KAJN Jesus FM 102.9


4-18-16

APPROXIMATELY FOUR THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED A PETITION OPPOSED TO RESTRIPING A SECTION OF MOSS STREET IN NORTH LAFAYETTE.  THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PLANS ON CHANGING A STRETCH OF MOSS STREET FROM FOUR LANES TO TWO WITH A CENTRAL TURN LANE AND BIKE LANES ON BOTH SIDES.  KARL BREAUX OF BREAUX’S MART SAYS A GROUP OF BUSINESS OWNERS AND RESIDENTS WILL SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE PROPOSAL AT TOMORROW NIGHT’S CITY PARISH COUNCIL MEETING.  THE OWNERS OF BUSINESSES ALONG THAT STRETCH ARE CONCERNED THAT REDUCING THE LANES WILL CAUSE TRAFFIC BACKUPS WHICH WILL LEAD PEOPLE TO AVOID THE AREA.

 

Dozens of volunteers cleaned flood damage at a Vinton park where parts of a chapel date back to the 1870s and a Civil War encampment once stood.

Niblett’s Bluff Park doesn’t have flood insurance, and 7 feet of floodwater did millions of dollars’ worth of damage in March.  The American Press reports that on Saturday, volunteers removed carpet, tore down wall paneling and drywall, pulled up floorboards, and discarded anything else that was damaged by the flood.

A post on the park’s Facebook page said they were able to get the chapel ready for restoration in one day.

 

The Louisiana Fire Marshal’s Office says a house fire has killed a 106-year-old Ville Platte man who had lived on his own until about 1 ½ years ago.  A news release says Edward Thomas Jr., nicknamed “Knotoe,” was alone when fire apparently broke out Saturday in the attic of the house where he lived with his daughter and son-in-law.  Investigators don’t yet know what started the fire.

The statement says Thomas was a Ville Platte police officer for 25 years, fixed vehicle radiators, and drove his own truck until he was 100 years old.

 

THE GOVERNOR PLANS ON CALLING FOR A SPECIAL SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE THAT WILL BEGIN THE DAY AFTER THE REGULAR SESSION ENDS ON JUNE SIXTH.  GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS WANTS THE LEGISLATURE TO RAISE ENOUGH TAXES TO CLOSE A PROJECTED 750 MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR.  HE SAYS WITHOUT NEW TAXES, THE STATE’S POPULAR TOPS SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WILL HAVE TO BE GUTTED AND FOUR SAFETY NET HOSPITALS WILL BE CLOSED.  REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE WOULD PREFER THE SPECIAL SESSION WAIT UNTIL THE FALL SO THEY CAN FIND OUT HOW MUCH MONEY WILL BE RAISED BY NEW TAXES THAT WERE PASSED EARLIER THIS YEAR IN ANOTHER SPECIAL SESSION.

 

THE LOUISIANA HOUSE IS CONSIDERING A BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE LOBBYISTS TO BE MORE SPECIFIC ON THEIR DISCLOSURES.  STATE REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS BROADWATER, A REPUBLICAN FROM HAMMOND, AUTHORED THE BILL AFTER HE WAS LISTED IN SEVERAL REPORTS FOR RECEIVING FANCY STEAK DINNERS FROM LOBBYISTS, WHICH HE NEVER RECEIVED.  BROADWATER’S BILL WOULD REQUIRE LOBBYISTS TO NOT ONLY LIST WHICH LEGISLATORS WERE INVITED TO EVENTS, BUT WHICH DID NOT ATTEND.  IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY, LOBBYISTS SPENT MORE THAN 103 THOUSAND DOLLARS ON ELECTED OFFICIALS, MOSTLY FOR DINNER AND DRINKS.

 

The new bishop of the Diocese of Lafayette has been installed in his new position.

Local media report that a ceremony was held Friday for Bishop J. Douglas Deshotel, who becomes the seventh bishop for the diocese.  Deshotel is no stranger to south Louisiana. Deshotel, 64, is a native of Basile.

 

LAKE CHARLES POLICE HAVE LOCATED AND ARRESTED A 14-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO ATTEMPTED TO ROB A MAN ON BROAD STREET THURSDAY NIGHT.  THE VICTIM REFUSED TO HAND OVER HIS WALLET AND THE 14-YEAR-OLD SHOT HIM IN THE FACE.  THE 45-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO WAS SHOT IS EXPECTED TO SURVIVE HIS WOUNDS.  THE JUVENILE IS BEING HELD AT THE CALCASIEU JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER ON A CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED FIRST DEGREE MURDER.

 

A former deputy with the Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office has been accused of stealing $48,000 in money seized from drug busts.  The Advertiser reports that Maxine Trahan has been arrested and charged with felony theft. She was a public information officer.  Trahan, 56, had the job of depositing money seized by the sheriff’s office into an account, according to an arrest affidavit.