KAJN Jesus FM 102.9

LAFAYETTE MAYOR PRESIDENT JOEL ROBIDEAUX HAS COME OUT AGAINST TWO PARISH WIDE TAXES THAT ARE ON THE BALLOT ON NOVEMBER SIXTH.  THE TAXES ARE A 2-POINT-9-4 MILL PROPERTY TAX FOR THE LAFAYETTE PARISH CORRECTIONAL CENTER AND A TWO MILL PROPERTY TAX TO FUND DISTRICT COURT OPERATIONS.  ON ROBIDEAUX’S RADIO SHOW, “THE SPIRIT OF POLITICS” ON 103-POINT-7 F-M, HE ANNOUNCED HIS OPPOSITION, BUT WHEN ASKED TO ELABORATE BY THE DAILY ADVERTISER,  HE SAID HE COULDN’T ON ADVICE OF HIS LEGAL COUNSEL.  THE CITY PARISH COUNCIL VOTED 5-TO-4 IN MAY TO PUT THE TWO TAXES ON THE BALLOT.

THE CALCASIEU PARISH SCHOOL DISTRICT IS GETTING NEW POD BUILDINGS IN ORDER TO ADD A TOTAL OF 56 MORE CLASSROOMS.  THE SCHOOL BOARD RECENTLY APPROVED THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW BUILDINGS BECAUSE SOME SCHOOLS ARE RUNNING OUT OF SPACE.  CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER WILFRED BOURNE SAYS POD BUILDINGS ARE CHEAPER, WHICH MEANS THEY DON’T NEED TO BE FUNDED BY A TAX HIKE, AND THEY TAKE LESS THAN A YEAR TO BUILD.  THE START DATE ON THE CONSTRUCTION HAS NOT YET BEEN DECIDED.

ONE OF THE U-S IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT MOST WANTED WAS ARRESTED IN A CHURCH POINT HOME.  JOSE MARTINEZ WAS WANTED FOR INDECENT LIBERTIES WITH A CHILD IN NORTH CAROLINA IN NOVEMBER OF 2002 AND WAS LATER DEPORTED TO MEXICO.  HE ILLEGALLY RE-ENTERED THE U-S, WHICH IS A FELONY UNDER FEDERAL LAW.  MARTINEZ WAS ARRESTED IN ACADIA PARISH IN APRIL ON A D-U-I CHARGE.

The leader of the nation’s consumer watchdog agency visited Louisiana to talk about efforts to prevent financial abuse and defrauding of the elderly. Mick Mulvaney, acting director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in the Trump administration, joined Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry at a town hall meeting Thursday in Baton Rouge. The panel offered tips and suggestions to combat financial exploitation schemes and report such elder abuse to authorities.

Several audience members urged Mulvaney to retain tougher rules governing the payday lending industry they said would protect older consumers from taking out loans they cannot afford.

A HOTEL IN LAFAYETTE HAS BEEN ORDERED PUT UP FOR AUCTION BY COURT ORDER.  THE AUCTION OF THE STAYBRIDGE SUITES HOTEL, LOCATED NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF KALISTE SALOOM AND PINHOOK, IS BECAUSE THE OWNERS FAILED TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR MORTGAGE.  THE OWNERS ARE LAFAYETTE ATTORNEYS RICKY MINIEX AND CLYDE SIMIEN.  ACCORDING TO A PETITION FILED BY U-S BANK, THE TWO OWE 15 MILLION DOLLARS TO A MORTGAGE SECURITIES CORPORATION.

MORE THAN 16-HUNDRED WOMEN ATTENDED THIS YEAR’S WOMEN’S CONFERENCE AT THE LAKE CHARLES CIVIC CENTER.  IT’S BEEN GOING ON FOR 28 YEARS AND IS PUT ON BY THE WOMEN’S COMMISSION OF SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA.  THERE WERE MORE THAN TWENTY WORKSHOPS AIMED AT SELF-EMPOWERMENT AND MOTIVATION AND DOZENS OF LOCAL BUSINESSES PUT UP DISPLAYS AS PART OF THE ANNUAL MARKETPLACE.  COMMISSION PRESIDENT TAMMY THIBODEAUX SAYS THEY’VE ALREADY STARTED WORKING ON NEXT YEAR’S CONFERENCE, BECAUSE IT TAKES THAT LONG TO PLAN.

A MEXICAN NATIONAL LIVING ILLEGALLY IN ABBEVILLE WAS SENTENCED WEDNESDAY FOR POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY.  34-YEAR-OLD PAUL ARMENTA-BOJORQUEZ WILL SERVE SEVEN-AND-A-HALF YEARS IN PRISON.  U-S ATTORNEY DAVID C. JOSEPH SAYS ARMENTA-BOJORQUEZ USED HIS PHONE AND AN ONLINE ACCOUNT TO PURCHASE AND POSSESS CHILD PORNOGRAPHY.  HE PLED GUILTY LAST MAY TO ONE COUNT OF POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY.

A SABINE PARISH JUDGE HAS RULED THAT LOUISIANA’S SPLIT JURY LAW IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.  DISTRICT COURT JUDGE STEPHEN BEASLEY RULED THAT THE LAW, WHICH ALLOWS CONVICTIONS IN FELONY TRIALS IF AT LEAST TEN OF 12 JURORS AGREE, WAS CRAFTED WITH RACIST INTENT AND CONTINUES TO BE DISCRIMINATORY TODAY.  HIS RULING ONLY APPLIES TO SABINE PARISH, AND WAS USED TO ORDER A NEW TRIAL FOR A MAN WHO WAS CONVICTED OF SECOND DEGREE MURDER ON AN 11-TO-ONE VOTE.  ON NOVEMBER SIXTH, LOUISIANA VOTERS WILL DECIDE A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT THAT WOULD REQUIRE UNANIMOUS JURY VERDICTS.

BRANDON SCOTT LAVERGNE, THE MAN CONVICTED FOR KILLING TWO LAFAYETTE WOMEN, WAS CAPTURED AFTER AN ESCAPE ATTEMPT FROM THE LOUISIANA STATE PENITENTIARY IN ANGOLA.  LAVERGNE IS SERVING TWO LIFE SENTENCES FOR THE KILLING OF U-L LAFAYETTE STUDENT MICKEY SHUNICK IN 2012 AND LISA PATE OF LAFAYETTE IN 1999.  STATE CORRECTIONS SPOKESMAN KEN PASTORICK TELLS KATC TV THAT SHUNICK TRIED TO MAKE A RUN FOR IT AT AROUND 4:30 MONDAY MORNING, BUT DIDN’T GET FAR.  HE HAS BEEN PLACED IN LOCKDOWN APART FROM THE GENERAL POPULATION, AND IT WILL BE UP TO WEST FELICIANA PARISH OFFICIALS TO DECIDE WHETHER THEY WILL PROSECUTE HIM FOR THE ATTEMPTED ESCAPE.

THE CALCASIEU PARISH SCHOOL DISTRICT IS LOOKING FOR EDUCATIONAL INTERPRETERS TO PROVIDE SIGN LANGUAGE FOR STUDENTS THAT ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING.  CHRISTA FOOLKES, THE COORDINATOR OF DEAF, HARD OF HEARING AND VISION DEPARTMENTS SAYS THEY CURRENTLY HAVE ONE INTERPRETOR PER TWO TO THREE STUDENTS.  THEY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE AN INTERPRETOR FOR EACH OF THE THIRTY STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT THAT REQUIRE THE SERVICE.  ANYONE WISHING TO APPLY FOR THE JOB WILL HAVE TO TAKE AND PASS ONE OF TWO TESTS TO BECOME CERTIFIED.

A CAMPAIGN SIGN FOR A POLICE CHIEF CANDIDATE IN CHURCH POINT HAS BEEN VANDALIZED.  THE CHURCH POINT POLICE DEPARTMENT IS INVESTIGATING AND ANYONE WITH INFORMATION SHOULD CONTACT THEM.  SOME CHURCH POINT RESIDENTS HAVE TOLD KLFY TV ANONYMOUSLY THAT THIS HAPPENS QUITE OFTEN.  ONE FACEBOOK POST SHOWS A PICTURE OF A SIGN BY THIS PARTICULAR POLICE CHIEF CANDIDATE HAVING BEEN VANDALIZED LAST JULY AS WELL.

Gov. John Bel Edwards is announcing details of nearly $7 million in spending across Louisiana on prisoner rehabilitation and education programs, crime victims’ services and other criminal justice initiatives.  The dollars come from savings associated with shrinking Louisiana’s prison population through sentencing changes enacted in 2017. Seventy percent of the savings must be reinvested in the criminal justice system.  Much of this year’s money will be spread across Caddo, East Baton Rouge, Orleans, St. Tammany and Jefferson parishes.

SUSPENDED LAFAYETTE CITY MARSHAL BRIAN POPE HAS ENTERED A NOT GUILTY PLEA TO SEVEN FELONY MALFEASANCE CHARGES.  A GRAND JURY ON SEPTEMBER 13^TH INDICTED POPE ON THE MALFEASANCE CHARGES FOR KEEPING FEES AND GARNISHMENTS AS PART OF HIS SALARY DESPITE AN OPINION ISSUED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL THAT THE MONEY BELONGS TO THE MARSHAL’S OFFICE.  EARLIER THIS MONTH, POPE WAS CONVICTED ON ONE COUNT OF PERJURY AND THREE COUNTS OF MALFEASANCE.  HE WAS SUSPENDED BECAUSE OF A STATE LAW THAT REQUIRES IT FOR PUBLIC OFFICIALS THAT ARE CONVICTED OF FELONIES, AND THAT WILL REMAIN THE CASE UNTIL ALL OF HIS APPEALS ARE EXHAUSTED.

KAJN IMPACT NEWS       PAGE TWO

THE LOUISIANA STATE FIRE MARSHAL’S OFFICE HAS FOUND THAT TWELVE OF THE SIXTEEN RIDES AT THE CAL-CAM FAIR IN SULPHUR WERE NOT SET UP APPROPRIATELY.  THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIRECTOR FOR THE STATE FIRE MARSHAL’S OFFICE, ASHLEY RODRIGUE, SAYS THE UNAPPROVED RIDES HAD SAFETY ISSUES THAT INCLUDED BROKEN SEAT BELTS AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS.  SHE SAYS INSPECTORS ARE WORKING AGRESSIVELY WITH THE RIDE OPERATORS AND EVENT ORGANIZERS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUES WITH THE PROBLEM RIDES.  THE PRESIDENT OF THE CAL-CAM FAIR ASSOCIATION, CHUCK KINNEY, SAYS THE OTHER FOUR RIDES HAVE BEEN APPROVED AND SHOULD BE UP AND RUNNING THIS MORNING.

AN ATTORNEY IS SEEKING THE NAMES OF CATHOLIC PRIESTS ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ABUSE.  ANTHONY FONTANA IS REPRESENTING A PERSON FROM ST. LANDRY PARISH WHO IS AN ALLEGED VICTIM OF PRIEST MICHAEL GUIDRY, WHO WAS ARRESTED EARLIER THIS YEAR.  FONTANA HAS ASKED GUIDRY AND THE DIOCESE OF LAFAYETTE TO NAME ALL PRIESTS AND CHURCH EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE CREDIBLE COMPLAINTS AGAINST THEM SINCE 2002.  HE’S ALSO REQUESTED THE PERSONNEL FILES OF GUIDRY AND EIGHT OTHER PRIESTS WHO HAVE BEEN ACCUSED OR CONVICTED OVER THE LAST FEW DECADES, AS WELL AS ANY WRITTEN COMPLAINTS.

The legal settlement ending a sexual harassment lawsuit against Louisiana’s former secretary of state includes no admission of guilt and a gag clause to keep those involved from talking about it.  Tom Schedler and the female former employee who accused him of harassment agreed to terms in August that involved a $167,500 payment to the woman and no acknowledgment of liability from Schedler.  All participants in negotiations are barred from talking to the media about the settlement.  The Division of Administration, a state agency involved in resolving the legal claims, provided settlement documents Wednesday to The Associated Press after releasing payment figures last week.

YESTERDAY, NEW ORLEANS ARCHBISHOP GREGORY AYMOND SAID THAT THEY WOULD RELEASE THE NAMES OF CATHOLIC PRIESTS ACCUSED OF SEXUAL ABUSE OVER THE LAST FIFTY YEARS SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.  FOLLOWING THAT ANNOUNCEMENT, FOUR OTHER DIOCESES COMMITTED TO THE RELEASE OF THE NAMES AS WELL, INCLUDING THE DIOCESE OF LAFAYETTE.  HOWEVER, BISHOP DOUGLAS DESHOTEL SAID THE PROCESS WILL TAKE TIME BECAUSE OF THE EXTENT AND COMPLEXITY OF THE RESEARCH, AND IT’S IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT WHEN THAT PROCESS WILL BE COMPLETED.  THE DIOCESE OF LAKE CHARLES HAS NOT MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT.

TWO LAKE ARTHUR WOMEN WERE ARRESTED TUESDAY ON CHARGES OF STOLEN ITEMS AND DRUGS.  MEGAN KELLY HAS MORE.

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HEAVY RAINS IN VERMILLION PARISH LED TO SOME FLOODING AND ROAD CLOSURES.  AT ONE NURSING HOME OFF OF VETERANS MEMORIAL IN ABBEVILLE, AQUADAMS WERE PUT IN PLACE TO PREVENT FLOODING.  WATER IN THE AREA WAS BEING PUMPED INTO A VACANT FIELD.  THE RESIDENTS WERE SAFE AND DID NOT HAVE TO BE EVACUATED.

Louisiana homeowners with damage from the 2016 floods have a few days left to seek aid through a federally-financed grant program.  The deadline to complete a survey for homeowner aid through the Restore Louisiana program is Friday. The survey is the first step to applying for assistance.  Homeowners may complete the survey online at restore.la.gov or by calling 1-866-735-2001 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH COUNCILMAN BRUCE CONQUE WITHDREW AN ITEM FROM LAST NIGHT’S AGENDA THAT WOULD HAVE PROVIDED FREE BUS SERVICE ON THE ELECTION DAYS OF NOVEMBER SIXTH AND DECEMBER EIGHTH.  CONQUE WITHDREW THE RESOLUTION AFTER SEEING AN OPINION FROM ATTORNEY GENERAL JEFF LANDRY SAYING IT WOULD VIOLATE STATE LAW.  LANDRY SAYS GOVERNMENT IS PROHIBITED FROM GIVING AWAY SOMETHING OF VALUE, AND HE WOULD HAVE LEGALLY CHALLENGED IT.  CONQUE HAD PLANNED TO SUBMIT THE RESOLUTION FOR A VOTE AT THE REQUEST OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS FROM LAFAYETTE, BUT IT DREW CRITICISM FROM THE GROUP, LAFAYETTE CITIZENS AGAINST TAXES.

LAKE CHARLES POLICE ARRESTED 36-YEAR-OLD BEN WEAVER OF LAKE CHARLES OVER THE WEEKEND IN CONNECTION WITH A BURGLARY AND DAMAGE TO PROPERTY NEAR DRY CREEK.  THEY RECEIVED A TIP AFTER VIDEO WAS RELEASED THROUGH CRIMESTOPPERS.  AN INVESTIGATION BY THE BEAUREGARD PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT FOUND THAT WEAVER WAS ALSO WANTED ON SIMILAR CHARGES IN ALEXANDRIA, VERNON PARISH AND ORANGE COUNTY, TEXAS.  WEAVER IS CURRENTLY BEING HELD IN THE CALCASIEU CORRECTIONAL CENTER.

A CROWLEY MAN FACES HATE CRIMES AND TERRORIZING CHARGES AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY MADE THREATS AGAINST THE CROWLEY POLICE DEPARTMENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA.  41-YEAR-OLD JEREMY BODDYE SENIOR WAS ARRESTED MONDAY ON A WARRANT FOR THE THREATS THAT STEMMED FROM A PREVIOUS ENCOUNTER WITH POLICE OVER THE WEEKEND.  THE DEPARTMENT GOT NUMEROUS CALLS FROM PEOPLE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS AND WORRIED THAT HE MAY BE A THREAT DURING THE INTERNATIONAL RICE FESTIVAL COMING UP THIS WEEKEND.  POLICE CHIEF JIMMY BROUSSARD SAID HE ACTED IMMEDIATELY UPON BEING INFORMED OF THE POSTS AND DECLARED HE WOULD NOT STAND BY AND LET A PERSON THREATEN THE SAFETY OF CROWLEY CITIZENS AND POLICE OFFICERS.

People searching for health insurance policies in Louisiana will likely fare better than those in many other states as the Nov. 1 annual open enrollment period approaches for the individual marketplace.  The Advocate reports data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services provide the first official glimpse of premiums in states using healthcare.gov, the portal for former President Barack Obama’s health care law’s policies.  The centers say premiums are decreasing for the first time since “Obamacare’s” rollout, and they’ll be lower in Louisiana than in most other states. Louisiana Department of Insurance Deputy Commissioner Frank Opelka says the centers’ report aligns with the trend the department sees.

The Lafayette Parish school district says a new policy is in place for campus volunteers after there had been little guiding officials about how to register them.

The Daily Advertiser reports the Lafayette Parish School System policy establishes two levels of volunteers, those who are and aren’t supervised by district personnel while interacting with students. Level One volunteers will be checked against sex offender registries. Level Two are those whose interaction doesn’t require supervision, like field trip chaperones or coaches, and they’re required to undergo a criminal background check.

NEW CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ON I-TEN IN LAKE CHARLES HAS REDUCED MOST TRAFFIC DOWN TO ONE LANE, ESPECIALLY ON THE EASTBOUND SIDE.  ACADIAN AMBULANCE SAYS THEY ARE MAKING SURE THEY HAVE THE PROPER STRUCTURES IN PLACE TO BE ABLE TO ANSWER CALLS WITH THE CONGESTION.  QUALITY CONTROL COORDINATOR BILLY VINCENT TELLS KPLC TV THAT THEY HAVE AN EXTENSIVE PLAN IN PLACE TO RESPOND IN A TIMELY MANNER TO EMERGENCIES, EVEN WITH THE CONGESTION.  THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION SAYS THAT ONE OF THE CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY NEXT MONTH WHILE THE OTHER TWO WON’T BE FINISHED UNTIL FEBRUARY.

Six people who accused law enforcement officers in Evangeline Parish of illegally detaining and secretly jailing them will share settlement proceeds totaling nearly $50,000.  The settlement terms are disclosed in documents that The Associated Press obtained through public records requests.  The six plaintiffs sharing $47,500 in settlement proceeds represent a fraction of the cases in which law enforcement officers in Evangeline Parish have been accused of using unconstitutional “investigative holds” to detain people for questioning.  A Justice Department report said the Ville Platte Police Department and Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office used the practice more than 900 times between 2012 and 2014.

After months of quiet on the airwaves, candidates vying to be Louisiana’s secretary of state are kicking off TV ad campaigns.  Interim Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin, a Baton Rouge Republican in office since May, launched first, with a 30-second spot that went up Monday. In it, Ardoin positions himself as an incumbent fighting to protect voters.  GOP State Rep. Rick Edmonds, of Baton Rouge, is entering the TV ad competition Tuesday, with a smaller buy.

ON WEDNESDAY, ONE ACADIANA WILL HOST A CONGRESSIONAL FORUM WHERE ALL SEVEN OF THE THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT CANDIDATES WILL BE IN ATTENDANCE.  GERALD GREUNIG HAS MORE.

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A NINE-YEAR-OLD STUDENT FROM MOSS BLUFF WAS ACCIDENTALLY LEFT ON A SCHOOL BUS AND WAS SPOTTED BY A GAS STATION EMPLOYEE WALKING HOME.  THAT’S ACCORDING TO ALLYSON STAFFORD , THE MOTHER OF ADEN, WHO SAYS THE GAS STATION EMPLOYEE NOTIFIED THE BUS DRIVER WHO PICKED UP ADEN AND BROUGHT HIM HOME.  ALLYSON SAYS ADEN WAS IN TEARS AND THE BUS DRIVER TOOK OFF WITHOUT TELLING HER ANYTHING.  WHEN SHE CONTACTED THE SCHOOL BOARD, SHE TELLS KPLC TV THAT SHE WAS TOLD THAT THE MATTER WOULD BE HANDLED AND THAT SHE WAS OVERREACTING.

A NEW FIRE STATION WILL BE BUILT IN ACADIA PARISH.  THE POLICE JURY HAS APPROVED A BOND SALE TO FUND THE BUILDING OF THE FIRE STATION ON L-A 13 NORTH OF CROWLEY, NEAR HENSGENS ROAD.  DISTRICT ELEVEN FIRE CHIEF CHAD MONCEAUX SAYS HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO GET DONATIONS FROM FIRE DISTRICTS IN LOUISIANA AND TEXAS BUT THEY STILL NEED TRUCKS AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE NEW STATION.  THE VOLUNTEER DISTRICT IS JUST FIVE YEARS OLD AND SERVES THE RURAL AREA AROUND CROWLEY.

TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER ONLINE TO VOTE IN THE NOVEMBER SIXTH ELECTION.  JUST GO TO THE LOUISIANA SECRETARY OF STATE’S WEBSITE AT S-O-S-DOT-L-A-DOT-GOV AND CLICK ON THE ONLINE REGISTRATION NOTICE AT THE TOP OF THE PAGE.  THE DEADLINE FOR REGISTERING IN PERSON OR BY MAIL HAS PASSED.  EARLY VOTING BEGINS A WEEK FROM TODAY AND CONTINUES THROUGH OCTOBER 30^TH.

A BOXER FROM LAFAYETTE WAS SHOT AND KILLED LATE SATURDAY NIGHT.  LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES WERE CALLED OUT TO THE THREE HUNDRED BLOCK OF GROSSIE LANE WHERE THEY FOUND 28-YEAR-OLD BRANDON BROUSSARD SUFFERING FROM GUNSHOT WOUNDS.  HE WAS TAKEN TO A NEARBY HOSPITAL WHERE HE LATER DIED.  FRIENDS AND COACHES TELL KATC TV THAT BROUSSARD WAS KNOWN AS KING TUT AND HE TRAINED OUT OF THE BACKSTREET BOXING CLUB IN CARENCRO.

A LAKE CHARLES MAN WAS KILLED IN A SINGLE VEHICLE ACCIDENT YESTERDAY MORNING AROUND THREE A-M.  32-YEAR-OLD ERROL J. WILSON WAS TRAVELING ON L-A 32-56 NEAR HUNGERFORT ROAD WHEN HE WENT OFF THE ROAD AT A CURVE AND STRUCK A TREE.  WILSON, WHO WAS WEARING A SEATBELT, WAS PARTIALLY EJECTED.  THE CALCASIEU PARISH CORONER’S OFFICE PRONOUNCED HIM DEAD AT THE SCENE.  THE CRASH REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

A CROWLEY NATIVE COMPETED IN THE IRONMAN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP IN HAWAII SATURDAY.  THE AMAZING THING IS 54-YEAR-OLD ISABELLA DELA HOUSSAYE DID IT DESPITE HAVING STAGE FOUR LUNG CANCER.  DELAHOUSSAYE SAYS SHE’S ON AN EXPERIMENTAL TREATMENT AND THE CANCER IS NOT PROGRESSING.  SHE HAS NOW COMPETED IN RACES IN ALL FIFTY STATES AND DELAHOUSSAYE, WHO NOW LIVES IN NEW JERSEY, PLANS TO CONTINUE COMPETING, POSSIBLY IN PUERTO RICO.

Louisiana students who complete specified courses in science, technology, engineering and mathematics may soon be able to earn special endorsements on their high school diplomas.  Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education members are scheduled soon to consider the new diploma endorsements for completion of what are popularly known as STEM courses.  State education superintendent John White says the endorsements — represented by a gold or silver seal on diplomas — will be an incentive to engage in STEM course work.

A BESE committee looks at the proposal Tuesday ahead of Wednesday’s full board meeting.

TWO PEOPLE ARE INJURED IN A SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED EARLY SATURDAY MORNING.  MEGAN KELLY HAS MORE.

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PROGRESS ON A NEW STATE OF THE ART INDUSTRIAL PARK IN LACASSINE IS MOVING AT WARP SPEED.  THAT’S ACCORDING TO MARION FOX OF THE JEFF DAVIS PARISH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.  SHE TELLS KPLC TV THAT THE PARK OPERATED BY RAIL LOGIX WILL BE ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE 800 RAIL CARS, AND COULD POSSIBLY INTRODUCE UP TO 150 NEW JOBS TO THE PARISH.  THE NEW PARK IS EXPECTED TO BE OPERATIONAL BEGINNING IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF NEXT YEAR.

THE ST. MARTIN SHELTER IS LOOKING FOR THE OWNER OF A MINIATURE HORSE.  RESIDENTS IN A NEIGHBORHOOD NEAR THE HENDERSON LEVEE FOUND IT WANDERING AROUND FRIDAY MORNING.  ST. MARTIN PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES SAY A TAG ON ITS HALTER SAID “A-P WARRIOR, RAISED ON ROYALTY.”  IF IT BELONGS TO YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW, CALL THE ST. MARTIN SHELTER.

The Louisiana Community and Technical College System is celebrating the 20-year anniversary of its creation.  Voters in October 1998 approved a constitutional amendment forming the statewide network of community and technical colleges, a proposal pushed by then-Gov. Mike Foster.  The system was aimed at bolstering educational opportunities and increasing workforce training capacity. It has grown to 12 open-access, two-year colleges around Louisiana.

AN OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING TUESDAY IN LAFAYETTE BEGAN WHEN OFFICERS RESPONDED TO REPORTS OF SEVERAL PEOPLE SMOKING MARIJUANA ON A PORCH.  A 19-YEAR-OLD MAN WAS SHOT AND WOUNDED BY A POLICE OFFICER.  THE STATE POLICE, WHICH TOOK OVER THE INVESTIGATION, HAS NOT RELEASED THE REASONS FOR THE SHOOTING OR WHETHER THE MAN WAS INVOLVED IN CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.  TWO OTHER PEOPLE, 17-YEAR-OLD TYRESE CARTER AND 18-YEAR-OLD KANE WYATT, BOTH OF LAFAYETTE, WERE ARRESTED ON DRUG AND GUN CHARGES.

LAST MAY, A THREE JUDGE PANEL OF THE U-S FIFTH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS RELEASED A RULING THAT COULD LEAD TO THE EVENTUAL RELEASE OF RICKY LANGLEY.  HE WAS CONVICTED FOR KILLING 6-YEAR-OLD JEREMY GUILLORY NEAR IOWA IN 1992.  NOW THE FULL 17 JUDGE PANEL OF THE FIFTH CIRCUIT WILL HEAR THE APPEAL FROM LANGLEY, WHO CONFESSED TO THE KILLING AND, IN ONE INTERVIEW, ADMITTED HE ENJOYED IT.  THE HEARING IS EXPECTED TO TAKE PLACE IN LATE JANUARY.

THE VERMILLION PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS SEARCHING FOR FOUR MEN BELIEVED TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SEVEN KICK-IN RESIDENTIAL BURGLARIES.  THEY HAPPENED IN THE ABBEVILLE, KAPLAN AND NORTH VERMILLION PARISH AREAS.  THE FOUR MEN WERE SEEN RIDING IN A WHITE CHEVY FOUR DOOR PICKUP FROM BETWEEN 2008 TO 2013, AND WHICH HAD 20 TO 22 INCH CHROME RIMS.  DETECTIVES WITH THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE ARE COORDINATING WITH THE ACADIA AND LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICES AS WELL AS THE CARENCRO POLICE DEPARTMENT IN AN ATTEMPT TO FIND THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE BURGLARIES.

Louisiana is paying $149,075 to end a sexual misconduct lawsuit against former Secretary of State Tom Schedler that was filed by one of his former employees.  Schedler will personally pay $18,425 on top of the taxpayer-financed amount.  Details of the settlement were provided Thursday to The Associated Press by the Division of Administration. The payments will resolve legal claims that Schedler sexually harassed a woman who worked for him.

A FORMER ACADIANA PRIEST, WHO PLED GUILTY TO POSSESSION OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY, HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO FIVE YEARS AT HARD LABOR.  TWO YEARS AGO, MORE THAN FIVE HUNDRED IMAGES WERE FOUND ON FELIX DAVID BROUSSARD’S PERSONAL COMPUTER.  HE WAS THE PASTOR AT ST. BERNARD ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH IN BREAUX BRIDGE AT THE TIME AND HAD SERVED AS CHANCELLOR OF THE PARISH SCHOOL FOR TWO YEARS.  UPON HIS RELEASE, BROUSSARD WILL HAVE TO REGISTER AS A SEX OFFENDER FOR FIFTEEN YEARS.

A MUSIC TEACHER AT MAPELWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL IN SULPHUR HAS BEEN NAMED A SEMIFINALIST FOR THE 2019 MUSIC EDUCATOR AWARD PRESENTED BY THE RECORDING ACADEMY AND THE GRAMMY MUSEUM.  MICKEY SMITH JUNIOR IS ONE OF 25 PEOPLE NATIONWIDE WHO ARE SEMIFINALISTS FOR THE AWARD.  MAYOR MIKE DANAHAY STOPPED BY THE SCHOOL YESTERDAY TO MAKE THE ANNOUNCEMENT AND DECLARE IT MICKEY SMITH JUNIOR AND MAPLEWOOD MIDDLE SCHOOL DAY.  PRINCIPAL SABERLY O’QUAIN SAID SHE ISN’T SURPRISED ESPECIALLY SINCE THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME HE’S BEEN NOMINATED.

A DRIVER CRASHED HIS PICKUP TRUCK INTO THE ACADIA PARISH COURTHOUSE YESTERDAY MORNING.  CROWLEY POLICE CHIEF JIMMY BROUSSARD SAYS THE ACCELORATER ON THE TRUCK GOT STUCK.  THE DRIVER AND A PASSENGER WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT.  BROUSSARD SAYS THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE BECAUSE THE TRUCK MISSED AN AREA WHERE A CREW WAS SETTING UP A STAGE FOR THE RICE FESTIVAL.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards will travel to Israel later this month on an economic development trip that includes a meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.  The Democratic governor announced the plans Thursday, saying the 24-person delegation will include business leaders and researchers in fields such as water management, logistics, higher education and cybersecurity.  The delegation leaves Louisiana on Oct. 26 and returns Nov. 2. The governor will meet with Netanyahu and other government leaders in Jerusalem on Oct. 28.

WHILE STATE POLICE ARE IN CHARGE OF AN OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING INVESTIGATION, LAFAYETTE POLICE SAY 19-YEAR-OLD KEION BONNER HAD A GUN BEFORE A LAFAYETTE POLICE OFFICER SHOT HIM.  JEFF HORCHAK REPORTS.

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THE SULPHUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED COMPLAINTS ABOUT PRANKS RELATED TO THE HOMECOMING GAME THIS FRIDAY.  POLICE CHIEF LEWIS COATS SAYS IT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR WHERE PRANKS START OUT INNOCENT ENOUGH AND THEN LEAD TO PROPERTY DAMAGE.  HE SAYS THE COMPLAINTS DEAL WITH FROZEN PAINT BALLS BEING SHOT AT VEHICLES, CAUSING DAMAGE.  HE SAYS THERE HAVE BEEN NO CRIMINAL REPORTS FILED YET.

RIDE ACADIANA IS ADDING SEVEN NEW STOPS IN ITS ROUTE BETWEEN LAFAYETTE AND ACADIA PARISH.  FIVE OF THE STOPS ARE IN CROWLEY, INCLUDING A STOP AT THE SOUTH LOUISIANA COMMUNITY COLLEGE CAMPUS, AND THE OTHER TWO STOPS ARE IN RAYNE AND IN DUSON.  MONIQUE BOULET, THE C-E-O OF THE ACADIANA PLANNING COMMISSION, SAYS THE STOPS WERE ADDED BECAUSE OF FEEDBACK DURING THE FIRST SIX WEEKS OF OPERATION FROM PEOPLE ALONG THE ROUTE.  THE REVISED ROUTE SCHEDULE GOES INTO EFFECT THIS MONDAY.

Louisiana is sending dozens of emergency personnel, along with boats, ambulances and other equipment to Florida to help with the response to Hurricane Michael.  The state emergency preparedness office announced the assistance Wednesday, shortly before the storm roared ashore.  The emergency workers include ambulance teams coordinated by the Louisiana health department, search-and-rescue workers from the fire marshal’s office, firefighters, medics and a helicopter team from the Louisiana National Guard. The assistance, for which Louisiana will be reimbursed, is coordinated through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact system.

A LAFAYETTE MAN WAS SENTENCED TO THIRTY MONTHS IN PRISON FOR MAKING THREATS ON INTERSTATE COMMUNICATIONS TO CONGRESSMAN CLAY HIGGINS.  ON JULY 17^TH LAST YEAR, FIFTY-YEAR-OLD SOHAIL RANA CALLED HIGGIN’S OFFICE WHILE HE WAS IN COLORADO AND THREATENED TO END HIGGIN’S CAREER AND KILL HIM.  THE PHONE NUMBER USED WAS REPORTED TO THE CHIEF OF STAFF IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND IT WAS TRACED TO RANA’S CELL PHONE.  U-S DISTRICT JUDGE D-D DRELL ORDERED RANA TO SERVE TWO YEAR’S OF SUPERVISED RELEASE AFTER COMPLETING HIS PRISON SENTENCE.

THE BEAUREGARD PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS LOOKING FOR AN ESCAPED SUSPECT NEAR RAGLEY.  35-YEAR-OLD CHRIS GUILLORY WAS ARRESTED YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AFTER DEPUTIES FOUND SEVERAL STOLEN ITEMS.  HE WAS PLACED IN A VEHICLE, BUT, WHEN THE DEPUTY STEPPED AWAY MOMENTARILY, GUILLORY ESCAPED.  GUILLORY, WHO IS WHITE, FIVE-SIX AND 175 POUNDS WITH BLONDISH/BROWNISH HAIR, WAS LAST SEEN ON SOUTH COOLEY ROAD NEAR RAGLEY.

THERE’S A BIT OF CONFUSION IN A CROWLEY CITY COUNCIL RACE.  JEFF HORCHAK EXPLAINS.

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Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has drawn his first Republican challenger in next year’s governor’s race.  Baton Rouge businessman Eddie Rispone (RIHS-poh-nay) filed state paperwork Wednesday declaring his candidacy for the 2019 election.  Rispone, founder of an industrial contracting company, is a longtime donor to GOP and conservative campaigns and causes. The wealthy businessman says he plans to invest his own money in what will be an expensive governor’s race.

STATE POLICE HAVE TAKEN OVER THE INVESTIGATION OF AN OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING IN LAFAYETTE.  JEFF HORCHAK HAS THE DETAILS.

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LAKE CHARLES POLICE HAVE ARRESTED A MAN IN CONNECTION WITH TWO RECENT BUSINESS BURGLARIES.  CHIEF DON DIXON SAYS POLICE WITNESSED 21-YEAR-OLD DONOVAN MOORE JUNIOR BURGLARIZING VEHICLES IN THE POWER CENTER AREA ALONG HIGHWAY 14.  DURING THE ARREST, THEY NOTICED THAT CLOTHING HE WAS WEARING AND TOOLS HE USED MATCHED THE DESCRIPTION OF THOSE USED IN THE BURGLARIES OF BUFFIE’S PEAUXBOYS AND THE PANDA BUFFET.  POLICE EXECUTED A SEARCH WARRANT OF MOORE’S HOME AND FOUND ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE LINKING HIM TO THOSE CRIMES.

THE IBERIA PARISH GOVERNMENT WILL BUILD A NEW FIVE LANE ACCESS ROAD NEXT YEAR CONNECTING THE ACADIANA REGIONAL AIRPORT TO A NEW BUSINESS PARK AND HIGHWAY 90.  THE NEW ROAD WILL GO FROM L-A 675 TO L-A 32-12 AND INCLUDE A ROUNDABOUT AT L-A 675 AND HIGHWAY 90.  PARISH PRESIDENT LARRY RICHARD SAYS THE LONG TERM GOAL IS TO MAKE THE AIRPORT AN INTERNATIONAL CARGO FACILITY.  THEY ALSO ENVISION BUSINESSES GOING UP ALONG THE NEW ACCESS ROAD, WHICH WILL COST 8-POINT-6 MILLION DOLLARS TO BUILD.

THE STATE OF FLORIDA HAS REQUESTED THE LOUISIANA STATE FIRE MARSHAL’S HELP WITH THE RECOVERY AFTER HURRICANE MICHAEL HITS THE STATE.  A NINETY PERSON CONVOY LEAVES THIS MORNING BRINGING WITH IT SEARCH AND RESCUE EQUIPMENT.  OFFICE SPOKESMAN BUTCH BROWNING SAYS THE EQUIPMENT WILL ALLOW THEM TO OPEN DOORS, LIFT WALLS, BREACH MINOR COLLAPSES AND PERFORM WATER RESCUES.  OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL BE WORKING UNDER THE COMMAND OF FLORIDA OFFICIALS AND EXPECT TO STAY FOR TWO TO THREE DAYS AFTER THE STORM.

LAST NIGHT, REPRESENTATIVES FROM NEXTGEN UTILITY SYSTEMS PRESENTED TO THE LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH COUNCIL THE DETAILS OF THEIR OFFER TO ACQUIRE THE RIGHTS TO L-U-S’ WATER, WASTEWATER AND ELECTRIC DIVISIONS.  THE OFFER INCLUDES A 140 MILLION DOLLAR LUMP SUM PAYMENT AND 920 MILLION DOLLARS IN PAYMENTS OVER FORTY YEARS, THE LENGTH OF THE PROPOSED MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT.  TO SWEETEN THE DEAL, THEY HAVE OFFERED TO CUT ELECTRIC RATES BY TEN PERCENT OVER THE FIRST THREE YEARS, AND BUILD A NEW CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS IN LAFAYETTE THAT WILL EMPLOY 400 PEOPLE.  ENTERGY LOUISIANA HAS RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING THEY WOULD BE HAPPY TO PARTICIPATE IN A SELECTION PROCESS.

A JUDGE PRESIDING OVER A COURT BATTLE DETERMINING THE ELIGIBILITY OF A DERIDDER CITY COUNCIL MEMBER SAYS HE WILL DECIDE THE MATTER WITHIN TEN DAYS.  RETIRED NATCHITOCHES PARISH JUDGE ERIC HARRINGTON GAVE BOTH SIDES 72 HOURS TO SEND HIM FINAL ARGUMENTS IN THE CASE OF MICHAEL D. HARRIS.  ON THE WITNESS STAND MONDAY AT THE BEAUREGARD PARISH COURTHOUSE, HARRIS CLAIMED TO HAVE DUAL RESIDENCY, WITH ONE RESIDENCE OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS AND THE OTHER INSIDE THE CITY LIMITS.  OTHER WITNESSES WERE BROUGHT IN TO DETERMINE WHICH IS HIS PRIMARY RESIDENCE.

THE ACADIA PARISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WILL BE HOSTING A MEMBER OF LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BILLY NUNGESSER’S OFFICE TONIGHT.  RAY SCRIBER, THE DIRECTOR OF THE MAIN STREET PROGRAM, WILL BE AT THE MAIN STREET MEET AND GREET IN CROWLEY TO DISCUSS GRANT OPPORTUNITIES AND HISTORIC TAX CREDITS AVAILABLE TO BUSINESS AND PROPERTY OWNERS.  CHAMBER PRESIDENT AND C-E-O AMY THIBODAUX SAYS THE EVENT WILL ALOW MAIN STREET BUSINESSES TO FIND OUT ABOUT RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO THEM WHILE CREATING A MORE COHESIVE DOWNTOWN ENVIROMENT.  IT HAPPENS FROM 5:30 TO SEVEN TONIGHT AT ZEUS ACROSS FROM THE COURTHOUSE.

THE STATE BOARD THAT SUPERVISES PUBLIC DEFENDERS HAS ENTERED INTO A ONE MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT WITH A CHILDREN’S RIGHTS ORGANIZATION TO REPRESENT MORE THAN 80 JUVENILES WITH LIFE SENTENCES.  THEY ARE AWAITING RESENTENCING SINCE THE SUPREME COURT IN 2016 RULED THAT LIFE WITHOUT PAROLE SENTENCES FOR JUVENILE OFFENDERS ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL EXCEPT IN RARE CASES.  THE LOUISIANA PUBLIC DEFENDER BOARD IS PARTNERING WITH THE LOUISIANA CENTER FOR CHILDREN’S RIGHTS IN EACH OF THESE CASES.  STATE PUBLIC DEFENDER JAY DIXON TELLS THE ADVOCATE THAT L-C-C-R HAS PARTICULAR EXPERTISE AND EXPERIENCE THAT IS NEEDED FOR THIS SPECIFIC LITIGATION.

A HIGH RANKING OFFICIAL IN THE DIOCESE OF LAFAYETTE HAS BEEN PUT ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE BECAUSE OF ALLEGATIONS OF PAST SEXUAL ABUSE.  MONSIGNOR ROBIE ROBICHEAUX HAS MOST RECENTLY BEEN JUDICIAL VICOR AND HEAD OF THE MARRIAGE TRIBUNAL FOR THE DIOCESE.  HE WAS ACCUSED OF ALLEGEDLY ABUSING A TEENAGE GIRL BETWEEN 1979 AND 1981.  THE ALLEGED VICTIM FIRST NOTIFIED THE DIOCESE IN 1994, BUT BISHOP DOUGLAS DESHOTEL SAYS HE FIRST LEARNED OF IT ON SEPTEMBER 18^TH.

THERE WAS AN ALLEGED SEXUAL ASSAULT ON THE MCNEESE STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS OVER THE WEEKEND.  THAT MAKES THE SECOND SUCH CASE IN 2018 FOR THE UNIVERSITY.  PUBLIC RELATIONS DIRECTOR CANDACE TOWNSEND SAYS THEY RECEIVED A CALL FROM MEMORIAL HOSPITAL THAT A STUDENT THERE HAD POSSIBLY BEEN THE VICTIM OF AN ASSAULT.  SHE SAYS AFTER JUST A FEW HOURS OF AN INVESTIGATION, THE UNIVERSITY POLICE HAS IDENTIFIED A SUSPECT BUT THERE HAS NOT YET BEEN AN ARREST.

THE RECENTLY FORMED NEW IBERIA POLICE DEPARTMENT HELD A TOWN HALL MEETING AT THE MARTIN LUTHER KING CENTER.  POLICE CHIEF TODD D’ALBOR SAYS THE PURPOSE OF THE MEETING WAS TO LET THE COMMUNITY KNOW WHERE THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS IN THEIR FIRST NINETY DAYS AND HEAR IDEAS FROM RESIDENTS ON WHAT THEY COULD DO BETTER.  SEVERAL PEOPLE STOOD AND COMMENDED THE DEPARTMENT ON THE WORK THEY ARE DOING.  D’ALBOR SAYS THEY ARE HOPING THAT, WITH EVENTS LIKE THIS, RESIDENTS WILL BE MORE COMPELLED TO BE THE EYES AND EARS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

Candidates vying to be Louisiana’s secretary of state say they’re running to restore confidence in an office whose last elected leader resigned amid sexual harassment allegations.  Five of the nine contenders on the Nov. 6 ballot faced off Monday.

Republicans were interim Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin, Turkey Creek Mayor Heather Cloud, Rep. Rick Edmonds and Rep. Julie Stokes. The participating Democrat was Renee Fontenot Free, a former top aide to two secretaries of state.

FLAMES ERUPTED FROM A VACANT HOME IN LAFAYETTE PARISH AND FIRE OFFICIALS SAY THEY BELIEVE IT MAY BE ARSON.  JEFF HORCHAK REPORTS.

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THE LAKE CHARLES MAYOR’S OFFICE HAS STARTED A NEW VENTURE THAT WILL ALLOW PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES TO GIVE BACK TO THE COMMUNITY WHILE EARNING SOME MONEY.  THE CITY IS JOINING WITH CARC IN THE PARK BUDDY PROGRAM, WHERE CARC CLIENTS CAN HELP CLEAN UP CITY PARKS.  CARC CLIENTS WORK IN GROUPS OF FOUR FOR TWO HOURS A DAY IN DIFFERENT PARKS THROUGHOUT THE CITY MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY TO PICK UP LITTER.  MAYOR NIC HUNTER HAS MADE IT A PRIORITY OF HIS ADMINISTRATION TO INVEST IN PARK PROGRAMS, WITH MORE THAN 500 THOUSAND DOLLARS SPENT SO FAR.

AN ACADIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE SWAT TEAM FOUND COCAINE, MARIJUANA, PILLS AND A STOLEN GUN WHILE EXECUTING A SEARCH WARRANT AT A HOME ON KATHY MEADOWS LANE IN CROWLEY.  VARIOUS PARAPHERNALIA USED TO PACKAGE AND SELL NARCOTICS WERE ALSO RECOVERED.  THE GUN WAS REPORTED STOLEN IN LAFAYETTE PARISH.  24-YEAR-OLD CHANDLER MOORE OF CROWLEY WAS BOOKED INTO THE ACADIA PARISH JAIL ON NUMEROUS CHARGES INCLUDING POSSESSION WITH THE INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE COCAINE, OXYCODONE, CRACK COCAINE AND MARIJUANA.

Louisiana officials want a federal appeals court to take another look at a law that would set a minimum age of 21 for exotic dancers.  Last month, three judges on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court ruling blocking enforcement. They agreed that the law making 21 the minimum age was unconstitutionally vague regarding how much of a young dancer must be covered.

Louisiana officials have now asked that the full 16-member court consider the case.

A private equity firm working to acquire utility systems across the Southeast wants to manage and operate some of the utilities of Lafayette.  The Daily Advertiser reports Bernhard Capital Partners/NextGEN Utility Systems pitched its plan Friday to Lafayette officials. It wants to control Lafayette’s electric, water and sewer systems for 40 years.  Company representatives are set to further explain the plan Tuesday at a meeting that’s open to the public.

THERE ARE REPORTS OF A DRUNK DRIVER HITTING A LAKE CHARLES BUSINESS EARLY THIS MORNING.  AT AROUND 1:37, STEAMBOAT BILL’S ON BROAD STREET WAS STRUCK BY A VEHICLE.  POLICE SAY THEY HAVE MADE AN ARREST.  THERE IS NO OTHER INFORMATION AT THIS TIME.

A south Louisiana man has been arrested in connection with the death of a retired principal.  Morgan City police say they arrested 50-year-old Michael Guidry on Saturday, booking him with first-degree murder, bank fraud and violating his parole.  Guidry, a Morgan city resident, is accused of killing 70-year-old Patricia Lyn Russo. Her body was found Monday inside her home.

Officials in the Pelican State are designing two projects to shore up coastal islands, aiming to improving nesting grounds for its namesake brown pelicans.  The Advocate reports Louisiana got $148 million following 2010’s Deepwater Horizon oil spill to improve coastal rookeries.  The projects would aid Rabbit Island in southwest Louisiana’s Cameron Parish and fill an area around Queen Bess Island in Barataria (BAIR uh TAIR ee uh) Bay that’s turned to open water.  The birds left the endangered species list in 2009. But officials now say pelicans are losing Louisiana nesting sites, leaving for Texas or making do with inferior sites.

LAFAYETTE HAS A NEW CITY MARSHAL, AT LEAST TEMPORARILY.  JEFF HORCHAK HAS MORE.

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Six Louisiana public schools are 2018 National Blue Ribbon Schools, a federal designation to honor schools that are high-performing or that have closed achievement gaps.  The U.S. Department of Education chose 349 schools across the nation. State Superintendent of Education John White says Louisiana’s schools should be proud to be named.  Three Louisiana schools were selected for their high performance levels including T.S. Cooley Elementary Magnet School in Calcasieu Parish.

A historic opera house in Acadiana will soon be reopening.  The Duchamp Opera House in St. Martinville was built in the 1830s and was used for arts and crafts.   he building played host to local theater productions, traveling dance troupes and opera performances from New Orleans, but KATC-TV reports a lack of funding forced the building to close.  Now it’s being renovated so it can be leased.

A pro-abortion group wants a federal appeals court to revisit its split decision upholding a Louisiana law that requires abortion providers to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.  The Center for Reproductive Rights asked in documents filed Friday that the full 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rehear the case. The appellate court, in a split 2-1 decision last month, upheld the law.

The Center says it asked the court to rehear the case because the panel’s decision “violates binding Supreme Court precedent.”