4-16-15
THE NINE PARISH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY, ONE ACADIANA, HAS HIRED AN URBAN DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST. HARVEY WEISS, WHO IS CURRENTLY THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, WILL BEGIN WORKING WITH ONE ACADIANA IN JUNE. THE AGENCY’S PRESIDENT AND C-E-O JASON EL KOUBI SAYS WEISS IS WELL KNOWN IN THE FIELD OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND REVITALIZATION. ACCORDING TO A STATEMENT FROM ONE ACADIANA, WEISS WILL BEGIN BY IDENTIFYING AND STARTING INITIATIVES AND PROJECTS THAT WILL HELP REVITALIZE THE URBAN CORE OF ACADIANA, INCLUDING MAJOR GATEWAYS AND AREAS AROUND DOWNTOWN LAFAYETTE AND AT U-L LAFAYETTE.
A-B-B, A MAJOR AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGY GROUP, HELD A RIBBON CUTTING YESTERDAY FOR THEIR NEW SERVICE OFFICE IN SULPHUR. THE OFFICE WILL PROVIDE SERVICES AND SUPPORT FOR LOCAL COMPANIES LIKE SASOL DURING THE UPCOMING ECONOMIC EXPANSION. THE OFFICE WILL HAVE 15 PERMANENT EMPLOYEES AND FIVE PART-TIME ENGINEERS AND TECHNICIANS.
THE ST. LANDRY PARISH COUNCIL YESTERDAY HEARD COMPLAINTS FROM RESIDENTS ABOUT LOCAL BUSINESSES. JIM LEEZY, WHO LIVES IN THE COTEAU LAKES SUBDIVISION IN ARNAUDVILLE, SAYS A CULVERT PLANT HAS HORNS ON PLANT MACHINERY THAT BEGIN BLOWING AT 4:30 IN THE MORNING. PARISH PRESIDENT BILL FONTENOT SAID HE WILL TALK WITH THE PLANT OFFICIALS. THE COUNCIL ALSO VOTED 12-TO-ZERO TO HAVE THE COUNCIL CLERK CHECK INTO WHETHER RODNEY’S TOWING, LOCATED ON HIGHWAY 190 BETWEEN OPELOUSAS AND LAWTELL, IS OPERATING A SALVAGE YARD. PEOPLE LIVING NEAR THE BUSINESS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT TANKERS SITTING ON THE PROPERTY, AND IF THEY CONTAIN HAZARDOUS CHEMICALS.
In the heated debate over Common Core, supporters of the education standards have resorted to the mythical, distributing pink and white unicorn stuffed animals to state lawmakers. The pitch? Unicorns aren’t real, and the organization calling itself Alliance for Better Classrooms says many of the criticisms lawmakers have heard about Common Core aren’t real either. The fluffy-tailed creature was an attention-grabbing salvo in the fight over whether to keep the English and math standards adopted by more than 40 states in Louisiana’s public school classrooms.
LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS APPROVED INCREASING THE STUDENT TEACHER RATIO AT LAST NIGHT’S MEETING. JULIE DARCE REPORTS.
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RICE FARMERS IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA ARE NEARLY FINISHED PLANTING THEIR CROPS. L-S-U AGCENTER RICE SPECIALIST DUSTIN HARREL SAYS LOUISIANA FARMERS WILL PLANT NEARLY 460 THOUSAND ACRES OF RICE, WHICH IS CLOSE TO LAST YEAR. HOWEVER, HE SAYS, PRICES ON RICE ARE UNDER PRESSURE, AND TRENDING DOWNWARD. HARREL SAYS THE STANDS OF RICE HE’S SEEN ARE IN EXCELLENT CONDITION.
THE IBERIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE HAS ISSUED AN ARREST WARRANT FOR A NEW IBERIA MAN, WHO THEY BELIEVE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ARMED ROBBERY OF A VALERO STORE ON FEBRUARY EIGHTH. 32-YEAR-OLD TYRONE JACKSON WAS ALREADY UNDER ARREST FOR A SECOND ARMED ROBBERY, AT THE PENNYWISE CONVENIENCE STORE ON JANE STREET IN NEW IBERIA. ACCORDING TO A NEWS RELEASE BY THE IBERIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE, JACKSON WAS SERVED THE ARREST WARRANT FOR THE VALERO STORE ROBBERY AT THE TIME OF HIS INCARCERATION LAST WEEK.
The man who oversees settlement payments to people and businesses claiming economic losses as a result of BP’s 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill says more than $5 billion has been paid out. Patrick Juneau announced the milestone in a Wednesday news release, five days ahead of the disaster’s fifth anniversary. The money is being disbursed under a 2012 settlement.
