7-20-18
LAFAYETTE UTILITIES DIRECTOR TERRY HUVAL RETIRED SUDDENLY WEDNESDAY, THREE MONTHS EARLIER THAN HE HAD PLANNED. THE MOVE COMES JUST AFTER NEWS BROKE THAT LAFAYETTE MAYOR PRESIDENT JOEL ROBIDEAUX IS PURSUING A DEAL TO PRIVATIZE THE UTILITY. HUVAL TELLS THE ADVERTISER HE HAS CAUTIONED ROBIDEAUX ABOUT MAKING SUCH A MOVE BECAUSE, TO HIS KNOWLEDGE, IT HAS NEVER BEEN DONE SUCCESSFULLY BEFORE. HUVAL WAS THE LONGEST SERVING DIRECTOR AT
L-U-S, HAVING BEEN APPOINTED TO THE POSITION BY FORMER MAYOR KENNY BOWEN IN 1994.
THERE WAS AN UNPLANNED SHUTDOWN AT THE CITGO REFINERY IN LAKE CHARLES. DANA KEEL WITH CITGO SAYS AN UPSET CAUSED SEVERAL UNIT SHUTDOWNS AND FLARING. SHE SAYS FENCELINE MONITORING IS CONTINUING BUT NO ACTION IS REQUIRED BY THE COMMUNITY AT THIS TIME. THE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.
THE ADVOCATE AND KATC TV HAVE GONE TO COURT TO ATTEMPT TO UNSEAL THE RESULTS OF A SETTLEMENT REACHED BY THE IBERIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE AND THE FAMILY MEMBER OF A PERSON WHO WAS SHOT AND KILLED WHILE HANDCUFFED IN A POLICE VEHICLE. THE IBERIA PARISH CORONER RULED VICTOR WHITE THE THIRD SHOT HIMSELF EVEN THOUGH HE WAS HANDCUFFED IN THE PATROL CAR. A JUDGE RULED THAT THE MOTHER OF THE CHILD OF VICTOR WHITE THE THIRD COULD FILE A CIVIL SUIT AGAINST THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE WHICH WAS SETTLED IN MARCH. THE RESULTS OF THE SETTLEMENT HAVE BEEN SEALED BUT THE TWO NEWS ORGANIZATIONS ARE WANTING IT MADE PUBLIC.
Louisiana’s election sign-up period is continuing with no surprises for the position at the top of the ballot, secretary of state. State Rep. Julie Stokes, a Kenner Republican, registered for the race Thursday, days after getting confirmation from her doctor that she remains cancer-free. Treatment for breast cancer derailed Stokes’ plans to run for state treasurer last year. Besides Stokes, two other contenders have filed paperwork for the Nov. 6 election: Republican former Sen. A.G. Crowe of Pearl River and Democrat Renee Fontenot Free of Baton Rouge, who worked as top assistant to two prior secretaries of state.
HOMEWORK WILL NOT BE GRADED IN LAFAYETTE PARISH PUBLIC SCHOOLS THIS YEAR. THE SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED THE MOVE AT WEDNESDAY NIGHT’S MEETING. THE DISTRICT’S DIRECTOR OF ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS KATHY ALOISIO SAYS STUDENTS WILL STILL GET SOME HOMEWORK, BUT IT WILL BE USED BY TEACHERS TO LET THEM KNOW WHERE THE STUDENTS ARE IN REGARDS TO THE STANDARDS THEY HAVE. SHE SAYS THE BEST PRACTICE IS FOR HOMEWORK NOT TO BE GRADED.
THE DRIVER OF A PICKUP TRUCK SLAMMED INTO THE OUTDOOR PATIO AREA OF THE DOWNTOWN GROUNDS COFFEE SHOP IN DERIDDER LATE WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THEN FLED THE SCENE. SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS CAUGHT THE PERPETRATOR BUT POLICE SAY THE QUALITY OF THE VIDEO PREVENTED THEM FROM IDENTIFYING THE LICENSE PLATE. LT. CRAIG RICHARD WITH THE DERIDDER POLICE SAYS THEY FEEL CONFIDENT THEY’LL FIND THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE NUMBER OF TIPS THEY’VE RECEIVED FROM THE COMMUNITY. THE OWNER OF THE COFFEE SHOP, DOLLY WELDON, TELLS KPLC TV THAT SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY IF THE DRIVER HAD BEEN HONEST AND OWNED UP TO IT.
PROTESTERS GATHERED OUTSIDE THE ST. LANDRY PARISH COURTHOUSE YESTERDAY OVER THE LENIENT SENTENCE HANDED DOWN TO THE MAN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ABUSE OF FORMER CHAMPION RACE HORSE DR. DRIP. JEFF DORSON OF THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF LOUISIANA SAYS WHEN THE HORSE WAS FOUND, HE WAS ALMOST STARVED TO DEATH AND SOMEBODY HAD POURED BATTERY ACID ON HIM. DORSON SAYS THE PROTESTERS ARE UPSET ABOUT THE SENTENCE OF ONE YEAR’S PROBATION, A 25 DOLLAR MONTHLY FINE, WITH NO RESITITUTION, COMMUNITY SERVICE OR COURT COSTS PAID. THE PROTESTERS WERE HOPING TO GET THE D-A TO RECONSIDER THE CASE.
Practitioners of the hair-removal technique known as “eyebrow threading” no longer need hundreds of hours of expensive training to work in Louisiana. The nonprofit Institute for Justice said in a news release Thursday that it’s preparing to dismiss a lawsuit against the state Board of Cosmetology filed in 2016 on behalf of a suburban New Orleans threading salon. In Louisiana, threaders once needed an esthetician’s license, requiring 750 hours of beauty school courses and three licensing exams. Cosmetology Board director Steve Young said Thursday that regulations for eyebrow threaders now require only a test and a permit with costs totaling $50.
