KAJN Jesus FM 102.9

AN ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL ACCUSED OF MURDER WILL GO TO TRIAL MARCH SEVENTH.  SHE ALLEGEDLY KILLED THIRTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD KAMERON BEDSOLE OF NEW IBERIA IN NOVEMBER ON JASPER ROAD.  THE ORGANIZATIONS VILLAGE THREE-THREE-SEVEN AND EVOLVE LOUISIANA ATTENDED THE COURT HEARING TO ADVOCATE FOR THE GIRL AND HER FAMILY.  THERE IS NO INFORMATION YET ON A TRIAL DATE FOR THE GIRL’S FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD BROTHER, WHO HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH FIRST-DEGREE MURDER BUT HE WAS IN ATTENDANCE AT THE HEARING YESTERDAY.

DISTRICT JUDGE MARILYN CASTLE HAS OVERRULED A DECISION BY THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL TO DENY THE PLANS OF A LANDOWNER TO CONVERT A BANK INTO A CONVENIENCE STORE.  GLOMAX HAD PLANS TO MAKE THE CONVERSION AT THE FORMER CHASE BANK BUILDING, LOCATED IN THE FOUR CORNERS AREA.  THE CITY COUNCIL DENIED GLOMAX AFTER RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA EXPRESSED OPPOSITION.  JUDGE CASTLE SAID THE DECISION WAS ARBITRARY AND CAPRICIOUS AND REMANDED THE ISSUE BACK TO THE CITY COUNCIL.

NEWLY INAUGURATED GOVERNOR JEFF LANDRY WANTS TO END OPEN PRIMARIES IN LOUISIANA.  THE STATE LEGISLATURE COULD VOTE ON ENDING OPEN PRIMARIES AS SOON AS NEXT WEEK WHILE A SPECIAL SESSION IS BEING HELD.  OPEN PRIMARIES HAVE BEEN HELD IN MOST LOUISIANA ELECTIONS SINCE A DIRECTIVE ISSUED BY FORMER GOVERNOR EDWIN EDWARDS IN THE NINETEEN-SEVENTIES.  LANDRY WANTS TO GO BACK TO CLOSED PRIMARIES IN WHICH THE DEMOCRAT AND REPUBLICAN PARTIES HOLD THEIR OWN ELECTIONS DECIDING WHICH CANDIDATE TO MOVE FORWARD TO THE RUNOFF.

THE JENNINGS CITY COUNCIL VOTED FOUR-TO-ONE TO REZONE PROPERTY THAT WILL ALLOW THE WAY TRAINING CENTER TO REVAMP THE JENNING GUEST HOUSE NURSING HOME.  AN OVERFLOW CROWD ATTENDED THE MEETING, MOST IN SUPPORT OF THE WAY.  NINETY-FOUR SIGNATURES WERE GATHERED IN OPPOSITION TO THE CROWLEY-BASED ORGANIZATION’S PLANS BUT TWO HUNDRED SIXTEEN SIGNATURES WERE IN SUPPORT OF THE WAY.  PASTOR GERARD MORGAN SAID THE WAY IS NOT A REHAB OR ADDICTION CENTER, BUT A MISSION.

IN ACADIA PARISH, THREE FAMILY MEMBERS OF AN ACCUSED MURDER SUSPECT HAVE BEEN ARRESTED.  DANIELLE DUNCAN REPORTS.

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SCOTT MIDDLE SCHOOL STAYED OPEN YESTERDAY DESPITE A THREAT AGAINST THE SCHOOL MADE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.  EXTRA ADMINISTRATIVE PERSONNEL AND POLICE WERE ON HAND AT THE SCHOOL.  A MESSAGE TO PARENTS BY THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM SAID THEY WERE AWARE OF THE THREAT.  THEY SAID THEY WERE ACTIVELY INVESTIGATING THE SOURCE OF THE THREAT.

HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS CAN NO LONGER APPEAL TO GRADUATE IF THEY FAIL STATE STANDARDIZED TESTS.  GOVERNOR JEFF LANDRY REPEALED THE APPEALS PROCESS POLICY APPROVED BY THE BOARD OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUATION IN JUNE AND IMPLEMENTED LAST MONTH.  LANDRY ISSUED A STATEMENT THAT ENSURING A QUALITY EDUCATION FOR CHILDREN IS A TOP PRIORITY AND HIS DECISION MAINTAINS THOSE STANDARDS.  ADVOCATES FOR THE POLICY SAID IT PROVIDED AN ALTERNATIVE TO EARNING A DIPLOMA FOR STUDENTS WITH LEARNING CHALLENGES AND FOR NONNATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKERS.

A NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD BREAUX BRIDGE MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED AFTER ANOTHER MAN SUFFERED A GUNSHOT WOUND AT AROUND ONE A-M SATURDAY.  SAINT MARTIN PARISH SHERIFF BECKETT BREAUX SAYS TWO MEN WERE HANDLING A GUN WHEN ONE OF THE TWO POINTED THE GUN AT THE OTHER.  THE GUN DISCHARGED AND STRUCK THE VICTIM.  KENDRICK JAMES ALEXANDER JUNIOR HAS BEEN BOOKED INTO THE SAINT MARTIN PARISH CORRECTIONAL CENTER ON A CHARGE OF AGGRAVATED BATTERY.

THE CAUSE OF A FIRE THAT BURNED DOWN A VACANT HOME IN LAFAYETTE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.  EMERGENCY CREWS RESPONDED TO THE HOUSE FIRE ON WEST GILMAN STREET AT TEN-FIFTEEN SUNDAY NIGHT, BUT IT WAS ALREADY ENGULFED IN FLAMES.  NEIGHBORS TELL KLFY TV THAT THE HOME HAD BEEN VACANT FOR SEVERAL MONTHS.  THEY HAD SEEN INDIVIDUALS THEY DID NOT KNOW GOING IN AND OUT OF THE STRUCTURE.

JEANERETTE RESIDENTS HAVE EXPRESSED SAFETY CONCERNS ABOUT THE SHORTAGE OF OFFICERS ON THE FORCE.  DANIELLE DUNCAN HAS MORE.

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Advocates for LGBTQ rights have announced a lawsuit to block enforcement of Louisiana’s new ban on transgender health care procedures including hormone treatments, gender reassignment surgery or puberty-blocking drugs for anyone under 18. The lawsuit was prepared by Lambda Legal and other advocates on behalf of five Louisiana minors and their parents, identified in the lawsuit by pseudonyms. State lawmakers approved the ban last year and overrode a veto by then-Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat. The law took affect Jan. 1.

A DISTRICT JUDGE HAS GIVEN THE GO-AHEAD FOR A RECALL ELECTION OF ELTON MAYOR KESIA LEMOINE.  JEFF DAVIS PARISH DISTRICT JUDGE STEVE GUNNELL RULED MONDAY THAT THE RECALL MAY PROCEED.  HE DETERMINED THE PARISH REGISTRAR OF VOTERS FOLLOWED THE PROVISIONS OF THE ELECTION CODE FOR CERTIFYING A RECALL PETITION.  THE RECALL ELECTION IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE IN APRIL.

THE LAFAYETTE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS LAUNCHING A NEW PROGRAM WHICH ALLOWS RESIDENTS TO INFORM THEM OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE DISABILITIES THAT MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR THEM TO COMMUNICATE.  POLICE SERGEANT RAYMOND OVERBY, WHO HAS A SON WITH AUTISM, CAME UP WITH THE IDEA.  THE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT’S I-T DEPARTMENT HELPED DEVELOP A  DATABASE THAT CAN BE ACCESSED BY ALL EMERGENCY RESPONDERS IN THE PARISH.  IF A FIRST RESPONDER FINDS A PERSON WANDERING ON THEIR OWN, THEY’LL NOW BE ABLE TO CHECK THE DATABASE, ALLOWING THEM TO IDENTIFY THAT PERSON AND GET THEM TO SAFETY.

MORE THAN FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS HAS BEEN RAISED SO FAR FOR A BREAUX BRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL PLAYER, WHO WAS SHOT ON SATURDAY.  EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD KOLE HEBERT IS PARALYZED FROM THE NECK DOWN AND IS EXPECTED TO BE AT OUR LADY OF THE LAKE HOSPITAL IN BATON ROUGE FOR AT LEAST THE NEXT TWO WEEKS.  HEBERT WAS SET TO GRADUATE IN MAY AND HAD RECEIVED A FULL SCHOLARSHIP TO L-S-U-E TO PLAY BASEBALL.  A GOFUNDME ACCOUNT HAS BEEN SET UP TO HELP WITH EXPENSES AND THEY ARE HOPING TO RAISE AT LEAST SEVENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS.

Newly sworn-in Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry has issued an executive order calling for a special redistricting session. It gives lawmakers the opportunity to draw and replace the state’s current congressional map that a federal judge says dilutes the power of Black voters. Louisiana is among states still wrangling over congressional districts after the U.S. Supreme Court in June ruled that Alabama had violated the Voting Rights Act. Louisiana’s current GOP-drawn map, which was used in the November congressional election, has white majorities in five of six districts.

A EUNICE LAWMAKER HAS BEEN ELECTED AS SPEAKER OF THE LOUISIANA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.  REPUBLICAN PHILLIP DEVILLIER REPLACES REPUBLICAN CLAY SCHEXNAYDER, WHO LEFT THE HOUSE TO RUN FOR LOUISIANA SECRETARY OF STATE, WHICH HE LOST IN THE PRIMARY.  DEVILLIER WAS FIRST ELECTED TO THE FORTY-FIRST LOUISIANA HOUSE DISTRICT IN TWENTY-FIFTEEN, WHICH INCLUDES PORTIONS OF ACADIA, SAINT LANDRY AND EVANGELINE PARISHES.  HE ALSO IS THE OWNER OF DEVILLIER HOUSE MOVERS OF EUNICE.

THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM IS DISMISSING STUDENTS EARLY IN ANTICIPATION OF SEVERE WEATHER LATER TODAY.  HIGH SCHOOLS WILL DISMISS AT ELEVEN-THIRTY WHILE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WILL CLOSE AT TWELVE-FIFTEEN.  THREE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, ALICE BOUCHER, J-WALLACE JAMES AND TRUMAN EARLY CHILDHOOD, AS WELL AS ALL MIDDLE SCHOOLS, WILL DISMISS AT ONE.  LAFAYETTE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY WILL HAVE STUDENTS FOLLOW THEIR FRIDAY DISMISSAL TIMES FOR TODAY AS WELL.

THE SAINT MARTIN PARISH SCHOOLS WILL DISMISS AT NOON TODAY AND ALL AFTERNOON ACTIVITIES WILL BE CANCELLED.  IBERIA PARISH MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS WILL DISMISS AT ELEVEN-THIRTY WHILE THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS WILL CLOSE AT TWELVE-THIRTY.  SOME PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN NEW IBERIA WILL ALSO DISMISS EARLY INCLUDING EPIPHANY DAY SCHOOL AT ELEVEN-THIRTY, ACADIANA CHRISTIAN SCHOOL AT NOON AND HIGHLAND BAPTIST CHRISTIAN SCHOOL AT TWELVE-FIFTEEN.

THE LAFAYETTE PARISH COURTHOUSE IS CLOSED TODAY DUE TO THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER.  JURORS ARE TO REPORT FOR JURY DUTY TOMORROW AT NINE-FORTY-FIVE.  THAT’S ACCORDING TO MELISSA HEBERT, THE CHIEF DEPUTY FOR THE CLERK OF COURT.  CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS AND PARTIES THAT HAVE BEEN SERVED SUBPOENAS ARE TO REPORT TO COURT ON TUESDAY AS WELL.

Louisiana Gov.-elect Jeff Landry has been inaugurated. The inauguration Sunday marks a political shift of leadership in a state that has had a Democratic governor for the last eight years. The inauguration was originally scheduled for today. It was pushed up a day due to weather concerns.

A LAKE CHARLES WOMAN WAS SHOT AND KILLED FRIDAY MORNING AFTER GETTING INTO AN ARGUMENT, AND HER SON WAS SHOT AS WELL.  THE VICTIM HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THIRTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD DANIELLE NICHOLE WALKER, WHO WAS SHOT AT A HOME IN THE FORTY-FIVE HUNDRED BLOCK OF SALE LANE.  THIRTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD TERRENCE JEROME WITHERS OF LAKE CHARLES WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AND ATTEMPTED SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AND HIS BOND WAS SET AT ONE-POINT-TWO-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS.  WALKER’S SON, WHO IS A JUVENILE, WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND RELEASED THE NEXT DAY.

AN EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD HAS BEEN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION TO A HOMOCIDE IN OPELOUSAS THAT HAPPENED FRIDAY NIGHT.  GERALD GREUNIG REPORTS.

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A law requiring that some members appointed to the board that licenses and regulates physicians in Louisiana be from minority groups is being challenged in federal court. The lawsuit filed Thursday by the conservative group “Do No Harm” seeks a declaration that the law is unconstitutional. The 10-member State Board of Medical Examiners has one consumer member and nine physician members chosen from lists submitted by medical organizations and medical schools. The challenged law says that every other consumer member, every other member chosen from LSU medical centers in New Orleans and Shreveport, and every other member chosen from Louisiana Hospital Association nominees must be a minority member.

THE FAMILY OF KAMERON WILSON, WHO WAS SHOT AND KILLED LAST MONTH, HELD A BALLOON RELEASE IN HIS HONOR AT EUNICE CITY LAKE SATURDAY.  WILSON’S TWO-YEAR-OLD SON, WHO WAS ALSO WOUNDED IN THE SHOOTING, WAS AT THE BALLON RELEASE AS WELL.  THE SUSPECT WHO SHOT WILSON COMMITTED SUICIDE.  EUNICE POLICE ARRESTED A BATON ROUGE WOMAN, THIRTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD EFTINA RIDEAUX, WHO HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH PRINCIPAL TO SECOND DEGREE MURDER AND TWO COUNTS OF PRINCIPAL TO ATTEMPTED SECOND-DEGREE MURDER.

AN APARTMENT FIRE IN LAFAYETTE HAS DISPLACED SEVERAL FAMILIES.  SYLVIA MASTERS HAS THE DETAILS.

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THE ABBEVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS THAT THERE WERE NO PROVEN HOMOCIDES IN TWENTY-TWENTY-THREE.  POLICE CHIEF MIKE HARDY SAYS THERE WAS ONE PERSON SHOT AND KILLED AT THE LIVE OAK MANOR APARTMENTS IN OCTOBER, BUT THEY HAVEN’T DETERMINED YET IF IT WAS ACCIDENTAL OR INTENTIONAL.  HARDY TELLS KLFY TV ONE OF HIS MAJOR FOCUSES FOR THIS YEAR IS HIRING MORE OFFICERS AND GETTING THEM ON THE ROAD, TO HELP REDUCE CRIME.  STARTING PAY FOR ABBEVILLE POLICE OFFICERS HAS INCREASED TO FORTY THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR.

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has announced that once he leaves office next week he will join a New Orleans-based law firm where he will focus on renewable energy litigation. During Edwards’ past two terms as governor, which has spanned eight years, the Democrat has prioritized developing and expanding Louisiana’s renewable energy sources and reducing the state’s carbon dioxide emissions. Prior to entering the political world, Edwards, who was unable to run for governor again because of consecutive term limits, was a trial attorney who had opened a civil law practice in his hometown of Amite.

A NEW ORDINANCE APPROVED BY THE ELTON TOWN COUNCIL ON DECEMBER TWENTY-EIGHTH REDUCES THE TIME RESIDENTS HAVE TO PAY WATER BILLS BEFORE THE WATER IS SHUT OFF.  UNDER THE ORDINANCE, RESIDENTS HAVE UNTIL THE FIFTEENTH OF THE MONTH TO PAY BEFORE A TEN PERCENT LATE FEE IS APPLIED.  IF THE BILL IS STILL NOT PAID BY THE TWENTY-SIXTH, THE WATER WILL BE SHUT OFF AND A FIFTY DOLLAR DISCONNECT FEE WILL BE ADDED TO THE BILL.  PREVIOUSLY RESIDENTS HAD UP TO TWO MONTHS BEFORE THE WATER WAS DISCONNECTED.

TWO BURGER KING LOCATIONS IN LAFAYETTE HAVE CLOSED.  THEY ARE THE BURGER KINGS ON JOHNSTON STREET NEAR THE U-L CAMPUS AND THE ONE ON THE EVANGELINE THRUWAY AT JEFFERSON BOULEVARD.  THEY HAVE PERMANENTLY CLOSED AND THE SIGNAGE HAS BEEN REMOVED.  FOUR HUNDRED BURGER KINGS ACROSS THE NATION, THAT HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS OLDER AND UNDERPERFORMING, ARE EXPECTED TO BE SHUT DOWN.

AN ARREST HAS BEEN MADE IN THE FATAL SHOOTING OF THIRTY-NINE-YEAR-OLD JOHN DAVIS OF OPELOUSAS.  DAVIS’ BODY WAS FOUND INSIDE HIS HOME ON SOUTH RAILROAD AVENUE ON DECEMBER TWENTY-SIXTH.  EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD ABRAHAM L. GOODLEY OF OPELOUSAS WAS ARRESTED WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.  HE WAS BOOKED INTO THE SAINT LANDRY PARISH JAIL ON CHARGES OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AND ILLEGAL USE OF WEAPONS.

MORE OF GOVENOR-ELECT JEFF LANDRY’S SENIOR STAFF HIRES HAVE BEEN MADE PUBLIC.  SYLVIA MASTERS HAS MORE.

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A VACANT SPACE AT THE CORNER OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR DRIVE AND SCHLESSINGER STREET IN ABBEVILLE WILL BE THE HOME OF A NEW COMMUNITY CENTER.  CONSTRUCTION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN IN JUNE.  IT WILL BE CALLED THE REVEREND JAMES A. HEROD COMMUNITY CENTER.  HEROD WAS KNOWN AS A PILLAR FOR EDUCATIONAL EQUALITY AND HE SOUGHT TO EMPOWER AFRICAN AMERICANS THROUGH EDUCATION AND MINISTRY.

OPELOUSAS POLICE CHIEF GRAIG LEBLANC HAS ADMITTED HE WAS UNFAITHFUL TO HIS WIFE IN A LETTER HE WROTE AFTER A SHOOTING THAT LEFT HE AND HIS WIFE INJURED.  IT HAPPENED AT THE HOME OF OFFICER SAVANNAH BUTLER, WHO WAS ARRESTED ON JANUARY FIRST IN CONNECTION TO THE SHOOTING.  LEBLANC WROTE IN THE LETTER AN ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF HIS ROLE IN, WHAT HE CALLED, THE UNFORTUNATE SITUATION.  HE APOLOGIZED TO HIS WIFE, FAMILY AND THE COMMUNITY, SAYING HE FAILED TO UPHOLD THE STANDARDS EXPECTED OF A POLICE CHIEF.

MONIQUE BLANCO BOULET MADE HISTORY YESTERDAY, AS SHE WAS SWORN IN AS THE FIRST FEMALE MAYOR-PRESIDENT OF LAFAYETTE.  ALSO, NO WOMAN HAS BEEN ELECTED AS MAYOR OR PARISH PRESIDENT FOR LAFAYETTE.  AT THE CEREMONY HELD AT THE CAJUNDOME CONVENTION CENTER YESTERDAY, BOULET SAID THAT “TODAY WE EMBARK ON THIS JOURNEY WITH A SENSE OF EXCITEMENT AND OPTIMISM AND A GENUINE SENSE OF HOPE FOR THE FUTURE OF LAFAYETTE PARISH.”  THE ELECTED MEMBERS OF THE LAFAYETTE CITY AND PARISH COUNCILS WERE SWORN IN AS WELL.

Gov. John Bel Edwards has used his farewell speech to recount his administration’s accomplishments over the last eight years, including the state’s Medicaid expansion, climbing out of a historic budget deficit, advancing criminal justice reform, increasing teacher salaries and implementing coastal restoration plans. Edwards also reflected on historical crises while in office, including COVID-19, flooding, wildfires and hurricanes. The 57-year-old was first elected in 2015 and is leaving office after serving two terms. Edwards successor, Republican Gov.-elect Jeff Landry, will be inaugurated Monday.

EVERYTHING AT A LIBRARY BRANCH IN NORTH LAKE CHARLES IS A TOTAL LOSS AFTER IT CAUGHT FIRE SUNDAY, ACCORDING TO CALCASIEU LIBRARY DIRECTOR MARJORIE HARRISON.  THE EPPS MEMORIAL LIBRARY WAS OPERATING OUT OF A TEMPORARY LOCATION ON NORTH MARTIN LUTHER KING HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF DAMAGE TO THE ORIGINAL BUILDING CAUSED BY HURRICANE LAURA.  HARRISON SAYS THEY ARE WORKING NONSTOP TO FIND ANOTHER TEMPORARY LOCATION FOR THE LIBRARY BRANCH AND HOPES IT WILL BE DONE WITHIN SIXTY TO NINETY DAYS.  SHE SAYS THEY ARE WAITING ON A REPORT FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE.

AN ARREST HAS BEEN MADE IN CONNECTION TO A DEADLY NEW YEAR’S EVE SHOOTING IN RAYNE.  DANIELLE DUNCAN REPORTS.

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THE DRIVER OF A COMMERCIAL TRUCK HEAVILY DAMAGED TWO HOMES ON FIELDSPAN ROAD IN DUSON WEDNESDAY EVENING.  SCOTT FIRE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS SAY THE DRIVER LEFT THE ROADWAY AND DROVE THROUGH A MOBILE HOME, WHICH WAS VACANT, AND INTO THE BEDROOM OF A SECOND HOME.  THE DRIVER, WHO WAS TRAPPED, WAS REMOVED BY FIREFIGHTERS.  HE HAD MINOR INJURIES AND A PERSON IN THE BEDROOM OF THE SECOND HOME WAS NOT INJURED.  STATE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING THE CRASH.

GOVERNOR-ELECT JEFF LANDRY HAS APPOINTED THREE NEW LEADERS IN HIS ADMINISTRATION.  JACQUES THIBODEAUX, WHO SERVED IN THE LOUISIANA NATIONAL GUARD FOR MORE THAN THIRTY YEARS, WILL BE THE DIRECTOR OF THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.  TYLER GRAY, WHO EARNED AN M-B-A FROM L-S-U, WILL SERVE AS SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES.  SUSANA SCHOWEN, WHO HAS WORKED WITH LOUISIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IS THE NEW DIRECTOR OF THE LOUISIANA WORKFORCE COMMISSION.

A CROWLEY MAN WAS ARRESTED TUESDAY NIGHT AFTER AN ARGUMENT, WHERE HE ALLEGEDLY FIRED SHOTS AT FOUR PEOPLE INCLUDING A SMALL CHILD, THOUGH NO ONE WAS INJURED.  POLICE ARRIVED ON THE SCENE IN THE ONE THOUSAND BLOCK OF WEST TENTH STREET AND LOCATED THE SUSPECT, FORTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD LESTER REED, WHO WAS ARRESTED AFTER A BRIEF STRUGGLE.  A NINE MILLIMETER FIREARM, BELIEVED TO BE USED IN THE SHOOTING, WAS RECOVERED BY POLICE.  REED WAS BOOKED INTO THE ACADIA PARISH JAIL ON SEVERAL CHARGES INCLUDING FOUR COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED SECOND-DEGREE MURDER.

A WOMAN, WHO ALLEGEDLY SHOT BOTH THE OPELOUSAS POLICE CHIEF AND HIS WIFE ON DECEMBER TWENTY-SECOND, SURRENDERED TO POLICE ON NEW YEAR’S DAY.  THE WOMAN, OPELOUSAS POLICE OFFICER SAVANNAH BUTLER, IS ACCUSED OF FIRING A GUN DURING AN ARGUMENT WITH CAPTAIN CRYSTAL LEBLANC AS THE RESULT OF AN ARGUMENT.  CRYSTAL’S HUSBAND, POLICE CHIEF GRAIG LEBLANC, ATTEMPTED TO GRAB THE GUN AND WAS SHOT THROUGH THE HAND.  THE BULLET ENDED UP IN HIS WIFE’S ARM.  BUTLER HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS OF NEGLIGENT INJURY AND ONE COUNT OF ILLEGAL DISCHARGE OF A FIREARM.

HOMOCIDES IN LAFAYETTE WERE UP THIRTY-TWO PERCENT IN TWENTY-TWENTY-THREE COMPARED TO THE PREVIOUS YEAR.  THERE WERE A TOTAL OF TWENY NINE HOMOCIDES.  CORPORAL KEN HANDY SAYS THE HOMOCIDES WERE A COMBINATION OF BLUNT FORCE TRAUMA, SHOOTINGS AND STABBINGS BY AND LARGE TIED TO DOMESTIC CRIME OR JUVENILE CRIME.  A TOTAL OF SEVENTY-ONE HOMOCIDES HAVE BEEN REPORTED FOR THE ACADIANA REGION, INCLUDING ELEVEN IN OPELOUSAS AND SIX IN NEW IBERIA.

TODAY MARKS THE FINAL TIME GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS SPEAKS TO THE PEOPLE OF LOUISIANA.  DANIELLE DUNCAN HAS THE DETAILS.

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A LAKE CHARLES MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY KILLING HIS GIRLFRIEND’S SON AND A DOG ON NEW YEAR’S DAY.  A WOMAN BEING TREATED FOR SEVERE INJURIES AT A HOSPITAL TOLD AUTHORITIES ABOUT HER BOYFRIEND AND SAID SHE MANAGED TO ESCAPE THE HOME TO SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION.  OFFICERS WENT TO HER HOME AND FOUND TWENTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD ERIC BOSLEY OF LAKE CHARLES AND THE DOG DEAD FROM GUNSHOT WOUNDS.  THE OFFICERS LOCATED FORTY-SEVEN-YEAR-OLD DERIK K. RAYBORN AT THE HOSPITAL ATTEMPTING TO FIND HIS GIRLFRIEND AND HE WAS ARRESTED ON MULTIPLE CHARGES INCLUDING SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AND ATTEMPTED SECOND-DEGREE MURDER.

AN ALLEGED DRUG DEALER WAS ARRESTED DURING A TRAFFIC STOP CONDUCTED BY SAINT MARTIN PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES.  THE DEPUTIES PULLED OVER TWENTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD KIRBY ROSSYION OF BREAUX BRIDGE FOR FAILING TO SIGNAL.  THE DEPUTIES FOUND PROBABLE CAUSE TO SEARCH THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERD MULTIPLE DRUGS, INCLUDING COCAINE, CRACK COCAINE AND CRYSTAL METH, AS WELL AS A HANDGUN.  ROSSYION WAS BOOKED INTO THE SAINT MARTIN PARISH CORRECTIONAL CENTER ON MULTIPLE DRUG AND WEAPONS CHARGES.

TODAY LAFAYETTE PARISH WILL SEE A NEW ADMINISTRATION TAKE OFFICE.  DANIELLE DUNCAN HAS MORE.

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A NEW WAY TO DETERMINE IF DRIVERS ARE IMPAIRED IS BEING TESTED IN SAINT CHARLES PARISH.  MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED VOLUNTARY MOUTH SWABS WERE TAKEN FROM DRIVERS BETWEEN JULY AND SEPTEMBER.  NORTH LOUISIANA CRIME LAB SYSTEM DIRECTOR JOEY JONES TELLS THE ADVOCATE THAT THE MOUTH SWAB TESTING PRESENTS A WAY TO SCREEN FOR DRUG IMPAIRMENT THAT CAN BE DONE QUICKER AND THAT IS LESS INVASIVE THAN COLLECTING A BLOOD SAMPLE.  HE SAYS HE PLANS TO RECOMMEND TO THE GOVERNOR’S D-W-I TASK FORCE THAT ORAL FLUID TESTING BE ADDED TO THE LIST OF IMPAIRMENT SCREENINGS THAT OFFICERS CAN ADMINISTER WITHOUT A WARRANT.

ACADIA PARISH DEPUTIES ARRESTED A EUNICE MAN FOR ALLEGEDLY SHOOTING AT HIS WIFE ON FRIDAY.  DURING A DOMESTIC DISPUTE, THE WIFE ATTEMPTED TO SEPARATE HERSELF FROM HER HUSBAND BY GOING INTO ANOTHER ROOM AND SHUTTING THE DOOR.  THE HUSBAND, SEVENTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD STEPHEN DISCHLER, IS ACCUSED OF FIRING A SHOT THROUGH THE DOOR, NARROWLY MISSING HIS WIFE.  DISCHLER HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AND DOMESTIC ABUSE-AGGRAVATED ASSAULT.

LAFAYETTE HAD ITS FIRST HOMOCIDE OF THE NEW YEAR, WHICH HAPPENED YESTERDAY MORNING AT AROUND THREE-THIRTY.  THE VICTIM HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THIRTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD BRIAN AMUNE OF LAFAYETTE.  HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD IN THE EIGHT HUNDRED BLOCK OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JUNIOR DRIVE.  A RESIDENT IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD, LISA RIDEAUX, TELLS KLFY TV THAT AMUNE WAS HOMELESS.

ONE PERSON WAS KILLED IN A SINGLE VEHICLE CRASH SUNDAY NIGHT IN VERMILLION PARISH.  AT AROUND EIGHT-THIRTY, FORTY-YEAR-OLD JAKIMA MORRISEY OF LAFAYETTE WAS TRAVELING WEST ON HIGHWAY EIGHTY-TWO, WHEN, FOR UNKNOWN REASONS, HE WENT OFF THE ROADWAY AND STRUCK A TREE, STARTING A FIRE.  MORRISEY, WHO WAS NOT WEARING A SEATBELT, WAS EJECTED AND PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE, ACCORDING TO STATE POLICE.  THEY TOOK TOXICOLOGY SAMPLES TO DETERMINE IF IMPAIRMENT WAS A CAUSE IN THE ACCIDENT.

SEVERAL NEW LAWS GO INTO EFFECT FOR LOUISIANA WITH THE NEW YEAR.  THEY INCLUDE A BAN ON CERTAIN PROCEDURES DESIGNED TO ALTER THE GENDER OF A MINOR CHILD.  OTHER LAWS GOING INTO EFFECT INCLUDE CHANGES TO CHILD SUPPORT GUIDELINES, PET INSURER REQUIREMENTS, AND REQUIREMENTS FOR HEALTH COVERAGE PLANS FOR PEOPLE WITH CANCER.  THE NEXT REGULAR LEGSLATIVE SESSION BEGINS ON MARCH ELEVENTH.  BEFORE THAT, THERE ARE TWO SPECIAL SESSIONS DEALING WITH REDRAWING THE STATE’S CONGRESSIONAL MAP AND THE PROBLEM OF INCREASED CRIME.

THE CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS INVESTIGATING A BODY FOUND IN LAKE CHARLES.  DANIELLE DUNCAN REPORTS.

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ONE MAN WAS INJURED IN A SHOOTING YESTERDAY AFTERNOON IN LAFAYETTE.  POLICE DETERMINED THE MAN WAS SHOT IN THE ONE HUNDRED BLOCK OF LENA STREET AND THEN TRAVELED TO THE ONE HUNDRED BLOCK OF ANCELET STREET, WHERE POLICE FOUND HIM.  THE MAN WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WITH MULTIPLE GUNSHOT WOUNDS, WHERE HE IS IN STABLE CONDITION.  CORPORAL KEN HANDY WITH THE LAFAYETTE POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYS MULTIPLE SHOOTINGS THIS WEEKEND IN LAFAYETTE REFLECTS AN INCREASE IN CRIME BOTH LOCALLY AND NATIONALLY.

RAYNE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A NEW YEAR’S EVE HOMOCIDE.  AT AROUND ELEVEN SUNDAY NIGHT, POLICE ARRIVED ON THE SCENE OF THE SHOOTING, WHICH WAS IN THE ONE THOUSAND BLOCK OF LYMAN AVENUE.  THEY FOUND A MAN WITH MULTIPLE GUNSHOT WOUNDS.  HE WAS TAKEN TO AN AREA HOSPITAL WHERE HE LATER DIED.  HE’S BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THIRTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD HARRY RICHARD OF RAYNE.

FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW, THE LOUISIANA OFFICE OF TOURISM SPONSORED A FLOAT IN THE ROSE PARADE IN PASADENA, CALIFORNIA.  FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW, THEIR FLOAT WAS HONORED WITH THE SHOWMANSHIP AWARD.  THE FLOAT HAD A MARDI GRAS THEME.  LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BILLY NUNGESSER SAYS THE FLOAT KICKS OFF THEIR NEW MARKETING CAMPAIGN CALLED THE YEAR OF MUSIC.

THE SAINT LANDRY PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE HAS ISSUED AN ARREST WARRANT IN CONNECTION WITH A SHOOTING THAT LEFT THE OPELOUSAS POLICE CHIEF AND HIS WIFE INJURED.  SHERIFF BOBBY GUIDROZ SAYS THE ARREST WARRANT IS FOR SAVANNAH BUTLER OF OPELOUSAS.  BUTLER FACES TWO COUNTS OF NEGLIGENT INJURY AND ONE COUNT OF ILLEGAL USE OF A WEAPON.  NO DETAILS HAVE BEEN RELEASED ON THE SHOOTING.

MAYOR-PRESIDENT ELECT MONIQUE BLANCO BOULET YESTERDAY ANNOUNCED THE APPOINTMENT OF KEY MEMBERS OF HER TEAM INCLUDING KAREN FONTENOT, WHO WILL BE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.  FONTENOT IS CURRENTLY THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER FOR THE CITY OF BROUSSARD.  BOULET SAYS SHE’S EXCITED ABOUT THE TEAM THEY’VE ASSEMBLED BECAUSE OF THE VARIETY AND DEPTH OF EXPERIENCE, WHICH IS CRUCIAL FOR EFFECTIVE GOVERNANCE.  THE INAUGURATION CEREMONY FOR BOULET AS WELL AS THE LAFAYETTE CITY AND PARISH COUNCILS WILL TAKE PLACE WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AT THREE AT THE CAJUNDOME CONVENTION CENTER.

KATC TV IS REPORTING THAT THE POLICE CHIEF FOR OPELOUSAS AND HIS WIFE, A SAINT LANDRY PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTY, WERE INJURED IN A SHOOTING.  HOWEVER, NO ONE AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS ANSWERING ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT IT.  THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS THE LEAD INVESTIGATOR IN THE SHOOTING AND SHERIFF BOBBY GUIDROZ SAYS THEY ARE SPEAKING WITH WITNESSES AND CHECKING CAMERA FOOTAGE.  A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE OPELOUSAS POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYS CHIEF GRAIG TWIN LEBLANC WILL ADDRESS THE INVESTIGATION AT A LATER TIME.

A FIERY CRASH IN CALCASIEU PARISH LEFT ONE PERSON DEAD ON WEDNESDAY.  SYLVIA MASTERS REPORTS.

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The Biden administration is granting Louisiana’s request to administer its own permit program for wells that store carbon dioxide. It will be just the third state to take over that job from the Environmental Protection Agency. It’s a win for carbon capture proponents that want projects approved more quickly. The EPA said the Louisiana agreement includes safeguards to protect poorer, often majority-Black communities that live near those facilities — and that those standards will serve as a model for other states.

TO CAP THE YEAR-LONG CELEBRATION OF LAFAYETTE’S BICENTENNIAL, TWO TIME CAPSULES WERE BURIED AT THE CITY PARISH HALL.  CITY AND PARISH OFFICIALS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WERE ON HAND FOR THE BURYING OF THE CAPSULES THAT ARE SCHEDULED TO BE OPENED IN TWENTY-SEVENTY-THREE AND TWENTY-ONE-TWENTY-THREE.  ITEMS REPRESENTING THE CULTURY AND HERITAGE OF LAFAYETTE PARISH AND A SNAPSHOT OF LIFE AS IT IS HAPPENING TODAY WERE PUT INTO THE CAPSULES.  OUTGOING MAYOR-PRESIDENT JOSH GUILLORY SAYS THE ITEMS SHOWCASE THE DIVERSITY AND UNIQUENESS OF THE COMMUNITY.

CHURCH POINT POLICE ARE ASKING FOR THE PUBLIC’S HELP IN IDENTIFYING THE PERSON WHO STOLE A TRAILER FROM A LOT AT THE CORNER OF DAVID STREET AND WEST CANAL.  SYLVIA MASTERS HAS MORE.

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A DISTRICT JUDGE WILL DETERMINE IF A SECOND ATTEMPT TO STOP A RECALL ELECTION OF ELTON MAYOR KESIA LEMOINE CAN GO FORWARD.  LEMOINE FILED A LAWSUIT REQUESTING A RESTRAINING ORDER AND AN INJUNCTION AGAINST THE RECALL PETITION BUT WAS DENIED BY JUDGE STEVE GUNNELL.  HOWEVER, HE SAID SHE HAS THE RIGHT TO FILE A SECOND PETITION WHICH COULD BE AMENDED TO INCLUDE A RESTRAINING ORDER AGAINST JEFF DAVIS PARISH REGISTRAR OF VOTERS JOANN BLAIR.  THE HEARING ON THE SECOND PETITION IS SCHEDULED FOR NEXT FRIDAY.

A LOUISIANA WOMAN HAS FILED SUIT TO BAR FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP FROM NEXT YEAR’S PRESIDENTIAL BALLOT.  THE PLAINTIFF, ASHLEY REEB, SAYS TRUMP’S ALLEGED ROLE IN THE JANUARY SIXTH, TWENTY-TWENTY-ONE RAID ON THE U-S CAPITOL SHOULD DISQUALIFY HIM.  THE ADVOCATE NEWSPAPER SAYS THE SUIT WILL LIKELY END UP AT THE LOUISIANA STATE SUPREME COURT.  THE COLORADO STATE SUPREME COURT DID BAR TRUMP FROM THE BALLOT THERE, BUT THEIR DECISION HAS BEEN APPEALED TO THE U-S SUPREME COURT.

LAFAYETTE-BASED HOME FURNITURE ANNOUCED THAT A NEW LOCATION WILL BE OPENING IN COVINGTON IN TWENTY-TWENTY-FOUR.  THIS WILL BE HOME FURNITURE’S NINTH STORE.  SEVEN OF THE STORES ARE IN SOUTH LOUISIANA.

THE SAINT MARTIN PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS INVESTIGATING A DRIVE BY SHOOTING THAT RESULTED IN ONE INJURY.  A SUSPECT DRIVING IN THE ONE THOUSAND BLOCK OF POTATO SHED ROAD FIRED A SHOT AT A PASSING VEHICLE.  A PASSENGER IN THAT VEHICLE WAS WOUNDED AND TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL.  THE CONDITION OF THE VICTIM HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED.

TWO FAMILIES ARE LOOKING FOR NEW HOMES AFTER AN APARTMENT FIRE TUESDAY NIGHT IN THE ONE HUNDRED BLOCK OF HUMMINGBIRD LANE IN LAFAYETTE.  A RESIDENT NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING THROUGH THE VENTS AND CALLED NINE-ONE-ONE AND WARNED THE NEIGHBORS.  IT WAS DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED BETWEEN THE CEILING AND THE SUBFLOOR FOR THE UPSTAIRS APARTMENTS, AND TWO OF THE APARTMENTS WERE DESTROYED.  FIRE OFFICIALS BELIEVE THE FIRE WAS THE RESULT OF A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE MECHANISMS OF THE HEATER.

DEPUTIES WITH THE CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE ARE TRYING TO IDENTIFY THE CAR AND DRIVER WHICH STRUCK A PEDESTRIAN IN MOSS BLUFF AND DIDN’T STOP.  AUTHORITIES SAY A WOMAN WAS WALKING NORTH ON NORTH PERKINS FERRY ROAD CHRISTMAS NIGHT AFTER SIX WHEN SHE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND.  THE VICTIM WAS TREATED FOR BROKEN BONES AND RELEASED.  THE SUSPECT VEHICLE IS BELIEVED TO HAVE MINOR DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT AREA AND FRONT RIGHT QUARTER PANEL.

ATTORNEY HENRY KINNEY HAS FILED A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT TO STOP A MERGER OF BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF LOUISIANA WITH A FOR PROFIT COMPANY.  EARLIER THIS MONTH, BLUE CROSS ANNOUNCED ITS INTENTION TO RESTRUCTURE ITS ORGANIZATION SO IT COULD BE AQUIRED BY THE OUT-OF-STATE FOR-PROFIT COMPANY.  KINNEY FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST A NEW FOUNDATION, THE ACCELERATE LOUISIANA, AND ITS BOARD, WHICH WAS CREATED EARLIER THIS YEAR WHEN BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF LOUISIANA FIRST CONSIDERED THE MERGER.  KINNEY SAYS ONE OF THE ASPECTS ON WHY THE MERGER IS NOT BENEFICIAL FOR MEMBERS IS BECAUSE MEMBERS WOULD NOT RECEIVE COMPENSATION FOR THE SALE.

STATE FIRE MARSHAL DEPUTIES ARE INVESTIGATING A DEADLY HOUSE FIRE IN OPELOUSAS.  SYLVIA MASTERS REPORTS.

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TRAFFIC INVESTIGATORS ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE WHAT LED TO A YOUNGSVILLE MAN DYING IN A CRASH ON JOHNSTON STREET IN LAFAYETTE TUESDAY.  SO FAR, THEY’VE DETERMINED THAT FIFTY-NINE-YEAR-OLD GERALD L. LANDRY JUNIOR ENTERED A REGIONS BANK PARKING LOT, STRIKING SEVERAL CURBS AND TREES, BEFORE COMING TO REST IN THE SOUTH END OF THE PARKING LOT.  WHEN OFFICERS ARRIVED, LANDRY WAS UNRESPONSIVE AND HE LATER DIED AT THE HOSPITAL.

A ROANOKE MAN HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH VEHICULAR HOMOCIDE AFTER ALLEGELDY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT ON L-A TWENTY-SIX IN JEFF DAVIS PARISH IN SEPTEMBER THAT RESULTED IN THE DEATH OF TWENTY-NINE-YEAR-OLD CHELSEY BENOIT OF JENNINGS.  STATE POLICE DETERMINED THAT SIXTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD JEFFREY MECHE CROSSED THE CENTER LINE AND HIT AN S-U-V DRIVEN BY BENOIT.  TROOPERS HAVE ACCUSED MECHE OF BEING INTOXICATED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.  BENOIT LATER DIED FROM HER INJURIES WHILE MECHE SUFFERED MODERATE INJURIES.

JEANERETTE POLICE HAVE MADE AN ARREST IN CONNECTION WITH VEHICLE BURGLARIES THAT HAPPENED THROUGHOUT THE CITY OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.  TWENTY-EIGHTY-YEAR-OLD DEVANTE ROBERTSON WAS TAKEN TO THE IBERIA PARISH JAIL JUST BEFORE FIVE YESTERDAY MORNING.  POLICE FOUND MULTIPLE ITEMS THAT WERE TAKEN FROM THE BURGLARIES.  ROBERTSON HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH SEVEN COUNTS OF VEHICLE BURGLARY, TWO COUNTS OF CRIMINAL DAMAGE TO PROPERTY AND THREE COUNTS OF POSSESSION OF A FIREARM BY A CONVICTED FELON.

LOUISIANA STATE POLICE WERE NOTIFIED OF A DEADLY TWO-VEHICLE CRASH IN ACADIA PARISH TUESDAY MORNING.  SYLVIA MASTERS REPORTS.

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A LAFAYETTE FAMILY LOST THEIR HOME AND A PET DOG TO A FIRE ON CHRISTMAS DAY.  THE HOMEOWNER AND HER FOUR CHILDREN HAD LEFT THE HOME HOURS EARLIER TO VISIT FAMILY.  NEIGHBORS IN THE FOUR HUNDRED BLOCK OF BELLOT STREET REPORTED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOME AND, WHEN FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED, FLAMES WERE SHOOTING OUT OF THE FRONT WINDOWS.  THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION BUT IT ORIGINATED IN THE LIVING ROOM.

AN EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD FROM EUNICE HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY FIRED SHOTS AT A MOVING VEHICLE.  THE DRIVER AND A JUVENILE IN THE VEHICLE WERE NOT INJURED BUT THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED.  PAUL HEZECHIA CELESTINE WAS ARRESTED A SHORT WHILE LATER AND AUTHORITIES FOUND A HANDGUN BELIEVED TO BE USED IN THE SHOOTING.  OFFICIALS ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE THE REASON FOR THE SHOOTING BECAUSE THE DRIVER AND CELESTINE DO NOT KNOW EACH OTHER.

THE FEDERAL DUCK STAMP IS GOING DIGITAL, THIS AFTER PRESIDENT BIDEN SIGNED LEGISLATION BACKED BY LOUISIANA SENATOR BILL CASSIDY.  SYLVIA MASTERS HAS MORE.

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THE CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS CONTINUING TO INVESTIGATE A FATAL CRASH IN LAKE CHARLES FRIDAY NIGHT.  THE DRIVER OF A TRUCK TRAVELING SOUTH ON NELSON ROAD FAILED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND HIT AN S-U-V TRAVELING EAST ON WEST LINCOLN ROAD.  A PASSENGER IN THE TRUCK, THIRTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD JESSICA TARVER OF COUSHATTA, WAS EJECTED AND LATER PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE HOSPITAL.  THE DRIVER OF THE TRUCK SUFFERED MAJOR INJURIES AND WAS AIRLIFTED TO AN OUT-OF TOWN HOSPITAL.

LAFAYETTE RESIDENTS WHO ARE READY TO GET RID OF THE CHRISTMAS TREE CAN PUT IT OUT IN FRONT OF YOUR HOUSE AT LEAST THREE FEET FROM TRASH CARTS AND MAILBOXES AND WITHOUT THE DECORATIONS ON IT.  A-W-S WILL PICK IT UP AND DELIVER IT TO THE LAFAYETTE ENVIRONMENTAL COMPOST FACILITY.  RECYCLING SUPERVISOR GREG GUIDROZ SAYS THE TREES WILL BE TURNED INTO COMPOST AND REDISTRIBUTED TO THE COMMUNITY AS FERTILIZER.  IF YOU WANT TO DROP OFF THE CHRISTMAS TREE, THE FACILITY IS LOCATED AT FOUR HUNDRED DUGAS ROAD.

THE BROTHER OF OPELOUSAS CITY COUNCILWOMAN CHASITY DAVIS WAS FOUND SHOT TO DEATH TUESDAY MORNING.  THE BODY OF JOHN DAVIS WAS FOUND IN HIS TRAILER ON RAILROAD AVENUE.  CHASITY SAYS HER BROTHER HAD JUST BEEN RELEASED A WEEK AGO FROM A CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN CLAIRBORNE, WHERE HE HAD SERVED EIGHT YEARS.  POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING THE SHOOTING.

EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD JAMYRION JAQUAN SENEGAL OF CROWLEY WAS ARRESTED MONDAY FOR THE SECOND-DEGREE MURDER OF DARREN SENEGAL OF RAYNE ON DECEMBER FOURTH.  POLICE DETERMINED TWO MALES HAD SHOT SENEGAL MULTIPLE TIMES, LEAVING HIS BODY IN A FIELD.  JAMYRION WAS NAMED A SUSPECT TWO DAYS LATER AND AN ARREST WARRANT WAS ISSUED.  POLICE EXPECT TO MAKE MORE ARRESTS INCLUDING OF PEOPLE WHO HELPED AID IN HIDING JAMYRION.