KAJN Jesus FM 102.9

A MORGAN CITY MAN PLED GUILTY YESTERDAY TO SECOND DEGREE MURDER, MOMENTS BEFORE HIS TRIAL WAS TO BEGIN IN THIBODAUX.  ONE YEAR AGO, THIRTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD LOUIS FORET GOT INTO AN ALTERCATION WITH CHANE BENOIT THAT ENDED WHEN BENOIT WAS SHOT AND KILLED.  FORET EXPLAINED, AFTER CHANGING HIS PLEA, THAT IT WAS THE RIGHT THING TO DO.  HE WAIVED HIS FORMAL SENTENCING DATE AND FACES A MANDATORY LIFE SENTENCE WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PROBATION, PAROLE OR SUSPENSION OF SENTENCE.

LAST NIGHT, THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL AGREED TO BAN ALCOHOL SALES AFTER MIDNIGHT ON MARDI GRAS.  DANIELLE JOHNSON HAS MORE.

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A NEW PROGRAM HAS STARTED FOR NEW MOTHERS WHO GIVE BIRTH AT OCHSNER AMERICAN LEGION HOSPITAL IN JENNINGS.  MINDY HERTZEL SAYS WORK ON THE BRAIN BAGS PROGRAM BEGAN EARLY LAST YEAR AND THEY RAISED FUNDS FOR IT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.  A BRAIN BAG IS FILLED WITH READING MATERIAL FOR MOMS ON HOW TO AID IN DEVELOPMENT AND TO BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE BABY’S MILESTONES.  NURSE MANAGER HARLEY LANDRY SAYS THE BAGS ARE IMPORTANT IN HELPING MOTHERS TO BE AWARE OF WHAT TO EXPECT AND TO PREPARE FOR LIFE AFTER A BABY COMES.

Louisiana House legislators begrudgingly, but with bipartisan support, advanced a $45 million funding bill for an incentive program designed to entice more insurers to the state. The measures next face debate in the Senate Finance Committee Thursday afternoon. Louisiana is in the midst of an insurance crisis, exacerbated by hurricanes Delta, Laura, Zeta and Ida in 2020 and 2021. In the hopes of making the market more competitive and home insurance premiums more affordable, lawmakers last year passed the incentive program.

CLOSING ARGUMENTS WERE MADE YESTERDAY IN THE DOUBLE MURDER TRIAL OF JAMARCUS MCCLENDON, SON OF THE FORMER OPELOUSAS POLICE CHIEF, MARTIN MCCLENDON.  JAMARCUS FACES TWO FIRST DEGREE MURDER CHARGES FOR THE DEATHS OF NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD NAKIA RAMER AND TWENTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD SHAWN PARISH BACK IN TWENTY-SIXTEEN.  WHEN JAMARCUS WAS NAMED A SUSPECT IN THE DEATHS, HE WAS SURRENDERED TO THE OPELOUSAS POLICE DEPARTMENT BY HIS FATHER.  JURY DELIBERATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN THIS MORNING.

SOME RESIDENTS IN THE FOUR CORNERS AT UNIVERSITY AVENUE IN LAFAYETTE ARE UPSET ABOUT A PLANNED DEVELOPMENT.  THERE’S A PROPOSAL FOR A NEW CONVENIENCE STORE AT THE CORNER OF UNIVERSITY AND JEANNE STREET, WHERE A CHASE BANK BRANCH USED TO BE LOCATED.  RANDALL LABRY TOLD THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL THAT IT’S ALREADY HARD TO GET ONTO UNIVERSITY AT THAT CORNER, AND THIS WILL MAKE IT WORSE.  GISELE MENARD, WHO OWNS PROPERTY NEAR THE LOT, SAYS HE’S CONCERNED ABOUT THE INCREASED TRAFFIC AND THE HEALTH HAZARDS THAT COME FROM A GAS STATION.

THE CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS INVESTIGATING THE DEATH OF TWENTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD DAMARCUS A. ARDOIN, WHOSE BODY WAS FOUND BY DEPUTIES IN A RESIDENCE ON WESTWOOD DRIVE IN WESTLAKE.  KPLC TV IS REPORTING THAT MULTIPLE NEIGHBORS HEARD GUNSHOTS AROUND THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT.  CHIEF DEPUTY STITCH GUILLORY CALLS IT A POSSIBLE HOMOCIDE AND IT MAY BE DRUG-RELATED.  ANYONE WITH INFORMATION CAN SUBMIT TIPS BY CALLING CRIME STOPPERS AT FOUR-THREE-NINE-TWO-TWO-TWO-TWO.

AN ABBEVILLE MAN WAS KILLED YESTERDAY IN A SINGLE VEHICLE CRASH IN VERMILLION PARISH.  STATE POLICE SAYS SIXTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD BRIAN D. BROUSSARD WAS DRIVING HIS F-ONE-FIFTY ON L-A THIRTY-TWO-SIXTY-SEVEN, WHEN, FOR UNKNOWN REASONS, HE WENT OFF THE ROADWAY, STRUCK A POLE AND HIT TWO PARKED CARS IN A PARKING LOT ON JACQULYN STREET BEFORE THE TRUCK LANDED ON ITS ROOF.  BROUSSARD, WHO WAS WEARING A SEAT BELT, WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE AND A TOXICOLOGY SAMPLE WAS TAKEN FOR ANALYSIS.  THIS IS THE EIGHTH FATAL CRASH IN THE TROOP I AREA THIS YEAR, RESULTING IN NINE DEATHS.

A FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD JUVENILE IS FACING MULTIPLE CHARGES FOLLOWING A SHOOTING IN FRANKLIN.  DANIELLE JOHNSON REPORTS.

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A LAFAYETTE WOMAN, WHO WAS CONVICTED OF ATTEMPTED SECOND DEGREE MURDER AND AGGRAVATED BATTERY, RECEIVED A REDUCED SENTENCE OF SIX YEARS SUPERVISED PROBATION.  IN TWENTY-SEVENTEEN, NATAJA PORTALIS RAN OVER TWO SISTERS, CLARISSA AND MARY COLLINS, IN AN ALLEYWAY, SEVERELY INJURING THEM.  PORTALIS WAS ORIGINALLY SENTENCED TO TEN YEARS IN PRISON BUT GOT THE LIGHTER SENTENCE AFTER HER TEAM FILED AN APPEAL FOR RESENTENCING.  LIZA ANGELLE, THE MOTHER OF THE SISTERS WHO WERE INJURED, SAYS SHE’S OUTRAGED AND HER DAUGHTER’S ATTORNEY WILL FILE AN APPEAL.

Louisiana lawmakers convened for the second day of a special session to address the state’s ongoing insurance crisis. A $45 million funding bill, for an incentive program designed to entice more insurers to the state, advanced through the House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday. The bill, along with a second one pertaining to restrictions of the proposed appropriation, is expected to be considered on the House floor Wednesday. During Tuesday’s committee hearing, Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon said that he feared without the funding bill approved, thousands of people will be at risk of losing their homes.

THERE HAVE BEEN OVER ONE HUNDRED COPPER WIRE THEFT CASES IN DEQUINCY OVER THE PAST YEAR ALONE.  IN ONE CASE EARLY IN JANUARY, THIEVES COST A BUSINESS ONE HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS IN STOLEN COPPER WIRING AND DAMAGE.  MAJOR JERRY BELL WITH THE DEQUINCY POLICE SAYS, BECAUSE OF A CRACK DOWN ON CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFTS, COPPER WIRING IS THE NEW CASH COW.  HE SUGGESTS LOCKING UP OLD HOUSES AND OLD BUILDINGS AND INSTALLING CAMERAS.

THE VERMILLION PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE HAS ARRESTED A LAFAYETTE MAN FOR MULTIPLE BURGLARIES IN THE PARISH.  THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE TRIED TO PULL OVER RASHAWN STERLING BUT HE FLED AWAY AT A HIGH SPEED AND DEPUTIES DECIDED TO CALL OFF THE PURSUIT BECAUSE OF THE DANGER.  STERLING WAS LATER ARRESTED IN MAURICE WITH THE AID OF THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE SWAT TEAM.  MULTIPLE ITEMS OF JEWELRY BELIEVED TO BELONG TO VICTIMS WERE FOUND AT STERLING’S RESIDENCE.

THE WATER LINE IN FRONT OF THE REGIONS BANK BUILDING ON JOHNSTON STREET IN LAFAYETTE HAS BEEN REPAIRED.  HOWEVER, ONE LANE WILL CONTINUE TO BE CLOSED UNTIL HOLES IN THE ROAD ARE REPAIRED.  A SPOKESMAN FOR L-U-S SAYS A CREW LAYING FIBER LINES BORE A HOLE IN THE WATER LINE.  OFFICIALS PLAN TO LAY SOME PLATES OVER THE ROAD HOLES UNTIL IT IS REPAIRED, BUT WEATHER IS PREVENTING THAT.

U-S SENATOR BILL CASSIDY OF LOUISIANA HAS INTRODUCED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD CRACK DOWN ON LEAKING SUPREME COURT INFORMATION.  DANIELLE JOHNSON HAS MORE.

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THE ACADIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS SEEKING THE PUBLIC’S HELP IN FINDING TWO PEOPLE WHO BROKE INTO A HOME NEAR MIDLAND LAST FRIDAY.  THE HOME IS LOCATED IN THE SIX HUNDRED BLOCK OF DRUM ROAD.  A CAMO COLORED TWO THOUSAND TWELVE POLARIS RANGER AND TWO RIFLES WERE STOLEN, ALL VALUED AT AROUND TWELVE THOUSAND DOLLARS.  ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CALL SEVEN-EIGHT-NINE-TIPS, WHERE UP TO A THOUSAND DOLLAR CASH REWARD IS BEING OFFERED FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO AN ARREST IN THIS CASE.

SAINT LANDRY PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES HAVE ARRESTED A WOMAN ACCUSED OF SHOOTING HER BOYFRIEND IN THE BACK. DANIELLE JOHNSON REPORTS.

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THE DIRECTOR OF ZOOSIANA SAYS A DOZEN SQUIRREL MONKEYS WERE TAKEN FROM THEIR HABITAT AT THE ZOO. MATT OLDENBURG SAYS THE THEFT HAPPENED SOMETIME BETWEEN MIDNIGHT SATURDAY AND EARLY SUNDAY MORNING. HE SAYS THEY’VE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL WITH THEIR FAMILY OF SQUIRREL MONKEYS AND HIS COLLEAGUES HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZED RECENTLY FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN BREEDING THE SPECIES. BROUSSARD POLICE CHIEF VANCE OLIVIER SAYS THEY HAVE BEEN VIEWING SURVEILLANCE VIDEOS IN AN EFFORT TO IDENTIFY THE SUSPECTS AND, SO FAR, THEY HAVE RECEIVED NO TIPS.

LOUISIANA LAWMAKERS ARE BACK IN SESSION IN HOPES OF TACKLING THE INSURANCE CRISIS HERE AT HOME. DANIELLE JOHNSON HAS MORE.

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THE COMMUNITY OF RAGLEY IS RECOVERING FROM LAST WEEK’S STORM THAT INCLUDED A TORNADO. DEPUTY SCOTT GREENMUM OF THE BEAUREGARD PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE SAYS SEVEN HOMES WERE DESTROYED AND ELEVEN OTHERS HAD MAJOR DAMAGE. ONE RESIDENT, DEANNA YANCEY, TELLS KPLC TV THE FORCE OF THE WIND WAS SO STRONG, IT SUCKED HER INTO A HOUSE AND THREW HER INTO A REFRIGERATOR MOMENTS BEFORE THE ROOF CAME DOWN. MEL PENNARTZ SAYS SEVEN OR EIGHT TREES WERE KNOCKED DOWN AND HE COULDN’T LEAVE HIS HOUSE.

PASTOR LAWRENCE LEVY AND SHAUNA SIAS, WHO IS THE FOUNDER OF THE BULLYING BOX PASSION PROJECT, HELD A ONE DAY REVIVAL IN OPELOUSAS TO HELP RESTORE THE COMMUNITY FOLLOWING A STRING OF VIOLENCE. IT WAS HELD AT THE DELTA GRAND THEATRE WITH THE APPROVAL OF PARISH PRESIDENT JESSIE BELLARD. SIAS SAYS THE COMMUNITY HAS HAD NUMEROUS SENSELESS MURDERS OF YOUNG PEOPLE AND THE REVIVAL PROVIDED A WAY TO COME TOGETHER AND HEAL. THE OPELOUSAS POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THEY RECEIVED TWENTY-SEVEN CALLS FOR SHOTS FIRED SO FAR THIS MONTH, THOUGH ONLY NINE HAD SOME EVIDENCE VERIFYING THE SHOTS WERE ACTUALLY FIRED.

THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS ANNOUNCED THAT ONE OF THEIR STUDENTS HAS BEEN NAMED A CANDIDATE FOR THE TWENTY-TWENTY-THREE U-S PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARS PROGRAM. KERRY PAN, A SENIOR AT LAFAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL, IS ONE OF NEARLY FOUR THOUSAND, FIVE HUNDRED STUDENTS NATIONWIDE CHOSEN BY THE U-S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION FOR THIS DISTINCTION. THE LIST WILL BE NARROWED TO FIVE HUNDRED SEMIFINALISTS IN MARCH AND ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-ONE FINALISTS IN APRIL. PAN HAS BEEN IN THE GIFTED PROGRAM FOR TWELVE YEARS AND SERVES AS LAFAYETTE HIGH’S BETA CLUB PRESIDENT, ESPORTS VICE PRESIDENT AND IS A NATIONAL MERIT SEMIFINALIST.

BLACK STUDENTS IN LOUISIANA ARE MORE THAN FIVE TIMES AS LIKELY TO ATTENT A D OR F GRADED PUBLIC SCHOOL THAN A WHITE STUDENT, ACCORDING TO A REPORT FROM LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR MIKE WAGUESPACK. ABOUT FORTY-ONE PERCENT OF BLACK STUDENTS ATTEND A POORLY RATED SCHOOL COMPARED TO EIGHT PERCENT OF WHITE STUDENTS. MEANWHILE ENROLLMENT AT A-RATED SCHOOLS ARE CLOSE TO SIXTY-SIX PERCENT WHITE STUDENTS AND JUST OVER TWENTY- PERCENT PLACK STUDENTS. THE REPORT ALSO FOUND THAT OVER EIGHTY PERCENT OF THE ENROLLMENT AT PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN THE STATE IS WHITE WHILE THREE-QUARTERS OF THE ENROLLMENT AT CHARTER SCHOOLS IS BLACK.

STUDENTS AT MORGAN CITY JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL WERE DISMISSED EARLY YESTERDAY AFTER THE SCHOOL HAD BEEN EVACUATED. SOME STUDENTS WERE GETTING SICK BECAUSE OF SOME AIRBORNE SUBSTANCE. CAPTAIN BETTY AUGMAN WITH THE MORGAN CITY POLICE SAYS THEY LEARNED THAT PEPPER SPRAY HAD BEEN DISPERSED INTO THE AIR AND GOT INTO THE A-C SYSTEM OF THE SCHOOL. THEY ARE STILL INVESTIGATING TO DETERMINE WHO DISPERSED THE SUBSTANCE.

THE ACADIA PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM IS GOING TO A SHORTER WEEK THIS FALL.  SYLVIA MASTERS HAS MORE.

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ALL BROUSSARD CITY FLAGS WILL BE FLOWN AT HALF STAFF FOR SEVEN DAYS TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF FORMER MAYOR CHARLES LANGLINAIS.  ON TUESDAY, LANGLINAIS, WHO WAS SEVENTY-THREE, DIED IN HIS SLEEP BUT THE CAUSE HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED.  LANGLINAIS SERVED AS MAYOR FROM JANUARY, NINETEEN-NINETY-ONE TO DECEMBER OF TWENTY-EIGHTEEN.  THE CURRENT MAYOR, RAY BOURQUE, SAYS HE REMEMBERS LANGLINAIS AS A BIG PICTURE VISIONARY WHO FOCUSED ON NEW DEVELOPMENTS AND ATTRACTING INVESTMENTS TO BROUSSARD.

TWENTY-NINE LOUISIANA OIL AND GAS FACILITIES HAVE RECEIVED VIOLATION NOTICES FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.  THE VIOLATIONS WERE DISCOVERED BY THE E-P-A AFTER THEY USED HIGH-TECH HELICOPTER SURVEILLANCE THAT CONDUCTED FLYOVERS IN SIX REGIONS OF THE STATE INCLUDING THE LAFAYETTE AND LAKE CHARLES AREAS.  E-P-A SPOKESPERSON JOSEPH ROBLEDO SAYS THE HELICOPTER MONITORED MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED FIFTY FACILITIES BETWEEN AUGUST FOURTEENTH AND SEPTEMBER TWENTY-FIRST OF TWENTY-TWENTY-ONE.  AMONG THE COMPANIES CITED WERE COLUMBIA GULF TRANSMISSION FOR THEIR RAYNE COMPRESSOR STATION AND HARVEST MIDSTREAM FOR THEIR KAPLAN GAS PLANT.

A LAKE CHARLES MOTHER RECEIVED HELP FROM HER TEN-YEAR-OLD SON WHEN SHE PASSED OUT WHILE DRIVING HOME, RESULTING IN THE TOTALLING OF HER CAR AFTER HITTING A CULVERT.  KAMIN FARRELL’S SON, PEYTON, SAYS HE KNEW ONE OF THE BUTTONS ON THE DASH ALERTED THE ONSTAR SERVICE, SO HE JUST STARTED PRESSING BUTTONS.  PEYTON ALSO KNEW TO USE AN EPIPEN ON HIS MOM, WHO HAD PASSED OUT ON OTHER OCCASIONS, AND HE SHARED HIS LOCATION WITH HIS FATHER AND GRANDMOTHER BY DROPPING A PIN ON APPLE MAPS.  KAMIN SAYS SHE’S GLAD PEYTON WAS WITH HER BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DIFFERENT SCENARIO.

A FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD BOY WAS ARRESTED WEDNESDAY IN CONNECTION WITH A SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED IN MORGAN CITY ON NOVEMBER EIGHTH.  THE JUVENILE WAS CAPTURED IN ASCENSION PARISH WITH THE HELP OF THE LOCAL SHERIFF’S OFFICE.  FOUR OTHERS WERE ARRESTED RIGHT AFTER THE SHOOTING, WHICH OCCURRED IN THE AREA OF FEDERAL AVENUE AND ORANGE STREET.  A JUVENILE WAS HIT BY GUNFIRE IN THAT INCIDENT AND WAS TREATED FOR MODERATE INJURIES.

LAFAYETTE POLICE ARE SEARCHING FOR A WOMAN WHO STOLE A PAIR OF VERSACE SUNGLASSES VALUED AT OVER ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS.  THEY WERE TAKEN FROM DILLARDS EARLIER THIS MONTH, AND TWO OTHER PAIRS WERE DAMAGED IN AN ATTEMPT TO REMOVE A SECURITY TAG.  POLICE HAVE PUT OUT A WARRANT FOR NYKEESHA BOUDOIN (BOH dwan) AND HER ALLEGED ACCOMPLICE, JERALD A. LEWIS, FOR FELONY THEFT.  ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THEIR WHEREABOUTS IS ASKED TO CALL TWO-THREE-TWO-TIPS.

G-O-P SOURCES SAY BATON ROUGE CONGRESSMAN GARRET GRAVES IS LINKED TO A MAJOR LEADERSHIP POSITION IN THE U-S HOUSE.  HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN MCCARTHY IS REPORTEDLY SET TO NAME GRAVES AS THE CHAIR OF THE ELECTED LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE AND WILL BE GIVEN A SEAT ON THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN STEERING COMMITTEE.  FORMER LOUISIANA CONGRESSMAN BILLY TAUZIN TELLS THE ADVOCATE HE DOESN’T KNOW HOW GRAVES COULD TURN DOWN THE JOB.  GRAVES IS CONSIDERED A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR BUT IT’S LESS LIKELY IF HE MOVES INTO THE U-S HOUSE LEADERSHIP.

THE VERMILLION PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS SEEKING THE PUBLIC’S HELP IN IDENTIFYING A SUSPECT THAT FIRED A SHOT THROUGH THE OPERATION’S OFFICE WINDOW ON THE PERRY BRIDGE.  THE SHOT WAS FIRED ON JANUARY THIRTEENTH AS THE NORTHBOUND VEHICLE CROSSED THE BRIDGE, WHICH IS LOCATED ON L-A EIGHTY-TWO, SOUTHWEST OF ABBEVILLE.  THE SUSPECT’S VEHICLE IS A DARK-COLORED TRUCK.  ANYONE WHO HAS INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CALL SEVEN-FOUR-ZERO-TIPS.

THE ACADIA PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM IS GOING TO A SHORTER WEEK THIS FALL.  SYLVIA MASTERS HAS MORE.

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ALL BROUSSARD CITY FLAGS WILL BE FLOWN AT HALF STAFF FOR SEVEN DAYS TO HONOR THE MEMORY OF FORMER MAYOR CHARLES LANGLINAIS.  ON TUESDAY, LANGLINAIS, WHO WAS SEVENTY-THREE, DIED IN HIS SLEEP BUT THE CAUSE HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED.  LANGLINAIS SERVED AS MAYOR FROM JANUARY, NINETEEN-NINETY-ONE TO DECEMBER OF TWENTY-EIGHTEEN.  THE CURRENT MAYOR, RAY BOURQUE, SAYS HE REMEMBERS LANGLINAIS AS A BIG PICTURE VISIONARY WHO FOCUSED ON NEW DEVELOPMENTS AND ATTRACTING INVESTMENTS TO BROUSSARD.

TWENTY-NINE LOUISIANA OIL AND GAS FACILITIES HAVE RECEIVED VIOLATION NOTICES FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY.  THE VIOLATIONS WERE DISCOVERED BY THE E-P-A AFTER THEY USED HIGH-TECH HELICOPTER SURVEILLANCE THAT CONDUCTED FLYOVERS IN SIX REGIONS OF THE STATE INCLUDING THE LAFAYETTE AND LAKE CHARLES AREAS.  E-P-A SPOKESPERSON JOSEPH ROBLEDO SAYS THE HELICOPTER MONITORED MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED FIFTY FACILITIES BETWEEN AUGUST FOURTEENTH AND SEPTEMBER TWENTY-FIRST OF TWENTY-TWENTY-ONE.  AMONG THE COMPANIES CITED WERE COLUMBIA GULF TRANSMISSION FOR THEIR RAYNE COMPRESSOR STATION AND HARVEST MIDSTREAM FOR THEIR KAPLAN GAS PLANT.

A LAKE CHARLES MOTHER RECEIVED HELP FROM HER TEN-YEAR-OLD SON WHEN SHE PASSED OUT WHILE DRIVING HOME, RESULTING IN THE TOTALLING OF HER CAR AFTER HITTING A CULVERT.  KAMIN FARRELL’S SON, PEYTON, SAYS HE KNEW ONE OF THE BUTTONS ON THE DASH ALERTED THE ONSTAR SERVICE, SO HE JUST STARTED PRESSING BUTTONS.  PEYTON ALSO KNEW TO USE AN EPIPEN ON HIS MOM, WHO HAD PASSED OUT ON OTHER OCCASIONS, AND HE SHARED HIS LOCATION WITH HIS FATHER AND GRANDMOTHER BY DROPPING A PIN ON APPLE MAPS.  KAMIN SAYS SHE’S GLAD PEYTON WAS WITH HER BECAUSE IT COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY DIFFERENT SCENARIO.

A FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD BOY WAS ARRESTED WEDNESDAY IN CONNECTION WITH A SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED IN MORGAN CITY ON NOVEMBER EIGHTH.  THE JUVENILE WAS CAPTURED IN ASCENSION PARISH WITH THE HELP OF THE LOCAL SHERIFF’S OFFICE.  FOUR OTHERS WERE ARRESTED RIGHT AFTER THE SHOOTING, WHICH OCCURRED IN THE AREA OF FEDERAL AVENUE AND ORANGE STREET.  A JUVENILE WAS HIT BY GUNFIRE IN THAT INCIDENT AND WAS TREATED FOR MODERATE INJURIES.

LAFAYETTE POLICE ARE SEARCHING FOR A WOMAN WHO STOLE A PAIR OF VERSACE SUNGLASSES VALUED AT OVER ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS.  THEY WERE TAKEN FROM DILLARDS EARLIER THIS MONTH, AND TWO OTHER PAIRS WERE DAMAGED IN AN ATTEMPT TO REMOVE A SECURITY TAG.  POLICE HAVE PUT OUT A WARRANT FOR NYKEESHA BOUDOIN (BOH dwan) AND HER ALLEGED ACCOMPLICE, JERALD A. LEWIS, FOR FELONY THEFT.  ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THEIR WHEREABOUTS IS ASKED TO CALL TWO-THREE-TWO-TIPS.

G-O-P SOURCES SAY BATON ROUGE CONGRESSMAN GARRET GRAVES IS LINKED TO A MAJOR LEADERSHIP POSITION IN THE U-S HOUSE.  HOUSE SPEAKER KEVIN MCCARTHY IS REPORTEDLY SET TO NAME GRAVES AS THE CHAIR OF THE ELECTED LEADERSHIP COMMITTEE AND WILL BE GIVEN A SEAT ON THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN STEERING COMMITTEE.  FORMER LOUISIANA CONGRESSMAN BILLY TAUZIN TELLS THE ADVOCATE HE DOESN’T KNOW HOW GRAVES COULD TURN DOWN THE JOB.  GRAVES IS CONSIDERED A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR BUT IT’S LESS LIKELY IF HE MOVES INTO THE U-S HOUSE LEADERSHIP.

THE VERMILLION PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS SEEKING THE PUBLIC’S HELP IN IDENTIFYING A SUSPECT THAT FIRED A SHOT THROUGH THE OPERATION’S OFFICE WINDOW ON THE PERRY BRIDGE.  THE SHOT WAS FIRED ON JANUARY THIRTEENTH AS THE NORTHBOUND VEHICLE CROSSED THE BRIDGE, WHICH IS LOCATED ON L-A EIGHTY-TWO, SOUTHWEST OF ABBEVILLE.  THE SUSPECT’S VEHICLE IS A DARK-COLORED TRUCK.  ANYONE WHO HAS INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CALL SEVEN-FOUR-ZERO-TIPS.

A STATE TROOPER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AFTER BEING REAR-ENDED ON I-FORTY-NINE NEAR THE GRAND COTEAU EXIT TUESDAY AFTERNOON AT AROUND FOUR-THIRTY. PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER THOMAS GOSSEN SAYS THE TROOPER, WHOSE IDENTITY HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED, WAS SITTING IN HIS CRUISER WHEN HE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND BY AN S-U-V. THE TROOPER MANAGED TO SIGNAL FOR HELP ON HIS RADIO DISPATCH AND HE IS EXPECTED TO RECOVER. THE DRIVER OF THE S-U-V WAS NOT INJURED AND THE CRASH REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES HAVE IDENTIFIED THE VICTIM AND ARRESTED A SUSPECT IN MONDAY’S DEATH ON PRAIRIE LANE. SYLVIA MASTERS REPORTS.

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A POWERFUL STORM SYSTEM CAUSED SOME MINOR DAMAGE IN JEFF DAVIS PARISH LATE YESTERDAY. THERE WERE REPORTS OF DOWNED TREES, FLOODED ROADWAYS AND POWER OUTAGES. SOME LARGE TREE BRANCHES WERE KNOCKED DOWN, BLOCKING ROADS IN AREAS LIKE TOUCHET ROAD. DANNY CROCHET WITH THE JEFF DAVIS PARISH POLICE JURY SAYS THEY WILL BRING OUT HEAVY EQUIPMENT TODAY AND HAVE THE DEBRIS CLEARED OUT QUICKLY.

NEW DATA FROM THE STATE EDUCATOR’S WORKFORCE REPORT SHOWS LOUISIANA’S COMPREHENSIVE RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION PLAN IS WORKING, ACCORDING TO STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION CADE BRUMLEY. STATEWIDE TEACHER RETENTION ROSE BY TWO PERCENTAGE POINTS TO EIGHTY-SIX PERCENT. THAT’S DESPITE CLOSE TO SEVEN THOUSAND TEACHERS LEAVING THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA, WHICH INCLUDES ACADIANA, SAW FEWER LOSSES WHEN COMPARED TO THE REST OF THE STATE.

AUTHORITIES FOUND METHAMPHETAMINE AND ALCOHOL IN THE VEHICLE OF AN ABBEVILLE WOMAN, WHO DIED IN A TWO CAR COLLISION AT AROUND ONE A-M MONDAY MORNING. FORTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD DANA HULIN WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE OF THE CRASH, WHICH HAPPENED AT THE WEST PINHOOK AND VEROT SCHOOL ROADS INTERSECTION IN LAFAYETTE. THE LAFAYETTE PARISH CRASH RECONSTRUCTION TEAM DETERMINED HULIN’S
S-U-V CROSSED THE CENTER LINE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, WHERE SHE HIT A THREE-QUARTER-TON PICKUP TRUCK. POLICE SAY THE DRIVER OF THE PICKUP HAD NO ALCOHOL IN HIS SYSTEM WHEN HE GAVE A BREATH SAMPLE.

ORGANIZERS OF THE LOUISIANA OIL AND GAS JOB FAIR, TAKING PLACE AT THE CAJUNDOME NEXT WEDNESDAY, SAY HUNDREDS OF JOBS ARE AVAILABLE. EVAN THAYER, THE SALES DIRECTOR FOR RIGZONE, WHICH IS PUTTING ON THE FAIR, SAYS THEY’VE SEEN AN INCREASE IN HIRING SINCE THE HOLIDAYS FOR THIS REGION. THE JOB FAIR WILL LAST FROM NINE A-M TO ONE P-M AT THE CAJUNDOME CONVENTION CENTER AND THERE ARE OFFSHORE, ONSHORE, FIELD AND OFFICE-BASED JOB POSITIONS AVAILABLE. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO REGISTER IN ADVANCE, YOU CAN GO ONLINE TO RIGZONE-DOT-COM.

A HIGH-SPEED PURSUIT THAT BEGAN ON MADISON STREET IN JENNINGS ENDED WITH A CRASH SOUTH OF JENNINGS ON HIGHWAY ONE-OH-TWO. THE TWO OCCUPANTS OF THE FLEEING VEHICLE, BOTH MALES, WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WITH INJURIES. POLICE FOUND OVER TEN POUNDS OF CRYSTAL METH IN THE VEHICLE WITH A STREET VALUE OF OVER TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS. IT’S THE LARGEST SEIZURE OF METH EVER BY THE JENNINGS POLICE DEPARTMENT.

DETECTIVES WITH THE ACADIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE ARE INVESTIGATING A SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED ON THE NIGHT OF JANUARY FIFTEENTH AT THE INTERSECTION OF WEST NORTHERN AND CAPITOL AVENUES IN CROWLEY, NEAR CAPITOL MANUFACTURING. TWO VEHICLES WERE STOPPED THERE WHEN THE OCCUPANT OF A SILVER SEDAN BEGAN SHOOTING AT THE OTHER VEHICLE BEFORE DRIVING AWAY SOUTH ON CAPITOL AVENUE. NO ONE WAS INJURED. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THE CRIME IS ASKED TO CALL SEVEN-EIGHT-NINE-TIPS, WHERE UP TO A TWENTY-FIVE HUNDRED DOLLAR REWARD IS BEING OFFERED FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO AN ARREST.

WITH THE THREAT OF SEVERE WEATHER LATER THIS AFTERNOON, SEVERAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS ARE PLANNING EARLY DISMISSALS LATER TODAY. SYLVIA MASTERS HAS MORE.

VOICER B :23

THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS INVESTIGATING A POSSIBLE HOMOCIDE IN THE PRAIRIE LANE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE VICTIM IS A FEMALE BUT THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE HAS NOT RELEASED HER IDENTITY. CAPTAIN JOHN MOWELL SAYS THEY SUSPECT FOUL PLAY. HE WOULD NOT SAY IF THEY HAVE MADE AN ARREST OR HAVE A PERSON OF INTEREST.

AN IBERIA PARISH CONVENIENCE STORE WAS ROBBED AT AROUND THREE A-M. MONDAY MORNING. SHERIFF TOMMY ROMERO SAYS A MAN ARMED WITH AN
A-K STYLE WEAPON ENTERED THE STORE, LOCATED IN THE TWENTY-SEVEN-HUNDRED BLOCK OF EAST MAIN STREET. THE MAN, WHO WAS WEARING A BLACK REEBOK HOODIE SWEATSHIRT, DEMANDED CASH AND LOUISIANA LOTTERY SCRATCH OFF TICKETS. ANYONE WHO HAS INFORMATION ON THE IDENTITY OF THE SUSPECT IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE IBERIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE.

A BELL CITY WOMAN WAS ARRESTED YESTERDAY FOR ALLEGEDLY SHOOTING AND KILLING HER HUSBAND. SIXTY-YEAR-OLD YVETTE LOGAN CALLED DISPATCHERS AND REPORTEDLY TOLD THEM THAT SHE HAD SHOT HER HUSBAND, SIXTY-SEVEN-YEAR-OLD WILLIAM G. LOGAN, AND HE WAS DEAD INSIDE THEIR GRAGG ROAD HOME. YVETTE HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH SECOND DEGREE MURDER. BOND HAS NOT YET BEEN SET.

BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD LOUISIANA IS EXPECTED TO BE ACQUIRED LATER THIS YEAR BY ELEVANCE HEALTH, FORMERLY KNOWN AS ANTHEM. BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD, THE STATE’S LARGEST INSURER WITH ONE-POINT-NINE MILLION POLICY HOLDERS, IS EXPECTED TO JOIN ELEVANCE’S ONE HUNDRED NINETEEN MILLION PERSON NETWORK. OPERATIONS FOR THE BLUE CROSS PLAN WILL REMAIN AT THEIR HEADQUARTERS IN BATON ROUGE. THE AGREEMENT WILL NEED TO BE APPROVED BY THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION.

LAFAYETTE POLICE ARRESTED A SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD BOY YESTERDAY IN CONNECTION TO A SHOOTING IN A MOSS STREET PARKING LOT LAST WEDNESDAY IN WHICH TWO OTHER TEENAGERS WERE WOUNDED. THE SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD FACES TWO COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED SECOND DEGREE MURDER AND HAS BEEN PLACED IN THE LAFAYETTE JUVENILE DETENTION HOME. A SECOND SUSPECT WAS ALSO ARRESTED LAST THURSDAY. TWENTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD DEKIAL (duh KEEL) ALEXANDER OF LAFAYETTE WAS BOOKED INTO THE LAFAYETTE CORRECTIONAL CENTER ON TWO COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED FIRST DEGREE MURDER.

STAFFING CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE AT THE SAINT LANDRY PARISH ANIMAL SHELTER. PARISH PRESIDENT JESSIE BELLARD SAYS THAT DURING AN EVALUATION PROCESS, THEY FOUND THE MAJORITY OF EMPLOYEES WERE NOT FOLLOWING PROTOCOLS OR PROCEDURES, SO THEY HIRED NEW PEOPLE. HE TELLS KLFY TV THAT IT’S SIMPLE, THOSE WHO DON’T FOLLOW RULES AND PROCEDURES WILL NOT STAY. BELLARD SAYS THE SHELTER WILL ALSO BE RECEIVING HELP FROM THE BISSELL PET FOUNDATION IN MAKING SURE ANIMALS ARE PROPERLY CARED FOR.

ACADIA PARISH SHERIFF K-P GIBSON ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THAT THE LOUISIANA SHERIFF’S SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM IS UNDERWAY. SEVEN HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS FROM ACADIA PARISH WILL RECEIVED A FIVE HUNDRED DOLLAR SCHOLARSHIP. ONE WILL BE AWARDED THROUGH THE LOUISIANA SHERIFF’S SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WHILE THE SIX OTHERS WILL COME THROUGH THE ACADIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE SCHOLARSHIP. TO GET AN APPLICATION, YOU CAN GO ONLINE TO A-P-S-O-DOT-COM, OR YOU CAN REQUEST ONE FROM YOUR HIGH SCHOOL COUNSELOR OR BY CALLING HUMAN RESOURCE DIRECTOR KIM MILLER AT THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE.

A HOMOCIDE INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY IN LAFAYETTE. POLICE OFFICERS, RESPONDING TO REPORTS OF GUNSHOTS FIRED IN THE ONE HUNDRED BLOCK OF RAILROAD STREET, FOUND A BODY. THE VICTIM HAD MULTIPLE GUNSHOT WOUNDS. ANYONE WHO HAS INFORMATION CAN GIVE TIPS ANONYMOUSLY BY CALLING TWO-THREE-TWO-TIPS.

OPELOUSAS POLICE ARRESTED FOUR MINORS SATURDAY, WHO ALLEGEDLY STOLE A VEHICLE FROM BEAUMONT, TEXAS. THE ON STAR SERVICE CONTACTED POLICE IN OPELOUSAS ABOUT THE STOLEN VEHICLE, WHICH THEY HAD DISABLED ON ATTAKAPAS DRIVE IN THE INDIAN HILLS SUBDIVISION. THE SUSPECTS FLED BY FOOT WHEN OFFICERS ARRIVED BUT WERE CAPTURED WITH THE HELP OF A K-NINE OFFICER. OFFICERS FOUND TWO FIREARMS IN THE VEHICLE ALONG WITH A SMALL AMOUNT OF MARIJUANA.

TWO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SHOOTING DEATH OF A FIVE-YEAR-OLD BOY LAST THURSDAY. ADAUN GAINES WAS ONE OF FIVE CHILDREN LEFT ALONE AND WAS SHOT BY A SIX-YEAR-OLD WHO FOUND A GUN IN A BEDROOM AND BEGAN PLAYING WITH IT. TWENTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD DESOME DANIELS, WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WATCHING THE KIDS AND WAS REPORTEDLY UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS WHEN POLICE FOUND HER, FACES NUMEROUS CHARGES, INCLUDING PRINCIPAL TO NEGLIGENT HOMOCIDE. THE MOTHER OF ONE OF THE CHILDREN, KURSTIN RICHARD, WAS ALSO ARRESTED FOR PRINCIPAL TO NEGLIGENT HOMOCIDE AND POSSESSION OF A FIREARM BY A CONVICTED FELON.

A SPOKESPERSON FROM GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS’ OFFICE HAS CONFIRMED THAT THE GOVERNOR WILL BE CALLING A SPECIAL SESSION. SYVLIA MASTERS EXPLAINS WHY.

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MAJOR REPAIRS HAVE BEGUN ON THE I-TEN OVERPASS AT THE EVANGELINE THRUWAY IN LAFAYETTE. THE BRIDGE WAS DAMAGED WHEN STRUCK BY AN EIGHTEEN-WHEELER EARLIER THIS MONTH. THE REPAIRS, SCHEDULED TO BEGIN SATURDAY, WERE DELAYED BECAUSE OF WEATHER. INSTEAD, THE REPAIRS BEGAN LAST NIGHT AT NINE.

JEANERETTE POLICE HAVE ARRESTED TWO ALLEGED DRUG DEALERS. THEY EXECUTED A KNOWN FELONY FUGITIVE WARRANT ON TWENTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD JAVONTRAE RICHARD OF JEANERETTE AND FOUND FIVE FIREARMS, MARIJUANA, VARIOUS PILLS, CODIENE, AND CASH IN THE VEHICLE RICHARD WAS IN. HE AND ANOTHER MAN IN THE VEHICLE, TWENTY-EIGHT-YEAR-OLD ROYCE MORRIS OF JEANERETTE, WERE ARRESTED ON NUMEROUS DRUG AND GUN CHARGES. A THIRD MAN WAS ALSO ARRESTED ON DRUG AND WEAPON POSESSION CHARGES, THIRTY-SEVEN-YEAR-OLD JARED EUGENE OF JEANERETTE.

THE CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS INVESTIGATING A HOMOCIDE THAT HAPPENED IN THE SEVEN THOUSAND BLOCK OF GRAGG ROAD IN BELL CITY. CHIEF DEPUTY STITCH GUILLORY SAYS THE HOMOCIDE APPEARS TO BE THE RESULT OF A DOMESTIC DISPUTE BETWEEN A HUSBAND AND A WIFE. THE HUSBAND WAS SHOT AND KILLED. DEPUTIES, WHO RESPONDED TO THE CALL ABOUT THE HOMOCIDE AT AROUND FIVE-FORTY YESTERDAY AFTERNOON, TOOK THE WIFE INTO CUSTODY FOR QUESTIONING.

About one million customers of an electric utility in Louisiana will cover a repair bill of more than $1.4 billion after Hurricane Ida. Louisiana news outlets report Entergy Louisiana said residential customers will see about $5.50 added to their monthly bill for the next 15 years. The fee is to cover the remaining costs of damaged electrical equipment and the thousands of workers who rushed to restore power after the powerful August 2021 storm. The fee would only apply to Entergy Louisiana customers.

LAFAYETTE POLICE ARE SEARCHING FOR A PERSON WHO SHOT TWO TEENAGERS IN A PARKING LOT ON MOSS STREET NEAR EAST ALEXANDER AT AROUND SEVEN LAST NIGHT. THE SIXTEEN AND FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD VICTIMS WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND ARE IN STABLE CONDITION. SERGEANT ROBIN GREEN SAYS THE TEENAGERS GOT INTO A VERBAL ALTERCATION WITH SOMEONE IN A VEHICLE WHO BEGAN FIRING SHOTS AT THEM. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THE SHOOTING IS ASKED TO CALL LAFAYETTE CRIME STOPPERS AT TWO-THREE-TWO-TIPS.

NEW IBERIA POLICE HAVE ARRESTED A FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD BOY IN CONNECTION TO A HOMOCIDE. SERGEANT DAESHA HUGHES SAYS THE VICTIM IS A BOY BELIEVED TO BE BETWEEN FIFTEEN AND SIXTEEN, WHOSE BODY WAS FOUND MONDAY BEHIND A TREE LINE IN THE FIVE HUNDRED BLOCK OF WEST ADMIRAL DOYLE DRIVE. SHE SAYS THE CAUSE OF DEATH APPEARS TO BE A GUNSHOT WOUND. THE FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD WAS ARRESTED AFTER HE TRIED TO FLEE FROM POLICE IN A STOLEN TRUCK BUT WAS CAPTURED WHEN THE VEHICLE GOT STUCK IN MUD.

State Rep. Richard Nelson has launched his campaign for Louisiana governor, joining a swelling list of prominent Republicans who are hoping to lead the state. Nelson, of Mandeville, on Wednesday joined Attorney General Jeff Landry, State Treasurer John Schroder and state Sen. Sharon Hewitt in vying for the GOP nomination. Hunter Lundy, a Lake Charles small-business owner and attorney, has said he’ll be running as an independent. No Democrats have entered the race yet.

A PLANNED POWER OUTAGE IN DOWNTOWN LAKE CHARLES THAT BEGAN YESTERDAY CONTINUES TODAY. THE PLANNED OUTAGE IS ALLOWING EMERGENCY REPAIRS TO BE COMPLETED ON THE DOWNTOWN ELECTRICAL GRID. BECAUSE OF THE OUTAGE, LAKE CHARLES CITY HALL AND THE CIVIC CENTER WILL BE CLOSED TODAY. PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC WORKS WILL REMAIN OPERATIONAL, AND CITY TRANSIT WILL CONTINUE TO RUN ITS NORMAL ROUTES.

A LAFAYETTE POLICE OFFICER, WHOSE BEEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT FOR SEVEN YEARS, HAS BEEN PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE FOLLOWING A COMPLAINT. DERRICK MILES IS A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER AT LAFAYETTE HIGH. HE WAS PUT ON PAID LEAVE LAST FRIDAY AND REMOVED FROM DUTY. POLICE SPOKESPERSON SERGEANT ROBIN GREEN SAYS THE DEPARTMENT’S INTERNAL AFFAIRS DIVISION IS INVESTIGATING THE ALLEGED INCIDENT BUT SHE WOULD NOT ELABORATE.

THE HISTORIC WHISKEY RIVER LANDING DANCE HALL IN HENDERSON WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE LATE LAST NIGHT. WITNESSES TOLD KLFY TV THAT THE BUILDING WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES WHEN FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED. THE BUILDING WAS REPORTEDLY UNOCCUPIED. THERE’S NO WORD YET ON THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE.

THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE WILL BEGIN ACCEPTING STATE INDIVIDUAL TAX RETURNS ON MONDAY, WHICH COINCIDES WITH THE TIME THE I-R-S ACCEPTS FEDERAL RETURNS. TAXPAYERS CAN FILE STATE INCOME TAX RETURNS ELECTRONICALLY THROUGH LOUISIANA FILE ONLINE, WHICH IS AVAILABLE AT REVENUE-DOT-LOUISIANA-DOT-GOV. YOU CAN PRINT STATE TAX RETURNS FROM THAT WEBSITE AS WELL. TAXPAYERS WHO FILE ELECTRONICALLY CAN EXPECT REFUNDS WITHIN FORTY-FIVE DAYS WHILE THE PROCESS TIMES FOR PAPER RETURNS IS UP TO FOURTEEN WEEKS.

A DRUG TRAFFICKER FROM CHURCH POINT WAS SENTENCED TO TEN YEARS IN PRISON, ACCORDING TO U-S ATTORNEY BRANDON B. BROWN. HE SAYS IN A NEWS RELEASE THAT FORTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD RICKY JAMES SHEPHEARD PLED GUILTY TO A CHARGE OF POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE METHAMPHETAMINE. ON JUNE THIRD OF TWENTY-TWENTY-ONE, AGENTS WITH THE U-S DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION CONDUCTED A SEARCH WARRANT AT SHEPHEARD’S RESIDENCE. THEY FOUND METH, HEROIN, A LARGE AMOUNT OF CASH, AND SIX FIREARMS.

LAFAYETTE POLICE ARE SEARCHING FOR A PERSON WHO SHOT TWO TEENAGERS IN A PARKING LOT ON MOSS STREET NEAR EAST ALEXANDER AT AROUND SEVEN LAST NIGHT. THE SIXTEEN AND FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD VICTIMS WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND ARE IN STABLE CONDITION. SERGEANT ROBIN GREEN SAYS THE TEENAGERS GOT INTO A VERBAL ALTERCATION WITH SOMEONE IN A VEHICLE WHO BEGAN FIRING SHOTS AT THEM. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THE SHOOTING IS ASKED TO CALL LAFAYETTE CRIME STOPPERS AT TWO-THREE-TWO-TIPS.

NEW IBERIA POLICE HAVE ARRESTED A FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD BOY IN CONNECTION TO A HOMOCIDE. SERGEANT DAESHA HUGHES SAYS THE VICTIM IS A BOY BELIEVED TO BE BETWEEN FIFTEEN AND SIXTEEN, WHOSE BODY WAS FOUND MONDAY BEHIND A TREE LINE IN THE FIVE HUNDRED BLOCK OF WEST ADMIRAL DOYLE DRIVE. SHE SAYS THE CAUSE OF DEATH APPEARS TO BE A GUNSHOT WOUND. THE FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD WAS ARRESTED AFTER HE TRIED TO FLEE FROM POLICE IN A STOLEN TRUCK BUT WAS CAPTURED WHEN THE VEHICLE GOT STUCK IN MUD.

State Rep. Richard Nelson has launched his campaign for Louisiana governor, joining a swelling list of prominent Republicans who are hoping to lead the state. Nelson, of Mandeville, on Wednesday joined Attorney General Jeff Landry, State Treasurer John Schroder and state Sen. Sharon Hewitt in vying for the GOP nomination. Hunter Lundy, a Lake Charles small-business owner and attorney, has said he’ll be running as an independent. No Democrats have entered the race yet.

A PLANNED POWER OUTAGE IN DOWNTOWN LAKE CHARLES THAT BEGAN YESTERDAY CONTINUES TODAY. THE PLANNED OUTAGE IS ALLOWING EMERGENCY REPAIRS TO BE COMPLETED ON THE DOWNTOWN ELECTRICAL GRID. BECAUSE OF THE OUTAGE, LAKE CHARLES CITY HALL AND THE CIVIC CENTER WILL BE CLOSED TODAY. PUBLIC SAFETY AND PUBLIC WORKS WILL REMAIN OPERATIONAL, AND CITY TRANSIT WILL CONTINUE TO RUN ITS NORMAL ROUTES.

A LAFAYETTE POLICE OFFICER, WHOSE BEEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT FOR SEVEN YEARS, HAS BEEN PLACED ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE FOLLOWING A COMPLAINT. DERRICK MILES IS A SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER AT LAFAYETTE HIGH. HE WAS PUT ON PAID LEAVE LAST FRIDAY AND REMOVED FROM DUTY. POLICE SPOKESPERSON SERGEANT ROBIN GREEN SAYS THE DEPARTMENT’S INTERNAL AFFAIRS DIVISION IS INVESTIGATING THE ALLEGED INCIDENT BUT SHE WOULD NOT ELABORATE.

THE HISTORIC WHISKEY RIVER LANDING DANCE HALL IN HENDERSON WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE LATE LAST NIGHT. WITNESSES TOLD KLFY TV THAT THE BUILDING WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES WHEN FIREFIGHTERS ARRIVED. THE BUILDING WAS REPORTEDLY UNOCCUPIED. THERE’S NO WORD YET ON THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE.

THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE WILL BEGIN ACCEPTING STATE INDIVIDUAL TAX RETURNS ON MONDAY, WHICH COINCIDES WITH THE TIME THE I-R-S ACCEPTS FEDERAL RETURNS. TAXPAYERS CAN FILE STATE INCOME TAX RETURNS ELECTRONICALLY THROUGH LOUISIANA FILE ONLINE, WHICH IS AVAILABLE AT REVENUE-DOT-LOUISIANA-DOT-GOV. YOU CAN PRINT STATE TAX RETURNS FROM THAT WEBSITE AS WELL. TAXPAYERS WHO FILE ELECTRONICALLY CAN EXPECT REFUNDS WITHIN FORTY-FIVE DAYS WHILE THE PROCESS TIMES FOR PAPER RETURNS IS UP TO FOURTEEN WEEKS.

A DRUG TRAFFICKER FROM CHURCH POINT WAS SENTENCED TO TEN YEARS IN PRISON, ACCORDING TO U-S ATTORNEY BRANDON B. BROWN. HE SAYS IN A NEWS RELEASE THAT FORTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD RICKY JAMES SHEPHEARD PLED GUILTY TO A CHARGE OF POSSESSION WITH INTENT TO DISTRIBUTE METHAMPHETAMINE. ON JUNE THIRD OF TWENTY-TWENTY-ONE, AGENTS WITH THE U-S DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION CONDUCTED A SEARCH WARRANT AT SHEPHEARD’S RESIDENCE. THEY FOUND METH, HEROIN, A LARGE AMOUNT OF CASH, AND SIX FIREARMS.