4-15-19
The white suspect in three recent arson fires that destroyed African American churches in Louisiana is scheduled for a bond hearing. The clerk of court’s office in St. Landry Parish says the hearing for 21-year-old Holden Matthews is scheduled for this morning before state District Judge James Doherty. Matthews, the son of a St. Landry Parish sheriff’s deputy, was arrested Wednesday on three charges of arson of a religious building. Three black churches were torched in 10 days, Two in Opelousas and the other in Port Barre.
HUMAN REMAINS FOUND IN A WOODED AREA IN ARKANSAS HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED TO BELONG TO A LAKE CHARLES MAN WHO HAS BEEN MISSING SINCE 1999. A STUDENT FROM RIVERVIEW HIGH SCHOOL IN SEARCY, ARKANSAS FOUND THE REMAINS IN A WOODED AREA NEAR THE SCHOOL LAST TUESDAY. SEARCY POLICE CHIEF STEVE HERNANDEZ SAYS THEY USED DENTAL RECORDS TO CONFIRM THE REMAINS TO BE THOSE OF LARRY DON MADDEN. MADDEN WAS 26 AND HAD BEEN IN THE AREA WORKING WHEN HE WAS REPORTED MISSING.
A CAMPER OFF OF WILLOW PARK LANE IN CARENCRO CAUGHT FIRE SATURDAY MORNING. WHEN FIREFIGHTERS FROM CARENCRO, LAFAYETTE, SCOTT AND PRAIRIE ARRIVED, THE CAMPER WAS FULLY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE EXTENDED TO A SHED AND A NEARBY MOBILE HOME RECEIVED MINOR EXPOSURE BURNS, BUT WAS SAVED. A COUPLE IN THE MOBILE HOME ESCAPED UNHARMED. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.
Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser’s office is holding nine meetings across the state in April and May to help choose locations for a new Louisiana Civil Rights Trail. Nungesser’s office oversees state tourism efforts. It says the trail is planned to tell the story of Louisiana’s role in the civil rights movement. The nine meetings start April 22 in New Orleans and Hammond, and continue in Lafayette, Opelousas, Alexandria, Thibodaux, Monroe, Shreveport and Lake Charles through May 22.
A 16-YEAR-OLD GIRL IS IN THE HOSPITAL AFTER BEING SHOT FOLLOWING A PROM AFTER PARTY. JEFF HORCHAK REPORTS.
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A PREGNANT WOMAN FROM BASILE, WHO WAS INJURED IN A CRASH LAST TUESDAY IN JEFF DAVIS PARISH, DIED ON THURSDAY FROM HER INJURIES. 21-YEAR-OLD SHELBY HAWKINS WAS DRIVING A FORD PICKUP TRUCK ON U-S 190 16 MILES NORTH OF JENNINGS WHEN SHE WAS HIT BY A VEHICLE DRIVEN BY 42-YEAR-OLD TIMOTHY RYAN VERNON OF ST. MARTINVILLE. VERNON WAS CITED FOR FAILING TO YIELD TO FLASHING LIGHTS WHEN HE ENTERED THE INTERSECTION OF LA-26 AND HIGHWAY 190. HAWKIN’S TRUCK WAS KNOCKED INTO A DITCH AND ROLLED OVER, AND HAWKINS WAS TAKEN TO ACADIAN MEDICAL CENTER IN EUNICE WITH SEVERE INJURIES, AND DIED TWO DAYS LATER.
The U.S. Catholic diocese where the first widely reported case of clergy sex abuse surfaced in the 1980s has released a list of 33 priests and four deacons credibly accused of molestation. The list released Friday by Louisiana’s Diocese of Lafayette identifies three priests who were convicted or pleaded guilty. The list gives each man’s birth and ordainment year, assignments, and status, such as whether he was removed from the clergy, resigned or both. The Lafayette diocese employed Gilbert Gauthe (goh-THAY), who pleaded guilty in 1985 to abusing 11 boys in the nation’s first high-profile sex abuse case.
U.S. Sen. John Kennedy spoke with President Donald Trump about regulatory hurdles keeping thousands of Louisiana flood victims from receiving federal aid.
The Republican senator said flood aid was among several topics he and Trump discussed Friday in a one-on-one lunch. As many as 6,000 Louisiana residents who took out or requested loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration after massive flooding in 2016 have been unable to access a federally financed disaster grant program. Receipt of both a disaster loan and grant was prohibited.
