7-27-16
TYCHRISTIAN STRAUSS, 17 WAS SHOT YESTERDAY MORNING AT THE MANOR APARTMENT COMPLEX ON PREJEAN DRIVE IN LAKE CHARLES. ACCORDING TO STRAUSS’ FAMILY, HE WAS SHOT IN THE SHOULDER AND BACK AND IS CURRENTLY IN THE HOSPITAL. PLEASE CONTACT THE LAKE CHARLES POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH ANY INFORMATION.
LOUISIANA SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION, JOHN WHITE KICKED OFF THE FIRST DAY OF STATEWIDE PUBLIC FORUMS YESTERDAY MORNING AT LAFAYETTE MIDDLE SCHOOL. WHITE ALSO HELD A FORUM AT LAKE CHARLES BOSTON ACADEMY. THE FORUMS ARE A QUESTION AND ANSWER FORMAT ABOUT THE NEW EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT THAT TAKES EFFECT IN THE 2017/2018 SCHOOL YEAR, REPLACING THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT. EACH STATE HAS TO DEVELOP IT’S OWN IMPLENTATION OF THE NEW ACT. THE FORUMS ALLOW EDUCATORS, PARENTS AND SCHOOL LEADERS TO DISCUSS AND GIVE INPUT THAT FACE EDUCATION CHALLENGES IN THE STATE. WHITE IS ALLOWING SIX MONTHS OF INPUT ON THE STATE’S ESSA PLAN. THE PUBLIC FORUMS CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY OF NEXT WEEK, INCLUDING ONE TODAY AT PINEVILLE HIGH, FRIDAY IN BATON ROUGHE AT MCKINLEY MIDDLE MAGNET SCHOOL AND IN HOUMA ON MONDAY AT THE TERREBONNE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD. THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION WILL POST VIDEOS OF EACH MEETING THIS WEEK ON ITS WEBSITE louisianabelieves.com
JEFF HORCHAK HAS AN UPDATE ON A CASE INVOLVING A FORMER RAYNE POLICE OFFICER.
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Troopers assigned to the Louisiana State Police Bureau of Investigations Insurance Fraud and Auto Theft Unit arrested seven individuals yesterday who were involved in staged crashes in Jefferson Davis Parish. An investigation into the staged crashes began earlier this year after it was determined that a group of family and friends staged three separate crashes over a five month period as well as a “jump in” crash several months later. A “jump in” crash occurs when an individual or individuals claim to have been in a vehicle at the time of a crash but were not. None of these crashes involved anyone from outside of the criminal group. Troopers obtained arrest warrants and arrested the following individuals today and booked them into the Jefferson Davis Parish Jail: Devondrick Sams, 28 of Jennings, Tamale Sonnier, 27 of Jennings, Saundra Pete, 61 of Jennings, Jaylin Sams, 26 of Jennings, Dawn Sonnier, 26 of Jennings, Rhinehart Thibodeaux, 47 of Jennings, & Victoria Shaw, 39 of Mamou. Troopers are still looking for 28-year-old Marlo Diggs of Abbeville. She is believed to be staying in the Lake Arthur or Jennings area. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to call Louisiana State Police Troop D at 491-2511.
Renovations at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Tigue Moore Field are underway. But a significant spike in construction costs has many concerned about funding. As construction crews hammer away at the old structure, school officials expect the new facilities to have that wow factor. The only issue is the “Wow factor” is going to cost more than $6-milllion more than the original $10-million budget. The additional six plus million dollars News 10 is told, is for an enhanced design, aimed at putting the baseball stadium among the best in the nation for the players, and the fans. KLFY has been told that close to $9-million has been raised.
Construction and fundraising continues, but there’s no specific date for completion.
(AP) A new report says shooting deaths of law enforcement officers have spiked 78 percent in the first half of 2016 compared to last year. The data released Wednesday by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund also details an increase in ambush-style assaults like the ones that killed eight officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. According to the report , 32 officers died in firearms-related incidents so far this year including 14 that were ambush-style attacks. During the same period last year, 18 officers were shot and killed in the line of duty including three that were considered ambush attacks.
(AP) Gov. John Bel Edwards’ office won’t be laying off staff after all. Earlier this month, some employees in the office had received layoff notifications. But on Tuesday, Edwards spokesman Richard Carbo said a different approach has been taken to reduce costs to cope with a $703,000 cut for the budget year that began July 1. Seven vacant jobs won’t be filled. Contracts for legal and technology services are being reduced. And supplies and other expenses will be lessened instead of sending out pink slips. The governor’s office says existing staff will take on greater responsibilities, but services performed by the office won’t be reduced. Agencies across state government have been hit with cuts to balance this year’s budget.
