KAJN Jesus FM 102.9

LAFAYETTE FIREFIGHTERS BATTLED A HOUSE FIRE SATURDAY NIGHT THAT STARTED IN A PATIO FIREPLACE.  THE HOUSE IS LOCATED IN THE FOUR HUNDRED BLOCK OF ENGLEWOOD DRIVE, BETWEEN THE ACADIANA MALL AND RIVER RANCH.  FIRE OFFICIALS SAY SOMETHING COMBUSTIBLE IN THE FIREPLACE IGNITED AND SPREAD FROM THE PATIO.  NO ONE WAS HURT.

OVER THE WEEKEND, ACTIVISTS HELD A RALLY AT A LAFAYETTE JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER, WHERE AN ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL IS BEING HELD FOR ALLEGEDLY MURDERING AN IBERIA PARISH MAN.  SYLVIA MASTERS HAS MORE.

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The Louisiana legislature will gather today for a special session that could reshape the state’s criminal justice system and the public safety sector. Among the more than two dozen bills filed ahead of session is legislation that proposes expanding methods to carry out death row executions, restricting parole eligibility, harsher penalties for carjackings, “immunity from liability” for law enforcement based upon a certain criteria and publicizing some juvenile court records.

FAMILY AND FRIENDS GATHERED YESTERDAY TO REMEMBER DERRICK THORNTON OF LAKE CHARLES, WHO WAS KILLED ONE YEAR AGO AT HIS HOME ON O’BRIEN STREET.  THEY GATHERED IN FRONT OF A MURAL HE HELPED CREATE AT THE CORNER OF BROAD AND SHATTUCK STREETS.  SEVERAL PEOPLE SPOKE IN REMEMBRANCE OF THORNTON AND A BALLOON RELEASE FOLLOWED.  SEVERAL TEENS WERE ARRESTED LAST YEAR IN CONNECTION WITH THE DEATH OF THORNTON AND A SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD WILL BE TRIED AS AN ADULT.

A REPORT BY THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE HAS LED TO PLANS TO SPEND TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS ON SECURITY UPGRADES FOR THE YOUNGSVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT.  THE PROBE REVEALED SERIOUS DEFICIENCIES WITH THE SECURITY SYSTEM AT THE DEPARTMENT’S BUILDING ON FOURTH STREET.  THE PROBLEMS CAME TO LIGHT AFTER THE RESIGNATION OF FORMER POLICE CHIEF RICKEY BOUDREAUX AND ALLEGATIONS OF WRONGDOING THAT INCLUDED MISSING EVIDENCE AND DRUG USE.  THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IS LOOKING INTO THE ALLEGATIONS TO DETERMINE IF CRIMINAL CHARGES ARE WARRANTED.

AN OPELOUSAS POLICE OFFICER, ACCUSED OF A SHOOTING THAT LEFT THE POLICE CHIEF AND HIS WIFE INJURED, HAS SUBMITTED A LETTER OF RESIGNATION.  FORTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD SAVANNAH BUTLER HAS BEEN ON PAID ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE SINCE SHE WAS ARRESTED ON CHARGES OF ILLEGAL DISCHARGE OF A FIREARM AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE.  IN HER LETTER, BUTLER ASKED FOR SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS IN PAYOUTS FOR UNUSED LEAVE AND COMP TIME.  THE OPELOUSAS CITY COUNCIL WILL CONSIDER THE REQUEST AT TOMORROW NIGHT’S MEETING.

Gov. Jeff Landry has declared a state of emergency due to a police officer shortage. Landry’s executive order issued Thursday lifts limits on how many new employees Louisiana sheriffs can hire and on payroll increases for their departments. Landry says police departments in the state are experiencing record-low employments “resulting in increased crime and less public safety.” He said that as of July, sheriff’s offices statewide were down 1,800 deputies.

THE ACADIA PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS INTRODUCED A STEM BUS DESIGNED TO IMPROVE SCIENCE AND MATH SCORES IN THE PARISH.  THE BUS HAS ARTWORK ON THE OUTSIDE REFLECTING THE LOCAL CULTURE AND INSIDE AND OUTSIDE ARE DIFFERENT STATIONS TO HELP STUDENTS EXPAND THEIR SKILLS WHILE HAVING FUN.  CROWLEY KINDERGARTEN WAS THE FIRST SCHOOL TO GET TO EXPERIENCE THE STEM BUS BUT IT WILL BE BROUGHT TO EACH SCHOOL THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.  LEAD SCIENCE TEACHER TERI TIEBEN TELLS KATC TV THAT EACH SCHOOL WILL EXPERIENCE SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN ORDER TO CATER TO THE NEEDS OF THAT STUDENT POPULATION.

CHARGES AGAINST A CARENCRO WOMAN HAVE BEEN UPGRADED AFTER ONE OF THE PEDESTRIANS HIT IN A CAR CRASH MARDI GRAS DAY DIED.  DANIELLE DUNCAN REPORTS.

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MAMOU POLICE HAVE ARRESTED THREE MEN FOR ALLEGEDLY KIDNAPPING, DRUGGING AND SEXUALLY ASSAULTING A NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD FEMALE.  IT HAPPENED DURING A MARDI GRAS FESTIVAL STREET DANCE ON SIXTH STREET TUESDAY.  THE THREE SUSPECTS FACE MULTIPLE CHARGES…FORTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD MARTINEZ GALLOW OF MAMOU, FORTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD DARRYL WASHINGTON JUNIOR OF VILLE PLATTE AND FORTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD LOUIS ALFRED OF VILLE PLATTE.  AUTHORITIES SAY THE THREE HAVE A HISTORY OF CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS RELATED TO MURDER, ARMED ROBBERY, KIDNAPPING AND DRUG DISTRIBUTION.

GOVERNOR JEFF LANDRY WILL NOT BE CHANGING HIS MIND ON OPTING OUT OF THE FEDERAL SUMMER E-B-T PROGRAM, WHICH WOULD HAVE GIVEN LOW INCOME FAMILIES FORTY DOLLARS PER MONTH DURING THE SUMMER FOR EACH CHILD.  THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WOULD HAVE COVERED THE COSTS OF THE PROGRAM BUT THE STATE WOULD HAVE HAD TO PAY HALF THE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS.  LANDRY’S SPOKESPERSON KATE KELLY SAYS SUMMER E-B-T WAS A PANDEMIC ERA PROGRAM THAT COSTS SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS BUT THE PANDEMIC IS OVER.  SHE SAYS LOUISIANA ALREADY ADMINISTERS ROBUST SOCIAL SAFETY NET PROGRAMS LIKE SNAP AND A SUMMER FOOD SERVICE PROGRAM, WHICH OFFERS MEALS TO GO.

A MAN, WHO HAD AN ACTIVE WARRANT ON HIM FOR HOME INVASION, WAS FOUND BY OFFICERS PATROLLING ON SOUTH MAIN STREET IN JENNINGS ON WEDNESDAY.   TWENTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD BRYSON RICHARD FLED FROM THE OFFICERS INTO A HOUSE AND THEN OUT THE BACK DOOR.  HE WAS LATER FOUND HIDING UNDERNEATH A HOUSE ON SHINE ALLY AND WAS ARRESTED.  RICHARD FACES MULTIPLE CHARGES INCLUDING RESISTING AN OFFICER AND HOME INVASION.

U-L LAFAYETTE STUDENTS WILL BE GETTING MORE FOOD OPTIONS AT THE STUDENT UNION.  A BREW COFFEE SHOP THAT SERVED STARBUCKS PRODUCTS IS BEING TURNED INTO A FULLY FUNCTIONING CHICK-FIL-A WITH SEATING AND MENU OPTIONS.  MEANWHILE THERE WILL BE A NEW STARBUCKS COFFEE SHOP, PLUS A VIVE LA WAFFLE AND A SMOOTHIE KING.  CHEF PATRICK MOULD WITH U-L SAYS THERE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FOOD OPTIONS, BUT BRINGING NEW ONES HAS BEEN THEIR GOAL.

VERMILLION PARISH SHERIFF MIKE COUVILLON SAYS JUVENILE CRIME IS A MAJOR PROBLEM AND ANKLE BRACELETS AND HOUSE ARRESTS ARE NOT HAVING MUCH OF AN EFFECT ON REDUCING IT.  RECENTLY A SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD, WHO WAS WEARING AN ANKLE MONITOR, SHOT AND KILLED A NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD. COUVILLON SAYS THEY NEED A JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER.  HE SAYS THE PROBLEM IS IT COSTS MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS A DAY TO HOUSE A JUVENILE INMATE COMPARED TO UNDER TWENTY-SEVEN DOLLARS A DAY FOR AN ADULT.

THE SUMMER DROUGHT IS HAVING LASTING EFFECTS ON THIS SEASON’S CRAWFISH.  DANIELLE DUNCAN HAS MORE.

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A SECOND CHANCE JOB FAIR IS PLANNED FOR APRIL AT THE YAMBILEE BUILDING IN OPELOUSAS.  THE FAIR IS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM JAIL OR PRISON.  IT TAKES PLACE APRIL SIXTEENTH FROM NINE A-M TO NOON.  ACADIANA WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS IS OFFERING RESUME AND INTERVIEW PREPS.

A PAIR OF SHOOTING INVESTIGATIONS ARE UNDERWAY IN SAINT MARY PARISH.  DANIELLE DUNCAN REPORTS.

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TWO MURDER SUSPECTS FROM WISCONSIN WERE FOUND HIDING OUT IN BROUSSARD.  FEDERAL MARSHALS APPREHENDED TWENTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD CRYSTAL KIZER AND FORTY-SEVEN-YEAR-OLD DAVID MELTON, BOTH OF KENOSHA, WISCONSIN.  IT HAS NOT BEEN MADE CLEAR WHY OR HOW THE TWO ENDED UP IN BROUSSARD.  THEY ARE BEING HELD IN THE LAFAYETTE PARISH CORRECTIONAL CENTER PENDING EXTRADITION.

GOVERNOR JEFF LANDRY IS INDICATING HE DOES NOT WANT TO MAKE TEACHER PAY RAISES FROM LAST YEAR PERMANENT.  HE IS PROPOSING ONE HUNDRED NINETY MILLION DOLLARS FOR A SECOND ROUND OF STIPENDS FOR TEACHERS AND SCHOOL SUPPORT STAFF IN HIS BUDGET PROPOSAL.  LANDRY’S STAFF SAYS THE GOVERNOR IS OPPOSED TO A PERMANENT PAY INCREASE BECAUSE IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO REMOVE IN FUTURE YEARS WHEN THE STATE IS FACING BUDGET DEFICITS.  CYNTHIS POSEY WITH THE LOUISIANA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS SAYS IT’S FRUSTRATING FOR TEACHERS WHO CAN’T PLAN FOR FUTURE DECISIONS NOT KNOWING WHAT THEIR SALARY WILL BE.

A LAKE CHARLES DENTAL PRACTICE IS PROVIDING FREE DENTAL WORK TO UNINSURED ADULTS TODAY.  THIS IS OAK PARK DENTAL’S TWENTY-SECOND VALENTINE’S FREE DENTAL DAY.  THEY ARE TAKING PATIENTS ON A FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVE BASIS AT THEIR CLINIC, LOCATED AT SIXTEEN-SIXTEEN WEST MCNEESE STREET.  PATIENTS MUST BE AT LEAST EIGHTEEN AND HAVE NO DENTAL INSURANCE IN ORDER TO GET AN EXTRACTION, FILLING OR CLEANING.

A TEEN FROM SUNSET HAS BEEN MISSING SINCE FEBRUARY EIGHTH.  SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD CALLI JEAN ROBERTS WAS LAST SEEN AT TWO-SIXTY-FOUR ZICK MILLER ROAD IN SUNSET.  SHE IS DESCRIBED AS FIVE FEET, FIVE INCHES TALL, ONE HUNDRED FIFTEEN POUNDS, WITH DARK BROWN OR BLACK HAIR AND BROWN EYES.  ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THIS TEENAGER ARE ASKED TO CALL CRIMESTOPPERS AT NINE-FOUR-EIGHT-TIPS.

POLICE IN SCOTT FOUND A BODY IN A CAR.  THE DISCOVERY WAS ALONG APOLLO ROAD NEAR A CONVENIENCE STORE AND FAST FOOD RESTAURANT.  KADN TV REPORTS THAT SOURCES TOLD THEM THE BODY MAY HAVE BEEN THERE FOR SEVERAL DAYS.  POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING AND HAVE NOT INDICATED WHETHER OR NOT FOUL PLAY IS SUSPECTED.

SOME ELECTED DEMOCRAT OFFICIALS IN LOUISIANA HAVE CRITICIZED GOVERNOR LANDRY’S ADMINISTRATION.  LAST WEEK THEY ANNOUNCED THE STATE WOULD NOT BE PARTICIPATING IN THE SUMMER E-B-T PROGRAM OFFERED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.  THE PROGRAM PROVIDES LOW-INCOME FAMILIES FORTY DOLLARS PER MONTH IN THE SUMMER PER CHILD TO HELP MAKE SURE THEY ARE GETTING ENOUGH TO EAT WHEN THEY ARE NOT IN SCHOOL.  CONGRESSMAN TROY CARTER HAD A HEATED MESSAGE FOR LANDRY AND HIS ADMINISTRATION, SAYING THERE’S NO GOOD REASON TO DENY POOR PEOPLE AND POOR CHILDREN ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL FOOD.

RESIDENTS OF BREAUX BRIDGE ARE UNDER A BOIL WATER ADVISORY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.  THE PLANT DIRECTOR, JOSEPH GUIDRY, SAYS A DROP IN WATER PRESSURE YESTERDAY MORNING LED TO THE ISSUING OF THE ADVISORY.  IT WILL BE LIFTED WHEN THE RESULTS FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HOSPITALS TESTS SHOW “ALL CLEAR”.  THEY WILL BE TESTING TO ENSURE NO OUTSIDE MATERIAL, INCLUDING SOIL AND MICROBES, CAN BE FOUND IN PRESSURIZED WATER.

AN EIGHTEEN-WHEELER CARRYING FIFTY-FIVE GALLON DRUMS AND TOTES OF FLAMMABLE LIQUIDS OVERTURNED IN THE THIRTY-SIX HUNDRED BLOCK OF LANDRY ROAD IN SCOTT.  THE DRIVER WAS NOT INJURED AND THE LAFAYETTE FIRE DEPARTMENT’S HAZMAT TEAM DETERMINED THERE WERE NO CHEMICALS LEAKING.  EQUIPMENT IS IN ROUTE TO REMOVE THE CONTAINERS SO THAT THE TRUCK CAN BE RIGHT SIZED.  THE ROADWAY WILL REMAIN CLOSED UNTIL THAT HAPPENS.

THIS WAS THE SECOND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ACCIDENT IN SCOTT.  EARLIER IN THE DAY, A TRACTOR TRAILER CARRYING FLAMMABLE LIQUID OVERTURNED ON ITS SIDE IN THE SEVEN HUNDRED BLOCK OF HEIDE CIRCLE.  THE DRIVER, WHO SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES, WAS TRAPPED AND HAD TO BE EXTRICATED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.  THE ROADWAY WAS SHUT DOWN FOR ABOUT TEN HOURS WHILE THE LIQUID WAS TRANSFERRED TO ANOTHER TRAILER.

OPELOUSAS POLICE CHIEF GRAIG LEBLANC HELD A COMMUNITY CONVERSATION MEETING YESTERDAY TO ALLOW CITIZENS TO ASK QUESTIONS AND EXPRESS THEIR CONCERNS.  LEBLANC SAID THE INPUT AT THE MEETING CAN HELP THE DEPARTMENT MOVE FORWARD FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE COMMUNITY.  HE DISCUSSED THE DEPARTMENT’S ANNUAL REPORT AND ALLOWED THOSE IN ATTENDANCE TO EXPRESS THEIR GRIEVANCES.  LEBLANC SAYS THIS WAS THE FIRST OF MANY WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME OUT AND CONNECT WITH HIS DEPARTMENT.

JENNINGS POLICE ARE WARNING RESIDENTS AND BUSINESS OWNERS OF A POSSIBLE SCAM REGARDING PAST-DUE WATER BILLS.  THE SCAMMER CALLS A PERSON AND CLAIMS THEY FAILED TO PAY THEIR ACCOUNT AND THEY REQUIRE PAYMENT OVER THE PHONE.  OFFICIALS SAY THAT IS NOT THE WAY THE CITY OF JENNINGS CONTACTS CUSTOMERS. JENNINGS POLICE URGE RESIDENTS WHO RECEIVE THIS TYPE OF CALL TO REPORT IT AND MAKE SURE TO LOOK UP THE NUMBER ONLINE.

A BIKE AND WALKING PATH ON ERASTE LANDRY ROAD IN LAFAYETTE IS IN THE WORKS.  THE PATH WOULD CONNECT THE OAKLAWN SUBDIVISION WITH THE UNIVERSITY BIKE PATH ALONG CAJUNDOME BOULEVARD.  THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL IS EXPECTED TO APPROVE AN ORDINANCE NEXT WEEK TO ACCEPT FOUR HUNDRED EIGHTY THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT.  IT ALSO APPROVES THE USE OF THREE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS IN EXISTING CITY CAPITAL FUNDS.

STATE POLICE INVESTIGATORS HAVE BEEN REQUESTED TO REVIEW A SHOOTING INVOLVING AN AGENT WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES.  THE SHOOTING HAPPENED IN THE FIFTY-TWO-HUNDRED BLOCK OF CROOKED CREEK PARKWAY IN VILLE PLATTE.  INFORMATION ABOUT THE SHOOTING HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED.  TROOPERS SAY THEY ARE PIECING TOGETHER WHAT EXACTLY HAPPENED.

A BICYCLIST WAS INJURED IN A CRASH WITH A VAN SOUTHEAST OF DEQUINCY YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.  THE CYCLIST WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WHILE THE VAN DRIVER WAS UNINJURED.  A PHOTO BY WARD SIX FIRE PROTECTION SHOWED THAT THE VAN, WHICH HAD A BROKEN BACK WINDSHIELD, ALSO HAD MARKINGS FROM THE U-S POSTAL SERVICE.  NO OTHER DETAILS HAVE BEEN RELEASED ABOUT THE CRASH, WHICH HAPPENED IN THE THREE HUNDRED BLOCK OF HOLBROOK PARK ROAD.

EUNICE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED SUNDAY MORNING ON ACADIA STREET.   A VEHICLE THAT HAD JUST BACKED OUT OF A DRIVEWAY WAS FIRED ON BY AN UNKNOWN SUSPECT WHO WAS WEARING BLACK CLOTHING.  THE DRIVER SUFFERED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL.  THE DRIVER’S GIRLFRIEND, WHO WAS IN THE VEHICLE, WAS NOT INJURED.

LAST WEEK, NEW IBERIA POLICE MADE THREE SEPARATE ARRESTS THAT INVOLVED SEIZING WEAPONS AND DRUGS IN EACH INSTANCE.  ON TUESDAY, OFFICERS RESPONDING TO REPORTS OF SHOTS FIRED ARRESTED FORTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD MCARTHUR ROBERT OF NEW IBERIA AND SEIZED A FIREARM AND ONE-AND-A-HALF POUNDS OF MARIJUANA AT A RESIDENCE ON EAST PERSHING STREET.  ON THURSDAY, POLICE ARRRESTED THIRTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD MARIO JACKSON OF NEW IBERIA FOR SIMPLE BURGLARY AND RECOVERED A STOLEN FIREARM AND SUSPECTED MARIJUANA.  ON FRIDAY, NEW IBERIA POLICE ARRESTED THIRTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD MILTON ARCHANGEL OF NEW IBERIA AFTER A BRIEF PURSUIT AND HE REPORTEDLY WAS IN POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA AND A FIREARM AND ALLEGEDLY DROPPED A BACKPACK CONTAINING VARIOUS DRUGS.

LAST WEEK, THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED A REZONING PLAN.  UNDER THE PLAN, SOME STUDENTS ZONED FOR CARENCRO HIGH SCHOOL WILL BE REZONED FOR NORTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL BEGINNING IN THE FALL.  THE NEW CHANGE ADDS A PORTION BETWEEN I-TEN AND WEST PONT DES MOUTON ROAD TO THE NORTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL ZONE.  BOARD MEMBER CHAD DESORMEAUX SAYS THE REZONING WILL AFFECT ABOUT ONE HUNDRED TEN STUDENTS.

THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES SAYS THEY WILL NOT BE PARTICIPATING IN THE SUMMER E-B-T PROGRAM.  SECRETARY DAVID MATLOCK SAYS THEY ARE STAYING FOCUSED ON THEIR MISSION OF CHILDREN HAVING A SAFE HOME AND LEADING FAMILIES TO SELF-SUFFICIENCY.  HE SAYS THEY WANT TO DELIVER THE BIGGEST IMPACT TO THE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THEY SERVE WITHOUT ADDING PIECEMEAL PROGRAMS THAT COME WITH MORE STRINGS THAN LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS.  EXISTING FEEDING PROGRAMS WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT INCLUDING THE SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM OR SNAP.

A CHILD WAS STRUCK BY A CAR FRIDAY NIGHT NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF HODGES AND ELEVENTH STREETS IN LAKE CHARLES.  THE BOY WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL FOR TREATMENT.  HIS CONDITION HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED.  LAKE CHARLES POLICE SAY THE ACCIDENT WAS RELATED TO TRAFFIC FROM THE MERCHANT’S PARADE ROUTE.

RESIDENTS IN AN ABBEVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD, WHERE A NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD WAS SHOT AND KILLED THURSDAY NIGHT, SAY HE WAS BEING ROBBED BY A SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD, WHO WAS LATER ARRESTED.  THE RESIDENTS ON ROBBIE CIRCLE SAYS THE TWO WERE MEETING FOR SOME TYPE OF EXCHANGE THAT WENT WRONG.  THE MAN WHO WAS SHOT, NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD DYLAN WALKER, MANAGED TO MAKE IT TO A CIRCLE K CONVENIENCE STORE TO ASK FOR HELP BUT LATER DIED AT THE HOSPITAL.  VERMILLION PARISH SHERIFF MIKE COUVILLON SAYS THE SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD WAS ON HOUSE ARREST AFTER PLEADING GUILTY IN DECEMBER TO SIX CHARGES INCLUDING SIMPLE BATTERY AND ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF A FIREARM.

Book displays highlighting black history or the accomplishments of those in the LGBTQ+ community at libraries in Lafayette parish have returned after being prohibited in 2022. Interim Library Director Sarah Monroe told The Advocate about her decision to allow the displays. She says it’s important that the community be represented in its libraries. Monroe replaced Danny Gillane after the Lafayette Parish Library Board fired him for implementing the ban.

THE ADVOCATE IS REPORTING THAT THE GOVERNOR’S CHIEF OF STAFF HAS WORKED AS A LOBBYIST FOR THE PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH CENTER.  GOVERNOR LANDRY SINGLED OUT PENNINGTON TO RECEIVE MILLIONS OF RESEARCH DOLLARS AS PART OF THE PROPOSED SALE OF BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF LOUISIANA.  THE ADVOCATE SAYS LANDRY AIDE KYLE RUCKERT HAD A LOBBYING CONTRACT WITH PENNINGTON UNTIL LATE LAST YEAR WHEN HIS WIFE TOOK IT OVER.  LANDRY’S COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR KATE KELLY SAYS PENNINGTON IS A WORLD CLASS RESEARCH FACILITY AND THE RUCKERT’S FEDERAL CONTRACT WITH THE COMPANY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH POTENTIAL FUNDING FOR THE CENTER.

ON FRIDAY, A SAINT LANDRY PARISH GRAND JURY HANDED DOWN THREE INDICTMENTS IN UNRELATED INCIDENTS.  EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD ABRAHAM GOODLEY WAS INDICTED FOR THE SECOND-DEGREE MURDER OF JOHN Q. DAVIS, WHO WAS SHOT AND KILLED IN HIS HOME ON DECEMBER TWENTY-SIXTH.  FORTY-NINE-YEAR-OLD CRAIG MOORE WAS INDICTED FOR THE SECOND-DEGREE MURDER OF JOSEPH SYLVESTER JUNIOR, WHO DIED FROM A SINGLE GUNSHOT TO THE HEAD OUTSIDE OF CLUB REELS IN OPELOUSAS ON DECEMBER EIGHTEENTH.  TWENTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD JACENTA LAZARE WAS ALSO INDICTED FOR SECOND-DEGREE MURDER IN THE SHOOTING DEATH OF LAQUANDA GUILLORY, WHO WAS KILLED IN HER VEHICLE WHEN SHE ARRIVED AT TWO THIRTY-NINE DYNASTY LANE IN OPELOUSAS.

A MAN, WHO WAS SHOT ON ROBIE CIRCLE IN ABBEVILLE LAST NIGHT, DIED AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL.  VERMILLION PARISH SHERIFF MIKE COUVILLON SAYS THE VICTIM IS NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD DYLAN MICHAEL WALKER OF NEW IBERIA.  A SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD FROM ABBEVILLE HAS BEEN ARRESTED ON CHARGES OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER AND ARMED ROBBERY. COUVILLON SAYS THE JUVENILE HAS A CRIMINAL HISTORY WHERE HE PLED GUILTY TO NUMEROUS BURGLARIES, FELONY THEFTS AND STOLEN GOODS COMPLAINTS AND WAS WEARING AN ANKLE MONITOR IN LIEU OF DETENTION WHEN HE WAS ARRESTED.

A LAFAYETTE JURY FOUND THIRTY-NINE-YEAR-OLD ZACHARY MARKEY ADAMS GUILTY OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER.  HE WAS CONVICTED FOR THE MARCH TWENTY-TWENTY-TWO SHOOTING DEATH OF TWENTY-NINE-YEAR-OLD JALEN WALKER, WHO WAS THE FATHER OF THREE CHILDREN.  THE SHOOTING HAPPENED AFTER AN ARGUMENT BETWEEN THE TWO AT THE BRIDGEWOOD MOBILE HOME PARK ON CARMEL DRIVE.  ADAMS FACES A MANDATORY LIFE SENTENCE AT HARD LABOR WHEN HE IS SENTENCED ON MARCH THIRTEENTH.

A federal judge has ruled that state House and Senate boundary lines drawn up by the Louisiana Legislature in 2022 dilute Black voting strength in violation of the U.S. Voting Rights Act. U.S. District Judge Shelly Dick’s ruling on Thursday blocked the use of the House and Senate district maps in future elections. The order gave the state a not-yet-specified “reasonable period of time” to draw up new districts. Dick’s filing noted that the state’s voting-age population is about 33% Black.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT HELD A ROAD SHOW IN LAKE CHARLES, ALLOWING SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA PARISH OFFICIALS TO GIVE INPUT ON IMPROVEMENTS THEY’D LIKE TO SEE.  THE MAIN FOCUS WAS KEEPING A TOLL FOR A NEW I-TEN BRIDGE AFFORDABLE FOR DRIVERS, ONCE IT’S CONSTRUCTED.  MAYOR NIC HUNTER TALKED ABOUT THE NEED FOR IMPROVEMENTS ON RYAN STREET, MAKING IT AESTHETICALLY PLEASING, SINCE IT’S THE BACKBONE AND SPINE FOR LAKE CHARLES AND A WELCOME MAT FOR MCNEESE STATE UNIVERSITY.  CAMERON PARISH POLICE JUROR MAGNES MCGEE SAYS HIGHWAY TWENTY-SEVEN IS IN NEED OF IMPROVEMENTS SINCE IT HAS BEEN SUBMERGED UNDER WATER DURING FLOODING.

A LAFAYETTE WOMAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY STARTING A FIRE INTENTIONALLY IN A BATHROOM AT THE SANTA ROSA APARTMENTS AT TWO HUNDRED MERCHANTS BOULEVARD ON JANUARY FOURTH.  FOURTEEN PEOPLE WERE DISPLACED AND A DOG WAS KILLED IN THE FIRE.  TWENTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD JAMSINE NOLAN WAS BOOKED INTO THE LAFAYETTE PARISH CORRECTIONAL CENTER ON TWELVE COUNTS OF AGGRAVATED ARSON AND ONE COUNT OF AGGRAVATED CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.  THE FIRE IS STILL BEING INVESTIGATED.

ONE BICYCLIST IS DEAD AND ANOTHER CRITICALLY INJURED AFTER A HIT-AND-RUN CRASH JUST AFTER EIGHT WEDNESDAY NIGHT ON WEST WASHINGTON STREET IN NEW IBERIA.  WITNESSES TOLD POLICE THE CAR INVOLVED IN THE HIT-AND-RUN WAS WHITE AND HAD FOUR DOORS.  INVESTIGATORS SAY THE CAR LIKELY HAS DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END.  ANYONE WHO HAS INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CALL IBERIA PARISH CRIME STOPPERS AT THREE-SIX-FOUR-TIPS.

Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry officially called for a highly anticipated crime-focused special legislative session on Thursday that could overhaul the state’s current criminal justice system, reversing reforms that happened under Landry’s Democratic predecessor. Among the two dozen tough-on-crime-related items on Landry’s broad agenda are expanding methods to carry out death row executions, restricting parole eligibility, harsher penalties for carjackings, “immunity from liability” for law enforcement based upon a certain criteria and publicizing some juvenile court records. The Republican has long vowed to crack down on crime in Louisiana — a state that in recent years has had one of the highest homicide rates in the country.

A SAINT MARTINVILLE MAN SAYS PERSONAL ITEMS BELONGING TO HIS DECEASED SON WERE STOLEN FROM A STORAGE UNIT A FEW MONTHS AGO AT CITY STOR AND LOCK.  GARY PRINCE SAYS A MILK CRATE OF GAME CAMERAS THAT BELONGED TO HIS SON, JORDAN, WERE TAKEN.  HE TELLS KLFY THAT THAT IT’S SO SAD THAT SOMEONE WOULD GO RUMMAGING THROUGH THEIR MEMORIES AND HE SAYS IT BROKE THEIR HEARTS ALL OVER AGAIN.  SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS SHOWED TWO PEOPLE STEALING THE ITEMS AND SAINT MARTINVILLE POLICE HAVE ARREST WARRANTS OUT FOR THE SUSPECTS.

FORMER LAFAYETTE MAYOR WILLIAM DUD LASTRAPES JUNIOR PASSED AWAY YESTERDAY AT THE AGE OF NINETY-FOUR.  SYLVIA MASTERS HAS MORE.

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A MEETING WILL BE HELD NEXT WEEK IN VILLE PLATTE TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE OF SOLAR FARMS.  SOME FARMERS ARE UPSET ABOUT THE SOLAR FARMS COMING ON TO THEIR PROPERTY.  FARMERS IN THE AREA HAVE EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT THE IMPACTS ON FARMLAND USE, PROPERTY VALUES AND SAFETY.  OTHERS ARE NOT HAPPY THAT THEIR LAND IS NOT BEING LEASED FOR THE PROJECT.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILL BE INTRODUCING A NEW FORECAST TRACK GRAPHIC IN MID-AUGUST.  THE NEW MAP WILL NOT ONLY SHOW THE PROJECTED TRACK OF A HURRICANE BUT ALSO INCLUDE WIND WATCHES AND WARNINGS.  THE NEW MAP, WHICH HAS BEEN DEVELOPED OVER SEVERAL YEARS, ADDRESSES CONCERNS ABOUT THE PUBLIC FOCUSING ON THE WHITE CONE ON THE GRAPHIC AND NOT THE THREATS THAT CAN OCCUR OUTSIDE THE CONE, ESPECIALLY HIGH WINDS.  THE NEW GRAPHIC WILL BE AVAILABLE THIRTY MINUTES AFTER A STORM ADVISORY IS ISSUED.

JEFF DAVIS PARISH RESIDENTS WERE ON HAND AT LAST NIGHT’S POLICE JURY MEETING TO ADVOCATE FOR A PARISH-WIDE ANIMAL SHELTER, WHICH THE PARISH DOES NOT HAVE NOW.  POLICE JUROR STEVE EASTMAN SAYS THEY PLAN ON USING AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN FUNDS TO BUILD A SHELTER, BUT IT TOOK TIME TO VERIFY THAT THE MONEY COULD BE USED FOR THAT PARTICULAR PROJECT.  HE SAYS THEY SENT OUT REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS FOR THE DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE OF THE FACILITY BUT GOT NO RESPONSES.  EASTMAN ESTIMATES IT WILL BE TWO YEARS BEFORE A NEW SHELTER IS UP AND OPERATING.

PROSECUTORS BEGAN PRESENTING EVIDENCE YESTERDAY IN THE SECOND-DEGREE MURDER TRIAL OF THIRTY-NINE-YEAR-OLD ZACHARY MARKEY ADAMS OF LAFAYETTE.  HE’S ACCUSED OF SHOOTING AND KILLING TWENTY-NINE-YEAR-OLD JALEN ANTHONY WALKER, A FATHER OF THREE, AT THE BRIDGEWOOD MOBILE HOME PARK ON CARMEL DRIVE IN MARCH OF TWENTY-TWENTY-TWO.  A NEIGHBOR AT THE PARK TESTIFIED THAT THE TWO MEN HAD BEEN ARGUING ON AND OFF THROUGHOUT THE EVENING BEFORE THE SHOOTING HAPPENED.  SURVEILLANCE VIDEO OF THE SHOOTING WAS ALSO PRESENTED AT THE TRIAL.

A MOTHER IN BREAUX BRIDGE WAS QUESTIONED BY POLICE AFTER ALLEGEDLY INCITING HER DAUGHTER TO FIGHT ANOTHER GIRL ON THE SCHOOL BUS.  ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD DESTINY POTIER, WHO ATTENDS BREAUX BRIDGE ELEMENTARY, WAS TAKEN TO A MEDICAL CENTER FOR TREATMENT OF INJURIES.  DESTINY’S MOTHER, ASHLEY POTIER, SAYS SHE CAN’T BELIEVE THIS HAPPENED AND SAID THE OTHER GIRL’S MOTHER SHOULD HAVE COME TO HER AND SHE WOULD HAVE CORRECTED HER DAUGHTER.  THE MOTHER OF THE OTHER DAUGHTER WAS CHARGED WITH TWO MISDEMEANORS, TRESPASSING AND INCITING A FIGHT BETWEEN JUVENILES, AND LATER RELEASED.

STATE REPRESENTATIVE CANDACE NEWELL HAS PRE-FILED A BILL FOR THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT WOULD MAKE CHANGES TO THE DEFINITIONS RELATED TO ABORTIONS.  ABORTIONS HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY BANNED IN THE STATE SINCE THE OVERTURNING OF ROE V WADE BY THE SUPREME COURT.  THE LIST OF WHAT CONSTITUTES A FETUS TO BE NONVIABLE HAS BEEN CONTROVERSIAL AND SOME CLAIM IT’S NOT CLEAR ENOUGH FOR DOCTORS WHO FEAR PROSECUTION.  UNDER THE BILL, THE REMOVAL OF ECTOPIC AND MOLAR PREGNANCIES WOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED ABORTIONS AND IT LAYS OUT PROTECTIONS FOR CONTRACEPTION.

A CROWLEY RESTAURANT DAMAGED IN A FIRE LAST YEAR HAS REOPENED.  NEESIE’S SWEET DOUGH PIES OPENED YESTERDAY AT A NEW LOCATION, ONE-FOURTEEN EAST NINTH STREET.  THE RESTAURANT SERVES PIES AND THEIR SIGNATURE LUNCH PLATES.  THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE AT THE ORIGINAL LOCATION IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.

A PEDESTRIAN, WHO WAS KILLED MONDAY ON AMBASSADOR CAFFERY NEAR THE ACADIANA MALL, HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS SIXTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD WILTON MILLER OF ALEXANDRIA.  HE WAS STRUCK BY A PICKUP TRUCK WHILE PUSHING A HOME DEPOT CART ON THE INSIDE NORTHBOUND LANE.  LAFAYETTE POLICE SAY IT’S NOT CLEAR WHY HE WAS WALKING IN A BUSY ROADWAY.  THIS IS THE THIRD PEDESTRIAN STRUCK AND KILLED IN LAFAYETTE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR.

A VILLE PLATTE POLICE OFFICER HAS FILED A RECALL PETITION AGAINST POLICE CHIEF AL PERRY THOMAS.  IN TWENTY-TWENTY-TWO, AN APPEALS COURT RULED THAT FORMER CHIEF NEIL LARTIGUE, WHO WAS RUNNING FOR REELECTION, WAS LIVING OUTSIDE THE CITY LIMITS AND THOMAS WAS GRANTED AS THE NEXT POLICE CHIEF.  OFFICER MALCOLM MCKINNEY SAYS HE FILED THE RECALL BECAUSE THE PUBLIC WAS DENIED THE RIGHT TO EXERCISE THEIR VOTE.  THE PETITION, WHICH WAS APPROVED BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE ONE WEEK AGO, ACCUSES THOMAS OF LEAKING CASE INFORMATION, AND SAYS THE PUBLIC DOES NOT FEEL SAFE WITH HIM IN OFFICE AND OFFICERS DON’T WANT TO WORK WITH HIM.

LOUISIANA ATTORNEY GENERAL LIZ MURRILL HAS JOINED TWENTY-TWO OTHER STATE ATTORNEY GENERALS IN OPPOSING PRESIDENT BIDEN’S PAUSE ON LIQUIFIED NATURAL GAS EXPORT PROJECTS.  THE A-G’S SAY THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY DOES NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO ISSUE BLANKET DENIALS FOR EXPORT PERMITS WITHOUT AN ACT OF CONGRESS.  MURRILL SAYS IT’S TIME FOR BIDEN TO END HIS ASSAULT ON LOUISIANA ENERGY.  SHE CALLED THE PAUSE UNLAWFUL AND SAID IT DAMAGES THE ECONOMY AND HURTS NATIONAL SECURITY.

THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF FORD PICKUP TRUCKS STOLEN IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA RECENTLY.  SEVEN HAVE BEEN REPORTED STOLEN IN CALCASIEU PARISH SINCE THE START OF THE YEAR.  BEAUREGARD PARISH HAS SEEN SEVEN STOLEN SINCE LATE TWENTY-TWENTY-THREE.  CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF ELECT STITCH GUILLORY SAYS EVERY VEHICLE REPORTED STOLEN TO HIS OFFICE HAD A KEY LEFT IN THE VEHICLE.

LAFAYETTE COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE CRACKING DOWN ON EXCESSIVE ABSENTEEISM.  DANIELLE DUNCAN HAS MORE.

VOICER B :30

THE SAINT LANDRY PARISH SCHOOL BOARD HAS INCREASED THE PAY FOR SHORT-TERM SUBSTITUTES.  THE DAILY PAY WILL GO FROM SEVENTY TO NINETY DOLLARS.  SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER ANTHONY STANDBERRY SAYS IT’S HARD TO FIND SUBSTITUTES AND THEY ARE HOPING THE INCREASE WILL ATTRACT CERTIFIED TEACHERS.  THE INCREASE WILL GO INTO EFFECT MARCH FIRST AND DOES NOT AFFECT LONG TERM SUBSTITUTE TEACHER PAY.

GOVERNOR JEFF LANDRY PROMISED A BUSINESS-FRIENDLY SHIFT IN THE STATE’S INDUSTRIAL TAX EXEMPTION PROGRAM.  THE PROGRAM GIVES MANUFACTURERS AN EIGHTY PERCENT PROPERTY TAX BREAK FOR UP TO A DECADE IF APPROVED BY LOCAL GOVERNING AUTHORITIES.  LANDRY TOLD THE JEFFERSON PARISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE YESTERDAY THAT APPLICANTS ARE NEEDLESSLY FORCED TO DETAIL HOW MANY WORKERS THEY WILL EMPLOY.  HIS ANNOUNCEMENT DREW CRITICISM FROM SOME WHO SAY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS SHOULD GET SOMETHING IN RETURN FOR GIVING UP TAX REVENUE.

A SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD HAS BEEN INDICTED BY A GRAND JURY IN ACADIA PARISH AND WILL BE TRIED AS AN ADULT IN THE ARMED ROBBERY AND MURDER OF THIRTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD HARRY RICHARD JUNIOR OF RAYNE ON NEW YEAR’S EVE.  RAYNE POLICE CHIEF CARROLL STELLY SAYS JARVION CHARLES OF DUSON WAS BOOKED INTO THE ACADIA PARISH JAIL ON CHARGES OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AND ARMED ROBBERY AND HIS BOND WAS SET AT FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS.  CHARLES IS THE THIRD PERSON ARRESTED AS A RESULT OF THE INVESTIGATION.  THE OTHER TWO ARE NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD TAY’VION WILLIAMS OF LAFAYETTE AND SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD DAMYRION WILLIAMS.

A PEDESTRIAN WAS KILLED LAST NIGHT IN LAFAYETTE.  IT HAPPENED IN THE THIRTY-SIX HUNDRED BLOCK OF AMBASSADOR CAFFERY.  OFFICIALS SAY A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION DETERMINED THE PEDESTRIAN WAS IN THE ROADWAY WHEN HIT BY A VEHICLE.  THE IDENTITY OF THE PEDESTRIAN HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED YET.

SLEMCO CUSTOMERS WILL SEE A TEMPORARY INCREASE IN THE FUEL PORTION OF THEIR ELECTRIC BILL.  SLEMCO OFFICIALS SAY THEY WERE NOTIFIED ABOUT THE INCREASE BY ELECTRICITY GENERATORS.  THEY SAYS THE TEMPORARY FUEL INCREASE IS DUE TO THE HISTORICALLY LOW WATER LEVELS CAUSED BY THE RECENT DROUGHT.  IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE BURDEN ON BUSINESSES AND FAMILIES, THE COST WILL BE SPREAD OUT OVER TWELVE MONTHS.

THE STATE SENATE INSURANCE AND HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTES HELD A JOINT HEARING YESTERDAY TO DISCUSS THE POTENTIAL RAMIFICATIONS OF THE PROPOSED SALE OF BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF LOUISIANA TO ELEVANCE HEALTH.  REPUBLICAN SENATOR VALARIE HODGES OF DENHAM SPRINGS POINTED OUT A NEWSPAPER REPORT THAT ELEVANCE DENIED THIRTY-FOUR PERCENT OF DOCTOR’S CLAIMS, WHICH SHE SAYS IS DISTURBING.  BLUE CROSS OFFICIALS SAID THE POTENTIAL SALE WOULD EXPAND THEIR ABILITY TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY AND AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE.  NEXT WEEK, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE WILL HOLD TWO DAYS OF HEARINGS ON THE SALE.

A VEHICLE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM AT SOWELA IN LAKE CHARLES HAS BEEN NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED BY THE AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE EXCELLENCE EDUCATION FOUNDATION.  STUDENTS IN THE PROGRAM PASSED A RIGOROUS EVALUATION IN ORDER TO RECEIVE A-S-E CERTIFICATION.  SOWELA OFFICIALS ARE HOPING THIS WILL ALLOW MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS.  THE NATIONAL ACCREDITATION MEANS THE SCHOOL USES ACCEPTED STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE IN INSTRUCTION, FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT.

A NEW CELL PHONE WAITING AREA WILL OPEN BEGINNING AT TWO THIS AFTERNOON FOR THE LAFAYETTE REGIONAL AIRPORT.  DUE TO FEDERAL REGULATIONS, DRIVERS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PARK IN FRONT OF THE TERMINAL EXCEPT TO BRIEFLY DROP OFF OR PICK UP PASSENGERS.  THE NEW WAITING AREA, CLEARLY MARKED ON TERMINAL DRIVE, WILL ALLOW DRIVERS A PLACE TO PARK WHILE WAITING FOR PASSENGER ARRIVALS.  EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR STEVEN PICOU SAYS THEY HOPE THE NEW AREA WILL ALLOW FOR EASIER COORDINATION IN PICKUPS.

THE FAMILY OF AN EIGHTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD BUSINESS OWNER IN VILLE PLATTE SAY THEY ARE FRUSTRATED AFTER HE WAS ROBBED THREE DIFFERENT TIMES IN THE PARKING LOT AND FEEL THERE HAS BEEN A LACK OF RESPONSE BY POLICE.  RACHEL BLANCHET, THE DAUGHTER OF EUGENE FONTENOT, OWNER OF THE EUCO FINANCE COMPANY, SAYS YOU CAN’T JUST WALK OUT THE DOOR WITHOUT BEING CAUTIOUS.  SHE SAYS TEENAGERS WOULD BE WAITING OUTSIDE AND WOULD DISTRACT HER FATHER BEFORE STEALING THE DEPOSIT HE WAS CARRYING.  POLICE WERE ABLE TO RECOVER THE MONEY IN THE SECOND ROBBERY FROM A VEHICLE A BLOCK AWAY AND POLICE CHIEF AL PERRY THOMAS SAYS A DETECTIVE IS ON THE CASE.

GOVERNOR JEFF LANDRY MADE SEVERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS YESTERDAY DURING A SPEECH AT THE LOUISIANA MID-CONTINENT OIL AND GAS ANNUAL MEETING.  LANDRY ANNOUNCED THAT HE WOULD SIGN A PROCLAMATION IN SUPPORT OF THE INDUSTRIES.  THEN LANDRY SAID HE WOULD SIGN AN EXECUTIVE ORDER TO EXPIDITE PERMITTING PROCESSES THAT MAY BE CAUSING HOLD-UPS.  LANDRY ALSO ANNOUNCED A ONE HUNDRED MILLION DOLLAR BOND ALLOCATION WOULD BE MADE FOR CHEVRON’S GEISMAR RENEWABLE DIESEL PLANT EXPANSION PROJECT, WHICH COULD RESULT IN NINETY PERMANENT JOBS AND FIFTEEN HUNDRED TEMPORARY JOBS.

FIREFIGHTERS BATTLED A HOUSE FIRE IN ABBEVILLE MONDAY EVENING.  DANIELLE DUNCAN HAS MORE.

VOICER A :12

LAFAYETTE POLICE RESPONDED TO A SHOOTING INCIDENT LATE SUNDAY EVENING.  THIS INCIDENT IS NOW BEING INVESTIGATED BY STATE POLICE.  DANIELLE DUNCAN REPORTS.

VOICER Y :30

A SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD, WHO ESCAPED FROM THE VERMILLION PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE FRIDAY, IS BACK IN CUSTODY.  KIMMY DAUNTAIN JUNIOR ESCAPED WHILE BEING ESCORTED TO A FUNERAL IN FRANKLIN.  HIS PARENTS TURNED DAUNTAIN IN TO STATE POLICE TROOP B IN KENNER AT AROUND TEN-THIRTY SUNDAY MORNING.  DAUNTAIN WAS BEING HELD ON NUMEROUS CHARGES INCLUDING FIRST-DEGREE MURDER.

GOVERNOR JEFF LANDRY WAS ONE OF THIRTEEN GOVERNORS WHO WENT TO EAGLE PASS, TEXAS SUNDAY TO MEET WITH TEXAS GOVERNOR GREG ABBOTT.  AFTER LEARNING WHAT IS HAPPENING THERE, LANDRY SAID THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS ABDICATED ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO ENFORCE IMMIGRATION LAWS.  HE SAYS OPEN BORDERS HAVE ALLOWED DRUGS AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING TO FLOW INTO OUR COMMUNITIES, PUTTING THE WHOLE COUNTRY AT RISK.  LANDRY SAYS HE WILL WORK WITH THE LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP TO FIND A WAY TO SEND NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS TO THE SOUTHERN BORDER TO SUPPORT TEXAS IN ENFORCING IMMIGRATION LAWS.

A TEXAS MAN WAS ARRESTED NEAR IOWA FOR HUMAN TRAFFICKING.  TWENTY-SEVEN-YEAR-OLD KEVIN RICKS WAS PULLED OVER FOR A TRAFFIC VIOLATION AND AN INVESTIGATION LED TO THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING ARREST.  THE U-S ATTORNEY FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA, BRANDON BROWN, SAYS THE STATE HAS TWO MAJOR INTERSTATE CORRIDORS.  HE SAYS A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TRAFFICKED ON THE BORDER AND BROUGHT THROUGH LOUISIANA ON THEIR WAY TO THE EAST COAST.

ON THURSDAY, THE YOUNGSVILLE CITY COUNCIL IS EXPECTED TO RAISE TRASH COLLECTION RATES FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW.  LAST YEAR, THE COUNCIL RAISED THE RATE THREE DOLLARS TO TWENTY-THREE DOLLARS PER MONTH.  IF THE ORDINANCE IS APPROVED, IT WILL GO UP AGAIN TO TWENTY-SEVEN DOLLARS MONTHLY.  WASTE MANAGEMENT RECENTLY INCREASED THEIR RATES BY NEARLY FIFTEEN PERCENT DUE TO RISING FUEL COSTS AND THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX.

IN OPELOUSAS, A MAN WAS SHOT IN THE HAND SUNDAY MORNING.  POLICE LEARNED ABOUT THE SHOOTING FROM A LOCAL HOSPITAL.  THEY FOUND THAT TWENTY-NINE-YEAR-OLD KEENAN CHARLES WAS SHOT DURING AN ALTERCATION, AND IT HAPPENED IN THE FIVE HUNDRED BLOCK OF EAST SOUTH STREET.  THIRTY-YEAR-OLD DEXTER BROUSSARD JUNIOR WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED MANSLAUGHTER.

CASES OF SEXUALLY TRANSMITTED DISEASES IN LOUISIANA HAVE FAR OUTPACED THE NATIONAL RATE.  SYPHILIS CASES HAVE RISEN TWENTY-FOUR PERCENT IN THE STATE COMPARED TO A NINE PERCENT NATIONAL INCREASE.  PATTY KISSINGER, AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE EPIDEMIOLOGIST FROM TULANE, CALLED IT AN EPIDEMIC.  LOUISIANA RANKS NUMBER ONE IN THE NATION FOR CHLAMYDIA INFECTIONS, WHICH HAVE RISEN BY EIGHT PERCENT.

A CEREMONY WAS HELD SATURDAY TO REMEMBER THE FIRST BLACK POLICE OFFICERS IN OPELOUSAS.  BERNARD LEWIS, PHILIP STELLY AND JULIUS GUILLORY JOINED THE DEPARTMENT IN THE NINETEEN-FIFTIES, DURING SEGREGATION.  FAMILY MEMBERS WERE ON HAND AND TALKED ABOUT THEIR LEGACIES.  POLICE CHIEF GRAIG LEBLANC SAYS IT’S IMPORTANT TO HELP NEW GENERATIONS UNDERSTAND THE POWER OF THEIR ROOTS TO GIVE THEM THE PRIDE TO BE ABLE TO GO OUT AND DO GREAT THINGS.