7-22-21
Louisiana lawmakers have ended their historic veto session after two days in which Republicans failed to overturn any of Gov. John Bel Edwards’ bill rejections. The gathering that wrapped up Wednesday was a significant blow to GOP efforts to assert independence from the Democratic governor. The session collapsed after House Republicans couldn’t garner the votes to reverse Edwards’ veto of legislation banning transgender girls from school sports teams. Six Democrat state representatives, who originally voted for the bill, changed their votes. None of them are from Acadiana or Southwest Louisiana.
A VIGIL WAS HELD LAST NIGHT FOR FIVE-YEAR-OLD JOSHUA HAMILTON OF FRANKLIN, WHO WAS KILLED BY HIS UNCLE. DOZENS OF PEOPLE FROM HIS CHURCH, MORNING GLORY MINISTRIES, REMEMBERED JOSHUA AND RELEASED BLUE BALLOONS, WHICH WERE HIS FAVORITE COLOR. PASTOR DEBORA JOHNSON SAYS JOSHUA WAS VERY INVOLVED IN THE CHURCH, PRAISING THE LORD AND PRAYING FOR PEOPLE, AND THEY ARE HURT BY HIS PASSING. DERWIN HAMILTON, WHO FACES SECOND DEGREE MURDER AND ATTEMPTED SECOND DEGREE MURDER CHARGES, HAS ADMITTED POURING LIQUID ON HIS GIRLFRIEND AND JOSHUA AND SETTING THEM ON FIRE WHILE ARGUING WITH THE WOMAN ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP ENDING.
FUNERAL SERVICES ARE PLANNED FOR SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD JA’NYA HEBERT OF LAFAYETTE, WHO WAS SHOT AND KILLED ON JULY ELEVENTH. THE SERVICE WILL TAKE PLACE SATURDAY AT ELEVEN A-M AT PHILADELPHIA CHRISTIAN CHURCH. A SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD BOY WAS ARRESTED. POLICE HAVE NOT RELEASED A MOTIVE IN THE SHOOTING WHICH HAPPENED ON HARRINGTON STREET.
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY FOR JEFF DAVIS PARISH, KEVIN MILLICAN, DIED YESTERDAY AT THE AGE OF FORTY-NINE FROM AN APPARENT HEART ATTACK. THE PARISH CORONER DOCTOR CHARLES DEESE SAYS, FROM WHAT HE UNDERSTOOD, MILLICAN COLLAPSED IN A PARKING LOT WHILE TAKING HIS CHILD TO THE DOCTOR AND WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE HOSPITAL. MILLICAN WAS ELECTED TO THE JOB OF DISTRICT ATTORNEY LAST FALL WITHOUT OPPOSITION AND WAS SWORN IN LAST JANUARY. SHERIFF IVY WOODS SAID IT’S A GREAT LOSS FOR THE PARISH AND EXPRESSED CONDOLENCES TO HIS WIFE AND THREE CHILDREN.
Louisiana’s attorney general says 10 state residents are accused of defrauding pandemic unemployment programs, and eight of them are accused of getting more than $1 million from California’s program. A news release from Attorney General Jeff Landry says Louisiana Bureau of Investigation agents learned that multiple groups operating across several Louisiana parishes conspired to defraud the California and Louisiana programs. Six people were arrested in that investigation and two more are being sought. Landry’s office says five of those people also are accused of defrauding Louisiana’s program out of $60,000.
TWO-POINT-SIX MILLION DOLLARS IN ROAD IMPROVEMENTS ARE ON THE WAY FOR THE CITY OF OPELOUSAS. SYLVIA MASTERS HAS MORE.
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ON TUESDAY, LAFAYETTE MAYOR PRESIDENT JOSH GUILLORY PROPOSED A SIX HUNDRED TWENTY-NINE MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET FOR THE CITY AND PARISH GOVERNMENT FOR THE NEXT FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING ON NOVEMBER FIRST. UNDER THE PROPOSAL, THE CITY WOULD HAVE A TWENTY-EIGHT-POINT-FOUR MILLION DOLLAR GENERAL FUND BALANCE AND A THREE-POINT-ONE MILLION DOLLAR GENERAL FUND BALANCE FOR THE PARISH. THE BUDGET INCLUDES EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS FOR ROAD AND BRIDGE IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CITY AND FIVE-POINT-FOUR MILLION FOR THE PARISH. THE CITY AND PARISH COUNCILS WILL BEGIN REVIEWING THE BUDGET NEXT THURSDAY AND ARE SCHEDULED TO VOTE ON ADOPTION OF THE BUDGET ON SEPTEMBER NINTH.
RAYNE POLICE HAVE MADE ONE ARREST IN THE HOMOCIDE THAT HAPPENED SUNDAY AT THE KING CITY GROCERY STORE ON WEST JEFF DAVIS AVENUE. TWENTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD JOHNATHAN DIXON WAS FOUND DEAD OUTSIDE THE STORE FROM AN APPARENT GUNSHOT WOUND. ON TUESDAY, TWENTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD EDWARD D. NICKSON WAS ARRESTED AND WAS BOOKED INTO THE ACADIA PARISH JAIL ON A CHARGE OF SECOND DEGREE MURDER. THE INVESTIGATION REMAINS OPEN AND POLICE SAY MORE ARRESTS ARE IMMINENT.
