6-8-16
LAST NIGHT THE LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH COUNCIL VOTED 7-TO-1 TO CUT 500 THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S BUDGET. NEXT TUESDAY, A JUDGE WILL DECIDE IF THE LAFAYETTE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO FULLY FUND THE D-A’S OFFICE. FORMER DISTRICT ATTORNEY MIKE HARSON HAD AN AGREEMENT WITH THE COUNCIL TO REIMBURSE COSTS FROM HIS DISCRETIONARY FUND, BUT CURRENT D-A KEITH STUTES ENDED THAT PRACTICE. STUTES FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITH PARISH GOVERNMENT AFTER RECEIVING A LETTER FROM THEM DEMANDING THAT HE REIMBURSE THEM FOR EXPENSES.
SASOL IS NOW PROJECTING THAT THE ETHANE CRACKER BEING BUILT IN WESTLAKE IS EXPECTED TO COST TWO BILLION DOLLARS MORE THAN ORIGINALLY ESTIMATED. PUBLIC AFFAIRS MANAGER MICHAEL HAYES SAYS WEATHER DELAYS AND HIGHER LABOR COSTS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROJECTED PRICE TAG MOVING FROM 8-POINT-9 BILLION TO ELEVEN BILLION. HE SAYS IN ORDER TO TRY TO DRIVE DOWN THE COSTS, THEY WILL CUT BACK ON THE NUMBER OF CONSTRUCTION WORKERS, FROM SEVEN THOUSAND TO FIVE THOUSAND. HE SAYS THEY WILL ALSO MOVE BACK THE TIMELINE ON THE PROJECT FROM SIX MONTHS TO A YEAR.
FORMER ST. MARY PARISH SHERIFF DAVID NAQUIN WILL SERVE AS THE LIAISON FOR THE CITY OF NEW IBERIA TO THE IBERIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE. NAQUIN’S JOB WILL BE TO HELP ENSURE THAT THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS FULFILLING THEIR CONTRACT TO PROVIDE POLICE SERVICES FOR THE CITY. THE LIAISON POSITION HAD BEEN CUT IN 2012 BUT MAYOR HILDA DAIGRE CURRY ASKED FOR IT TO BE REINSTATED BECAUSE OF COMPLAINTS SHE HAS RECEIVED ABOUT A LACK OF PATROLS IN CRIME RIDDEN AREAS. THE COUNCIL LAST NIGHT EXTENDED THE CONTRACT WITH THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE UNTIL JUNE OF NEXT YEAR.
Striking a conciliatory tone, House lawmakers started advancing a new multibillion-dollar construction budget after tanking the Senate’s version in the waning minutes of the regular legislative session. Ways and Means Committee Chairman Neil Abramson was largely blamed for the House’s refusal to pass the $4 billion budget bill. On Tuesday, as lawmakers began a special session, Abramson met with still-bristling Senate leaders. And he quickly moved a similar bill out of his committee, sending it to the full House for debate.
Gov. John Bel Edwards’ package of revenue-raising proposals had a rough ride in the House Ways and Means Committee on the first full day of a special session on taxes. Lawmakers on the majority Republican committee agreed to about $187 million in tax measures proposed on behalf of the Democratic governor. Others were voted down outright — or their legislative sponsors shelved them when it became clear the tax measures didn’t carry enough support to win passage.
Among the measures facing opposition were proposals that could have generated the most money, by raising income taxes on middle- and upper-income earners.
AUTHORITIES IN LAFAYETTE ARE LOOKING FOR THREE PEOPLE THEY SAY ARE CONNECTED TO A SHOOTING TUESDAY AFTERNOON ON DOC DUHON STREET. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
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THE COMPANY THAT OWNS OAKDALE COMMUNITY HOSPITAL HAS FILED FOR CHAPTER ELEVEN BANKRUPTCY. THE HOSPITAL WILL REMAIN OPEN. CHAPTER ELEVEN BANKRUPTCY ALLOWS PROGRESSIVE ACUTE CARE TO KEEP OPERATING WHILE IT ADDRESSES ITS FINANCIAL PROBLEMS. PROGRESSIVE ACUTE CARE FILED BANKRUPTCY FOR THREE OF THEIR HOSPITALS – THE ONE IN OAKDALE, AS WELL AS IN MARKSVILLE AND WINNFIELD.
CROWLEY POLICE ARE SEARCHING FOR A MAN WHO COMMITTED AN ARMED ROBBERY ONE WEEK AGO IN THE 15 HUNDRED BLOCK OF EAST CEDAR STREET. A MAN APPROACHED THE VICTIMS AS THEY WERE ABOUT TO ENTER THEIR HOME AT AROUND 8-15 AM AND DEMANDED MONEY. THE MAN WAS DESCRIBED AS BLACK, TALL, WITH A SLIM BUILD, AND HE WAS WEARING A MASK AND A RED AND BLACK HOODIE. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CALL CRIME STOPPERS AT 789-TIPS.
