6-18-18
THE SURREY STREET BRIDGE IN LAFAYETTE IS ON SCHEDULE TO BE REOPENED IN AUGUST. CONSOLIDATED COUNCILMAN KENNETH BOUDREAUX SAID ON HIS FACEBOOK PAGE THAT WORK IS GOING WELL. HE SAYS THE PAINTING IS COMPLETE AND WORK ON THE DECK WILL BEGIN SOON, WEATHER PERMITTING, AND TAKE FIFTEEN DAYS OR SO TO COMPLETE. THE BRIDGE HAS BEEN CLOSED SINCE LAST AUGUST BECAUSE OF SIGNIFICANT CORROSION FOUND DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION.
The mayor of Welsh and her family have been cleared of any wrongdoing after state ethics officials found no violations against them following a yearlong investigation. The American Press reports the state Ethics Board has cleared Welsh Mayor Carolyn Louviere, who was accused of violating state law by receiving free water service from the town. She was also accused of having town workers install power poles and waterlines on her son’s property at the town’s expense. Louviere said this week that she is thrilled to have been exonerated.
IN ST. MARY PARISH, EXTRA SECURITY MAY BE NEEDED AS SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES SEARCH FOR AN ESCAPED INMATE. JEFF HORCHAK REPORTS.
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Louisiana lawmakers have spent an unusual 45 weeks in legislative sessions since their term began in January 2016. Now, they’re heading back for more. Today’s latest gathering is the seventh special session called by Gov. John Bel Edwards since he took office, all to deal with Louisiana’s ongoing financial instability.
At issue this time, as it has been for two earlier special sessions this year, is whether lawmakers will replace expiring sales taxes or instead allow deep cuts to fall across Louisiana agencies in July.
A MAN AND WOMAN, WHO ALLEGEDLY SKIPPED OUT ON PAYING THEIR BILL AT THE PIZZA VILLAGE ON KALISTE SALOOM IN LAFAYETTE LAST WEEK, HAVE BEEN CAUGHT. 35-YEAR-OLD BENJAMIN CARRIERE AND 33-YEAR-OLD LORELEI LOWERY WERE ARRESTED IN BROUSSARD SATURDAY. SURVEILLANCE VIDEO SHOWED THE COUPLE ENTERING THE RESTAURANT, DINING ON FOOD AND DRINKS, AND THEN LEAVING WITHOUT PAYING THE ONE HUNDRED DOLLAR TAB. PIZZA VILLAGE POSTED THE SURVEILLANCE PICTURES ON THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE, WHICH WERE SHARED THOUSANDS OF TIMES.
A LIQUOR STORE IN DERIDDER CAUGHT FIRE AFTER A CAR CRASHED INTO THE BUILDING ON SATURDAY. DERIDDER DEPUTY POLICE CHIEF CHRISTOPHER RUDY SAYS A 68-YEAR-OLD WOMAN ACCIDENTALLY HIT THE ACCELERATOR INSTEAD OF THE BRAKES, CAUSING HER VEHICLE TO JUMP THE CURB AND CRASH THROUGH A STORE WINDOW. THE CAR STRUCK AN INTERIOR POLE, CAUSING THE BUILDING AND CAR TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE WOMAN HAD TO BE EXTRACTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WITH UNKNOWN INJURIES, WHILE A MAN INSIDE THE STORE SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES.
AN ARREST WARRANT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR A RAYNE MAN, WHO IS WANTED FOR ATTEMPTED SECOND DEGREE MURDER. RAYNE POLICE BELIEVE 23-YEAR-OLD EDWARD DONTREAL NICKSON THE THIRD IS THE MAN WHO SHOT AND WOUNDED ANOTHER MAN IN THE LEG FRIDAY NIGHT. THE SHOOTING HAPPENED IN THE 600 BLOCK OF HOLT AVENUE. THE VICTIM WAS TAKEN BY AIR MED TO A HOSPITAL, WHERE HE IS LISTED IN STABLE CONDITION.
Louisiana’s community and technical colleges won’t increase mandatory fees at its schools next year. The college system’s Board of Supervisors announced that it unanimously agreed not to back system-wide fee hikes for students in the 2018-19 school year, amid worries that could price some students out of school. Individual, program-specific fees could be raised, however. Louisiana’s public colleges don’t currently have authority from lawmakers to raise tuition rates, so many of them turned to fee hikes in recent years to help offset some budget gaps.
