5-9-18
JEFF HORCHAK HAS NEW INFORMATION ON A SHOOTING THAT INJURED A TEENAGER IN LAFAYETTE.
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THE CALCASIEU PARISH SCHOOL BOARD HAS CHOSEN ATTORNEY MICHAEL WILLIAMSON TO REPRESENT THEM IN A LAWSUIT AGAINST DRUG COMPANIES. THE LAWSUIT IS SPARKED BY THE OPIOD CRISIS. WILLIAMSON SAYS THE SCHOOL BOARD IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST HEALTH INSURERS IN THE AREA. HE SAYS THEY HOPE TO RECOUP MONEY LOST DUE TO WHAT HE CALLS THE FRAUDULENT MARKETING OF THE DRUG COMPANIES.
THE ACADIA PARISH SCHOOL BOARD HAS NARROWED THE LIST OF CANDIDATES TO BE THE NEXT SUPERINTENDENT. THREE CANDIDATES WILL BE INTERVIEWED ON MONDAY BY THE BOARD. THEY INCLUDE ALLEN BLANCHARD JUNIOR, WHO IS THE DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES, OPERATIONS AND TRANSPORTATION FOR THE ST. MARTIN PARISH SCHOOL BOARD, LOUISIANA SCHOOL BOARD EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SCOTT RICHARD, AND THE SUPERINTENDENT OF LOUISIANA SPECIAL SCHOOLS RALPH D. THIBODEAUX. ON THURSDAY, MAY 17TH, THE BOARD WILL HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING TO CHOOSE THE NEW SUPERINTENDENT.
A proposal that could allow Louisiana school employees to pray with students during the class day edged closer to final legislative passage despite concerns it could embroil the state in litigation. The measure by Sen. Ryan Gatti, a Bossier City Republican, would allow teachers and other workers to pray with students during the workday, if parents of every student in attendance submit a signed request and if the prayer is student-initiated. The House Education committee voted 10-4 Tuesday to advance the Senate-approved measure to the full House for debate. Opponents of the bill say it likely would provoke a lawsuit, and they feared that lawsuit could undermine other existing so-called “religious freedom” laws on the books.
The waiting period to get a marriage in Louisiana will be shortened, under a bill headed to the governor. The proposal is by Rep. Julie Emerson, a Republican from Carencro. It drops the wait from the issuance of the marriage license to the ceremony from 72 hours to 24 hours. The change, if upheld by the governor, will begin Aug. 1.
THE FIRST BLACK PERSON TO BE ELECTED TO THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD DIED LAST SATURDAY. DR. RAPHAEL G. BARANCO WAS ALSO THE FIRST BLACK DENTIST IN LAFAYETTE, WHO HAD A PRACTICE ON NORTH PIERCE STREET FOR DECADES. BARANCO RECENTY RECEIVED THE LIVING LEGEND AWARD FROM THE SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA BLACK CHAMBER. BARANCO DIED SHORTLY AFTER GETTING ILL WHILE SPEAKING AT AN EVENT IN OPELOUSAS SATURDAY NIGHT.
LAKE CHARLES POLICE OFFICERS FIRED ON A MAN WHO HIT A SECURITY GUARD WITH HIS VEHICLE AT THE SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA CENTER FOR HEALTH SERVICES ON OPELOUSAS STREET. AFTER THE SHOTS WERE FIRED, THE MAN DROVE FOR A BLOCK BEFORE FLIPPING HIS VEHICLE AND THEN FLEEING ON FOOT. J-D CLIFTON ELEMENTARY WAS PUT ON LOCKDOWN DURING THE INCIDENT WHICH ENDED WHEN POLICE FOUND THE MAN IN A BACKYARD SHED ON CLARINDA STREET, ACCORDING TO POLICE SPOKESMAN DEPUTY CHIEF MARK KRAUS. HE SAYS STATE POLICE HAVE BEEN CALLED IN TO INVESTIGATE THE SHOOTING.
- LANDRY PARISH HAS A NUMBER OF JOB OPENINGS FOR TEACHERS IN THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR AND THEY ARE OFFERING BONUSES FOR FIRST TIME TEACHERS. UTILIZING REVENUE FROM THE FOUR YEAR TEACHER INDUCEMENT FUND STATE GRANT, THE DISTRICT WILL OFFER TWO THOUSAND DOLLAR BONUSES FOR FIRST TIME TEACHERS. SUPERINTENDENT PATRICK JENKINS SAYS THE BONUSES WILL BE EVEN HIGHER FOR THOSE WHO APPLY TO SCHOOLS WITH A D OR F GRADE, IN SOME CASES UP TO A FIVE THOUSAND DOLLAR BONUS. JENKINS SAYS THEY ARE ESPECIALLY SEARCHING FOR TEACHERS CERTIFIED IN MATH, ENGLISH AND SPECIAL EDUCATION.
