8-20-25
FIREFIGHTERS IN GRAND COTEAU STAGED A WALKOUT AFTER THEIR CHIEF WAS FIRED BY MAYOR PATRICK RICHARD. RILEY ‘SKIPPY’ GRISHAM, WHO HAS SERVED AS FIRE CHIEF FOR EIGHT YEARS, SAYS HE WASN’T GIVEN A REASON FOR HIS DISMISSAL. HE BELIEVES IT WAS BECAUSE HE REFUSED RICHARD’S ORDER TO FIRE TWO PART-TIME FIREFIGHTERS. THE MASS WALKOUT HAS RAISED CONCERNS ABOUT THE DEPARTMENT’S ABILITY TO MAINTAIN ITS FIRE RATING, WHICH AFFECTS INSURANCE RATES FOR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND HOMEOWNERS.
LAFAYETTE POLICE ARRESTED THE MANAGER OF THE POPEYE’S CHICKEN LOCATION ON JOHNSTON STREET FOR SIMPLE BATTERY. SHENA DECUIR SAYS A DISAGREEMENT OVER AN ORDER LED TO THE MANAGER THROWING HOT CHICKEN AT HER. SHE SAYS SHE RECEIVED BURNS ON HER NECK, CHEST, ARMS, LEGS AND FEET. KLFY TV REPORTED THAT A NEW OPENING FOR A MANAGER POSITION WAS POSTED.
GOVERNOR JEFF LANDRY ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THAT TWENTY AUTO INSURERS HAVE FILED FOR RATE DECREASES FOLLOWING INSURANCE REFORMS. THEY INCLUDE A THIRTEEN-POINT-SIX PERCENT DECREASE FOR HUGO INSURANCE AND NEARLY TEN PERCENT FOR GO AUTO. ALL STATE ANNOUNCED AN EIGHT PERCENT REDUCTION, NEARLY FOUR PERCENT FOR STATE FARM AND A FIVE PERCENT DECREASE FOR LIBERTY MUTUAL. LANDRY CITED REFORMS AIMED AT LOWER INSURANCE RATES BY ENDING FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS AND GRANTING THE STATE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT THE AUTHORITY TO REJECT EXCESSIVE RATES.
A LAKE CHARLES MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED ON A CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED FIRST-DEGREE MURDER AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY SHOT AT A POLICE OFFICER. MONDAY EVENING, THIRTY-SEVEN-YEAR-OLD JUSTIN JAMAR DUNCAN WAS REPORTEDLY THREATENING PEOPLE WITH A FIREARM IN THE NINETEEN HUNDRED BLOCK OF NINTH STREET. OFFICIALS SAY THAT, WHEN POLICE ARRIVED, DUNCAN RAN INTO A HOME AND FIRED HIS WEAPON THROUGH A WINDOW IN THE DIRECTION OF THE OFFICERS. DUNCAN WAS ARRESTED UNARMED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO FLEE OUT THE REAR DOOR. OFFICERS FOUND THE WEAPON IN THE HOME.
SOME RESIDENTS IN ESTHERWOOD BELIEVE A TORNADO TOUCHED DOWN AS A STORM PASSED THROUGH THE AREA MONDAY EVENING. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS IT WAS STRAIGHT LINE WINDS. THEY CAUSED DAMAGE TO SEVERAL HOMES AND THE COMMUNITY’S BASEBALL PARK. IN THE PALMETTO AREA ALONG L-A THREE SIXTY, STORMS FLIPPED CAMPERS AND TORE THE ROOFS OFF SOME BUILDINGS.
THE LAFAYETTE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS APPOINTED A NEW DEPUTY CHIEF. THE DECISION TO APPOINT DORIAN BRABHAM TO THE POSITION CAME AFTER A THOROUGH REVIEW AND INTERVIEW PROCESS OF QUALIFIED INTERNAL CANDIDATES. POLICE CHIEF PAUL TROUARD SAYS THE APPOINTMENT IS A STRATEGIC MOVE TO ENSURE LONG-TERM STABILITY IN THE DEPARTMENT. THE DEPUTY CHIEF ROLE WAS LAST HELD BY MARSHAL REGINALD THOMAS IN TWENTY-TWENTY.
LOUISIANA WILL BE GETTING A ONE HUNDRED NINETY-FOUR MILLION DOLLAR GRANT FROM FEMA AND THE U-S FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION. SENATOR BILL CASSIDY SAYS ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY-ONE MILLION WILL GO TOWARD SUPPORTING RECOVERY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FOLLOWING HURRICANES LAURA AND IDA, THE TWENTY-SIXTEEN FLOOD AND THE TIGER ISLAND FIRE. THE REMAINING AMOUNT WILL BE FOR SUPPORTING AIRPORT IMPROVEMENTS. CASSIDY SAYS THIS FUNDING REBUILDS SCHOOLS, REPAIRS HOSPITALS, AND RESTORES THE INFRASTRUCTURE FAMILIES COUNT ON.
A NARCOTICS INVESTIGATION IN LEONVILLE RESULTED IN AN ARREST AND THE SEIZURE OF SEVERAL DRUGS. GEORGE FAUST HAS THE DETAILS.
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