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LAST NIGHT, THE LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH COUNCIL INTRODUCED A PROPOSED ORDINANCE BANNING SMOKING IN BARS AND BINGO HALLS, AND THE FINAL VOTE WILL BE HELD ON APRIL 18TH. ON THE SAME DAY, THE LOUISIANA CAMPAIGN FOR TOBACCO FREE LIVING RELEASED THE RESULTS OF A SURVEY OF LAFAYETTE PARISH RESIDENTS SHOWING STRONG SUPPORT FOR THE BAN. ACCORDING TO THE TELEPHONE POLL CONDUCTED IN FEBRUARY, 53 PERCENT OF RESPONDENTS STRONGLY FAVOR A BAN WHILE 15 PERCENT SOMEWHAT FAVOR IT. THE COUNCIL IN 2015 SHOT DOWN A PROPOSED BAN BY A 5-TO-4 VOTE, BUT THREE OF THOSE VOTING IN FAVOR OF IT ARE NO LONGER ON THE COUNCIL.
THE CALCASIEU AND OUISKA CHITTO RIVERS ARE FORECAST TO REACH FLOOD STAGE IN ALLEN PARISH. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IS PREDICTING THE CALCASIEU RIVER WILL REACH FIVE FEET ABOVE FLOOD STAGE BY SATURDAY AT OBERLIN. THE ALLEN PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE TELLS KPLC TV THAT FLOODING IS BEGINNING TO AFFECT THE GRANT, SOAPSTONE AND MITTIE AREAS. SANDBAGS AND SAND ARE AVAILABLE AT THE FAIRVIEW FIRE STATION.
A PEDESTRIAN DIED TUESDAY AFTER BEING STRUCK BY A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE IN OPELOUSAS. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
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As Louisiana struggles with budget woes, lawmakers are realizing millions remain socked away in savings accounts that agencies, boards and commissions never told them existed. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Eric LaFleur has been trying to get an accounting of what’s out there. In the legislative session that starts Monday, LaFleur is proposing to make it tougher to create these escrow accounts and special bank accounts, to require more uniform policies governing them and to enact tighter tracking of them. He says the money always should have been tallied as lawmakers look at an agency’s expenses — and claims of budget shortfalls.
The Scott Volunteer Fire Department will begin responding to fires in the unincorporated parts of Lafayette Parish again, after they had stopped late last year due to budget cuts. The Advertiser reports the Lafayette Consolidated Government and the fire department issued a joint statement Tuesday, saying they “have amicably resolved all issues as regards the rendering of firefighting services in unincorporated areas.” No other information on the agreement has been released. The statement said the fire protection services will resume immediately.
A Calcasieu Parish man has pleaded not guilty to stabbing two men during a fight.
News outlets report 33-year-old Martez Marquise Taylor entered the plea Monday after being charged with two counts of attempted second-degree murder for the stabbing of two men in Lake Charles. Police spokesman Jeffrey Keenum says after the January 18 stabbing the victims suffered life-threatening injuries, but were later treated and released. It’s unclear if Taylor has an attorney.
THE OWNER OF L-A K-9 TRAINING WILL BE DONATING A NEW K-9 TO THE CROWLEY POLICE DEPARTMENT. PAUL LEBLANC HELPED TRAIN THE K-9 OFFICER ROSCO, WHO WAS KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY NEARLY TWO WEEKS AGO. LEBLANC SAYS THAT, WHEN HE OPENED IN 2008, THE CROWLEY POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO BUY A K-9 FROM HIM, AND HE WANTS TO HELP THEM NOW. POLICE CHIEF JIMMY BROUSSARD SAYS HE IS WORKING TO GET MORE K-9’S IN HIS DEPARTMENT SO THEY HAVE ONE PER SHIFT.
Gov. John Bel Edwards is returning to Washington to talk about last year’s massive flooding in south Louisiana. Edwards will testify today before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. The committee is holding a hearing on the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s response to the August floods that hit the Lafayette and Baton Rouge areas.The Democratic governor’s office says Edwards plans to talk about where the federal government’s response has been helpful to the state and where federal regulations have slowed recovery efforts.
