5-29-24
THERE WERE A FEW REPORTS OF DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF SEVERE STORMS THAT PASSED THROUGH ACADIANA YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. A HOME ON GOOD SHEPHARD LANE NEAR BRANCH LOST ITS ROOF. IN EUNICE, A TREE FELL ON A HOUSE ALONG THE EUNICE-IOTA HIGHWAY. ALSO, SEVERAL HUNDRED PEOPLE LOST POWER DUE TO THE STORMS IN SAINT MARTIN AND VERMILLION PARISHES.
Lafayette has a new leader of its police department following the resignation of the former chief. Lafayette Parish Mayor-President Monique Boulet announced Tuesday that Capt. Paul Trouard will serve as the interim chief of the Lafayette Police Department during a national search to fill the permanent position. Trouard has spent his entire 27-year law enforcement career with the agency. Trouard said he plans to be among the candidates seeking the permanent post.
YESTERDAY THE LOUISIANA HOUSE APPROVED A BILL THAT WOULD HELP PARENTS AFFORD PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION. THE BILL WOULD ESTABLISH EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS FOR PARENTS TO USE STATE TAX DOLLARS FOR TUITION, UNIFORMS, TUTORING AND OTHER APPROVED EXPENSES. IT WILL BE UP TO STATE EDUCATION OFFICIALS TO DECIDE HOW MUCH TUITION MONEY TO GIVE PARENTS AND IF GRANTS WILL BE GIVEN TO PARENTS REGARDLESS OF FINANCIAL NEED. THE SENATE MUST APPROVE AMENDMENTS TO THE BILL MADE BY THE HOUSE BEFORE IT GOES TO THE GOVERNOR’S DESK FOR HIS SIGNATURE.
GOVERNOR JEFF LANDRY VETOED A BILL THAT WAS OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVED IN THE STATE SENATE AND HOUSE. GEORGE FAUST HAS DETAILS ON THE BILL.
VOICER G :22
THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS ANNOUNCED THE FINALISTS FOR ITS TWENTY-TWENTY-FIVE TEACHER OF THE YEAR AND PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR, AND FOUR OF THE EIGHTEEN HONORED ARE FROM SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA. LAGRANGE HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER SURESH CHIRUGURU IS ONE OF THE NINE FINALISTS FOR TEACHER OF THE YEAR. OF THE NINE PRINCIPAL OF THE YEAR CANDIDATES, THREE ARE FROM SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA INCLUDING DOCTOR SHONNA ANDERSON OF MOLO MIDDLE SCHOOL IN CALCASIEU PARISH AS WELL AS CHAD SCHULZ OF SOUTH BEAUREGARD ELEMENTARY AND JENNIFER WILBANKS OF HICKS HIGH SCHOOL IN VERNON PARISH. THE WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED AT A GALA IN NEW ORLEANS ON JULY TWENTY-SEVENTH.
AUTHORITIES IN NEW IBERIA HAVE MADE AN ARREST IN CONNECTION TO SUNDAY’S DOUBLE SHOOTING. GEORGE FAUST REPORTS.
VOICER F :18
A LAFAYETTE FIREFIGHTER LOST HIS BATTLE WITH CANCER, DYING WHILE IN HOSPICE CARE MONDAY. TWENTY-NINE-YEAR-OLD DARION WHETSTONE, WHO WAS KNOWN AS DOOGIE, WAS DIAGNOSED WITH STAGE FOUR CANCER LAST AUGUST. THE COMMUNITY CAME TO HIS AID EARLIER THIS YEAR DURING A BLOOD DRIVE ORGANIZED BY HIS FELLOW FIREFIGHTERS. A FULL FIREFIGHTER’S FUNERAL FOR WHETSTONE WILL TAKE PLACE MONDAY AFTERNOON AT ONE AT THE MARTIN AND CASTILLE FUNERAL HOME.
A MURDER FROM FOUR YEARS AGO IN OPELOUSAS IS STILL UNSOLVED. TAYLON ANDERSON WAS SHOT AND KILLED ON WEST LANDRY STREET IN OCTOBER OF TWENTY-TWENTY. SERGEANT MICHAEL HIDALGO SAYS THEY HAVEN’T HAD MUCH INFORMATION TO FOLLOW UP ON AND THEY HAVE GOTTEN CONFLICTING STORIES OF WHAT HAPPENED. HE SAYS THEY ARE TRYING TO GET THE PUBLIC’S INTEREST BACK INTO THE MURDER WITH THE HOPES SOMEBODY WILL COME FORWARD WITH NEW INFORMATION. ANYONE WHO DOES HAVE INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE OPELOUSAS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
