4-21-15
A BROUSSARD MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR DRUNK DRIVING, LESS THAN EIGHT MONTHS AFTER HE WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON FOR A DRUNK DRIVING FATALITY. 51-YEAR-OLD DALLAS ANTHONY FABRE WAS ARRESTED SATURDAY IN LAFAYETTE FOR O-W-I, CARELESS OPERATION AND NOT DRIVING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROAD. IN AUGUST OF LAST YEAR, HE WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON AFTER SERVING SIX MONTHS OF A TWO YEAR SENTENCE FOR A 2010 CRASH THAT KILLED 64-YEAR-OLD BOBBIE LANE LEBLANC TINKER. PAM LABORDE OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONS SAYS FABRE WAS RELEASED EARLY ON GOOD TIME PAROLE SUPERVISION.
THERE ARE STILL A FEW RESIDENCES IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA WITHOUT POWER BECAUSE OF STORMS WITH HEAVY WINDS THAT CAME THROUGH THE AREA SUNDAY NIGHT. ENTERGY SAYS MORE THAN 27 THOUSAND CUSTOMERS WERE AFFECTED BY THE STORMS IN CALCASIEU, CAMERON, JEFF DAVIS AND ACADIA PARISHES, AND THREE THOUSAND WERE STILL WITHOUT POWER LATE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. ENTERGY SAYS THEY EXPECT ALL POWER TO BE RESTORED, WITH MAYBE A FEW EXCEPTIONS BY EIGHT O’CLOCK TONIGHT. GREG GUILBEAU, THE COMPANY’S SENIOR REGION MANAGER OF CUSTOMER SERVICE, SAYS THE STORMS CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE, DOWNING TREES AND ELECTRICAL LINES, AND THEIR CREWS ARE WORKING AS QUICKLY AND SAFELY AS THEY CAN TO MAKE THE REPAIRS.
THE POLICE CHIEF FOR WASHINGTON IN ST. LANDRY PARISH LAUNCHED A LEGALLY QUESTIONABLE BAIL PROGRAM LAST YEAR BEFORE LATER DISCONTINUING IT, ACCORDING TO THE STATE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR. CHIEF RONELLE BROUSSARD BEGAN ACCEPTING BAIL PAYMENTS FROM THOSE ARRESTED ON MINOR VIOLATIONS, BUT DID NOT TELL TOWN OFFICIALS. HE TOLD THE AUDITOR THAT HE USED THE MONEY FOR DEPARTMENT EXPENSES AND TO GIVE A 400 DOLLAR LOAN TO AN EMPLOYEE, BUT DID NOT HAVE ANY DOCUMENTATION. IN WASHINGTON, ONLY THE MAYOR IS ALLOWED TO SET BAIL. BROUSSARD HAS SINCE RETURNED 400 DOLLARS OF THE BAIL MONEY TO DEFENDANTS, WHILE TRACKING DOWN THE OTHERS WHO PAYED BAIL MONEY.
If Common Core opponents want to get the education standards stripped from Louisiana’s public schools, it looks as if they have more work to do. Rep. Brett Geymann failed in a procedural move Monday to get his bill — which would change the method for adopting education standards — moved to the full House without a committee hearing. Geymann, a Republican leader of the anti-Common Core movement in the Legislature, was trying to bypass the House Education Committee. But lawmakers voted 61-37 against the bypass maneuver.
SOUTH LOUISIANA COMMUNITY COLLEGE HAS FINISHED RAISING THEIR SHARE OF FUNDS FOR A NEW HEALTH AND SCIENCES BUILDING. S-L-C-C COLLECTED 2-POINT-1 MILLION DOLLARS, AND THE REMAINING 15 MILLION DOLLARS WILL COME FROM A STATE FUND FOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS WITHIN THE LOUISIANA COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM. CONSTRUCTION SHOULD BEGIN THIS SUMMER AND THE NEW BUILDING IS EXPECTED TO BE READY BY THE FALL SEMESTER OF 2016. THE THREE STORY, 63 THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT BUILDING WILL HAVE AN INSTRUCTIONAL CAPACITY FOR ONE THOUSAND STUDENTS.
A SULPHUR MAN WAS SENTENCED TO FORTY YEARS IN PRISON AFTER PLEADING MONDAY TO MANSLAUGHTER IN THE DEATH OF A ONE-YEAR-OLD IN CALCASIEU PARISH. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
VOICER H :22
TOURISM IN VERMILLION PARISH IS AT ITS HIGHEST LEVELS, FIVE YEARS AFTER THE B-P OIL SPILL. TOURIST COMMISSION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ALISON MILLER SAYS THE PARISH USED TO SEE ABOUT 15 THOUSAND VISITORS A YEAR BEFORE THE SPILL. AFTER THE SPILL, B-P GAVE THE COMMISSION A ONE-POINT-5 MILLION DOLLAR GRANT FOR MARKETING. SHE TELLS KLFY TV THAT THEY ARE NOW UP TO A TOTAL VISITATION OF NEARLY FIFTY THOUSAND.
An annual review by the legislative auditor’s office says Louisiana is reducing its governing boards and commissions, but still has more than any other Southeastern state. Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera’s office said Louisiana had 471 boards and commissions created by law or executive order as of June 30. That’s a drop of 24 over the last five years. Despite the reduction, the auditor’s office says Louisiana has far more such panels then other states in the region.
