5-22-26
LAFAYETTE POLICE HAVE ARRESTED A MAN IN CONNECTION TO A SHOOTING AT THE LA QUINTA INN ON WEST PINHOOK ROAD WEDNESDAY. TWENTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD LEVAR VARIET OF LAFAYETTE FACES SEVERAL CHARGES INCLUDING TWO COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED SECOND-DEGREE MURDER. HIS BOND IS SET AT FIVE HUNDRED THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS. AUTHORITIES SAY THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE PROPERTY BECAUSE OF THE SHOOTING BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT HELD A PUBLIC MEETING TO DISCUSS PROPOSED TRAFFIC IMPROVEMENTS TO U-S HIGHWAY ONE SIXTY-SEVEN IN VERMILLION PARISH. DEPARTMENT REPRESENTATIVE DEIDRA DRUILHET SAYS THE PROJECT IS IN THE EARLY PLANNING STAGES. SHE SAYS THEY ARE BASICALLY LOOKING AT CLOSING OFF FULL ACCESS INTERSECTIONS WHERE U-S ONE SIXTY-SEVEN INTERSECTS WITH L-A SIX-NINETY-SIX AND SIX-NINETY-SEVEN AND MAKING IMPROVEMENTS AT THE SIX-NINETY-NINE INTERSECTION. OFFICIALS ESTIMATE THE PROJECT COULD MOVE TOWARD CONSTRUCTION SOMETIME IN THE TWENTY-TWENTY-SEVEN FISCAL YEAR.
A LOUISIANA HOUSE COMMITTEE HAS APPROVED A REVISED CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT MAP, WHICH ELIMINATES ONE OF TWO BLACK-MAJORITY DISTRICTS. THE VOTE IN THE HOUSE AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE WAS TEN-TO-SEVEN ALONG PARTY LINES. THE PROPOSED MAP HEADS TO THE FULL HOUSE FOR DEBATE AND A VOTE NEXT WEEK. IF APPROVED, IT WOULD GO TO THE GOVERNOR’S DESK FOR HIS SIGNATURE.
A LAKE CHARLES MAN WAS ARRESTED YESTERDAY AND CHARGED WITH SEXUAL BATTERY OF A CHILD UNDER THIRTEEN. CALCASIEU PARISH DEPUTIES SAY THE CHILD ALLEGED THAT TWENTY-NINE-YEAR-OLD AUSTIN RAMOS TOUCHED THEM IN AN INAPPROPRIATE MANNER. DEPUTIES MADE CONTACT WITH RAMOS WHEN HE CAME TO PICK UP THE CHILD AT A SCHOOL. HIS BOND IS SET AT FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.
DUSON POLICE HAVE CAPTURED AN EMU THAT WAS ON THE LOOSE. ASSISTANT POLICE CHIEF JAMES HODGES SAYS THE EMU WAS POTENTIALLY ATTACKING DOGS IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA, ALARMING THE DOG’S OWNERS. HE SAYS CAPTURING THE BIRD WAS A CHALLENGE INVOLVING AN HOUR OF BROKEN NETS AND HOLDING IT TO THE GROUND SO IT COULD BE TIED UP WITHOUT IT KICKING AND SLICING SOMEONE OPEN. THE EMU IS RECEIVING CARE AT THE LAFAYETTE ANIMAL SHELTER AND THEY’RE TRYING TO FIND ITS OWNER.
ACADIANA OFFICIALS AND RESIDENTS ARE PREPARING FOR POTENTIAL FLOODING AS THE FORECAST CALLS FOR HIGH RAIN TOTALS IN THE COMING DAYS. WORKERS IN SAINT LANDRY PARISH AND BREAUX BRIDGE DISTRIBUTED SANDBAGS TO RESIDENTS. MEANWHILE IN LAFAYETTE PARISH, PUBLIC WORKS CREWS HAVE BEEN CLEARING DEBRIS FROM DITCHES. DIRECTOR OF DRAINAGE BRIAN SMITH TELLS KADN TV THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM IS CLEAR SO THEY CAN FUNCTION AS THEY WERE DESIGNED TO DO.
THE LOUISIANA SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE HAS APPROVED CHANGES TO THE PROPOSED FORTY-SEVEN BILLION DOLLAR STATE BUDGET. HOUSE BILL ONE NOW MOVES TO THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE FOR A VOTE. SENATE PRESIDENT CAMERON HENRY SAYS THEY LEARNED FROM THE REVENUE ESTIMATING CONFERENCE THAT THEY ARE SHORT ONE HUNDRED THIRTEEN MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR AND THEY HAVE ONE HUNDRED FOUR MILLION DOLLARS LESS IN EXPECTED REVENUE FOR NEXT YEAR. HE SAYS THEY DID THE RESPONSIBLE THING IN PUTTING A PAUSE ON EXPANDING PROGRAMS OR STARTING UP NEW PROGRAMS FOR NOW.
TWO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH A DRIVE-BY SHOOTING IN EVANGELINE PARISH. GEORGE FAUST REPORTS.
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