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THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD LAST NIGHT TALKED ABOUT POSSIBLY MOVING SOME PROGRAMS AND SCHOOLS OF CHOICE TO OTHER LOCATIONS AS A WAY OF SAVING MONEY. NO SPECIFICS WERE MENTIONED BUT COUNCILMAN JEREMY HIDALGO SAYS MOVING A PROGRAM IS A BETTER OPTION THAN CUTTING IT. SUPERINTENDENT DONALD AGUILLARD TOLD THE BOARD HE COULD HAVE SPECIFICS ABOUT POSSIBLE PROGRAM RE-LOCATIONS AVAILABLE TO THE BOARD BY MAY. SOME PROGRAM RELOCATIONS COULD TAKE EFFECT BEGINNING IN THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR.
THERE IS A HEAVY DEMAND FOR SKILLED WORKERS IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMIC EXPANSION. MORE THAN 700 STUDENTS ARE ENROLLED AT THE ABC TRAINING CENTER IN WESTLAKE AND THEY HAVE A WAITING LIST FOR THE WELDING CLASSES. DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION KIRBY BRUCHAUS TELLS KPLC TV THAT THERE’S ALSO A BIG DEMAND FOR ELECTRICIANS AND PIPEFITTERS. SASOL AND LAKE CHARLES L-N-G RECENTLY AGREED TO CONTRIBUTE 200 THOUSAND DOLLARS TO THE ABC TRAINING CENTER AND SOWELA TECHNICAL COLLEGE.
TWO TOP MEN IN THE IBERIA PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS. JULIE DARCE REPORTS.
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Lawmakers have taken a shot at former Gov. Bobby Jindal in the special legislative session, giving final passage to a measure aimed at refuting his budget practices. The House and Senate agreed Wednesday to repeal a heavily-criticized tax credit, called SAVE, that Jindal pushed to protect his anti-tax record as he readied for his failed campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. The credit didn’t raise new money or cut anyone’s taxes. But it gave Jindal the ability to claim an offset against other tax hikes used to drum up money for public colleges in the budget, so he could say he didn’t support any net tax increases.
Louisiana’s drinkers will soon be paying more for their wine and beer. A bill to boost the tax rates charged on alcohol won final passage Wednesday with a 71-23 House vote. The measure heads to Gov. John Bel Edwards, who supports the tax hike to help balance Louisiana’s budget. The increase kicks in April 1.
LAFAYETTE MAYOR PRESIDENT JOEL ROBIDEAUX WANTS TO CHANGE THE REQUIREMENTS FOR POLICE CHIEF IN ORDER TO INCREASE THE FIELD OF CANDIDATES. HE SAYS THE CURRENT REQUIREMENTS OF A BACHELOR’S DEGREE OR FORTY YEARS EXPERIENCE ARE TOO RESTRICTIVE AND ARE NOT IN LINE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS IN OTHER LOUISIANA CITIES. HE’S ASKED THE LOCAL FIRE AND POLICE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD TO CHANGE THE REQUIREMENTS SO THE POTENTIAL CANDIDATES HAVE A TWO YEAR DEGREE OR SOME COLLEGE COURSEWORK PLUS A CERTAIN LEVEL OF LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE. THE BOARD IS EXPECTED TO TAKE UP THE MATTER NEXT MONTH.
OFFICIALS AT THE VETERANS ADMINISTRATION IN ALEXANDRIA SAY A NEW PERMANENT CLINIC WILL BE IN PLACE IN LAKE CHARLES BY THE END OF THE YEAR. IT WILL BE LOCATED AT 3601 GERSTNER MEMORIAL DRIVE AND MEDICAL DIRECTOR PETER DANCY SAYS THE COMMUNITY SHOULD BEGIN SEEING WORK GOING ON THERE WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS. THE FORMER COMMANDER OF THE AMERICAN LEGION IN LOUISIANA, JIM JACKSON, SAYS HE DOESN’T BELIEVE IT WILL BE COMPLETED BY THEN. HE TELLS KPLC TV THAT HE CAME TO THAT CONCLUSION AFTER TALKING WITH PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE.
THE ST. LANDRY PARISH COUNCIL TALKED LAST NIGHT ABOUT RESERVING SOME OF THE TAX MONEY FROM EVANGELINE DOWN SLOT MACHINES IN AN EMERGENCY FUND. COUNCILMAN JERRY RED TALKED ABOUT TAKING FIVE PERCENT OF THE MONEY DISTRIBUTED TO PARISH OFFICES AND MUNICIPALITIES AND CREATE A SLUSH FUND THAT WOULD BE FOR WEATHER EMERGENCIES. PARISH PRESIDENT BILL FONTENOT SAYS THE COUNCIL WOULD HAVE TO MAKE ANY CHANGES THROUGH AN ORDINANCE. THE COUNCIL TOOK NO ACTION ON THE MATTER.
