4-19-17
THE LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH COUNCIL VOTED 7-TO-2 TO APPROVE A BAN ON SMOKING AT BARS. THE BAN ALSO APPLIES TO BINGO PARLORS. IN 2015, THE COUNCIL REJECTED A BAN BY A 5-TO-4 VOTE. HOWEVER, FOUR OF THOSE VOTING AGAINST IT HAVE SINCE BEEN REPLACED ON THE COUNCIL.
A MAN CONVICTED FOR THE RAPE AND MURDER OF FOUR-YEAR-OLD MARY JEAN THIGPEN IN 2001 IS ASKING FOR A NEW TRIAL WITHOUT THE DEATH PENALTY. AT A COURT HEARING IN LAKE CHARLES YESTERDAY, JASON REEVES CLAIMED HIS DEFENSE ATTORNEYS WERE INEFFECTIVE AND HE SHOULD GET A NEW TRIAL. CALCASIEU PARISH ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY CARLA SIGLER, WHO PROSECUTED THE CASE, SAYS IT WAS A HORRIFYING CRIME AND NO LAWYER ON EARTH COULD HAVE KEPT REEVES FROM BEING CONVICTED. SHE SAYS TAXPAYERS HAVE ALREADY SPENT CLOSE TO A MILLION DOLLARS ON THE CASE AND THE APPEALS WILL LIKELY CONTINUE FOR YEARS.
THREE MEN, WHO WERE INVOLVED IN A SHOOTING IN STEPHENSVILLE THAT INJURED ONE MAN, WERE ARRESTED BY MORGAN CITY POLICE AFTER A CHASE THROUGH LAKE END PARK. A DEPUTY, WHO NOTICED THE VEHICLE DESCRIBED IN THE INCIDENT, PULLED IT OVER IN THE PARK, BUT TWO OF THE MEN JUMPED OUT AND FLED. AT ABOUT 3:30 YESTERDAY MORNING, 37-YEAR-OLD NATHANIEL WASHINGTON WAS DISCOVERED HIDING IN A DUMPSTER IN THE PARK, WHILE 23-YEAR-OLD MATTHEW VINCENT HARRIGAN SURRENDERED TO AUTHORITIES SHORTLY BEFORE NOON. THE OTHER PERSON WHO WAS ARRESTED WAS 19-YEAR-OLD DEVONTE MICHAEL BREAUX AND INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE THE MOTIVE FOR THE SHOOTING WAS ROBBERY.
With dollars in scarce supply, people packed the House budget committee in a gloomy competition for state financing from a panel where many Republicans say Louisiana needs to pare back its spending. Tuesday was public testimony day in the Appropriations Committee, when the general public gets its turn to talk about where it would like to see the state’s dollars spent in the operating budget. With tearful stories, people sought boosted financing for health programs for the elderly and disabled. But with the tight state budget and House Republican leaders resistant to tax hikes, it’s unclear how much success the requests will have.
THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM IS HOLDING A PUBLIC MEETING TODAY TO DISCUSS A PROPOSED HALF CENT SALES TAX. BISHOP DOUGLAS DESHOTEL WILL JOIN PARISH OFFICIALS TO TALK ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF THE TAX. THE MEETING WILL BE AT TWO P-M TODAY AT LAFAYETTE HIGH, AND ANOTHER MEETING IS SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY AT ALICE BOUCHER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. THE HALF CENT SALES TAX WILL BE VOTED ON BY LAFAYETTE PARISH RESIDENTS ON APRIL 29TH.
THE CITIES OF LAKE CHARLES AND SULPHUR ARE HAVING TROUBLE FILLING VACANCIES IN THEIR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT. SULPHUR PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR MIKE DAIGLE TELLS KPLC TV THE PROBLEM IS ATTRACTIVE CONSTRUCTION JOBS THAT ARE AVAILABLE ELSEWHERE. HE SAYS THEY ARE TRYING TO SLOW DOWN TURN OVER AND STOP EMPLOYEES LEAVING BY SHOWING OFF THE BENEFITS THEY OFFER. THE SULPHUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS EIGHT VACANCIES, WHILE LAKE CHARLES HAS 15 POSITIONS TO FILL IN THEIR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.
A MAMOU MAN IS ACCUSED OF BEING INVOLVED IN A SHOOTING LATE MONDAY NIGHT AT A HOME ON BUZZ LANE IN MAMOU. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
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Louisiana lawmakers are considering whether to shorten the wait for divorces when the couple has children under 18. Currently, such couples have to live apart one year before they can get a divorce, unless there are special circumstances like domestic abuse. A proposal advanced to the full House for debate Tuesday would shorten that wait period to six months. Supporters of the longer wait period say it gives couples more time to reconsider.
