REPAIRS TO THE SURREY STREET BRIDGE IN LAFAYETTE BETWEEN THE EVANGELINE THRUWAY AND PINHOOK COULD TAKE UP TO EIGHT MONTHS TO COMPLETE. THE BRIDGE WAS CLOSED ON OCTOBER 25TH AFTER AN INSPECTION FOUND CORRODED BEARINGS THAT SUPPORT THE STEEL BEAMS. PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR MARK DUBROC SAYS HEAVIER TRUCKS COULD HAVE CAUSED THE DECK ON THE BRIDGE TO FRACTURE AND DROP TWELVE INCHES, PUTTING LIVES IN DANGER. HE SAYS THE REPAIRS, WHICH WILL COST AROUND 500 THOUSAND DOLLARS, WILL EXTEND THE LIFE OF THE BRIDGE FOR THIRTY YEARS.
AN ARREST HAS BEEN MADE IN CONNECTION WITH A SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AT THE INTERSECTION OF MILL AND RYAN STREETS IN LAKE CHARLES. A WITNESS TOLD KPLC TV THAT SHE SAW A MAN GET OUT OF THE BACKSEAT OF A CAR AND SHOOT THE DRIVER THREE TIMES, THEN PULL HIM OUT AND DRIVE OFF, WHILE A HYSTERICAL FEMALE PASSENGER GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE MAN WHO WAS SHOT WAS 38-YEAR-OLD ERNEST SAMUEL MILLER, WHO WAS LATER PRONOUNCED DEAD AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL. THE ALLEGED SHOOTER IS 34-YEAR-OLD JOEY JULIAN OF BATON ROUGE, WHO IS NOW FACING A CHARGE OF SECOND DEGREE MURDER.
A 27-year-old Louisiana woman has been arrested after crashing her car and causing the death of a 2-year-old who was ejected. Louisiana State Police say Grace Loustaloot, of Franklin, was headed south on Louisiana 83 about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, when she ran off the road. A preliminary investigation says Loustaloot overcorrected, causing the vehicle to slide across both lanes, enter a ditch and overturn. The child, Temperence Finister, of Franklin, was not properly restrained and was thrown from the vehicle. Troopers say she was pronounced dead at an area hospital.
The Louisiana State Police has suspended a highway traffic enforcement program coordinated with local parishes amid questions about whether troopers were billing for hours they didn’t work. The Advocate reports that Col. Kevin Reeves, the state police superintendent, has ordered a full review of the program and has started a criminal investigation. Three troopers were placed on administrative leave after reviewing surveillance footage from WVUE-TV in New Orleans . Maj. Doug Cain, a state police spokesman, says the TV station’s undercover footage appears to show the three troopers claiming extra-duty hours they never worked.
ON TUESDAY, THE LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH COUNCIL VOTED TO DELAY A DECISION ON AN ANNUAL FUNDING AGREEMENT WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE. THAT PROMPTED AN ANGRY OUTBURST FROM D-A KEITH STUTES, WHO SAYS HE HAD JUMPED THROUGH HOOPS TO NEGOTIATE THE NEW FUNDING STRUCTURE WITH THE CITY PARISH GOVERNMENT. THE COUNCIL EVENTUALLY PASSED THE NEW AGREEMENT ON A 6-TO-3 VOTE. THE NEW AGREEMENT PROVIDES 2-POINT-6 MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE WHICH WILL INCLUDE GUARANTEED MONTHLY PAYMENTS.
A LAKE CHARLES MAN, WHO FACED POSSIBLE LIFE IMPRISONMENT, WAS FOUND NOT GUILTY BY A JURY YESTERDAY OF AGGRAVATED RAPE. THE WOMAN, IDENTIFIED AS BEVERLY, CLAIMED THAT SHE HAD BEEN RAPED AT GUNPOINT IN 1992 BY JOHNELL LEDOUX, AND HER STORY WAS TOLD ON THE TV SHOW, “COLD JUSTICE SEX CRIMES.” DEFENSE ATTORNEY WILFORD CARTER SAID THAT THE TWO MET IN AN AREA KNOWN FOR PROSTITUTION AND CRACK, AND RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO WAS CONSENSUAL, AND SHE WAITED THREE DAYS TO REPORT THE ALLEGED CRIME. LEDOUX WAS RELEASED AFTER SPENDING THE LAST TWO YEARS IN JAIL.
FAMILY MEMBERS OF A MISSING BREAUX BRIDGE WOMAN ARE ASKING THE PUBLIC FOR HELP IN FINDING 29-YEAR-OLD KESHIA SYLVESTER. JEFF HORCHAK HAS MORE.
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Millions in taxes paid under protest are available for state spending after Louisiana’s chemical industry lost its lawsuit challenging a 2015 sales tax change.
The state treasurer’s office said Wednesday that $15.9 million was transferred this week, freed from the Department of Revenue’s escrow account. Lawmakers already have earmarked the money for a list of state expenses. Chemical plants paid $18.7 million in protest as the Louisiana Chemical Association challenged the temporary removal of a 1 percent sales tax exemption on business utilities.
