9-21-18
FORMER U-L SOFTBALL COACH MICHAEL LOTIEF HAS FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE UNIVERSITY OVER HIS FIRING LAST NOVEMBER. THE UNIVERSITY CLAIMED LOTIEF VERBALLY AND PSYCHOLOGICALLY ABUSED HIS PLAYERS. IN HIS LAWSUIT, LOTIEF CLAIMS THE UNIVERSITY FIRED HIM FOR SPEAKING UP ABOUT ILLEGAL GENDER DISCRIMATION AGAINST THE PROGRAM, AND COOKED UP THE OTHER ALLEGATIONS AS AN EXCUSE FOR HIS FIRING. THE UNIVERSITY IN A STATEMENT SAYS THE LAWSUIT IS EVIDENCE THAT LOTIEF REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ABUSIVE ACTIONS AND MANIPULATIVE BEHAVIOR THAT LED TO HIS TERMINATION.
THE CALCASIEU PARISH POLICE JURY GAVE THE GO-AHEAD TO A NEW CONVENIENCE STORE ON NORTH PERKINS FERRY ROAD IN MOSS BLUFF DESPITE PUSH BACK FROM RESIDENTS IN THE AREA. ON TUESDAY THE PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD VOTED TO RECOMMEND AGAINST THE NEW CONVENIENCE STORE. JUROR CHRIS LANDRY SAYS THAT IT’S A FACT THAT A CONVENIENCE STORE WILL BE BUILT THERE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER AND THAT IT’S A COMMERCIAL STREET THAT IS GOING TO GET BUSIER. RESIDENTS WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE KIND OF PEOPLE THAT WOULD BE HANGING OUT AT A CONVENIENCE STORE.
THE VERMILLION PARISH SCHOOL BOARD IS AT A STALEMATE OVER WHAT TO DO ABOUT SUPERINTENDENT JEROME PUYAU. ON AUGUST SIXTH, HE WAS PUT ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE BECAUSE OF COMPLAINTS OVER HIS BEHAVIOR AND JOB PERFORMANCE. EARLIER THIS WEEK, A HEARING OFFICER DETERMINED THERE WAS NO BASIS FOR THE COMPLAINTS AGAINST HIM AND SAID PUYAU SHOULD BE REINSTATED. LAST NIGHT A RESOLUTION TO DO THAT FAILED ON A 4-TO-4 VOTE.
A federal appeals court decision means authorities in Louisiana still cannot enforce a state law setting 21 as the minimum age for exotic dancers. Thursday’s ruling by the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans was a victory for three women who were ages 18, 19 and 20 when their lawsuit challenging the law was filed last year. The three-judge appeals court panel upheld a federal district judge’s injunction blocking enforcement. Supporters said the law was meant to keep young women from falling prey to human trafficking at strip joints.
A GROUP CALLED WARRIORS FOR CHRIST HAS FILED A FEDERAL LAWSUIT TO STOP THE DRAG QUEEN STORY TIME EVENT AT THE LAFAYETTE PUBLIC LIBRARY. GERALD GREUNIG HAS MORE.
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A KICKER FOR THE ST. LOUIS CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM IN LAKE CHARLES IS DEDICATING HIS SENIOR SEASON TO KIDS WITH CANCER. ANDREW KILPATRICK IS COLLECTING DONATIONS FOR EVERY FIELD GOAL AND EXTRA POINT MADE THIS SEASON, WITH THE MONEY GOING TO CHILDHOOD CANCER RESEARCH. HIS GOAL IS TO RAISE ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS, WHICH WOULD FUND TWO DAYS OF RESEARCH, AND HE’S ALREADY MORE THAN HALFWAY TO HIS GOAL AFTER JUST THREE GAMES. KILPATRICK LEARNED ABOUT THE KICK IT CHAMPION PROGRAM AT A FOOTBALL CAMP AND WAS INSPIRED TO JOIN AFTER THE CHEER COACH AT HIS SCHOOL DIED FROM CANCER.
A FORMER POLICE CHIEF FOR THE VILLAGE OF ESTHERWOOD HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY SELLING NARCOTICS FROM HIS HOME. THE ACADIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE RECEIVED A TIP THAT LED TO A SEARCH WARRANT BEING SERVED AT THE HOME OF JAMES BURNETT SENIOR ON WEDNESDAY. DEPUTIES FOUND NINETY VARIOUS PILLS IN THE SEARCH, ALONG WITH TWO-AND-A-HALF GRAMS OF METH AS WELL AS DRUG PARAPHERNALIA. BURNETT FACES A NUMBER OF DRUG CHARGES AND HIS BOND WAS SET AT 75 THOUSAND DOLLARS. HIS HOME ON JEFFERSON AVENUE WAS LOCATED IN A DRUG FREE SCHOOL ZONE.
Gov. John Bel Edwards hailed news Louisiana will have an estimated $300 million surplus from the last budget year. Edwards says the money comes from better-than-expected personal income and business tax collections. The Democratic governor said Thursday the surplus is a sign of Louisiana’s improving economic conditions, with more people gaining jobs. Some conservative Republican lawmakers have suggested the excess revenue shows Edwards exaggerated the need for taxes to plug budget gaps.
