6-11-15
A DEAL BETWEEN THE VETERAN’S ADMINISTRATION AND OUR LADY OF LOURDES REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER TO PROVIDE A TEMPORARY SITE IN LAFAYETTE HAS COLLAPSED. SENATOR DAVID VITTER SAYS THE V-A BACKED OUT OF THE DEAL BECAUSE OUR LADY OF LOURDES INSISTED ON THE INCLUSION OF ETHICAL AND RELIGIOUS DIRECTIVES THEY FOLLOW AS A CATHOLIC HOSPITAL. VITTER ACCUSED THE V-A OF DELIBERATELY ENTERING INTO NEGOTIATIONS WITH OUR LADY OF LOURDES, PRESUMING THEY WOULD FAIL. CONGRESSMAN CHARLES BOUSTANY CALLED IT ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF THE V-A’S STUNNING INCOMPETENCE.
A southwest Louisiana company is recalling some stuffed chickens sold nationwide because the label didn’t show wheat, a potential allergen. Managing partner Larry Avery said Wednesday Big Easy Foods of Lake Charles has not received any reports of allergic reactions from the cooked and raw chickens stuffed with pork sausage and potatoes. He says wheat was less than one-tenth of 1 percent of the total ingredients. Avery says it has been removed from the recipe.
STATE SENATOR ELBERT GUILLORY OF OPELOUSAS SAID GOODBYE TO THE STATE SENATE YESTERDAY AND ANNOUNCED THAT HE WILL BE CONCENTRATING ON HIS RUN FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. THE 70-YEAR-OLD GUILLORY HOPES TO SUCCEED JAY DARDENNE, WHO IS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR. GUILLORY SAYS HE WILL RUN ON A VISION OF A MORE PROSPEROUS LOUISIANA, AND WOULD HOPE TO EXPAND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR’S ROLE IN THE STATE’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. STATE REPRESENTATIVE LEDRICKA THIERRY HAS SAID SHE HOPES TO TAKE OVER GUILLORY’S SEAT IN THE SENATE.
Louisiana’s public colleges could face a budget cut of $282 million if Gov. Bobby Jindal carries through on a threat to veto some tax changes lawmakers proposed to balance next year’s spending plans. That’s according to Rep. Chris Broadwater, a Hammond Republican, who circulated that information Wednesday to House members, along with a list of how cuts would hit individual campuses. Jindal is threatening to veto certain tax bills he considers a net tax increase, unless lawmakers find a way to offset them with what he considers a tax cut. The legislative session must end today by 6 p.m.
AS PART OF A REORGANIZATION OF THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION, SUPERINTENDENT DONALD AGUILLARD HAS DISMANTLED THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS DEPARTMENT, WHICH WAS CREATED IN 2012 BY FORMER SUPERINTENDENT PAT COOPER. AGUILLARD HAS ELIMINATED THE POSITIONS OF HEALTH AND WELLNESS DIRECTOR AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES SUPERVISOR. HE SAYS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WILL REVERT BACK TO THE COORDINATED SCHOOL HEALTH MODEL, WHICH FOCUSES ON SITE-BASED SERVICES AND REQUIRES FEWER ADMINISTRATORS. AGUILLARD SAYS THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE QUALITY HEALTH SERVICES TO STUDENTS IN SPITE OF A REDUCTION IN STAFF.
ALLEN PARISH SHERIFF DOUG HEBERT SAYS THE NEW PARISH JAIL SHOULD BE READY TO GO BY MID-JULY. IT WAS HOPED THE NEW JAIL WOULD HAVE BEEN READY BY AT LEAST THIS PAST FEBRUARY, BUT HEBERT SAYS THE WEATHER HAS CAUSED DELAYS, WHICH INCREASED COSTS BY ABOUT 250 THOUSAND DOLLARS. THE NEW JAIL WILL HOUSE ABOUT 150 INMATES, THREE TIMES THE AMOUNT OF THE CURRENT JAIL, WHICH IS IN THE BOTTOM FLOOR OF THE OBERLIN COURTHOUSE. HEBERT SAYS THEY WILL END UP SAVING MONEY BECAUSE THEY WON’T HAVE TO HOUSE PRISONERS OUTSIDE OF THE PARISH.
A VERMILLION PARISH WOMAN MAY BE THE SEVENTH PERSON KILLED BY FAULTY TAKATA AIRBAGS. JULIE DARCE REPORTS.
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The outsized power Louisiana’s governors have historically wielded over the state Senate could be drastically curtailed under rules the chamber adopted. The Senate voted 34-4 Wednesday to elect the chamber’s leaders by secret ballot. Senate leaders have previously been selected by a public vote of senators every four years. The resolution by Sen. Eric LaFleur, a Democrat from Ville Platte, will determine who would serve as the president and president pro tempore.
