4-9-18
INVESTIGATORS ARE STILL TRYING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF A FIRE AT A VACANT HOUSE IN BROUSSARD THAT SPREAD TO TWO NEIGHBORING HOUSES. BROUSSARD FIRE CHIEF BRYAN CHAMPAGNE TOLD KLFY TV THAT THE VACANT HOME HAD BEEN GUTTED BY A PREVIOUS FIRE. ONE OF THE ADJACENT HOMES SUFFERED SEVERE DAMAGE. THE OTHER NEIGHBORING HOUSE HAD AN OCCUPANT THAT MANAGED TO GET OUT SAFELY AND THAT HOME HAD MODERATE DAMAGE, ACCORDING TO CHAMPAGNE.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HAS CONFIRMED FOUR TORNADOES FRIDAY NIGHT, THREE IN BEAUREGARD PARISH AND ONE IN ALLEN PARISH. TWO STRUCTURES ALONG L-A 11-47 IN BEAUREGARD PARISH WERE DAMAGED BY TREES FALLING ON THEM. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE ALSO REPORTED TREES DOWN OVER HIGHWAY 394, AND NEAR GRAYBOW ROAD IN DERIDDER. THERE WERE ALSO UPROOTED TREES AND STRUCTURAL DAMAGE REPORTED NEAR DRY CREEK AND DOWNED POWER LINES AND TREES AROUND BUNDICK LAKE.
THERE WAS A MAJOR FIRE AT A POPULAR CONVENIENCE STORE IN CYPREMORT POINT. SEVERAL PROPANE BOTTLES EXPLODED IN THE FIRE AT THE LAS’ STOP MARINA, WHICH WAS CLOSED AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. ST. MARY PARISH FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AT AROUND 12:55 SUNDAY MORNING AND WITH THE HELP OF NEIGHBORING FIREFIGHTERS PUT OUT THE BLAZE AT AROUND 3:30AM. FIRE CHIEF CLARENCE CLARK SAYS WIND HINDERED THEIR ATTEMPTS TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE.
Louisiana’s state senators opened their budget hearings with grim warnings from Gov. John Bel Edwards that the “clock is running out” for avoiding steep cuts to services. Edwards told the Senate Finance Committee on Sunday he’s concerned that too many House lawmakers seem reluctant to acknowledge the gap that hits July 1. The governor estimated the shortfall around $700 million, caused by expiring taxes. House Republican leaders have suggested the Democratic governor is exaggerating the size and impact of the looming shortfall.
A TRAIN CARRYING HYDROCHLORIC ACID DERAILED IN SCOTT EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. CREWS FROM BATON ROUGE CAME TO MOVE THE TRAIN AND FIX THE TRACKS. CHIEF CHAD SONNIER WITH THE SCOTT FIRE DEPARTMENT TOLD KLFY TV THAT THE TRAIN CARS REMAINED UPRIGHT AND NONE OF THE CHEMICAL SPILLED. HE SAYS THE DERAILMENT WAS AT THE SAME SITE OF ANOTHER TRAIN DERAILMENT TWO YEARS AGO.
THE TRIAL OF WOODROW KAREY RESUMES TODAY IN LAKE CHARLES. THE STATE HAS RESTED ITS CASE AND THE DEFENSE WILL NOW PRESENT THEIR SIDE. KAREY IS ACCUSED OF SHOOTING AND KILLING PASTOR RONALD HARRIS DURING A REVIVAL SERVICE AT TABERNACLE OF PRAISE CHURCH IN LAKE CHARLES MORE THAN FOUR YEARS AGO. THE ATTORNEYS FOR KAREY DO NOT DENY HIS ACTIONS BUT THEY CLAIM IT WAS IN SELF-DEFENSE AND A JUSTIFIABLE HOMOCIDE.
LAW ENFORCEMENT IN EVANGELINE PARISH ARE SEARCHING FOR TWO SUSPECTS WHO FLED A TRAFFIC STOP IN A STOLEN VEHICLE. JEFF HORCHAK REPORTS.
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Louisiana has more state-created boards and commissions than any other Southeastern state. A Legislative Auditor’s Office review found Louisiana had 464 boards and commissions for the financial year that ended June 30. The auditor’s office says the panels spent $1 million in board member per diem expenses, $1.6 million on salaries and $1.5 million for travel. Much of the money comes from fees or other dedicated sources.
The Advocate reports the annual audit found the number of boards is down from 485 panels recorded in 2013. Nineteen boards were deemed inactive.
The boards that paid the most in salaries were the Public Service Commission, the Tax Commission, the Gaming Control Board, the Louisiana Lottery Corporation Board of Directors and the Board of Tax Appeals.
