3-15-24
A MURDER AND ACCESSORY CHARGE AGAINST AN ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL FROM NEW IBERIA HAS BEEN DROPPED. THE ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD WAS ACCUSED OF THE MURDER OF THIRTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD KAMERON BEDSOLE BUT INSTEAD SHE PLEADED GUILTY TO OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE IN EXCHANGE FOR HER TESTIMONY AGAINST HER BROTHER. SHE WAS SENT BACK TO JAIL TO AWAIT HER SENTENCING ON APRIL SIXTEENTH. THE MOTHER IS IN JAIL ACCUSED OF HELPING HER CHILDREN COVER UP THE MURDER.
A NUMBER OF BILLS HAVE BEEN PROPOSED IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE THAT WOULD RESTRICT VOTING BY MAIL AND THOSE WHO WOULD HELP SOMEONE FILL OUT THEIR MAIL IN BALLOTS. SYLVIA MASTERS HAS MORE.
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A CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTY HAS BEEN FIRED AFTER HE WAS CHARGED WITH FOUR COUNTS OF INDECENT BEHAVIOR WITH A CHILD. AN INVESTIGATION BEGAN FEBRUARY TWENTY-SEVENTH AFTER IT WAS LEARNED THAT FIFTY-SEVEN-YEAR-OLD BRIAN DUGAS OF LAKE CHARLES HAD ALLEGEDLY ENGAGED IN INAPPROPRIATE CONVERSATIONS WITH MINORS. DUGAS WAS ARRESTED AND HIS BOND HAS NOT YET BEEN SET. HE HAS BEEN WITH THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE SINCE TWENTY-NINETEEN AND WAS A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER.
A LAFAYETTE ORGANIZATION IS HOPING A FEDERAL LAWSUIT WILL STOP THE SCHOOL BOARD FROM REMOVING PROGRAMS FROM PAUL BREAUX MIDDLE SCHOOL. THE BOARD VOTED FIVE TO FOUR WEDNESDAY TO MOVE THE GIFTED AND FRENCH IMMERSION PROGRAMS FROM PAUL BREAUX TO OTHER SCHOOLS IN THE PARISH. SUPERINTENDENT FRANCIS TOUCHET SAYS THERE’S A MIDDLE SCHOOL CRISIS WITH MANY STUDENTS MOVING TO CHARTER AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS AND HE HOPES THIS DECISION WILL HELP KEEP STUDENTS IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. MARY PRITCHARD OF THE LAFAYETTE DEMOCRATIC PARISH EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TOLD THE BOARD THAT MOVING THE PROGRAMS FROM A MAJORITY BLACK TO MAJORITY WHITE SCHOOLS VIOLATES FEDERAL DESEGREGATION ORDERS.
ALSO WEDNESDAY THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD VOTED TO SHUT DOWN THE MANDARIN CHINESE IMMERSION PROGRAM AT MIDDLEBROOK ELEMENTARY. MORE THAN TWO DOZEN BACKERS OF THE PROGRAM PLEADED WITH THE BOARD TO MAINTAIN THE PROGRAM BUT THE BOARD VOTED FOUR-TO-THREE TO END IT. SUPERINTENDENT FRANCIS TOUCHET SAYS THE PROGRAM EMPLOYS EIGHT TEACHERS TO INSTRUCT LESS THAN SEVENTY STUDENTS. THE MOVE WILL SAVE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ANNUALLY.
KADN TV IS REPORTING THAT OPELOUSAS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL HAS LOST ITS APPEAL TO RESTORE IT CHAMPIONSHIP THAT IT WAS FORCED TO FORFEIT. OPELOUSAS BEAT CECILIA IN DECEMBER FOR THE DIVISION TWO NON-SELECT STATE CHAMPIONSHIP BUT IT WAS DETERMINED THAT OPELOUSAS HIGH HAD AN INELIGIBLE PLAYER. BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF THE APPEAL, COACH JIMMY ZACHERY WILL BE PUT ON PROBATION FOR ONE YEAR. SUPERINTENDENT MILTON BATISTE THE THIRD SAYS THE NEXT STEP IS TO TAKE THE MATTER TO A THIRD-PARTY ARBITRATOR FOR A DECISION.
BULLYING IN SCHOOL IMPACTS MANY STUDENTS EACH DAY. HOWEVER THERE ARE NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO ADDRESS IT. SYLVIA MASTERS TELLS US ABOUT ONE.
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A SPLASH PAD IS COMING TO THE COMMUNITY PARK IN CHURCH POINT. MAYOR SPANKY MECHE TELLS KATC HE’S PROUD THAT THEY ARE THE FIRST TOWN IN ACADIA PARISH TO OFFER A SPLASH PAD FOR CHILDREN. HE SAYS THEY WERE ABLE TO KEEP THE COSTS DOWN WITH HELP FROM TOWN ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL BUSINESSES. A GRAND OPENING FOR THE NEW SPLASH PAD WILL TAKE PLACE IN MAY.
