2-9-18
LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH MAYOR PRESIDENT JOEL ROBIDEAUX HAS RELEASED A LIST OF 72 BACKLOGGED COULEE-CLEANING PROJECTS IN THE PARISH THAT HAVE BEEN SCORED AND RANKED BASED ON A NUMBER OF FACTORS INCLUDING THE AREAS WITH THE BIGGEST FLOODING PROBLEMS. THE TOP 24 ON THE LIST WILL BE FUNDED WITH NINE MILLION DOLLARS IN SURPLUS MONEY. HALF OF THOSE PROJECTS ARE IN COUNCIL DISTRICT NINE WHICH INCLUDES YOUNGSVILLE AND MILTON. ROBIDEAUX SAYS HE EXPECTS SOME OF THE PROJECTS WILL BE UNDERWAY OR COMPLETED BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.
A BODY WAS FOUND YESTERDAY AFTERNOON IN BAYOU D’INDE. A FISHERMAN DISCOVERED THE BODY AT AROUND 2:45 YESTERDAY NORTH OF I-TEN IN SULPHUR. THE CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE HAS IDENTIFIED THE DECEASED AS FIFTY-YEAR-OLD GREGORY P. CASS OF SULPHUR. SPOKESWOMAN KIM MYERS SAYS INVESTIGATORS HAVE FOUND NO EVIDENCE OF FOUL PLAY AND THEY ARE WAITING ON THE CALCASIEU PARISH CORONER’S OFFICE TO RULE ON THE CAUSE OF DEATH.
ABBEVILLE CITY LEADERS SAYS THE CITY’S MOST RECENT MURDER PROVES THEY NEED TO BE TOUGHER ON CRIME. JEFF HORCHAK HAS MORE.
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In Louisiana’s partisan debate over taxes, Republicans and Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration are bickering over a one-stop website detailing how every state budget dollar is spent. GOP lawmakers, conservative organizations and business groups are promoting a searchable website they say offers transparency in government, which they’re calling Louisiana Checkbook. It’s among spending control measures sought by House Republican leaders as they negotiate with the Democratic governor over his push to replace $1 billion in expiring temporary taxes. Edwards’ administration says it supports a transparency website and is working on something similar.
After taking criticism for its last list, Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration has sent lawmakers a new spreadsheet of budget cuts it says were made during the governor’s two years in office. And the cuts included are larger than the last tally.
The list released Thursday totals $981 million, up from $672 million. Edwards’ list is a defense against GOP criticism that he hasn’t done enough to trim spending as he pushes to replace $1 billion in temporary taxes.
IT WAS RECENTLY DETERMINED THAT THE DUMPING OF ANIMAL CARCASSES OFF OF DEBUTANTE ROAD IN CARENCRO WAS DONE BY CITY WORKERS ON A ROAD CREW. ACADIANA ANIMAL AID VOLUNTEER, ANGEL JONES, WHO FOUND THE REMAINS, TELLS KLFY TV THAT SHE FOUND HUNDREDS OF ANIMALS INCLUDING DOGS AND CATS. THE CARENCRO CITY MANAGER HAS TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE INCIDENT. THEY ARE WORKING ON ESTABLISHING STRICTER PROTOCOLS FOR DISPOSING OF ANIMALS KILLED ON THE ROADS.
YESTERDAY WAS THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF AN EXPLOSION AT THE PACKAGING OF AMERICA PLANT IN DERIDDER THAT KILLED THREE PEOPLE. SEVERAL LOCAL, STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES ARE STILL INVESTIGATING THE EXPLOSION OF A LARGE TANK THAT FLEW 370 FEET IN THE AIR OVER A SIX STORY BUILDING. VANESSA ALLEN SUTHERLAND OF THE U-S CHEMICAL SAFETY BOARD TELLS KPLC TV THEY BELIEVE IT WAS CAUSED BY ONGOING HOT WORK REPAIRS ABOVE THE TANK, THAT COULD HAVE PRODUCED A SPARK OR FLAME. AT LEAST SEVEN LAWSUITS HAVE BEEN FILED IN BEAUREGARD PARISH BY THE SURVIVORS OF THOSE WHO DIED OR THOSE WHO WERE INJURED IN THE EXPLOSION.
A STUDENT AT WESTGATE HIGH IN NEW IBERIA BROUGHT A GUN TO SCHOOL YESTERDAY. THE PRINCIPAL DETAINED 19-YEAR-OLF DEON’TRE JOSEPH OF NEW IBERIA AND SEARCHED HIS BACKPACK, FINDING A 45 CALIBER SEMIAUTOMATIC HANDGUN WITH AMMUNITION. JOSEPH WAS ARRESTED AND BOOKED INTO THE IBERIA PARISH JAIL ON CHARGES OF ILLEGAL CARRYING OF WEAPONS AND CARRYING A FIREARM ON SCHOOL PROPERTY. DETECTIVES WITH THE IBERIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE DO NOT KNOW YET WHY HE BROUGHT THE GUN TO SCHOOL.
