3-30-18
AT A SUMMIT WEDNESDAY NIGHT, ATTENDEES PLEADED WITH THE LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH COUNCIL TO NOT CUT FUNDING, WITH WARNINGS OF WHAT COULD HAPPEN IF THEY DO. THE COUNCIL IS FACED WITH A SERIOUS FINANCIAL PROBLEM WITH SALES TAX COLLECTIONS DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY AND THE CITY PARISH RESERVES PROJECTED TO DWINDLE TO 92 THOUSAND DOLLARS BY THE END OF THE YEAR. DISTRICT ATTORNEY KEITH STUTES URGED THE COUNCIL TO RAISE TAXES TO COVER ALL EXPENSES. JUDGE DAVID BLANCHETT THREATENED TO SUE IF THE COUNCIL FAILS TO PAY THE 15TH JUDICIAL COURT AND DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE FIRST FROM THE GENERAL FUND.
Authorities say a woman has been arrested after a 2-year-old boy was shot by an older child who found a loaded gun at a home in Jennings. The Advocate reports the boy has been released from a hospital after the bullet grazed a bone. A Jefferson Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office statement says 33-year-old Summer Lane Chiasson was booked Thursday on a felony count of cruelty to juveniles. Detectives determined Chiasson placed the 9 mm semi-automatic pistol under the cushion of a couch where she fell asleep the night before.
A WOMAN, WHO WORKS AT THE WALMART DISTRIBUTION CENTER IN OPELOUSAS, WAS THE RECIPIENT OF A 25 THOUSAND DOLLAR CHECK FOR WINNING FIRST PRIZE IN THE Z-P CHALLENGE. WALMART STARTED THE Z-P CHALLENGE TO HELP EMPLOYEES WHO WANT TO IMPROVE THEIR HEALTH AND WELL BEING AND THEY SELECT A WINNER TWICE PER YEAR. NINA DUPONT, WHO IS A TRANSPORTATION SAFETY CLERK, SAYS HAD A TERRIBLE TIME TRYING TO WALK AND MOVE WHEN SHE STARTED THE CHALLENGE. SHE SAYS SHE HAS SINCE LOST 161 POUNDS AND IS NOW ABLE TO WALK ONE-POINT-4 MILES IN TWENTY MINUTES.
Despite a budget shortfall that hits in July, Louisiana’s legislative leaders aren’t recommending cuts to their agencies to help shrink the gap. Instead, they’ve proposed a nearly $12 million increase. The budget proposal for legislative agencies, filed Thursday by House Speaker Taylor Barras, would spend more than $96 million in the financial year that begins July 1. That’s up from the more than $84 million allocated this year for other legislative offices.
THE LAFAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL BOOSTERS RECEIVED A VIDEO OF SUPPORT FROM FORMER NBA GREAT SHAQUILLE O’NEAL. THEY ARE HAVING A SOUTH LOUISIANA GIVING DAY ON MAY TENTH, WHERE THEY WILL ATTEMPT TO RAISE 21 THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REMODEL THE WEIGHT ROOM. THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS PROMISED TO MATCH DOLLARS RAISED UP TO 21 THOUSAND DOLLARS. SHAQUILLE , IN THE VIDEO, WISHED THEM WELL ON THE FUNDRAISER AND SAID HE MAY HAVE A SURPRISE FOR THEM.
PAWS 4 LIFE, A NONPROFIT ANIMAL SHELTER IN DERIDDER, IS HOSTING A FESTIVAL TOMORROW TO RAISE FUNDS. THE PAWS 4 LIFE FEST AT THE WASHINGTON STREET PAVILION WILL TAKE PLACE TOMORROW FROM ELEVEN TO FOUR AND THERE WILL BE LIVE MUSIC, VENDORS, AND A FIRETRUCK FOR KIDS TO EXPLORE. ALSO THERE WILL BE A “DUNK A COP” TANK AS WELL AS A SILENT AUCTION. BESIDES RAISING MONEY FOR THE SHELTER, THEY WILL ALSO ALLOW FOR SOME OF THE DOGS TO BE ADOPTED.
A NEW HYBRID GRAIN OF RICE HAS BEEN DEVELOPED AT THE RICE RESEARCH STATION IN CROWLEY THAT COULD BENEFIT FARMERS. DR. JIM ORAD SAYS IT’S CALLED LAH-169 AND HE SAYS IT WILL GROW ABOUT 15 PERCENT MORE RICE PER ACREAGE. HE TELLS KATC TV THAT THE NEW RICE GROWS FASTER WHICH MEANS IT REQUIRES LESS FERTILIZER. THE ONE DOWNSIDE IS THE RICE IS MORE EXPENSIVE BUT THEY HAVE ECONOMIC MODELS TO ASSIST FARMERS IN DETERMINING IF IT WILL BE PROFITABLE FOR THEIR FARMS.
A BILL THAT WOULD RAISE SOME HUNTING AND FISHING LICENSES IN THE STATE HAS MOVED OUT OF COMMITTEE AND ON TO THE FULL HOUSE. THE BILL BY REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE JEROME “ZEE” ZERINGUE WOULD BRING IN AN ADDITIONAL SIX-POINT-5 MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES. DEPARTMENT SECRETARY JACK MONTOUCET SAYS THE MONEY IS NEEDED TO KEEP THE DEPARTMENT VIABLE OVER THE NEXT DECADE. THE BILL WOULD CONSOLIDATE 117 CURRENT LICENSES INTO JUST THIRTY, WITH MOST OF THE FEES INCREASING BUT THE SPORTSMAN’S PARADISE LICENSE, WHICH COMBINES HUNTING AND FISHING, WOULD DECREASE FROM A HUNDRED TO NINETY DOLLARS.
