6-29-21
Civil rights groups and immigrant advocates have filed a federal complaint over conditions at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Pine Prairie. The complaint alleges prolonged use of solitary confinement, unsanitary conditions in cells and a lack of access to medical care or legal counsel. The complaint was dated June 21 and sent to the inspector general for the Department of Homeland Security. The private contractor that runs the facility denies the claims in an email to The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate.
A ROAD REPAIR PROJECT AT THE INTERSECTION OF CONGRESS STREET AND GUILBEAU ROAD IN LAFAYETTE WILL TAKE LONGER THAN EXPECTED BECAUSE OF THE RAINS. SUPERVISING ENGINEER FREDERICK TRAHAN SAYS THEY ALSO FOUND MORE DAMAGE THAN WAS ORIGINALLY EXPECTED. HE SAYS THE PROJECT WAS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED BY THIS FRIDAY, BUT THAT TIMELINE IS BEING PUSHED BACK BY TEN DAYS TO JULY TWELFTH. IT’S PART OF A ONE-POINT-FIVE MILLION DOLLAR CITY-WIDE CONCRETE ROAD REHABILITATION PROJECT THAT’S BEING PERFORMED THIS YEAR.
THE LOUISIANA LEGISLATIVE OFFICE RELEASED AN AUDIT ON THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONS. CAROLINE MARCELLO HAS THE DETAILS.
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A SINGLE VEHICLE CRASH IN JEFF DAVIS PARISH SHORTLY AFTER NOON YESTERDAY RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF THE DRIVER. STATE POLICE TROOP D SPOKESMAN DEREK SENEGAL SAYS THE DRIVER WENT OFF THE ROAD WHILE TRAVELING NORTH ON FARM SUPPLY ROAD AND OVERTURNED THE VEHICLE, WHICH ENDED UP ON ITS ROOF IN A FLOODED FIELD. THE DRIVER WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE WHILE A PASSENGER WAS TAKEN TO A LAKE CHARLES HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT OF MINOR INJURIES. THE DRIVER’S NAME HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED BECAUSE FAMILY MEMBERS HAD NOT YET BEEN NOTIFIED.
SAINT MARTIN PARISH SUPERINTENDENT ALLEN BLANCHARD SAYS THEY ARE COMPLYING WITH A FEDERAL JUDGE’S ORDER TO CLOSE CATAHOULA ELEMENTARY AND TRANSFER THE STUDENTS TO THE EARLY LEARNING CENTER OR SAINT MARTINVILLE PRIMARY SCHOOL. HE SAYS THE JUDGE FOUND THE SCHOOL BOARD ACTED IN GOOD FAITH TO ACHIEVE UNITARY STATUS IN SEVERAL AREAS BUT ORDERED THE SCHOOL CLOSURE TO FULLY DESEGREGATE THE DISTRICT. THE SCHOOL BOARD HAS BEEN THE DEFENDANT IN A DESEGREGATION CASE THAT GOES BACK TO NINETEEN-SIXTY-FIVE. BLANCHARD SAYS THEY ARE TAKING ALL REASONABLE STEPS TO ENSURE A SMOOTH TRANSITION.
AN ARREST HAS BEEN MADE IN CONNECTION WITH A DOUBLE HOMOCIDE OUTSIDE THE NORTH UNIVERSITY WAFFLE HOUSE IN LAFAYETTE. CAROLINE MARCELLO REPORTS.
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Louisiana has restarted its bid process for multibillion dollar Medicaid contracts managing the health care of nearly 1.6 million people. The Department of Health is trying to end its patchwork of emergency contracts after a legal dispute scuttled the last attempt at new deals. The agency has released its request for proposals from contractors interested in handling the taxpayer-financed Medicaid managed care work, with a Sept. 3 deadline for submissions. The agency hopes to choose the new contractors in November.
A volunteer organization that mobilizes veterans for disaster recovery efforts has helped a southwest Louisiana woman return to her hurricane-damaged home. Team Rubicon renovated the home of Susan Stewart of Lake Charles. The American Press reports that Stewart returned to the house late last week. Volunteers initially signed her up for gutting and mold treatment but wound up completely restoring the home, including heating and air conditioning, plumbing, electrical work, flooring, roof and windows.
