5-19-16
AN AUDIT BY THE U-S OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL HAS FOUND THAT LAFAYETTE GENERAL MEDICAL RECEIVED FOUR-POINT4 MILLION DOLLARS IN MEDICARE OVERPAYMENTS. THE AUDIT SAYS THAT THE HOSPITAL SYSTEM DID NOT FULLY COMPLY WITH MEDICARE BILLING REQUIREMENTS ON 65 INPATIENT CLAIMS FILED IN 2013 AND 2014. THE AUDIT RECOMMENDED THAT THEY REFUND THE MEDICARE PROGRAM. LAFAYETTE GENERAL PLANS ON APPEALING EACH OF THE CLAIMS.
THE RATE OF CRIME IN LAKE CHARLES DECREASED IN 2015 COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR. MAYOR RANDY ROACH AND POLICE CHIEF DON DIXON RELEASED THE FIGURES YESTERDAY. CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS WERE DOWN ALMOST THREE PERCENT WHILE CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY DROPPED BY MORE THAN 14 PERCENT. DIXON SAYS THE FIGURE THAT DISTURBED HIM MOST WAS THE NUMBER OF TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, WHICH WERE UP 19 PERCENT. HE ATTRIBUTED IT TO DISTRACTED DRIVERS.
THE ST. LANDRY PARISH COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A REPORT FROM THE PARISHWIDE COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY ABOUT DIFFICULTIES THEY ARE HAVING PROVIDING HELP FOR LOW INCOME HOUSEHOLDS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR KIRSTEN BROWN THOMAS TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT THEY HAVE RECEIVED NUMEROUS REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE TO PAY MONTHLY UTILITY BILLS, BUT HAVE HAD TO TURN DOWN SOME BECAUSE OF THE PROGRAM’S FUNDING RESTRICTIONS AND A WORK OVERLOAD. COUNCIL MEMBER MILDRED THIERRY ASKED FOR THE REPORT FROM THE AGENCY BECAUSE SHE HAS RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT A LACK OF HELP ON UTILITY BILLS. BROWN THOMAS SAYS ST. LANDRY PARISH IS AMONG THE TOP TEN PARISHES IN THE STATE FOR THE NUMBER OF POVERTY STRICKEN INDIVIDUALS, WHICH MEANS THEY RECEIVE AN EXCESSIVE NUMBER OF REQUESTS FOR HELP EACH MONTH.
Louisiana senators have rejected a Baton Rouge lawmaker’s bid to regulate drones by adding them to Louisiana criminal statutes. Republican Sen. Dan Claitor said his bill to include illegal drone use in state laws — including trespassing, stalking and criminal mischief laws — would close holes in Louisiana’s criminal code. But his colleagues voted 17-15 against the measure Wednesday. Senators criticized the proposal, saying state laws already protect against the crimes mentioned in Claitor’s bill.
A bid to raise the threshold age for human trafficking victims by three years has earned the unanimous support of the Louisiana Legislature. With a 37-0 vote, the Senate gave final passage Wednesday to the bill increasing the threshold age of victims from 18 to 21 when determining penalties in human trafficking cases. The House-backed proposal heads to the governor’s desk. The Senate approved minor technical changes to the bill in the final vote, as well as a House change to require people convicted of human trafficking offenses under the provision to register as sex offenders.
DISTRICT ATTORNEY KEITH STUTES IS SUING LAFAYETTE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT. JULIE DARCE TELLS US WHY.
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THE JEFF DAVIS PARISH POLICE JURY HAS AWARDED A 9-POINT-4 MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT TO M-D DESCANT CONSTRUCTION OF BUNKIE TO BUILD THE PARISH’S NEW JAIL. GROUNDBREAKING FOR THE NEW JAIL IS SET FOR JUNE 20TH. THE JAIL WILL BE LOCATED ON HIGHWAY 90, ABOUT A QUARTER MILE FROM THE CURRENT JAIL. THE NEW JAIL WILL HOUSE UP TO 200 INMATES, WHICH IS MORE THAN TRIPLE THE CAPACITY OF THE CURRENT JAIL.
CROWLEY NARCOTICS AGENTS FOUND MORE THAN 22 POUNDS OF MARIJUANA WHILE EXECUTING A SEARCH WARRANT LATE TUESDAY NIGHT. THE SEARCH WAS CONDUCTED AT A HOME LOCATED IN THE 400 BLOCK OF NORTH AVENUE C IN CROWLEY. POLICE CHIEF K-P GIBSON SAYS THE DRUG WAS INTENDED FOR DISTRIBUTION WITHIN THE CROWLEY CITY LIMITS. 42-YEAR-OLD KEVIN MOORE WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE MARIJUANA.
