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THE ACADIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS LOOKING FOR A SUSPECT IN A SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED LAST THURSDAYAT THE MEADOWS APARTMENT COMPLEX IN CROWLEY.  ACCORDING TO THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE, EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD BRAYLIN LEMON OF CARENCRO BRANDISHED A FIREARM DURING A DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE AND BEGAN SHOOTING MULTIPLE TIMES, STRIKING THREE PEOPLE, BEFORE FLEEING ON FOOT.  LEMON IS WANTED ON THREE COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED SECOND DEGREE MURDER.  ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON HIS LOCATION CAN CALL SEVEN-EIGHT-NINE-TIPS, WHERE THEY ARE OFFERING UP TO A TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED DOLLAR REWARD FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO AN ARREST.

ROAD WORK ON AMBASSADOR CAFFERY BETWEEN JOHNSTON STREET AND ROBLEY DRIVE IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THIS WEEKEND.  CREWS HAVE BEEN WORKING IN THE OVERNIGHT HOURS TO CORRECT FAULTS IN THE CONCRETE THAT OVER TIME COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO CARS.  NEXT, CREWS WILL WORK ON AMBASSADOR CAFFERY UP TO THE VERMILLION RIVER, WHICH SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY AUGUST, AND FROM THE VERMILLION RIVER TO KALISTE SALOOM, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE FINISHED ONE YEAR FROM NOW.  DISTRICT ENGINEER ADMINISTRATOR MICHAEL DESELLE SAYS, ONCE THE FIVE-POINT-NINE MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT IS COMPLETE, DRIVERS WILL NOTICE A SMOOTHER RIDING SURFACE.

Louisiana’s two Republican U.S. senators are taking different approaches to the second impeachment trial against former President Donald Trump. U.S. Sen. John Kennedy calls the entire proceeding unconstitutional and an effort to smear those who voted to reelect Trump. U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy said he doesn’t intend to “pre-judge” the case that will be presented. Both senators voted Tuesday against moving forward with the trial, however.

A man convicted of killing a Louisiana state trooper is getting a second chance to avoid a death sentence. Kevin Daigle of Lake Charles killed Trooper Steven Vincent along L-A fourteen near Bell City in 2015. The American Press says the jury that convicted Daigle in 2019 also unanimously called for a death sentence. Now, the Calcasieu Parish District Attorney’s office says an agreement worked out amid numerous appeals will maintain the conviction but allow a new penalty hearing.

NEW IBERIA POLICE HAVE MADE AN ARREST IN CONNECTION WITH A HOMOCIDE THAT HAPPENED SEPTEMBER FIFTH ON SOUTH LANDRY DRIVE.  TWENTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD ERIC WALKER OF HOUSTON WAS KILLED AND TWO OTHERS WOUNDED.  DENZEL SCOTT WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH FIRST DEGREE MURDER AND TWO COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED SECOND DEGREE MURDER.  ALSO NEW IBERIA POLICE ARRESTED NATHAN LIVELY FOR A SHOOTING ON DECEMBER THIRTIETH ON SAINT JUDE STREET IN WHICH TWO PEOPLE WERE INJURED.

EVERY HOSPITAL SYSTEM IN LOUISIANA IS EAGERLY AWAITING A BIGGER ALLOTMENT OF THE COVID-NINETEEN VACCINE.  GERALD GRUENING HAS MORE.

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LOUISIANA HAD SIXTY-TWO MORE COVID-NINETEEN DEATHS IN TODAY’S REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.  THERE ARE TWO THOUSAND, THREE HUNDRED SEVENTY-TWO NEW CONFIRMED CASES, WHICH MOVES THE TOTAL OVER THREE HUNDRED FORTY-THREE THOUSAND.  HOSPITALIZATIONS WERE DOWN BY TWENTY-ONE WHILE THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS ON VENTILATORS DECREASED BY FOURTEEN.

FOUR MORE DEATHS WERE RECORDED IN ACADIANA…TWO EACH IN LAFAYETTE AND ST. LANDRY PARISHES.  CALCASIEU PARISH WAS THE ONLY PARISH IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA TO REPORT DEATHS, WHICH WAS TWO.  CALCASIEU PARISH HAS MOVED ABOVE THREE HUNDRED TOTAL DEATHS.  ACADIANA HAD THREE HUNDRED SEVENTEEN NEW CONFIRMED CASES, INCLUDING ONE HUNDRED FORTY-FIVE IN LAFAYETTE PARISH.  SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA’S TOTAL CASES ROSE BY ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-NINE.  BEAUREGARD PARISH HAD EIGHTEEN WHICH MOVED THEIR TOTAL ABOVE TWO THOUSAND FOR THE FIRST TIME.

A FORTY-EIGHT-YEAR-OLD NEW IBERIA MAN IS BEHIND BARS FOR ALLEGEDLY STEALING AN IBERIA PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT VEHICLE AND LEADING DEPUTIES ON A CHASE INTO LAFAYETTE.  IT WAS ALL CAUGHT ON CAMERA.  GERALD GRUENIG REPORTS.

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A FORMER CROWLEY POLICE OFFICER HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY STRIKING AN INMATE THAT SHE WAS TRANSPORTING.  TWENTY-SEVEN-YEAR-OLD ASHLEE JOYCE MCELROY, WHO WAS A PATROL OFFICER FOR TWO YEARS BEFORE RESIGNING LAST OCTOBER, FACES CHARGES OF SECOND DEGREE BATTERY AND MALFEASANCE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN UP TO THIRTEEN YEARS IN JAIL.  POLICE CHIEF JIMMY BROUSSARD TELLS KLFY TV IT’S BEEN HARD ON HIM AND HIS FELLOW OFFICERS BECAUSE MCELROY WAS A COMPASSIONATE OFFICER WITH A HEART FOR THE CITY AND THE PEOPLE SHE SERVED.  HOWEVER, BROUSSARD SAYS, POLICE ARE HELD TO A HIGHER STANDARD AND MUST ADHERE TO THOSE STANDARDS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.

The Calcasieu Parish sheriff says four girls are accused of stealing knives and using them in a lethal attack inside a Walmart store that was recorded on social media. Sheriff’s spokeswoman Kayla Vincent says a 13-year-old was arrested on a charge of second-degree murder. Three girls aged 12, 13 and 14 were arrested on a charge of being a principal to second-degree murder. This is the third killing in six months involving juveniles in Calcasieu Parish.

Hospitalizations for COVID-19 in Louisiana have dropped to the lowest level since late December. Figures posted Monday by the state health department show the number of people hospitalized with the disease caused by the new coronavirus at 1,638. The number was 2,069 on Jan. 7, higher than the peak of just under 2,000 in the first deadly surge that hit the state in early 2020. The Louisiana numbers are similar to a national trend.

YESTERDAY’S COVID-NINETEEN REPORT FROM THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH COVERS TWO DAYS, BECAUSE OF SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE.  THEY REPORT JUST TWENTY-SIX MORE DEATHS, WHICH IS THE SMALLEST AMOUNT IN MORE THAN THREE WEEKS.  THERE ARE NEARLY TWO THOUSAND NEW CONFIRMED CASES, PUTTING THE TOTAL ABOVE THREE HUNDRED THIRTY-NINE THOUSAND.  HOSPITALIZATIONS DECREASED BY THREE BUT THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS ON VENTILATORS ROSE BY FOUR.

ACADIANA HAD FIVE MORE COVID-NINETEEN DEATHS.  THREE WERE IN LAFAYETTE PARISH WHILE THE OTHER TWO WERE IN ST. MARTIN PARISH.  SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA ADDED ONE MORE, WHICH WAS IN JEFF DAVIS PARISH.  THERE WERE ONE HUNDRED NINETY ADDITIONAL NEW COVID-NINETEEN CASES IN ACADIANA, INCLUDING SEVENTY-NINE IN LAFAYETTE PARISH.  FIFTY-TWO NEW CASES WERE REPORTED  IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA, MOST OF WHICH WERE IN CALCASIEU PARISH, WITH FORTY-THREE.

An attack on a gay Lafayette teenager is now being prosecuted as a hate crime. Police initially said they didn’t see evidence of a hate crime in the attack on Holden White, who spent days in a coma and nearly a month in the hospital. Chance Seneca pleaded not guilty to attempted murder after allegedly choking White with a cord and slicing open his wrists. Prosecutors added the hate crime charge last week.

THE EVANGELINE PARISH SHERIFF IS HOPING TO GET A ONE CENT SALES TAX APPROVED BY VOTERS THAT WOULD RAISE THREE-POINT-SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS FOR HIS OFFICE.  CHARLES GUILLORY SAYS THEY HAVE BEEN OPERATING ON A BUDGET THAT HASN’T CHANGED MUCH SINCE NINTEEN SEVENTY-SEVEN.  THERE ARE JUST TWO DEPUTIES PATROLLING THE PARISH PER SHIFT, AND GUILLORY WOULD LIKE TO RAISE THAT TO FIVE PER SHIFT.  GUILLORY IS HOPING THAT THE POLICE JURY NEXT MONTH WILL APPROVE THE RESOLUTION TO PUT THE ONE CENT SALES TAX ON THE APRIL TWENTY-FOURTH BALLOT.

Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s deputies have arrested four girls in the fatal stabbing of a 15-year-old girl during a fight inside a Walmart store. The Sheriff’s Office said Sunday on Facebook that a 12-year-old, two 13-year-olds and a 14-year-old were arrested after the older girl died at a hospital Saturday in Lake Charles. The message said one girl was arrested on a second-degree murder charge and three on charges accusing them as principals to second-degree murder.

OPELOUSAS POLICE ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR A SHOOTING SPREE SATURDAY NIGHT THAT LEFT ONE MAN DEAD.  A PATROL OFFICER HEARD GUNSHOTS NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF NORTH MARKET AND CHESNEY STREETS AT AROUND EIGHT THIRTY AND FOUND A MAN SUFFERING A GUNSHOT WOUND NEAR THE RAILROAD TRACKS.  THE MAN, WHO WAS UNABLE TO TELL THE OFFICER WHO SHOT HIM, LATER DIED AT THE HOSPITAL.  POLICE SAY SEVERAL HOMES AND VEHICLES IN THE AREA WERE ALSO HIT BY GUNFIRE.

IF YOU DRIVE BY ST. BARNABAS EPISCOPAL CHURCH ON CAMELIA BOULEVARD IN LAFAYETTE, YOU MIGHT NOTICE MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED TINY WHITE FLAGS ON THE PROPERTY.  THEY EACH REPRESENT THE LIFE OF SOMEONE IN THE PARISH WHO DIED FROM COVID-NINETEEN.  A SHORT CEREMONY WAS HELD YESTERDAY MORNING FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS TO MOURN LOVED ONES.  THE MEMORIAL WILL BE ON DISPLAY THROUGH THE WEEK AND VISITORS CAN USE MARKERS ATTACHED TO SIGNS TO WRITE THE NAME OF A LOVED ONE WHO DIED FROM COVID-NINETEEN ON ONE OF THE FLAGS.

TODAY’S COVID-NINETEEN REPORT FROM THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH COVERS TWO DAYS, BECAUSE OF SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE.  THEY REPORT JUST TWENTY-SIX MORE DEATHS, WHICH IS THE SMALLEST AMOUNT IN MORE THAN THREE WEEKS.  THERE ARE NEARLY TWO THOUSAND NEW CONFIRMED CASES, PUTTING THE TOTAL ABOVE THREE HUNDRED THIRTY-NINE THOUSAND.  HOSPITALIZATIONS DECREASED BY THREE BUT THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS ON VENTILATORS ROSE BY FOUR.

ACADIANA HAD FIVE MORE COVID-NINETEEN DEATHS.  THREE WERE IN LAFAYETTE PARISH WHILE THE OTHER TWO WERE IN ST. MARTIN PARISH.  SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA ADDED ONE MORE, WHICH WAS IN JEFF DAVIS PARISH.  THERE WERE ONE HUNDRED NINETY ADDITIONAL NEW COVID-NINETEEN CASES IN ACADIANA, INCLUDING SEVENTY-NINE IN LAFAYETTE PARISH.  FIFTY-TWO NEW CASES WERE REPORTED  IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA, MOST OF WHICH WERE IN CALCASIEU PARISH, WITH FORTY-THREE.

NO COST COVID-NINETEEN TESTING IS AVAILABLE TODAY IN PARTS OF ACADIANA.  GERALD GRUENING HAS THE DETAILS.

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A Louisiana family mourning the loss of a relative to COVID-19 says they were mocked at a funeral home for asking others to wear masks. According to The Advocate, Peter Guarisco IV said his family asked a Lafayette funeral home to enforce the governor’s mask mandate. But he says he was silenced by a manager, who eventually called police in an attempt to resolve the situation. Guarisco says his family wants to start a conversation about how these kinds of situations are going to result in more people getting sick and losing loved ones.

Louisiana’s public schools have nearly 17,000 fewer students in the coronavirus pandemic. That’s an enrollment decline of more than 2% this year to just under 700,000 students. Nearly half the decrease is among students in pre-kindergarten and kindergarten. However, The Advocate reports that drops also appeared in the number of students in first grade through seventh grade.

THE PANDEMIC HAS FORCE STUDENTS IN ACADIANA TO ATTEND SCHOOL ONLINE OR ON HYBRID SCHEDULE THIS YEAR, BUT SOME STUDENTS WILL RETURN TO FACE TO FACE ON CAMPUS LEARNING.

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ON INAUGURATION DAY, ABOUT A DOZEN TEACHERS AND STAFF AT BREAUX BRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL WORE T-SHIRTS EMBLAZONED WITH “CHUCKS AND PEARLS”, WHICH ARE CLOTHING ITEMS WORN OFTEN BY THE NEW VICE PRESIDENT, KAMALA HARRIS.  AT AROUND LUNCH TIME, THEY WERE INFORMED BY THE ADMINISTRATION THAT THEY HAD TO COVER IT UP, CHANGE OR GO HOME.  SUPERINTENDENT AL BLANCHARD SAYS THE BOARD HAS A POLICY PROHIBITING EMPLOYEES FROM WEARING CLOTHES WITH POLITICAL STATEMENTS OR SUPPORTING CANDIDATES.  ONE TEACHER WHO WORE THE SHIRT, JOY TRAHAN, TELLS KLFY TV THE SHIRTS WERE NOT POLITICAL BUT WERE ABOUT EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN.

A SULPHUR WOMAN HAS BEEN INDICTED ON A CHARGE OF SECOND DEGREE MURDER FOR THE STABBING DEATH OF HER BOYFRIEND.  OFFICERS WERE DISPATCHED TO A RESIDENCE ON SOUTH IRWIN STREET ON THE NIGHT OF NOVEMBER THIRD WHERE THEY FOUND BYRON RAY LYING ON THE FLOOR WITH MULTIPLE STAB WOUNDS.  HE LATER DIED AT THE HOSPITAL.  HIS GIRLFRIEND, TWENTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD CHELSEY PAIGE WHITE, WAS ARRESTED.  BESIDES THE MURDER CHARGE, SHE WAS ALSO INDICTED FOR OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE.

The widow of Republican Congressman-elect Luke Letlow has registered to compete for the congressional seat her husband was unable to fill because of his death from COVID-19 complications. Julia Letlow described herself as grief-stricken but “having hope for the future.” She filed candidate paperwork Thursday for the March 20 election to represent northeast and central Louisiana. Six other candidates are in the race.

CHANGES TO THE PARKING METERS IN DOWNTOWN LAFAYETTE, WHICH WERE TO GO INTO EFFECT LAST TUESDAY, HAVE BEEN POSTPONED.  THE PROPOSED CHANGES INCLUDED DOUBLING THE METER RATES AND TWENTY-FOUR SEVEN MONITORING.  THE DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY AND DOWNTOWN LAFAYETTE UNLIMITED HAS SET UP A FORUM TO GET PUBLIC INPUT ON THE CHANGES.  THE FORUM WILL TAKE PLACE ON WEDNESDAY MORNING, FEBRUARY THIRD, FROM EIGHT TO NINE AND WILL ACCOMMODATE UP TO FIFTY PEOPLE.  IT CAN ALSO BE VIEWED ON THE DOWNTOWN LAFAYETTE FACEBOOK PAGE.

LAST NIGHT THE VERMILLION PARISH SCHOOL BOARD BECAME THE LATEST ACADIANA PARISH TO APPROVE AN EXTENSION OF COVID-NINETEEN SICK DAYS TO THEIR EMPLOYEES.  THE TEN DAYS OF COVID LEAVE FOR TEACHERS AND STAFF IS EXTENDED THROUGH THE END OF JUNE.  THE FEDERAL CARES ACT REQUIRED EMPLOYERS TO GIVE TEN DAYS OF SICK LEAVE FOR COVID-NINETEEN, BUT IT EXPIRED ON DECEMBER TWENTY-SEVENTH.  THE OTHER ACADIANA SCHOOL BOARDS TO APPROVE EXTENDING THE LEAVE AS WELL ARE LAFAYETTE, IBERIA AND ST. MARY PARISHES.

HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR COVID-NINETEEN IN LOUISIANA CONTINUE TO TREND DOWNWARD WITH FIFTY-EIGHT FEWER IN YESTERDAY’S REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.  THERE ARE TEN LESS PATIENTS ON VENTILATORS.  THERE ARE TWO THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED SEVENTY-NINE NEW CONFIRMED CASES IN THE STATE.  THE TOTAL IS NEARLY AT THREE HUNDRED THIRTY-THREE THOUSAND.  LOUISIANA HAD FORTY-SEVEN MORE DEATHS.

ACADIANA HAD THREE MORE DEATHS, INCLUDING TWO IN ST. LANDRY PARISH AND ONE IN LAFAYETTE PARISH.  SOUTHWEST LOUISINA ALSO HAD THREE MORE DEATHS.  TWO WERE IN CALCASIEU PARISH AND ONE IN JEFF DAVIS PARISH.  THE TOTAL FOR SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA HAS MOVED ABOVE FIVE HUNDRED FOR THE FIRST TIME.  THERE ARE NEARLY THREE HUNDRED NEW CASES IN ACADIANA, INCLUDING ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-FIVE IN LAFAYETTE PARISH.  SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA HAD EIGHTY-SIX NEW CASES.  MOST OF THAT IS IN CALCASIEU PARISH, WHICH HAD SIXTY-THREE NEW CASES.

A SHOOTING IN ST. LANDRY PARISH HAS LEFT A SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD BOY DEAD.  GERALD GRUENIG REPORTS.

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THE JENNINGS POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS ARRESTED A MAN FOR ALLEGEDLY STEALING A TRUCK.  THE OWNER OF THE TRUCK WAS AT A CONSTRUCTION SITE ON HIGHWAY ONE-OH-TWO IN JENNINGS TUESDAY MORNING WHEN A CO-WORKER TOLD HIM SOMEONE WAS DRIVING AWAY IN HIS TRUCK.  THE TRUCK WAS LATER SPOTTED AT A RESIDENCE ON JOHNSON STREET AND SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES DETAINED TWENTY-FIVE YEAR-OLD KEATON BERTRAND.  HE WAS BOOKED INTO THE JEFF DAVIS PARISH JAIL ON A CHARGE OF THEFT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE.

The Youngsville police chief is recovering from COVID-19.  Rickey Boudreaux said his COVID symptoms were serious. He admits there were times when he let his guard down in the fight against the virus, thinking he wouldn’t get it, but he did.

HOSPITALIZATIONS FOR COVID-NINETEEN IN LOUISIANA CONTINUE TO TREND DOWNWARD WITH FIFTY-EIGHT FEWER IN TODAY’S REPORT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.  THERE ARE TEN LESS PATIENTS ON VENTILATORS.  THERE ARE TWO THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED SEVENTY-NINE NEW CONFIRMED CASES IN THE STATE.  THE TOTAL IS NEARLY AT THREE HUNDRED THIRTY-THREE THOUSAND.  LOUISIANA HAD FORTY-SEVEN MORE DEATHS.

ACADIANA HAD THREE MORE DEATHS, INCLUDING TWO IN ST. LANDRY PARISH AND ONE IN LAFAYETTE PARISH.  SOUTHWEST LOUISINA ALSO HAD THREE MORE DEATHS.  TWO WERE IN CALCASIEU PARISH AND ONE IN JEFF DAVIS PARISH.  THE TOTAL FOR SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA HAS MOVED ABOVE FIVE HUNDRED FOR THE FIRST TIME.THERE ARE NEARLY THREE HUNDRED NEW CASES IN ACADIANA, INCLUDING ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-FIVE IN LAFAYETTE PARISH.  SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA HAD EIGHT-SIX NEW CASES.  MOST OF THAT IS IN CALCASIEU PARISH, WHICH HAD SIXTY-THREE NEW CASES.

CROWLEY POLICE CHIEF JIMMY BROUSSARD SAYS SEVERAL BILLS IN HIS DEPARTMENT HAVE NOT BEEN PAID FOR MONTHS.  BROUSSARD TELLS KATC TV THAT HE CAN’T GET AUTO PARTS AND SUPPLIES FOR POLICE UNITS BECAUSE THE CITY’S CREDIT CARD IS FROZEN.  HE SAYS THAT HE USUALLY GETS BUDGET REPORTS MONTHLY THAT HELP HIM KEEP TRACK OF FUNDS BUT HIS DEPARTMENT HASN’T RECEIVED ONE SINCE SEPTEMBER.  BROUSSARD HAS SENT A LETTER TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, WHICH HAS ALSO BEEN DELIVERED TO THE CITY COUNCIL, ASKING ABOUT THE UNPAID BILLS.

THE CONFEDERATE STATUE OF GENERAL ALFRED MOUTON, WHICH STANDS AT THE CORNER OF LEE AVENUE AND JEFFERSON STREET IN LAFAYETTE, HAS BEEN VANDALIZED.  A PORTION OF THE NOSE IS MISSING AND ANOTHER PART OF THE FACE IS DAMAGED.  MOVE THE MINDSET IS A GROUP THAT WANTS THE STATUE REMOVED FROM DOWNTOWN.  PRESIDENT FRED PREJEAN TELLS KLFY TV THAT THEY ARE SURPRISED ABOUT THE VANDALISM, AND HIS DESIRE IS THAT IT GO INTO A MUSEUM FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES.

LOUISIANA CONGRESSMAN CLAY HIGGINS WAS CRITICAL OF PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IN HIS FIRST DAY ON THE JOB.  THAT’S BECAUSE BIDEN SIGNED FIFTEEN EXECUTIVE ACTIONS AND TWO AGENCY ACTIONS, SOME REVERSING FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S POLICIES.  HIGGINS WROTE THAT BIDEN WASTED NO TIME IN ENACTING JOB KILLING AND DANGEROUS POLICIES.  HIGGINS SAYS HE WILL WORK IN CONGRESS TO PROVIDE OVERSIGHT OF THE NEW ADMINISTRATION’S ACTIONS.

LAST NIGHT THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED THE CREATION OF A “PROTECT THE CITY” COMMITTEE, WHICH WILL GATHER INPUT FROM CITIZENS ON THE BENEFITS OF THE CITY PARISH CONSOLIDATION FOR THE CITY OF LAFAYETTE.  COUNCILMAN PAT LEWIS PROPOSED THE COMMITTEE.  HE TELLS KATC TV THAT SALES TAXES PAID AT STORES IN THE LAFAYETTE CITY LIMITS SHOULD GO TO LAFAYETTE AND NO WHERE ELSE.  HE ALSO WANTS THE COMMITTEE TO CONSIDER WHETHER LAFAYETTE SHOULD HAVE IT’S OWN MAYOR.

THE CROWLEY POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS A SUSPECT IN LAST WEEK’S DEADLY SHOOTING.  CAROLINE MARCELLO REPORTS.

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CAMERON PARISH OFFICIALS ARE MAKING HEADWAY IN RESTORING RUTHERFORD BEACH TO WHAT IT WAS BEFORE IT WAS HIT BY HURRICANE LAURA.  BOBBY MILLER OF THE ROCKIN’ RUTHERFORD GROUP SAYS CAMERON DRIVE NEXT TO THE BEACH WAS COVERED BY THREE FEET OF SAND, BUT IT IS BEING CLEARED.  HE TELLS KPLC TV THAT DITCHES ARE ALSO BEING CLEARED AND DEBRIS PICKED UP.  MILLER SAYS RECOVERY WILL TAKE AWHILE BUT RUTHERFORD BEACH WILL BOUNCE BACK.

Louisiana’s chief public health officer is warning hospitals, pharmacies and clinics that they should not be steering their coronavirus vaccine doses solely to their own patients. Dr. Joe Kanter with the Louisiana Department of Health says the state has received reports of such favoritism. He sent a memo Tuesday to the vaccine providers that cautioned any found to be discriminating in favor of their patients and those denying vaccine appointments to nonpatients could face “adverse action.” The vaccine providers could face financial penalties, limits on future vaccine allocations, legal actions or other response from the state if found continuing to discriminate in its vaccine distribution.

AFTER TWO DAYS OF DROPPING, COVID-NINETEEN HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE RISEN BY ELEVEN IN LOUISIANA, ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.  THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS ON VENTILATORS INCREASED BY TEN.  LOUISIANA HAD ONE THOUSAND EIGHT-HUNDRED AND SIX MORE POSITIVE CASES, WHICH PUTS THE TOTAL ABOVE THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-EIGHT THOUSAND.  THERE WERE FORTY-NINE MORE DEATHS STATEWIDE.

ACADIANA REPORTED EIGHT MORE DEATHS DUE TO COVID-NINETEEN.  THAT INCLUDES THREE IN VERMILLION PARISH, TWO IN ST. MARTIN PARISH, AND ONE EACH IN ACADIA, EVANGELINE, AND ST. LANDRY PARISHES.  THERE ARE THREE MORE DEATHS IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA, ALL IN CALCASIEU PARISH.  TWO HUNDRED EIGHTY-FOUR MORE CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-NINETEEN WERE REPORTED IN ACADIANA, INCLUDING EIGHTY-FIVE IN LAFAYETTE PARISH.  MEANWHILE, SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA HAD EIGHTY-EIGHT MORE CASES.  CALCASIEU PARISH HAD THE MOST WITH FORTY.

YESTERDAY PARKING RATES IN DOWNTOWN LAFAYETTE DOUBLED FROM FIFTY CENTS TO A DOLLAR PER HOUR.  ALSO ENFORCEMENT OF THE PARKING METERS WILL NOW BE TWENTY-FOUR HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK. LAFAYETTE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS SAY THE INCREASED REVENUE WILL HELP PAY FOR THE NEEDS OF DOWNTOWN LAFAYETTE INCLUDING SECURITY, MAINTENANCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE.  MANY BUSINESS OWNERS IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA ARE UPSET BECAUSE THEY THINK IT COULD KEEP CUSTOMERS AWAY.

AT LEAST TEN CARS WERE INVOLVED IN A CRASH LAST NIGHT ON HIGHWAY NINETY BETWEEN JEANERETTE AND BALDWIN.  THE ST. MARY PARISH FIRE DEPARTMENT CLOSED THAT SECTION OF HIGHWAY FOR AWHILE IN BOTH DIRECTIONS.  FIRE CHIEF CLARENCE CLARK SAYS THERE WAS LOW VISIBILITY IN THE AREA BECAUSE OF HEAVY FOG, WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE MULTIVEHICLE PILE UP.  THE HIGHWAY WAS REOPENED IN THE OVERNIGHT HOURS.

A BICYCLIST WAS STRUCK BY A CAR AND KILLED IN LAFAYETTE LAST NIGHT.  CAROLINE MARCELLO HAS MORE.

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KLFY TV HAS RELEASED THE NAME OF ONE OF THE TEENAGERS WHO WERE SHOT AND KILLED IN NEW IBERIA SUNDAY EVENING.  THEY SAY THE FAMILY HAS IDENTIFIED SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD I’EGAN (EYE zhun) HARRISON.  POLICE SAY HARRISON AND ANOTHER SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD, WHOSE IDENTITY HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED, BOTH PULLED GUNS ON EACH OTHER AND SHOT EACH OTHER.  BOTH DIED ON ROSALIE STREET.

People in Lake Charles who need help paying their water bills will soon be able to apply for grants. Mayor Nic Hunter told the American Press that the city put a hold on disconnecting people who couldn’t pay their bills during the pandemic. But months into the pandemic, they’re now asking people to catch up on their bills. Under a program with Catholic Charities, people who meet certain eligibility requirements can apply to have up to three months of their water bill paid for by a grant.

A new audit says Louisiana’s state government employee ranks have thinned over the last seven years, but the decline in workers hasn’t dropped the state payroll’s costs. Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera’s office found that the number of state workers across dozens of executive branch agencies dropped by nearly 4% from the 2012-13 budget year through the 2019-20 budget year. But auditors found that salary expenses increased more than 5% from $1.7 billion to $1.8 billion during that time. And other employee costs for overtime, retirement and health care benefits surged. Much of the pay increase was driven by salary adjustments made by Gov. John Bel Edwards for rank-and-file workers a few years ago.

AMERICAN AIRLINES IS EXPANDING THEIR SERVICES AT THE LAFAYETTE REGIONAL AIRPORT, OFFERING TWO DAILY FLIGHTS TO CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA.  THE FLIGHTS WILL DEPART AT SEVEN A-M AND ONE-THIRTY P-M EACH DAY BEGINNING APRIL SECOND.  THE AIRPORT’S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR STEVEN PICOU SAYS THEY ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE EXPANDED SERVICE AND CREDITED THE ACADIANA COMMUNITY FOR CHOOSING TO FLY OUT OF LAFAYETTE.  A NEW TERMINAL AT THE LAFAYETTE REGIONAL AIRPORT IS SET TO OPEN LATER THIS YEAR.

A RIBBON CUTTING CEREMONY IS PLANNED FOR TODAY TO CELEBRATE THE COMPLETION OF THE I-TEN WIDENING PROJECT BETWEEN HENDERSON AND THE ATCHAFALAYA BASIN BRIDGE.  THE NEARLY FIFTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLAR PROJECT BEGAN IN MAY OF TWENTY-SEVENTEEN AND INCLUDED THE REPLACEMENT OF PAVEMENT IN EACH LANE BETWEEN L-A THREE-FORTY-SEVEN AND THE BASE OF THE ATCHAFALAYA BASIN BRIDGE.  IT ALSO INVOLVED THE CREATION OF AN ADDITIONAL LANE ON THE WESTBOUND SIDE.  THE PROJECT WAS COMPLETED LAST MONTH.

FOR THE SECOND DAY IN A ROW, COVID-NINETEEN HOSPITALIZATIONS DROPPED IN LOUISIANA, ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.  THEY WERE DOWN BY THIRTY-SIX YESTERDAY.  THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS ON VENTILATORS INCREASED BY TWO.  LOUISIANA HAD NINE HUNDRED FIFTY-THREE MORE POSITIVE CASES, WHICH PUTS THE TOTAL ABOVE THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-SEVEN THOUSAND.  THERE WERE FORTY-TWO MORE DEATHS STATEWIDE.

ACADIANA REPORTED THREE MORE DEATHS DUE TO COVID-NINETEEN.  THAT INCLUDES TWO IN IBERIA PARISH AND ONE MORE IN VERMILLION PARISH.  THERE ARE FIVE MORE DEATHS IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA.  CALCASIEU PARISH HAD FOUR AND JEFF DAVIS ADDED ONE.  EIGHTY-EIGHT MORE CONFIRMED CASES OF COVID-NINETEEN WERE REPORTED IN ACADIANA, INCLUDING TWENTY-TWO IN LAFAYETTE PARISH.  MEANWHILE, SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA HAD THIRTY-NINE MORE CASES.  CALCASIEU PARISH HAD THE MOST WITH TWENTY-FOUR.

LAFAYETTE POLICE ARE STILL SEARCHING FOR THE PERSON WHO FIRED A SHOT IN THE FOOD COURT OF THE ACADIANA MALL SATURDAY AFTERNOON.  POLICE SPOKESPERSON CORPORAL BRIDGETTE DUGAS SAYS A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION INDICATES THAT AT LEAST ONE SHOT WAS FIRED IN THE AIR, WHICH LED PEOPLE TO RUN FROM THE MALL TOWARDS SAFETY.  SHE SAYS THERE WERE NO INJURIES AT THE MALL AND, AFTER CALLING HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOMS, THEY FOUND NO ONE SHOWED UP WITH A GUNSHOT WOUND.  ANYONE WHO HAS INFORMATION ON THE SHOOTING IS ASKED TO CALL LAFAYETTE CRIME STOPPERS AT TWO-THREE-TWO-TIPS.

TWO TEENAGERS SHOT AND KILLED EACH OTHER IN NEW IBERIA LAST NIGHT.  CAROLINE MARCELLO REPORTS.

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The Louisiana Coastal Restoration and Protection Authority says restoration is underway at the state bird’s only breeding site in southwest Louisiana. Rabbit Island is also where hundreds of brown pelicans and other birds were released in 2010 after oil from the BP spill was washed off of them. Spill settlement money is paying for the $16.4 million project. Sediment dredged from the Calcasieu Ship Channel is being used to rebuild the island, which sits in a cove of Calcasieu Lake.

The Louisiana governor’s office says the state has identified its first case of the COVID-19 variant in a person in the New Orleans area. Officials say the variant, frequently referred to as the U.K. variant because it’s prevalent in the United Kingdom, spreads more easily than other viral strains currently in U.S. circulation. Gov. John Bel Edwards said it was just a matter of time before the new strain reached Louisiana. He urged residents to wear masks, wash their hands and “double down” on other mitigation measures that are effective in reducing the virus’ spread.

COVID-NINETEEN HOSPITALIZATIONS DROPPED BY SEVENTY-ONE IN LOUISIANA, ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH’S REPORT YESTERDAY, WHICH COVERED A TWO DAY PERIOD.  THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS ON VENTILATORS DECREASED BY FIVE.  THERE WERE MORE THAN THIRTY-FIVE HUNDRED NEW CONFIRMED POSITIVE CASES IN THE STATE, MOVING THE TOTAL OVER THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-SIX THOUSAND.  THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REPORTED ONE HUNDRED ELEVEN DEATHS, WHICH COVERS A THREE DAY PERIOD.

KTHERE WERE FIFTEEN DEATHS DURING THAT TIME IN ACADIANA, INCLUDING FIVE IN LAFAYETTE PARISH.  ST. LANDRY PARISH HAD THREE, THERE WERE TWO EACH IN ACADIA, EVANGELINE AND IBERIA PARISHES AND ONE IN ST. MARTIN PARISH.  SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA HAD TWO MORE DEATHS.  THERE WERE FOUR IN CALCASIEU PARISH AND TWO IN JEFF DAVIS PARISH, BUT BEAUREGARD PARISH HAD THEIR NUMBERS ADJUSTED DOWNWARD BY FOUR.  THERE WERE SIX HUNDRED FORTY-FOUR NEW CASES IN ACADIANA AND ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-TWO IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA.

A FAMILY IN DUSON LOST EVERYTHING THEY HAD IN A HOUSE FIRE EARLY SATURDAY INCLUDING THEIR DOG.  THE HOUSE WAS LOCATED IN THE TWO HUNDRED BLOCK OF AVENUE AUNORD.  THE FAMILY, WHICH INCLUDED FIVE YOUNG CHILDREN, MANAGED TO ESCAPE.  THEY ARE SEEKING DONATIONS OF CLOTHING AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS AS THEY ATTEMPT TO RECOVER.  FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL TWO-FIVE-OH- ELEVEN-TWENTY-FOUR.

THREE PEOPLE WERE WOUNDED BY GUNSHOTS IN RAYNE SATURDAY MORNING.  IT HAPPENED IN THE SIX HUNDRED BLOCK OF BELLA AVENUE JUST AFTER ONE A-M.  WHEN OFFICERS ARRIVED THEY FOUND THE THREE GUNSHOT VICTIMS, WHO WERE TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO LAFAYETTE GENERAL HOSPITAL.  ANYONE WHO HAS INFORMATION ON THE SHOOTING IS ASKED TO CALL ACADIA PARISH CRIME STOPPERS AT SEVEN-EIGHT-NINE-TIPS.

CROWLEY HAD ITS FIRST MURDER OF TWENTY-TWENTY-ONE.  TIMMY HARMON WAS SHOT AND KILLED.  POLICE FOUND HIM IN THE OVERNIGHT HOURS LYING ON THE GROUND IN THE FIFTEEN HUNDRED BLOCK OF NORTH AVENUE I.  FIRST AID EFFORTS WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AND HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE.  ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THE CRIME IS ASKED TO CALL CRIME STOPPERS OF ACADIA PARISH AT SEVEN EIGHT-NINE-TIPS.

THERE WAS A TWO ALARM FIRE AT A STORAGE FACILITY ON NORTHEAST EVANGELINE THRUWAY IN LAFAYETTE LAST NIGHT.  GERALD GRUENIG REPORTS.

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AFTER DECREASING FOR TWO DAYS, COVID-NINETEEN HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE UP AGAIN BY TWENTY-SIX, MOVING THE TOTAL COUNT FOR LOUISIANA ABOVE TWO THOUSAND AGAIN.  THERE ARE THREE FEWER PATIENTS ON VENTILATORS.  THE NUMBER OF NEW POSITIVE CASES ROSE BY MORE THAN TWO THOUSAND, MOVING THE TOTAL PAST THREE HUNDRED TWENTY-TWO THOUSAND.  THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH DID NOT UPDATE CONFIRMED DEATHS BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS WITH THE DATA SYSTEM.

ACADIANA RECORDED TWO HUNDRED FORTY-FIVE NEW POSITIVE COVID-NINETEEN CASES TODAY.  THAT MOVES THE TOTAL FOR THE REGION ABOVE FORTY-EIGHT THOUSAND.  LAFAYETTE PARISH HAD THE MOST WITH ONE HUNDRED ONE.  VERMILLION PARISH’S TOTAL MOVES ABOVE FOUR THOUSAND FOR THE FIRST TIME.  SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA HAD ONE HUNDRED EIGHT NEW CASES, INCLUDING EIGHTY IN CALCASIEU PARISH.

Authorities say they have arrested a Lafayette man for participating in last week’s riot at the U.S. Capitol. Fifty-year-old Vaughn A. Gordon made an initial appearance Thursday via videoconference before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patrick Hanna in Lafayette. He faces two charges, including one count of knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority. Gordon told The Advocate that he was able to wander the building for nearly two hours, adding he remained peaceful and didn’t vandalize anything.

A BREAUX BRIDGE MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR SECOND DEGREE CRUELTY TO A JUVENILE.  ST. MARTIN PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES WERE CALLED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL AFTER AN INFANT WAS BROUGHT THERE WITH BROKEN BONES.  AN INVESTIGATION LED TO THE ARREST YESTERDAY OF TWENTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD COLE HORTON.  HE WAS BOOKED INTO THE ST. MARTIN PARISH CORRECTIONAL CENTER AND BOND WAS NOT SET AS OF LAST NIGHT.

KAJN IMPACT NEWS       PAGE TWO

The widow of Republican U.S. Representative-elect Luke Letlow is entering the race to fill the Louisiana congressional vacancy left by her husband’s death from complications related to COVID-19. Julia Barnhill Letlow announced her campaign launch Thursday. She’s seeking the 5th District seat representing central and northeastern Louisiana that her husband Luke Letlow had won in December. The election is March 20.

THE NEW SEMESTER FOR SOWELA TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE WILL BE COMPLETELY VIRTUAL WHEN IT BEGINS JANUARY NINETEENTH.  IT’S PART OF THE SCHOOL’S SAFE START PLAN.  IN PERSON LEARNING WILL START ON FEBRUARY FIRST.  THE REASON FOR THE TWO WEEKS OF ONLINE CLASSES TO START IS BECAUSE OF CONCERNS THAT STAFF AND STUDENTS MAY HAVE HAD AN INCREASED EXPOSURE TO COVID-NINETEEN OVER THE HOLIDAY BREAK.

INTERSTATE TEN IN LAFAYETTE WAS CLOSED FOR AWHILE LAST NIGHT AFTER A POLICE CHASE ENDED WITH A CRASH NEAR LOUISIANA AVENUE.  THE CHASE BEGAN WHEN IBERVILLE PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES SPOTTED A STOLEN VEHICLE FROM NEW ORLEANS.  STATE POLICE HELPED END THE CHASE WHEN THEY SPIKED THE STOLEN VEHICLE, WHICH CRASHED INTO A ROAD MAINTENANCE VEHICLE, CAUSING BOTH TO GO UP IN FLAMES.  THE TWO PEOPLE IN THE ROAD MAINTENANCE VEHICLE WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WITH NON-LIFE THREATENING INJURIES.  THERE’S NO WORD YET FROM POLICE ON THE CONDITION OF THOSE IN THE STOLEN VEHICLE.

A FATAL TWO VEHICLE CRASH YESTERDAY MORNING ON I-TEN IN RAYNE RESULTED IN MAJOR CONGESTION IN ACADIA PARISH THROUGHOUT THE DAY.  THE DRIVER OF A PICKUP TRUCK WAS KILLED WHEN HE WENT THROUGH THE MEDIAN AND CRASHED INTO AN ONCOMING EIGHTEEN WHEELER.  BOTH VEHICLES ENDED UP IN THE MEDIAN, WITH THE PICKUP CATCHING FIRE.  BOTH LANES OF TRAFFIC EASTBOUND WERE OPENED AT AROUND SEVEN-THIRTY LAST NIGHT.

THERE’S A PROPANE SHORTAGE IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA ATTRIBUTED TO HURRICANES LAURA AND DELTA COUPLED WITH THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC.  BRIAN CROPPER, WHO WORKS AT STINE, TELLS KPLC TV THEY CONSTANTLY GET CALLS FROM PEOPLE ASKING WHEN THEY’LL HAVE A SUPPLY.  RUSSELL SALAME, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF MARKETING FOR MARKET BASKET, SAYS ITS NOT JUST A PROBLEM IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA BUT NATIONWIDE.  HE SAYS THERE’S PLENTY OF PROPANE BUT A SHORTAGE OF CONTAINERS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE HOLDING ON TO MORE THAN ONE.

Louisiana bar owners have lost an appeal in their fight to end Gov. John Bel Edwards’ closure of their businesses. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday upheld rulings from two lower court judges who had refused to block the closure order for groups of bars that filed suit in the Lafayette and New Orleans areas. Edwards said he was pleased with the decision. In a news release, his office said it was the ninth time a court has ruled in favor of his orders aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19.

COVID-NINETEEN HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE DOWN AGAIN IN LOUISIANA WITH FIFTY-FOUR FEWER THAN YESTERDAY, ACCORDING TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.  THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS PUT ON VENTILATORS HAS GONE UP BY TEN.  THERE ARE THREE THOUSAND, ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-SIX NEW CASES, PUTTING THE STATE’S TOTAL OVER THREE HUNDRED TWENTY THOUSAND.  LOUISIANA ALSO REPORTED FORTY-NINE MORE DEATHS ATTRIBUTED TO COVID-NINETEEN.

(IT MUST BE NOTED THAT THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH HAD A BACKLOG OF INFORMATION DATING BACK TO NOVEMBER INLCUDED IN TODAY’S REPORT.)

ACADIANA HAD TEN MORE DEATHS, FOUR IN LAFAYETTE PARISH, TWO IN ACADIA PARISH, AND ONE EACH IN IBERIA, ST. LANDRY, ST. MARTIN AND VERMILLION PARISHES.  THERE WERE SEVEN NEW DEATHS IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA.  FOUR IN BEAUREGARD PARISH, TWO IN CALCASIEU PARISH, AND ONE IN ALLEN PARISH. THERE ARE SEVEN HUNDRED AND SEVEN NEW CASES IN ACADIANA.  VERMILLION PARISH ADDED ONE HUNDRED FORTY-TWO NEW CASES AND LAFAYETTE PARISH ADDED ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-SIX.  SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA HAD ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY-FOUR NEW CASES, INCLUDING SEVENTY-EIGHT NEW CASES IN CALCASIEU PARISH AND TWENTY-FOUR IN ALLEN PARISH.

LAFAYETTE MAYOR PRESIDENT JOSH GUILLORY HAS PUT HIMSELF IN QUARANTINE AFTER HAVING CLOSE CONTACT WITH SOMEONE WHO TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-NINETEEN.  GUILLORY HAS HAD NO SYMPTOMS AND TESTED NEGATIVE TUESDAY, BUT HE’S FOLLOWING THE ADVICE OF THE REGIONAL MEDICAL DIRECTOR FOR ACADIANA, DR. TINA STEFANSKI, TO STAY IN QUARANTINE UNTIL AT LEAST SATURDAY.  GUILLORY WILL WORK REMOTELY STAYING IN CONTACT WITH DEPARTMENT HEADS.  COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR JAMIE ANGELLE SAYS GUILLORY WILL NOT RETURN TO CITY HALL UNTIL HE IS TESTED AGAIN.

A HOUSE FIRE IN OPELOUSAS CLAIMED THE LIVES OF A MAN AND HIS DOG.  SYLVIA MASTERS REPORTS.

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