4-13-17
THE TWO CANDIDATES FOR A SEAT ON THE THIRD CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS HANDLED QUESTIONS AT A FORUM LAST NIGHT. CANDYCE PERRET, WHO RECEIVED THE MOST VOTES IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION, DENIED BEING INVOLVED IN LEGAL CHALLENGES TO VANESSA ANSEMAN’S QUALIFICATIONS, WHO HAD TO FIGHT IN COURT TO STAY IN THE PRIMARY RACE. PERRET’S OPPONENT IN THE RUNOFF ELECTION, SUSAN THEALL, DEFLECTED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE LEGALITY OF A LOAN SHE RECEIVED FROM A FRIEND IN A PREVIOUS CAMPAIGN FOR FAMILY COURT JUDGE IN 2011. THE RUNOFF ELECTION TAKES PLACE ON APRIL 29TH.
A FOURTH PERSON HAS BEEN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE TULIP STREET SHOOTING IN LAKE CHARLES LAST THURSDAY, THAT RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF 22-YEAR-OLD CODY LASTRAPES, AND THE WOUNDING OF THREE OTHERS. 25-YEAR-OLD ANDRE JORDAN BROUSSARD OF LAKE CHARLES WAS ARRESTED TUESDAY AND CHARGED WITH SECOND DEGREE MURDER AND THREE COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED SECOND DEGREE MURDER. THE LAKE CHARLES POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS NOT SAID WHAT BROUSSARD’S PART WAS IN THE SHOOTING. TWO OTHERS, WHO WERE PREVIOUSLY ARRESTED, ALLEGEDLY FIRED MULTIPLE SHOTS INTO A CAR WITH THE FOUR PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY MISTAKENLY THOUGHT ANOTHER PERSON, WITH WHOM THEY’D HAD AN ALTERCATION EARLIER, WAS IN THAT VEHICLE.
STATE FIRE MARSHAL INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE UNATTENDED COOKING MAY HAVE CAUSED A HOUSE FIRE THAT RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF A VILLE PLATTE MAN. THE HOME THAT CAUGHT FIRE LATE TUESDAY WAS LOCATED IN THE 13-HUNDRED BLOCK OF MARTIN LUTHER KING DRIVE IN VILLE PLATTE. FIREFIGHTERS, WHO WERE BATTLING THE BLAZE, FOUND THE BODY OF 55-YEAR-OLD JESSIE BIAS IN THE LIVING ROOM. INVESTIGATORS FOUND THE REMNANTS OF A MELTED COOKING POT ON THE KITCHEN STOVE, WHICH LED THEM TO BELIEVE THE FIRE STARTED THERE.
Louisiana’s public colleges have been hammered by budget cuts over nearly a decade, and they’re staring down the threat of another round of slashing. Higher education leaders pleaded their case for funding Wednesday before state lawmakers on a House budget committee. University officials received no suggestions more dollars would be heading their way in the budget year that begins July 1. And they received no assurances their campuses would be protected from further reductions after $700 million in state financing cuts since 2008.
THE LAFAYETTE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT WILL RECEIVE NEARLY TWO MILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL COMMUNITY BLOCK GRANTS BECAUSE OF LAST YEAR’S RECORD FLOODS. THE MONEY IS BEING EARMARKED FOR THREE DRAINAGE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS. THOSE PROJECTS ARE IN THE DERBY HEIGHTS SUBDIVISION, THE ILE DES CANNES SUBDIVISION, AND L8C OF BAYOU CARENCRO. IT’S HOPED THAT THOSE THREE PROJECTS WILL HELP IMPROVE DRAINAGE AND ALLEVIATE FUTURE FLOODING.
Officials say a small explosion and fire in a forest near a Louisiana Army post led to the evacuation of an apartment complex while they searched the suspect’s home for possible dangerous material. Vernon Parish Sheriff Sam Craft told reporters Wednesday night that Fort Polk officials had contacted his and other law enforcement agencies after a person combined chemicals to create the explosion in the Kisatchie National Forest in central Louisiana. Craft says officials have determined chlorine was involved but he did not have details. He says the suspect, an active duty soldier stationed at Fort Polk, was in custody there.
THE IOTA POLICE CHIEF IS WARNING BUSINESSES OF COUNTERFEIT MONEY THAT MAY BE CIRCULATING THROUGH THE AREA. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
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The interim director of the Louisiana State Museum resigned this week, issuing a letter accusing Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser and his staff of interfering with museum management and attempting to “commandeer” museum-owned apartments in a historic French Quarter building for personal use. Nungesser denies the allegations, telling The New Orleans Advocate that interim director Tim Chester had not been moving quickly enough to find a permanent director or make other changes. Chester resigned in protest Monday. The Louisiana State Museum encompasses nine properties, five of them in New Orleans’ French Quarter.
