9-6-19
LAST NIGHT THE LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH COUNCIL APPROVED A NEW BUDGET FOR THE 2019-2020 FISCAL YEAR, WHICH INCLUDES A FOCUS ON DRAINAGE. NEARLY FORTY MILLION DOLLARS WILL GO INTO A CITY STORMWATER DIVERSION FUND. FIVE MILLION DOLLARS WAS BUDGETED FOR DREDGING THE VERMILLION RIVER, THOUGH THEY ARE WAITING ON A STUDY BY THE U-S ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO DETERMINE IF THE RIVER NEEDS TO BE DREDGED. THE COUNCIL VOTED DOWN A REQUEST BY SHERIFF MARK GARBER FOR ONE-POINT-SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE SALARIES OF 35 DEPUTIES AT THE LAFAYETTE PARISH CORRECTIONAL CENTER.
A HOMELESS MAN IN LAKE CHARLES HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH SECOND DEGREE MURDER. A BODY WAS FOUND AT AROUND 10:40 YESTERDAY MORNING BEHIND A DUMPSTER AT A SHOPPING CENTER ON GERSTNER MEMORIAL DRIVE. KIM MYERS WITH THE CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS AN INITIAL INVESTIGATION LED THEM TO ARREST 36-YEAR-OLD LORENZO S. GREEN. THE NAME OF THE DECEASED AND THE CAUSE OF DEATH HAS NOT YET BEEN RELEASED.
A DOLLAR GENERAL STORE IN INDIAN BAYOU WAS ROBBED WEDNESDAY NIGHT JUST BEFORE NINE. VERMILLION PARISH SHERIFF MIKE COUVILLON SAYS A MAN CAME IN AND PLACED A HANDGUN ON THE COUNTER AND DEMANDED MONEY FROM THE REGISTER BEFORE FLEEING THE STORE. HE WAS ABOUT FIVE FEET SEVEN INCHES TALL AND AROUND 160 POUNDS, BUT THAT’S ALL THE DESCRIPTION BECAUSE HE WAS WEARING A WHITE JUMPSUIT WITH A COVERING OVER HIS FACE AND GLOVES. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE VERMILLION PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION.
The two main Republican challengers to Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards are starting to draw distinctions between their campaigns and policy platforms. U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham said if elected, he’d immediately call a special session to rewrite Louisiana’s tax laws and address infrastructure needs. Businessman Eddie Rispone said his priority would be an overhaul of the state constitution, including provisions on taxes, spending, state employee protections and education. The proposals at a Thursday night forum, held by a Republican women’s organization, were in broad strokes, without specifics of individual changes sought.
A TRAFFIC STOP IN BROUSSARD LED TO A MAJOR DRUG ARREST ON TUESDAY. POLICE CHIEF BRANNON DECOU SAYS OFFICERS FOUND A BOX IN THE VEHICLE THAT CONTAINED 26 POUNDS OF SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA WITH A STREET VALUE OF OVER 200 THOUSAND DOLLARS. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER FOR AN IMPROPER LANE USE AND THE OFFICERS OBTAINED A SEARCH WARRANT. THE DRIVER, 48-YEAR-OLD DAVID DELK AND THE PASSENGER, 32-YEAR-OLD ANGELA CURTIS OF FRANKLIN, WERE BOTH ARRESTED ON A CHARGE OF POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE SCHEDULE ONE CONTROLLED DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES.
THE JEFF DAVIS PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS TAKING EXTRA STEPS TO ENSURE THE PUBLIC’S SAFETY FROM SEX OFFENDERS. THE OFFENDERS HAVE TO CHECK IN WITH THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE EVERY QUARTER, SIX MONTHS OR A YEAR, DEPENDING ON THE SEVERITY OF THEIR CRIME. CHIEF DEPUTY CHRIS IVEY SAYS THEY ARE GOING BEYOND THAT BY HAVING DEPUTIES GO TO THE OFFENDER’S ADDRESSES TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE LIVING WHERE THEY SAY THEY ARE, WHICH LETS THEM KNOW THAT THEY ARE BEING WATCHED. CURRENTLY THERE ARE OVER ONE HUNDRED REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS IN JEFF DAVIS PARISH, INCLUDING 28 TIER THREE OFFENDERS, WHICH ARE FOR THE MOST SEVERE CRIMES.
CROWLEY HIGH SCHOOL, CHURCH POINT HIGH SCHOOL AND IOTA HIGH SCHOOL WILL BE USED AS SHELTERS IN CASE OF ANY FUTURE STORMS. THAT’S ACCORDING TO A NEW AGREEMENT REACHED BETWEEN THE ACADIA PARISH POLICE JURY AND THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. UNDER THE AGREEMENT, THE POLICE JURY WILL PROVIDE LIABILITY COVERAGE COVERING THE SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL BUSES, WHICH MAY HAVE TO BE USED FOR EVACUATION. THE POLICE JURY HAS TO APPROVE THE AGREEMENT, WITH A VOTE SCHEDULED FOR NEXT TUESDAY’S MEETING.
One of Louisiana’s largest auto insurers plans to cut its rates for drivers, starting in November. State Farm announced Thursday that it will drop car insurance rates for more than 1 million policyholders by 2.6%. The insurer says that will be the fourth rate reduction in two years, a total cut of more than 10%. The lower premium charges will begin Nov. 25, when people get new or renewed policies.
