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Plans to open a Mississippi River spillway in Louisiana for the third time ever have been put off for four days because the river’s rising more slowly than expected. The Army Corps of Engineers said in a news release Thursday that it wants to open the Morganza Spillway only when it becomes necessary. The delay will avoid putting additional water into the Atchafalaya Basin. The opening had been planned Sunday, but is now planned for Thursday, June 6.
A CAMERON PARISH DEPUTY IS BEING HAILED AS A HERO FOR HELPING SAVE TWO CHILDREN AT MAES BEACH ON MEMORIAL DAY. DEPUTY CODY WELLSTED TELLS KPLC TV THAT HE HAD HELP FROM SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO JUMPED INTO THE WATER WITH HIM TO HELP SAVE THE CHILDREN FROM DROWNING. HE SAYS WHEN HE GOT TO THE SCENE, A MAN NAMED ALEX BRUMBACK WAS ALREADY CLOSE TO A 10-YEAR-OLD GIRL SO HE CONCENTRATED ON SAVING A 13-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO WAS OUT ABOUT 75 YARDS. HE SAYS HE ARRIVED THERE AT ABOUT THE SAME TIME AS THE BOY’S STEPMOTHER AND THEY BOTH HELPED BRING HIM TO SHORE.
STATE POLICE AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WERE ON THE SCENE OF AN OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED AT ABOUT 8 P-M LAST NIGHT IN THE 700 BLOCK OF IRISH STREET IN JEANERETTE. JEFF HORCHAK REPORTS.
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Louisiana’s Democratic governor has signed a ban on abortion as early as six weeks of pregnancy, a move that has provoked anger from members of his own party. Gov. John Bel Edwards signed the measure Thursday, making Louisiana the fifth state to enact such a law, joining Mississippi, Kentucky, Ohio and Georgia. Alabama’s gone further, outlawing virtually all abortions. The new law will outlaw abortion when a fetal heartbeat is detected, and it doesn’t contain exceptions for pregnancies from rape or incest.
The Louisiana Senate has passed a $30 billion state operating budget built on financing from last year’s tax deal. The spending plan for the year starting July 1 includes new money for colleges, public school teacher pay raises, early learning programs, foster care, health services and senior centers. The TOPS program would cover full tuition costs. After years of fighting over cuts and budget gaps, this year’s debate centers on how to spend new dollars available to lawmakers.
A CROWLEY MAN DIED YESTERDAY AT LAFAYETTE GENERAL HOSPITAL FROM INJURIES RECEIVED IN A CRASH EARLIER THIS MONTH. ACCORDING TO STATE POLICE, 40-YEAR-OLD SHAWN ABSHIRE WAS TRAVELLING EAST ON L-A 92 SOUTH OF CROWLEY ON SUNDAY, MAY 19TH AT AROUND SEVEN P-M WHEN HE FAILED TO YIELD AT THE L-A 13 INTERSECTION AND COLLIDED WITH A VEHICLE DRIVEN BY 18-YEAR-OLD BRAYDEN VINCENT OF MORSE. ABSHIRE, WHO WASN’T WEARING A SEATBELT, WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED AND DIED YESTERDAY, WHILE VINCENT, WHO WAS RESTRAINED, SUSTAINED MODERATE INJURIES. IT’S NOT CLEAR IF IMPAIRMENT PLAYED A PART IN THE ACCIDENT. IT’S STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.
LOUISIANA HAS THE FOURTH HIGHEST INFANT MORTALITY RATE IN THE COUNTRY WITH AN AVERAGE OF 504 DEATHS PER YEAR. THE CALCASIEU PARISH CORONER’S OFFICE SAYS CALCASIEU PARISH HAS THE HIGHEST INFANT MORTALITY RATE IN THE STATE. CORONER TERRY WELKE SAYS MOST INFANT DEATHS ARE DUE TO IMPROPER SLEEPING CONDITIONS SUCH AS THE PARENT SLEEPING WITH THE CHILD. HE SAYS LAST YEAR THERE WERE TEN INFANT DEATHS AND FIVE SO FAR THIS YEAR, WITH EIGHTY PERCENT OF THE DEATHS DUE TO IMPROPER SLEEPING CONDITIONS.
A jury has found the clerk of court for Iberia parish guilty of 14 corruption-related charges. The Advocate reports Iberia Parish Clerk of Court Michael Thibodeaux was convicted Tuesday of charges stemming from allegations he stole advance deposit funds, gave false testimony and filed or maintained false public records related to his elected position. A grand jury indicted the 63-year-old last year based on findings from a 2016 Legislative Auditor’s investigation. That probe accused him of improperly transferring fees to his office’s salary fund or retaining deposits that should have been repaid to litigants.
