5-11-15
The attorneys for a former Calcasieu Parish priest accused of molesting young parishioners are asking a judge to stop prosecutors from telling a jury about allegations of other crimes. Mark Anthony Broussard is to stand trial Sept. 21 on five counts that he molested and raped boys while serving as a parish priest between 1986 and 1991. Broussard was originally charged with 224 counts of child sexual abuse, but some charges involving one of the boys were too old to prosecute. Defense attorneys argue Broussard has no prior criminal history and evidence of the alleged other crimes would only turn the jury against the ex-priest.
TOMORROW THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD WILL BEGIN REVIEWING THE BUDGET WITH A LOOK AT THE GENERAL FUND. ONE TOPIC OF CONVERSATION IS LIKELY TO BE A BALLOONING LEGAL FUND. OVER THE FIRST EIGHT MONTHS OF THIS FISCAL YEAR, THE SCHOOL BOARD PAID MORE THAN 178 THOUSAND DOLLARS TO RETAIN THE SERVICES OF HAMMONDS, SILL, ADKINS, AND GUICE, A BATON ROUGE FIRM THAT SPECIALIZES IN EDUCATION LAW. BOARD PRESIDENT TOMMY ANGELLE HAS SUGGESTED JUST USING THEM FOR LITIGATION OR SERIOUS SUITS, AND HIRING THEIR OWN ATTORNEY FOR BOARD MEETINGS AND ROUTINE MATTERS.
IT’S BEEN MORE THAN THREE YEARS SINCE A DUSON TEENAGER WENT MISSING. CAPTAIN JOHN BABIN WITH THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS THE CASE INTO THE DISAPPEARANCE OF KEIOSHA FELIX IS OPEN BUT INACTIVE. HE SAYS NINE DIFFERENT LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES INVESTIGATED 27 LEADS IN NINE DIFFERENT STATES WITHIN A YEAR AFTER HER DISAPPEARANCE, BUT THE TIPS HAVE DRIED UP OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS. FELIX WAS 15 AT THE TIME OF HER DISAPPEARANCE, AND SHE HAD A DAUGHTER WHO IS NOW FOUR AND REMAINS IN STATE CUSTODY.
The deputy secretary of Louisiana’s economic development department is moving up to the agency’s top job. Gov. Bobby Jindal announced Friday that Steven Grissom will become secretary of the department beginning Monday, taking over from Stephen Moret. Moret is leaving to lead LSU’s chief fundraising organization.
Grissom has been in the agency’s second-ranking position since 2008, nearly all of Jindal’s time as governor.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says it has identified a location for a clinic in Lake Charles. The American Press reports that Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs Sloan Gibson says in a letter than a lease for a temporary clinic in Lake Charles could be awarded by the end of the summer. Gibson says a new round of lease proposals identified a location for the clinic. Regarding Lafayette, Gibson says the VA will issue a formal request for lease proposals for a temporary clinic sometime this spring and a lease should be awarded by the end of the summer.
A LAFAYETTE MAN LOST HIS LIFE AFTER A GUN ACCIDENTALLY DISCHARGED, SHOOTING HIM IN THE FACE. JULIE DARCE REPORTS.
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THE LOUISIANA CONCERNS OF POLICE SURVIVORS IS HOSTING A MEMORIAL SERVICE IN CROWLEY TONIGHT TO HONOR ACADIANA POLICE OFFICERS, WHO WERE KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY. IT BEGINS AT 6-50 TONIGHT WITH A MOTORCADE BEGINNING AT THE OLD WALMART PARKING LOT ON NORTH PARKERSON AVENUE. THE MOTORCADE WILL END AT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, WHERE THE SERVICE WILL TAKE PLACE. FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE SERVICE OR TO GET A BLUE RIBBON TO FLY ON YOUR VEHICLE IN SUPPORT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, CALL BETTY PERRY AT 250-21-51.
With the House’s first round of tax votes done, lawmakers are deciding how to spend the $670 million that would be generated — and whether the House should pass more tax changes. The House Appropriations Committee will craft its version of next year’s budget Monday, plugging in the money estimated to be raised with the tax bills. But lawmakers differ on how the dollars should be split among colleges and health services and where cuts should fall. Gov. Bobby Jindal, meanwhile, is looking to the Senate to tweak the House approach to conform to his guidelines for what tax changes he’s willing to support.
