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PROPER PROCEDURES AND LAWS WERE FOLLOWED IN THE CONTROVERSIAL HIRING OF THE FORMER LAFAYETTE HOUSING AUTHORITY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BY THE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT. WALTER GUILLORY PLEADED GUILTY TO FEDERAL CHARGES OF BID-RIGGING AND ACCEPTING BRIBES AND SERVED TIME IN PRISON. RECENTLY PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR GERALD BOUDREAUX HIRED GUILLORY TO SERVE AS THE ATHLETICS PROGRAM SUPERVISOR. CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER CYDRA WINGERTER TELLS THE ADVOCATE THAT THEY CONDUCTED AN INTERNAL REVIEW TO MAKE SURE THAT LAWS AND POLICIES WERE FOLLOWED WITH THIS HIRE.
AN IOWA MAN WANTED IN CONNECTION WITH A HOMOCIDE IN DEQUINCY HAS TURNED HIMSELF IN. 40-YEAR-OLD NATHANIEL MITCHELL HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH SECOND DEGREE MURDER FOR THE DEATH OF 29-YEAR-OLD ZAC BURTON OF BATON ROUGE. TWO WEEKS AGO, BURTON’S BODY, WHICH HAD BEEN BURNED, WAS FOUND AT THE END OF D. WILLIAMS ROAD, WHICH IS A DEAD END ROAD IN DEQUINCY. ONE WEEK AGO, ANOTHER PERSON, 27-YEAR-OLD GEORGE A. BUCK OF LAKE CHARLES, WAS ALSO ARRESTED ON A SECOND DEGREE MURDER CHARGE.
THE HENDERSON FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO REPORTS OF A BOAT EXPLODING LATE LAST NIGHT ON BERNARD STREET. CAROLINE MARCELLO HAS MORE.
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With the school year beginning next week, a fourth Louisiana school district is assessing damage caused by hackers targeting its computer network. The Advocate reports Tangipahoa Parish schools Superintendent Melissa Stilley said officials discovered “activity” on the network similar to other recently reported attacks on Louisiana school systems. Three other northern Louisiana districts experienced what were called “severe, intentional cybersecurity breaches” last week that prompted Gov. John Bel Edwards to declare a state of emergency. Education and government officials spoke Monday to assess and prepare for threats.
AS A PRECAUTION TO PREVENT CYBERSECURITY ATTACKS IN THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM, PHONE AND INTERNET SERVICES AT THE CENTRAL OFFICE AND ALL SCHOOL SITES WERE CUT OFF YESTERDAY. IT’S NOT BEEN DETERMINED WHEN THE SYSTEMS WILL COME BACK ONLINE, BUT NOTIFICATIONS WILL BE SENT TO PARENTS WHEN THEY DO. CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER JENNIFER GARDNER SAYS THEY ARE FOCUSING ON PROTECTING THE PERSONAL DATA OF EMPLOYEES AND STUDENTS. MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL ORIENTATION, STUDENT REGISTRATIONS AND STUDENT PLACEMENT TESTING WERE CANCELED FOR THE WEEK AND RESCHEDULE DAYS WILL BE ANNOUNCED SOON.
THE CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS SEEKING THE PUBLIC’S HELP IN FINDING A SUSPECT WHO STOLE A GUN FROM AN UNLOCKED PICKUP TRUCK. SURVEILLANCE VIDEO CAPTURED IMAGES OF THE MAN WHO WAS SEEN MAKING THE THEFT ON ENGLESIDE DRIVE IN LAKE CHARLES BETWEEN2:30 AND THREE YESTERDAY MORNING. THE MAN WAS ON A BICYCLE AND TOOK A NINE MILLIMETER BARETTA. THE IMAGES HAVE BEEN POSTED ON THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT’S FACEBOOK PAGE. IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION, YOU’RE ASKED TO CALL THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE AT 491-36-0-5.
THE CROWLEY POLICE DEPARTMENT STARTED A NEW PROGRAM EARLIER THIS SUMMER TO CRACK DOWN ON SPEEDING WITHIN THE CORPORATE BOUNDARIES OF CROWLEY. THE TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT DETAIL BEGAN ON JUNE FIRST AND, SO FAR, THEY HAVE ISSUED THREE HUNDRED SPEEDING TICKETS. POLICE CHIEF JIMMY BROUSSARD SAYS THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO GET PEOPLE TO SLOW DOWN, DECREASING THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS. THE PROGRAM IS MANNED BY OFF DUTY OFFICERS, WHO EARN EXTRA MONEY IN FIVE HOUR SHIFTS.
The leader of Louisiana’s House Republicans is backing U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham in the governor’s race. Alexandria state Rep. Lance Harris, chairman of the House GOP delegation, announced in a video Tuesday that he’s endorsing Abraham, rather than Republican contender and businessman Eddie Rispone. Abraham and Rispone are running against Democratic incumbent John Bel Edwards on the Oct. 12 ballot. Harris calls Abraham a strong conservative with the “guts to do what’s right.”
