5-16-18
LAST NIGHT THE LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH COUNCIL VOTED 5-TO-4 TO PUT TWO NEW PROPERTY TAX PROPOSALS ON THE NOVEMBER SIXTH BALLOT. A PROPOSED TWO-POINT-94 MILL PROPERTY TAX WOULD RAISE ABOUT 6-POINT-7 MILLION DOLLARS ANNUALLY FOR THE PARISH JAIL, WHILE A TWO MILL PROPERTY TAX WOULD PROVIDE 4-POINT-6 MILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR FOR THE COURTHOUSE. A THIRD TAX PROPOSAL TO FUND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE WAS PULLED. COUNCIL CHAIRMAN KEVIN NAQUIN TELLS THE ADVOCATE THEY IDENTIFIED OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP PAY FOR THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE.
- MARTINVILLE POLICE CHIEF RICKEY MARTIN SAYS A SUSPECT WANTED FOR FIRST DEGREE MURDER HAS BEEN ARRESTED. JAQUALIN HENRY IS ACCUSED OF SHOOTING AND KILLING CHOSEN WASHINGTON ON MAY NINTH ON WEST BRIDGE STREET. HENRY TURNED HIMSELF IN TO POLICE YESTERDAY AND WAS BOOKED ON THE FIRST DEGREE MURDER CHARGE. EARLIER IN THE DAY, POLICE ARRESTED TRADELL DEMOUCHET IN CONNECTION WITH THE SHOOTING.
THE U-S FIFTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEAL HAS REVERSED THE SECOND DEGREE MURDER CONVICTION OF RICKEY LANGLEY. LANGLEY CONFESSED TO KILLING SIX-YEAR-OLD JEREMY GUILLORY NEAR IOWA IN 1992 AND HAS BEEN THROUGH THREE TRIALS WHERE HE HAS BEEN CONVICTED EACH TIME. THE FIFTH CIRCUIT RULED THAT IN THE LATEST TRIAL, THE STATE DID NOT PROVE THAT LANGLEY WAS MENTALLY CAPABLE OF FORMING SPECIFIC INTENT TO KILL THE BOY. THE CALCASIEU DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE IS PLANNING TO APPEAL AND THEY HAVE VOWED TO MAKE SURE LANGLEY IS NEVER RELEASED.
Louisiana lawmakers have agreed to let the state’s riverboat casinos move onshore and rework their gambling space. A 54-41 House vote Tuesday sent the bill by Republican Sen. Ronnie Johns to the governor. Gov. John Bel Edwards is expected to sign the changes into law. Riverboat casinos will be allowed to conduct gambling activities within 1,200 feet on land from their licensed berth and will no longer need an operable paddlewheel.
Louisiana is moving to ban abortions after 15 weeks if a federal court upholds a similar ban in Mississippi. The House approved the measure by a vote of 78-9 Tuesday. Sen. John Milkovich, the bill’s sponsor, has said he wants to see Louisiana outlaw all abortions. The Senate approved the proposal last month but must accept minor tweaks before it goes to the governor’s office.
A LAFAYETTE MAN WAS FOUND GUILTY OF THE 2015 MURDER OF HIS GIRLFRIEND. JEFF HORCHAK REPORTS.
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NEXT MONTH THE CALCASIEU PARISH SCHOOL BOARD WILL VOTE ON MOVING THE UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS AT WASHINGTON MARION AND LAGRANGE HIGH SCHOOLS TO THE LAKE CHARLES BOSTON ACADEMY. LAST NIGHT THE CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION COMMITTEE VOTED NINE TO TWO TO RECOMMEND THAT OPTION. THE UNIVERSITY PROGRAMS WERE DESIGNED TO HELP THE BRIGHTEST STUDENTS AT WASHINGTON MARION AND LAGRANGE HIGH SCHOOLS TO EXCEL, BUT ENROLLMENT IN THE PROGRAMS ARE LOW. BOAR MEMBERS INDICATED MOVING THEM TO LAKE CHARLES BOSTON ACADEMY WILL HELP WITH THE TEACHER SHORTAGE AND OFFER SPACE AND LABS THAT BOTH SCHOOLS NEED.
ALL 14 INMATES AT THE OPELOUSAS CITY JAIL HAVE BEEN MOVED, BUT ONLY FIVE OF THEM ARE NOW AT THE ST. LANDRY PARISH JAIL. OPELOUSAS MAYOR REGGIE TATUM SAYS SOME WERE PUT ON WORK RELEASE, OTHERS WERE SENT HOME TO DRUG COURT AND SOME WERE STATE PRISONERS. WITH THE REMOVAL OF THE INMATES, THE CITY CAN NOW ADDRESS THE PLUMBING PROBLEMS WHICH FORCED THE CLOSURE OF THE JAIL. TATUM TELLS KLFY TV THAT WITH THE JAIL NOW EMPTIED, THEY’LL HAVE A BETTER IDEA OF WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO BRING THE JAIL UP TO CODE AND POSSIBLY REOPEN IT.
