7-10-23
LAFAYETTE AND SCOTT FIREFIGHTERS RESCUED A MAN FROM A NEARLY FATAL EIGHTEEN-WHEELER CRASH EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. SYLVIA MASTERS HAS MORE.
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A PETITION TO RECALL JEANERETTE MAYOR CAROL BOURGEOIS JUNIOR HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE. OFFICIALS SAYS IT MEETS ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF STATE LAW TO LAUNCH A CAMPAIGN. THE ORGANIZERS CLAIM BOURGEOIS HAS HELD THE BUDGET HOSTAGE TO GET A SALARY INCREASE FOR HIMSELF. THE ORGANIZERS HAVE TO GET APPROXIMATELY ONE THOUSAND, FORTY-ONE SIGNATURES FROM REGISTERED VOTERS IN JEANERETTE IN ORDER TO FORCE A RECALL ELECTION.
THE CITY OF JENNINGS HAS SEEN AN INCREASE IN GUN VIOLENCE OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS INCLUDING SEVEN SHOOTINGS AND ONE HOMOCIDE. POLICE CHIEF DANNNY SEMMES SAYS THEY’VE ENHANCED PATROLS THROUGHOUT THE CITY, EVER SINCE A SHOOTING AT MARCUS CAIN PARK. SEMMES SAYS THEY ARE WORKING DILIGENTLY TO INVESTIGATE THE SHOOTINGS. HE SAYS THEY MAY BE RELATED, STEMMING FROM GANG ACTIVITY, BUT PEOPLE ARE NOT WANTING TO SPEAK TO THE POLICE OVER FEAR OF RETALIATION.
Louisiana officials say juveniles currently housed at the country’s largest maximum-security adult prison will be moved to a new youth detention facility by mid-November. The juvenile lockup at Angola has faced staunch opposition, with critics saying that the trauma of being housed at the infamous state penitentiary would be irreversible. Two teens have filed a lawsuit alleging that they have been pepper-sprayed, held in solitary confinement for hours and had limited access to education. Officials have described the temporary youth lockup at Angola as a last-ditch but necessary measure as they addressed capacity, safety and service concerns at ailing juvenile detention centers.
AN ORDINANCE IS EXPECTED TO BE INTRODUCED AT TOMORROW NIGHT’S LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL MEETING THAT WOULD PROHIBIT SHORT-TERM RENTALS, LIKE AIR B-N-B’S, IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS. A SECOND INTRODUCTORY ORDINANCE WOULD ALLOW THE RENTALS IN NEIGHBORHOODS BUT WOULD REQUIRE VISITORS TO RENT THE WHOLE HOUSE AND NOT JUST A ROOM. PATRICK MOULD, WHO OWNS SHORT-TERM RENTAL PROPERTIES, AND WHO OPPOSES THE ORDINANCES, SAYS THERE ARE MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED IN THE CITY. ABOUT ONE HUNDRED FIFTY HOMEOWNERS WHO LIVE NEAR AIR B-N-B’S SIGNED A PETITION SUPPORTING THE ELIMINATION OF THE RENTALS.
A SAINT MARTIN PARISH WOMAN SAYS SHE WAS AWAY FROM HER HOME WHEN THREE MEN TRIED TO BREAK IN ON JULY FOURTH AT AROUND MIDNIGHT. LISA MCCARTHY TELL KLFY TV SHE WAS ABLE TO WATCH THE MEN ON HER PHONE APP TRY TO BREAK IN BUT LEFT BEFORE POLICE ARRIVE. TWO HOURS LATER, THEY CAME BACK AND SUCCESSFULLY BROKE IN AND SHE HEARD WHAT SHE THOUGHT WAS THE SOUND OF BULLET BEING PUT INTO THE CHAMBER OF A GUN. SHE WARNS PEOPLE IN HER COMMUNITY TO PREPARE IN CASE YOU ARE TARGETED AND HAVE A BACKUP PLAN.
A DEADLINE IS COMING UP FOR HOMEOWNERS AFFECTED BY HURRICANES LAURA, DELTA AND IDA TO FILL OUT AN INITIAL SURVEY TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE FROM THE RESTORE LOUISIANA PROGRAM. THE SURVEY MUST BE FILLED OUT TO BE ELIGIBLE TO RECEIVE GRANT FUNDING FOR HOME REPAIRS AS WELL AS REIMBURSEMENTS FOR REPAIRS ALREADY MADE. THE DEADLINE IS AUGUST FIRST AND HOMEOWNERS WHO DO NOT FILL OUT THE SURVEY BY THAT DATE WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE. THE SURVEY CAN BE FILLED OUT ONLINE AT RESTORE-DOT-L-A-DOT-GOV.
PLANS TO REMOVE A CONFEDERATE MONUMENT IN FRONT OF THE SAINT LANDRY PARISH COURTHOUSE HAVE BEEN HALTED OVER A DISPUTE OF LAND OWNERSHIP. PARISH PRESIDENT JESSIE BELLARD SAYS HE’S NOT TOUCHING THE MONUMENT UNTIL ITS KNOWN WHO OWNS THE MONUMENT AND WHO OWNS THE LAND THE MONUMENT SITS ON. BELLARD SAYS LAWYERS ARE CURRENTLY RESEARCHING THE RECORDS TO ANSWER THOSE QUESTIONS. A CREW WAS SET TO REMOVE THE MONUMENT SIX MONTHS AGO BUT STOPPED WHEN AN ATTORNEY REPRESENTING THE SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS SAID THE LAND AND MONUMENT WERE DONATED BY THE GROUP.
