3-30-17
A woman is suing officials of Lafayette in federal court, claiming a police officer took her cellphone and deleted a picture from it — without a warrant or her consent. The lawsuit filed Wednesday says the incident happened in January after Chelline Carter’s teenage son was arrested on a marijuana possession charge in Lafayette. It says Carter used her phone to photograph her son as he sat in the back of a police car. Carter’s suit claims Lafayette Officer Shannon Brasseaux (BRASS’-oh) took the phone from her, examined the contents and deleted at least one picture.
OAKDALE POLICE CHIEF JOSEPH LOCKETT TELLS KPLC TV THAT HE BELIEVES A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN NEAR THE WALMART ON HIGHWAY 165. THE ROOF OF THE COUNTRY INN MOTEL WAS PARTIALLY TORN OFF AND THE TIN ROOF COVERING THE GAS PUMPS AT THE MURPHY USA STATION WAS RIPPED UP AND TIN WAS LITTERED ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY, THOUGH IT HAS SINCE BEEN PICKED UP. BILLBOARDS HAVE ALSO BEEN BLOWN AWAY AND TREES ARE DOWN ALL OVER. METEOROLOGIST DONALD JONES SAYS HE CAN’T CONFIRM THERE WAS A TORNADO UNTIL THE AREA IS SURVEYED, BUT HE WOULDN’T BE SURPRISED IF THE DAMAGE WAS CAUSED BY A TWISTER.
A POSTAL WORKER IN ST. LANDRY PARISH YESTERDAY PLED GUILTY TO A FEDERAL CHARGE OF STEALING MAIL. 24-YEAR-OLD TREMAYNE CLUSE OF ARNAUDVILLE WAS ACCUSED OF TAKING FOUR CELLPHONES AND A CELLPHONE CASE FROM THE MAIL. HE WILL BE SENTENCED IN JULY ON ONE COUNT OF THEFT OF MAIL BY A POSTAL EMPLOYEE. HE COULD GET UP TO FIVE YEARS IN JAIL.
Gov. John Bel Edwards lost his effort to delay submission of Louisiana’s plan to redesign state education policies for public schools. The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted 7-4 Wednesday to send the outline to federal officials in April. They sided with Superintendent of Education John White rather than waiting until mid-September as Edwards and public school leaders wanted. White’s plan will change the way student performance is measured in Louisiana, along with the method for calculating public school letter grades.
LAFAYETTE MAYOR PRESIDENT JOEL ROBIDEAUX WILL HOLD HIS FIRST PARISHWIDE ADDRESS LATER TONIGHT AT THE HEYMANN CENTER. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
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RON RICHARD, WHO MADE THE RUNOFF IN THE LAKE CHARLES CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT A RACE, HAS DECIDED TO WITHDRAW. HE CITED HIS DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE LOW VOTER TURNOUT AS THE REASON. RICHARD SAYS HE SPENT A LOT OF TIME AND MONEY TRYING TO GET VOTERS TO THE POLLS, BUT NOW HE WILL REDIRECT HIS RESOURCES TO OTHER CHARITABLE ENDEAVORS THAT ARE CLOSE TO HIS HEART. THAT MEANS INCUMBERNT MARY MORRIS GETS FOUR MORE YEARS ON THE COUNCIL.
ROSCOE, THE CROWLEY POLICE K-9 OFFICER THAT WAS SHOT AND KILLED LAST SUNDAY, WAS HONORED WITH A SPECIAL PROCESSION YESTERDAY. THE CHIEF INVESTIGATOR WITH THE CALCASIEU PARISH CORONER’S OFFICE, CHARLIE HUNTER, SAYS IT’S ONLY RIGHT TO HONOR ROSCOE BECAUSE, ACTING ON INSTINCT, HE SAVED THE LIFE OF SEVERAL OFFICERS. THAT INCLUDED HIS HANDLER OFFICER, TATE THIBODEAUX, WHO WAS HOSPITALIZED IN THE SHOOTING. THE PROCESSION BEGAN AT THE CORONER’S OFFICE AND CONTINUED TO THE CREMATORY WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FROM ACROSS THE REGION PARTICIPATING.
Business leaders are expressing concern about Gov. John Bel Edwards’ tax proposal and the increased costs it could add to companies. The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry issued a statement Wednesday reminding lawmakers and Edwards “that the Louisiana economy is in the midst of a recession.” Organization president Stephen Waguespack says the governor’s tax proposal “seems tone deaf to economic reality.” The package centerpiece is a new tax on gross receipts, estimated to raise up to $900 million annually from businesses.
