4-23-19
THE POPULATION FOR LAFAYETTE PARISH HAS GROWN EVERY YEAR SINCE 1989. THAT’S AN INDICATION THAT THE ECONOMY IS MORE DIVERSE, ACCORDING TO THE LAFAYETTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. IN THE 1980’S, THE LAFAYETTE ECONOMY WAS ABOUT 72 PERCENT DEPENDENT ON THE OIL INDUSTRY COMPARED TO TODAY WHEN IT’S DOWN TO ABOUT THIRTY PERCENT DEPENDENT. LAFAYETTE’S POPULATION HAS GROWN 62 PERCENT SINCE 1980, WHEN THE IT WAS JUST OVER 150 THOUSAND, TO THE LATEST FIGURES IN 2018, WHEN THE POPULATION WAS AT OVER 242 THOUSAND.
Body camera footage shows a police pursuit in which a white officer fatally shoots a black man who brandished a BB gun in Lake Charles. The Associated Press obtained video last week of Officer Jonathan Landrum of the Lake Charles Police Department fatally shooting Juston Landry. The shooting happened Jan. 11 after Landry threatened a gas station clerk with a lethal-looking BB gun and ignored repeated commands to drop the device. Landry’s family says it intends to file a lawsuit and may ask the U.S. Justice Department to investigate.
A ST. LANDRY PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTY HAS BEEN FIRED FOR TIPPING OFF AN ALLEGED DRUG DEALER. SHERIFF BOBBY GUIDROZ SAYS THAT WHEN THEY ARRESTED THE DRUG DEALER, DUSTIN JOHNSON, HE TOLD DEPUTIES THAT HE WAS PAYING DEPUTY BILLY MCCAULEY FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS A MONTH FOR INFORMATION ABOUT PLANNED DRUG RAIDS AND OTHER STING OPERATIONS. GUIDROZ SAYS THEY LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION AND,WHEN THE PAYMENTS WERE CONFIRMED, HE FIRED MCCAULEY. GUIDROZ SAYS THEY DID NOT ARREST MCCAULEY BECAUSE THERE WASN’T ENOUGH PHYSICAL EVIDENCE.
Louisiana State police have disclosed they arrested a man last week accused of trespassing at the Governor’s Mansion and damaging property. Reynard Green of Baton Rouge was booked Wednesday on counts including simple burglary, criminal trespass and criminal damage to property. East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff Sid Gautreaux says booking records show Green was found sleeping on a couch and had broken an antique table. Authorities wouldn’t immediately comment on whether Gov. John Bel Edwards or his family were in the mansion at the time.
TAXABLE SALES WERE UP SEVEN PERCENT FOR THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OF THIS YEAR IN COMPARISON TO LAST YEAR AND THEY ARE 8-POINT-2 PERCENT HIGHER THAN THE SAME PERIOD IN 2017. THE YEAR 2018 HAD THE SECOND HIGHEST TOTAL SALES IN LAFAYETTE HISTORY AND IT HAD YEAR-OVER-YEAR INCREASES FOR THE LAST ELEVEN MONTHS OF LAST YEAR. RETAIL SALES ARE ALSO UP IN THE OTHER MUNICIPALITIES IN LAFAYETTE PARISH AND THE UNINCORPORATED AREAS. GREGG GOTHREAUX OF THE LAFAYETTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY SAYS TAXABLE SALES ALONG WITH THE FIGURES FOR UNEMPLOYMENT, HOME SALES AND AVERAGE WEEKLY WAGES INDICATE THAT LAFAYETTE’S ECONOMY IS SHOWING STRONG SIGNS OF RECOVERY.
THE JENNINGS POLICE DEPARTMENT IS BUSY INVESTIGATING CAR BURGLARIES AND CAR THEFTS. JEFF HORCHAK HAS MORE.
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RICHARD’S CAJUN FOODS IS HOLDING A RIBBON CUTTING CELEBRATION TOMORROW FROM ELEVEN TO ONE. THEY ARE CELEBRATING THEIR NEWLY EXPANDED FACILITY IN CHURCH POINT. THE COMPANY SPENT 2-POINT-7 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THEIR 28 THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT FACILITY THAT WILL GIVE THEM MORE PRODUCTION AND OFFICE SPACE. IN ADDITION, RICHARD’S MOVED SOME OF THEIR PRODUCTION OPERATIONS FROM MILWAUKEE TO CHURCH POINT.
Food manufacturers selling products such as “cauliflower rice” could face new labeling restrictions in Louisiana, under a bill in the Legislature. The Senate voted 34-0 Monday for a “truth in labeling” measure that adds protections for meat, rice and sugar producers. Sen. Francis Thompson, a Delhi Democrat, says he wants to ensure consumers know what they’re buying. The House next debates Thompson’s bill.
