3-8-18
THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD LAST NIGHT VOTED TO CANCEL A SCHEDULED WALKOUT BY STUDENTS AND STAFF ON MARCH 14TH TO COMMEMORATE THE SHOOTING LAST MONTH AT A SCHOOL IN FLORIDA. THERE WERE CONCERNS EXPRESSED AT THE MEETING THAT SOME STUDENTS MIGHT ACT OUT DURING THE WALKOUT, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE PEACEFUL. THE DECISION WAS MADE TO HOLD A MOMENT OF SILENCE INSTEAD AND STUDENTS WILL BE ALLOWED TO WEAR BLUE FOR THE OCCASION. CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER JOE CRAIG SAYS A DECISION WILL BE MADE TODAY ON WHAT TO DO IF SOME STUDENTS DO DECIDE TO WALK OUT ANYWAY.
A MAN, WHO FIRED SHOTS AT SULPHUR AND LAKE CHARLES POLICE OFFICERS DURING A STANDOFF IN JULY OF 2014, WAS FOUND GUILTY OF EIGHT COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED FIRST DEGREE MURDER OF A POLICE OFFICER. AT A SUPER EIGHT HOTEL IN SULPHUR, 29-YEAR-OLD EL JERICO BARTIE FIRED AT LEAST 18 ROUNDS AT THE OFFICERS BEFORE SURRENDERING. HE TOLD JUDGE RON WARE ON THE STAND THAT HE DIDN’T KNOW HE WAS FIRING AT OFFICERS, BUT THE JUDGE DIDN’T BELIEVE HIM AND PRONOUNCED THE GUILTY VERDICT WITH SENTENCING TO TAKE PLACE NEXT MONTH. THE OFFICERS WERE ATTEMPTING TO APPREHEND BARTIE FOR A DRIVE BY SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED ON CLINE DRIVE IN LAKE CHARLES.
A ST. MARTINVILLE MURDER SUSPECT ENTERED A PLEA YESTERDAY. JEFF HORCHAK HAS MORE.
VOICER O :19
Louisiana lawmakers’ failure in the special session to help close a budget gap only four months away is raising red flags with a national credit rating agency. S&P Global Ratings said Wednesday that continued uncertainty about Louisiana’s finances because of legislative gridlock “has emerged as a credit weakness.” The agency made no move to downgrade the state’s credit rating, but the update signals such a threat could exist. Three major rating agencies downgraded Louisiana’s credit rating in 2016 and 2017, making it more expensive to borrow money for roadwork and construction projects.
A LAFAYETTE ART TEACHER HAS WON A NATIONAL AWARD. THE NATIONAL ART EDUCATION ASSOCIATION NAMED SHELLY BREAUX THE WINNER OF THE 2018 SOUTHEASTERN REGION SECONDARY ART EDUCATOR AWARD. BREAUX TEACHES ART AT THE DAVID THIBODEAUX STEM MAGNET ACADEMY. BREAUX TELLS THE DAILY ADVERTISER THAT THE AWARD IS EXTRA SPECIAL BECAUSE THE WINNERS ARE CHOSEN BY ART EDUCATION PEERS FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY.
THE LAKE CHARLES CITY COUNCIL REJECTED REZONING PROPERTY FOR A PROPOSED NEW BUSINESS. HARVEY LOGAN WANTED TO BUILD A BARBER BEAUTY SHOP IN AN AREA ZONED FOR RESIDENTIAL. ONE REASON COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE AGAINST IT WAS THE POTENTIAL FOR INCREASED TRAFFIC IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. IT’S ALSO IN A FLOOD ZONE, SO IT WOULD HAVE TO BE ELEVATED, WHICH COULD CAUSE RUNOFF TO LEGION STREET, WHICH SAW FLOODING DURING TROPICAL STORM HARVEY LAST YEAR.
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry and the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office are seeking the public’s help in finding whoever’s responsible for the recent deaths of a cow and three calves. On March 3, agriculture inspectors received a complaint from a rancher in reference to cattle killed on the levee near Port Barre. The animals were found dead in the pasture portion of the levee. Inspectors say it appears the cattle were run over by a truck. Anyone with information is urged to call St. Landry Parish Crimestoppers at 948-TIPS.
A federal appeals court has scheduled a hearing next week to review a judge’s order halting construction of a crude oil pipeline in the Atchafalaya Basin. Bayou Bridge Pipeline LLC asked the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for an “emergency stay” that would lift the suspension of construction work while it appeals the judge’s ruling. A three-member panel from the 5th Circuit is scheduled hear arguments on that request next Tuesday. On Feb. 23, U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick sided with environmental groups and issued a preliminary injunction stopping all Bayou Bridge pipeline construction work in the Atchafalaya Basin until the groups’ lawsuit is resolved.
