8-30-18
LAFAYETTE CITY MARSHAL BRIAN POPE HAS BEEN GIVEN TWO YEARS TO COMPLETE 173 HOURS OF COMMUNITY SERVICE, OR FACE JAIL TIME. EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE THIRD CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS RULED THAT JUDGE JULES EDWARDS ILLEGALLY SENTENCED POPE TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICE AS PART OF A CONTEMPT OF COURT CONVICTION, WHICH IS NOT AN ALLOWABLE PENALTY FOR CONTEMPT OF COURT. YESTERDAY EDWARDS CORRECTED THE SENTENCE BY MAKING THE COMMUNITY SERVICE PART OF HIS PROBATION TERMS. THE CASE STEMS FROM A LAWSUIT FILED BY THE INDEPENDENT WEEKLY AGAINST POPE WHEN HE REFUSED TO TURN OVER PUBLIC RECORDS TO THE NEWSPAPER.
A MONTH-LONG STUDY IS UNDERWAY ON THE KAYOUCHE COULEE AS PART OF A JOINT EFFORT BY THE CITY OF LAKE CHARLES, CALCASIEU PARISH AND DRAINAGE DISTRICTS. LAST YEAR, THE COULEE OVERFLOWED WHEN HURRICAN HARVEY CAME TO THE AREA, FLOODING HOMES ALONG THE COULEE. THE SUPERINTENDENT OF GRAVITY DRAINAGE DISTRICT FOUR, MICHAEL POLK, SAYS THE STUDY WILL COME OUT WITH SOME THINGS THAT WILL HELP IMPROVE THE SYSTEM. HE TELLS KPLC TV THAT EVERYBODY IS GETTING ON BOARD AND COMING TOGETHER TO FIND BETTER SOLUTIONS FOR THE DRAINAGE ISSUE.
FIVE REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS IN ACADIA PARISH WERE FOUND NOT TO BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE TERMS OF THEIR PAROLE AND PROBATION. JEFF HORCHAK REPORTS.
VOICER S :25
Economically disadvantaged students, African-American students, students with disabilities and those who are learning the English language — all four groups showed strong progress in academic achievement this year, according to Louisiana’s Department of Education. But the department says figures on student progress released Wednesday also show that progress among those “historically disadvantaged” groups will have to be accelerated to close achievement gaps with their peers. The data demonstrates how students in grades four-through-12 are progressing toward fully mastering key concepts and skills in English language arts and math. The department says the release is part of the state’s commitment to develop a tool to provide a more comprehensive view of school performance, as it works to comply with the federal Every Student Succeeds Act.
AS OF YESTERDAY, ABOUT 780 PEOPLE SIGNED A PETITION AGAINST A PLANNED DRAG QUEEN STORY TIME FOR CHILDREN THAT WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE DOWNTOWN LAFAYETTE PUBLIC LIBRARY. THE PETITION IS BEING LED BY THE GRASSROOTS GROUP, A NEW LOUISIANA, WHICH LAMENTS TAXPAYER FUNDS BEING USED “TO PROMOTE SEXUAL DEVIANCY TO THREE-YEAR-OLDS.” LAST WEEK LAFAYETTE MAYOR PRESIDENT JOEL ROBIDEAUX RAISED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE EVENT AND INDICATED HE WOULD SEEK TO CANCEL OR MOVE IT. THE EVENT IS SET TO TAKE PLACE ON OCTOBER SIXTH.
RESIDENTS OF A NEIGHBORHOOD ON MCKINLEY STREET IN LAKE CHARLES ARE VOICING THEIR CONCERNS ABOUT HIGH CRIME AFTER A HOME INVASION. IT HAPPENED AT AROUND 2:30 SATURDAY MORNING IN THE 35-HUNDRED BLOCK AND SHOTS WERE FIRED. SOME NEIGHBORS TELL KPLC TV THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE MORE POLICE PATROLS IN THE AREA. LIEUTENANT RICHARD HARREL OF THE LAKE CHARLES POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THEY ARE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN WITH THE MANPOWER THEY HAVE.
THE ST. MARY PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS THEY ARRESTED A NEW IBERIA MAN AFTER A BRIEF CHASE. AUTHORITIES SAY THERE HAD BEEN THEFTS IN THE BALDWIN AREA BY SUSPECTS RIDING 4 WHEELERS. 35-YEAR-OLD DUSTIN FREDERICKS WAS ARRESTED AFTER HE AND ANOTHER PERSON WERE FOUND TO BE RIDING WITH BANDANAS ON THEIR FACES. SHERIFF’S OFFICE DETECTIVES FOUND STOLEN PROPERTY AT FREDERICK’S RESIDENCE.
THE ABBEVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS CRACKING DOWN ON BUSINESSES THAT SERVE ALCOHOL TO MINORS. FOUR BUSINESSES WERE CITED RECENTLY…THE CONCORD CLUB, NUNIA’S LOUNGE, U-PACK-IT, AND CIRCLE K. POLICE CHIEF BILL SPEARMAN SAYS THEY STARTED CONDUCTING STINGS AFTER SEVERAL UNDERAGE PEOPLE WERE CAUGHT DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED AND SAID THEY GOT THE ALCOHOL AT LOCAL ESTABLISHMENTS. SPEARMAN TELLS KLFY TV THEY ARE WORKING WITH ALCOHOL BEVERAGE AND CONTROL TO SLOW OR STOP THIS TREND.
