4-1-16
MACKENZIE BOURG OF LAFAYETTE DID NOT MAKE IT TO THE FINAL ROUND OF AMERICAN IDOL, WHICH TAKES PLACE NEXT WEEK. BOURG RECEIVED THE FEWEST VOTES OF THE FINAL FOUR CONTESTANTS LAST NIGHT. HE SAID THAT HE’S RECEIVED SO MANY AMAZING MESSAGES ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND, BECAUSE OF THAT, HE FEELS HE DIDN’T LOSE. HIGHLIGHTS OF BOURG’S HOMECOMING VISIT TO LAFAYETTE LAST SATURDAY WERE SHOWN ON AMERICAN IDOL LAST NIGHT.
A LIST OF LONG TERM GOALS FOR THE CITY OF SULPHUR, CALLED VISION SULPHUR, HAS BEEN REVISED AND WILL BE POSTED TO THE CITY’S WEBSITE SOMETIME NEXT WEEK. THE ORIGINAL VISION SULPHUR WAS ROLLED OUT IN 2010 BUT OVER THE LAST YEAR A COMMITTEE OF BUSINESS AND EDUCATION LEADERS, RETIREES AND OTHER RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN REVIEWING AND UPDATING THE LIST. ONE NEW ITEM IS A GOAL TO INCREASE FUNDING FOR THE SULPHUR POLICE DEPARTMENT SO THEY CAN GET BODY CAMERAS AND INCREASE PATROLS. THEY ALSO ARE CALLING FOR A DATABASE OF BUSINESSES WITH VARIANCES AND EXEMPTIONS TO HELP ENSURE A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD FOR ALL BUSINESSES.
IBERIA PARISH SHERIFF LOUIS ACKAL AND HIS SECOND-IN-COMMAND GERALD SAVOY PLEADED NOT GUILTY YESTERDAY DURING AN ARRAIGNMENT HEARING. ACKAL AND SAVOY FACE CHARGES OF CONSPIRACY AGAINST RIGHTS AND DEPRIVATION OF RIGHTS IN CONNECTION WITH A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO BEATINGS AT THE PARISH JAIL. IF CONVICTED, THE TWO FACE UP TO TEN YEARS IN PRISON AND 250 THOUSAND DOLLAR FINES FOR EACH COUNT. U-S MAGISTRATE JUDGE PATRICIA HANNA RELEASED ACKAL AND SAVOY ON THEIR OWN RECOGNIZANCE AND TOLD THEM NOT TO HAVE ANY CONTACT WITH THE ALLEGED VICTIMS OR WITNESSES IN THE TRIAL.
SALES TAXES ARE GOING UP BEGINNING TODAY. THE STATE LEGISLATURE APPROVED RAISING THE STATE SALES TAX FROM FOUR CENTS TO FIVE CENTS IN ORDER TO RAISE MONEY TO HELP BALANCE THE BUDGET. THE NEW SALES TAX WILL EXPIRE IN JULY OF 2018. THE TAXES FOR ALCOHOL AND CIGARETTES ALSO GO UP TODAY AND SOME SALES TAX EXEMPTIONS HAVE BEEN ELIMINATED.
LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES BEGAN WEARING BODY CAMERAS YESTERDAY. THE DEPARTMENT PURCHASED 50 OF THE CAMERAS LAST JUNE FOR JUST UNDER 67 THOUSAND DOLLARS AND, SINCE THEN, THE DEPUTIES HAVE BEEN TESTING THE CAMERAS AND THE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN REVIEWING POLICIES FOR THEM. THE DEPUTIES WILL TURN OFF THE CAMERAS IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS DEFINED IN THE DEPARTMENT’S POLICIES AND IN AREAS WHERE THERE IS A REASONABLE EXPECTATION OF PRIVACY, SUCH AS IN A RESTROOM. THE DEPUTIES ARE REQUIRED TO ANNOUNCE WHY THEY ARE TURNING OFF THE CAMERAS.
THE CALCASIEU PARISH POLICE JURY RECEIVED AN UPDATE LAST NIGHT ON TWO MAJOR ROAD PROJECTS IN THE PARISH. PARISH ENGINEER TIM CONNOR SAYS CONSTRUCTION ON THE TEN MILLION DOLLAR NORTH FRONTAGE ROAD PROJECT IN SULPHUR COULD BEGIN AS EARLY AS THIS SUMMER. A NEW ROAD WILL BE CREATED BEGINNING AT RUTH STREET AND EXTENDING A MILE AND A HALF ALONG THE NORTH SIDE OF I-TEN. CONNOR SAYS THEY ARE CLOSE TO COMPLETING FINAL PLANS ON AN EXPANSION OF JOHN STINE ROAD IN WESTLAKE FROM TWO TO THREE LANES BETWEEN SAMPSON STREET TO MYRTLE SPRINGS ROAD, AND THEY WILL LIKELY ADVERTISE FOR BIDS SOMETIME THIS YEAR.
THE DEFENSE IN THE MURDER TRIAL OF SAMUEL ANDERSON IN VILLE PLATTE PRESENTED A WITNESS YESTERDAY THAT THEY SAY CLEARS THEIR CLIENT. ANDERSON IS CHARGED WITH FIRST DEGREE MURDER AND ARMED ROBBERY FOR THE 2014 SHOOTING OF ANN NGUYEN IN HER GROCERY STORE. THE WITNESS, WHO LIVES ACROSS FROM THE STORE, TESTIFIED THAT SHE SAW SOMEONE WITH DREAD LOCKS LEAVE THE STORE AFTER THE SHOOTING, BUT ANDERSON DID NOT HAVE DREAD LOCKS. THE CASE COULD GO TO THE JURY AS SOON AS TODAY.
Convicted sex offenders in Louisiana would be unable to work in door-to-door sales, if the state House of Representatives agrees to a measure that won unanimous support from the Senate. Already in Louisiana, registered sex offenders can’t drive a bus or taxi or work in an industry that requires going into someone’s home to provide a service. The bill by Republican Sen. Gerald Long would prohibit registered sex offenders from soliciting door to door for any kind of business. If approved, violators of the measure would face prison sentences from five to 10 years, with three years required to be served, and could be fined up to $10,000.
