2-6-24
A PEDESTRIAN WAS KILLED LAST NIGHT IN LAFAYETTE. IT HAPPENED IN THE THIRTY-SIX HUNDRED BLOCK OF AMBASSADOR CAFFERY. OFFICIALS SAY A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THE PEDESTRIAN WAS IN THE ROADWAY WHEN HIT BY A VEHICLE. THE IDENTITY OF THE PEDESTRIAN HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED YET.
SLEMCO CUSTOMERS WILL SEE A TEMPORARY INCREASE IN THE FUEL PORTION OF THEIR ELECTRIC BILL. SLEMCO OFFICIALS SAY THEY WERE NOTIFIED ABOUT THE INCREASE BY ELECTRICITY GENERATORS. THEY SAYS THE TEMPORARY FUEL INCREASE IS DUE TO THE HISTORICALLY LOW WATER LEVELS CAUSED BY THE RECENT DROUGHT. IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE BURDEN ON BUSINESSES AND FAMILIES, THE COST WILL BE SPREAD OUT OVER TWELVE MONTHS.
THE STATE SENATE INSURANCE AND HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTES HELD A JOINT HEARING YESTERDAY TO DISCUSS THE POTENTIAL RAMIFICATIONS OF THE PROPOSED SALE OF BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF LOUISIANA TO ELEVANCE HEALTH. REPUBLICAN SENATOR VALARIE HODGES OF DENHAM SPRINGS POINTED OUT A NEWSPAPER REPORT THAT ELEVANCE DENIED THIRTY-FOUR PERCENT OF DOCTOR’S CLAIMS, WHICH SHE SAYS IS DISTURBING. BLUE CROSS OFFICIALS SAID THE POTENTIAL SALE WOULD EXPAND THEIR ABILITY TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY AND AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE. NEXT WEEK, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE WILL HOLD TWO DAYS OF HEARINGS ON THE SALE.
A VEHICLE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM AT SOWELA IN LAKE CHARLES HAS BEEN NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED BY THE AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE EXCELLENCE EDUCATION FOUNDATION. STUDENTS IN THE PROGRAM PASSED A RIGOROUS EVALUATION IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A-S-E CERTIFICATION. SOWELA OFFICIALS ARE HOPING THIS WILL ALLOW MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS. THE NATIONAL ACCREDITATION MEANS THE SCHOOL USES ACCEPTED STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE IN INSTRUCTION, FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT.
A NEW CELL PHONE WAITING AREA WILL OPEN BEGINNING AT TWO THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE LAFAYETTE REGIONAL AIRPORT. DUE TO FEDERAL REGULATIONS, DRIVERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PARK IN FRONT OF THE TERMINAL EXCEPT TO BRIEFLY DROP OFF OR PICK UP PASSENGERS. THE NEW WAITING AREA, CLEARLY MARKED ON TERMINAL DRIVE, WILL ALLOW DRIVERS A PLACE TO PARK WHILE WAITING FOR PASSENGER ARRIVALS. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR STEVEN PICOU SAYS THEY HOPE THE NEW AREA WILL ALLOW FOR EASIER COORDINATION IN PICKUPS.
THE FAMILY OF AN EIGHTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD BUSINESS OWNER IN VILLE PLATTE SAY THEY ARE FRUSTRATED AFTER HE WAS ROBBED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES IN THE PARKING LOT AND FEEL THERE HAS BEEN A LACK OF RESPONSE BY POLICE. RACHEL BLANCHET, THE DAUGHTER OF EUGENE FONTENOT, OWNER OF THE EUCO FINANCE COMPANY, SAYS YOU CAN’T JUST WALK OUT THE DOOR WITHOUT BEING CAUTIOUS. SHE SAYS TEENAGERS WOULD BE WAITING OUTSIDE AND WOULD DISTRACT HER FATHER BEFORE STEALING THE DEPOSIT HE WAS CARRYING. POLICE WERE ABLE TO RECOVER THE MONEY IN THE SECOND ROBBERY FROM A VEHICLE A BLOCK AWAY AND POLICE CHIEF AL PERRY THOMAS SAYS A DETECTIVE IS ON THE CASE.
GOVERNOR JEFF LANDRY MADE SEVERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS YESTERDAY DURING A SPEECH AT THE LOUISIANA MID-CONTINENT OIL AND GAS ANNUAL MEETING. LANDRY ANNOUNCED THAT HE WOULD SIGN A PROCLAMATION IN SUPPORT OF THE INDUSTRIES. THEN LANDRY SAID HE WOULD SIGN AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO EXPIDITE PERMITTING PROCESSES THAT MAY BE CAUSING HOLD-UPS. LANDRY ALSO ANNOUNCED A ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR BOND ALLOCATION WOULD BE MADE FOR CHEVRON’S GEISMAR RENEWABLE DIESEL PLANT EXPANSION PROJECT, WHICH COULD RESULT IN NINETY PERMANENT JOBS AND FIFTEEN HUNDRED TEMPORARY JOBS.
FIREFIGHTERS BATTLED A HOUSE FIRE IN ABBEVILLE MONDAY EVENING. DANIELLE DUNCAN HAS MORE.
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