3-23-23
THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT HAS CANCELLED PLANNED CLOSURES FOR I-TEN AND I-FORTY-NINE IN LAFAYETTE THIS WEEKEND. THEY PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED LANE REDUCTIONS AND CLOSURES FOR I-FORTY-NINE NORTH AT THE I-TEN OVERPASS BEGINNING TODAY. THEY HAD PLANNED TO CONTINUE MAKING REPAIRS TO THE OVERPASS THAT WAS STRUCTURALLY DAMAGED WHEN HIT BY AN EIGHTEEN-WHEELER AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR. THERE’S NO WORD YET WHEN IT WILL BE RESCHEDULED.
FREDERICK WILTZ HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED AS THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT OF THE SAINT MARTIN PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM. HE REPLACES AL BLANCHARD, WHO RETIRES JUNE THIRTIETH AFTER OVER THIRTY YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE DISTRICT. WILTZ, A GRADUATE OF BREAUX BRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL, HAS SPENT TWENTY-SEVEN YEARS IN THE SAINT MARTIN PARISH SCHOOL DISTRICT. MOST RECENTLY HE SERVED AS DESEGREGATION COMPLIANCE OFFICER.
THE BEAUREGARD PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS A NEW SUPERINTENDENT. A SPECIAL MEETING WAS HELD TUESDAY IN WHICH LARRY HOLLIE WAS SELECTED AS THE NEXT SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT. HE HAD BEEN THE ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT AND, MOST RECENTLY, HAD BEEN THE INTERIM SUPERINTENDENT. HOLLIE REPLACES TIMOTHY COOLEY, WHO RETIRED IN JANUARY.
EFFORTS ARE UNDERWAY AT THE STATE CAPITAL TO HELP WITH THE FENTANYL CRISIS. SYLVIA MASTERS EXPLAINS.
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THE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND PLANNING FOR THE LAFAYETTE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT SAYS THEY HAVE MADE A STRONG EFFORT TO FOCUS ON BURNED PROPERTIES FOR REHABILITATION. MARY SLIMAN SAYS THEY HAVE PRESENTED THIRTEEN BURNED PROPERTIES AT RECENT COUNCIL MEETINGS. SHE SAYS THEY ARE EASY TO QUALIFY FOR CONDEMNATION BECAUSE YOU CAN SEE THEY ARE IN A STATE OF DISREPAIR WITHOUT EVEN WALKING ON TO THE PROPERTY. SLIMAN SAYS THEIR GOAL IS TO RID BLIGHT FROM THE CITY AND UNINCORPORATED PARTS OF THE PARISH, WHICH SHE CALLS AN ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY CONCERN.
THE LOUISIANA COURT OF APPEAL HAS DECIDED IT WOULD BE A CONFLICT OF INTEREST FOR EVANGELINE PARISH DISTRICT ATTORNEY TRENT BRIGNAC TO PROSECUTE VILLE PLATTE COUNCILWOMAN CHRISTINA SAM. SHE WAS ARRESTED TEN DAYS AFTER THE PRIMARY ELECTION AND INDICTED LAST MONTH ON FRAUD AND FORGERY CHARGES RELATED TO HER ELECTION. SAM’S ATTORNEY, ROSHELL JONES, FILED THE MOTION TO RECUSE BRIGNAC FROM THE CASE BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE HE HAS A PERSONAL INTEREST IN THE PROSECUTION. THE COURT OF APPEAL AGREE TO ORDER HIS RECUSAL BECAUSE HE LIKELY WOULD HAVE TO SERVE AS A WITNESS TO ESTABLISH IF SAM WAS PRESSURED TO CONFESS TO VOTER FRAUD.
LOUISIANA IS IN SEARCH OF HOW TO ADDRESS THE INSURANCE CRISIS. ALONG WITH INCENTIVIZING INSURANCE COMPANIES TO WRITE POLICIES, LEGISLATORS ARE LOOKING TO FORTIFY ROOFS AS A WAY TO LOWER COSTS AND MITIGATE DAMAGE. SYLVIA MASTERS HAS MORE.
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JEANERETTE VOTERS HAVE A MAYOR’S RACE TO DECIDE THIS SATURDAY. MAYOR CAROL BOURGEOIS IS SEEKING A SECOND TERM IN OFFICE. HIS OPPONENT IS MAYOR PRO TEM AND DISTRICT ONE ALDERMAN CLARENCE CLARK. THE POLLS OPEN SATURDAY AT SEVEN A-M AND CLOSE AT EIGHT THAT NIGHT.
CROWLEY POLICE CHIEF TROY HEBERT SAYS HE’S PREPARING TO ASK THE CITY COUNCIL FOR MORE MONEY TO PAY OFFICERS. HEBERT SAYS HE HAS LOST NINE OFFICERS THIS YEAR ALONE AND HE DOESN’T WANT TO LOSE ANYMORE.
