5-8-19
FOR THE SECOND TIME, THE LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH COUNCIL REJECTED MAYOR PRESIDENT JOEL ROBIDEAUX’S REQUEST TO TRANSFER 18 MILLION DOLLARS IN LIBRARY FUNDS TO ROADS AND DRAINAGE, IF VOTERS APPROVE. INSTEAD, THE COUNCIL STOOD FIRM WITH A REQUEST FOR TEN MILLION DOLLARS IN LIBRARY FUNDS THAT WILL GO BEFORE VOTERS ON OCTOBER TWELFTH. ROBIDEAX ASKED FOR MORE MONEY AFTER HE LEARNED HOW MUCH THE LIBRARY SYSTEM WAS SPENDING ON FURNITURE FOR THE NEW WEST REGIONAL LIBRARY OPENING IN SCOTT ON MONDAY. THE VOTE AGAINST ROBIDEAUX’S REQUEST WAS 7-TO-2.
A STUDY HAS DETERMINED THAT A BIKE SHARE PROGRAM FOR LAKE CHARLES AND MCNEESE STATE UNIVERSITY IS FEASIBLE. SARA JUDSON OF THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA SAYS A BIKE SHARE PROGRAM COULD BE STARTED WITHIN A YEAR. SHE SAYS A FEW THINGS NEED TO HAPPEN FIRST INCLUDING FINDING A VENDOR. SHE TELLS KPLC TV THAT THERE WILL BE DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE COMMUNITY WHERE PEOPLE CAN CHECK OUT AND RETURN BIKES.
THE ST. MARTIN PARISH COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY AGREED TO APPEAL A COURT DECISION IN FAVOR OF A BUSINESS ALONG LAKE MARTIN. JUDGE KEITH COMEAUX RULED LAST MONTH THAT THE COUNCIL COULDN’T SHUT DOWN THE BUSINESS OF BRYAN CHAMPAGNE, WHO OWNS THE WHARF ON LAKE MARTIN AND CHAMPAGNE’S CAJUN SWAMP TOURS. THAT’S DESPITE THE PROPERTY NOT BEING ZONED FOR COMMERCIAL USE. CHAMPAGNE OBTAINED PERMITS FOR HIS BUSINESS BUT THE PARISH SAID IN COURT RECORDS THAT IT WAS THE RESULT OF A CLERICAL ERROR ON ITS PART.
A simmering feud between one of Louisiana’s medical marijuana growers and the program’s regulator has spilled into the Legislature. Lawmakers are considering reworking oversight of therapeutic cannabis to end disagreements that have slowed release to patients. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain and Louisiana State University’s grower GB Sciences aired ongoing disputes Tuesday in the House health committee. It wrapped up with lawmakers voting 6-4 for a proposal to strip Strain’s agriculture department of regulatory authority and give that oversight job to the health department.
A proposal backed by vaccine critics that would require providers to give patients a list of information about vaccines before administering them was rejected by a House committee. The bill by Houma Republican Rep. Beryl Amedee would have required health providers to give vaccine patients details about situations where vaccines should not be used, as well as ingredient lists and other information.
The Advocate reports health groups including the Louisiana Hospital Association and the Louisiana State Medical Society opposed the legislation. Opponents say it would require giving confusing information to patients.
STEVE HORN, PASTOR OF FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF LAFAYETTE, WAS ELECTED YESTERDAY TO BE THE NEW PRESIDENT OF THE LOUSIANA BAPTIST CONVENTION. PASTOR HORN WILL TAKE HIS NEW OFFICE ON JULY FIRST. AN INTERIM PASTOR WILL BE NAMED SOON WHILE THE CHURCH SEEKS A NEW PASTOR.
LAFAYETTE IS MOVING FORWARD WITH THE BUILDING OF A STATE OF THE ART ANIMAL SHELTER. BEAZLEY MOLIERE ARCHITECTS OF LAFAYETTE WAS CHOSEN YESTERDAY TO OVERSEE THE PROJECT. THE COST TO BUILD THE TWENTY THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT FACILITY IS ESTIMATED TO BE BETWEEN EIGHT AND NINE MILLION DOLLARS. ROBERT BENOIT, THE CONFIDENTIAL ASSISTANT TO MAYOR PRESIDENT JOEL ROBIDEAUX, SAYS THEY ARE HOPING CONSTRUCTION WILL GET UNDERWAY BY THE END OF THIS YEAR.
IN LESS THAN A WEEK, PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL BE IN THE BAYOU STATE FOR A TOUR OF A LIQUIFIED NATURAL GAS FACILITY IN CAMERON PARISH. JEFF HORCHAK HAS MORE.
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A LONG TIME MUSIC TEACHER IN ACADIA PARISH IS RETIRING. BANKS PRUITT OF CROWLEY IS THE HEAD OF THE TALENTED PROGRAM FOR THE PARISH. HE HELD HIS FINAL CONCERT LAST NIGHT. THE 2019 ACADIA PARISH TALENTED MUSICIANS SPRING CONCERT TOOK PLACE AT FOREST PARK CHURCH IN CROWLEY.