3-12-20
Gov. John Bel Edwards has declared a public health emergency in Louisiana as the number of new coronavirus cases in the state continues to grow. Thirteen people have now tested positive for the COVID-19 disease caused by the coronavirus. The number of parades and other events that are being canceled has begun to increase. Edwards says people in six parishes have now tested positive for the virus.
ONE OF THE CORONAVIRUS CASES IS AN IBERIA PARISH RESIDENT. HOWEVER, CHRISTINA STEPHENS WITH THE GOVERNOR’S PRESS OFFICE SAYS THAT THE IBERIA PARISH RESIDENT IS HOSPITALIZED IN LAFOURCHE PARISH. STATE HEALTH OFFICER JIMMY GUIDRY SAYS OFFICIALS ARE MAKING DECISIONS ON HOW TO HANDLE LARGE GATHERINGS OF PEOPLE BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF DISEASE IN THE COMMUNITY. HE SPECIFICALLY CITED FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL IN LAFAYETTE SAYING “THERE IS A RISK IN THAT.”
FIVE STAFF MEMBERS AT ST. LANDRY PARISH SCHOOLS ARE BEING ASKED TO SELF-QUARANTINE FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS AS A PRECAUTION. THEY EACH WENT ON A CRUISE TO MEXICO TWO WEEKS AGO THOUGH THEY HAVE SHOWN NO SYMPTOMS OF THE CORONAVIRUS. LAFAYETTE MAYOR PRESIDENT JOSH GUILLORY IS SUSPENDING ALL ACTIVITIES AT SENIOR CENTERS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE BECAUSE OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS. GUILLORY SAYS THAT THE PROGRAMMING WILL BE SUSPENDED BEGINNING FRIDAY AT THE GREENHOUSE, THE ROSEHOUSE AND THE ART STUDIO BECAUSE SENIORS ARE AT THE HIGHEST RISK FOR COMPLICATIONS FROM THE DISEASE.
SO FAR PROGRAMS ARE CONTINUING AT THE SEVEN SENIOR CENTER LOCATIONS ACROSS CALCASIEU PARISH. THE CALCASIEU COUNCIL ON AGING HAS OVER THREE THOUSAND VISITS A MONTH AT THE CENTERS. C-E-O JACQUELINE GREEN SAYS THEY HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTING INFORMATION ON A REGULAR BASIS TO SENIORS ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS. EMPLOYEES ARE BEING TOLD ABOUT THE SIGNS OF THE ILLNESS AND ARE BEING ASKED TO STAY VIGILANT IN THEIR CLEANING.
AS LOUISIANA SEES MORE CASES OF COVID-NINETEEN, THE CONCERNS ABOUT THE INFECTION GROW. CAROLINE MARCELLO REPORTS.
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LAFAYETTE MAYOR PRESIDENT JOSH GUILLORY REASSERTED HIS OPPOSITION TO NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS AT A BREAKFAST EVENT YESTERDAY WITH THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BOARD MEMBERS. IN DECEMBER, THE LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH COUNCIL APPROVED FIVE NEW ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS THAT ARE EACH ALLOWED TO COLLECT A SALES AND MOTEL TAX THAT WILL BE REINVESTED IN THAT DISTRICT. GUILLORY SAYS HE’S SURE CITIZENS WOULD NOT HAVE APPROVED THE NEW DISTRICTS. DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY CHAIRMAN MILES MATT SAYS THERE’S BEEN LITTLE INVESTMENT IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA AND THE NEW ONE PERCENT TAX WILL RAISE SEVEN HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS WHICH WILL BE SPENT ON INFRASTRUCTURE.
THE DAUGHTER OF A ST. MARTINVILLE MAN, WHO WAS MISSING AND LATER FOUND DEAD, WAS ARRESTED MONDAY ON AN OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE CHARGE. ALFRED BATISTE WAS REPORTED MISSING SUNDAY AND HIS DAUGHTER, SHONIA BATISTE, REPEATEDLY SAID HE WAS VISITING RELATIVES IN TEXAS. WITNESSES SAY SHONIA HID ALFRED’S BODY WITH A PILE OF CLOTHES AND THE BODY WAS FOUND MONDAY IN THE BACK BEDROOM OF A TRAILER THAT THEY SHARED. ST. MARTINVILLE POLICE SPOKESMAN ADAM TOUCHET SAYS AN AUTOPSY DID NOT DETERMINE HOW BATISTE DIED.
THERE’S A PROPOSAL IN THE STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO TAKE AWAY LOCAL AGENCIES’ ABILITIES TO COLLECT LOCAL TAXES AND INSTEAD GIVES THAT POWER TO THE STATE. THE JEFF DAVIS PARISH SCHOOL BOARD, POLICE JURY AND THE TOWN OF WELSH HAVE VOTED FORMALLY TO OPPOSE THE BILLS. HOUSE BILLS 428 AND 581 WOULD CREATE A STATE CENTRALIZED SALES TAX COLLECTION. JEFF DAVIS PARISH SUPERINTENDENT KIRK CREUDER SAYS THAT LOCAL MONEY WOULD GO TO THE STATE UNDER THE PROPOSAL AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO HOLD THEIR BREATH WAITING FOR IT TO COME BACK.
