KAJN Jesus FM 102.9

LAFAYETTE POLICE HAVE ARRESTED A MAN FROM HOUSTON ON A CHARGE OF ATTEMPTED SECOND-DEGREE MURDER.   AT AROUND THREE-THIRTY YESTERDAY MORNING, OFFICERS RESPONDED TO THE SCENE OF A SHOOTING ON STATEN STREET AND FOUND ONE PERSON WITH MULTIPLE GUNSHOT WOUNDS.  THAT PERSON IS LISTED IN STABLE CONDITION AT A HOSPITAL.  INVESTIGATORS LEARNED THAT THE SHOOTING WAS THE RESULT OF A PHYSICAL ALTERCATION BETWEEN FAMILY MEMBERS WHEN THE SUSPECT, THIRTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD DEMONTRE ROBERTSON, ALLEGEDLY PULLED OUT A GUN AND SHOT THE VICTIM.

A CHILD SUFFERED A HEAD INJURY AFTER FALLING OFF A SIDE-BY-SIDE VEHICLE ON MARIE STRET IN CHURCH POINT SATURDAY.  THE CHILD WAS TAKEN TO A LAFAYETTE HOSPITAL AND THEN TRANSFERRED TO A BATON ROUGE HOSPITAL FOR FURTHER TREATMENT.  INVESTIGATORS LATER LEARNED THE DRIVER WAS FOURTEEN-YEARS-OLD AND THERE WERE SEVERAL CHILDREN ON BOARD.  THE TEEN’S PARENT WAS CITED FOR VIOLATING CHURCH POINT’S

U-T-V ORDINANCE AND FOR CHILD SUPERVISION ISSUES.

AN ABANDONED CAMP ALONG THE OUISKA CHITTO RIVER IN ALLEN PARISH HAS BEEN REMOVED BECAUSE OF CONCERNS FROM RESIDENTS AND STATE AGENCIES.  TAYLOR ALEXANDER, A RESIDENT WHO LIVES ACROSS FROM THE CAMP, TOLD KPLC TV THE CAMP HAD COLLAPSED LAST SUMMER.  SHE BROUGHT HER CONCERNS TO THE ALLEN PARISH POLICE JURY WHICH LED TO AN INVESTIGATION BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES.  THE DEPARTMENT’S PUBLIC INFORMATION DIRECTOR, RENE LEBRETON, SAYS THE PROPERTY’S OWNERS WERE MADE TO CLEAN UP THE CAMP.

LAWMAKERS WILL HAVE A LOT OF BILLS TO CONSIDER OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.  GEORGE FAUST HAS MORE.

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ANOTHER BILL PROPOSES TO PUT AN END TO VEHICLE INSPECTION STICKERS.  GEORGE FAUST TELLS US ABOUT ONE OF THEM.

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MECHANICAL WORK ON AN A-T-V SATURDAY AFTERNOON LED TO A FIRE IN A CARPORT AT A HOME ON SOUTH RICE CIRCLE IN SCOTT.  FIREFIGHTERS WERE ABLE TO CONTAIN THE BLAZE TO THE CARPORT WHICH HAD MODERATE DAMAGE WHILE THE MAIN LIVING AREA HAD SMOKE AND HEAT DAMAGE.  THE FAMILY OF THREE WAS DISPLACED BECAUSE POWER HAD TO BE SHUT OFF DUE TO DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING’S ELECTRICAL WIRING.  A CERTIFIED ELECTRICIAN MUST INSPECT AND PERFORM NECESSARY REPAIRS BEFORE THE POWER IS TURNED BACK ON.

ON FRIDAY, THE SAINT MARTINVILLE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED A THREE MONTH UTILITY PAYMENT PLAN TO HELP RESIDENTS MANAGE RISING ELECTRIC BILLS.  THE HIGHER COSTS ARE DUE TO A RISE IN FUEL USED FOR ELECTRIC GENERATION.  UNDER THE APPROVED RELIEF OPTION, QUALIFIED CUSTOMERS CAN DIVIDE THE ELECTRIC PORTION OF THEIR FEBRUARY TWENTY-EIGHTH BILL INTO THREE EQUAL INSTALLMENTS THAT WILL BE PAYED OVER MARCH, APRIL AND MAY.  TO QUALIFY, THE CUSTOMER MUST HAVE AN ACTIVE AND CURRENT UTILITY ACCOUNT THAT DOES NOT HAVE AN OUTSTANDING BALANCE FROM ANY CYCLE PRIOR TO THE FEBRUARY TWENTY-EIGHTH BILL.

A TRAFFIC STOP IN NEW IBERIA LED TO THE DISCOVERY OF ILLEGAL NARCOTICS.  THE TRAFFIC STOP FOR A FAKE VEHICLE TAG HAPPENED FRIDAY AT THE INTERSECTION OF AVERY ISLAND AND HAYES ROADS.  THE STRONG SCENT OF MARIJUANA LED TO A PROBABLE CAUSE SEARCH AND DEPUTIES SEIZED OVER SIX OUNCES OF MARIJUANA ALONG WITH EIGHTY-FIVE T-H-C VAPE PENS, T-H-C-INFUSED CANDY AND FIVE JARS OF PRE-ROLLED JOINTS.  TYTEN DEBLANC WAS ARRESTED ON SEVERAL CHARGES INCLUDING POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE MARIJUANA OR T-H-C.

THE VOTE WAS UNANIMOUS BY THE SAINT LANDRY PARISH SCHOOL BOARD AS THEY AGREED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH MERGING OPELOUSAS JUNIOR AND SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS.  THE SINGLE CAMPUS WILL SERVE SEVENTH THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE STUDENTS.  THE CONSOLIDATION WILL TAKE EFFECT IN THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.  DISTRICT OFFICIALS SAY THEY WILL PROVIDE MORE DETAILS ON HOW THE CONSOLIDATION WILL BE IMPLEMENTED BEFORE THE START OF THE NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.

A PEDESTRIAN REMAINS IN THE HOSPITAL AFTER BEING STRUCK THREE TIMES EARLY THURSDAY MORNING IN LAFAYETTE.  GEORGE FAUST REPORTS.

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LOUISIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL LIZ MURRILL IS ENCOURAGING SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS TO PUT UP POSTER-SIZE DISPLAYS OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN CLASSROOMS.  A U-S APPEALS COURT REMOVED A LOWER COURT BLOCK WHICH NOW ALLOWS A LOUISIANA LAW TO TAKE EFFECT REQUIRING THE DISPLAYS.  MURRILL HAS PROVIDED GUIDANCE FOR SCHOOLS REGARDING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS LAW ON HER WEBSITE.  THE LOUISIANA FAMILY FORUM HAS DONATED THE TEN COMMANDMENTS POSTERS TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE STATE.

THE PROSECUTER IN THE CONVICTION OF DERIDDER MAYOR MISTY ROBERTS SAYS HE’S DISAPPOINTED THAT SHE CONTINUES TO CLAIM HER INNOCENCE.  ROBERTS WILL BE SENTENCED ON APRIL SEVENTEENTH ON TWO CHARGES:  CARNAL KNOWLEDGE OF A JUVENILE AND INDECENT BEHAVIOR WITH A JUVENILE.  SPECIAL ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY CHARLES ROBINSON SAYS THEY ESTABLISHED PROOF BEYOND ANY REASONABLE DOUBT OF ROBERT’S “DEPLORABLE, LEWD AND CORRUPT ACTS”.  ROBERT’S DEFENSE TEAM SAYS THEIR FOCUS IS ON KEEPING HER OUT OF JAIL SO SHE CAN CONTINUE RAISING HER CHILDREN.

THE CITY OF ABBEVILLE HAS SECURED FOUR-AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL FUNDING TO MODERNIZE AND STRENGTHEN ITS MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC SYSTEM.  THE MONEY WILL ALLOW THE CITY TO RELOCATE AND CONSOLIDATE TWO SUBSTATIONS WHILE UPGRADING KEY COMPONENTS OF THE ELECTRIC DISTRIBUTION NETWORK.  OFFICIALS SAY IT WILL PROVIDE MORE DEPENDABLE POWER.  CITY LEADERS SAY IT WILL ENSURE THE ELECTRIC SYSTEM CAN MEET INCREASING DEMANDS AS THE AREA CONTINUES TO GROW.

NEW U-L PRESIDENT RAMESH KOLLURU CONFIRMED WEDNESDAY THAT THE SCHOOL IS WORKING TO CLOSE A TWELVE MILLION DOLLAR BUDGET GAP.  THE DEFICIT WAS ORIGINALLY FIFTY MILLION DOLLARS.  HE SAYS IT WILL TAKE A COMBINATION OF BELT-TIGHTENING AND REVENUE GENERATING TO ELIMINATE THE REMAINING DEFICIT.  KOLLURU PRAISED THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY FOR ITS RESILIENCE WHILE ADDRESSING THE DEBT.

THE SECOND STRONGEST EARTHQUAKE IN LOUISIANA HISTORY HAPPENED YESTERDAY IN THE NORTHERN PART OF THE STATE.  IT TOOK PLACE AT FIVE-THIRTY A-M NEAR COUSHATTA IN RED RIVER PARISH.  IT OCCURRED ABOUT SEVEN MILES BELOW THE SURFACE BUT THERE WERE NO IMMEDIATE REPORTS OF DAMAGE.  THE STRONGEST EARTHQUAKE IN STATE HISTORY, A MAGNITUDE FIVE-POINT-THREE OFFSHORE NEAR GRAND ISLE, HAPPENED IN TWO THOUSAND SIX.

SAINT MARTIN PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES CONDUCTED A NARCOTICS SEARCH OF SUNNY DEE’S CONVENIENCE STORE IN BREAUX BRIDGE BECAUSE OF SUSPECTED ILLEGAL DRUG ACTIVITY.  THE FEBRUARY NINETEENTH SEARCH LED TO THE SIEZURE OF TWO BOTTLES OF SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS, A T-H-C VAPE CARTRIDGE, A BOX OF TADALAFIL, TWO FIREARMS AND NEARLY SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS IN CASH.  THEY ARRESTED TWENTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD ABDULWAHAB SALEH ON SEVERAL CHARGES INCLUDING POSSESSION WITH THE INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE SCHEDULE ONE CONTROLLED DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES.  IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS SEARCH, LAFAYETTE POLICE CONDUCTED A SEARCH OF PROPERTY ON GRANDMARK STREET, WHICH RESULTED IN THE DISCOVERY OF NEARLY ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS.

THE SAINT MARTINVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS SCHEDULED ITS FIRST ACCIDENT REENACTMENT THAT IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.  IT WILL HAPPEN AT TEN-THIRTY A-M ON FRIDAY, MARCH TWENTIETH AT SAINT MARTINVILLE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL.  THE DEMONSTRATION IS INTENDED TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ON ACCIDENT PREVENTION AND THE DANGERS OF IMPAIRED DRIVING.  IT IS ALSO DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A REALISTIC LOOK AT HOW OFFICERS HANDLE A CRISIS SITUATION.

A PEDESTRIAN IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER A MAJOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT EARLY THIS MORNING.  IT HAPPENED IN THE SIXTEEN HUNDRED BLOCK OF WEST PINHOOK ROAD IN LAFAYETTE.  POLICE ESTABLISHED A CRIME SCENE AT THE LOCATION AND CALLED IN TRAFFIC INVESTIGATORS TO LEAD THE INQUIRY.  NO INFORMATION HAS BEEN RELEASED ON THE IDENTITY OF THE PEDESTRIAN OR THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ACCIDENT.

A MAN WAS CONVICTED FOR A SECOND TIME FOR CAUSING A WILDFIRE IN ALLEN PARISH.  THE LATEST HAPPENED IN SEPTEMBER ALONG CHERRY WINCHE ROAD WHEN TIMOTHY CAUDLE LEFT A FIRE UNATTTENDED, RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO NEARLY THREE ACRES IN NEIGHBORING PROPERTY.  HE PLED GUILTY IN NOVEMBER AND WAS GIVEN A TWENTY DAY SUSPENDED JAIL SENTENCE AND HAD TO PAY OVER SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLARS IN FINES AND COSTS.  THE PREVIOUS CONVICTION WAS FOR A FIRE ON HIS PROPERTY IN OCTOBER OF TWENTY-TWENTY-THREE THAT CAUSED OVER THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS IN DAMAGE.

APPROXIMATELY ONE THOUSAND LOUISIANA GUARDSMEN ARE DEPLOYED OVERSEAS, INCLUDING THE MIDDLE EAST, ACCORDING TO A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LOUISIANA GUARD.  GEORGE FAUST HAS MORE.

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A NEW IBERIA MAN IS ONE OF FOUR SUSPECTS WANTED IN CONNECTION TO A SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED FEBRUARY EIGHTH IN GRAY, LOUISIANA.  THE TERREBONNE PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE HAS ARREST WARRANTS FOR THE FOUR MEN WHICH INCLUDES TWENTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD TORIE LEWIS OF NEW IBERIA.  HE IS WANTED FOR ATTEMPTED FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.  DEPUTIES ASK THE PUBLIC NOT TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE SUSPECTS WHO ARE BELIEVED TO BE ARMED AND DANGEROUS.

A FLORIDA MAN IS IN CUSTODY IN LAFAYETTE AFTER, AUTHORITIES SAY, EXPLOSIVE MATERIAL AND FIRARMS WERE FOUND IN HIS CAMPER.  GEORGE FAUST REPORTS.

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A LAKE CHARLES MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR TRYING TO ENTICE A MINOR FOR INAPPROPRIATE PURPOSES.  FORTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD NATHAN BROWN ALLEGEDLY TRAVELED TO A LOCAL PARK TO MEET A JUVENILE.  HE WAS ARRRESTED BY THE F-B-I AND STATE POLICE AND CHARGED WITH INDECENT BEHAVIOR WITH JUVENILES.  HIS BOND WAS SET AT TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.

THE VERMILLION PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE ANNOUNCED THE CREATION OF A NEW TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT UNIT, WHICH MODERNIZES THE WAY THE DEPARTMENT FIGHTS CRIME.  SHERIFF EDDIE LANGLINAIS SAYS THE NEW UNIT CONSOLIDATES INTO ONE DEPARTMENT MULTIPLE TECHNOLOGY-BASED OPERATIONS, SUCH AS THE DRONE PROGRAM, CAMERAS AND ANYTHING I-T RELATED.  HE SAYS THE RESTRUCTURING IS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY AND COORDINATION WITHIN THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE.  LEADERS IN THE NEW UNIT SAYS THE IN-HOUSE PROGRAMS AND TECHNOLOGY BEING DEVELOPED WILL HELP EXPAND THEIR INVESTIGATIVE CAPABILITIES AND ALLOW ACCESS TO MORE INFORMATION WHEN WORKING CASES.

A COUPLE FROM MAMOU WERE KILLED IN A HOUSE FIRE YESTERDAY.  FIREFIGHTERS RECEIVED A CALL AT ABOUT THREE A-M AND THE HOUSE WAS LOCATED IN THE EIGHT HUNDRED BLOCK OF FIFTH STREET.  FAMILY MEMBERS IDENTIFIED THE VICTIMS AS KENNETH AND BARBARA FREEMAN SYRIE (ser EYE), WHO LIVED AT THE RESIDENCE.  THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.

RENEWABLE ENERGY, PARTICULARLY SOLAR, IS GROWING IN ACADIANA AND ACROSS THE STATE.  GEORGE FAUST HAS MORE.

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GOVERNOR JEFF LANDRY AND LOUISIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY A ONE HUNDRED FORTY MILLION DOLLAR PROGRAM TO PREPARE INDUSTRIAL SITES FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.  GOVERNOR LANDRY SAYS, UNDER THE PROGRAM, THE STATE WILL INVEST MONEY IN PREPARING A SITE AND WILL GET THE MONEY BACK WHEN A COMPANY BUYS OR LEASES THE LAND, AND THEN THAT MONEY WILL BE PUT INTO PREPARING ANOTHER SITE.  NINETEEN INDUSTRIAL PROJECTS ACROSS THE STATE ARE MOVING FORWARD UNDER THE PROJECT.  THEY INCLUDE THE ACADIANA REGIONAL AIRPORT IN IBERIA PARISH AND THE LAKE CHARLES REGIONAL AIRPORT.

A DERIDDER JURY HAS FOUND FORMER MAYOR MISTY ROBERTS GUILTY OF CARNAL KNOWLEDGE OF A JUVENILE AND INDECENT BEHAVIOR WITH A JUVENIILE.  SHE WAS FOUND TO HAVE HAD RELATIONS WITH A SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD BOY AT A PARTY AT HER HOME.  SHE WILL BE SENTENCED ON APRIL SEVENTEENTH.  SHE COULD GET UP TO TEN YEARS IN PRISON ON THE CARNAL KNOWLEDGE CHARGE AND UP TO SEVEN YEARS ON THE INDECENT BEHAVIOR COUNT.

THE OPELOUSAS LIBRARY IS UNDERGOING UPGRADES THAT WILL INCLUDE NEW FLOORING, NEW COMPUTERS AND REPAINTED WALLS.  IT’S THE FIRST RENOVATIONS FOR THE LIBRARY IN SIX DECADES.  MAYOR JULIUS ALSANDOR SAYS, WHEN THE JOB IS COMPLETED, IT WILL BE SO MODERNIZED THAT KIDS ARE GOING TO USE THE LIBRARY FOR YEARS TO COME.  THE RENOVATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

PELICAN ROOFING IN YOUNGSVILLE IS RUNNING A FIVE-K EVERY DAY THIS MONTH TO RAISE MONEY FOR AN ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD VILLE PLATTE BOY.  JOEL MOSCOVIS (muhs COH vee) WAS SHOT LAST AUGUST, CAUSING HIM TO BE PARALYZED FROM THE NECK DOWN.  PELICAN ROOFING IS SEEKING TO RAISE FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR JOEL’S STEM CELL TREATMENT AND OTHER MEDICAL NEEDS.  IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN DONATING OR PARTICIPATING, GO TO PELICAN ROOF-DOT-COM-BACKSLASH-RUN-DASH-WITH-DASH-ROOFUS-BACKSLASH.

LAFAYETTE LAWYER GLENN ARMENTOR SUBMITTED HIS RESIGNATION FROM THE L-S-U BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.  ARMENTOR WAS APPOINTED TO THE BOARD IN TWENTY-SIXTEEN BY FORMER GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS.  GOVERNOR JEFF LANDRY SAID HE RESPECTS ARMENTOR’S DESIRE TO DEVOTE HIS FULL ATTENTION TO HIS LAW PRACTICE.  LANDRY THANKED ARMENTOR FOR HIS COMMITMENT TO L-S-U AND SERVICE TO THE STATE.

THE CITY OF RAYNE HAS BEEN NAMED A NATIONAL FINALIST IN PARADE MAGAZINE’S “AMERICA’S FAVORITE SMALL TOWNS” CONTEST.  THE REGIONAL WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON JUNE FIRST WITH THE NATIONAL WINNER RECOGNIZED ON JUNE TWELFTH.  ACADIA PARISH TOURISM COMMISSIONER SUZETTE LEONARDS CALLED IT A TREMENDOUS HONOR FOR RAYNE AND FOR ALL OF ACADIA PARISH.  SHE SAYS RAYNE REPRESENTS THE HEART OF LOUISIANA HOSPITALITY AND HAS A STRONG COMMUNITY SPIRIT AND UNIQUE

IDENTITY.

THE SCOTT FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE OF A BARN FIRE LATE LAST NIGHT.  GEORGE FAUST REPORTS.

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THE VERMILLION PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE HAS APPLIED FOR AND RECEIVED ONE-AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLARS IN FEDERAL FUNDING TO REPLACE OUTDATED EQUIPMENT.  THE DEPARTMENT DECIDED TO USE THE MONEY TO PURCHASE A MOTOROLA RADIO SYSTEM THAT OFFERS BOTH WI-FI AND CELLULAR CAPABILITIES.  OFFICIALS SAID THERE HAVE BEEN LONGSTANDING ISSUES WITH THE PREVIOUS RADIOS THAT HAVE IMPACTED DEPUTY SAFETY AND COORDINATION THROUGHOUT THE PARISH.  SHERIFF EDDIE LANGLINAIS SAYS THERE WERE TIMES IN ACTIVE INCIDENTS WHERE DEPUTIES HAD TO USE THEIR PERSONAL CELL PHONES TO CONTACT DISPATCH.

GAS PRICES ARE EXPECTED TO RISE FROM TEN TO FIFTEEN CENTS PER GALLON BECAUSE OF THE CONFLICT WITH IRAN.  MATT CODAY WITH THE OIL AND GAS WORKER’S ASSOCIATION SAYS ANYTIME THE SUPPLY OF OIL AND GAS IS DISRUPTED, PRICES WILL INCREASE.  HOWEVER, HE SAYS, LOUISIANA’S REFINERY INFRASTRUCTURE COULD HELP LIMIT HOW MUCH IMPACT DRIVERS WILL FEEL.  CODAY SAYS WE’RE BLESSED WITH NINETEEN REFINERIES IN LOUISIANA AND FORTY-SEVEN IN TEXAS, PREVENTING A BIG JUMP IN GAS PRICES.

A RESIDENT FROM JENNINGS SAYS A MISALIGNED DRAINAGE CULVERT IS CAUSING FLOODING AND EROSION ON HIS PROPERTY OFF OF ISABELLE STREET.  CHRISTOPHER LEHMAN SAYS HE’S BEEN DOCMENTING THE PROBLEM SINCE TWENTY-TWELVE.  HE SAYS HEAVY RAIN EVENTS LEAD TO THE WATER GETTING UP MANY FEET FROM THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM AND CAUSING EROSION ON PARTS OF HIS PROPERTY.  KPLC TV HAS SOUGHT COMMENT FROM THE MAYOR OF JENNINGS BUT HAS NOT YET RECEIVED A REPLY.

A MAN KILLED IN A FIRE AT THE VACANT LA QUINTA HOTEL ON NORTHEAST EVANGELINE THRUWAY IN LAFAYETTE LAST NOVEMBER HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED.  TWENTY-EIGHT-YEAR-OLD LEVI SAHN WAS ORIGINALLY FROM NORTH DAKOTA, BUT HIS FAMILY SAYS HE HAD BEEN IN LAFAYETTE FOR APPROXIMATELY EIGHT MONTHS.  HIS DEATH WAS RULED ACCIDENTAL AND THE CORONER DETERMINED IT WAS CAUSED BY THE INHALATION OF COMBUSTIBLE PRODUCTS.  OFFICIALS SAID HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS HAD BEEN SLEEPING IN SEVERAL ROOMS IN THE VACANT HOTEL.

AN EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL FROM OPELOUSAS HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOLLOWING A BOMB THREAT MADE AGAINST THE HIGH SCHOOL SHE ATTENDED IN SAINT LANDRY PARISH.  SHERIFF’S DETECTIVES SAID THE THREAT WAS MADE USING  A COMPUTER AT THE SCHOOL IN WHICH THE PERSON SAID SHE HAD A BOMB STRAPPED TO HER CHEST.  AN INVESTIGATION LED DETECTIVES TO IDENTIFY KAYLA ROSE HOOKS AS THE PERSON WHO MADE THE THREAT.  SHE NOW FACES CHARGES OF TERRORIZING AND COMMUNICATING FALSE INFORMATION OF A PLANNED BOMBING ON SCHOOL PROPERTY.

A LAWMAKER IN NEW ORLEANS IS PROPOSING A NEW BILL TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE IN LOUISIANA.  GEORGE FAUST HAS MORE.

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AUTHORITIES IN ACADIA PARISH SAY THEY HAVE MADE AN ARREST THAT RESOLVES AN INVESTIGATION INTO A STRING OF VEHICLE BURGLARIES NORTH OF CROWLEY AND IN ROBERTS COVE.  THE BURGLARY CASES WERE REPORTED IN MID-JANUARY.  TWENTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD RANSLAMANI TAYLOR OF LAFAYETTE WAS ARRESTED THURSDAY ON AN OUTSTANDING WARRANT.  HE FACES TWO COUNTS OF VEHICLE BURGLARY, ONE COUNT OF ATTEMPTED VEHICLE BURGLARY AND THREE COUNTS OF CONTRIBUTING TO THE DELINQUENCY OF A MINOR.

Monday, March 2, 2026

A CRASH INVOLVING THREE EIGHTEEN-WHEELERS SHUT DOWN I-TEN WEST ON THE ATCHAFALAYA BASIN BRIDGE IN SAINT MARTIN PARISH SATURDAY.  ALL LANES WERE REOPENED BY AROUND TWO P-M.  STATE POLICE DID NOT SAY IF THERE WERE ANY INJURIES.  THE CAUSE OF THE CRASH IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

THE TWENTY-SECOND ANNUAL AFRICAN AMERICAN HERITAGE PARADE WAS HELD YESTERDAY IN LAFAYETTE.  CROWDS LINED MARTIN LUTHER KING MEMORIAL PARKWAY TO CHEER ON THE PARTICIPANTS.  ORGANIZERS SAY THE PARADE HAS GROWN STEADILY OVER THE YEARS BOTH IN CROWD SIZE AND THE NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS.  THEY SAY THE PARADE IS BOTH A CELEBRATION AND A REMINDER OF THE RESILIENCE, ACHIEVEMENTS AND CULTURAL INFLUENCE OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN ACADIANA.

LOUISIANA’S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION RESPONDED ON SOCIAL MEDIA TO PRESIDENT TRUMP’S DECISION TO LAUNCH COORDINATED STRIKES WITH ISRAEL AGAINST IRAN.  SENATOR BILL CASSSIDY SAID IT IS PRESUMABLY A PLANNED EXECUTION THAT DOES NOT PUT THE UNITED STATES IN A FOREVER WAR, WHILE SENATOR JOHN KENNEDY SAID THE AYATOLLAH KHAMENI CHOSE WAR AND PAID WITH HIS LIFE.  SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE MIKE JOHNSON SAYS HE WILL REMAIN IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE PRESIDENT AND THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR WHILE THE OPERATION PROCEEDS.  LOUISIANA CONGRESSMAN CLEO FIELDS SAYS TRUMP BYPASSED THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESS AND CONGRESS MUST RESPOND ACCORDINGLY.

MERRYVILLE POLICE OFFICER FLOYD MARTIN WAS ARRESTED THURSDAY ON ONE COUNT OF DOMESTIC ABUSE.  THE CHARGE STEMS FROM AN ALLEGED ALTERCATION WITH HIS FATHER THAT HAPPENED THREE WEEKS AGO.  ACCORDING TO A SOCIAL MEDIA POST FROM THE DEPARTMENT, MARTIN HAS STEPPED DOWN FROM HIS POSITION WHILE THE INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY.

THE NEW IBERIA FIRE DEPARTMENT HAS DECIDED TO RESTRICT ALL OUTDOOR BURNING ACTIVITIES FOR THE AREA.  FIRE CHIEF GORDAN COPELL SAYS THEY ARE ANTICIPATING RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURES OVER THE NEXT WEEK.   THERE’S ALSO BEEN SEVENTY PERCENT LESS THAN NORMAL PRECIPITATION AND THE COMBINATION LED THEM TO ISSUE THE BURN BAN.  COPELL SAYS DRY GROUNDS AND ELEVATED WINDS CREATE CONDITIONS WHERE FIRES CAN SPREAD QUICKLY, CREATING SIGNIFICANT CHALLENGES FOR ANY FIRE DEPARTMENT.

CARENCRO POLICE ISSUED AN ALERT ABOUT TEXT MESSAGING SCAM THAT HAS BEEN CIRULATING.  GEORGE FAUST HAS MORE.

VOICER K

L-S-U WILL BE PUTTING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN CLASSROOMS.  PRESIDENT WADE ROUSSE ANNOUNCED FRIDAY THEY WILL COMPLY WITH STATE LAW THAT REQUIRES THE POSTING OF THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN THE CLASSROOMS OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES THAT ACCEPT STATE MONEY.  ROUSSE SAYS, IN HIS PERSONAL OPINION, SHINING A LIGHT ON GOD IS NEVER A NEGATIVE THING.  GOVERNOR JEFF LANDRY SAID ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT IT’S REFRESHING TO SEE THIS SENTIMENT ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS.

A SAINT LANDRY PARISH GRAND JURY HAS INDICTED TWO MEN FOR THE SHOOTING DEATH OF TWENTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD MARKEE BENJAMIN OF OPELOUSAS.  HE WAS A PASSENGER IN A CAR WHEN HE WAS SHOT ON DECEMBER TWELFTH AND DIED EIGHT DAY LATER.  TWENTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD DOMINIQUE TROTTER AND TWENTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD KURTEL GALLIEN, BOTH OF OPELOUSAS, HAVE EACH BEEN FORMALLY CHARGED WITH SECOND-DEGREE MURDER.  A TRIAL DATE HAS NOT YET BEEN SET.

FORMER LAFAYETTE MAYOR PRESIDENT JOSH GUILLORY IS STILL AWAITING A COURT DATE TO ENTER HIS PLEA ON A GRAND JURY INDICTMENT FOR MALFEASANCE IN OFFICE.  GUILLORY IS ACCUSED OF HAVING A LEVEE ON THE SAINT MARTIN PARISH SIDE OF THE VERMILLION RIVER MOVED TO THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SIDE.  GUILLORY SAYS THE DECISION HELPED PREVENT FLOODING IN LAFAYETTE PARISH, SAVING THOUSANDS OF HOMES AND LIVES.  SAINT MARTIN PARISH OFFICIALS SAY THE REMOVAL POSED A SIGNIFICANT FLOOD RISK FOR THEIR PARISH AND HAVE SUED THE LAFAYETTE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT TO FORCE THEM TO RESTORE THE RIVERBANKS.

LOUISIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL LIZ MURRILL SAYS HER OFFICE IS TAKING TWO TRACKS IN AN EFFORT TO COMBAT CHILD EXPLOITATION ONLINE.  ONE TRACK IS BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL SHERIFFS ON THEIR INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN TASK FORCE.  MURRILL SAYS THEY’VE GONE FROM SEVEN TO SEVENTY PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS.  AT THE SAME TIME, THEY’VE FILED CIVIL LITIGATION AGAINST ROBLOX, A PLATFORM, SHE SAYS, THAT DOESN’T DO ENOUGH TO PROTECT MINORS AND IMPLEMENT STRONGER SAFETY MEASURES.

NEXT WEEK THE SAINT LANDRY PARISH SCHOOL BOARD IS EXPECTED TO VOTE ON MERGING OPELOUSAS SENIOR AND JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS.  THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION HAS MANDATED THE MERGER BECAUSE THE JUNIOR HIGH HAS CONSISTENTLY RECEIVED AN “F” GRADE WHILE THE SENIOR HIGH HAS MAINTAINED A “C” GRADE.  THE SCHOOL BOARD WAS GIVEN UNTIL MARCH ELEVENTH TO COME UP WITH A MERGER PLAN, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BE PRESENTED FOR A VOTE NEXT WEEK.  THE COMBINED SCHOOL POPULATION IS ANTICIPATED TO BE AROUND EIGHT HUNDRED FIFTY.

AFTER MONTHS OF DELAYS, THE TRIAL OF FORMER DERIDDER MAYOR MISTY ROBERTS GOT UNDERWAY YESTERDAY.  A SIX PERSON JURY WAS SEATED AND THEY WILL DECIDE IF ROBERTS IS GUILTY OF CARNAL KNOWLEDGE OF A JUVENILE AND INDECENT BEHAVIOR WITH A JUVENILE.  SHE IS ACCUSED OF HAVING RELATIONS WITH A TEENAGE BOY DURING A PARTY AT HER HOUSE WHILE SHE WAS MAYOR.  THE PROSECUTION PRESENTED TEXT MESSAGES BETWEEN ROBERTS AND THE BOY’S MOTHER AS WELL AS A PHOTO OF ROBERTS AND THE BOY THAT THEY CALLED LEWD AND LASCIVIOUS.

THE NAME OF A NEW SCHOOL ON THE NORTH SIDE OF LAFAYETTE HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED.  OFFICIALS CHOSE PAUL BREAUX K-THROUGH-EIGHTH AS THE OFFICIAL NAME.  THE NEW SCHOOL COMBINES PAUL BREAUX MIDDLE WITH

J-W FAULK AND BARANCO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS.  IT WILL BE BUILT ON THE SITE OF THE CURRENT J-W FAULK ELEMENTARY AND SERVE THIRTEEN HUNDRED STUDENTS.

THE LOUISIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE HAS ANNOUNCED A SETTLEMENT IN A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE VANGUARD GROUP AND TWO OTHER INVESTMENT FIRMS.  LOUISIANA AND THIRTEEN OTHER STATES FILED THE LAWSUIT ACCUSING THEM OF INTENTIONALLY DECREASING THE SUPPLY OF COAL IN THE PURSUIT OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY OBJECTIVES, WHICH INCREASED THE VALUE OF COAL, AND ALLEGEDLY LED TO UNDUE PROFITS.  ATTORNEY GENERAL LIZ MURRILL SAYS VANGUARD AGREED TO PAY THE STATES JUST UNDER THIRTY MILLION DOLLARS.  THEY ALSO AGREED TO COOPERATE WITH THE STATES AS THE CASE REMAINS ONGOING AGAINST THE TWO REMAINING DEFENDANTS, BLACKROCK AND STATE STREET.

A RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY WAS HELD YESTERDAY FOR A NEW REGIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING CENTER IN SAINT MARTIN PARISH.  THE CENTER, WHICH COST ALMOST THREE MILLION DOLLARS, IS ELEVEN THOUSAND SQUARE FEET AND WILL SERVE AS A TRAINING HUB FOR MORE THAN FORTY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.  IT INCLUDES FIVE TRAINING ROOMS EQUIPPED WITH AUDIO AND VISUAL TECHNOLOGY AS WELL AS A ONE HUNDRED FIFTY SEAT MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM.  THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS PLANNING FOR THE PROJECT BEGAN THREE YEARS AGO AND FUNDING CAME FROM STATE CAPITAL OUTLAY DOLLARS.

A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR PRESERVATION PROJECT IS MOVING FORWARD FOR THE PERRY BRIDGE ON L-A EIGHTY-TWO, RUNNING ACROSS THE VERMILLION RIVER, RIGHT OUTSIDE OF ABBEVILLE.  GEORGE FAUST HAS MORE.

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A DUSON MAN WAS INDICTED BY A GRAND JURY ON SEVERAL CHARGES INCLUDING FIRST-DEGREE RAPE AND THREE COUNTS OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY.  AN INVESTIGATION WAS LAUNCHED BY AUTHORITIES AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS OF SHEMAR WALKER HAVING RELATIONS WITH AN ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD.  UPON HIS ARREST, MULTIPLE EXPLICIT IMAGES WERE FOUND ON HIS CELL PHONE.

SCHOOLS IN THE CECILIA AREA WERE PUT ON LOCKDOWN YESTERDAY MORNING AFTER A MAN THREATENED TO HARM HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND’S CHILD.  SAINT MARTIN PARISH SHERIFF BECKET BREAUX SAYS THIRTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD ANTHONY POTIER OF BREAUX BRIDGE WAS IDENTIFIED AS THE SUSPECT.  BREAUX SAYS POTIER WAS ON HIS WAY TO THE SCHOOL WHEN HE WAS DETAINED BY DEPUTIES.  POTIER HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH TERRORIZING, AGGRAVATED ASSAULT AND UNLAWFUL DISRUPTION OF A SCHOOL.

SECRETARY OF STATE NANCY LANDRY SAYS LOUISIANA’S NEW VOTING MACHINE SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO COST THE STATE ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS.  GEOERGE FAUST HAS MORE.

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MORE PARISHES ARE ISSUING BURN BANS IN LOUISIANA.  THEY INCLUDE ALLEN, JEFF DAVIS, BEAUREGARD AND CALCASIEU PARISHES IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA AND ACADIA, SAINT LANDRY, SAINT MARTIN AND VERMILLION PARISHES IN ACADIANA.  RESIDENTS IN THOSE PARISHES ARE ASKED TO NOT DO ANY OUTDOOR BURNING.  AS OF YESTERDAY, THERE WERE AT LEAST THIRTY WILDFIRES ACROSS LOUISIANA.

THE BODY OF A MAN WHO DIED ON CHRISTMAS MORNING WAS FINALLY RELEASED TO A LAFAYETTE FUNERAL HOME AFTER MORE THAN FIFTY DAYS.  THE FAMILY OF THIRTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD JAMEL WILTZ, WHO DIED AT THE EASTERN LOUISIANA HEALTH SYSTEM IN JACKSON, WAS UNABLE TO GET A DEATH CERTIFICATE, A CONFIRMED CAUSE OF DEATH OR CLEAR INFORMATION ON WHERE THE BODY WAS HELD.  THE FAMILY TELLS KLFY TV THEY PLAN ON TAKING LEGAL ACTION AGAINST THE HOSPITAL AS THEY CONTINUE TO SEEK ANSWERS ON THE DELAY AND THE CAUSE OF DEATH.  JOSHUA NEAL OF THE MOSS STREET PLAZA FUNERAL HOME SAYS HE’S BEEN IN THE INDUSTRY FOR QUITE SOME TIME AND HE’S NEVER WITNESSED A SITUATION LIKE THIS BEFORE.

A WOMAN FROM MORSE WAS KILLED IN A SINGLE VEHICLE CRASH YESTERDAY IN ACADIA PARISH.  ACCORDING TO STATE POLICE, FORTY-YEAR-OLD ASHLEY GRANGER WAS DRIVING NORTH ON L-A ELEVEN TWENTY-FOUR WHEN SHE CROSSED THE CENTERLINE, LEFT THE ROADWAY AND OVERTURNED HER VEHICLE.  SHE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE.  STATE POLICE RESPONDED TO THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT AT AROUND ONE-FORTY-FIVE

A-M.

A BILL IN THE STATE HOUSE WOULD CRIMINALIZE AGGRESSIVE AND RECKLESS THROWING FROM A PARADE FLOAT.  STATE REPRESENTATIVE SYLVIA TAYLOR AUTHORED THE BILL THAT WOULD PUNISH THOSE WHO KNOWINGLY AND NEGLIGENTLY THROW AN OBJECT FROM A FLOAT IN A WAY THAT COULD CAUSE HARM.  VIOLATERS COULD BE FINED UP TO A THOUSAND DOLLARS AND FACE UP TO SIX MONTHS IN JAIL FOR CAUSING AN INJURY.  IF THE INJURY IS SERIOUS, THE FINE COULD GO UP TO AT LEAST TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS AND JAIL TIME COULD BE BETWEEN ONE AND THREE YEARS.

SEVERAL ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE IN CONNECTION TO MULTIPLE SHOOTINGS THAT OCCURRED WEDNESDAY NIGHT IN OPELOUSAS.  GEORGE FAUST REPORTS.

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IT APPEARS THE INTERIM PRESIDENT AT U-L LAFAYETTE WILL BE NAMED THE NEXT PRESIDENT.  AFTER A FIVE HOUR INTERVIEW PROCESS, RAMESH KOLLURU WAS NAMED THE SOLE FINALIST FOR THE POSITION.  UNDER HIS INTERIM LEADERSHIP, THE UNIVERSITY’S DEBT HAS BEEN REDUCED FROM FIFTY MILLION TO TWELVE MILLION, WHICH PLAYED A MAJOR PART IN THE PRESIDENTIAL SEARCH COMMITTEE’S DECISION.  KOLLURU IS EXPECTED TO BE OFFICIALLY NAMED PRESIDENT ON FRIDAY.

A MAN CROWLEY POLICE WERE LOOKING FOR IN CONNECTION TO A FATAL SHOOTING HAS TURNED HIMSELF IN.  EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD JAVON DAVIS HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AND HIS BOND WAS SET AT FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.  TWENTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD CAM’RON SCOTT WAS THE VICTIM.  HE WAS SHOT SATURDAY AT AROUND ONE-THIRTY A-M AT THE CANAN VILLAGE APARTMENTS AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL IN LAFAYETTE, WHERE HE LATER DIED.

LOUISIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL LIZ MURRILL WAS IN FEDERAL COURT IN LAFAYETTE YESTERDAY PRESENTING ARGUMENTS IN HER LAWSUIT AGAINST THE U-S FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION OVER THE REGULATION OF ABORTION DRUGS.  HER OFFICE WANTS RULES RESTORED THAT USED TO REQUIRE IN-PERSON DISPENSING OF THE DRUGS.  OFFICIALS CLAIM THE DRUG MIFEPRISTONE IS USED IN APPROXIMATELY ONE THOUSAND ABORTIONS EVERY MONTH IN LOUISIANA AND MURRILL ATTRIBUTES IT TO DOCTORS MAILING THE DRUG TO LOUISIANA RESIDENTS FROM STATES LIKE NEW YORK AND CALIFORNIA.  REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE F-D-A SAY MURRILL DOESN’T HAVE THE LEGAL STANDING TO BRING THE CASE FORWARD AND IS ASKING THE COURT TO DENY THE LAWSUIT ON THAT BASIS.

THE ACADIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE HAS ARRESTED TWO MOMS FOR ALLEGEDLY SUPPLYING ILLEGAL DRUGS TO THEIR CHILDREN.  THIRTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD BROOKE LABOUVE (luh BOHV) OF JENNINGS IS ACCUSED OF PROVIDING METH AND MARIJUANA TO HER CHILD WHILE THIRTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD MONESHA MOUTON OF CROWLEY ALLEGEDLY GAVE METH AND COCAINE TO HER THREE CHILDREN.  MOUTON FACES THREE COUNTS OF CRUELTY TO A JUVENILE WHILE LABOUVE HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH ONE COUNT.  THE TWO CASES ARE NOT RELATED TO EACH OTHER.

LAFAYETTE IS ONE OF THREE CITIES NATIONWIDE TO RECEIVE A ONE MILLION DOLLAR AWARD THROUGH THE BLOOMBERG PHILANTHROPIES MAYORS CHALLENGE.  IT WILL BE USED TO ADDRESS FAILING SEWER INFRASTRUCTURE AND REDUCE STORMWATER ISSUES.  THE MONEY WILL BE USED AS SEED FUNDING TO HELP THE CITY IDENTIFY THE MOST CRITICAL LEAKS OF THE SEWER SYSTEM AND BEGIN WORKING WITH HOMEOWNERS TO ADDRESS FAILING PRIVATE SEWER LINES.  OFFICIALS SAY THE PROGRAM WILL ROLL OUT OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

TWO MEN ARE IN SERIOUS CONDITION FOLLOWING A SHOOTING SUNDAY AFTERNOON IN VILLE PLATTE.  GEORGE FAUST REPORTS.

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A BILL IN THE STATE SENATE WOULD ALLOW LOUISIANA GOVERNORS TO RECOMMEND THE SUSPENSION OR REMOVAL OF SPECIFIC JUDGES AND DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.  IF APPROVED, THE ISSUE WOULD GO BEFORE VOTERS AS A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.  THE BILL’S SPONSOR, STATE SENATOR JAY MORRIS, SAYS HIS BILL IS A RESPONSE TO REPEATED FAILURES IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM.  HE SAYS LOUISIANANS ARE FED UP WITH A SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS REPEAT VIOLENT OFFENDERS TO CYCLE THROUGH THE COURTS WITHOUT CONSEQUENCE WHILE THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR ENFORCING THE LAW FACE NONE.

ONE OF TWO WOMEN WANTED IN AN ASSAULT BY CAR AT THE JEANERETTE MARDI GRAS PARADE HAS BEEN LOCATED AND ARRESTED.  TWENTY-SEVEN-YEAR-OLD ALEAH ROY SUFFERED TEMPORARY PARTIAL PARALYSIS AFTER BEING HIT BY A CAR.  TWENTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD HAILEY BATISTE OF BROUSSARD WAS BOOKED INTO THE IBERIA PARISH JAIL ON CHARGES OF ATTEMPTED SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AND AGGRAVATED SECOND-DEGREE BATTERY.  POLICE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR TWENTY-EIGHT-YEAR-OLD JAZZMIN ROSE OF BROUSSARD FOR PRINCIPAL TO ATTEMPTED SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AND PRINCIPAL TO SECOND-DEGREE BATTERY.

A COUPLE OF ACADIANA PARISHES HAVE ISSUED BURN BANS DUE TO THE DRY CONDITIONS.  VERMILLION PARISH POLICE JURY PRESIDENT CHAD VALLO ANNOUNCED A BAN STARTING AT NOON YESTERDAY.  THAT MEANS NO OPEN BURNING OF VEGETATION, DEBRIS, YARD WASTE, BRUSH AND OTHER COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS.  A BURN BAN HAS ALSO BEEN IN EFFECT IN SAINT LANDRY PARISH SINCE FEBRUARY THIRTEENTH.

A LAFAYETTE MAN WAS KILLED IN AN INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENT AT A PLANT IN BELLE ROSE SUNDAY AFTERNOON.  PAUL LEBLANC WITH THE ASSUMPTION PARISH OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS SAYS WORKERS WERE PERFORMING A PRESSURE TEST ON A BRINE WELL THAT WAS NOT IN SERVICE.  HE SAYS A FITTING FAILED DURING THE TEST CAUSING A HIGH-PRESSURE HOSE TO BREAK LOOSE AND STRIKE THE CREW.  SIXTY-YEAR-OLD KEITH FOREMAN DIED AT THE SCENE AND TWO OTHER WORKERS WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WITH INJURIES.

STATE LEGISLATORS WILL CONSIDER A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ON CHANGES TO THE TERM LIMITS FOR GOVERNOR.  CURRENTLY A GOVERNOR WHO HAS SERVED MORE THAN ONE AND ONE-HALF TERMS IN TWO CONSECUTIVE TERMS CANNOT BE ELECTED GOVERNOR FOR THE SUCCEEDING TERM.  UNDER A BILL BY REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE MIKE BAYHAM, THE CONSTITUTION WOULD BE AMENDED TO A LIFETIME TERM LIMIT OF TWO TERMS FOR THE OFFICE OF GOVERNOR.  THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINS MARCH NINTH.

THE OBERLIN POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA THE RETIREMENT OF POLICE CHIEF GRADY HAYNES.  HE HAS BEEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT FOR TWENTY-FOUR YEARS, THE LAST SIXTEEN AS CHIEF OF POLICE.  HE IS ALSO THE FIRST BLACK POLICE CHIEF IN ALLEN PARISH HISTORY.  HAYNES’ RETIREMENT WILL GO INTO EFFECT AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

A SHOOTING INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY IN CROWLEY AFTER A MAN WAS FOUND WITH A FATAL GUNSHOT WOUND.  GEORGE FAUST REPORTS.

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THE THREE SEMIFINALISTS TO BE THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF U-L LAFAYETTE WILL MEET WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA SYSTEMS BOARD TODAY.  THE BOARD IS EXPECTED TO NARROW THE FIELD TO TWO BY THE END OF THE DAY.  THE THREE CANDIDATES ARE INTERIM PRESIDENT RAMESH KOLLURU, RICHARD LUDWICK, PRESIDENT EMERITUS OF SAINT THOMAS UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON AND HITESH KATHURIA, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF ACADEMIC AFFAIRS AT EMPIRE STATE UNIVERSITY IN NEW YORK.  THE THREE WERE ON THE U-L CAMPUS YESTERDAY TO MEET WITH STUDENTS, FACULTY AND ALUMNI.

EARLIER THIS MONTH, THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION LAUNCHED AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE LOUISIANA BOARD OF REGENTS OVER POSSIBLE RACE-BASED PRIORITIES IN THE BUDGET.  YESTERDAY, GOVERNOR JEFF LANDRY ASKED THE DEPARTMENT TO EXPAND ITS INVESTIGATION TO INCLUDE ALL PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS IN THE STATE.  HE ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING LOUISIANA IS DONE WITH WOKE D-E-I POLICIES.  LANDRY SAID HE WANTS ALL VIOLATIONS OF FEDERAL LAW FOUND IN THE SYSTEM ANYWHERE TO BE CORRECTED.

MAMOU POLICE HAVE MADE AN ARREST IN THE DEATH OF ALLEN THOMAS.  QUINCY THIBODEAUX WAS ARRESTED WEDNESDAY ON ONE COUNT OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AS WELL AS OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE AND TAMPERING WITH A WITNESS.  THOMAS WAS FOUND DEAD NEAR HIS HOME LAST TUESDAY WITH A SINGLE GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE NECK.  THE INVESTIGATION REMAINS ONGOING.