4-12-16
THE OLD EVANGELINE DOWNS RACE TRACK IN CARENCRO WILL BE THE SITE OF A NEW GROUND DISTRIBUTION CENTER FOR FED EX. JAMES SAAD OF SAAD DEVELOPMENT OUT OF ALABAMA SAYS HIS COMPANY PURCHASED THE FORTY ACRE SITE LAST WEEK AND WILL BUILD THE FACILITY, WHICH SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY NEXT SPRING. HE SAYS THEY WILL THEN LEASE THE SITE TO FED EX. CARENCRO MAYOR GLENN BRASSEAUX TELLS THE ADVOCATE THAT THE NEW CENTER WILL BE A BOON FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES AS IT WILL BRING A COUPLE OF HUNDRED WORKERS TO THE AREA EVERY DAY.
Autopsies have been performed on two 19-year-old Southern University students who were shot and killed outside an off-campus apartment complex in Baton Rouge. East Baton Rouge Parish coroner William “Beau” Clark said Monday’s autopsies showed that Lashuntae Benton of Lake Charles was shot once in her head and once in her left arm, while Annette January had a single gunshot wound to her chest. Baton Rouge Police Sgt. Don Coppola said the women appeared to be “innocent bystanders” caught in the crossfire when 22-year-old Ernest Bernard Felton, of Miami, exchanged gunfire with a 24-year-old man early Sunday.
Investigators were awaiting results of ballistic analysis to determine who’s responsible for fatally shooting the women.
THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN FROM THE TOWN OF WASHINGTON WILL HAVE TO SELECT AN INTERIM POLICE CHIEF, AFTER CURRENT POLICE CHIEF RONELLE BROUSSARD WAS OUSTED FROM OFFICE. A RECALL ELECTION WAS HELD SATURDAY AND 85 PERCENT VOTED AGAINST BROUSSARD, WHO HAS NOT BEEN AT WORK SINCE FEBRUARY BECAUSE OF AN UNSPECIFIED INJURY. THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN ARE REQUIRED TO APPOINT AN INTERIM CHIEF WITHIN NINE DAYS OF THE RECALL ELECTION, WHO WILL SERVE UNTIL AN ELECTION CAN BE HELD FOR A NEW POLICE CHIEF. THE BOARD MEETS NEXT MONDAY, BUT THEY COULD CALL A SPECIAL MEETING BEFORE THAT.
Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration is reworking its approach to hiring the staff needed to handle his Medicaid expansion effort after getting pushback from lawmakers. The agency initially proposed adding nearly 250 new workers to handle enrollment of the thousands of people expected to qualify for Medicaid under an eligibility expansion. But the plan was put on hold in January as the Democratic governor’s administration ran into concerns from Republican lawmakers resistant to adding new workers to state payroll amid continuing budget shortfalls. Under a revised plan, the Edwards administration intends to beef up an outside contracting deal with the University of New Orleans to augment the health department’s staff.
Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards spent about $1.1 million on his inauguration festivities and other transition expenses as he prepared to take office. By law, Edwards was required to pay for transition and inauguration activities with private donations, not taxpayer funds, with a cap of $5,000 per donor. He had to disclose details about the donations and spending with the state ethics administration office.
The Advocate reports that Edwards documented raising $1.4 million to pay for his inauguration events and his transition office during the 51 days between Election Day and his entrance into office.
THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VIEW ELEVEN PROPOSED ALTERNATIVES FOR THE INTERSTATE 49 CONNECTOR PROJECT AT A SPECIAL COMMUNITY MEETING PLANNED FOR APRIL 27TH. CONSULTANTS WILL BE ON HAND AS WELL TO ANSWER QUESTIONS AND TAKE COMMENTS. IT WILL BE HELD AT PROGRESSIVE BAPTIST CHURCH COMMUNITY OUTREACH CENTER FROM FOUR TO EIGHT P-M ON APRIL 27TH. THE NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND THE I-49 CONNECTOR PROJECT WILL ALSO BE THE FOCUS OF A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS BEGINNING APRIL 30TH AS PART OF AN INITIATIVE TO PROTECT AND REDEVELOP THE CORRIDOR AROUND THE NEW INTERSTATE.
A PROPOSED HALF CENT SALES TAX FOR THE CITY OF JENNINGS WAS DEFEATED BY VOTERS ON SATURDAY. IT WOULD HAVE GONE TOWARDS PAY RAISES FOR CITY EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING FIRE FIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS. POLICE CHIEF TODD D’ALBOR SAYS THE PAY RAISE WOULD HAVE HELPED THEM RECRUIT AND RETAIN OFFICERS. MAYOR TERRY DUHON SAYS HE BELIEVES IT WAS REJECTED BECAUSE OF ANOTHER ONE CENT STATEWIDE SALES TAX THAT WENT INTO EFFECT EARLIER THIS MONTH.
MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED PEOPLE ATTENDED A SPECIAL EVENT LAST NIGHT IN NEW IBERIA TO REMEMBER THOSE WHO DIED IN A VIOLENT CRIME. KEVIN AND DONDIE LEBLANC BREAUX OF FRANKLIN, THE PARENTS OF MAYCI BREAUX, WHO WAS KILLED AT THE GRAND 16 THEATRE SHOOTING LAST SUMMER, WERE THE FEATURED SPEAKERS. DISTRICT ATTORNEY BO DUHE SAYS THE BREAUX’S STORY HELPS PROVIDE COURAGE AND SUPPORT TO THOSE WHO ARE GOING THROUGH SIMILAR STRUGGLES. THE EVENT WAS PUT ON BY THE GROUP “VOICES OF INNOCENT CITIZENS EMPOWERED” AS THEY HONORED THE START OF NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS RIGHTS WEEK.
