6-15-15
A STATE POLICE REPORT FOUND THERE WAS NO WRONGDOING BY POLICE IN THE DEATH OF 30-YEAR-OLD ROBERT MINJAREZ. HE DIED FIVE DAYS AFTER BEING TAKEN INTO CUSTODY BY CARENCRO AND SCOTT POLICE OFFICERS IN MARCH OF LAST YEAR. THE CORONER RULED MINJAREZ’ DEATH A HOMICIDE, PROMPTING THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE TO CALL IN THE STATE POLICE TO INVESTIGATE. MINJAREZ WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY BY POLICE BECAUSE HE WAS ACTING STRANGELY OUTSIDE OF A TEXACO GAS STATION, LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF WEST PONT DES MOUTON AND UNIVERSITY.
THE BOARD FOR THE PROPOSED NATIONAL HURRICANE MUSEUM AND SCIENCE CENTER IN LAKE CHARLES HAD THE PLANS FOR THE PROJECT UPDATED IN ORDER TO GET A CURRENT ESTIMATE ON THE OVERALL COST. THE ORIGINAL PRICE TAG FOR THE PROJECT WAS 70 MILLION DOLLARS BUT CONSULTING PROJECT COORDINATOR JILL KIDDER TELLS THE AMERICAN PRESS THAT THEY NOW ESTIMATE THE COST FOR THE FIRST PHASE ONLY TO BE 57 MILLION DOLLARS. SHE SAYS THEY HAVE RAISED 40 MILLION DOLLARS SO FAR. SHE SAYS THEY HOPE TO BREAK GROUND WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR-AND-A-HALF, AND THE 60 THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT FACILITY COULD OPEN SOMETIME IN 2018.
Officials say a teenager drowned Saturday afternoon at a canal bridge located on Charlie Field Road in Erath. According to a statement from the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office, 18-year-old Brett Dyson, of Erath, was retrieved from the canal after a brief search by first responders, the Sheriff’s Marine Division and divers. Dyson was pronounced dead by the Vermilion Parish Coroner’s Office. Police say Dyson and his younger cousin were fishing when he fell into the canal.
Victims’ advocates say the way rape victims are treated in Louisiana is among the worst in the country. But that’s soon to change. Lawmakers have approved a package of bills to address the way hospitals, authorities and public colleges investigate sexual assault and treat the victims. The measures now await the signature of Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal, who supported the legislation during the recently adjourned legislative session.
THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD COULD BE CHANGING ITS MONTHLY MEETING TIMES. THE BOARD CURRENTLY MEETS ON THE FIRST AND THIRD WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH, BUT A PROPOSAL WAS MADE BY THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE TO MOVE UP THE SECOND MONTHLY MEETING TO THE SECOND WEDNESDAY. SUPERINTENDENT DONALD AGUILLARD SUPPORTS THE MOVE. HE TELLS THE ADVOCATE THAT THE TWO WEEK PERIOD BETWEEN THE INTRODUCTION OF A PROPOSAL AND THE VOTE ON THE PROPOSAL CAN BE A HINDRANCE TO STAFF.
A federal grand jury in Lafayette has indicted a Norwegian oil shipping company and four members of its crew, charging them with illegally releasing contaminated waste water near Lake Charles. The Advocate reports the indictments were handed down Friday against DSD Shipping and ship engineers from Romania and China.
The Justice Department says the defendants discharged oily water at sea and then tried to cover it up by replacing the piping through which the contaminated water was pumped. If convicted, DSD Shipping faces a fine up to $500,000, and each of the four engineers face up to 20 years in prison.
AUTHORITIES SAY A 34-YEAR-OLD OPELOUSAS MAN DROWNED SATURDAY IN A TUBING ACCIDENT AT THE UPPER AMITE IN THE WATSON AREA OF LIVINGSTON PARISH. JULIE DARCE REPORTS.
VOICER I :21
After lawmakers passed a $24 billion budget in a frenzied end to the legislative session, financial analysts were sifting through the tax bills expected to finance it to make sure the numbers add up. Higher education leaders were celebrating Friday an escape from deep cuts. Businesses and smokers were grumbling over increased taxes they’ll pay as part of the budget-balancing plans. Lawmakers acknowledged they passed largely short-term fixes.
