5-30-19
WE HAVE MORE ON THE ONGOING OPERATIONS TO OPEN THE MORGANZA SPILLWAY THIS WEEKEND. HERE’S JEFF HORCHAK.
VOICER H :50
A TEXAS WOMAN DIED FROM HER INJURIES IN A MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT ON I-TEN NEAR VINTON ON SUNDAY. TROOPER DEREK SENEGAL SAYS 59-YEAR-OLD ANITA MARIE COLLINS OF HOUSTON WAS A PASSENGER IN A THREE WHEEL CAN-AM SPYDER MOTORCYCLE. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE TREAD BEGAN TO SEPARATE FROM A REAR WHEEL. COLLINS WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND DIED FROM HER INJURIES ON MONDAY.
SECRETARY OF STATE KYLE ARDOIN HAS ASKED A DISTRICT JUDGE TO RECONSIDER HIS DECISION TO ALLOW CANDIDATES FOR THE NEW LAFAYETTE CITY AND PARISH COUNCIL DISTRICTS TO QUALIFY FOR FALL ELECTIONS WHILE AN APPEAL ABOUT CHANGES TO THE HOME RULE CHARTER ARE PENDING. JUDGE JOHN TRAHAN RULED THAT CORRECTIONS TO CITY AND PARISH COUNCIL DISTRICTS COULD BE DONE THROUGH A COUNCIL AMENDMENT AND THAT A NEW ELECTION WAS NOT NECESSARY. JUDGE TRAHAN DENIED ARDOIN’S REQUEST TO SUSPEND THE JUDGEMENT UNTIL THE APPEAL IS HEARD. ASSISTANT ATTORNEY GENERAL CAREY JONES SAYS TRAHAN’S DECISION COULD RESULT IN AN UNCONSTITUTIONAL ELECTION THIS FALL WITH DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES.
Louisiana lawmakers have passed a strict new abortion ban. The bill bars abortion once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, as early as the sixth week of pregnancy. There are no exceptions for pregnancies from rape or incest. A 79-23 vote Wednesday in the Louisiana House sends the measure to Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards, who intends to sign it into law despite opposition from national party leaders. Louisiana’s legislation would take effect only if Mississippi’s law is upheld by a federal appeals court.
Louisiana senators have scuttled a bid to roll back the hard-fought, seven-year tax compromise struck by state lawmakers last year. The Senate tax committee shelved House Republicans’ proposal for an early phase-out of the sales tax that formed the compromise’s centerpiece. Senators voted 6-2 late Wednesday against the bill . The House-backed measure from House GOP leader Lance Harris would have gradually reduced the 0.45% portion of Louisiana’s 4.45% state sales tax over four years.
THE TOWN OF IOTA IS HOLDING A FUNDRAISER THIS SUNDAY FOR A THE FAMILY OF A CHILD WHO DROWNED IN A RESIDENTIAL POND IN APRIL. THE FAMILY HAD JUST MOVED TO THE AREA FROM SAN ANTONIO WHEN THE CHILD, ZACK BROWN, DROWNED. MAYOR CODY LECKELT TELLS KATC TV THAT THE BROWN FAMILY HAD MOVED TO IOTA TO SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO THE SCHOOL IN THE AREA AND FOR BETTER JOB OPPORTUNITIES. THE FUNDRAISER IS FROM TEN A-M TO ONE P-M AT THE IOTA VETERAN’S PAVILION, WHERE THEY WILL BE SELLING HAMBURGERS.
LOTTE CHEMICAL IS COMPLETING THE STARTUP OF AN ETHYLENE UNIT AT ITS LAKE CHARLES COMPLEX. SITE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JIM ROCK SAYS RESIDENTS SHOULD EXPECT INTERMITTENT FLARING. HE SAYS IT WILL BE CONTAINED MOSTLY WITHIN THE STRUCTURE, SO RESIDENTS WILL SEE MINIMAL FLARING. HE SAYS THEY ALSO HAVE SOUND BAFFLES WHICH WILL REDUCE NOISE LEVELS.
THE LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER AN ORDINANCE NEXT WEEK MAKING IT AGAINST THE LAW TO RENT ELECTRIC LOW SPEED SCOOTERS. THE ORDINANCE, IF APPROVED, WOULD ONLY REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL THE COUNCIL CAN REGULATE SCOOTER RENTALS. ANYONE CAUGHT VIOLATING THE ORDINANCE WOULD BE FINED ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS. THE COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER INTRODUCING THE ORDINANCE AT TUESDAY’S MEETING, AND WOULD THEN VOTE ON IT TWO WEEKS LATER.
