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CANDIDATE VANESSA ANSEMAN OF LAFAYETTE IS NO LONGER IN THE RUNNING FOR THIRD CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEAL SEAT AFTER A DISTRICT JUDGE RULED HER INELIGIBLE. HERE’S JULIE DARCE.
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MOSS BLUFF AREA VOTERS WILL DECIDE WHETHER TO RENEW A SALES TAX ON APRIL 29TH. THE CALCASIEU PARISH SCHOOL BOARD SAYS THE RENEWAL WILL HELP PAY FOR A NEW UPPER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL THAT WILL BE BUILT ADJACENT TO MOSS BLUFF MIDDLE. IT WILL HELP FUND OTHER PROJECTS AS WELL INCLUDING A NEW GYMNASIUM AND BAND HALL AT SAM HOUSTON HIGH SCHOOL, A NEW LIBRARY AT MOSS BLUFF ELEMENTARY AND A NEW MULTIPURPOSE BUILDING AT GILLIS ELEMENTARY. SEVERAL PEOPLE SPOKE OUT AGAINST THE SALES TAX RENEWAL YESTERDAY AT AN INFORMATIONAL MEETING HOSTED BY THE SCHOOL BOARD.
THE CITY OF JEANERETTE IS FACING A POTENTIAL TAKEOVER BY THE STATE BECAUSE OF A RECENT LEGISLATIVE AUDIT THAT UNVEILED MAJOR FINANCIAL CONCERNS. CITY LEADERS ARE LOOKING AT WAYS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM INCLUDING SEEKING OUTSIDE HELP. THE STATE OF THE CITY’S FINANCES ARE NOT KNOWN BECAUSE THE CITY HAS NOT FILED AN AUDIT FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS. IF THE CITY DOES NOT FILE AN AUDIT FOR A THIRD YEAR, THEY FACE A STATE TAKEOVER AND THE MAYOR COULD FACE CHARGES, ACCORDING TO A REPORT BY KATC TV.
The leader of the Louisiana State Police says he has no objections to a legislative auditor review of taxpayer-funded travel in his department. Col. Mike Edmonson said: “I welcome any review.” Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera confirmed Monday that he will look into the spending, after a request from Rep. Blake Miguez. Miguez says he wanted an independent audit after questions were raised about state police spending on overtime and expenses for troopers who drove to a conference in California, diverting to a Las Vegas casino and the Grand Canyon on the way.
THE EVANGELINE THRUWAY REDEVELOPMENT TEAM SAYS THEY HAVE FIVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE PROPOSED I-49 CONNECTOR PROJECT THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ANSWERED BY STATE HIGHWAY OFFICIALS. THE TEAM, WHICH IS WORKING ON BEHALF OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH COUNCIL, SENT A LIST OF 33 QUESTIONS TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT IN DECEMBER. THE TEAM VOTED YESTERDAY TO FORWARD A REPORT DETAILING THE FIVE AREAS OF CONCERN TO THE COUNCIL. THE
D-O-T-D HAS SAID THAT THEY PLAN ON MAKING A FINAL DECISION ON THE DESIGN CONCEPT FOR THE CONNECTOR BY THE END OF THIS MONTH.
THE U-L SYSTEM BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS BEGUN THE PROCESS OF SELECTING A NEW PRESIDENT FOR MCNEESE STATE UNIVERSITY. THE CURRENT PRESIDENT DR. PHILIP WILLIAMS IS SET TO RETIRE ON JUNE 30TH. YESTERDAY THE BOARD TOOK THE FIRST STEP BY HOLDING A PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH COMMITTEE MEETING AND A PUBLIC FORUM. STARTING MARCH 27TH, THEY WILL BEGIN RECEIVING APPLICATIONS AND NOMINATIONS AND, THE FOLLOWING WEEK, THE COMMITTEE WILL RECEIVE A LIST OF CANDIDATES.
CONGRESSMAN CLAY HIGGINS MADE A SURPRISE VISIT TO IOTA HIGH SCHOOL YESTERDAY. HE SPOKE TO A STUDENT ASSEMBLY IN THE SCHOOL GYMNASIUM. HIGGINS TOLD THEM ABOUT THE DANGERS OF DRINKING. HE POSTED A VIDEO ON HIS FACEBOOK PAGE OF A TALK HE GAVE TO STUDENTS IN A CLASSROOM, REFERRING TO THE SUPPORT HE RECEIVED FROM THE IOTA AREA AND CALLING THEM “MY PEOPLE.”
The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission is inviting government agencies and private sector groups to apply for grants aimed at reducing highway fatalities. The commission says in a Monday news release that the applications should be for projects aimed at reducing fatalities, injuries and crashes. The proposals are being sought from local and state government agencies, corporations, hospitals, safety advocacy organizations, schools and individuals. Proposals can deal with any of a variety of issues, including education, prevention and law enforcement.
