4-26-23
STATE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A FATAL CRASH YESTERDAY NEAR LAWTELL. THE CRASH HAPPENED JUST AFTER FIVE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON WEST OF LAWTELL. PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, TROOPER THOMAS GOSSEN, SAYS ONE PERSON WAS KILLED IN THE CRASH. THE IDENTITY OF THE VICTIM OR THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CRASH HAVE NOT BEEN RELEASED.
THERE WAS ANOTHER FATAL CRASH LATE YESTERDAY MORNING ON MOSS STREET IN LAFAYETTE. POLICE SAY SEVENTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD THOMAS GREEN WAS TRAVELING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WHEN HE LOST CONTROL OF HIS CAR, VEERING ACROSS FIVE LANES OF TRAFFIC. HIS VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE AND GREEN DIED FROM HIS INJURIES. THE OTHER DRIVER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT OF MINOR INJURIES.
THE CALCASIEU PARISH SCHOOL BOARD VOTED TO APPROVE A SECURITY SERVICES CONTRACT WITH STRATIGOS DYNAMICS. BECAUSE OF A RECENT WAVE OF SCHOOL SHOOTINGS NATIONWIDE, SUPERINTENDENT SHANNON LAFARGUE PROPOSED HIRING THE LAKE CHARLES-BASED COMPANY TO PROVIDE SECURITY AT SCHOOL CAMPUSES THAT DO NOT HAVE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS. LAFARGUE SAYS THAT, ACCORDING TO THE DATA, THE PROBLEMS WITH SCHOOL SHOOTINGS IS NOT GOING TO STOP. THE CONTRACT WITH STRATIGOS GOES INTO EFFECT ON MONDAY AND WILL LAST THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE SCHOOL YEAR.
A proposed bill to decriminalize marijuana in Louisiana was short-lived, swiftly dying in committee Tuesday before ever reaching the House floor for debate. Democratic state Rep. Candace Newell briefly argued that her bill to decriminalize the possession and distribution of marijuana would provide opportunity for economic gains in the state. But a committee hearing the bill voted 9-4 along party lines to involuntarily defer the bill. That move Tuesday effectively killed the bill this legislative session.
From simple burglary to fentanyl-related crimes, a slew of bills that seek larger fines and longer jail time advanced in the Legislature this week. On Tuesday, lawmakers passed a bill in the Senate, 33-2, that would toughen penalties against people who produce fentanyl — a powerful opioid that is driving the country’s deadly overdose crisis. The bill will next be heard before a House committee.
WORK TO REPAIR DAMAGES TO IBERIA MEDICAL CENTER IN NEW IBERIA CAUSED BY A TORNADO IN DECEMBER IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR, ACCORDING TO PRESIDENT DIONNE VIATOR. SEVERAL AREAS OF THE BUILDING HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGE, ACCORDING TO VICE PRESIDENT OF OUTPATIENT SERVICES, JACOB FREYOU, AS WELL AS MUCH OF THE EXTERIOR WINDOWS. HE SAYS THEY DID A STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS WITH ENGINEERS AND WENT WITH RECOMMENDED WINDOW PANELS THAT ARE THREE TIMES STRONGER THAN WHAT THEY HAD. FREYOU TELLS KLFY TV THAT THE REBUILDING IS EXCITING BECAUSE THEY’RE GOING TO BE STRONGER AND BETTER.
BEGINNING MAY THIRTY-FIRST, THE YOUNGSVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS EXPECED TO SCALE BACK ITS RESPONSE TO MEDICAL CALLS OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS. MAYOR KEN RITTER SAYS THEY ALSO NEED TO RECONSIDER ITS CONTRACT WITH THE LAFAYETTE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT FOR FIRE PROTECTION OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS. UNDER THE CONTRACT, WHICH EXPIRES IN NOVEMBER, L-C-G CONTRIBUTES SEVENTY-ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS AND RITTER SAYS THAT’S NOT GOING TO WORK. IN AN EMAIL TO THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL CHAIRMAN, RITTER SAYS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT BOARD PROPOSED A MINIMUM CONTRIBUTION OF THREE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.
OPELOUSAS POLICE ARE ASKING THE PUBLIC’S HELP IN FINDING THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR A SHOOTING EARLIER THIS MONTH. SYLVIA MASTERS HAS MORE.
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