7-18-18
LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH MAYOR PRESIDENT JOEL ROBIDEAUX IS NEGOTIATING A POSSIBLE TAKEOVER OF LAFAYETTE UTILITIES SYSTEM BY A PRIVATE COMPANY. ROBIDEAUX SIGNED A NON-BINDING LETTER OF INTENT TO PURSUE A POSSIBLE DEAL WITH NEXTGEN TO MANAGE AND OPERATE L-U-S. THE LETTER, OBTAINED BY THE ADVOCATE, CONTEMPLATED A 526 MILLION DOLLAR TRANSACTION, WITH MORE THAN HALF OF THAT BEING PAID TO THE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT. SEVERAL MEMBERS OF THE CITY PARISH COUNCIL HAVE SAID THEY HADN’T HEARD ABOUT THE NEGOTIATIONS UNTIL REPORTS CAME OUT IN THE LOCAL MEDIA.
A DERIDDER MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED ON A SECOND DEGREE MURDER CHARGE. 29-YEAR-OLD ANTOINE PORTER IS ACCUSED OF KILLING 46-YEAR-OLD ANGELA MOORE OF DERIDDER. BEAUREGARD PARISH DEPUTIES WERE CALLED OUT TO A RESIDENCE EAST OF DERIDDER AT AROUND 2:50 YESTERDAY MORNING, WHERE THEY FOUND THE BODY OF MOORE IN A BEDROOM. CHIEF DETECTIVE MARK HERFORD SAYS THEY LATER DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MOORE AND PORTER.
THE TWO PEOPLE KILLED IN AN APPARENT MURDER-SUICIDE ON HIGHWAY 83 IN THE GLENCOE AREA HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED. JEFF HORCHAK REPORTS.
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Candidates for Louisiana’s Nov. 6 election have to declare their intentions this week. The sign-up period opens Wednesday and runs through Friday. Top of the ballot are Louisiana’s U.S. House elections. Also on the ballot is a special election for secretary of state, to fill the position vacated by Republican Tom Schedler after he was accused of sexual harassment.
TONIGHT THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD WILL CONSIDER A RESTRUCTURING OF THE CENTRAL OFFICE THAT WILL RESULT IN SOME JOB ELIMINATIONS. THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WOULD SAVE 436 THOUSAND DOLLARS WITH THE MOVE. SUPERINTENDENT DONALD AGUILLARD SAYS THE MONEY WOULD BE REDIRECTED TO THE NEW PROGRAM THAT IS PUTTING A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER INTO EACH SCHOOL IN THE DISTRICT. AGUILLARD SAYS THERE IS A ONE-POINT-2 MILLION DOLLAR SHORTFALL IN THAT PROGRAM, AND THE RESTRUCTURING WILL HELP THEM IN COVERING THE DEFICIT.
A NEW PARKS INITIATIVE CALLED “PARTNERS IN PARKS” WAS ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY BY LAKE CHARLES MAYOR NIC HUNTER AT A NEWS CONFERENCE. HE SAYS THEY HAVE A HALF MILLION DOLLARS TO HELP TRANSFORM CITY PARKS AND GREEN SPACES, WHICH COMES FROM EXISTING REVENUES, PRIVATE PARTNERS AND DONATIONS. THE MONEY WILL BE INVESTED IMMEDIATELY IN SEVERAL PARKS ACROSS THE CITY AND THE IMPROVEMENTS WILL CONTINUE ANNUALLY. HUNTER SAYS NO MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT YET AND THEY ARE STILL PUTTING TOGETHER THE BOARD THAT WILL OVERSEE THE PROGRAM.
THE ACADIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS SEEKING THE PUBLIC’S HELP IN SOLVING A RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY THAT HAPPENED IN THE IOTA AREA ON JULY TENTH. A 48 INCH TV, A STAINLESS STEEL DOUBLE RANGE AND REFRIGERATOR, AND A UTILITY TRAILER WERE STOLEN FROM A HOME THAT WAS BEING REMODELED. THE HOME WAS IN THE 19-HUNDRED BLOCK OF RAY MILNER ROAD. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS URGED TO CALL CRIMESTOPPERS AT 789-TIPS, WHERE UP TO A ONE THOUSAND DOLLAR REWARD IS BEING OFFERED.
Louisiana will spend $60 million in oil spill recovery money on recreational projects to bolster boating, fishing and outdoor leisure opportunities across coastal parishes. Gov. John Bel Edwards announced the spending plans Tuesday. The dollars come from billions in settlement money tied to environmental damages caused by the massive 2010 oil spill. Edwards said the 23-item list released Tuesday will use the full amount required to be spent on coastal recreational projects.
