9-15-16
ABOUT THIRTY CRIME CAMERAS HAVE BEEN INSTALLED AROUND LAFAYETTE AND ANOTHER THIRTY ARE EXPECTED TO BE PUT IN BY THE END OF NEXT MONTH. INTERIM POLICE CHIEF REGINALD THOMAS TOLD THE LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH COUNCIL’S POLICE LIAISON COMMITTEE THAT THEY ARE BEING PUT IN AREAS AROUND TOWN WHERE THERE ARE MAJOR PROBLEMS. HE HOPES THEY WILL WORK AS A DETERRENT. THE DEPARTMENT IS SPENDING AROUND 750 THOUSAND DOLLARS ON THE CAMERAS AND RELATED COMPUTER EQUIPMENT, AND ANOTHER 600 THOUSAND DOLLARS WILL BE SPENT TO MAKE SURE EVERY POLICE OFFICER HAS A BODY CAMERA.
WESTLAKE POLICE CHIEF CHRIS WILRYE SAYS IT’S TIME FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO GET OUT OF THEIR CURRENT BUILDING. THAT’S BECAUSE, ACCORDING TO WILRYE, IT’S IN POOR CONDITION AND THEY ARE BATTLING BLACK MOLD. HE SAYS THE PROBLEM IS THERE’S NOT ENOUGH FUNDING TO EITHER GIVE THEIR BUILDING A FACELIFT OR MOVE. HE SAYS THEY FIX THE MOLD AS THEY SEE IT, BUT HE’S CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF HIS OFFICERS.
THE FORMER ACADIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER IS IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW AGAIN. JULIE DARCE TELLS US WHY.
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The state of Louisiana has lost another legal round in its attempt to take Medicaid funding away from Planned Parenthood clinics. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday upheld a lower court ruling ensuring that needy women can get Medicaid-funded non-abortion services at Planned Parenthood facilities in the state. A three-judge panel upheld a preliminary injunction blocking the state’s move to cut off funding. That move began under former Gov. Bobby Jindal.
THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD PUT OFF ALLOCATING SIX MILLION DOLLARS TOWARD BUILDING A NEW ARTS FACILITY AT COMEAUX HIGH SCHOOL. INSTEAD THEY AUTHORIZED 500 THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR AN ARCHITECT TO DRAW UP PLANS FOR THE FACILITY. BOARD MEMBER ERIC KNEZEK SAYS THEY FELT IT WOULD BE BETTER TO DEVELOP MORE ACCURATE ESTIMATES BEFORE AUTHORIZING FUNDS. EARLIER THIS YEAR, THE BOARD VOTED TO MOVE THE PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAM FROM LAFAYETTE HIGH TO COMEAUX HIGH BEGINNING NEXT FALL, BUT COMEAUX DOES NOT HAVE ADEQUATE FACILITES FOR THE PROGRAM.
A 79-YEAR-OLD SULPHUR WOMAN SAYS STANDING WATER OUTSIDE AND UNDERE HER HOME IS ROTTING IT AND HARMING HER HEALTH. JO ANN BLAHA SAYS SHE’S HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MOLD AND MILDEW, AND SHE WANTS THE LOCAL CITY GOVERNMENT TO HELP HER BY OPENING UP A BIG DRAINAGE DITCH THAT WAS FILLED IN BY FORMER LANDOWNERS. SHE SAYS SHE’S CALLED THE CITY GOVERNMENT FOR HELP BUT HAS BEEN DENIED AND TREATED RUDELY. PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR MIKE DAIGLE TELLS KPLC TV THAT THEY’VE DONE ALL THEY CAN LEGALLY BECAUSE HER PROBLEM IS ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AND ALONG A PRIVATE ROAD.
A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS MOVED THE TRIAL OF IBERIA PARISH SHERIFF LOUIS ACKAL TO SHREVEPORT AND SAYS IT WILL GO FORWARD AS SCHEDULED ON OCTOBER 31ST. JUDGE DONALD WALTER SAYS HE MOVED IT BECAUSE OF THE MEDIA COVERAGE, WHICH HE CALLED INFLAMMATORY, AND IS WORRIED IT COULD INFLUENCE A JURY. ACKAL’S ATTORNEY’S OBJECTED BECAUSE OF THE INCONVENIENCE FOR THE DEFENDANTS, WITNESSES AND ATTORNEYS. ACKAL IS ACCUSED OF DIRECTING DEPUTIES TO BEAT INMATES AT THE PARISH JAIL IN 2011.
It’s a tough time for a governor to come to Washington, hat in hand, to ask for billions of dollars for a hard-hit state, especially with Congress in the midst of election-season dysfunction. But Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards is back for the second straight week, pleading for almost $3 billion to help Louisiana rebuild from last month’s devastating floods, undeterred by warnings that he should keep expectations low. He says he’s been warned to expect partisanship, but that’s not been his experience so far. The first-year Democrat has teamed up with the Pelican State’s GOP-dominated delegation behind a drive to add Louisiana flood aid to a short-term spending bill that Congress needs to pass to avoid a government shutdown.
