3-22-24
IN EVANGELINE PARISH, AN ARREST HAS BEEN MADE IN A WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES AGENT-INVOLVED SHOOTING. SYLVIA MASTERS REPORTS.
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Louisiana legislators are debating policies related to vaccine mandates, including civil labilities if a workplace mandates vaccines or not. Lawmakers are also discussing a bill that would prohibit schools from requiring students to receive the vaccine. The ongoing debates come on the cusp of relaxed guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and COVID-19 no longer being the public health menace it once was. This legislative session, Louisiana lawmakers’ conversations on COVID-19 vaccines have broadened to also apply to “experimental or emergency use vaccinations” for fear of future pandemics.
A MAN WANTED FOR CARJACKING AND ATTEMPTED MURDER WAS FOUND AND ARRESTED BY A CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTY NEAR IOWA WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THIRTY-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL LEE DUPLECHAIN THE THIRD OF CARENCRO WILL BE TRANSFERRED TO THE ACADIA PARISH JAIL. ON THE NIGHT OF MARCH ELEVENTH, DUPLECHAIN ALLEGEDLY PULLED A GUN ON A PERSON WHO GAVE HIM A LIFT TO A HOME ON NATION ROAD NEAR RAYNE AND SHOT THE PERSON AFTER THE PERSON DECLINED TO GIVE HIM THE CAR. THE VICTIM HAS RECOVERED.
THE LAFAYETTE PARISH CORRECTIONAL CENTER IS NEARING FULL CAPACIY BUT IT’S NOT BECAUSE OF A LACK OF BEDS. OFFICIALS WITH THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAID AT A BRIEFING YESTERDAY THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT BEING ABLE TO HOUSE NON-VIOLENT OFFENDERS WITH VIOLENT OFFENDERS. AS OF YESTERDAY MORNING, THE JAIL HAD FIVE HUNDRED FIFTY-SIX INMATES AND FULL CAPACITY IS SIX HUNDRED FORTY-NINE. OF THE FIVE HUNDRED FIFTY-SIX INMATES, FOUR HUNDRED NINETY-SEVEN ARE PRETRIAL DETAINEES.
THE LAFAYETTE POLICE DEPARTMENT CONDUCTED AN ANONYMOUS SURVEY OF EMPLOYEES THAT HAD ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE QUESTIONS DEALING WITH EVERYTHING FROM DECREASING CRIME TO IMPROVING WORKING CONDITIONS. POLICE CHIEF JUDITH ESTORGE SAYS THE SURVEY PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR FROM HER TEAM SO THEY CAN MAKE EFFORTS TO IMPROVE. NINETY-FOUR PERCENT OF THE RESPONDENTS SAY JAIL OVERCROWDING HAS CONTRIBUTED TO RISING CRIME RATES OVER THE PAST FIVE YEARS. ESTORGE SAYS SHE’S NOT SURPRISED AND SHE PLANS ON WORKING WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COORDINATING COMMITTEE TO DEVELOP SOLUTIONS TO THAT PROBLEM.
ACADIA PARISH SUPERINTENDENT SCOTT RICHARD WILL BE RETIRING IN SEPTEMBER. THE SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED A SEARCH PROCESS TO FIND A NEW SUPERINTENDENT EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT WILL HAVE THEM ADVERTISING FOR THE POSITION IN MID-APRIL. RICHARD SAYS HE WILL BEGIN TRANSITIONING OUT OF HIS POSITION OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION CAROL TALL WILL SERVE AS ACTING SUPERINTENDENT AFTER RICHARD STEPS AWAY.
ELECTION DAY IS TOMORROW IN LOUISIANA. SYLVIA MASTERS HAS MORE.
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THE SAINT MARTIN PARISH ANIMAL SHELTER IS DEALING WITH AN OVERCROWDING SITUATION AS FEW PETS ARE GETTING ADOPTED. VOLUNTEER LATASHA NELSON SAYS THEY’VE HAD TO MAKE THE DIFFICULT DECISION TO PUT DOWN DOGS BECAUSE OF A LACK OF SPACE. SHE SAYS LAST WEEK THEY EUTHANIZED EIGHT DOGS. NELSON TELLS KLFY TV ANOTHER PROBLEM LEADING TO THE OVERCROWDING IS PEOPLE PUTTING THEIR ANIMALS OUT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. SHE’S HOPING MORE PEOPLE WILL ADOPT THE DOGS.
