4-22-16
THE LAFAYETTE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT IS FACING A TWO-POINT-7-4 MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET DEFICIT FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR THAT ENDS ON OCTOBER 31ST. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER LORRIE TOUPS DELIVERED THE NEWS YESTERDAY TO THE COUNCIL’S FINANCIAL LIAISON COMMITTEE. SHE CITED DECLINING SALES TAX RECEIPTS AND A DECISION BY DISTRICT ATTORNEY KEITH STUTES NOT TO REIMBURSE THE PARISH FOR 704 THOUSAND DOLLARS IN SALARIES FOR HIS EMPLOYEES. STUTES HAS SAID HE DOESN’T AGREE WITH THE SALARY REIMBURSEMENTS AND WOULD ONLY AGREE TO IT IF THEY ENTERED A COOPERATIVE ENDEAVOR AGREEMENT, SUCH AS THOSE THEY HAVE IN PLACE WITH ACADIA AND VERMILLION PARISHES.
AFTER A TWO HOUR DEBATE, THE CALCASIEU PARISH POLICE JURY APPROVED ZONING CHANGES THAT WILL ALLOW FOR A TEMPORARY WORKER HOUSING SITE. THE BAYOU LODGE, WHICH WILL HOUSE 956 PEOPLE, WILL BE LOCATED THREE MILES WEST OF SULPHUR ON HIGHWAY 90. THE 28 ACRE PROPERTY WILL HAVE A FENCE AROUND IT, THERE WILL BE ON SITE SECURITY AND A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY FOR DRUGS AND ALCOHOL. THE JURY PASSED OTHER AGENDA ITEMS AT LAST NIGHT’S MEETING THAT WILL ALLOW FOR ALMOST 500 RV SPOTS TO BE BUILT AROUND THE PARISH.
The St. Landry Parish Council has selected Madeline Taylor to fill a vacancy on the governing body. A spokeswoman for the council confirmed Thursday that Taylor was unanimously appointed Wednesday as the interim District 3 council member to replace Fekisha Miller-Matthews, who announced her resignation last month. KATC-TV reports Taylor was one of two people who applied for the position. The council also set a Nov. 8 election date to find someone to permanently replace Miller-Matthews.
Gov. John Bel Edwards will require thousands of non-working, childless adults who receive food stamps to participate in job search and skills training programs to continue getting the assistance. The Democratic governor’s executive order, issued Thursday, starts the requirement July 1. It comes as Republican lawmakers have pushed for work requirements, which have bumped thousands off food stamps in other states. About 47,000 food stamp recipients are estimated to be affected by Thursday’s order.
A BILL, THAT WOULD MANDATE THAT CURSIVE WRITING BE TAUGHT IN SCHOOL, PASSED UNANIMOUSLY IN THE SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE. IT NOW GOES TO THE FULL SENATE FOR CONSIDERATION. REPUBLICAN STATE SENATOR BETH MIZELL OF FRANKLINTON SPONSORED THE LEGISLATION BECAUSE SHE SAYS SOME YOUNG PEOPLE DON’T UNDERSTAND WHAT A SIGNATURE IS. THE BILL WOULD REQUIRE STUDENTS TO BE TAUGHT CURSIVE WRITING BY THE THIRD GRADE.
A BILL, THAT WOULD PENALIZE LOUISIANA CITIES THAT ADOPT SANCTUARY CITY POLICIES, PASSED IN THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE WITHOUT OPPOSITION YESTERDAY. LAFAYETTE IS CONSIDERED A SANCTUARY CITY BECAUSE SHERIFF MIKE NEUSTROM IN 2014 SAID HE WOULD NOT HONOR IMMIGRATION DETAINMENT REQUESTS BY U-S IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT WITHOUT A COURT ORDER. THE INCOMING SHERIFF, MARK GARBER, SAYS HE WILL ONLY COMPLY WITH FEDERAL DETAINMENT REQUESTS IF THEY PLEDGE TO SUPPORT THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE IN ANY POTENTIAL WRONGFUL IMPRISONMENT LAWSUITS. THE BILL, IF IT BECOMES LAW, WOULD PENALIZE SANCTUARY CITIES BY TAKING AWAY THEIR ABILITY TO BORROW MONEY FOR MAJOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.
DRIVERS IN LAKE CHARLES HAVE BEEN PUTTING UP WITH DELAYS ON INTERSTATE TEN OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS AS THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN CONDUCTING AN INSPECTION OF THE I-TEN BRIDGE THAT CROSSES THE CALCASIEU RIVER. THE WESTBOUND RIGHT LANE WILL BE CLOSED THROUGHOUT THE WEEKEND AND INTO NEXT WEEK AS THEY COMPLETE THE INSPECTION. THE DEPARTMENT’S PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER DEIDRA DRUILHET TELLS KPLC TV THAT, RIGHT NOW, THE BRIDGE IS CONSIDERED SAFE FOR THE TRAVELING PUBLIC, BUT THE BEST LONG TERM OPTION IS REPLACING THE BRIDGE. SHE SAYS IF FUNDING IS SECURED, THE BRIDGE WILL LIKELY BE REPLACED AROUND THE YEAR 2025.
THE ECONO MART ON SOUTH EASTERN AVENUE IN CROWLEY WAS ROBBED AT GUNPOINT WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THE SUSPECTS ARE TWO BLACK MEN WHO WERE WEARING DARK CLOTHING AND HAD THEIR FACES COVERED. THEY ENTERED THE STORE, POINTED A GUN AT THE CLERK AND DEMANDED MONEY. AFTER RECEIVING THE MONEY, ONE OF THE SUSPECTS TOOK CIGARETTES FROM THE COUNTER BEFORE FLEEING.
