8-10-22
A PROPOSED RATE INCREASE FOR L-U-S CUSTOMERS WAS UNVEILED AT A LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL BUDGET HEARING. THE PROPOSAL WOULD INCREASE THE BASE ELECTRICAL RATE BY THREE PERCENT PER YEAR OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, WATER RATES WOULD GO UP BY EIGHT PERCENT OVER EACH OF THE NEXT THREE YEARS AND SEWER RATES WOULD RISE BY NINE-POINT-FIVE PERCENT PER YEAR OVER THE SAME PERIOD. SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS ASKED L-U-S DIRECTOR JEFF STEWART TO SHOW THEM A PLAN THAT WOULD SPREAD THE INCREASE OVER FIVE YEARS INSTEAD. HE TOLD THEM THAT IF THEY DID THAT, THEY WOULD HAVE TO CUT EXPENSES AND ELIMINATE MOST OF THE CAPITAL BUDGET.
A SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD BOY WAS SHOT MULTIPLE TIMES IN SAINT MARTINVILLE, JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT ON TUESDAY. POLICE CHIEF RICKEY MARTIN SAYS OFFICERS HEARD GUNSHOTS IN THE MARTIN LUTHER KING DRIVE AND NELSON DRIVE AREA AND FOUND A VEHICLE WITH BULLET HOLES IN THE WINDOW. THE SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD WAS FOUND IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT WITH THREE GUNSHOT WOUNDS AND THEY PERFORMED C-P-R ON HIM UNTIL THE AMBULANCE ARRIVED TO TAKE HIM TO THE HOSPITAL. SAINT MARTINVILLE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING.
YOUTH JUSTICE ADVOCATES HELD A RALLY AT THE JETSON DETENTION CENTER IN HOPES TO STOP GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS FROM MOVING JUVENILES ON ANGOLA’S CAMPUS. DANIELLE JOHNSON HAS THE DETAILS.
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LAKE CHARLES FIRE FIGHTERS ARE PUT IN UNSAFE WORKING CONDITIONS AND BEING PAID CRUMBS, ACCORDING TO UNION LIAISON JARED CHANDLER, WHO SPOKE TO KPLC TV. HE SAYS THE STARTING WAGE OF ELEVEN-SEVENTEEN PER HOUR, IS NOT LIVEABLE OR COMPETITIVE, AND IS BELOW THAT OF SULPHUR, WESTLAKE AND JENNINGS. CITY ADMINISTRATOR JOHN CARDONE SAYS THEY GIVE SUPPLEMENTAL PAY OF SIX THOUSAND DOLLARS THAT OTHER CITIES DON’T GIVE. RECENTLY THE CITY COUNCIL PASSED AN ORDINANCE INCREASING PAY BY THREE PERCENT NEXT YEAR AND BY TWO PERCENT IN EACH OF THE FOLLOWING TWO YEARS.
A HEARING BEGINS TODAY ON FORMER INTERIM POLICE CHIEF WAYNE GRIFFIN’S TERMINATION APPEAL. GRIFFIN WAS PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE LAST OCTOBER, TWO WEEKS AFTER BEING APPOINTED INTERIM POLICE CHIEF, OVER ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL HARRASMENT IN THE DEPARTMENT. AFTER HE WAS FIRED IN JANUARY, GRIFFIN APPEALED HIS TERMINATION, SAYING HE WAS FIRED FOR LYING BUT NEVER GIVEN A PRE-DISCIPLINARY HEARING. THE LAFAYETTE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT SAYS HE WAS PROPERLY NOTIFIED AND THE HEARING DID TAKE PLACE.
THE TOWN OF MELVILLE IS MORE THAN THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN DEBT AND IN DANGER OF BEING TAKEN OVER BY THE STATE. SAINT LANDRY PARISH PRESIDENT JESSIE BELLARD MET WITH THE TOWN COUNCIL YESTERDAY TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE IN A MEETING THAT GOT HEATED AT TIMES. BELLARD TOLD THE COUNCIL THEY NEED TO COME UP WITH A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM AND HIRE A FISCAL AGENT. THE COUNCIL VOTED THREE-TO-ONE TO HAVE DONALD FORD TAKE OVER THE TOWN’S FINANCES AND HE SAID HE’S READY FOR THE TASK.
OFFICIALS WITH THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM SAY THEY’RE DEALING WITH A TEACHER SHORTAGE, BUT THEY’VE MADE SOME PROGRESS AS THE SCHOOL YEAR GETS UNDERWAY TOMORROW. DANIELLE JOHNSON HAS MORE.
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CRIME STOPPERS OF ACADIA PARISH IS ASKING THE PUBLIC’S HELP IN SOLVING A RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY NEAR MERMENTAU, WHICH HAPPENED ON JULY FIFTEENTH. POLICE SAY, FORCED ENTRY WAS MADE THROUGH THE FRONT DOOR OF A HOME, LOCATED IN THE SEVEN THOUSAND BLOCK OF HIGHWAY NINETY. A RIFLE WITH A SCOPE WAS TAKEN AS WELL AS A GOLD WEDDING RING AND ASSORTED CHANGE. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS URGED TO CALL SEVEN-EIGHT-NINE-TIPS, WHERE UP TO A THOUSAND DOLLAR CASH REWARD IS BEING OFFERED FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO AN ARREST IN THIS CASE.
