7-30-19
GROUND HAS BEEN BROKEN ON A TWO MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT TO EXTEND FREM BOUSTANY DRIVE IN LAFAYETTE FROM EAST FARREL ROAD TO THE VINEYARD SUBDIVISION. IT’S EXPECTED TO TAKE UP TO A YEAR-AND-A-HALF TO COMPLETE. CONSOLIDATED COUNCIL MEMBER LIZ HEBERT TELLS KLFY TV THAT IT’S IMPORTANT TO GIVE RESIDENTS IN THE AREA ANOTHER EXIT, ESPECIALLY WHEN THE CONSTRUCTION BEGINS TO WIDEN KALISTE SALOOM. SHE SAYS THERE ARE FUTURE PLANS TO EXTEND FREM BOUSTANY TO VINCENT ROAD.
The manager of a motel in Lake Charles, who is accused of sex trafficking a 14-year-old girl at the business, has been arrested in Texas. News outlets report 39-year-old Mayur Patel was taken into custody Friday in Houston. Authorities say a tip led them to the 14-year-old at the Lake Charles motel March 21. Calcasieu Parish Detectives Seth Abshire and Michael Miller investigated and a warrant for Patel’s arrest was issued July 19.
AUTHORITIES ARE INVESTIGATING A SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED AT A NEW IBERIA APARTMENT COMPLEX ON MONDAY. CAROLINE MARCELLO HAS MORE.
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Louisiana’s first medical marijuana products are one step away from pharmacies, with final testing planned for this week. Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says if the product collected Monday from GB Sciences is free of contaminants, medical marijuana could reach patients early next week. Strain says he’s hopeful the testing will clear the product for release. Patients have been waiting years for medical marijuana, after lawmakers created the regulatory framework for dispensing therapeutic cannabis in 2015.
THE LAFAYETTE PUBLIC TRUST FINANCING AUTHORITY HAS REACHED A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT FOR THE OLD COBURN’S PROPERTY NEAR DOWNTOWN. UNDER THE AGREEMENT, THEY WILL PAY NEARLY 45 THOUSAND DOLLARS ANNUALLY FOR THE PROPERTY. THE AUTHORITY IS NEGOTIATING WITH A COMPANY THAT COULD BE A POTENTIAL TENANT IN THAT BUILDING. THE ADVOCATE SAYS THERE IS SPECULATION THAT THE POTENTIAL TENANT IS C-G-I TECHNOLOGIES AND SOLUTIONS, WHICH HAS BEEN LOOKING AT POSSIBLE SITES SO THEY CAN EXPAND.
JENNINGS POLICE ARRESTED A WOMAN FOR ATTEMPTING TO BUY THREE I-PHONES AT A VERIZON STORE YESTERDAY USING A STOLEN CREDIT CARD AND FAKE I-D. AN EMPLOYEE AT THE STORE REMEMBERED THE WOMAN, IDENTIFIED AS SANIECE PETERSON, AT ANOTHER STORE MAKING PURCHASES USING ANOTHER FALSE NAME, AND THE EMPLOYEE CALLED THE POLICE. INVESTIGATORS DETERMINED THAT PETERSON HAD BEEN USING FAKE I-D AND CREDIT CARDS TO MAKE MULTIPLE PURCHASES ALONG THE I-TEN CORRIDOR. SHE WAS CHARGED WITH POSSESSION OF FRAUDULENT DOCUMENTS, THEFT AND ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF STOLEN THINGS.
ANOTHER HEAD-ON COLLISION IN ACADIANA YESTERDAY RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF A HOUSTON MAN. THE MAN, NORGES ORTIZ, WAS TRAVELING WEST ON L-A 100 IN ACADIA PARISH AT AROUND 5:30 A-M WHEN HE CROSSED THE CENTER LINE AND STRUCK AN ONCOMING CAR. ORTIZ WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD WHILE THE OTHER DRIVER SUFFERED NON-LIFE THREATENING INJURIES. INVESTIGATORS HAVE NOT YET DETERMINED WHY ORTIZ CROSSED THE CENTER LINE. HE WAS DRIVING A NISSAN VERSA.
Louisiana candidate for governor Eddie Rispone has committed to spending at least $5 million on television ads in the race. The Republican businessman’s campaign said Monday that it has locked in another $4 million in TV ad time, on top of more than $1 million already spent to air its ongoing 30-second spots.
Rispone spokesman Anthony Ramirez says the campaign has made its preliminary ad buys and expects to buy more time to stay on television until the Oct. 12 election. The wealthy businessman has poured $10 million of his own money into his campaign to defeat Democratic incumbent John Bel Edwards.
