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THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD LAST NIGHT APPROVED THE BUILDING OF A NEW HIGH SCHOOL IN YOUNGSVILLE. THE 65 MILLION DOLLAR COST FOR THE BUILDING WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH PHASED BOND SALES OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS. SUPERINTENDENT DONALD AGUILLARD TOLD BOARD MEMBERS THAT THE NEXT STEP IS TO ADVERTISE FOR AN ARCHITECT, FOLLOWED BY DISCUSSIONS ON PROGRAMMING FOR THE NEW SCHOOL. THE BOARD ALSO APPROVED ADDING CLASSROOMS TO KATHARINE DREXEL, PLANTATION AND MILTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, TO HELP ALLEVIATE OVERCROWDING IN THE YOUNGSVILLE AREA.
LAST NIGHT THE LAKE CHARLES CITY COUNCIL APPROVED PUTTING A QUARTER CENT SALES TAX ON THE OCTOBER BALLOT. IF VOTERS APPROVE IT, THE NEW SALES TAX WOULD GO INTO EFFECT IN JANUARY. IT WOULD RAISE APPROXIMATELY SIX MILLION DOLLARS PER YEAR. MAYOR RANDY ROACH SAYS THE TAX WOULD BE USED TO REPAY A 90 MILLION DOLLAR BOND, WITH THE REMAINING AMOUNT GOING TOWARDS OPERATIONAL EXPENSES FOR THE CITY.
Louisiana State Police are investigating how a man died in the custody of local police in Opelousas. The local police chief, Donald Thompson, says 36-year-old Dennis Lazard died while officers were pursuing reports of burglaries before dawn Wednesday. Police department spokesman Corey Leger says no shots were fired as Lazard was taken into custody. An autopsy is planned on Lazard, nicknamed “Mooney.”
House lawmakers have rejected a budget-balancing proposal sought by Gov. Bobby Jindal to maintain his record against tax increases. The House Ways and Means Committee shot down the bill with a 10-9 vote Wednesday. But senators, trying to keep the measure alive, added it to another bill later that evening. The disagreement raises questions about whether lawmakers can agree on a way to balance next year’s $24 billion budget with financial plans that can escape Jindal’s veto.
THE KING OF THE JUNGLE HAS RETURNED TO ZOOZIANA. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
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THE WEST ALLEN PARISH WATER DISTRICT HAS ISSUED A BOIL ADVISORY FOR SAND PIT, J POTTER, GILL AND GUMTREE ROADS. RESIDENTS WHO LIVE ON THESE ROADS ARE URGED TO BOIL WATER FOR CONSUMPTION FOR ONE MINUTE AT A ROILING BOIL. THE BOIL ADVISORY IS BECAUSE THE DISTRICT IS IN THE MIDST OF A MAJOR CONSTRUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM UPGRADE. RESIDENTS WILL BE NOTIFIED WHEN THE BOIL ADVISORY HAS BEEN LIFTED.
A EUNICE MAN IS WANTED FOR A RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY IN THE BRANCH AREA THAT TOOK PLACE ALMOST TWO YEARS AGO. THE ACADIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS D-N-A EVIDENCE HAS LINKED 25-YEAR-OLD STEPHEN PAUL FONTENOT TO THE BURGLARY, WHICH OCCURRED AT A HOME ON LINK ROAD NEAR BRANCH. SHERIFF’S OFFICE SPOKESWOMAN MAXINE TRAHAN SAYS THEY HAVE RECEIVED A TIP THAT FONTENOT IS IN THE SHREVEPORT AREA AND THEY ARE WORKING WITH AUTHORITIES THERE TO FIND HIM. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THE LOCATION OF FONTENOT CAN CONTACT THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE AT 788-87-HUNDRED.
Louisiana’s Senate shot down a last-minute bid to grant expanded conceal-carry privileges to retired state lawmakers. Sen. Bret Allain (AWL a), a Republican from Franklin, tried to add the language into a House bill. He said the proposal was justified because retired lawmakers made decisions that may provoke voters’ wrath.
The Senate, however, agreed to grant the special conceal-carry privileges to retired judges and district attorneys on a 32-6 vote.
