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BEGINNING NEXT WEEK, SOME STUDENTS AT LAFAYETTE HIGH WILL BE ABLE TO RIDE THE CITY BUS TO SCHOOL AS PART OF A PRE-PILOT TEST RUN. THE PRE-PILOT IS MOSTLY FOR STUDENTS ZONED FOR NORTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL, BUT WHO ATTEND SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS AT LAFAYETTE HIGH SUCH AS THE HEALTH ACADEMY OR GIFTED EDUCATION. PARENTS OF THE STUDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO TEST RIDE THE ROUTES AT NO COST. IF THE PRE-PILOT PROGRAM IS SUCCESSFUL, A FULL PILOT PROGRAM COULD START IN AUGUST WITH POSSIBLY MORE ROUTES AND STUDENTS ADDED.
AN ONGOING INVESTIGATION INTO BURGLARIES AND THEFTS IN JEFF DAVIS PARISH HAS LED TO A THIRD ARREST. 25-YEAR-OLD BRANDON TAYLOR CHARPENTIER WAS BOOKED INTO THE PARISH JAIL ON SEVERAL CHARGES INCLUDING FOUR COUNTS OF THEFT AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE. CHARPENTIER IS ASSOCIATED WITH TWO OTHER MEN ARRESTED IN DECEMBER FOR BURGLARIES IN JEFF DAVIS AND ACADIA PARISHES. CHARPENTIER IS BEING HELD IN THE PARISH JAIL ON NO BOND.
RAYNE POLICE HAVE MADE AN ARREST IN CONNECTION TO A THREAT MADE AGAINST RAYNE HIGH SCHOOL ON MONDAY. MEGAN KELLY HAS MORE.
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A STATE SENATE COMMITTEE NARROWLY REJECTED A PROPOSED BILL THAT WOULD HAVE OVERHAULED THE MOST COMMON OF THE TOPS AWARDS. THE TOPS OPPORTUNITY AWARD PAYS COLLEGE TUITION FOR STUDENTS WHO EARN AT LEAST A TWO-POINT-5 G-P-A ON THEIR HIGH SCHOOL CORE CURRICULUM AND WHO GET A SCORE OF AT LEAST TWENTY ON THE A-C-T. THE BILL SPONSORED BY STATE SENATOR BLADE MORRISH OF JENNINGS WOULD HAVE CONVERTED THE TOPS OPPORTUNITY TO A FOUR THOUSAND DOLLAR A YEAR STIPEND, WHICH IS MORE THAN 16-HUNDRED DOLLARS BELOW THE AVERAGE TUITION AT LOUISIANA COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. THE BILL WAS SUBMITTED AS A WAY TO HELP REDUCE A PROJECTED DEFICIT.
A MEASURE TO BOOST THE STATE’S MINIMUM WAGE FAILED TO PASS IN THE SENATE YESTERDAY. IT’S THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW THAT GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARD’S EFFORTS TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE HAS FAILED. THE SPONSOR OF THE MEASURE, STATE SENATOR TROY CARTER OF NEW ORLEANS, MADE CHANGES TO THE BILL TO HELP IT PASS INCLUDING STRIPPING CIVIL PENALTIES AND IT WOULD HAVE APPLIED ONLY TO BUSINESSES WITH 25 OR MORE EMPLOYEES. BUT THE BILL FAILED BY A VOTE OF 17-TO-21.
THE LAFAYETTE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENTS GENERAL FUND RESERVES ARE APPROACHING CRITICAL LEVELS. EXPERTS RECOMMEND GOVERNMENT BODIES KEEP AT LEAST A TEN PERCENT RESERVE BUT LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH RESERVES ARE EXPECTED TO DWINDLE TO AROUND 92 THOUSAND DOLLARS BY NOVEMBER, WHICH IS LESS THAN ONE PERCENT OF REVENUE. THE CITY PARISH COUNCIL’S REVENUE FINANCE LIAISON COMMITTEE IS ASKING THE PUBLIC TO GIVE THEM IDEAS TO HELP WITH THE ANTICIPATED FINANCIAL CRISIS. A SUMMIT IS PLANNED FOR TONIGHT FROM SIX TO NINE AT THE LITE CENTER ON CAJUNDOME BOULEVARD.
A Louisiana city has elected a woman to be its mayor for the first time. Unofficial results from the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Office show voters made history Saturday as Misty Clanton won more than 1,460 votes in DeRidder’s mayoral race. The results show Mike Harper garnered over 450 votes. Clanton will take over for former Mayor Ron Roberts, who held the office for over 12 years.
A NEW IBERIA WOMAN HAS ADVANCED ON THE TV SHOW AMERICAN IDOL. 19-YEAR-OLD ANAME ROSE GOT AN AUDITION ON THE SHOW AFTER WINNING A CONTEST ON K-A-T-C LAST YEAR. PREVIOUSLY SHE HAD WON THE LOUISIANA KIDS INC. COMPETITION AT THE AGE OF SEVEN. NEXT MONDAY ROSE WILL FIND OUT IF SHE IS ONE OF THE FINAL 24 TO MOVE ON TO THE LIVE COMPETITION.
