6-27-18
THE C-E-O OF THE LAFAYETTE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY HAS RESIGNED. GEOFF DYER IS LEAVING TO TAKE A JOB WITH A PLANNING AND DESIGN FIRM IN HIS NATIVE CALGARY. A NEWS RELEASE CREDITS DYER WITH HELPING TO LIFT THE MORATORIUM ON DOWNTOWN BARS, THE INSTALLATION OF PARKING METERS AND THE REVAMPING OF THE DOWTOWN ALIVE CONCERT SERIES SINCE HE BECAME C-E-O IN 2016. AUTHORITY CHAIRMAN PATRICK TRAHAN SAYS THEY WILL BE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WITH EXPERTISE IN RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT TO BE THE NEXT C-E-O.
AN IOWA MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR A HOME INVASION AND OTHER CHARGES. CHIEF DEPUTY CHRIS IVEY OF THE JEFF DAVIS PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS 45-YEAR-OLD CHAD VINCENT WAS CAUSING A DISTURBANCE AT A RESIDENCE ON HIGHWAY 383 IN IOWA YESTERDAY. HE SAYS INVESTIGATORS WERE TOLD HE FORCED AN ELDERLY RELATIVE OUT OF THE HOME TO DRIVE HIM TO TOWN. THERE WAS ALREADY A PROTECTIVE ORDER IN PLACE AFTER HE WAS ARRESTED IN MAY FOR SIMILAR CHARGES INVOLVING THE SAME FAMILY MEMBER.
INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE A HOUSE FIRE SUNDAY ON COLLEGE ROAD IN EUNICE WAS STARTED BY THE EX-BOYFRIEND OF THE TENANT. WITNESSES SAY THEY HEARD A LOUD BOOM BEFORE THE FIRE STARTED AND SAW THE EX-BOYFRIEND NEAR THE HOME AND DRIVING IN THE AREA SHORTLY BEFORE THE FIRE STARTED. THE OWNER OF THE HOME SAYS THE EX-BOYFRIEND USED TO LIVE WITH THE TENANT BUT THEY HAD SEPERATED THREE TO FOUR MONTHS AGO. THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL’S OFFICE HAS AN ACTIVE WARRANT FOR THE EX-BOYFRIEND AND ARE SEEKING TO IDENTIFY A SECOND SUSPECT.
A new audit says Louisiana’s health department is sloppy in monitoring billions of dollars in payments to private companies that manage care for most of the state’s Medicaid patients. Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera’s office identified a lengthy list of shortcomings in the oversight of the managed care organizations from 2012 through 2017. Auditors say the health department isn’t properly tracking health providers billing the managed care organizations for Medicaid patient services. The report says that lax oversight makes it impossible to know if the Medicaid program is paying for things it shouldn’t be.
THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL CONSIDERS HIM DANGEROUS AND OFFICIALS NEED YOUR HELP CAPTURING AN ALLEGED SEX PREDATOR FROM LAFAYETTE. GERALD GREUNIG HAS MORE.
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A MAN WANTED IN CONNECTION WITH A FATAL HOME INVASION IN LAKE CHARLES IN JANUARY WAS ARRESTED IN UTAH. THE U-S MARSHAL VIOLENT FUGITIVE APPREHENSION STRIKE TEAM ARRESTED 20-YEAR-OLD AARON KERN WHILE HE WAS WAITING FOR HIS CAR TO BE SERVICED IN DRAPER, UTAH. ON JANUARY 25TH A HOMEOWNER SHOT AND KILLED 23-YEAR-OLD ISAIAH WILLIAMS OF LAKE CHARLES WHEN HE BROKE INTO THE HOME ON MADELINE STREET. LATER AUTHORITIES ARRESTED FREDDIE VEZIA, WHO WAS SUSPECTED OF BEING AN ACCOMPLICE OF WILLIAMS.
THE CABLE CHANNEL INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY IS PUTTING TOGETHER A TWO HOUR DOCUMENTARY ON THE MARCH 2014 DEATH OF 22-YEAR-OLD VICTOR WHITE THE THIRD WHILE IN POLICE CUSTODY IN NEW IBERIA. OFFICERS SAY HE SHOT HIMSELF IN THE CHEST WHILE HIS HANDS WERE IN CUFFS BEHIND HIS BACK. THE NEWS RELEASE ABOUT THE DOCUMENTARY SAYS A LARGER STORY OF POWER, CORRUPTION AND RACIAL INJUSTICE NESTLED IN THE TOWN ALSO EMERGES. THE DOCUMENTARY WILL AIR ON I-D ON MONDAY, AUGUST SIXTH AT SEVEN P-M.
Louisiana has taken the final procedural step needed to spend nearly $500 million in taxes passed by lawmakers to avoid hefty budget cuts in July. The state’s income forecasting panel Tuesday adjusted revenue forecasts to account for the dollars raised across two special sessions, the last approval needed to enact a budget without the dire slashing once predicted. Instead, the final $29.5 billion state operating budget enacted by the Legislature will keep most agencies on an even keel and even fund a few new initiatives. The spending plan will shield health care services, education programs, the TOPS tuition program, state parks, district attorneys and the child-welfare agency from cuts.
THE ANNUAL RICE FIELD DAY TAKES PLACE AT THE L-S-U AGCENTER RICE RESEARCH STATION IN CROWLEY TODAY. RICE FARMERS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAR ABOUT RESEARCH BEING CONDUCTED TO HELP THEM GROW A BETTER CROP. IT BEGINS WITH FIELD TOURS THIS MORNING, FOLLOWED BY PROGRAMS AND A LUNCHEON.
