3-3-20
AUTHORITIES DISCOVERED THE BODY OF A DEAF AND MUTE VILLE PLATTE WOMAN, WHO WENT MISSING LAST WEEK. CAROLINE MARCELLO REPORTS.
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A RETIRED JUDGE, ACTING AS A ONE DAY SUBSTITUTE IN THE IAN HOWARD CASE, HAS OVERTURNED THE PRESIDING JUDGE’S DECISION TO GRANT HOWARD’S REQUEST TO WAIVE HIS RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL. HOWARD IS ACCUSED OF KILLING LAFAYETTE POLICE OFFICER MICHAEL MIDDLEBROOK AND WOUNDING THREE OTHERS IN 2017. HOWARD HAD BEEN GRANTED THE WAIVER REQUEST BECAUSE HIS ATTORNEYS FELT THEY COULD NOT SEAT AN IMPARTIAL JURY WITH THE NEWS COVERAGE AND JUDGE JULES EDWARDS AGREED WITH THEIR REQUEST. RETIRED ST. LANDRY PARISH JUDGE ELLIS DAIGLE, SUBSTITUTING FOR EDWARDS WHO WAS INVOLVED WITH A CIVIL TRIAL, AGREED WITH THE PROSECUTION THAT HOWARD HAD NOT MADE HIS REQUEST IN TIME AND DENIED THE REQUEST.
CONCERNS ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS ARE NOT IMPACTING THE HOUSING MARKET IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA. DEBBIE LINK, THE PRESIDENT OF THE SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS, TELLS KPLC TV THERE WERE REPORTS THAT UNNESSESARY PARANOIA COULD CAUSE UNSTABLE HOUSING MARKETS. SHE SAYS HOUSING SALES ARE UP FOR THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF THE YEAR AND THE OUTLOOK SO FAR HAS BEEN GREAT. SHE SAYS IT’S NOT CURRENTLY AFFECTING THE MARKET AND THEY ARE NOT AFRAID OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN YET.
Gov. John Bel Edwards says he expects Louisiana to eventually see its own cases of the new coronavirus. But the Democratic governor said Monday that if a case hasn’t been confirmed by the state health department, it’s not real. Edwards says Louisiana has no confirmed cases so far. He announced Monday that he formed a COVID-19 task force to lead Louisiana’s planning for the virus’ spread.
CHURCH POINT POLICE HAVE RELEASED PHOTOS ON THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE OF TWO ALLEGED THIEVES. THE PHOTOS WERE TAKEN FROM A DOLLAR STORE. THE DEPARTMENT IS ASKING THE GENERAL PUBLIC OR SURROUNDING AGENCIES TO HELP THEM IDENTIFY THE MAN AND WOMAN IN THE PHOTOS. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION CAN CALL THE CHURCH POINT POLICE AT 684-5455.
LAFAYETTE POLICE ARE SEARCHING FOR A FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL WHO HAS BEEN MISSING SINCE SUNDAY NIGHT. LACI GRAY LEFT HER HOME IN THE AREA OF WALKER ROAD AT AROUND 7:30 SUNDAY NIGHT. SHE’S BLACK, FIVE-FIVE, ONE HUNDRED FIFTEEN POUNDS WITH LONG BOX BRAIDS, AND SHE MAY BE TRAVELING AS A PASSENGER IN A WHITE CHEVY IMPALA. ANYONE WHO KNOWS WHERE GRAY MAY BE IS ASKED TO CONTACT AUTHORITIES.
LAKE CHARLES POLICE ARE SEEKING TO IDENTIFY A MAN WHO ROBBED A BANK FRIDAY AFTERNOON. THE MAN WALKED INTO A JEFF DAVIS BANK BRANCH ON GERSTNER MEMORIAL AND HANDED A NOTE TO A TELLER DEMANDING MONEY. THE TELLER, BELIEVING HE HAD A WEAPON, GAVE THE MAN AN UNDISCLOSED AMOUNT OF MONEY. POLICE HAVE A SURVEILLANCE PHOTO OF THE MAN AND ARE NOW ASKING THE PUBLIC’S HELP IN IDENTIFYING THE SUSPECT.
Gov. John Bel Edwards has outlined a limited package of priorities for the three-month legislative session that starts next week. Edwards spoke Monday to the Press Club of Baton Rouge about his legislative agenda. The Democratic governor highlighted his push to boost spending on education. He says he’ll renew his fight to raise Louisiana’s minimum wage.
