8-1-18
THE CAJUNDOME IN LAFAYETTE HAS HAD DIFFICULTY BOOKING CONCERTS, WHICH HAS LED TO AN 800 THOUSAND DOLLAR DEFICIT AND LAYOFFS. CAJUNDOME DIRECTOR GREG DAVIS, WHO’S RETIRING AT THE END OF OCTOBER, SAYS MANY PROMOTERS ARE HESITANT TO BRING CONCERTS TO LAFAYETTE BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMY, BUT CONCERTS ARE THE MOST PROFITABLE EVENTS THEY HOST. HE SAYS THAT BY DOWNSIZING, THEY WILL SAVE MORE THAN 500 THOUSAND DOLLARS. HE TELLS THE DAILY ADVERTISER THAT, BY BUDGETING CONSERVATIVELY, HE BELIEVES THE CAJUNDOME AND THE CONVENTION CENTER CAN RECOVER FINANCIALLY BY OCTOBER 31ST OF NEXT YEAR.
LOUISIANA STATE POLICE TROOP D AND THE BEAUREGARD PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS HOSTING A FREE CHILD SAFETY SEAT CHECK EVENT IN DERIDDER. THEY ARE WORKING WITH THE LOUISIANA PASSENGER SAFEY TASK FORCE TO HOST THE EVENT AT GREEN CHEVROLET FROM TEN TO ONE THIS SATURDAY. NATIONALLY CERTIFIED CHILD PASSENGER SAFETY TECHNICIANS WILL BE ON HAND TO ENSURE CHILD SAFETY SEATS ARE PROPERLY INSTALLED. THEY WILL BE GIVING AWAY BOOSTER SEATS WHILE SUPPLIES LAST TO THOSE WHO QUALIFY.
An ultralight aircraft crashed into a home’s carport in Coteau, injuring the pilot.
The Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office tells The Daily Iberian it happened Tuesday afternoon. Sheriff’s spokesman, Maj. Wendall Raborn, says the ultralight experimental aircraft went down about 6 p.m. Shortly after takeoff, he says, the plane apparently experienced engine problems and struck the carport of a home.
Raborn says the pilot was injured in the crash and taken to an area hospital.
More than 430 new Louisiana laws are taking effect in August.
Starting today, hazing penalties will toughen, spurred by the death of an LSU freshman after a fraternity drinking ritual. Louisiana’s waiting period to get married is dropping from 72 hours to 24 hours from the issuance of the marriage license to the ceremony. Legislators are requiring schools to give parents information about flu causes and vaccines. Lawmakers passed the measures during the regular legislative session that ended in May.
MAINTENANCE AND REPAIRS TO A PARKING GARAGE ON SOUTH BUCHANON STREET IN DOWNTOWN LAFAYETTE HAVE SUFFERED DUE TO A LACK OF FUNDS. LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH COUNCILMAN BRUCE CONQUE SAYS THE PARISH WANTS TO SELL THE STRUCTURE AND THE LAND TO THE CITY BUT HE QUESTIONS WHETHER THE CITY SHOULD MAKE THE DEAL FOR A BUILDING THAT MOST LIKELY WOULD BE DEMOLISHED. MAYOR PRESIDENT JOEY DUREL TELLS KLFY TV THAT THE CITY NEEDS THE PROPERTY ESPECIALLY WITH THE OLD FEDERAL COURTHOUSE PUT BACK INTO COMMERCE. HE SAYS THEY NEED TO FIGURE OUT SOMETHING THAT IS A WIN FOR BOTH THE CITY AND THE PARISH.
SOME RESIDENTS WHO LIVE NEAR THE GRAYWOOD SUBDIVISION IN CALCASIEU PARISH SAY THEY HAVE DRAINAGE PROBLEMS THAT DIDN’T EXIST BEFORE THE SUBDIVISION WENT UP. THEY’RE BLAMING A NEW FENCE THAT IS BLOCKING THE NATURAL FLOW OF WATER WESTWARD. ONE FAMILY HAS FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY OF LAKE CHARLES AND THE GRAYWOOD SUBDIVISION SEEKING TO REMOVE OBSTRUCTIONS THAT IMPEDE NATURAL WATER FLOW. POLICE JUROR GUY BRAME TELLS KPLC TV THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON IT.
THE FIELD OF SIX CANDIDATES FOR THE OPELOUSAS BOARD OF ALDERMEN DISTRICT C HAS BEEN TRIMMED IN HALF. THAT’S AFTER ONE OF THE CANDIDATES, DERRICK COMEAUX, FILED A PETITION IN COURT CHALLENGING THE QUALIFICATIONS OF JOSEPH EFFINGER JUNIOR, CHARLES MANUEL, AND GINA RIDEAU. THE THREE SUBSEQUENTLY WITHDREW FROM THE RACE LEAVING THREE CANDIDATES INCLUDING COMEAUX, CHARLES CUMMINGS AND THERESA THIBODEAUX. COMEAUX TELLS THE DAILY WORLD THAT IT’S UNPRECEDENTED FOR THREE CANDIDATES TO WITHDRAW FROM A RACE AT THE SAME TIME.
A NEW CONCRETE BRIDGE IS BEING BUILT OVER THE COULEE DURALDE IN RAYNE. THAT MEANS A SECTION OF NATION ROAD HAS BEEN CLOSED. STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT DISTRICT ADMINISTRATOR BILL OLIVER SAYS THE NEW BRIDGE WILL HAVE A LIFESPAN OF THIRTY TO FIFTY YEARS AND WILL PROBABLY LAST LONGER. HEAVY EQUIPMENT HAS BEEN BROUGHT IN TO DRIVE BRIDGE PILES INTO THE GROUND.
