8-6-25
A SAINT MARTIN PARISH TEACHER HAS BEEN NAMED LOUISIANA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHER OF THE YEAR FOR TWENTY-TWENTY-SIX. ALI ANGELLE IS A FOURTH GRADE TEACHER AT TECHE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEACHING ENGLISH AND SOCIAL STUDIES. SHE WAS CHOSEN FROM AMONG TWENTY-FOUR SEMIFINALISTS FOR THE PRESTIGIOUS HONOR. ANGELLE SAYS SHE LOVES TEACHING AND THIS HONOR IS A BLESSING SHE DIDN’T EXPECT.
THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS IMPLEMENTED A NEW SAFETY PLAN TO ENHANCE EMERGENCY RESPONSE. IT INCLUDES A NEW SCHOOL MAPPING SYSTEM DESIGNED BY FENSTERMAKER AND ASSOCIATES FOR ALL SCHOOLS. LAFAYETTE NINE-ONE-ONE DIRECTOR CRAIG STANSBURY SAYS THE NEW SYSTEM IS CRUCIAL FOR SAVING LIVES ESPECIALLY WITH THE INCREASED FREQUENCY OF EMERGENCY CALLS. SERGEANT FREDERICK PAYNE OF THE LAFAYETTE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ALTON TRAHAN OF THE LAFAYETTE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAY THEY NOW HAVE DETAILED INFORMATION AT THEIR FINGERTIPS ENABLING THEM TO ACT SWIFTLY AND EFFECTIVELY.
GOVERNOR JEFF LANDRY SPENT NEARLY FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN PUBLIC FUNDS TO SEND OUT A MAILER TO CERTAIN LOUISIANA VOTERS, TOUTING HIS WORK TO BRING DOWN AUTO INSURANCE RATES. FORMER STATE LEGISLATOR REPUBLICAN WOODY JENKINS SAYS HE THINKS IT’S NOT APPROPRIATE TO USE TAXPAYER MONEY FOR THE MAILER. HE SAYS THEY SHOULD HAVE USED CAMPAIGN FUNDS OR MONEY FROM THE STATE PARTY. LANDRY’S COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR KATE KELLY DEFENDED THE GOVERNOR, SAYING HE SIGNED INTO LAW THE LARGEST TORT REFORM PACKAGE IN LOUISIANA HISTORY AND PEOPLE NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND HOW IT AFFECTS THEM.
SEVERAL AGENCIES IN CALCASIEU PARISH GATHERED FOR A NEWS CONFERENCE YESTERDAY TO ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY. IT COMES AFTER FOUR MAJOR SHOOTINGS IN LAKE CHARLES OVER THE PAST FOUR WEEKS IN WHICH ONLY ONE ARREST HAS BEEN MADE. EACH AGENCY REINFORCED THE MESSAGE THAT THE COMMUNITY IS SAFE. CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF STITCH GUILLORY SAYS OVERALL CRIME IS DOWN AND HIS OFFICE HAS WORKED SEVENTEEN HOMOCIDES OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS AND MADE SEVENTEEN ARRESTS.
OPELOUSAS POLICE HAVE MADE AN ARREST IN CONNECTION TO A DRIVE-BY SHOOTING MONDAY EVENING AT THE JEFFERSON AND OAK STREETS INTERSECTION. TWENTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD JARLEN RICHARD HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH ASSAULT BY DRIVE-BY SHOOTING AND THREE COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED FIRST-DEGREE MURDER. NO FATALITIES WERE REPORTED IN THE SHOOTING. AUTHORITIES SAY MORE ARRESTS MAY BE FORTHCOMING AS THE INVESTIGATION CONTINUES.
THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COUNCIL VOTED TO PUT TWO PROPERTY TAX RENEWALS ON THE NOVEMBER FIFTEENTH BALLOT. THE RENEWALS WERE REJECTED BY VOTERS LAST MARCH. IF VOTERS TURN IT DOWN AGAIN, THE PARISH WOULD BE LOOKING AT A TWENTY-FOUR MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET SHORTFALL. A ROAD MAINTENANCE MILLAGE EXPIRES IN TWENTY-TWENTY-SEVEN WHILE A PUBLIC HEALTH MILLAGE, WHICH INCLUDES MOSQUITO PREVENTION, EXPIRES NEXT YEAR.
MORE PARISHES HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THE LOUISIANA SNAP PILOT PROGRAM. GEORGE FAUST HAS MORE.
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IN SAINT LANDRY PARISH, NEW PROGRAMS ARE HELPING INMATES HEAL AND FIND GRACE AS THEY WORK TO JOIN SOCIETY AGAIN. GEORGE FAUST HAS THE DETAILS.
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