4-23-26
THE CITY OF LAFAYETTE HAS A NEW FIRE CHIEF. GEORGE FAUST HAS MORE.
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GUEYDAN POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A HIT-AND-RUN THAT HAPPENED AT AROUND ONE A-M YESTERDAY AT JOHNNY’S DRIVE-IN. THE SUSPECT VEHICLE LEFT BEHIND A PIECE OF DEBRIS AT THE SCENE. BASED ON THE EVIDENCE, POLICE BELIEVE THE VEHICLE IS A HYUNDAI ACCENT HATCHBACK AND IT MAY HAVE A RED FRONT FENDER. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CONTACT GUEYDAN POLICE.
THE CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS PROVIDING CAR SEATS FOR CHILDREN OF FAMILIES THAT CAN’T AFFORD THEM. SHERIFF STITCH GUILLORY SAYS ITS HEARTBREAKING TO COME UPON A SCENE WHERE A CHILD WAS INJURIED BECAUSE THE PARENTS COULDN’T AFFORD A CAR SEAT. UNDER THE RIDE SAFE SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA PROGRAM, DEPUTIES CAN PROVIDE A SAAFETY FIRST CAR SEAT ON SCENE WHEN A CHILD’S SAFETY IS AT RISK AND THE PARENTS LACK THE RESOURCES TO AFFORD ONE. THE PROGRAM IS NOT OPEN TO THE PUBLIC BUT IS USED DURING ACTIVE CALLS AT A DEPUTY’S DISCRETION.
A BILL THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THE WORD GENDER FROM STATE LAW IS RECEIVING THE BACKING OF GOVERNOR JEFF LANDRY. THE BILL, KNOWN AS THE RESTORING BIOLOGICAL TRUTH ACT, IS SPONSORED BY STATE REPRESENTATIVE MIKE JOHNSON OF PINEVILLE. IT WOULD REPLACE GENDER IN STATE LAW WITH SEX, WHICH IS DEFINED AS A PERSON’S BIOLOGICAL SEX AT BIRTH. THE BILL MOVED OUT OF THE HOUSE CIVIL LAW COMMITTEE ON A SIX-TO-ONE VOTE.
A BILL, THAT WOULD MAKE IT A CRIME TO DIRECT LOUD NOISES AT PEOPLE, IS MOVING TO THE STATE SENATE AFTER THE HOUSE PASSED IT NINETY-ONE TO ZERO. IF SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR, IT WOULD EXPAND THE BATTERY STATUTE TO INCLUDE THE INTENTIONAL DIRECTING OF SOUND AT ANOTHER IN CLOSE PROXIMITY OF THEIR HEAD OR EAR. THE PERSON WHO DIRECTS THE NOISE WOULD HAVE TO FORESEE THAT THE CONDUCT WOULD CAUSE PHYSICAL PAIN, HEARING IMPAIRMENT OR BODILY INJURY. THE BILL’S SPONSOR, STATE REPRESENTATIVE BRIAN GLORIOSO OF SLIDELL, SAYS IT’S MEANT TO PROTECT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS AT PROTESTS, WHO SOMETIMES HAVE BULLHORNS AND AIR HORNS USED NEXT TO THEIR EARS.
A LAFAYETTE PARISH MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY STABBING HIS CARETAKER. FIFTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD JARROD DEGROAT HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED SECOND-DEGREE MURDER. IT UNCLEAR WHY DEGROAT STABBED THE CARETAKER. LAFAYETTE SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES SAY THE VICTIM WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT AND THEN RELEASED.
A MAN WAS HOSPITALIZED AFTER BEING RESCUED BY FIREFIGHTERS FROM A BURNING HOME IN NEW IBERIA. THE MAN WAS FOUND UNRESPONSIVE IN THE HOME LOCATED ON JANE STREET. HIS CONDITION HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED. THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL’S OFFICE IS INVESTIGATING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE.
A FORMER ALL STATE OFFENSIVE LINEMAN AT CROWLEY HIGH SCHOOL IS RETURNING TO LEAD THE FOOTBALL TEAM. JOEL SINCLAIR HAS BEEN NAMED HEAD FOOTBALL COACH AND ATHLETIC DIRECTOR. HE TAKES OVER ONE MONTH AFTER FORMER COACH ERIC COOLEY RESIGNED. SINCLAIR WAS COACHING FOOTBALL AND TRACK AT WINGFIELD HIGH SCHOOL IN JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI.
