KAJN Jesus FM 102.9


2-5-16

SALES TAX COLLECTIONS IN LAFAYETTE PARISH ARE DOWN BY ALMOST 27 PERCENT SO FAR THIS BUDGET YEAR.  MOST OF THE HIT CAME FROM THE UNINCORPORATED PARTS OF THE PARISH, WHICH RELY HEAVILY ON BUSINESSES IN THE OIL INDUSTRY.  CITY PARISH CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER LORRIE TOUPS TOLD THE COUNCIL’S FINANCE LIAISON COMMITTEE LAST NIGHT THAT CUTS WILL NEED TO BE MADE IF THE TREND CONTINUES.  TOUPS SAYS THAT THEY’LL HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT THEY NEED TO DO WHEN THE DECEMBER SALES TAX COLLECTION FIGURES COME IN.

 

THE CALCASIEU PARISH POLICE JURY LAST NIGHT APPROVED A DRAINAGE STUDY THAT AIMS TO FIX DRAINAGE AND FLOODING ISSUES IN THE PARISH.  THE STUDY INCLUDES ISSUES RESIDENTS HAVE HAD WITH DRAINAGE AND FLOODING WHICH WERE SHARED AT THREE OPEN HOUSES LAST MONTH.  THE STUDY ALSO REVEALS POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM.  PARISH ADMINISTRATOR BRIAN BEAM SAYS THEY ARE CREATING A PUBLIC WORKS DRAINAGE DEPARTMENT.

 

THE MAN, ACCUSED OF KILLING HIS STEPDAUGHTER AND TRYING TO COVER IT UP, WAS FOUND GUILTY OF MURDER.  JULIE DARCE REPORTS.

 

VOICER C :21

 

New enrollment numbers show 214,148 people in Louisiana signed up for coverage under President Obama’s health care act.  The third open enrollment period ended Sunday. National and state enrollment figures were released Thursday. They mark an increase in Louisiana.

 

THE LAFAYETTE-BASED ENGINEERING  CONSULTING FIRM FENSTERMAKER ANNOUNCED CUTS TO ITS WORK FORCE.  FENSTERMAKER WILL BE LAYING OFF BETWEEN TEN AND 15 EMPLOYEES AND TRIMMING THE WORK WEEK FOR THE REMAINING EMPLOYEES TO 36 HOURS.  THE COMPANY SAYS THEY ARE RESPONDING TO BUSINESS CONDITIONS WHICH WERE SOFT IN DECEMBER.  THEY SAID BY MAKING THESE CUTS, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE EMPLOYING MOST OF THEIR WORKFORCE.

 

NEXT TUESDAY, THE BEAUREGARD PARISH POLICE JURY WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO ACCEPT A BID FOR WORK ON THE HISTORIC JAIL IN DERIDDER, WHICH WOULD ALLOW IT TO BE OPENED FOR TOURS.  THE POLICE JURY WILL CONSIDER A BID FROM CARLTON CONSTRUCTION OF 163 THOUSAND DOLLARS.  PARISH ADMINISTRATOR BOBBY HENNINGAN SAYS THERE IS MONEY FOR THE PROJECT WITHOUT HAVING TO PULL FROM THE GENERAL FUNDS.  ONE JUROR, ELVIN HOLLIDAY, WANTS THEM TO CONSIDER WAITING UNTIL AFTER A MARCH ELECTION TO SEE IF A SOLID WASTE TAX IS APPROVED, BECAUSE HE WORRIES ABOUT THE AFFECTS ON THE BUDGET IF IT IS REJECTED.

 

TWO ST. LANDRY PARISH SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS ARE UPSET WITH SUPERINTENDENT EDWARD BROWN FOR HIRING A WHITE APPLICANT FOR A SUPERVISORY POSITION.  BROWN HIRED JUNE INHERN FOR SUPERVISOR OF INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTION, AND HIS TWO PREVIOUS HIRES WERE ALSO WHITE.  THE SUPERINTENDENT, WHO IS BLACK, SAYS HE WILL HIRE WHOMEVER HE BELIEVES IS THE BEST CANDIDATE FOR A JOB.  BOARD MEMBERS HAZEL SIAS AND MILTON AMBRES SAY THERE SHOULD BE MORE RACIAL DIVERSITY AMONG ADMINISTRATIVE POSITIONS, AND THEY ARE TAKING THEIR COMPLAINT TO THE U-S JUSTICE DEPARTMENT.

 

President Barack Obama has nominated U.S. Attorney Stephanie Finley to serve as a federal judge in Louisiana.  A White House statement on Thursday says Obama nominated Finley for a seat in the Western District of Louisiana, that includes Lafayette, Lake Charles, and Alexandria.  Finley has served as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana since 2010. She previously served as a prosecutor in the same district from 1995 to 2010.