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LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL DISTRICT STAFF HAVE BEGUN WORK ON A TRANSITION PLAN FOR MOVING THE PERFORMING ARTS ACADEMY TO COMEAUX HIGH SCHOOL. THE TRANSITION IS EXPECTED TO BE A LARGE PROJECT INVOLVING MOVING STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND EQUIPMENT.
THE ACADEMY WILL REMAIN AT LAFAYETTE HIGH FOR THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR. SUPERINTENDENT DONALD AGUILLARD SAYS THEY WILL USE AN ADMINISTRATIVE RULE ADOPTED LAST YEAR THAT ALLOWS RISING SENIORS TO REMAIN AT THEIR CURRENT SCHOOL AND THEIR SIBLINGS COULD STAY THAT YEAR AS WELL.
Authorities say a Baton Rouge man has been arrested on murder charges in the deaths of two Southern University students who were killed in a shootout at an off-campus party in April. Baton Rouge police said in a statement that 25-year-old Brandon Christopher Henderson was arrested early Thursday on two counts of second-degree murder and illegal use of a weapon. Police said Henderson told investigators that he fired the initial shots in an exchange of gunfire that killed the 19-year-old students, Lashuntae Benton of Lake Charles and Annette January.
Police have described Benton and January as “innocent bystanders” caught in the crossfire.
AUTHORITIES IN ACADIA PARISH ARE HOPING TO FIND MORE INFORMATION ON TWO ENDANGERED WHOOPING CRANES FOUND DEAD LAST MONTH. JULIE DARCE REPORTS.
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A Denham Springs lawmaker’s bid to require Louisiana public school students to recite the Declaration of Independence daily has gained traction in the state House on its second-try. Republican Rep. Valarie Hodges previously pulled her bill to require students in fourth through sixth grade to recite a passage from the historic document, but brought it again Thursday. Black lawmakers opposed the measure, wanting to also require recitation of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a dream” speech, saying the addition was necessary to tell the full story of U.S. equality. The House rejected the proposed change.
Senators have agreed to prohibit abortions performed because the fetus is determined to have a genetic abnormality. They rejected concerns such a ban would lead Louisiana to a court battle it cannot win. Democratic Rep. Regina Barrow, of Baton Rouge, defended the bill as protecting “the life of unborn children.” She said anything lawmakers pass could end up in court.
WORLD FAMOUS MURALIST ROBERT DAFFORD HAS BEGUN TRANSFORMING THE EXTERIOR OF LAFAYETTE CITY HALL. GERD WUESTMAN OF THE ACADIANA CENTER FOR THE ARTS, WHO IS SERVING ON AN ADVISORY PANEL FOR THE PROJECT, TELLS THE ADVOCATE THAT DAFFORD IS TURNING A GENERIC BUILDING INTO SOMETHING THAT SAYS, “WE ARE LAFAYETTE, LOUISIANA.” 175 THOUSAND DOLLARS HAS BEEN BUDGETED FOR THE PROJECT, AND DAFFORD SAYS ALL THE MONEY WILL BE SPENT IN LAFAYETTE. DAFFORD BEGAN PAINTING THE MURALS IN APRIL AND EXPECTS TO BE FINISHED IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.
THE CALCASIEU PARISH POLICE JURY LAST NIGHT HELD A PUBLIC MEETING TO GIVE AN UPDATE ON WHAT THEY’RE DOING TO ADDRESS DRAINAGE PROBLEMS. PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR ALLEN WAINWRIGHT SAYS THE GOAL IS TO HAVE SOMETHING FOR THE JURY TO VOTE ON BY SEPTEMBER FIRST. WAINWRIGHT SAYS DETENTION POND DESIGNS NEED TO BE UPDATED, ALONG WITH FLOOD PLAIN MANAGEMENT. HE SAYS ITS IMPORTANT AS WELL TO UPDATE FLOOD PLAIN MAPS AND DESIGNATED FLOODWAYS.
AN OPELOUSAS MAN WAS ARRESTED FOR AN ATTEMPTED HOME BURGLARY ON OLIVIER ROAD AND AUTHORITIES ARE SEARCHING FOR TWO OTHER SUSPECTS. A PERSON CALLED THE ST. LANDRY PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON SAYING SOMEONE WAS TRYING TO BREAK INTO HER HOME WHILE HER TEN-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER AND 19-YEAR-OLD BROTHER WERE HIDING IN A ROOM. 22-YEAR-OLD TORIAN LAZARD WAS ARRESTED AFTER HE WAS SEEN RUNNING FROM THE HOME, WHERE A WINDOW HAD BEEN BROKEN. ANOTHER MAN WAS SEEN RUNNING FROM THE HOME AND A THIRD MAN WAS LATER DETERMINED TO HAVE DRIVEN THE OTHER TWO TO THE BURGLARY.
