9-16-25
THE FAMILY OF A DOG FROM JEFF DAVIS PARISH IS SUING A DOG TRAINING FACILITY WHERE HE DIED. DUSTY, A BLACK LAB RETRIEVER, DIED WHILE AT CYPRESS BOTTOM RETRIEVERS IN SAINT MARTINVILLE FROM A WIDESPREAD BACTERIAL INFECTION. THE LAWSUIT CLAIMS THE FACILITY FAILED TO KEEP A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT, SAFE FOOD AND WATER AND THEY DID NOT MAINTAIN SUITABLE HOUSING. THE ATTORNEY FOR DUSTY’S FAMILY, RAMEZ SHAMIEH, SAYS THEY’VE HAD PEOPLE COME FORWARD SAYING THIS IS NOT THE ONLY DOG TO WHICH THIS HAPPENED.
A SAINT MARTINVILLE POLICE OFFICER HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY STEALING A MOTORCYCLE. CHRISTOPHER JOURNET WAS BOOKED INTO THE SAINT MARTIN PARISH JAIL ON A CHARGE OF FELONY THEFT. A COMPLAINANT SAYS HE GAVE JOURNET PERMISSION TO RIDE HIS MOTORCYCLE AROUND THE BLOCK BUT HE FAILED TO RETURN IT. JOURNEET HAS BEEN FIRED FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR REASONS UNRELATED TO HIS ARREST.
WEEK TWO OF THE TRIAL OF FORMER LAFAYETTE ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY GARY HAYNES BEGAN YESTERDAY. HAYNES IS ACCUSED OF CONSPIRING WITH TWO OTHER MEN TO SOLICIT BRIBES AND KICKBACKS WHILE HE WAS ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY WITH THE FIFTEENTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S OFFICE. SEVEN PEOPLE TESTIFIED YESTERDAY INCLUDING AN F-B-I AGENT WHO SPECIALIZED IN MONEY LAUNDERING. ACCORDING TO TESTIMONY, HAYNES WAS SUPPOSED TO RECEIVE A TRUCK AS PART OF THE PAYBACK THAT HE WAS DOING WITH THE VENDORS IN THE PRETRIAL DIVERSION PROGRAM.
THE LOUISIANA HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS SEEKING FEEDBACK FROM HOSPITALS, HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS AND RESIDENTS ON THE CHALLENGES TO RURAL HEALTH CARE IN THE STATE. THE RURAL HEALTH TRANSFORMATION PROGRAM WAS ENACTED IN JULY WITH FIFTY BILLION DOLLARS ALLOCATED TO THE STATES BY CONGRESS. A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN MUST BE SENT TO THE CENTERS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES BY EARLY NOVEMBER. THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT RESPONSES ONLINE IS FIVE P-M ON SEPTEMBER TWENTY-FOURTH. MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROGRAM CAN BE FOUND AT THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH’S WEBSITE.
WOODSIDE ENERGY BROKE GROUND ON A SEVENTEEN-POINT-FIVE BILLION DOLLAR LIQUIFIED NATURAL GAS PROJECT IN SULPHUR. IT WILL BE THE LARGEST INVESTMENT IN LOUISIANA HISTORY. WOODSIDE PLANS TO HIRE ABOUT FOUR THOUSAND PEOPLE AT THE FACILITY. GOVERNOR JEFF LANDRY AND OTHER STATE, LOCAL AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS WERE ON HAND FOR THE GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY.
AN OPELOUSAS MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR SETTING A FIRE AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL. THE FIRE WAS STARTED SATURDAY EVENING AT AROUND FIVE-FORTY-FIVE IN THE BATHROOM CONNECTED TO AN EMERGENCY ROOM AT OPELOUSAS GENERAL HOSPITAL’S SOUTH CAMPUS. STAFF NOTICED THE SMOKE AND PUT OUT THE FIRE QUICKLY BEFORE IT SPREAD. TWENTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD GERALD BIHM JUNIOR FACES A CHARGE OF AGGRAVATED ARSON.
CARENCRO POLICE SAY A CHILD CARE WORKER WAS ARRESTED LAST WEDNESDAY AND BOOKED IN THE JAIL ON CRUELTY TO JUVENILE CHARGES. GEORGE FAUST REPORTS.
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IBERIA PARISH WILL NO LONGER HANDLE STRAY ANIMALS FOR NEW IBERIA WHEN ITS ANIMAL CONTROL CONTRACT ENDS ON MARCH FIRST. THAT MEANS THE CITY OF NEW IBERIA WILL HAVE TO DEVELOP ITS OWN ANIMAL CONTROL SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS THE ONGOING ISSUE OF STRAY ANIMALS. PARISH PRESIDENT LARRY RICHARD SAYS THE ARRANGEMENT WITH NEW IBERIA WAS MEANT TO BE TEMPORARY UNTIL THE CITY ESTABLISHED ITS OWN ANIMAL CONTROL FACILITY. IBERIA PARISH HAS BEEN HANDLING STRAY ANIMALS FOR NEW IBERIA SINCE TWENTY-EIGHTEEN UNDER A CONTRACT THAT PAYS OVER ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS ANNUALLY, BUT THE PARISH SHELTER IS OVER CAPACITY.
