3-12-18
IT’S NOT THE NCAA TOURNAMENT, BUT THE U-L RAGIN’ CAJUNS MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM STILL HAS A CHANCE TO COMPETE IN THE POSTSEASON. JEFF HORCHAK HAS THE DETAILS.
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A LAKE CHARLES ATTORNEY WAS FOUND NOT GUILTY OF RAPE AFTER A WEEK LONG TRIAL. JONATHAN JOHNSON WAS ACCUSED OF DRUGGING AND RAPING A WOMAN AFTER A NIGHT OF DRINKING AT A WEDDING RECEPTION IN 2011. JOHNSON ADMITTED HAVING RELATIONS WITH THE WOMAN BUT SAID THEY WERE CONSENSUAL. HIS ATTORNEY JIM BOREN TELLS KPLC TV THE WOMAN WAS NOT CREDIBLE AND ALL THE WITNESSES TESTIFIED IN SUPPORT OF JOHNSON.
FREMIN’S FOOD AND FURNITURE IS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE AFTER A FIRE THAT HAPPENED ON FRIDAY. THE FURNITURE DEPARTMENT AND WAREHOUSE SUFFERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE BUT THE FIRE DID NOT REACH THE GROCERY STORE. THE FREMIN FAMILY POSTED ON FACEBOOK THAT THEY WILL STAY CLOSED UNTIL ALL POSSIBLE ISSUES ARE ADDRESSED AND THEY RECEIVE CLEARANCE FROM GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT EXPERTS. THEY THANKED FIRST RESPONDERS FOR THEIR QUICK ACTION AS THERE WERE NO INJURIES.
Louisiana’s civil service agency is hoping to boost the perception of state workers.
The department has beefed up its social media presence and launched a rebranding effort. The agency also has released a new video showing how the services that state employees provide impact citizens’ daily lives. State Civil Service Director Byron Decoteau says the effort is aimed at showcasing “the positive impacts our state employees bring to our communities.”
36 PEOPLE WERE GIVEN AWARDS FOR EXCELLENDCE IN COMMUNITY SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP. THE AWARDS WERE GIVEN AWAY AT THE TENTH ANNUAL COMMUNITY BENEFIT LUNCHEON HELD AT THE PETROLEUM CLUB IN LAFAYETTE. THE AWARDS WERE CREATED TO HONOR PEOPLE WHO ARE MAKING AN IMPACT BEYOND WHAT IS ORDINARY. AMONG THOSE HONORED WERE CHARLES AND PATRICIA GREEN OF LAFAYETTE, THE OWNER OF HOME HEALTH CARE, ALVA JONES, AND PARKS POLICE SUPERINTENDENT OSCAR BENOIT.
A LAKE CHARLES MAN WAS ARRESTED ON A FOURTH OFFENSE D-W-I EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. 42-YEAR-OLD TRANDY J. NELSON WAS DRIVING DOWN THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY 90 EAST OF LAKE CHARLES SHORTLY BEFORE FIVE SATURDAY MORNING WHEN A RESPONDING STATE TROOPER PULLED HIM OVER. A SPOKESMAN WITH STATE POLICE TROOP D SAYS NELSON SHOWED SIGNS OF IMPAIRMENT AND HAD AN OPEN CAN OF BEER IN THE VEHICLE. HE INITIALLY WAS COOPERATIVE BUT THEN BEGAN TO WALK AWAY AND, AFTER A BRIEF STRUGGLE, HE WAS ARRESTED.
THE OPELOUSAS POLICE DEPARTMENT IS ASKING THE PUBLIC’S HELP IN IDENTIFYING SUSPECTS WHO ROBBED TWO STORES IN OPELOUSAS. ONE HAPPENED IN THE 400 BLOCK OF CRESSWELL LANE LAST TUESDAY, AND ON THURSDAY, ANOTHER STORE IN THE 700 BLOCK OF CRESSWELL LANE WAS ALSO ROBBED AT GUNPOINT. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THE ROBBERIES OR WHO CAN HELP IDENTIFY THE SUSPECTS IS ASKED TO CALL THE OPELOUSAS POLICE DEPARTMENT. ALL CALLS WILL REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL.
Only days removed from a contentious, unsuccessful special session, Louisiana’s lawmakers are returning for more, a monthslong stretch of debates in the regular legislative session. The list of topics this time will be more varied than the prior session’s focus on finances. But the state’s latest budget gap, estimated to sit at around $700 million, will remain at the center of discussions and likely in the forefront of many legislators’ thoughts. The regular session begins today at noon.
Gov. John Bel Edwards speaks to the House and Senate an hour later to outline his agenda and offer an assessment of where things stand at the midpoint of his four-year term.
Taxes can’t be considered to help bail Louisiana out of its budget problems. Otherwise, topics allowed for debate are wide open.
