6-10-15
THE LONG AWAITED EXPANSION OF THE E-R AT UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS AND CLINICS IN LAFAYETTE BEGAN THIS WEEK. THE EMERGENCY AREA WILL TRIPLE IN SIZE WITH TWENTY NEW EXAM ROOMS, A RENOVATED LOBBY AND WAITING AREA AND A SEPARATE ENTRANCE FOR AMBULANCES. THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE FALL OF NEXT YEAR, ACCORDING TO THE DIRECTOR OF EMERGENCY SERVICES, DEBORAH SPELL. THE FOUR MILLION DOLLAR COST OF THE PROJECT IS COVERED BY A CAPITAL OUTLAY FROM THE STATE.
A VINTON MAN IS IN THE HOSPITAL AFTER BEING SHOT JUST BELOW THE THROAT TUESDAY AFTERNOON. VINTON POLICE CHIEF RICKY FOX TELLS KPLC TV THAT 41-YEAR-OLD CHRISTOPHER LASSIEN (luh SAIN) WAS SHOT AT AROUND 1-50 YESTERDAY AFTERNOON IN THE ONE THOUSAND BLOCK OF EAST STREET. HE SAYS THEY HAVE A SUSPECT IN CUSTODY, BUT HE HAS DECLINED TO GIVE HIS NAME. THE SHOOTING IS BELIEVED TO HAVE COME AFTER A PHYSICAL ALTERCATION BETWEEN THE TWO MEN ON MONDAY AFTERNOON.
A 17-YEAR-OLD GIRL WAS KILLED AFTER A TREE FELL ON THE CAR SHE WAS SITTING AT HER HOME NEAR PLAISANCE. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
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Lawmakers have wrapped up work on a deal brokered over the Common Core education standards. With a 99-0 vote Tuesday, the House sent the final bill of the three-bill compromise to Gov. Bobby Jindal, who has indicated support. One of the compromise bills will set in motion a review of the multistate English and math standards with public meetings, legislative oversight and an up-or-down vote from Louisiana’s next governor. Another will place limits on Louisiana’s use of standardized testing material from a consortium aligned with Common Core.
AN APPEALS COURT HAS UPHELD THE DISMISSAL OF A FEDERAL LAWSUIT BY FIFTEEN POLICE OFFICERS ALLEGING CORRUPTION IN THE LAFAYETTE POLICE DEPARTMENT. JUDGE RICHARD HAIK DISMISSED THE LAWSUIT LAST AUGUST AND A THREE JUDGE PANEL OF THE THIRD CIRCUIT UPHELD HIS ORDER THAT THE PLAINTIFFS PAY 115 THOUSAND DOLLARS TO THE DEFENDANTS FOR THEIR COURT COSTS AND FEES. THE OFFICERS WHO FILED THE SUIT ALLEGED CORRUPTION AND RACISM IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND HAD CLANDESTINED RECORDINGS TO BACK THEIR CLAIMS. THEIR ATTORNEY CHRIS ALEXANDER SAYS HE WILL MEET WITH HIS CLIENTS TO DETERMINE THEIR NEXT STEP.
THREE PEOPLE, WHO WERE CAPTURED ON VIDEO SURVEILLANCE DESTROYING BOOKS FROM THE LITTLE FREE LIBRARY IN SULPHUR, TURNED THEMSELVES INTO POLICE. THE VIDEO WAS SHOWN ON LOCAL NEWS MONDAY NIGHT, AND THEY TURNED THEMSELVES IN AFTER JUST HOURS AFTER THE BROADCAST. POLICE SPOKESMAN MEL ESTESS SAYS THE THREE WERE RELEASED AND THE MATTER HAS BEEN REFERRED TO THE CALCASIEU PARISH DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE. THE SUSPECTS WERE SEEN TEARING UP THE BOOKS AT THE GROVE AT HERITAGE SQUARE AT AROUND 9:30 A-M ON MAY 18TH.
CROWLEY POLICE ARE ASKING THE PUBLIC’S HELP IN FINDING A MOTORCYCLE, THAT WAS STOLEN IN THE OVERNIGHT HOURS OF JUNE SIXTH. THE 2006 YAMAHA YZF R-0NE, WHICH IS WHITE WITH BLUE RIMS, WAS TAKEN FROM THE 300 BLOCK OF SOUTH AVENUE N. VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SHOWS THE MOTORCYCLE WAS TAKEN BY A WHITE MALE WEARING A WHITE T-SHIRT, DARK PANTS AND SLIP-ON SANDALS, BUT HIS FACE AND HANDS WERE COVERED. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION COULD GET A REWARD BY CALLING CRIME STOPPERS OF ACADIA PARISH AT 789-TIPS.
State wildlife officials should soon be able to enforce federal laws that require shrimp nets to include escape hatches for sea turtles. With a 99-0 vote Tuesday, the House gave final passage to a bill that will remove Louisiana’s enforcement ban. Supporters of the bill say some big-box retailers have boycotted Louisiana shrimp because they objected to the law and raised concerns about the state’s handling of protections for endangered sea turtles. The bill by Rep. Dorothy Sue Hill, a Democrat from Dry Creek, heads next to Gov. Bobby Jindal’s desk.
