3-21-16
A MEMBER OF LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH MAYOR PRESIDENT JOEL ROBIDEAUX’S ADMINISTRATION, MARCUS BRUNO, SAYS HE PLANS TO REVIVE ANTI-BLIGHT INITIATIVES. BRUNO’S POSITION WITH FORMER MAYOR PRESIDENT JOEY’ DUREL’S ADMINISTRATION WAS ELIMINATED SIX YEARS AGO WHEN DUREL STREAMLINED GOVERNMENT. BUT BRUNO AND HIS SUPPORTERS SAY HE WAS PUSHED OUT BECAUSE HE WENT TOO FAR IN PRESSURING LANDLORDS TO CLEAN UP RENTAL PROPERTIES ON THE NORTH SIDE OF LAFAYETTE. ROBIDEAUX BROUGHT BACK BRUNO TO RESUME HIS DUTIES AS THE GOVERNMENT AND CONSTITUENT RELATIONS OFFICER.
A jury has convicted a man of attempted murder for shooting a Jennings police officer in 2014. The American Press reports that 32-year-old George David Lowdins faces up to 50 years in prison for his attempted murder conviction Friday. He also faces up to 15 years for his conviction on a firearms charge. Lowdins shot Sgt. Ricky Benoit in the neck with a handgun.
A NEW IBERIA MAN WAS TAKEN TO LAFAYETTE GENERAL HOSPITAL WITH MINOR INJURIES SUNDAY AFTER HIS MOTORCYCLE STRUCK A CAR ON HIGHWAY 90 IN BROUSSARD. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
VOICER K :24
First-time claims for unemployment insurance in Louisiana for the week ending March 12 decreased from the previous week’s total. The state labor department figures released Friday show the initial claims fell to 2,654 from the previous week’s total of 2,950. For the comparable week a year earlier, there were 2,520.
The four-week moving average, which is a less volatile measure of claims, increased to 2,839 from the previous week’s total of 2,752.
LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WERE SURPRISED TO LEARN LAST WEEK THAT SOME LANGUAGE IMMERSION CLASSES DO NOT FILL UP. BOARD MEMBER JUSTIN CENTANNI SAYS HE DOESN’T WANT THE DISTRICT TO PAY FOR CLASSROOM SEATS THAT GO UNUSED. BOARD MEMBER TEHMI CHAISSON SAYS HE BELIEVES THOSE SEATS WOULD NOT GO UNFILLED IF PARENTS WERE INFORMED. SCHOLS OF CHOICE APPLICATIONS REOPENED THIS MONTH AND THE DISTRICT’S LANGUAGE IMMERSION SPECIALIST NICOLE BOUDREAX SAYS SHE ACCEPTS APPLICATIONS THROUGH THE SPRING AND SUMMER.
TODAY IS WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY, BUT THE ORGANIZATION, “UP FOUR DOWNS OF SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA”, HELD THEIR CELEBRATION YESTERDAY AT PRIEN LAKE PARK IN LAKE CHARLES. BOARD MEMBER MICHAEL GRAY SAYS THE PURPOSE OF THE EVENT WAS TO BUILD A SUPPORT NETWORK FOR FAMILIES THAT HAVE A MEMBER WITH DOWN SYNDROME. THOSE WHO CAME TO THE EVENT ENJOYED A PICNIC, EASTER EGG HUNT AND CAKE WALK. “UP FOUR DOWNS” ENCOURAGES EVERYONE TO MARK WORLD DOWN SYNDROME DAY TODAY BY WEARING CRAZY MIS-MATCHED SOCKS.
EARLY SATURDAY MORNING, OPELOUSAS POLICE FOUND A MAN LYING DEAD IN THE ROADWAY AT THE INTERSECTION OF FERN AND BERTHAUD STREETS. 38-YEAR-OLD KEVIN ROBERTS OF OPELOUSAS SUFFERED MULTIPLE GUNSHOT WOUNDS. POLICE HAVE NOT YET IDENTIFIED A SUSPECT OR KNOW WHAT LED TO THE SHOOTING. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS URGED TO CALL THE OPELOUSAS POLICE DEPARTMENT AT 948-65-16.
STATE SENATOR BLADE MORRISH OF JENNINGS IS PROPOSING CUTTING PRIVATE SCHOOL STUDENTS OUT OF THE TOPS PROGRAM. THE PLAN, IF APPROVED, IS EXPECTED TO SAVE THE STATE AROUND TWENTY MILLION DOLLARS. THERE ARE MORE THAT 32-HUNDRED PRIVATE COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE TOPS FUNDING. IT’S NOT CLEAR IF MORRISH’S PROPOSAL HAS THE BACKING OF HIS FELLOW LEGISLATORS.
