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THE LOUISIANA ETHICS BOARD HAS FILED CHARGES AGAINST A FORMER LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER FOR SOLICITING AND ACCEPTING SAINTS TICKETS IN NOVEMBER OF 2013. MARK COCKERHAM GOT THE TICKETS FROM INSURANCE CONSULTANT RINA TIKIA, WHO WAS HIRED BY THE BOARD TO HELP IN FINDING A NEW INSURANCE ADMINISTRATOR. THE CHARGES AGAINST COCKERHAM HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO THE ETHICS ADJUDICATORY BOARD, WHICH WILL DETERMINE IF HE VIOLATED THE LAW AND, IF SO, THEY WILL RECOMMEND A PENALTY. THE ETHICS BOARD ALSO FILED CHARGES AGAINST TIKIA LAST JANUARY.
A LAKE CHARLES WOMAN IS BEHIND BARS AFTER LEADING SEVERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ON A HIGH SPEED PURSUIT ACROSS TWO PARISHES. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
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ALCOHOLIC CONSUMPTION IS ON THE RISE IN ACADIANA, INCLUDING THE AMOUNT OF HEAVY DRINKING AND BINGE DRINKING, ACCORDING TO A REPORT BY THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH. THE LARGEST INCREASE IN HEAVY DRINKING, WHICH IS TWO OR MORE DRINKS A DAY, WAS IN ST. MARY PARISH, WHICH SAW A 49 PERCENT INCREASE FROM 2005 TO 2012. VERMILLION PARISH HAD THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF BINGE DRINKERS AT 22-POINT-5 PERCENT, WHILE ACADIA PARISH HAD THE SMALLEST PERCENTAGE, 18-POINT-9 PERCENT. THE PARISHES WITH THE LARGEST PERCENTAGE INCREASES IN BINGE DRINKING, WHICH IS FOUR OR MORE DRINKS AT A SINGLE OCCASION FOR WOMEN AND FIVE OR MORE FOR MEN, WAS IN ST. LANDRY, EVANGELINE AND ST. MARY PARISHES.
Despite opposition from Gov. Bobby Jindal, state senators have agreed to put cost controls on Louisiana’s TOPS free college tuition program. The Senate voted 27-9 Wednesday for the bill by Republican Sen. Jack Donahue, of Mandeville, which has the backing of higher education leaders. Under the proposal, the TOPS tuition payment rate would be locked in at the 2015-16 level. Rather than automatic increases whenever college tuition rises, increases to TOPS payments in the 2016-17 year and beyond would have to get separate approval from lawmakers.
SETH FONTENOT OF LAFAYETTE IS STILL AWAITING SENTENCING FIVE WEEKS AFTER HE WAS CONVICTED OF MANSLAUGHTER FOR THE SHOOTING DEATH OF 15-YEAR-OLD AUSTIN RIVAULT IN FEBRUARY OF 2015. ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY DANIEL LANDRY TOLD THE DAILY ADVERTISER THAT THE PRESENTENCING INVESTIGATION STILL NEEDS TO BE COMPLETED, WHICH USUALLY TAKES ABOUT TWO MONTHS. HE SAYS FONTENTOT, THE TWO SURVIVING VICTIMS AND RIVAULT’S PARENTS HAVE TO BE INTERVIEWED AND A REPORT COMPILED TO GIVE TO THE JUDGE, EDWARD RUBIN. FONTENOT FIRED THREE SHOTS AT A TRUCK, THINKING THE OCCUPANTS HAD TRIED TO BURLARIZE HIS VEHICLE, RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF RIVAULT AND THE WOUNDING OF TWO OF HIS FRIENDS.
THE RESIDENTS IN FOUR HOMES NORTH OF BELL CITY IN CALCASIEU PARISH WERE FORCED TO EVACUATE YESTERDAY BECAUSE OF A NATURAL GAS WELL BLOWOUT. ONE OF THE RESIDENTS, CHARLES MONTGOMERY, WHO LIVES ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE WELL, TOLD KPLC TV THAT HE HEARD AN EXPLOSION AND RAN OUTSIDE TO SEE GAS SPEWING A HUNDRED FEET INTO THE AIR. ALTA ROAD WAS CLOSED AND A CREW OUT OF HOUSTON WAS CALLED TO COME AND FIX THE WELL, OWNED BY REEF EXPLORATION. THE RESIDENTS NEAR THE WELL WERE GIVEN UNTIL MIDNIGHT TO GET OUT OF THE AREA.
THE ACADIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE HAS IDENTIFIED A MAN WHO IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A SHOOTING AT THE KATHY MEADOW APARTMENTS IN CROWLEY LAST WEEKEND. 29-YEAR-OLD GEVIN LOUIS VARISE OF PLAQUEMINE IS BELIEVED TO BE ONE OF TWO MASKED MEN WHO ENTERED THE APARTMENT AND SHOT A MAN THREE TIMES IN FRONT OF HIS WIFE AND CHILD. SHERIFF’S OFFICE SPOKESWOMAN MAXINE TRAHAN SAYS THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO IDENTIFY THE OTHER SUSPECT. SHE SAYS THEY HAVE COLLECTED ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO ALSO CONNECT VARISE TO AN ARMED ROBBERY THAT HAPPENED AT THAT SAME APARTMENT ON JANUARY SIXTH.
A Senate committee has approved a bill that could make medical marijuana available to those suffering from cancer, glaucoma and a severe form of cerebral palsy. The proposal by Sen. Fred Mills, a Republican from Parks, would allow patients to consume refined forms of marijuana, but prohibits smoking the plant.
Law enforcement groups have historically opposed medical marijuana. But Michael Ranatza, head of the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Association, on Wednesday supported Mills’ proposal, saying he had a change of heart due to the passionate advocacy of a colleague’s terminally-ill daughter, who died of cancer.
