3-16-18
NEXT MONTH, THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD IS EXPECTED TO CONSIDER EXPANDING THE NUMBER OF SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS. A RESOURCE OFFICER IS A COMMISSIONED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER WHO CARRIES A WEAPON. CURRENTLY THERE IS AT LEAST ONE RESOURCE OFFICER IN EACH HIGH SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL IN THE PARISH, BUT NONE IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS. AT A SCHOOL BOARD WORKSHOP IN WEDNESDAY, LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF MARK GARBER URGED THE BOARD TO PUT ARMED PROTECTION IN EACH SCHOOL MAKING THE SCHOOLS A HARD TARGET FOR THOSE WANTING TO COMMIT VIOLENCE.
SOME INMATES WHO WERE SENT TO PRISON BY FEDERAL JUDGE PATRICIA MINALDI IN LAKE CHARLES HAVE FILED PETITIONS TO HAVE THEIR CONVICTIONS AND SENTENCES THROWN OUT. MINALDI HAS PUBLICLY ADMITTED SHE’S AN ALCOHOLIC AND HAS A BRAIN DISORDER RELATED TO ALCOHOLISM, WHICH LED TO HER BEING GRANTED A DISABILITY RETIREMENT IN AUGUST. THR FOUR INMATES ARE CURRENTLY BEING HELD IN A FEDERAL PRISON IN BEAUMONT ON DRUG CONVICTIONS AND ARE SET TO BE RELEASED ANYWHERE BETWEEN 2023 AND 2031. MINALDI HAS SAID THAT SHE DID NOT HOLD COURT WHILE INTOXICATED.
ONE PERSON HAS BEEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH SECOND DEGREE MURDER AFTER AN EARLY MORNING SHOOTING THURSDAY IN OPELOUSAS. JEFF HORCHAK HAS MORE.
VOICER U :24
A federal appeals court has lifted a judge’s order that temporarily halts construction of a crude oil pipeline in the Atchafalaya Basin. A divided three-judge panel from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday granted Bayou Bridge Pipeline LLC’s request for an emergency stay that suspends the judge’s ruling while it appeals. On Feb. 23, U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick sided with environmental groups and issued a preliminary injunction stopping all Bayou Bridge pipeline construction work in the Atchafalaya Basin until the groups’ lawsuit is resolved.
The appeals court panel’s majority opinion says the company is likely to succeed on the merits of its claim that Dick abused her discretion in granting the injunction.
THERE WILL BE HEAVIER SECURITY AT THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL INTERNATIONAL DE LOUISIANE IN LAFAYETTE. THAT’S BECAUSE OF A SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED IN THE LAST HOUR OF LAST YEAR’S FESTIVAL. DEPUTY POLICE CHIEF REGINALD THOMAS TELLS THE ADVOCATE THAT THERE WILL BE MORE OFFICERS WORKING THE FESTIVAL AND SECURITY CAMERAS ON EVERY CORNER WITH OFFICERS MONITORING THE FOOTAGE. HE SAYS NIGHTLY EVENTS WILL END EARLIER THIS YEAR WITH PERFORMANCES ON STAGES ENDING AT TEN P-M ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS.
A LOUD BOOM CAUSED BY A DECOMPRESSION PROCESS AT WESTLAKE CHEMICAL HAPPENED SO QUICKLY, IT CAUGHT WORKERS BY SURPRISE. THE DECOMP CAUSED A LOUD BOOM WHICH COULD BE HEARD ALL THE WAY TO SOUTHEAST TEXAS, ACCORDING TO JOE ANDREPONT OF WESTLAKE CHEMICAL. HE TELLS KPLC TV IT’S CAUSED BY PRESSURE BUILDING UP IN A REACTOR TO THE POINT IT CAUSES SAFETY DISCS TO BREAK, RELEASING ETHYLENE GAS, AND BURNING OFF IN A SHORT FIRE. HE SAYS THERE’S NO DANGER TO THE PUBLIC AND THEY’LL RESUME OPERATIONS AT THAT PART OF THE FACILITY TODAY.
A FORMER IOTA HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACH HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR STEALING CASH FROM THE SCHOOL. SURVEILLANCE VIDEO SHOWED A MAN WALK INTO THE ATHLETIC COMPLEX ON MARCH SECOND AND STEAL MONEY. POLICE IDENTIFIED THE MAN AS NEIL LEGE, WHO LEFT THE SCHOOL ABOUT TWO OR THREE YEARS AGO, ACCORDING TO POLICE CHIEF DAMON DAIGLE. HE SAYS LEGE HAS TURNED HIMSELF IN AND HIS CASE IS NOW PENDING.
Louisiana’s debt load has continued its steady rise, hitting another record for how much the state owes for each resident and outpacing the national average. That’s according to the latest debt report presented Thursday to the Bond Commission.
In 2017, Louisiana carried a debt load of $1,558 for every man, woman and child — an increase of $19 per person from a year prior and a 30 percent rise from a decade ago. The report also shows Louisiana edging closer to its debt ceiling, a situation that will crimp financing for ongoing projects.
