3-13-20
Louisiana is enacting new visiting restrictions at nursing homes and state prisons because of the threat from the new coronavirus. Gov. John Bel Edwards announced the plans Thursday after meeting with U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams to talk about the rise in virus cases, particularly around New Orleans. The governor says the number of people testing positive for the COVID-19 disease caused by the virus grew to 19. Most of the cases are in and around New Orleans.
THERE ARE STILL NO CONFIRMED CASES OF THE CORONAVIRUS IN ACADIANA. ON WEDNESDAY, THE GOVERNOR AND THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ANNOUNCED THAT THERE WAS A PRESUMPTIVE POSITIVE CASE IN IBERIA PARISH. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE PERSON WAS ACTUALLY LIVING IN LAFOURCHE PARISH AND WAS HOSPITALIZED THERE. SEVERAL EVENTS IN LAFAYETTE HAVE BEEN CANCELED AS A PRECAUTION INCLUDING DOWNTOWN ALIVE, U-L SPRING SPORTS AND SEVERAL CAJUNDOME EVENTS. HOSPITALS AND HEALTH CARE FACILITIES HAVE BEEN RESTRICTING VISITORS.
MCNEESE STATE UNIVERSITY HAS DECIDED TO NOT MOVE CLASSES ONLINE BECAUSE OF THE CORONAVIRUS. VICE PRESIDENT OF STUDENT AFFAIRS, DOCTOR CHRIS THOMAS, SAYS VULNERABLE PROFESSORS HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE OPTION TO DO SO BUT, FOR NOW THEY ARE MAKING SURE THEIR FACILITIES ARE DISINFECTED AND KEEPING BATHROOMS WELL STOCKED WITH SOAP AND WATER. THE CALCASIEU PARISH SCHOOL BOARD SAYS THEY HAVE NO PLANNED CLOSURES. THE BEAUREGARD PARISH SCHOOL BOARD SENT OUT LETTERS TO PARENTS LETTING THEM KNOW THE PRECAUTIONS THEY ARE TAKING TO KEEP CHILDREN SAFE.
The Louisiana branch of the American Civil Liberties Union has asked correction officials to reduce jail and prison populations to combat the spread of the new coronavirus. The ACLU said Thursday that officials should expedite parole hearings for elderly inmates and immediately release those in jails awaiting trials who aren’t considered safety risks, especially since sometimes those inmates are simply too poor to post bail. Advocates have asked for humanitarian parole release of refugees and asylum-seekers. On Thursday, the corrections department suspended visitation at all state prisons for 30 days.
A BICYCLIST IN ACADIA PARISH WAS STRUCK BY A SCHOOL BUS YESTERDAY MORNING AND KILLED. 49-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL BOURGEOIS OF SULPHUR WAS BIKING ALONG HIGHWAY THIRTEEN NEAR FAULK ROAD AT AROUND SIX-THIRTY WHEN HE WAS STRUCK BY THE BUS. HE WAS EJECTED AND TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL, WHERE HE LATER DIED. THERE WERE EIGHTEEN STUDENTS ON THE BUS BUT NO ONE ON THE BUS WAS INJURED. STATE POLICE TROOP I SPOKESMAN THOMAS GOSSEN SAYS BOURGEOIS’ BIKE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH LIGHTS.
THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT FOR LAFAYETTE PARISH, IRMA TROSCLAIR, WAS NAMED PERMANENT SUPERINTENDENT AT WEDNESDAY NIGHT’S SCHOOL BOARD MEETING. TROSCLAIR AND CURT R. GREEN OF ATLANTA WERE THE ONLY TWO APPLICANTS FOR THE SUPERINTENDENT JOB. THE BOARD UNANIMOUSLY VOTED FOR TROSCLAIR AFTER GETTING CONFIRMATION FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE TO INTERVIEW GREEN. TROSCLAIR TOLD THE ADVOCATE THAT SHE WILL FOCUS ON KEY GOALS, INCLUDING IMPROVING STUDENT PERFORMANCE, KEEPING AND RECRUITING STRONG TEACHERS, AND FOCUSING ON STUDENT DISCIPLINE.
THE CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS HOSTING A FIREARMS SAFETY CLASS THIS MONDAY NIGHT. IT WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE MOSS BLUFF LIBRARY FROM FIVE-THIRTY TO SEVEN. BASIC SAFE GUN HANDLING WILL BE TAUGHT AT THIS INFORMATIONAL SESSION. FREE GUN LOCKS WILL BE GIVEN TO EVERYONE WHO ATTENDS. YOU MUST REGISTER IF YOU WANT TO GO TO THE CLASS AND YOU CAN DO THAT BY CALLING THE MOSS BLUFF LIBRARY AT 721-71-28.
ABBEVILLE AND VERMILLION PARISH OFFICIALS MET YESTERDAY TO DISCUSS A RESOLUTION TO ASK STATE POLICE FOR HELP TO DETER CRIME. KIBBIE PILETTE OF THE VERMILLION PARISH SCHOOL BOARD SAYS THAT JUVENILE CRIME IS ON THE RISE IN VERMILLION PARISH AND MOVING INTO THE SCHOOLS. HE SAYS PARENTS HAVE TOLD HIM THAT THEY ARE AFRAID TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. THE DECISION WAS MADE TO NOT BRING IN STATE POLICE YET BUT ANOTHER MEETING WILL BE HELD ON APRIL SECOND TO DISCUSS WAYS TO BRING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER TO MAKE ABBEVILLE BETTER.
