7-22-26
A SHOOTING BROKE OUT DURING A CHILD CUSTODY EXCHANGE AT A LAFAYETTE APARTMENT COMPLEX YESTERDAY. TWENTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD THOMAS GEORGE OF LAFAYETTE WAS SHOT AND LATER DIED FROM HIS INJURIES. TWENTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD DRAILUN ANTHONY OF LAFAYETTE HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH SECOND-DEGREE MURDER. THE SHOOTING HAPPENED AT THE ARBORS AT LAFAYETTE APARTMENTS ON ALCIDE DOMINGUE DRIVE AT AROUND NOON.
WITH TROPICAL STORM BERTHA EXPECTED TO IMPACT PARTS OF SOUTH LOUISIANA, SAINT MARTIN PARISH IS CONTINUING ITS STORM PREPARATIONS. GEORGE FAUST HAS MORE.
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MUCH OF THE LOUISIANA COAST IS UNDER TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS AND WATCHES AS TROPICAL STORM BERTHA MOVES TOWARD THE STATE. THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS HAS BEGUN TWENTY-FOUR-HOUR OPERATIONS IN THE STATE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER. DIRECTOR BRIGADIER GENERAL JASON MAHFOUZ ENCOURAGES THE PUBLIC TO STAY WEATHER AWARE AS THE SYSTEM MOVES THIS WAY. THEY HAVE BEGUN COORDINATION CALLS WITH PARISH EMERGENCY DIRECTORS.
THE JENNINGS CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO CONDEMN AND DEMOLISH JAMES WARD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. IT HAS SAT EMPTY AND ABANDONED SINCE TWO THOUSAND FIVE. HOMEOWNERS NEAR THE PROPERTY HAVE EXPRESSED A DESIRE TO SEE THE BUILDING MADE USEFUL OR TORN DOWN. THE COUNCIL DEEMED THE PROPERTY UNSAFE BEFORE VOTING TO CONDEMN AND DEMOLISH IT.
THE VICTIM IN A SHOOTING MONDAY ON C-O CIRCLE IN LAFAYETTE REMAINS HOSPTILIZED IN STABLE CONDITION. POLICE SAY THE SHOOTING MAY HAVE STEMMED FROM A DISPUTE BETWEEN NEIGHBORS. NO ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THE SHOOTING IS ASKED TO CALL LAFAYETTE CRIME STOPPERS AT TWO-THREE-TWO-TIPS.
A VERMILLION PARISH FAMILY HAS FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE LOUISIANA STATE BOARD OF EMBALMERS AND FUNERAL DIRECTORS AGAINST NEW ORLEANS FUNERAL AND CREMATION SERVICE. STEPHEN MENARD ALLEGES DELAYS AND A LACK OF COMMUNICATION IN TRYING TO RECOVER THE ASHES OF HIS GRANDDAUGHTER, CHANTELLE ROMERO. MENARD SAYS HE CALLED THE FUNERAL HOME ON JUNE TWENTY-FOURTH TO PICK UP HER BODY AT THE CORONER’S OFFICE AND THAT WAS THE LAST TIME SHE WAS EVER SEEN. THE OWNER OF THE FUNERAL HOME, GARY LEWIS, SAYS THE SITUATION STEMMED FROM A MISUNDERSTANDING RATHER THAN ANY ISSUES INVOLVING THE REMAINS.
Democratic U.S. Rep. Cleo Fields says he won’t seek reelection to his redrawn Louisiana congressional district. Fields said Tuesday he would instead seek election to the state Senate. His majority Black congressional district was redrawn by the state legislature in May to favor Republicans in November’s midterm elections. The U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the map favoring Fields’ district escalated a nationwide redistricting battle.
A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS RULED AGAINST THE SAINT LANDRY PARISH GOVERNMENT IN THEIR DISPUTE WITH A FAMILY FARM OVER THE PUMPING OF FLOOD WATERS OFF OF FARMLAND. PARISH PRESIDENT JESSIE BELLARD FILED A LAWSUIT AFTER COMPLAINTS OF FLOODING ALONG SCHEXNAYDER LANE NEAR MELVILLE. THE PARISH SOUGHT TO KEEP ARTALL FAMILY FARMS FROM PUMPING WATER FROM ITS FIELDS INTO ROADSIDE DRAINAGE DITCHES, WHICH THE FAMILY SAYS THEY’VE BEEN DOING FOR APPROXIMATELY FORTY-FIVE YEARS. THE COURT DENIED THE PARISH’S REQUEST FOR A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION AGAINST THE FARMING OPERATION SAYING THEY FAILED TO ESTABLISH THE LEGAL GROUNDS NECESSARY TO RESTRICT THE LONGSTANDING PRACTICE.
