8-29-19
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LAFAYETTE HOUSING AUTHORITY HAS RESIGNED. TODAY IS THE LAST DAY FOR YVONDA BEAN, WHO IS LEAVING TO TAKE OVER AS CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER FOR THE COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSING AUTHORITY. A NATIONAL SEARCH WILL BE CONDUCTED FOR HER REPLACEMENT. MEANWHILE HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR LYDIA BERGERON WILL TAKE OVER BEAN’S POSITION ON AN INTERIM BASIS.
TWO DETAINEES, WHO ESCAPED FROM THE ALLEN PARISH DETENTION CENTER IN OBERLIN, HAVE BEEN RECAPTURED. ALLEN PARISH SHERIFF DOUG HEBERT SAYS A PERSON IN KINDER SPOTTED THE TWO IN A WOODED AREA AND, WHEN POLICE CAME, THEY IMMEDIATELY SURRENDERED AND ASKED FOR FOOD. HE SAYS THE TWO HAD MINOR CUTS THAT THEY GOT FROM SCALING THE FENCE AT THE DETENTION CENTER THAT HAD RAZOR WIRE. HEBERT SAYS THEY WILL NEED TO ADD MORE RAZOR WIRE ON THE FENCES AND THEY WILL MAKE OTHER CHANGES TO PREVENT ANY FURTHER ESCAPES.
THE COAST GUARD IS INVESTIGATING THE DEATH OF A FISHERMAN WHO FELL OFF OF A BOAT. CAROLINE MARCELLO HAS MORE.
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The Interstate 10 westbound bridge over the Atchafalaya Basin in Louisiana has reopened, two days after a fiery fatal crash involving chemical tankers, cargo trucks and a passenger vehicle. News outlets report the eastbound lanes reopened early Tuesday. Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development spokesman Rodney Mallett says the westbound bridge reopened shortly after 3 p.m. Wednesday. Inspectors found no damage under the bridge and declared it structurally sound and safe for drivers to travel.
STATE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED TUESDAY NIGHT IN MILTON THAT INVOLVED A LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTY. DEPUTIES WERE CALLED TO A HOME IN A MOBILE HOME PARK ON ESPASIE DRIVE. ACCORDING TO STATE POLICE, AT LEAST ONE DEPUTY SHOT A MAN WHO CAME OUT OF THE HOME WITH A FIREARM. THE MAN WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT AND IS EXPECTED TO LIVE.
A SCHOOL BUS WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT YESTERDAY AFTERNOON IN DERIDDER. THE BUS AND A PICKUP TRUCK COLLIDED AT FIRST AND SOUTH PINE STREETS AT AROUND 3:30. NO ONE WAS HOSPITALIZED THOUGH ONE KID ON THE BUS COMPLAINED OF A MEDICAL PROBLEM. THE BUS HAD STUDENTS FROM PRESCHOOL TO TWELFTH GRADE. THE ACCIDENT REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION.
A temporary barge sunk in a Louisiana bayou to prevent flooding has been removed, opening up the waterway to maritime traffic. News outlets report the barge was acting as a temporary floodgate in Bayou Chene and was removed Tuesday after being submerged in June. The Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority say the barge helped protect Assumption, lower St. Martin, and St. Mary parishes from backwater flooding and from a four-foot surge during Hurricane Barry. The agency pledged $80 million in February to build a permanent floodgate and levee protection system from the swamps southeast of the bayou to Morgan City to the northwest.
A Louisiana political organization, trying to elect more conservative Republicans to the state House and Senate, is focusing on two dozen legislative races in this fall’s election. The Louisiana Committee for a Conservative Majority is putting its support behind Republican candidates for 10 Senate and 14 House seats. The PAC led by Attorney General Jeff Landry and U.S. Sen. John Kennedy is targeting three incumbent lawmakers for ouster, including GOP Sen. Ryan Gatti of Bossier Parish.
The committee is working to flip seven seats currently held by Democrats to Republican control and to replace moderate GOP lawmakers with those who will shift the Legislature rightward.
