12-20-16
THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE HAS FOUND THE VILLE PLATTE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE EVANGELINE PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE VIOLATED CONSTITUTION RIGHTS OF SUSPECTS. THEY DID THIS PLACING THEM IN JAIL ON INVESTIGATIVE HOLDS WITHOUT CHARGING THEM OR LETTING THEM TALK TO THEIR ATTORNEYS OR FAMILIES. THEY CITED ONE CASE WHERE A MOTHER WAS PLACED IN JAIL ON AN INVESTIGATIVE HOLD AND NOT ALLOWED TO BE PRESENT DURING THE QUESTIONING OF HER FIVE-YEAR-OLD. ACCORDING TO THE REPORT, OFFICIALS WITH THE AGENCIES SAY THE PRACTICE OF INVESTIGATIVE HOLDS HAS BEEN USED FOR A LONG TIME, BUT THEY HAVE TAKEN STEPS TO END IT.
THREE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED FOR THE ROBBERY OF A CONVENIENCE STORE ON U-S 171 IN LAKE CHARLES. 20-YEAR-OLD CAYLIN J WILLIAMS AND 18-YEAR-OLD CHAD LEVIER, BOTH OF LAKE CHARLES, AND 22-YEAR-OLD TERRY R. SHEPHARD OF IOWA HAVE BEEN CHARGED WITH ARMED ROBBERY AND ARMED ROBBERY WITH THE USE OF A FIREARM IN CONNECTION WITH THE ROBBERY. LT. KEVIN KIRKUM OF THE LAKE CHARLES POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THE ROBBERY, WHICH HAPPENED AT AROUND THREE A-M MONDAY, MAY BE CONNECTED WITH TWO OTHER ROBBERIES. VIDEO SURVEILLANCE AT THE STORE WAS USED TO IDENTIFY THE SUSPECTS, AND, WHEN ARRESTED, EACH OF THE SUSPECTS HAD WHAT APPEARED TO BE ITEMS STOLEN FROM THE STORE.
SOPHOMORES IN AN ADVANCED PLACEMENT GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS CLASS AT LAFAYETTE HIGH HAVE BEEN RESEARCHING AND COMING UP WITH IDEAS TO HELP THE STATE WITH THEIR FINANCIAL PROBLEMS. YESTERDAY THE CLASS PRESENTED THEIR IDEAS TO STATE REPRESENTATIVE JEAN PAUL COUSSAN, WHO CALLED THEIR SOLUTIONS VERY RELEVANT AND GOOD. ONE OF THE STUDENTS, HANNA MICHEL, CONTACTED THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT TO HELP IN HER RESEARCH. AS A RESULT, D-O-T-D SECRETARY SHAWN WILSON WILL MEET WITH THE CLASS IN JANUARY.
Louisiana’s electoral voters have cast their ballots for Donald Trump, bucking a push from around the country to abandon the Republican president-elect. In a formal vote Monday at the Louisiana Capitol, the eight electors individually proclaimed their votes aloud before a small crowd that had gathered to watch the event. Electors said they had received tens of thousands of emails, letters and other communication urging them to reconsider voting for Trump. But that didn’t sway them.
CROWLEY POLICE ARE STILL SEARCHING FOR A PERSON WHO FIRED SEVERAL SHOTS INTO A HOME, STRIKING ONE PERSON. JULIE DARCE REPORTS.
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AN IOWA MAN HELPED SAVE ANOTHER MAN’S HOME WHEN HE NOTICED THE TRUCK NEXT TO IT WAS ON FIRE. ROBERT LEDOUX THEN WENT INTO ACTION, HOOKING HIS WINCH UP TO THE BURNING TRUCK AND PULLING IT AWAY FROM THE HOME WITH HIS JEEP. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME LEDOUX HAS BEEN A HERO. IN AUGUST OF LAST YEAR, HE HELPED APPREHEND THE MAN WHO SHOT AND KILLED STATE TROOPER STEVEN VINCENT, AND THEN PERFORMED C-P-R ON VINCENT UNTIL MEDICAL HELP ARRIVED.
A MATTRESS AT THE SUPER EIGHT MOTEL ON EVANGELINE THRUWAY IN LAFAYETTE WAS CAUGHT ON FIRE BY A CHILD PLAYING WITH A LIGHTER. SPRINKLERS IN THE ROOM WERE ACTIVATED PUTTING OUT THE FIRE. NO ONE WAS INJURED. THERE WAS SOME WATER DAMAGE TO THE LOBBY NEXT TO THE ROOM AND FIREFIGHTERS USED EQUIPMENT TO PULL SMOKE FROM THE ROOM.
Problems with the Louisiana labor department’s new computer system have caused widespread disruptions in the state’s unemployment program. A new report from the legislative auditor’s office, released Monday, says some people were overpaid unemployment benefits, while others were underpaid by the Louisiana Workforce Commission during the budget year that ended June 30. Former Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration started using the new system on Nov. 9. Auditors say the computer system couldn’t properly determine eligibility and benefit amounts, didn’t correctly process payments and was unable to produce reliable financial reports about the unemployment program.
