3-22-22
A storm system that left widespread damage and some injuries in its wake in Texas is drifting into Louisiana. The Storm Prediction Center says the storm, which already caused at least four injuries in North Texas, could trigger “a regional severe weather outbreak,” and forecasters say the affected areas could see strong tornadoes. Louisiana’s federal and state authorities reminded thousands of hurricane survivors living in government-provided mobile homes and recreational vehicle trailers to have an evacuation plan ready as the structures might not withstand the expected weather.
BECAUSE OF THE SEVERE WEATHER, SCHOOL DISTRICTS THROUGHOUT THE AREA HAVE CLOSED FOR THE DAY. THIS INCLUDES ACADIA, LAFAYETTE, VERMILLION, SAINT LANDRY, SAINT MARTIN, IBERIA, EVANGELINE AND SAINT MARY PARISHES IN ACADIANA. SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE ALSO CLOSED INCLUDING JEFF DAVIS, CALCASIEU, ALLEN, CAMERON AND BEAUREGARD PARISHES. MANY CHARTER SCHOOLS AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS HAVE ALSO CLOSED AS WELL AS L-S-U-EUNICE AND MCNEESE STATE UNIVERSITY.
THE ATCHAFALAYA BASIN BRIDGE ON THE EASTBOUND SIDE IS CLOSED BECAUSE OF A CRASH INVOLVING MULTIPLE VEHICLES INCLUDING SEVERAL EIGHTEEN-WHEELERS. TRAFFIC IS BEING DIVERTED AT I-FORTY-NINE TO HIGHWAY ONE-NINETY EAST UNTIL THE CRASH SCENE IS CLEARED. STATE TROOPERS ARE EXPECTING AN EXTENDED ROADWAY CLOSURE.
Lake Charles police say a drive-by shooting has killed a 6-year-old girl who was watching TV in her house. Lake Charles Deputy Chief Franklin Fondel Jr. says the shooting was reported late Sunday. The American Press reports that crime scene and coroner’s office investigators were working at the site when Fondel spoke to reporters. KPLC-TV reports that Mayor Nic Hunter asked adults to tell young people “that settling scores with gun violence only leads to pain, suffering, and destruction for everyone involved.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency will soon be charging rent to about 1,750 households displaced by Louisiana’s 2020 hurricanes and still living in mobile homes and similar housing provided by the agency. At Louisiana’s request, FEMA had extended the deadlines for leaving those units from 18 months after the stormS to Oct. 31, but FEMA said in a news release Friday that federal regulations require rent after 18 months. That means households displaced by Hurricane Laura will start paying rent on April 1, and Hurricane Delta’s survivors will do so May 1. Rents are based on federal fair market rents but may be reduced based on post-hurricane income.
VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS TRAVELED TO SUNSET YESTERDAY AND ANNOUNCED A NEW ROUND OF FEDERAL GRANTS FOR DISASTER SURVIVORS. HARRIS TOLD THE ADVOCATE THAT THE FORTY MILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL GRANTS FOR DISASTER SURVIVORS IS A MESSAGE TO CONGRESS FOR FAILING TO INCLUDE TWO-POINT-FIVE BILLION DOLLARS IN DISASTER AID FOR LAKE CHARLES. SHE WAS ALSO IN SUNSET TO TALK ABOUT TWENTY-NINE MILLION DOLLARS IN FUNDING TO PROVIDE HIGH SPEED INTERNET TO MORE THAN TWENTY-TWO THOUSAND HOUSEHOLDS AND THREE THOUSAND SMALL BUSINESSES IN RURAL LOUISIANA. HARRIS SAYS RURAL AND SMALL COMMUNITIES HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED FOR TOO LONG AND IT’S TIME TO FIX THAT.
A BREAUX BRIDGE WOMAN AND HER BOYFRIEND ARE BEHIND BARS AFTER THE DEATH OF HER ONE-YEAR-OLD SON. CAROLINE MARCELLO REPORTS.
VOICER V :26
A THIRTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY SHOOTING A WOMAN SUNDAY NIGHT NEAR JEANERETTE. DERICK ALEXANDER IS ACCUSED OF SHOOTING THE WOMAN IN THE SEVEN THOUSAND BLOCK OF EAST ADMIRAL DOYLE, THEN FLEEING THE SCENE. HE WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY IN BALDWIN AND FACES NUMEROUS CHARGES INCLUDING ATTEMPTED SECOND-DEGREE MURDER, AND HE’S BEING HELD WITHOUT BOND. THE WOMAN WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND HER INJURIES WERE NOT LIFE-THREATENING.
