3-21-25
LAST NIGHT IN LAFAYETTE, A MAJOR MULTI-VEHICLE CRASH INVOLVING AN EIGHTEEN-WHEELER RESULTED IN A FUEL SPILL. GEORGE FAUST HAS THE DETAILS.
VOICER G :27
THE POTENTIAL MERGER OF LOWER SAINT MARTIN PARISH WITH SAINT MARY PARISH IS UNDER DISCUSSION. SAINT MARY PARISH PRESIDENT SAM JONES SAID EARLIER THIS MONTH THAT SAINT MARTIN PARISH PRESIDENT PETE DELCAMBRE PRESENTED THE IDEA TO HIM. RESIDENTS VOICED THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT HOW THE MERGER WOULD AFFECT THEM AT TUESDAY NIGHT’S SAINT MARTIN PARISH COUNCIL MEETING. JONES SAYS THAT, IF A MERGER IS PLACED ON THE BALLOT, IT WOULD REQUIRE A TWO-THIRDS VOTE OF SAINT MARY AND SAINT MARTIN PARISH RESIDENTS.
LOUISIANA CONGRESSMAN CLAY HIGGINS ANNOUNCED HE WILL NOT RUN FOR THE U-S SENATE SEAT HELD BY BILL CASSIDY. IN A LETTER, HE WROTE THAT IT MAY ULTIMATELY BE MORE BENEFICIAL TO THE REPUBLIC THAT HE REMAINS IN THE HOUSE TO SUPPORT THE MAGA AMERICA FIRST AGENDA. HE DID NOT ENDORSE CASSIDY BUT DID SAY HE RESPECTS CASSIDY AND THANKED HIM FOR HIS SERVICE. THE ONLY ANNOUNCED CHALLENGER TO CASSIDY SO FAR IS STATE TREASURER JOHN FLEMING.
EARLY VOTING FOR THE MARCH TWENTY-NINTH ELECTION ENDS TOMORROW. IN JENNINGS, VOTERS THERE WILL BE CASTING BALLOTS FOR MAYOR. THE CURRENT MAYOR HENRY GUINN IS RUNNING FOR REELECTION. TWO PEOPLE ARE RUNNING AGAINST HIM, POLICE JUROR MELVIN ADAMS AND CHRISTOPHER CARRIER.
A NON-PROFIT GROCERY STORE IS BEING CONSTRUCTED BY SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK AND THE UNITED WAY OF ACADIANA. THE STORE, WHICH WILL BE CALLED MAKIN’ GROCERIES STORE, WILL BE LOCATED AT TWO-FIFTEEN EAST PINHOOK, NOT FAR FROM THE EVANGELINE THRUWAY. PAUL SCELFO OF SECOND HARVEST SAYS THE STORE IS A DIRECT RESPONSE TO THE CHALLENGE OF PROVIDING ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE HEALTHY FOOD. THE STORE IS EXPECTED TO OPEN LATER THIS YEAR.
RESIDENTS IN A MAURICE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE ON EDGE OVER AN INDUSTRIAL BURN. FLAMES WERE SHOOTING INTO THE AIR ALONG MCDONALD STREET YESTERDAY AND IT’S CREATING A LOUD NOISE THAT REPORTEDLY SHOOK A PERSON’S HOME. ONE RESIDENT TOLD KADN TV THAT WHAT IS HAPPENING IS OUT OF THE ORDINARY. THEY ARE AWAITING UPDATES FROM OFFICIALS TO LEARN THE CAUSE AND IMPACT OF THE BURN.
GOVERNOR JEFF LANDRY ANNOUNCED THAT THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS, OR GOHSEP, WILL BE PLACED UNDER THE COMMAND OF THE LOUISIANA NATIONAL GUARD. IT’S PART OF AN EFFORT TO CUT COSTS AND STREAMLINE OPERATIONS. BRIGADIER GENERAL JASON MAHFOUZ WILL SERVE AS INTERIM DIRECTOR OF GOHSEP. LANDRY SAYS THE PREVIOUS DIRECTOR, JACQUES THIBODEAUX, TOOK ON A CHALLENGING ROLE AND SERVED THE STATE WITH DEDICATION UNDER DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES.
A CARENCRO MAN HAS BEEN BOOKED INTO THE ACADIA PARISH JAIL ON MULTIPLE CHARGES INCLUDING CARJACKING AND ATTEMPTED SECOND-DEGREE MURDER. DEPUTIES SAY THAT, ONE YEAR AGO, THIRTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL LEE DUPLECHIAN THE THIRD SET UP A VICTIM TO STEAL HIS VEHICLE. DUPLECHIAN REPORTEDLY SHOT THE VICTIM DURING A HEATED CONFRONTATION IN RAYNE. DUPLECHAIN, WHO WAS INCARCERATED IN ANOTHER PARISH, WAS RELEASED TO ACADIA PARISH TO FACE THE NEW CHARGES.
