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THERE’S ANOTHER CHURCH FIRE IN OPELOUSAS THIS MORNING. FIRE CREWS ARE WORKING TO PUT OUT A FIRE AT MOUNT PLEASANT BAPTIST CHURCH ON HIGHWAY 182. THIS IS THE THIRD FIRE AT A PREDOMINANTLY BLACK BAPTIST CHURCH IN JUST OVER A WEEK’S TIME. ON MARCH 26TH, ST. MARY BAPTIST CHURCH IN PORT BARRE WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE AND EARLY TUESDAY, GREATER UNION BAPTIST CHURCH IN OPELOUSAS WAS BURNED DOWN. AUTHORITIES HAVE NOT YET RELEASED THE CAUSES OF THE FIRES OR IF THEY ARE RELATED.
SUSPENDED LAFAYETTE CITY MARSHAL BRIAN POPE APPEARED IN COURT YESTERDAY MORNING FOR SENTENCING ON HIS 2018 CONVICTION ON FELONY CHARGES. HOWEVER IT’LL BE ANOTHER COUPLE OF MONTHS BEFORE SENTENCE IS GIVEN. JEFF HORCHAK HAS MORE.
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ROBYN DAVIS AND CAROL SISSY SALTZMAN WERE IN A LAKE CHARLES COURTROOM YESTERDAY SEEKING A NEW TRIAL. THE TWO WERE CONVICTED NEARLY SEVEN YEARS AGO FOR THE SECOND DEGREE MURDER OF DAVIS’ HUSBAND, BRIAN. THEIR ATTORNEY, PAUL BARKER, SAYS THEY HAVE NEW EVIDENCE INCLUDING A FINGERPRINT AT THE SCENE THAT DOES NOT BELONG TO DAVIS OR SALTZMAN OR THE POLICE OFFICER INVOLVED IN THE INVESTIGATION. JUDGE DAVID RITCHIE PLANS TO ISSUE A RULING ON THE REQUEST ON APRIL 22ND.
LAW ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITIES ARE LOOKING FOR A SUSPECT WHO SHOT A FEMALE ABBEVILLE POLICE OFFICER YESTERDAY. THE OFFICER ATTEMPTED TO PULL OVER A VEHICLE FOR A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP, BUT THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND RAN. THE OFFICER GAVE CHASE BUT THE MAN SHE WAS CHASING TURNED AND SHOT HER IN THE 600 BLOCK OF NORTH GERTRUDE STREET. SHE WAS HIT IN THE SHOULDER BUT ALSO SUFFERED A COLLAPSED LUNG AND IS LISTED IN STABLE CONDITION. THE SUSPECT, A BLACK MALE DRESSED IN BLACK, IS CONSIDERED ARMED AND DANGEROUS.
More than 30,000 people in Louisiana have been booted from the Medicaid program. A new state computer check combed through the rolls and determined they earn too much to receive the taxpayer-financed health insurance. Louisiana’s health department sent notices to 40,000 Medicaid enrollees in February. The letters warned the Medicaid recipients they were slated to lose the insurance coverage unless they could demonstrate by March 29 that they met the program’s income requirements.
LAFAYETTE OFFICIALS BROKE GROUND ON A NEW DOG PARK THAT WILL BE BUILT AT BEAULLIEU PARK OFF OF BLUEBIRD DRIVE. THE PARK WILL ENCOMPASS JUST OVER AN ACRE WITHIN THE WALKING TRAIL AND WILL BE FENCED IN. PLANS ARE FOR CANINE AGILITY AND EXERCISE EQUIPMENT, AS WELL AS A WATERING STATION, AND A DOGGY SHOWER FOR THE CANINES TO COOL OFF ON HOT DAYS. IT’S ONLY EXPECTED TO TAKE A FEW MONTHS FOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW DOG PARK.
A NEW BOAT LAUNCH AT PRIEN LAKE PARK IN LAKE CHARLES WILL BE OFFICIALLY OPENED TO THE PUBLIC AT NOON TODAY. A RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY PLANNED FOR ELEVEN WAS POSTPONED BECAUSE OF CONCERNS WITH THE WEATHER. THE YEAR-LONG BOAT LAUNCH EXTENSION PROJECT INCLUDED THE REMOVAL OF THE OLD BOAT LAUNCH, CENTRAL WHARF, ENTRANCE AND DRIVEWAYS. THE NEW BOAT LAUNCH INCLUDES A CONCRETE ENTRANCE, DRIVEWAY, FLOATING BOAT DOCK, COMPOSITE BOARDWALKS, BENCH SEATING, CONCRETE PARKING AREAS AND IMPROVED DRAINAGE.
AN IOTA MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED ON AN ATTEMPTED FIRST DEGREE MURDER CHARGE AFTER SHOOTING A 28-YEAR-OLD EUNICE MAN YESTERDAY MORNING. IOTA POLICE CHIEF DAMON DAIGLE SAYS 24-YEAR-OLD JOHNNY SOULIEU SHOT THE FATHER OF HIS GIRLFRIEND’S CHILDREN IN THE ARM. SOULIEU IS ACCUSED OF SHOOTING THE OTHER MAN DURING AN ARGUMENT AFTER WHICH HE FLED THE SCENE. ABOUT AN HOUR LATER, HE TURNED HIMSELF IN TO POLICE AND HIS BAIL WAS SET AT 300 THOUSAND DOLLARS.
