SAID THEY DON’T HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR THE PROBLEM AND WILL NEED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE. LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY PRESS SECRETARY GREGORY LANGLEY SAYS THE DEPARTMENT WILL DO ALL IT CAN DO TO HELP LAFAYETTE RECOVER ITS MONEY. THE LAFAYETTE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT GOT INVOLVED IN EARLY DECEMBER WHEN SMOKE WAS REPORTED RISING FROM CRACKS IN THE GROUND.
THE IBERIA PARISH SCHOOL BOARD IS CONSIDERING CHANGES TO THE STUDENT DRESS CODE. ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT JENNIFER JOSEPH TELLS THE DAILY IBERIAN THAT THEY ARE LOOKING TO GIVE PARENTS MORE FLEXIBILITY BECAUSE OF THE RECENT SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES AND VENDOR INVENTORY PROBLEMS. AMONG THE CHANGES ARE ADDING RED AND GREY TO THE ALREADY APPROVED COLORS, REMOVING THE WORD “SOLID” FROM THE DESCRIPTIONS OF JACKETS AND SWEATSHIRTS, AND ALLOWING RIVETS AND OUTSIDE POCKETS ON UNIFORM PANTS. ANY APPROVED CHANGES WOULD NOT GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
THE LOUISIANA SENATE IS CONTINUING DEBATE ON THE REDRAWING OF DISTRICT BOUNDARIES BASED ON NEW CENSUS FIGURES. SENATE BILL ONE PROPOSED BY SENATE PRESIDENT PAGE CORTEZ OF LAFAYETTE WOULD MAINTAIN THE STATUS QUO WITH ELEVEN DISTRICTS WITH A MAJORITY OF BLACK RESIDENTS. CIVIL RIGHTS GROUPS AND BLACK STATE LAWMAKERS SAY THAT ISN’T ENOUGH, WITH THE BLACK POPULATION IN THE STATE GROWING. THEY BACK SENATE BILL SEVENTEEN BY STATE SENATOR ED PRICE OF GONZALEZ THAT WOULD INCLUDE THIRTEEN MAJORITY BLACK DISTRICTS.
