KAJN Jesus FM 102.9


5-21-15

A WOMAN WAS STRUCK AND KILLED BY A TRAIN LAST NIGHT IN SULPHUR.  A WITNESS TOLD KPLC TV THAT A WOMAN, WHOSE NAME HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED, WAS WALKING FROM THE SONIC RESTAURANT ON NAPOLEON STREET, AND THEN BEGAN WALKING ON THE RAILROAD TRACKS.  AS THE TRAIN CAME TOWARD HER, SHE TRIED TO JUMP OUT OF THE WAY AT THE LAST MOMENT, ACCORDING TO THE WITNESS.  THIS IS THE FIFTH TRAIN ACCIDENT IN SULPHUR THIS LAST YEAR, TWO OF WHICH RESULTED IN FATALITIES.

CONGRESSMAN CEDRIC RICHMOND OF NEW ORLEANS HAS ASKED THE U-S JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO CONDUCT A SWEEPING INVESTIGATION OF THE IBERIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE.  RICHMOND CITED RECENT REPORTS AND VIDEO OF AN INMATE IN THE IBERIA PARISH JAIL SUFFERING ALLEGED ABUSE AND MORE THAN A MILLION DOLLARS PAID TO SETTLE LAWSUITS AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT.  RICHMOND SAID IN A LETTER THAT IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT STEP IN AND CORRECT THE CONDUCT BEFORE THERE IS ANYMORE LOSS OF LIFE.  THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE SPOKESMAN, THE U-S JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND U-S ATTORNEY STEPHANIE FINLEY, WHO REPRESENTS PART OF LOUISIANA THAT INCLUDES IBERIA PARISH, HAVE NOT RELEASED ANY STATEMENTS IN RESPONSE TO THE REQUEST.

 

Lawyers representing businesses and individuals who claim damages from the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill have announced a $211 million settlement with Transocean Ltd., owner of the ill-fated Deepwater Horizon drilling rig.  In a separate development, oil giant BP — which leased the rig from Transocean — reached settlements resolving years of complicated spill-related litigation with Transocean, and with contractor Halliburton, which did cement work on the rig before it exploded in April 2010.  Court rulings have put the brunt of responsibility for the disaster on BP. But Transocean and Halliburton also were found to have some responsibility.

 

LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL OFFICIALS HAVE IDENTIFIED SCHOOLS WHERE ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE COULD BE OFFERED NEXT YEAR. THEY’VE RECOMMENDED EXPANDING THE PROGRAM AT CARENCRO HEIGHTS IN ALL GRADE LEVELS, AND IMPLEMENTING THE PROGRAM FOR ALL ELEMENTARY GRADES AT S-J MONTGOMERY.  OFFICIALS HAVE ALSO RECOMMENDED EXPANDING ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE AT KATHARINE DREXEL TO OPEN UP SPACE AT BROADMOOR ELEMENTARY, AND EXPANDING IT AT BURKE ELEMENTARY TO OPEN UP SPACE AT RIDGE ELEMENTARY.  DISTRICT STAFF WILL PROVIDE MORE DETAILS ON THEIR RECOMMENDATIONS AT THE BOARD’S BUDGET MEETING TAKING PLACE NEXT TUESDAY.

LAST NIGHT THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD DECIDED TO TRIM THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE A SUPPLEMENTAL CHECK FROM A DEDICATED SALES TAX.  VOTERS IN 2001 APPROVED A HALF CENT SALES TAX THAT WAS TO BE USED EXCLUSIVELY FOR TEACHER SALARIES, AND EXCESS FUNDS FROM THAT TAX HAVE BEEN DISTRIBUTED TO TEACHERS THROUGH A BONUS CHECK.  HOWEVER, OVER THE YEARS, OTHER EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN MADE ELIGIBLE FOR THE BONUS CHECKS.  BOARD MEMBER JUSTIN CENTANI SAYS THEIR DECISION TO CUT BACK ON THOSE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE THE CHECK IS NOT A REFLECTION ON THEIR PERFORMANCE, BUT IS BASED ON A FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TO THE VOTERS.

 

A THIRTY YEAR VETERAN OF THE CALCASIEU PARISH DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE HAS BEEN BANNED FROM PRACTICING LAW.  FORMER FIRST ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY RONNIE ROSSITTO PLED GUILTY IN FEBRUARY TO MALFEASANCE IN OFFICE AND MISDEMEANOR SIMPLE BATTERY.  HE HAD GROPED A MAN IN HIS OFFICE IN JANUARY OF 2013 WHO HAD COME TO HIM FOR HELP GETTING HIS DRIVER’S LICENSE REINSTATED.  THE SUPREME COURT BANNED HIM FROM PRACTICING LAW IN LIEU OF DISCIPLINE, WHICH ROSSITTO REQUESTED.

 

A CROWLEY MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT WITH JUVENILES.  POLICE WERE INVESTIGATING COMPLAINTS ABOUT ALLEGED MISCONDUCT BY 49-YEAR-OLD AARON HAGGER WITH A JUVENILE.  DURING THE INVESTIGATION, HAGGER WAS FOUND TO ALLEGEDLY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THREE OTHER JUVENILES.  HE WAS BOOKED INTO THE ACADIA PARISH JAIL ON SEVERAL CHARGES, AND HIS BOND HAS NOT YET BEEN SET.

 

As lawmakers sift through ideas to solve financial gaps, one idea has been off-limits: scaling back budget protections that leave higher education and health care most vulnerable to slashing.  Lawmakers have repeatedly lamented that too much of the state’s budget is “dedicated,” locked up by either the state constitution or state laws that dictate how certain dollars must be spent.  But so far, they’ve decided to keep in place the statutory and constitutional limits that give them less room to maneuver in financing plans.  The $24 billion budget up for House debate today instead would use tax changes, money from improved income forecasts and patchwork financing to close much of next year’s shortfall.