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A LAFAYETTE MAN IS IN CUSTODY IN CONNECTION TO A DEADLY SHOOTING.  CAROLINE MARCELLO REPORTS.

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THE OWNERS OF SPORTS BAR AND GRILL ARE LOOKING AT OPENING A SPLASH PARK IN CHURCH POINT.  THEY ARE IN TALKS WITH CHURCH POINT OFFICIALS BUT SOME RESIDENTS OF THE TOWN ARE NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT.  ONE PERSON TELLS KLFY TV THAT THEY BELIEVE THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE IN THE AREA ARE OPPOSED TO IT BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF TRAFFIC IT COULD BRING.  THE OWNERS OF SPORTS BAR AND GRILL SAY THEY WILL ADDRESS COMMENTS AFTER THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.

A mounted patrol division is being re-established in a southwest Louisiana parish in order to provide better service to residents, especially those living in the area’s hardest-to-reach terrain. Beauregard Parish Sheriff Mark Herford said the seven-member team was officially unveiled earlier this month during the Beauregard Parish Fair Parade. Herford said the team already has proven its worth. While providing a security detail at the fair, the deputies made a drug arrest in the event’s parking lot.

The Louisiana prison system will again start allowing people to visit inmates. The visits stopped nearly three months ago because of the state’s surge in COVID-19 cases. The Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections says in a news release that scheduled visitation will begin at some state-run prisons Monday. It will be phased in at other prisons through Oct. 30.

A PUBLIC PROCESSION FOR THE BODY OF LAFAYETTE FIRE INSPECTOR CHIEF KEITH SONNIER WILL BEGIN AT SIX FORTY-FIVE A-M TOMORROW AT THE SYRIE (ser EYE)FUNERAL HOME.  ALONG THE WAY TO THE CAJUNDOME CONVENTION CENTER, THE CAISSON WILL MAKE ONE LAST STOP AT THE FIRE PREVENTION BUREAU, WHERE SONNIER WORKED FOR MORE THAN THREE DECADES, AND THE CENTRAL FIRE STATION ON EAST VERMILLION STREET.  MAYOR PRESIDENT JOSH GUILLORY AND ALL FIREFIGHTERS WILL BE THERE FOR ONE LAST SALUTE.  THE PUBLIC IS INVITED TO THE VISITATION FROM EIGHT TO NOON AND THE FUNERAL SERVICE AT THE CATHEDRAL OF SAINT JOHN WILL BEGIN AT ONE-THIRTY.

AN ATTEMPTED SECOND DEGREE MURDER SUSPECT FROM PORT BARRE WAS ARRESTED ON FRIDAY BY PORT BARRE POLICE.  EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD JAMARCUS HARDY IS ACCUSED OF SHOOTING A SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD LAST JUNE DURING A PHYSICAL ALTERCATION.  CHIEF DEON BOUDREAUX SAYS HARDY WAS ALREADY A FUGITIVE FROM A PREVIOUS INCIDENT WHEN HE FLED FROM POLICE IN A CAR AND, AFTER CRASHING IT, HE EVADED CAPTURE BY FLEEING ON FOOT.  HE BONDED OUT OF THE SAINT LANDRY PARISH JAIL ON SATURDAY.

IT’S HOMECOMING WEEK IN MORGAN CITY AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS ENCOURAGING SAFE CELEBRATIONS.  THEY ARE INCREASING PATROLS IN CERTAIN NEIGHBORHOODS BECAUSE HOMECOMING WEEK BRINGS AN INFLUX OF KIDS TO THOSE NEIGHBORHOODS, ACCORDING A FACEBOOK POST FROM THE DEPARTMENT.  THEY SAY TOILET PAPERING A RESIDENCE IS ALLOWED IF THE HOMEOWNER GIVES PERMISSION BUT KETCHUP, MUSTARD OR ANYTHING BESIDES TOILET PAPER IS NOT ALLOWED.  VIOLATERS WILL BE REPORTED TO THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION AND THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WILL TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.

Employees in the Louisiana Senate will get an 8% pay raise starting this month. Senate President Page Cortez said Friday that the workers have gone more than two years without salary hikes. Cortez said the increases will begin with the next pay period and they are estimated to cost about $625,000 a year. The Lafayette Republican said the Senate will be able to cover the costs of the raise in its existing budget because the staff has dropped from 111 workers at the end of 2019 — shortly before Cortez was elected president — to just above 90 employees today.

RECENTLY FIRED LAFAYETTE POLICE CHIEF THOMAS GLOVER CALLED INTO MAYOR PRESIDENT JOSH GUILLORY’S SHOW ON K-P-E-L YESTERDAY.  GLOVER CLAIMED GUILLORY TERMINATED HIM WITHOUT REASON AND IS NOW TRYING TO MANUFACTURE THINGS.  GLOVER SAYS HE IS WORKING ON A RETORT TO ALL THIS AND IT WILL BE DEVASTATING FOR GUILLORY.  HE CLOSED BY SAYING HE WILL GET JUSTICE.   GUILLORY WOULD NOT RESPOND TO GLOVER EXCEPT TO SAY HE IT IS A PERSONNEL MATTER AND HE IS DEFERRING TO THE H-R AND LEGAL DEPARTMENTS.

PETA IS CALLING FOR AN INVESTIGATION OF U-L LAFAYETTE’S NEW IBERIA RESEARCH FACILITY WHERE FIVE BABY MONKEYS DIED IN AUGUST DUE TO DEHYDRATION.   THE U-S-D-A DETERMINED A WATER PRESSURE REGULATOR MALFUNCTIONED, REDUCING WATER PRESSURE IN THE ROOM, A PROBLEM THAT HAS SINCE BEEN CHANGED.  PETA SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT KATHY GUILLERMO, IN A PRESS RELEASE,  SAYS THEY ARE CALLING ON DISTRICT ATTORNEY DON LANDRY TO INVESTIGATE AND FILE CHARGES AGAINST THOSE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SUFFERING OF THE MONKEYS.  SHE SAYS THE INFANT MONKEYS COULDN’T DEPEND ON STAFF FOR BASIC NECESSITIES SUCH AS WATER.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LAKE CHARLES REGIONAL AIRPORT SAYS HE EXPECTS A ROBUST TRAVEL SEASON FOR THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS.  HEATH ALLEN SAYS SCHOOLS IN CALCASIEU PARISH WERE OUT MONDAY AND TUESDAY FOR THE FALL BREAK, AND THEY SAW A TWENTY TO TWENTY-THREE PERCENT INCREASE IN DAILY PASSENGER AVERAGES IN COMPARISON TO TWENTY-NINETEEN, BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.  HE SAYS THEY ARE MAKING IMPROVEMENTS TO BETTER SERVE PASSENGERS.  THAT INCLUDES ADDING TERMINAL GATES AND EXPANDING THE OVERFLOW PARKING LOT.

A COVID-NINETEEN STUDENT WELLBEING TASK FORCE IS BEING LAUNCHED THROUGH THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE, THE LOUISIANA BOARD OF REGENTS AND THE COUNCIL OF STUDENT BODY PRESIDENTS.  STUDENTS FROM ALL LOUISIANA STATE COLLEGE SYSTEMS ARE REPRESENTED ON THE TASK FORCE AND WILL MEET FOR THE FIRST TIME NEXT WEEK.  THE GROUP WILL COME UP WITH IDEAS TO INCREASE VACCINATION RATES AMONG STUDENTS.  THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAYS TWELVE-POINT-FOUR PERCENT OF EIGHTEEN-TO TWENTY-NINE-YEAR-OLDS HAVE COMPLETED THEIR VACCINE TRIAL AS OF THURSDAY.

A GROUP OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND CONCERNED CITIZENS GATHERED IN FRONT OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES YESTERDAY EVENING.  THEY ARE PROTESTING COVID-NINETEEN VACCINE MANDATES.  HEALTH CARE WORKER MONIQUE GARY TOLD KLFY TV THAT THEY ARE ANTI-MANDATE, NOT ANTI-VACCINE.  THE PROTESTERS SAYS THAT AS OFFICIALS PUT MANDATES ON HEALTH CARE WORKERS, THEIR FREEDOM TO CHOOSE IS BEING STRIPPED.

A MAN IS IN JAIL ACCUSED OF ROBBING A WOMAN AT GUNPOINT IN AN OPELOUSAS BANK PARKING LOT.  CAROLINE MARCELLO REPORTS.

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CHURCH POINT POLICE ARE ASKING FOR THE PUBLIC’S HELP IN FINDING A MAN CONNECTED TO A DRIVE BY SHOOTING IN JULY.  NO ONE WAS INJURED IN THE SHOOTING.  WARRANTS HAVE BEEN ISSUED FOR CALVIN L. SCOTT JUNIOR, WHOSE LAST KNOWN ADDRESS WAS THE ACADIAN PLACE APARTMENTS IN CHURCH POINT.  POLICE RECEIVED INFORMATION THAT SCOTT MAY BE IN THE LAFAYETTE OR CROWLEY AREAS.  ANYONE WITH INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CALL THE CHURCH POINT POLICE DEPARTMENT.

The average score of Louisiana’s high school seniors on the ACT college readiness test fell for a fourth year in a row and remains among the lowest in the nation. The state’s composite score on the ACT exam that measures skills in English, reading, math and science was 18.4 out of a possible 36. That’s down from 18.7 last year. The Advocate reports that only Mississippi, Nevada and Hawaii scored lower.

OPELOUSAS POLICE SAY THEY HAVE MADE A SECOND ARREST IN A SHOOTING THAT KILLED ONE MAN AND INJURED ANOTHER.  SYLVIA MASTERS REPORTS.

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A TRACK COACH AT NORTHSIDE HIGH SCHOOL IN LAFAYETTE HAS BEEN ARRESTED ON A CHARGE OF PROHIBITED SEXUAL CONTACT.  FORTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD ERNEST LAZARD WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY MONDAY AFTER THE PARENTS OF A SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL FOUND HE WAS SENDING EXPLICIT TEXTS TO HER FOR ABOUT A MONTH.  IN LOUISIANA, SEVENTEEN IS THE AGE OF CONSENT BUT THE LAW PROHIBITS SEXUAL CONDUCT BETWEEN TEACHERS AND STUDENTS.  THE PARENTS OF THE VICTIM TELL KLFY TV THEY ARE SPEAKING OUT BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THERE MAY BE MORE VICTIMS.

FARMERS IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA SAY ASSISTANCE FROM THE GOVERNMENT AFTER HURRICANE LAURA LAST YEAR HAS BEEN INADEQUATE.  THE HURRICANE CAUSED ONE-POINT-SIX MILLION DOLLARS IN DAMAGE TO FARMS AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM AGRICULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS TOURED FARMS IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA YESTERDAY.  JIM HARPER OF THE LOUISIANA FARM BUREA EXPRESSED SURPRISE THAT THAT MOST OF THE DAMAGES FROM LAST YEAR HAVE NOT BEEN FIXED.  HE SAYS THE FARMERS HAVE APPLIED FOR AID BUT THEY HAVE NOT YET BEEN PAID.

Louisiana’s top school board has agreed to shelve letter grades for public schools this year because of the coronavirus outbreak. The decision still requires the federal government to sign off on the move. The action from the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education means that grades and school performance scores usually released in November will be set aside amid classroom upheaval and falling test scores blamed on the pandemic. The Advocate reports that state Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley said he’s confident the waiver request will win federal approval.

LAST NIGHT THE IBERIA PARISH COUNCIL VOTED TO SPEND ONE-POINT-SIX MILLION DOLLARS TO UPGRADE THE COTEAU WATER SYSTEM.  THE MONEY IS COMING OUT OF THIRTEEN-AND-A-HALF MILLION DOLLARS THE PARISH IS RECEIVING THROUGH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN.  PARISH PRESIDENT LARRY RICHARD SAYS OLD EQUIPMENT WILL BE REPLACED AND THEY WANT TO GET THE COTEAU WATER WORKS DISTRICT TO EXPAND TO HELP MORE OF IBERIA PARISH.  THE STATE WILL PROVIDE A MATCHING FIVE MILLION DOLLAR GRANT.

THE LAFAYETTE CITY PARISH ALIGNMENT COMMISSION BEGAN WORK YESTERDAY TO IDENTIFY PROBLEMS IN THE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT AND POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS.  LAST JULY THE PARISH AND CITY COUNCILS VOTED TO CREATE THE NINE PERSON COMMISSION.  THE REVIEW WILL LAST SIX MONTHS.  PARISH COUNCIL CHAIRMAN JOHN GUILBEAU, WHO WILL ACT AS LIAISON BETWEEN THE COMMISSION AND COUNCIL, SAYS IT’S A DAUNTING TASK.

SAINT MARTIN PARISH AUTHORITIES ARE INVESTIGATING SEVERAL CASES OF IDENTITY THEFT, WHICH IS BEING USED TO FILE FAKE FEMA CLAIMS.  SHERIFF BECKET BREAUX SAYS THEY RECEIVED ABOUT FIFTY CALLS FROM PEOPLE, MOSTLY IN THE UPPER HALF OF THE PARISH, WHO ARE REPORTING INSPECTORS GOING DOOR-TO-DOOR.  BREAUX SAYS THE INSPECTORS ARE LEGITIMATE AND ARE CHECKING OUT POSSIBLE WIDESPREAD FEMA FRAUD.  BREAUX SAYS THE SCAMMERS ARE TAKING THE EASY WAY TO MAKE A QUICK BUCK, STEALING FROM THE GOVERNMENT AND TAXPAYERS.

Hunters in Louisiana can now use their smartphones to tag and validate deer and turkey immediately after killing one. The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says this must be done before moving the deer or turkey, and a news release sent Tuesday says either the tag itself or a picture of the hunter’s harvest tags on the smartphone is needed. The new E-tag and Text-to-Tag services also need an account at LouisianaOutdoors.com. If there’s no cellular service in the area hunted, traditional paper tags must be used.

THE MAN WHO WAS SHOT AND KILLED AT A CARWASH LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF ERASTE LANDRY AND CAJUNDOME BOULEVARD IN LAFAYETTE LAST FRIDAY HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AS THIRTY-YEAR-OLD KEYON ALEX.  POLICE ARE STILL SEARCHING FOR THE PERSON OR PERSONS WHO SHOT AND KILLED KEYON.  HIS WIFE, MARNEKA ALEX, TELLS KLFY TV THAT SHE HAD TO SEE KEYON’S BODY LYING ON THE GROUND TO CONFIRM THAT IT WAS HIM, AND UPON SEEING IT, SHE SAYS, HER WHOLE LIFE SHATTERED AND HER HUSBAND WASN’T THERE TO PICK UP THE PIECES.  SHE SENT A MESSAGE TO THE KILLER OR KILLERS THAT THEY DIDN’T ONLY HURT KEYON BUT THEY HURT HIS TWO SONS WHO WILL GROW UP WITHOUT A FATHER.

FAMILIES LEFT HOMELESS AFTER AN APARTMENT FIRE IN SAINT MARTINVILLE WILL BE MOVED INTO NEW RENOVATED UNITS BY FRIDAY.  SYLVIA MASTERS HAS MORE.

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LAKE CHARLES POLICE HAVE MADE AN ARREST IN CONNECTION WITH A DOUBLE HOMOCIDE THAT HAPPENED IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS SATURDAY ON GENERAL PATTON STREET.  DETECTIVES LEARNED THAT A SUSPECTED NARCOTICS TRANSACTION WAS INVOLVED IN THE TWO HOMOCIDES, AND THE VICTIMS WERE TWO BROTHERS FROM HONDURAS, FORTY-YEAR-OLD RUDIY ELISANDRO PINTO-ARITA AND THIRTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD MARCIO ANTONIO PINTO-ARITA.  YESTERDAY MORNING, OFFICERS WITH A SWAT TEAM LOCATED A SUSPECT AND ARRESTED HIM.  THIRTY-YEAR-OLD ANTONIO DEVON HADNOT OF LAKE CHARLES HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH TWO COUNTS OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER AND HIS BOND WAS SET AT ONE-POINT-TWO MILLION.

ON AUGUST SEVENTEENTH, MORE THAN THREE THOUSAND PEOPLE IN LOUISIANA WERE HOSPITALIZED FOR COVID-NINETEEN AND NEARLY FOUR HUNDRED FIFTY WERE ON VENTILATORS. AS OF MONDAY, THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REPORTED FIVE HUNDRED SIX HOSPITALIZATIONS AND ONE HUNDRED TWO ON VENTILATORS.  THE FIVE HOSPITALS IN THE OSCHNER LAFAYETTE GENERAL HEALTH SYSTEM HAD A TOTAL OF NINETEEN COVID PATIENTS.  THAT’S A SIGNIFICANT DROP FROM THE PEAK OF THE FOURTH SURGE WHEN MORE THAN NINETY PATIENTS HAD BEEN ADMITTED IN A SINGLE WEEK.

OCHSNER HEALTH SAYS THAT AS OF LAST WEEK, EIGHTY-SIX PERCENT OF THEIR EMPLOYEES HAVE BEEN FULLY VACCINATED AND NINETY PERCENT HAVE RECEIVED AT LEAST THE FIRST DOSE.  PRESIDENT AND C-E-O WARNER THOMAS CREDITED A VACCINE MANDATE FOR EMPLOYEES, IN WHICH THEY’VE SET DEADLINES FOR WHEN THEY HAVE TO BE VACCINATED OR FACE TERMINATION.  SOME EMPLOYEES HAVE FILED A LAWSUIT ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE MANDATE BUT JUDGES HAVE REJECTED THEIR REQUEST.  ATTORNEYS FOR THE EMPLOYEES HAVE FILED APPEALS.

HOUSES BEING T’PED IN IBERIA PARISH IS A HOMECOMING TRADITION, WITH TOILET PAPER STREWN OVER YARDS.  HOWEVER THIS YEAR THE TRADITION IS GETTING OUT OF HAND, ACCORDING TO SHERIFF TOMMY ROMERO.  HE SAYS SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT VANDALISM AND THERE WAS ONE ATTEMPTED BREAK-IN.  HE SAYS CASES OF PROPERTY DAMAGE WILL BE INVESTIGATED AND THOSE RESPONSIBLE ARRESTED.  THAT INCLUDES EGGING A CAR, WHICH, ROMERO SAYS, CAN DAMAGE THE VEHICLE.

AN ARREST WARRANT HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR TYLER WAYNE OBLANC OF IOTA.  HE IS WANTED FOR THEFT, ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF STOLEN THINGS, THEFT OF A MOTOR VEHICLE AND SECOND DEGREE DOMESTIC ABUSE BATTERY.  THEY ARE ASKING ANYONE WHO KNOWS WHERE HE IS TO CALL THE ACADIA PARISH TIPS LINE AT SEVEN-EIGHT-NINE-TIPS.  UP TO A THOUSAND DOLLAR CASH REWARD IS BEING OFFERED FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST OF OBLANC.

FAMILIES AND PREGNANT WOMEN WHO RECEIVE WIC BENEFITS ARE CONTINUING TO GET EXTRA HELP.  SYLVIA MASTERS EXPLAINS.

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ABBEVILLE POLICE ARE ASKING FOR HELP TO CATCH A SUSPECT IN CONNECTION WITH A SHOOTING THAT HAPPENED ON MONDAY.  SYLVIA MASTERS REPORTS.

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A COALITION OF CLERGY ON THE NORTHSIDE OF LAFAYETTE ARE URGING NORTH LAFAYETTE RESIDENTS TO PARTICIPATE IN AN ECONOMIC BOYCOTT, WITH THE GOAL OF GETTING THE ATTENTION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT LEADERS ABOUT DISPARITIES.  THE COALITION PLANS TO START THE BOYCOTT ON NOVEMBER TWENTY-FIFTH LASTING THROUGH CHRISTMAS.  THEY ARE ASKING NORTHSIDE RESIDENTS TO BUY GOODS AND SERVICES IN AREAS LIKE YOUNGSVILLE, BROUSSARD AND SCOTT DURING THAT PERIOD.  DOCTOR LARRY J. LLOYD TELLS KLFY TV THAT THE COALITION IS SHOWING SOLIDARITY THAT THEY ARE INTERESTED IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, ESPECIALLY IN NORTH LAFAYETTE.

THE FOOD FOR SENIORS PROGRAM IN CALCASIEU PARISH RETURNS THIS FRIDAY.  THE PROGRAM BY THE CALCASIEU PARISH POLICE JURY AND CATHOLIC CHARITIES PROVIDES A BOX OF NUTRITIONAL FOOD AND NON-PERISHABLE GOODS.  THERE ARE FOURTEEN DISTRIBUTION SITES THROUGHOUT THE PARISH.  TO APPLY FOR THE PROGRAM, CALL 1-800-522-3333.

STARTING THIS WEEK, THE PUBLIC WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE THEIR TWO CENTS ON HOW THEY BELIEVE DISTRICTS SHOULD BE DRAWN FOR THE NEXT TEN YEARS.  SYLVIA MASTERS HAS MORE.

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KAPLAN’S POLICE CHIEF HAS FIRED AN OFFICER AFTER HE WAS ARRESTED FOR MALFEASANCE IN OFFICE.  CHIEF JOSHUA HARDY SAYS THEY RECEIVED AN ANONYMOUS TIP THAT LED TO AN INVESTIGATION AND THE ARREST OF OFFICER RYAN DOMINGUE.  HARDY SAYS THEY LEARNED DOMINGUE WAS SOLICITING A JUVENILE.  HE SAYS DOMINGUE HAD ONLY BEEN ON THE JOB FOR A COUPLE MONTHS BEFORE HIS TERMINATION.

THE SECOND DEGREE MURDER TRIAL OF TWENTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD TYLER NICHOLAS BENOIT OF KAPLAN BEGAN YESTERDAY WITH JURY SELECTION.  BENOIT ALLEGEDLY SHOT TO DEATH CHRISTON CHAISSON IN AUGUST OF TWENTY-SEVENTEEN IN DOWNTOWN LAFAYETTE.  LAFAYETTE POLICE SAY CHAISSON SAW BENOIT BEATING HIS GIRLFRIEND AND ATTEMPTED TO INTERVENE TO PROTECT THE WOMEN WHEN HE WAS SHOT TO DEATH.  BENOIT’S TRIAL HAS BEEN POSTPONED NUMEROUS TIMES.

SCAMMERS HAVE BEEN FILING DAMAGE REPORTS FOLLOWING HURRICANE IDA USING OTHER PEOPLE’S ADDRESSES AND INFORMATION.  MORGAN CITY POLICE HAVE RECEIVED MORE THAN TWENTY CALLS IN THE LAST FEW DAYS FROM PEOPLE WHO WERE AFFECTED.  THEY RECEIVE A VISIT FROM FEMA REPRESENTATIVES TO EXAMINE THEIR HOME WHEN THE HOMEOWNER NEVER FILED A CLAIM.  PATRICK BOLAND OF FEMA SAYS THAT IF YOU HAVE AN UNEXPECTED INSPECTION, CALL THE FEMA HOTLINE AT 866-720-5721 AND ALSO CALL POLICE.

A Louisiana task force is working to gather vaults and caskets disrupted from their burial sites by Hurricane Ida and rebury them. The storm came ashore on Aug. 29. Cemetery Response Task Force chairman Ryan Seidemann says members start surveying cemeteries as soon as they can after a storm to assess damage. In some cases, storm surge or flooding from heavy rain can move the vaults so far that it’s not immediately clear where they were buried.

OUSTED LAFAYETTE POLICE CHIEF THOMAS GLOVER SAYS HE WAS NOT EXPECTING TO GET FIRED BECAUSE HE WAS DOING WHAT HE WAS ASKED TO DO WHEN HE TOOK THE JOB, INSTITUTING REFORMS.  GLOVER SAYS MANY OFFICERS WERE SHOCKED WHEN HE FIRED A FELLOW OFFICER FOR PUNCHING SOMEONE IN HANDCUFFS AND, HE BELIEVES, THAT’S WHEN THE POLICE UNION BECAME FIXATED ON REMOVING HIM FROM OFFICE.  UNION ATTORNEY ALLISON PREJEAN CALLS GLOVER’S ALLEGATION UNEQUIVOCALLY FALSE, SAYING THE POLICE UNION DOES NOT CONTROL THE POLICE DEPARTMENT OR THE MAYOR PRESIDENT.  GLOVER SAYS HE RECEIVED PUSH BACK FROM ABOUT TWENTY OFFICERS ON THE REFORMS HE WAS IMPLEMENTING.

A NINETEEN-YEAR-OLD MAN IS BEING REGARDED AS A HERO AFTER RESIDENTS OF THE CYPRESS GARDENS APARTMENT COMPLEX IN SAINT MARTINVILLE MADE IT OUT SAFELY DURING A FIRE.  A MOTHER AND HER TWO CHILDREN AS WELL AS TWO OTHER RESIDENTS WERE DISPLACED BECAUSE OF THE FIRE.  SEVERAL RESIDENTS TOLD KLFY TV THAT THEY DIDN’T KNOW THERE WAS A FIRE UNTIL THE NINTEEEN-YEAR-OLD CAME BANGING ON THEIR DOOR, AND THEY NOTED THE SMOKE ALARMS DIDN’T WORK.  THE NINTEEN-YEAR-OLD, WHO WISHED TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS, SAYS HE WAS GETTING READY FOR WORK AT AROUND FIVE A-M WHEN HE HEARD HIS GRANDMOTHER SCREAMING FOR HELP, AND THAT’S WHEN HE NOTICED THE SMOKE IN THE APARTMENT.

A DERIDDER WOMAN WAS KILLED IN A SINGLE VEHICLE CRASH ON HIGHWAY ONE-SEVENTY-ONE AT AROUND THREE-FORTY-FIVE SUNDAY MORNING.  THE DRIVER OF A VEHICLE DROVE OFF THE ROAD INTO THE MEDIAN, BACK ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND THEN BACK INTO THE MEDIAN, WHERE THE VEHICLE OVERTURNED.  TWENTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD CHANIYA PIPER, WHO WAS A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE,WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE, DESPITE WEARING HER SEATBELT.  THE DRIVER WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WITH MODERATE INJURIES WHILE TWO OTHER PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES.  THE CRASH IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

Louisiana’s problem of wasted COVID-19 vaccine shots continues to balloon. The latest data provided to The Associated Press by the Louisiana Department of Health shows about 224,000 doses have been thrown out across the state as health providers can’t find enough residents willing to roll up their sleeves. The number of trashed doses has nearly tripled since the end of July, even as Louisiana grappled with a fourth, deadly surge of the coronavirus pandemic during that time that led to increased interest in the vaccines. More than 2.1 million people in Louisiana are fully vaccinated.

THE ADMINISTRATOR AT OPELOUSAS GENERAL SAYS THE BATTLE WITH COVID-NINETEEN IS TRENDING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AFTER A SURGE OF PATIENTS IN JULY.  TIM MARKS SAYS THEY HAD UP TO FORTY-FIVE COVID PATIENTS BUT IT BEGAN TO TREND DOWNWARD IN SEPTEMBER.  HE SAYS THEY HAVE ONLY ONE COVID PATIENT CURRENTLY.  MARKS TELLS KLFY TV THEY ARE STILL CAUTIOUS WITH TWENTY-FIVE PERCENT OF E-R VISITS COVID-RELATED.

A MAN WAS SHOT AND KILLED FRIDAY AFTERNOON AT A CAR WASH LOCATED AT THE CORNER OF ERASTE LANDRY AND CAJUNDOME BOULEVARD.  WITNESSES TELL KLFY-TV THAT MULTIPLE GUSHOTS WERE HEARD AT AROUND TWO P-M AND ONE MAN SAYS HE SAW SOMEONE FACE DOWN IN ONE OF THE CARWASH STALLS.  THE IDENTITY OF THE VICTIM HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED AND POLICE ARE INTERVIEWING RESIDENTS AND BUSINESSES IN THE AREA AND LOOKING AT SURVEILLANCE VIDEO IN ORDER TO FIND A SUSPECT.  ANYONE WHO HAS INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CALL LAFAYETTE CRIME STOPPERS AT TWO-THREE-TWO-TIPS.

A CROWLEY MAN WAS KILLED FRIDAY NIGHT WHILE RIDING HIS BIKE ON HIGHWAY NINETY ABOUT A MILE EAST OF ESTHERWOOD.  IT WAS AT AROUND SEVEN-FORTY-FIVE FRIDAY NIGHT WHEN FORTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD DEXTER LEE LEJEUNE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY A PICKUP TRUCK AND WAS EJECTED FROM HIS BICYCLE.  LEJEUNE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE HE DIED.  LEJEUNE WAS WEARING DARK COLORED CLOTHING AND HAD NO LIGHTS OR REFLECTIVE MATERIALS ON HIS BICYCLE.

Louisiana’s statewide book festival will be held virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic. Programs are planned each weekend from Oct. 30 through Nov. 14. This year marks the 17th annual free event to celebrate readers and writers. The festival draws tens of thousands of people and usually takes place in and around the Louisiana State Capitol, but its 40 programs and more than 80 authors and presenters are moving online this year.

LAFAYETTE POLICE CHIEF THOMAS GLOVER HAS BEEN FIRED BY MAYOR PRESIDENT JOSH GUILLORY, WITH NO REASON GIVEN.  GLOVER TOOK OFFICE ON NEW YEAR’S EVE, BECOMING THE FIRST BLACK POLICE CHIEF FOR LAFAYETTE.  SERGEANT WAYNE GRIFFIN HAS BEEN APPOINTED AS INTERIM CHIEF.  CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER JAMIE ANGELLE SAYS GRIFFIN WAS A FINALIST DURING THE LAST POLICE CHIEF SEARCH AND THE SEARCH COMMITTEE FOUND HIM HIGHLY QUALIFIED FOR THE POSITION.

THE IBERIA PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS RESEARCHING AND EXPERIMENTING WITH A HORSE PATROL.  THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE HASN’T COMMENTED ON IT, BUT NEW IBERIA RESIDENT NIKKI ELLIOTT TELLS KATC TV THAT SHE HAS TALKED TO DEPUTIES WHO TOLD HER THEY WERE INTERESTED IN TESTING HORSE PATROLS AS COMMON CRIMES LIKE CAR BREAK-INS BECOME MORE FREQUENT.  SERGEANT CHRIS LASTER WITH THE MOUNTED POLICE TRAINING ACADEMY SAYS STUDIES SHOW A SIXTY-FIVE PERCENT REDUCTION IN CRIME WHERE HORSE PATROLS ARE USED ON A REGULAR BASIS.  HE SAYS HORSES ARE VERY VISIBLE AND CAN SEE THINGS AND GO PLACES CARS AND BIKES CAN’T.

THE BODY OF A FORMER JENNINGS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL AND BASEBALL COACH WAS FOUND IN CHICOT LAKE AT CHICOT STATE PARK.  WHEN SEVENTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD DANNY R. REED OF JENNINGS DID NOT RETURN HOME WEDNESDAY NIGHT, A SEARCH WAS LAUNCHED BY LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES OFFICIALS.  HIS BOAT WAS FOUND IN A COVE AT THE LAKE SHORTLY AFTER SUNRISE YESTERDAY AND HIS BODY WAS FOUND A SHORT DISTANCE AWAY.  THE EVANGELINE PARISH CORONER’S OFFICE WILL DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF DEATH.

HERE’S CAROLINE MARCELLO WITH THE LATEST COVID-NINETEEN NUMBERS FOR THE STATE.

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A lawsuit in Louisiana over Republican lawmakers’ efforts to block coronavirus restrictions imposed last year by Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards has been dismissed by a state appeals court. The court in Baton Rouge didn’t rule on the merits of the case. Instead, it said the issue was moot because the executive order imposing the restrictions expired last November. House Republicans signed a petition last year ordering Edwards to rescind the restrictions.

A WOMAN WAS SHOT AND KILLED AT HER LAFAYETTE HOME WHEN SHE ANSWERED THE DOOR.  CAROLINE MARCELLO REPORTS.

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THE DIOCESE OF LAFAYETTE HAS ISSUED A RESPONSE AFTER THREE LAWTELL MEN SAID THEY WERE SEXUALLY ABUSED BY A PRIEST IN THE LATE SEVENTIES AND EARLY EIGHTIES.  THE DIOCESE, IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT, SAYS THEY JUST BECAME AWARE OF THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE LATE FATHER JAMES QUEREN.  THEY SAY, BECAUSE HE WAS NOT A DIOCESAN PRIEST BUT INSTEAD A MEMBER OF THE SOCIETY OF SAINT JOSEPH, THE ALLEGATIONS HAVE BEEN FORWARDED TO THE PROVINCIAL SUPERIOR OF THAT ORDER.  THE JOSEPHITE ORDER LEADERSHIP TELLS KLFY TV THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY DECIDED THE APPROPRIATE RESPONSE.

The Lafayette Parish school system has agreed to give its teachers a raise and a bonus. The Lafayette Parish School Board voted Wednesday to give teachers a $750 salary increase and also a $1,646 bonus check. The extra income will be available this month, though school officials have not provided an exact date. The school system said it was able to do both the big paycheck and the salary raise this year because of excess sales taxes from 2020.

The Louisiana Department of Health says about 150 people were exposed to
COVID-19 at a recent wedding in Abbeville, and any who are not vaccinated
should quarantine themselves through Saturday. It says everyone who attended the
wedding at a venue called L’Eglise on Sept. 25 should be tested for the disease.
The department says that includes people who are fully vaccinated and people who
don’t have any symptoms. It says several people who attended the wedding
developed symptoms and tested positive for the coronavirus that causes COVID-
19.

LAST NIGHT THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO BAN BALLOON
RELEASES. THE CITY COUNCIL CITED OVER A THOUSAND POWER OUTAGES THIS
YEAR AS THE MAIN REASON FOR THE DECISION. THERE ARE ALSO CONCERNS
ABOUT DEFLATED OR BURST BALLOONS ON THE ENVIRONMENT SINCE SOME
ANIMALS VIEW THEM AS FOOD. VIOLATERS OF THE BALLOON RELEASE COULD
BE FINED.

Sixteen of the 49 Louisiana hospitals that regularly deliver babies have met new
standards aimed at improving the state’s poor performance involving deaths
resulting from pregnancy. The Louisiana Department of Health said Monday that
11 hospitals in the state are “Birth Ready”, including Jennings American Legion
Hospital, and five others met the higher designation of “Birth Ready+” under
standards set by the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative. That’s a network of
public health experts, advocates, doctors and other care providers. The
classifications grade hospitals on whether they meet certain benchmarks around
maternal blood loss, Cesarean sections, staff education and other factors that
contribute to improved outcomes during pregnancy.

THE CALCASIEU PARISH SCHOOL BOARD YESTERDAY PASSED A NEW POLICY
ALLOWING PARENTS TO DECIDE IF THEIR CHILD NEEDS TO BE QUARANTINED IN
CASE THEY WERE EXPOSED TO COVID-NINETEEN IN SCHOOL. THE BOARD
VOTED UNANIMOUSLY ON THE POLICY CHANGE WHICH WAS RECOMMENDED
BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION. BOARD MEMBER MARK
DELAFOSSE EXPRESSED CONCERN THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
MADE THE RECOMMENDATION WITHOUT THE SUPPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH OR THE GOVERNOR. THE NEW POLICY GOES INTO EFFECT BEGINNING
OCTOBER THIRTEENTH.

THE CITY OF VILLE PLATTE IS CURRENTLY UNDER A WATER BOIL ADVISORY.
CAROLINE MARCELLO WITH KLFY TV HAS MORE.

THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT HAS NOTIFIED PARENTS OF
STUDENTS ON A TIK TOK CHALLENGE THAT SHE SAYS COULD HAVE DIRE
CONSEQUENCES FOR STUDENTS WHO PARTICIPATE. THE DEVIOUS LICKS
CHALLENGE CAME OUT LAST MONTH URGING STUDENTS TO HIT OR SLAP
SCHOOL STAFF MEMBERS. SUPERINTENDENT IRMA TROSCLAIR SAYS STRIKING
A TEACHER WILL LEAD TO POLICE INVOLVEMENT, WITH NO EXCEPTIONS. SHE
SAYS WITH THE CHALLENGE TARGETING TEACHERS, IT IS ADDING TO STRESS IN
SCHOOLS DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC.

A commercial airline pilot and military veteran has announced that he’ll try to
unseat U.S. Sen. John Kennedy in Louisiana’s 2022 election. Luke Mixon is a 42-
year-old Democrat who lives in Baton Rouge. He said he’s trying to keep Kennedy
from a second six-year term because he doesn’t believe the Republican senator has
been representing Louisiana’s interests in Washington. Mixon’s campaign
announcement says he graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy and piloted naval
jets for 17 years, including deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.

ACADIA PARISH CRIME STOPPERS IS ASKING THE PUBLIC’S HELP IN LOCATING
TWO SUSPECTS WHO STOLE A CATALTIC CONVERTER OFF OF A PICKUP TRUCK.
IT HAPPENED ON PROPERTY LOCATED OFF THE LAWTELL HIGHWAY NORTH OF
CHURCH POINT. THE TWO SUSPECTS ON VIDEO SURVEILLANCE WERE WEARING
FACE COVERINGS AND, AFTER TAKING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER OFF OF THE
PICKUP TRUCK, THEY WERE PICKED UP BY SOMEONE DRIVING A TWO TONE
PICKUP WITH A LIGHT BAR ON THE FRONT GRILL. ANYONE WHO CAN HELP
AUTHORITIES IDENTIFY ANY OF THE SUSPECTS IS ASKED TO CALL SEVEN-EIGHT-
NINE-TIPS.

ONE MAN WAS SHOT AND KILLED NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF ANNE AND IVAN STREETS IN NEW IBERIA EARLY MONDAY MORNING.  COMMUNITY ACTIVIST DONOVAN DAVIS TELLS KLFY TV THE VICTIM WAS TWENTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD CHRIS FLUGENCE JUNIOR.  DAVIS SAYS THAT NEIGHBORS TOLD HIM THEY HEARD AN EXCHANGE OF GUNFIRE THREE DIFFERENT TIMES AND THE THIRD TIME HAPPENED AT THE SPOT WHERE FLUGENCE WAS KILLED.  NEW IBERIA POLICE HAVE NOT NAMED ANY SUSPECTS.

THE LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL WILL TALK ABOUT ENDING THE TRADITION OF BALLOON RELEASES TO MOURN THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE OR CELEBRATE AN OCCASION.  BESS FORET, THE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY MANAGER FOR THE CONSOLIDATED GOVERNMENT, SAYS THE BALLOONS CAN NEGATIVELY AFFECT THE ENVIRONMENT.  SHE SAYS IN A STATEMENT THAT THE BALLOONS DEFLATE OR BURST, FALLING ON THE LAND OR WATER, AND ANIMALS CAN MISTAKE THEM FOR FOOD, WHICH, IF EATEN, WILL EVENTUALLY KILL THEM.  SHE’S PUT FORTH SEVERAL ALTERNATIVES TO BALLOON RELEASES.

The federal government says nearly 24% of the for-hire recreational red snapper catch target is still in the Gulf of Mexico. Licensed guides can take people to catch the fish in federal waters from Oct. 15 until Nov. 6. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s fisheries division says for-hire boats have caught nearly 2.2 million pounds of red snapper in federal waters, but 670,000 pounds of the target remain. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says this applies to trips in federal waters on vessels with a federal for-hire reef fish permit.

IN JEFF DAVIS PARISH, AUTHORITIES SAY A WOMAN IS FACING CHILD DESERTION AND DRUG CHARGES AFTER ALLEGEDLY LEAVING HER EIGHT-YEAR-OLD ALONE IN A CAR WHILE SHE WAS GAMBLING INSIDE OF A CASINO.  CAROLINE MARCELLO HAS MORE.

VOICER V :20

OPELOUSAS POLICE HAVE ARRESTED A SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD IN CONNECTION WITH A HOMOCIDE THAT HAPPENED AT AROUND TWELVE-FORTY-FIVE LAST THURSDAY MORNING.  TWO PEOPLE IN A CAR IN A PARKING LOT AT THE INTERSECTION OF CRESSWELL LANE AND EDITH STREET WERE SHOT, ONE OF THEM FATALLY.  POLICE CHIEF MARTIN MCCLENDON SAYS THEY ARE CONFIDENT THEY HAVE THE SHOOTER BUT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR OTHER PEOPLE WHO WERE AT THE SCENE.  THE SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD HAS BEEN CHARGED WITH SECOND DEGREE MURDER AND ATTEMPTED SECOND DEGREE MURDER.

THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD WILL CONSIDER CHANGES TO THE MASK POLICY AT TONIGHT’S MEETING.  THE CURRENT POLICY REQUIRES STUDENTS AND EMPLOYEES TO WEAR MASKS.  UNDER THE PROPOSED CHANGE, MASKS WOULD BE OPTIONAL ONCE THE GOVERNOR’S MASK MANDATE EXPIRES.  THE BOARD WILL ALSO CONSIDER CHANGING THE REQUIREMENT THAT ALL HIGH TOUCH SURFACES BE CLEANED TWICE A DAY TO ONLY “AS NEEDED.”

HERE’S CAROLINE MARCELLO WITH THE LATEST COVID-NINETEEN NUMBERS FOR LOUISIANA.

VOICER W :27

YESTERDAY THE ACADIA PARISH SCHOOL BOARD APPROVED A SEVEN HUNDRED DOLLAR BONUS FOR CERTIFIED TEACHERS FOR THE NEXT THREE YEARS.  BOARD MEMBER REBECCA ATKINSON SAYS IT’S THE BOARD’S JOB TO TRY AND RETAIN TEACHERS WHILE ATTRACTING QUALIFIED EDUCATORS FROM OTHER PARISHES AND THIS IS ONE WAY OF ACCOMPLISHING THAT.  THE BOARD INITIALLY CONSIDERED A FIVE HUNDRED DOLLAR BONUS BUT BUMPED IT UP TO SEVEN HUNDRED.  FRANCES MILLER, WHO TEACHES PRE-K, TELLS KATC TV THAT PROBABLY HALF OF THE BONUS WILL BE SPENT IN HER CLASSROOM.