4-18-18
FIVE GROUPS HAVE SUBMITTED PROPOSALS TO REDEVELOP THE OLD FEDERAL COURTHOUSE IN DOWNTOWN LAFAYETTE, WHICH HAS BEEN VACANT FOR 15 YEARS. RETURNING THE TWO ACRE SITE TO COMMERCE HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR LAFAYETTE MAYOR PRESIDENT JOEL ROBIDEAUX AND HE HAD ASKED FOR DEVELOPERS TO SUBMIT QUALIFICATIONS. THE CITY PARISH GOVERNMENT PURCHASED THE BUILDING IN 2001 AND THE HOLDING COSTS HAVE BEEN AROUND 40 THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR. ELECTED OFFICIALS AT THE NEARBY 15TH JUDICIAL COURTHOUSE HAD HOPED TO POSSIBLY MOVE IN TO THE OLD FEDERAL COURTHOUSE BECAUSE THEY’RE BUILDING IS IN POOR SHAPE.
THE SULPHUR CITY COUNCIL HAD A SPECIAL MEETING LAST NIGHT TO DISCUSS PUTTING A RAISE FOR CITY EMPLOYEES IN THE ANNUAL BUDGET. COUNCILMAN STUART MOSS SAYS THE TWO PERCENT COST OF LIVING RAISE FOR EMPLOYEES WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE BUDGET BY THE MAYOR AND THE COUNCIL HAD TO PUT IT BACK IN. THE COUNCIL DECIDED TO ADD A TWO-AND-A-HALF PERCENT RAISE IN THE BUDGET. THE COUNCIL WILL VOTE ON THE BUDGET AT THEIR NEXT COUNCIL MEETING TO BE HELD ON MAY 14TH.
THE CITY OF ABBEVILLE HAS BROUGHT UP A MOBILE HOME PARK ORDINANCE TO BAN FUTURE MOBILE HOME PARKS WITHIN CITY LIMITS. JEFF HORCHAK HAS MORE.
VOICER U :24
Abortions after 15 weeks would be banned in Louisiana under a proposal to enact one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the U.S. A committee voted 4-1 Tuesday to send the proposal to a later debate of the full state Senate. Democratic Sen. John Milkovich says his bill would protect the unborn. However, committee members debated whether it would unintentionally weaken Louisiana’s existing anti-abortion laws .
The push to change Louisiana’s gun laws is falling flat. A House criminal justice committee Tuesday rejected several gun bills brought by both sides of the political aisle, largely capping efforts to alter firearm rules after the massacre at a Florida high school where 17 people were killed. The panel jettisoned proposals such as a 10-day waiting period after a gun is purchased, a ban on rapid-fire devices known as bump stocks and a bill to allow people to carry concealed firearms without permits. The failures come as most of the roughly two-dozen gun bills filed this year haven’t advanced in the Legislature.
THE LOUSIANA PHARMACY BOARD ISSUED THE FIRST FIVE LICENSES TO DISPENSE MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN THE STATE. THE APOTHECARY SHOPPE EDGED OUT ACADIANA THERAPEUTIC REMEDIES FOR THE LICENSE IN LAFAYETTE. ONE OF THE OWNERS OF THE APOTHECARY SHOPPE, ERIC VIDRINE, WHO ALSO OWNS PROFESSIONAL ARTS PHARMACY, SAYS THE NEW STORE SHOULD BE UP IN FOUR TO SIX MONTHS. MEDICIS IN LAKE CHARLES WAS AWARDED THE LICENSE FOR THE SOUTHWEST REGION.
IN LAKE CHARLES, A JUDGE HAS ACCEPTED TWO EXPERT WITNESSES IN THE FIRST DEGREE MURDER TRIAL OF KEVIN DAIGLE, WHO IS ACCUSED OF KILLING STATE TROOPER STEVEN VINCENT. DR. JEFFREY LEWINE FROM NEW MEXICO, AN EXPERT FOR THE DEFENSE, WILL ATTEMPT TO CONVINCE A JURY DAIGLE HAD A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AND DIDN’T KNOW WHAT HE WAS DOING AND, THUS, SHOULD NOT FACE THE DEATH PENALTY IF FOUND GUILTY. DR. STEVE THOMPSON FROM MCNEESE, WHO IS AN EXPERT IN INTOXICATION, WILL BE USED BY THE PROSECUTION TO COUNTER THE DEFENSE’S CLAIMS. THE TRIAL IS SCHEDULED TO BEGIN ON APRIL 30TH.
CROWLEY POLICE ARE SEEKING THE PUBLIC’S HELP IN SOLVING A FELONY THEFT CASE FROM LAST MONTH. ON MARCH 21ST, 17 SETS OF TIRES AND RIMS WERE STOLEN FROM VEHICLES AT DON SHETLER BUICK CHEVROLET. INVESTIGATORS SAYS THE SUSPECTS ARE BELIEVED TO HAVE USED A LARGE TRAILER IN THE THEFT. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION THAT COULD SOLVE THIS CRIME IS ASKED TO CALL CRIME STOPPERS OF ACADIA PARISH AT 789-TIPS.
