9-28-17
THE LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH COUNCIL VOTED 6-TO-3 TO APPROVE A 194 UNIT APARTMENT COMPLEX ON PINHOOK ROAD NEXT TO THE DOUBLE TREE HOTEL, DESPITE OPPOSITION FROM ABOUT 35 RESIDENTS FROM THE NEARBY BENDEL GARDENS SUBDIVISION. THEY’RE BIGGEST CONCERN WAS WHAT IT WOULD DO TO TRAFFIC. ONE OF THE DEVELOPERS, TODD JAMES, SAYS A TRAFFIC STUDY INDICATES THE APARTMENT COMPLEX WILL ONLY INCREASE CONGESTION BY FOUR PERCENT. THE COMPLEX WILL BE MARKETED TO U-L STUDENTS, AND JONES SAYS THEY HOPE TO LESSEN TRAFFIC CONCERNS FURTHER BY OFFERING A FULL TIME SHUTTLE SERVICE FOR APARTMENT RESIDENTS.
A NEW IBERIA MAN WAS KILLED IN A MOTORCYCLE CRASH TUESDAY MORNING IN ST. MARTIN PARISH. JULIE DARCE HAS MORE
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A dollar figure for Louisiana’s budget deficit will be released next month, after the state’s financial analysts finish reconciling the accounting books. Louisiana leaders expect the state spent more than it brought into the treasury in the budget year that ended June 30. Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration says the gap could reach up to $300 million. Whatever gap exists has to be closed in the current budget year.
THE CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS GOING TO ORDER BODY CAMERAS FOR THEIR DEPUTIES. SHERIFF TONY MANCUSO SAYS THEY’VE SPENT TWO YEARS RESEARCHING SO THEY GET THE RIGHT CAMERAS. HE TELLS KPLC TV THAT IT’S A MAJOR INVESTMENT OF ABOUT ONE-AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLARS AND THEY DON’T WANT TO END UP REGRETTING THEIR CHOICE. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE HOPES TO HAVE THE CAMERAS OPERATIONAL SOMETIME WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR.
THE VINTON POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS HAD BODY CAMERAS ON THEIR OFFICERS FOR TWO YEARS NOW AND POLICE CHIEF RICKY FOX SAYS IT’S BEEN GOOD FOR THEM. HE GIVES THE BODY CAMERAS CREDIT FOR REDUCING THE NUMBER OF CITIZEN COMPLAINTS TO ZERO. HE SAYS ONCE CITIZENS KNOW A BODY OR CAR CAMERA WAS ON RECORDING A SITUATION, THEY CHANGE THEIR MIND AND DECIDE AGAINST FILING THE COMPLAINT. HE SAYS THE CAMERAS HAVE ALSO HELPED INFLUENCE THE BEHAVIOR OF PEOPLE WHO TEND TO CALM DOWN WHEN THEY KNOW A CAMERA IS IN USE.
A FORMER LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTY WAS ARRAIGNED YESTERDAY ON CHARGES THAT INCLUDED INTIMIDATING A WITNESS. 22-YEAR-OLD CALVIN POWELL OF KAPLAN WORKED IN THE LAFAYETTE PARISH CORRECTIONAL CENTER LAST YEAR, BUT RESIGNED SHORTLY AFTER BEING ARRESTED IN DECEMBER. HE IS ACCUSED OF TRYING TO TRANFER TWO INMATES TO A HOUSING UNIT OCCUPIED BY INMATES WHO WANTED TO HARM THEM FOR BEING WITNESSES. POWELL PLED NOT GUILTY TO THE CHARGES.
A MAURICE MAN WAS SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS IN PRISON FOR POSSESSING A SAWED OFF SHOTGUN. 32-YEAR-OLD KEVIN PATRICK ABSHIRE WAS ALSO GIVEN THREE YEARS OF SUPERVISED RELEASE FOR POSSESSION OF AN UNREGISTERED GUN. POLICE FOUND THE SHOTGUN IN ABSHIRE’S VEHICLE AFTER HE HAD LED THEM ON A HIGH SPEED CHASE A YEAR AGO IN JUNE. THE CHASE BEGAN AFTER HE NEARLY HIT A LAFAYETTE POLICE OFFICER DIRECTING TRAFFIC AT AN ACCIDENT SCENE AND IT ENDED WHEN HE CRASHED HIS VEHICLE NEAR RIDGE ROAD.
The Republican Party is criticizing Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards for attending a fundraiser for his re-election campaign while on a Washington trip lobbying Congress for flood aid. The fundraiser was held at a lobbying firm office, hosted by Democratic former U.S. Sens. John Breaux, J. Bennett Johnston and Mary Landrieu. Jason Doré, state GOP executive director, said Tuesday the fundraiser “took precious time” away from a trip aimed at building support for disaster relief. Edwards spokesman Richard Carbo said the Thursday evening fundraiser didn’t disrupt any of the governor’s meetings.
