3-13-19
SEVERAL LAFAYETTE SCHOOLS WERE PLACED ON LOCKDOWN YESTERDAY WHILE AUTHORITIES CONDUCTED A MANHUNT FOR AN ESCAPED INMATE. 27-YEAR-OLD MARKELL JONES ESCAPED NEAR VOORHIES AND SOUTH ST. ANTOINE STREETS YESTERDAY MORNING WHILE BEING TRANSPORTED BY EAST CARROLL PARISH DEPUTIES. HE WAS CAPTURED AT AROUND TWO YESTERDAY AFTERNOON BY A LAFAYETTE CITY MARSHAL IN THE 900 BLOCK OF WEST WILLOW STREET. JONES, WHO WAS BAREFOOT AND WEARING ORANGE CORRECTIONAL SHORTS, WAS SEEN VISIBLY RESISTING THE DEPUTIES AS HE WAS BEING TAKEN INTO THE LAFAYETTE PARISH CORRECTIONAL CENTER.
A LAKE CHARLES JEWELER SAYS HE’S SEEN SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN VICTIMIZED BY SCAMMERS SELLING FAKE GOLD. DIAMOND DURRELL’S MANAGER RANDY JONES TELLS KPLC TV THAT ALMOST A DOZEN PEOPLE HAVE BROUGHT IN THE FAKE JEWELRY TO SEE HOW MUCH IT WAS WORTH. HE SAYS THE PEOPLE SPENT ANYWHERE FROM A HUNDRED TO FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS TO PEOPLE WHO SAID THEY WERE SELLING IT BECAUSE THEY LOST MONEY AND NEEDED SOME CASH TO GET HOME. JONES’ ADVISE IS TO ONLY BUY GOLD JEWELRY FROM A REPUTABLE SOURCE AND DON’T FALL FOR THE CREATIVE STORIES OF THE SCAMMERS.
U.S. immigration authorities say over 2,200 people exposed to a mumps outbreak in at least two detention facilities have been quarantined. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said Tuesday that the 25-day quarantine began March 7 at facilities at Pine Prairie in Evangeline Parish, and Aurora, Colorado. A spokesman says 236 detainees have had confirmed or probable cases of mumps in 51 facilities in the past year. There were no reported cases between 2016 and 2018 at any ICE facilities.
Gov. John Bel Edwards’ push to give Louisiana public school teachers a pay raise and school districts their first spending increase in years has won support from the state’s top school board. Members of the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education on Tuesday backed the K-12 public school financing formula proposed by the Democratic governor for the 2019-20 year. A final vote comes Wednesday. Then, the formula moves to state lawmakers for consideration.
LAFAYETTE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A SHOOTING THAT LEFT ONE PERSON INJURED. JEFF HORCHAK HAS MORE.
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LAST NIGHT THE CALCASIEU PARISH POLICE JURY HEARD FINAL RECOMMENDATIONS FROM PARISH STAFF TO CONSOLIDATE SEVEN WATER DISTRICTS INTO TWO LARGE DISTRICTS. IT WOULD ALSO RESULT IN 14 BOARD MEMBERS RATHER THAN THE CURRENT 35. PHASE TWO OF THE PLAN WOULD SET NEW MILLAGE RATES FOR THE TWO DISTRICTS USING THE LOWEST RATE CURRENTLY USED ON EACH SIDE OF THE CALCASIEU RIVER, WHICH WOULD DIVIDE THE TWO DISTRICTS. THE POLICE JURY WILL TAKE FINAL ACTION ON THESE RECOMMENDATIONS AT THEIR MARCH 21ST MEETING.
A RAYNE TEENAGER FACES DRUG CHARGES AFTER A TWO VEHICLE CRASH SUNDAY MORNING ON EAST JEFF DAVIS AVENUE. POLICE OFFICERS SMELLED MARIJUANA WHILE CONDUCTING THE CRASH INVESTIGATION AND A SEARCH OF THE CAR RESULTED IN THE DISCOVERY OF ELEVEN GRAMS OF MARIJUANA, MORE THAN SEVEN GRAMS OF METHAMPHETAMINE AND A NUMBER OF PRESCRIPTION TABLETS. 19-YEAR-OLD CAGE HANKS ALSO HAD 943 DOLLARS ON HIM. HE WAS BOOKED INTO THE ACADIA PARISH JAIL ON SEVERAL DRUG CHARGES INCLUDING POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE NARCOTIC DRUGS.
Louisiana lawmakers heard hours of testimony about the state’s stalled execution process for death row inmates, but made no headway in deciding whether or how to resume the use of capital punishment. Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry pushed for Tuesday’s hearing of the House criminal justice committee. He says he wanted to give family members of murder victims, several of whom testified, a platform to talk about “delayed justice.” Democratic lawmakers say Landry simply wanted a hearing to attack Gov. John Bel Edwards.
