6-12-24
THE LAFAYETTE POLICE DEPARTMENT STILL HAS AN OFFICER SHORTAGE. GEORGE FAUST HAS MORE.
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THE GRAND COTEAU POLICE CHIEF PLEADED GUILTY YESTERDAY MORNING TO FELONY CHARGES OF MALFEASANCE IN OFFICE AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE. JEFFREY CARL GUILBEAU WAS SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS IN PRISON AT HARD LABOR, WHICH WAS SUSPENDED, ONE YEAR PROBATION AND HE MUST DO REMEDIAL COUNSELING. LAST JULY, GUILBEAU WAS ARRESTED ON THE MALFEASANCE AND OBSTRUCTION CHARGES AS WELL AS TWO COUNTS OF DISTRIBUTION OF SCHEDULE ONE NARCOTICS. ONE YEAR AGO, HE SUBMITTED A LETTER OF RESIGNATION BUT, A SHORT WHILE LATER, HE RETRACTED THE RESIGNATION AND RESUMED HIS DUTIES.
MEMBERS OF THE STATE BOARD OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION VOTED YESTERDAY IN FAVOR OF CHANGES TO THE STATE’S ACCOUNTABILITY PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM SETS GOALS FOR STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT, IDENTIFIES STRUGGLING SCHOOLS AND GIVES EVERY SCHOOL AN A TO F LETTER GRADE. THE FULL BOARD IS EXPECTED TO APPROVE THE CHANGES TODAY WHICH WOULD TAKE EFFECT IN TWENTY-TWENTY-SIX. THE REVAMPED RATING SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO BE EASIER FOR EDUCATORS AND PARENTS TO UNDERSTAND AND PLACES AN EMPHASIS ON THE ACADEMIC GROWTH OF STUDENTS.
THE I-TEN BRIDGE IN LAKE CHARLES WAS REOPENED LAST NIGHT. BOTH LANES ON THE BRIDGE HAD BEEN CLOSED FOR EMERGENCY REPAIRS. CREWS FIXED A BROKEN FINGER JOINT.
MAYOR PRESIDENT MONIQUE BLANCO BOULET AND LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF MARK GARBER ARE WORKING ON AN APPLICATION TO GET STATE FUNDING FOR A NEW PARISH JAIL. BOULET SAYS THE CURRENT JAIL IS OUTDATED AND IT DOES NOT ACCOMMODATE THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES THAT THE JAILERS ARE DEALING WITH. SHE TELLS KLFY TV THAT SHE DECIDED TO APPROACH GOVERNOR LANDRY ABOUT THE JAIL PROBLEMS BECAUSE HE HAS MADE CRIMINAL JUSTICE A PRIORITY. BOULET SAYS LANDRY TOLD HER AND GARBER THAT HIS OFFICE IS INTERESTED IN MAKING A NEW JAIL A REALITY.
THE ACADIANA READING CENTER IN BREAUX BRDIDGE SUFFERED MAJOR DAMAGE FROM A RECENT FLOOD. THE FOUNDER OF THE SCHOOL, MELISSA BEGNAUD ARDOIN, SAYS ALL THE WORK THEY PUT IN OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS WERE BASICALLY WIPED OUT IN AN HOUR. SHE TELL KLFY TV THAT SHE FELT LIKE QUITTING BUT THE BACKING OF STUDENTS, FAMILIES AND WORKERS REMINDED HER OF WHAT HER PURPOSE WAS IN THE BEGINNING. A GOFUNDME ACCOUNT HAS BEEN SET UP TO HELP THE SCHOOL RECOVER.
GOVERNOR JEFF LANDRY SIGNED INTO LAW MAJOR CHANGES TO THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AMONG THE CHANGES INCLUDES THE ELIMINATION OF THE UNDERSECRETARY AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY POSITIONS. IT ALSO ESTABLISHES AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE WHICH WILL HELP DEVELOP A LONG-TERM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE STATE. A DEPARTMENT NEWS RELEASE SAYS THE CHANGES MODERNIZES THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF LOUISIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO BETTER ATTRACT NEW BUSINESSES AND MORE EFFECTIVELY SUPPORT BUSINESSES INVESTED IN LOUISIANA.
THE HISTORIC QUEEN CINEMA IN EUNICE IS FOR SALE. IT WAS BUILT IN THE NINETEEN THIRTIES AND MAINTAINS THE FEEL OF OLD HOLLYWOOD WITH MODERN DAY PERKS. THE THREE AUDITORIUMS AT THE THEATRE WERE RECENTLY RENOVATED. THE QUEEN CINEMA IS LISTED FOR ONE HUNDRED THIRTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.
