9-17-15
LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH PRESIDENT JOEY DUREL HAS ADDED A NEAR TEN THOUSAND DOLLAR ANNUAL PAY RAISE FOR HIS POSITION IN THE NEXT BUDGET. THE 8-POINT-3 PERCENT SALARY INCREASE WILL APPLY TO THE NEXT CITY PARISH PRESIDENT, BECAUSE IT DOESN’T GO INTO EFFECT UNTIL DUREL’S TERM EXPIRES IN JANUARY. CURRENTLY THE CITY PARISH PRESIDENT MAKES LESS THAN THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER, BUT THAT WILL CHANGE WHEN THE NEW SALARY TAKES EFFECT. DUREL TOLD THE DAILY ADVERTISER YESTERDAY THAT THE COUNCIL VOTES THEMSELVES PAY INCREASES SO HE THOUGHT IT WAS APPROPRIATE FOR THE CITY PARISH PRESIDENT TO HAVE THE SAME OPTION.
OFFICIALS WITH THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF VETERAN’S AFFAIRS HAVE CONFIRMED THAT A LEASE HAS BEEN SIGNED FOR A BUILDING THAT WILL HOUSE A NEW INTERIM CLINIC FOR LAKE CHARLES. THE CLINIC WILL BE HOUSED IN A FIVE THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT SUITE IN A BUILDING AT 814 WEST MCNEESE STREET. TAMMI ARNOLD OF THE ALEXANDRIA V-A HEALTH CARE SYSTEM SAYS THE INTERIM CLINIC SHOULD BEGIN SEEING PATIENTS BY THE END OF THIS YEAR. TOM GREEN, THE SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA COMMISSIONER FOR THE LOUISIANA V-A, SAYS HE WAS TOLD THAT RENOVATIONS ON THE NEW SPACE WILL BEGIN IMMEDIATELY AND SHOULD TAKE ABOUT SIX WEEKS TO COMPLETE.
LAST NIGHT THE ST. LANDRY PARISH COUNCIL VOTED UNANIMOUSLY TO REQUEST FINANCIAL RECORDS FROM THE PARISH’S SOLID WASTE COMMISSION. THE VOTE CAME AFTER THE COUNCIL MET IN A CLOSED EXECUTIVE SESSION FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR. THE COUNCIL REQUESTED A COMPLETE FINANCIAL RECORD FOR ALL FUNDS RECEIVED BY THE COMMISSION AND FOR THE SALARY OF THE COMMISSION’S SECRETARY TREASURER. COUNCILMAN WAYNE ARDOIN TOLD THE ADVOCATE THAT THEY WANT TO FIND OUT IF THE SECRETARY TREASURER IS MAKING MORE THAN THE OTHER EIGHT COMMISSIONERS.
A judge has rejected Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s request to block federal officials from penalizing his state if it scraps use of the Common Core education standards, saying Jindal failed to show any such threat exists. U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick on Wednesday refused the Republican governor’s motion for a preliminary injunction against the U.S Department of Education. Jindal accused the department of manipulating $4.3 billion in grant money and policy waivers to illegally pressure states to adopt the English and math standards. Jindal, seeking the GOP presidential nomination, sought to block Democratic President Barack Obama’s administration from retaliating if Louisiana exits Common Core.
SOME LAFAYETTE PARISH OFFENDERS, WHO WERE SENTENCED TO A GPS TRACKING PROGRAM, WILL BE MONITORED THROUGH A SMARTPHONE-BASED APP. UNTIL NOW, OFFENDERS SENTENCED TO THE PROGRAM HAVE BEEN MONITORED WITH AN ANKLE BRACELET, THAT COSTS SEVEN DOLLARS A DAY PER PERSON TO USE. THE NEW SMARTPHONE APP IS CHEAPER AND USES THE PHONE’S CAMERA, MICROPHONE AND GPS TO KEEP TRACK OF THE USER. IN MOST CASES, ONLY NONVIOLENT OFFENDERS GUILTY OF MISDEMEANORS WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO USE THE SMARTPHONE APP.
THE PATRONS OF MCFARLANE’S CELTIC PUB AND BRICK HOUSE CATERING HAVE STARTED A PETITION TO MOVE THE LOCATION OF A PROPOSED DOG PARK IN DOWNTOWN LAKE CHARLES. MORE THAN 130 PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED THE PETITION. MAYOR RANDY ROACH SAYS THEY DON’T WANT A DOWNTOWN BUSINESS TO BE AFFECTED BY THE DOG PARK SO THEY’LL HAVE TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE DESIGN OF THE PARK SO THAT IT SATISFIES THE CONCERNS OF THE CUSTOMERS. THE LOCATION FOR THE PROPOSED DOG PARK IS AT THE CORNER OF PINE AND ANN STREETS.
A WOMAN WAS TREATED FOR MINOR INJURIES AFTER THE DRIVER OF AN S-U-V CRASHED INTO A NEW IBERIA STARBUCKS. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE.
VOICER I :26
Louisiana’s sheriffs are backing former Plaquemines Parish Billy Nungesser to be the state’s next lieutenant governor, choosing him over three other competitors. For attorney general, the sheriffs are supporting Republican incumbent Buddy Caldwell’s re-election bid, rather than his closest challenger, GOP former Congressman Jeff Landry. The association also is endorsing Secretary of State Tom Schedler, Treasurer John Kennedy and Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain for re-election. It didn’t choose among the four major contenders vying to be Louisiana’s next governor.
