3-22-16
LAFAYETTE REGIONAL AIRPORT COMMISSIONERS ARE IN THE FINAL PHASE OF SELECTING THE FIRMS THAT WILL BUILD A NEW 90 MILLION DOLLAR TERMINAL AND 60 MILLION DOLLARS IN OTHER AIRPORT IMPROVEMENTS. THE COMMISSIONERS ARE MEETING THIS WEEK WITH THE FINAL THREE ARCHITECTURE DESIGN FIRMS AND THE FINAL THREE CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT COMPANIES. THE COMMISSIONERS ARE EXPECTED TO DECIDE WHO THEY WILL AWARD THE CONTRACTS TO AT A SPECIAL MEETING ON APRIL SIXTH. CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN NEXT YEAR.
MANY PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR HOMES OR SUFFERED MAJOR DAMAGE FROM FLOODING INCLUDING A CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTY. LIEUTENANT DAN HERMAN SAYS THE FLOOD WATERS ARE NEARLY TO THE ROOF AT HIS HOME, LOCATED IN NIBLETT’S BLUFF. SHERIFF TONY MANCUSO SAYS HE TOLD HERMAN HE COULD TAKE ALL THE TIME OFF HE NEEDED, BUT HERMAN CONTINUES TO WORK, SHOWING HIS LOYALTY AND DEDICATION. HIS FELLOW DEPUTIES SHOWED UP TO HELP HIM MOVE HIS FURNITURE BEFORE THE FLOODS HIT, AND THEY’VE SET UP A GO FUND ME ACCOUNT TO HELP RAISE MONEY FOR HERMAN, WHO DOES NOT HAVE FLOOD INSURANCE.
AFTER THE FLOOD WATERS RECEDE, THE NEXT PROBLEM IS SWARMS OF MOSQUITOES. OFFICIALS WITH THE CALCASIEU PARISH MOSQUITO CONTROL CENTER SAY THAT AFTER A MAJOR FLOOD EVENT, THE INFLUX OF MOSQUITOES USUALLY COMES SEVEN TO TEN DAYS LATER. HOWEVER, WITH THE COOLER WEATHER, THEY ARE NOT EXPECTING THEM TO BECOME A PROBLEM UNTIL TWO WEEKS AFTER THE FLOOD. SCOTT HARRINGTON WITH MOSQUITO CONTROL SAYS THEY HAVE DONE ALL THE MAINTENANCE ON THEIR VEHICLES AND PLANES AND ARE READY TO GO TO WORK.
THE BODY OF A WOMAN WAS DISCOVERED IN ST. LANDRY PARISH YESTERDAY. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
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Lawmakers in the House have opened their hearings on next year’s budget, while Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration is still working to cut another $70 million this year. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne told the House Appropriations Committee the governor will unveil the reductions to rebalance this year’s budget later this week. The cuts will have to be made before June 30. Because the Edwards administration is still grappling with this year’s budget, Dardenne says he couldn’t lay out Monday what cuts will look like in the fiscal year that begins July 1.
Looking for ways to lessen spending on tax breaks, state senators have embarked on a wide-ranging review of the tax exemptions, exclusions, rebates and refunds Louisiana gives to individuals and businesses. The Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee started combing through the list Monday, trying to determine the costs and benefits of each tax break. Weeks of similar meetings are expected. Chairman J.P. Morrell, a New Orleans Democrat, says he wants to give the public an opportunity to explain benefits they receive from tax breaks and share ideas on what they think should be changed.
THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD IS EXPECTED TO DECIDE THE NAME FOR A NEW HIGH SCHOOL IN YOUNGSVILLE NEXT MONTH, AS WELL AS THE SCHOOL COLORS AND MASCOTS. THE FIRST PHASE OF THE SCHOOL IS EXPECTED TO BE OPEN FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR AND WILL HAVE A CAPACITY FOR UP TO AROUND 11-HUNDRED STUDENTS. SUPERINTENDENT DONALD AGUILLARD SAYS HE AND HIS STAFF PLAN TO BRING UP THE MATTER OF THE SCHOOL NAME, COLOR AND MASCOT WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD IN EARLY APRIL. HE SAYS THEY HAVE NOT FINALIZED ANY RECOMMENDATIONS.
ON MONDAY, THE ST. MARY PARISH SCHOOL BOARD WILL VOTE ON CLOSING TWO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AT THE END OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR. THE SCHOOLS ARE J-A HERNANDEZ ELEMENTARY IN FRANKLIN AND M-D SHANNON ELEMENTARY IN MORGAN CITY. OFFICIALS HAVE SAID THAT THE CLOSURES WOULD SAVE THE DISTRICT MONEY. IF THEY ARE CLOSED, STUDENTS AT HERNANDEZ ELEMENTARY WOULD BE ASSIGNED TO W-P FOSTER AND LAGRANGE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, WHILE SHANNON ELEMENTARY STUDENTS WOULD GO TO EITHER M-E NORMAN OR WYANDOTTE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.
