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THE MAN CONVICTED OF THE SHOOTING THAT KILLED NINETEEN-MONTH-OLD KACI CYPRIAN WILL LIKELY SPEND THE REST OF HIS LIFE BEHIND BARS. GEROGE FAUST REPORTS.
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SAINT LANDRY PARISH PRESIDENT JESSIE BELLARD REVERSED COURSE ON A DECISION TO CLOSE THE ANIMAL SHELTER. IF THE PARISH COUNCIL APPROVES, A NONPROFIT WOULD TAKE OVER FULL OPERATIONS AT THE SHELTER. THE PARISH WOULD PAY ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS PER YEAR FOR ANIMAL TRANSPORT SERVICES. THE PARISH HAD BEEN PAYING SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS TO OPERATE THE SHELTER.
THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH ANNOUNCED THAT FEDERAL DISASTER FOOD ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE FOR ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS AFFECTED BY TROPICAL STORM ARTHUR. THE PARISHES AFFECTED WERE AVOYELLES, SAINT LANDRY, SAINT TAMMANY AND TERREBONNE PARISHES. THE DISASTER SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM IS FOR HOUSEHOLDS WHO DO NOT NORMALLY RECEIVE ASSISTANCE. APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED ON A ROLLING BASIS FROM MONDAY TO FRIDAY OF NEXT WEEK.
A SECOND MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED IN A LAKE CHARLES CRASH JULY SEVENTEENTH THAT TOOK THE LIFE OF A SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD BOY ON AN ELECTRIC SCOOTER. THIRTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD SHANE ALAN GRIFFITHS OF LAKE CHARLES IS CHARGED WITH ACCESSORY AFTER THE FACT. GRIFFITHS WAS A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH AND ALLEGEDLY ASSISTED THE DRIVER, THIRTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD GARRIN SOLARI OF LAKE CHARLES. SOLARI IS FACING CHARGES THAT INCLUDE FELONY HIT-AND-RUN AND VEHICULAR HOMOCIDE.
THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM SAYS A NEW APPROACH TO HEALTHCARE HAS SAVED MORE THAN TWO-POINT-EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS IN THE FIRST FIVE MONTHS OF THE YEAR. INSTEAD OF RELYING ON TRADITIONAL INSSURANCE MODELS, THE SCHOOL SYSTEM IS WORKING DIRECTLY WITH HOSPITALS, DOCTORS AND OTHER HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS TO NEGOTIATE THE COST OF CARE. THE DISTRICT IS PARTNERING WITH SIX HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS. SUPERINTENDENT FRANCIS TOUCHET SAYS CONTROLLING HEALTHCARE COSTS HAS BECOME A PRIORITY.
SOME HOMEOWNERS IN THE NEW IBERIA AREA REPORTED DAMAGE TO APPLIANCES AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT DUE TO A POWER OUTAGE. IT LASTED FOR MORE THAN AN HOUR-AND-A-HALF SATURDAY AFTERNOON. SOME HOMEOWNERS REPORTED DAMAGE AFTER THE POWER WAS RESTORED. CLECO TOLD KLFY TV THEY INVESTIGATE EVERY DAMAGE CLAIM ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS AND THEY ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY IF THEIR INVESTIGATION DETERMINES THE COMPANY IS TO BLAME.
STATE SENATOR GERALD BOUDREAUX OF LAFAYETTE IS CALLING LAWMAKERS TO HIT THE BRAKES ON AWARDING A CONTRACT TO MOTOROLA. LOUISIANA OFFICIALS WANT TO APPROVE THE FIFTY-FOUR-MILLION-DOLLAR CONTRACT FOR POLICE TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT INCLUDING BODY CAMERAS AND DASHCAMS. STATE POLICE AND OFFICE OF TECHNOLOGY OFFICIALS SAY HAVING ONE COMPANY PROVIDE THE EQUIPMENT IMPROVES FUNCTIONALITY AND PUBLIC SAFETY. BOUDREAUX SAYS THEY SHOULD HOLD A SPECIAL HEARING TO REVIEW DETAILS OF THE CONTRACT AND GIVE OTHER VENDORS A CHANCE TO WEIGH IN, WHICH WOULD LEND MORE CREDIBILITY TO THE DEAL.
THE DRAWBRIDGE ON L-A FOURTEEN IN ABBEVILLE MALFUNCTIONED ON TUESDAY. THE HEAT CAUSED THE BRIDGE TO EXPAND AND IT COULD NOT BE RAISED. THE ABBEVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED TO A CALL FOR ASSISTANCE AND USED THEIR HOSES TO COOL OFF THE BRIDGE, CAUSING IT TO CONTRACT. THE BRIDGE SAFELY OPERATED AGAIN AND A WAITING BARGE WAS ALLOWED TO PASS.
