7-1-15
Police in Lafayette are investigating the city’s latest gunshot death. The department says in a news release that police responded to a call early Tuesday about a man lying in a Lafayette roadway. Responding officers found a 21-year-old victim who was later declared dead at the scene. Police say he died from a single gunshot wound.
WESTLAKE POLICE HAVE BEEN HANDING OUT AN AVERAGE OF THIRTY TICKETS A DAY TO TRUCK DRIVERS, WHO ARE ILLEGALLY DRIVING ON SIDE STREETS. THE TRUCK DRIVERS ARE TAKING THE SIDE STREETS BECAUSE OF AN EIGHT WEEK OVERLAY PROJECT ON SULPHUR AVENUE. THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO TAKE THE OFFICIAL DETOUR, WHICH LEADS THEM BACK TO INTERSTATE TEN, A ROUTE MAYOR BOB HARDY ADMITS IS NOT CONVENIENT. HARDY TELLS KPLC TV THAT TWO INCHES OF CONCRETE WERE RECENTLY LAID ON SOME OF THE SIDE STREETS, AND THE CITY DOESN’T HAVE THE FUNDS TO REPAIR THEM IF THE TRUCKS TEAR THEM UP.
THE BODY OF A ST. LANDRY PARISH MAN WAS FOUND IN BAYOU MARRON MONDAY AFTERNOON. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
VOICER J :32
A new lawsuit is challenging Gov. Bobby Jindal’s executive order that aims to give special protections to people who oppose same-sex marriage. The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Louisiana, the Forum for Equality Foundation and six New Orleans residents filed the lawsuit on Tuesday, seeking to make Jindal’s order unenforceable. The lawsuit claims the May 19 order is unconstitutional.
The “Marriage and Conscience” executive order prohibits state agencies under Jindal’s control from denying licenses, benefits, contracts or tax deductions in response to actions taken because of someone’s “religious belief” against same-sex marriage.
THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD IS CONSIDERING ENDING THEIR POLICY OF HAVING A GENERAL COMMENT PERIOD FOR THE PUBLIC AT THE END OF THEIR MEETINGS. OVER THE YEARS, MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WERE ALLOWED TO ADDRESS THE BOARD ABOUT ANY SCHOOL-RELATED TOPIC. UNDER THE PROPOSED POLICY REVISION, COMMENTS WOULD BE LIMITED TO ITEMS THAT ARE UP FOR A VOTE AT THAT MEETING, AND EACH PERSON WOULD BE LIMITED TO THREE MINUTES TO SPEAK. BOARD PRESIDENT TOMMY ANGELLE SAYS THEY ARE RECEIVING GUIDANCE ON CRAFTING THE POLICY CHANGE FROM THEIR LEGAL COUNSEL.
EIGHT PROTESTANT AND CATHOLIC TEENAGERS FROM NORTHERN IRELAND ARE IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA AS PART OF THE ULSTER PROJECT, WHICH IS DESIGNED TO PROMOTE PEACE BETWEEN THE TWO SIDES. THE TEENS STAY WITH HOST FAMILIES IN AREAS SUCH AS SULPHUR, WESTLAKE, RAGLEY AND CARLYSS. DURING THEIR MONTH-LONG TRIP, THEY WILL TAKE PART IN COMMUNITY SERVICE, SOCIAL AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES. ONE OF THE TEENS, LYNSEY DAVISON, WHO IS MAKING HER SECOND TRIP TO SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA, TELLS KPLC TV THAT SHE HOPES THAT EACH OF THE PARTICIPANTS WILL MATURE BECAUSE OF THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF EACH OTHER AND BECOME BETTER PEOPLE FOR DOING IT ALL.
THE RAYNE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS SEEKING THE PUBLIC’S HELP IN FINDING THOSE WHO BURGLARIZED A PICKUP TRUCK ON MAY 31ST. TWO HANDGUNS AND CASH WERE STOLEN FROM THE 2010 CHEVY TRUCK, WHICH WAS PARKED IN THE 200 BLOCK OF EDGEWOOD STREET. VIDEO SURVEILLANCE CAPTURED THE IMAGES OF TWO PEOPLE AND A 2000 GMC/CHEVY TRUCK WITH A SILVER TOOLBOX. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS URGED TO CALL CRIMESTOPPERS OF ACADIA PARISH AT 789-TIPS, WHERE UP TO A THOUSAND DOLLAR CASH REWARD IS BEING OFFERED.
Drivers only have to renew their licenses every six years beginning Wednesday, but they’ll have to pay more when they buy a car or seek a copy of their driving record. Those changes are among the new state laws that take effect with the start of July, along with a new 50-cent-per-pack tax hike on cigarette smokers and scaled-back tax breaks for businesses. Previously, drivers had to renew their licenses in Louisiana every four years. But lawmakers changed the renewal period to six years, saying it could help lessen wait times at the Office of Motor Vehicles. License fees will increase to cover the extra years.
