8-19-15
LAST NIGHT THE LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH COUNCIL APPROVED NEW REGULATIONS FOR UBER, WHICH CONNECTS RIDERS WITH CONTRACT DRIVERS THROUGH A SMARTPHONE APP. UBER BEGAN OPERATING IN LAFAYETTE, WITHOUT ANY RULES. THE COUNCIL PASSED REGULATIONS FOR UBER THAT ARE SIMILAR TO THE RULES FOR TAXICAB COMPANIES. FOR INSTANCE, UBER WILL HAVE TO SET UP A SYSTEM TO INSPECT VEHICLES, HAVE A SYSTEM IN PLACE TO HANDLE CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS, AND CONTRACT DRIVERS MUST UNDERGO A BACKGROUND CHECK.
A LAKE CHARLES MAN PLED NO CONTEST TO ONE COUNT OF FORCIBLE RAPE AND WILL BE SENTENCED IN DECEMBER. THE RAPE HAPPENED IN 1991, AND THE ARREST OF JOSEPH HERBERT BARGEMAN DIDN’T TAKE PLACE UNTIL TWO YEARS AGO WHEN LAKE CHARLES POLICE MATCHED D-N-A EVIDENCE TO BARGEMAN. JUDGE ROBERT WYATT RELEASED BARGEMEN AND GAVE HIM UNTIL SEPTEMBER 14TH TO REPORT TO THE CALCASIEU PARISH CORRECTIONAL CENTER IN ORDER TO GIVE HIM TIME TO GET HIS AFFAIRS IN ORDER. THE VICTIM TOLD KPLC TV THAT SHE’S TERRIFIED THAT BARGEMAN IS OUT AND DOESN’T UNDERSTAND WHY THE JUDGE ALLOWED HIM TO BE FREE FOR THE NEXT MONTH.
THREE OIL AND GAS SERVICE COMPANIES AT THE PORT OF IBERIA TOLD THE PORT’S BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS YESTERDAY THAT THEY PLAN ON EXPANDING OPERATIONS. THAT BUCKS A TREND IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY OF COMPANIES LAYING OFF EMPLOYEES AND TRIMMING THEIR BUDGETS. EDDIE CLAY, THE MANAGER OF CHART ENERGY AND CHEMICALS INC.S PORT OF IBERIA PLANT, SAYS THEY ARE PLANNING NEARLY FORTY MILLION DOLLARS IN UPGRADES AT THE PLANT. THE OTHER TWO COMPANIES, LOGAN INDUSTRIES INTERNATIONAL AND RAM DESIGN, SAY THEY ARE EXPECTING MORE WORK IN THE GULF.
The four candidates in the race to become the next Louisiana governor each said fixing Louisiana’s dire coastal land loss will require moving ahead with multibillion-dollar plans — opposed by many fishermen — to divert Mississippi River water into disappearing estuaries. The three Republicans and lone Democratic candidates met Tuesday afternoon at a forum at Nicholls State University to discuss what they would do as governor to repair Louisiana’s eroding coast. About 1,900 square miles of coast have eroded into the Gulf of Mexico since the 1930s. Each candidate backed a $50 billion, 50-year master plan devised by Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration to slow land loss by diverting the Mississippi River into injured estuaries.
JEFF HORCHECK HAS AN UPDATE ON A ROBBERY AND BEATING CAUGHT ON CAMERA AT A LAFAYETTE GAS STATION.
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SUFFOLK MANOR APARTMENTS IN LAKE CHARLES HAS BEEN TRYING TO FIX A PROBLEM IN WHICH RAW SEWAGE HAS DISCHARGED ONTO THE STREET. THE CITY LAST WEDNESDAY GAVE THEM SEVEN DAYS TO FIX THE PROBLEM UNDER THE THREAT THAT CITY-FURNISHED UTILITIES WOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE COMPLEX. THE COMPLEX HAS SINCE HIRED A LICENSED PLUMBER TO FIX THE PROBLEM. CITY ADMINISTRATOR JOHN CARDONE SAYS THAT’S WHAT THEY WANTED THE COMPLEX TO DO, SO THEY LIKELY WON’T BE TAKING ANY ACTION AGAINST THEM.
CROWLEY POLICE ARE TRYING TO FIND FOUR PEOPLE WHO STOLE AN AIR CONDITIONER UNIT FROM WALMART ON JULY 25TH. VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SHOWS THE SUSPECTS, THREE BLACK WOMEN AND A BLACK MAN, TAKING THE UNIT OUT OF A BOX, LEAVING THE EMPTY BOX BEHIND, AND THEN EXITING THROUGH THE GARDEN CENTER. THE SUSPECTS WERE SEEN LEAVING IN A BLACK CAR. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS URGED TO CALL THE TIPS LINE AT 789-TIPS, WHERE UP TO A THOUSAND DOLLAR CASH REWARD IS BEING OFFERED.
The St. Tammany Parish educator leading a legislatively-mandated review of the state’s education standards won’t say whether she supports the Common Core standards Louisiana currently uses. Regina Sanford, an assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction for the St. Tammany school system, was selected by the state education board to chair the review committee that starts work Wednesday.
In a Tuesday call to preview the committee meeting, Sanford wouldn’t comment on how well she thinks Common Core is or isn’t working in public school classrooms.
Louisiana’s lawmakers required the standards review because Common Core has become controversial among some parents and teachers.
