KAJN Jesus FM 102.9


9-8-17

A MAN WANTED FOR A MURDER IN OCEAN SPRINGS, MISSISSIPPI WAS ARRESTED AFTER A CHASE IN LAFAYETTE.  THE U-S MARSHALS SERVICE TASK FORCE RECEIVED HELP FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN CAPTURING 37-YEAR-OLD NICKY JOHNS, WHO IS ACCUSED OF KILLING A TENNESSEE MAN BY SHOOTING HIM IN THE HEAD AT A TRAVELODGE HOTEL PARKING LOT.  JOHNS WAS PURSUED BY AUTHORITIES ON I-TEN WESTBOUND, WHEN HE EXITED INTO LAFAYETTE, WHERE HE GOT OUT OF HIS VEHICLE ANDTRIED TO ESCAPE ON FOOT.  HE WAS LATER FOUND HIDING IN A TRASH CAN AND WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT OF A FOOT INJURY.

 

THE JUDGE IN THE MURDER TRIAL OF KEVIN DAIGLE AGREED TO PUSH BACK THE START DATE FROM SEPTEMBER 18TH TO APRIL 30TH OF NEXT YEAR.  DAIGLE IS ACCUSED OF KILLING STATE TROOPER STEVEN VINCENT TWO YEARS AGO, AND JUDGE GUY BRADBERRY EXPRESSED FRUSTRATION OVER THE DELAYS, BUT SAID HE FELT HE HAD NO CHOICE.  THE LEAD ATTORNEY FOR THE DEFENSE, DAVID PRICE, DIED OF A HEART ATTACK IN JULY AND A THIRD ATTORNEY WAS APPOINTED TO REPLACE HIM, BUT WAS CONSIDERED UNQUALIFIED.  SPECIAL PROSECUTOR RICK BRYANT SAYS HE FEELS THE DEFENSE COUNSEL HAS MANEUVERED THEM INTO THIS SITUATION AND VINCENT’S WIDOW, KATHERINE, IS VERY MUCH UPSET BECAUSE SHE WANTS SOME FINALITY.

 

AGENTS WITH THE ST. MARTIN PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE, WITH HELP FROM THE HENDERSON POLICE DEPARTMENT, CONDUCTED AN UNDERCOVER DRUG STING AT A CONVENIENCE STORE.  THEY PURCHASED ILLEGAL DRUGS AND DRUG PARAPHERNALIA AT THE E-Z MART, LOCATED IN THE 15-HUNDRED BLOCK OF HENDERSON HIGHWAY.  THE STORE MANAGER, 19-YEAR-OLD AZAL ALJAWI OF CECILIA, WAS ARRESTED FOR POSSESSION OF AMPHETAMINES, MARIJUANA AND HUNDREDS OF ITEMS OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.  THE STORE WAS CLOSED TEMPORARILY WHILE THE DRUGS AND THOSE ITEMS WERE REMOVED.

 

Republican conservatives are grumbling, but the House is poised to back a $15.3 billion disaster aid package that President Donald Trump and Democrats have married to a temporary increase in America’s borrowing authority.  Friday’s House vote would send the measure to Trump for his signature, replenishing rapidly dwindling disaster accounts as Hurricane Irma tracks toward Florida this weekend.

The must-do legislation would also provide money to fund government agencies through Dec. 8, eliminating the threat of a government shutdown when the new fiscal year starts next month.  GOP leaders actually had hoped to solve the politically toxic debt limit issue through next year’s midterm elections, but Trump sided with Democrats for a debt reprieve only into December or slightly beyond.

 

NEW I-49 LAFAYETTE CONNECTOR DESIGNS WERE UNVEILD TO A COMMUNITY WORKING GROUP THURSDAY.  THE INTERCHANGE AT I-49 AND WILLOW STREET WAS REVISED BECAUSE OF COMPLAINTS BY THE GROUP IN JULY.  HOWEVER, KEVIN BLANCHARD, WHO WAS THE CHAIRMAN OF THE EVANGELINE THRUWAY REDEVELOPMENT TEAM, SAYS THE NEW DESIGN STILL DOESN’T PROVIDE EASY AND SAFE ACCESS TO PEDESTRIANS AND BICYCLISTS.  THE NEW DESIGN DOES INCLUDE A ROUNDABOUT AT WILLOW STREET WHERE AN ATTRACTIVE LANDMARK COULD BE PUT UP AS A GATEWAY TO THE CITY.

 

THE STATE SUPREME COURT HAS DENIED A REHEARING IN THE CASE OF WOODROW KAREY, WHO IS ACCUSED OF SHOOTING AND KILLING LAKE CHARLES PASTOR RONALD HARRIS AT A REVIVAL SERVICE FOUR YEARS AGO.  THE STATE SUPREME COURT HAD THROWN OUT A SECOND DEGREE MURDER CHARGE AGAINST KAREY, AND IT APPEARS HE WILL NOW STAND TRIAL FOR MANSLAUGHTER.  A GRAND JURY INITIALLY INDICTED KAREY FOR MANSLAUGHTER BUT EVIDENCE WAS BROUGHT A SECOND TIME AND THE CHARGES WERE UPGRADED TO SECOND DEGREE MURDER.  THE DEFENSE ARGUED THAT THE PROSECUTION MADE A DEAL TO ABIDE BY  THE DECISION OF THE FIRST GRAND JURY AND THE STATE SUPREME COURT AGREED WITH THEM.

 

THIS WEEK THE ABBEVILLE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED AN 85 THOUSAND DOLLAR BUDGET TO IMPROVE DOWNTOWN SIDEWALKS.  COUNCILMAN BRADY BROUSSARD JUNIOR TELLS KLFY TV NEWS THAT TREE ROOTS HAVE MESSED UP SOME SIDEWALKS WHILE OTHERS ARE MISSING, SO THIS WILL MAKE WALKING DOWNTOWN SAFER AND EASIER TO NAVIGATE.  THE ORIGINAL PLAN WAS INTRODUCED TWO YEARS AGO AND THE MAYOR RECENTLY PUT IT IN THE BUDGET.  BROUSSARD SAYS CONSTRUCTION SHOULD BEGIN LATER THIS MONTH.

 

Gov. John Bel Edwards has held his second outreach meeting with business leaders, seeking to build support for an approach to close Louisiana’s looming $1 billion budget gap.  The Democratic governor sat down with about 30 officials in Houma on Thursday, reaching out for ideas to patch the hole and stabilize the state’s finances long-term.  The shortfall hits on July 1, when temporary taxes, mainly sales taxes, passed by lawmakers expire.  The governor says using only cuts to close the gap would devastate critical services, and he’s seeking agreement on a package of tax changes.