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THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT WILL PREPARE A SUPPLEMENTAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT FOR THE I-49 CONNECTOR PROJECT. THE SUPPLEMENT IS TO DETERMINE IF THERE HAVE BEEN ANY CHANGES ALONG THE PATH OF THE 5-POINT-5 MILE PROPOSED CONNECTOR ROUTE SINCE THE ORIGINAL ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY WAS DONE IN 2003. THE ACADIANA GROUP OF THE SIERRA CLUB HAS BEEN CALLING FOR A COMPLETELY NEW ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT. THAT GROUP’S CHAIRMAN, HAROLD SCHOEFFLER, POINTED OUT THAT THE FIFTH U-S CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS RULED IN 2009 THAT PROPERTY ONCE OWNED BY UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD, THAT IS ALONG THE ROUTE, IS CONTAMINATED.
THE CITY OF OBERLIN IS PLANNING ON HOLDING A MEMORIAL FOR FOUR RESIDENTS KILLED IN A FIERY CRASH SATURDAY MORNING ON L-A TEN BETWEEN OAKDALE AND PITKIN. TWO OF THOSE KILLED WORKED FOR THE CITY OF OBERLIN; 25-YEAR-OLD ROMAN LOPEZ, WHO WORKED IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND EDWARD MADDOX, WHO HAD JUST STARTED IN THE OBERLIN MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT. THEIR GIRLFRIENDS, WHO WERE ALSO KILLED, 35-YEAR-OLD JENNIFER SONNIER AND 24-YEAR-OLD DALLAS COURVILLE, WORKED AT THE CAJUN EXPRESS SHELL CONVENIENCE STORE. MAYOR JOSEPH MANUEL CALLED IT A TERRIBLE LOSS AND TOLD KPLC TV THAT THE TOWN IS COMING TOGETHER FOR THE FAMILIES OF THOSE KILLED.
STATE REPRESENTATIVE JACK MONTOUCET WAS HOSPITALIZED YESTERDAY AFTER COMPLAINING OF CHEST PAINS. MONTOUCET IS AT THE STATE CAPITOL FOR A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION. HE TELLS THE ADVOCATE THAT HE IS DOING WELL AND THAT HE IS BEING MONITORED AT THE BATON ROUGE GENERAL MEDICAL CENTER. MONTOUCET, WHO IS 68, SAYS HE HAD A HEART ATTACK TWELVE YEARS AGO.
With no votes to spare, lawmakers on the House tax committee Wednesday backed a complicated proposal that could temporarily decrease a state income tax deduction to raise more than $100 million for next year’s budget. But they rewrote the measure to make it a sort of short-term loan from taxpayers to the state. The bill may not have looked the way Gov. John Bel Edwards wanted to help lessen cuts to health and education programs in the financial year that begins July 1. But the 10-9 vote of the Ways and Means Committee was a victory for the Democratic governor nonetheless, because it moves the bill to the House floor for debate, where it can be changed again.
Maximum penalties will be higher for violating state laws that ban texting or posting to social media sites while driving and that restrict cell phone use for young drivers. Gov. John Bel Edwards announced this week he had signed the bill into law. The change immediately increases those traffic fines to up to $500 for a first offense and up to $1,000 for additional violations. Drivers under 18 could face license suspension for up to 60 days for second and later violations.
STUDENTS ATTENDING THE DANCE SESSION OF A SUMMER CAMP IN LAFAYETTE ARE PLANNING A VIGIL TODAY AT NOON FOR THE VICTIMS OF THE PULSE NIGHT CLUB SHOOTING IN ORLANDO. THE VIGIL WILL BE AT THE ACADIANA CENTER FOR THE ARTS IN DOWNTOWN LAFAYETTE, WHICH IS WHERE THE GEAR UP EXPLORATION CAMP IS BEING HELD. ACCORDING TO A NEWS RELEASE FROM THE CENTER, THE STUDENTS ARE CONNECTING MANY ART FORMS TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT FOR THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THEY’VE CREATED BANNERS, WRITTEN LETTERS TO THE FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS, AND WILL RECITE POEMS THEY’VE WRITTEN TO SHOW THEIR SUPPORT.
THE CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS WARNING AREA RESIDENTS TO BE AWARE OF A PHONE SCAM IN WHICH THE CALLER CLAIMS TO BE A FAMILY MEMBER. THEY GIVE A HARD LUCK STORY AND ASK FOR MONEY TO BE WIRED TO THEM IMMEDIATELY. THE SCAMMER IS APPARENTLY GOOD AT CREATING A SENSE OF URGENCY, AND SHERIFF TONY MANCUSO ADVISES RESISTING THE PRESSURE AND VERIFYING INFORMATION. IF YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE A VICTIM OF THIS SCAM, YOU ARE ASKED TO CALL THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE.
IBERIA PARISH SHERIFF LOUIS ACKAL AND TWO OF HIS EMPLOYEES PLED NOT GUILTY YESTERDAY TO NEW FEDERAL CHARGES RELATED TO THE BEATING OF INMATES. JULIE DARCE REPORTS.
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