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THE BODY OF AN ABBEVILLE MAN REPORTED MISSING SATURDAY BY HIS FAMILY WAS FOUND IN AN IBERIA PARISH COULEE.  STATE POLICE SAY JOSHUA MEAUX HAD BEEN TRAVELING ON A MOTORCYCLE ON JEFFERSON ISLAND ROAD WHEN HE FAILED TO NEGOTIATE A CURVE AND WAS EJECTED.  HIS MOTORCYCLE WAS FULLY SUBMERGED IN THE COULEE.  THE CRASH REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

HUMAN REMAINS FOUND ON A BURN PILE IN LAFAYETTE PARISH LAST WEEK HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED.  THE LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE HAS CONFIRMED THE MAN’S NAME WAS FORTY-EIGHT-YEAR-OLD CECIL WAYNE GRAY.  TWO PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED IN CONNECTION WITH THE CASE,THIRTY-SEVEN-YEAR-OLD RANDALL FIGARD AND THIRTY-ONE-YEAR-OLD SARAH JOHNSON.  BOTH FACE CHARGES OF UNLAWFUL DESTRUCTION OF REMAINS AND OBSTRUCTION OF JUSTICE.

Southwest Louisiana leaders say the disaster assistance approved by Congress will be too little to solve the lingering housing crisis and other needs caused by Hurricane Laura more than a year ago. Billions in federal disaster aid were included in legislation passed by Congress on Thursday. Southwest Louisiana is anticipated to get $600 million for Laura and the follow-up blow of Hurricane Delta. Louisiana has estimated the unmet needs for Hurricanes Laura, Delta and Zeta is around $3 billion.

KAPLAN POLICE ARE SEARCHING FOR AN ESCAPED PRISONER.  POLICE CHIEF JOSHUA HARDY SAYS BLAKE BLANCHARD WAS WAITING TO TAKE A SHOWER SUNDAY MORNING WHEN HE RAN BAREFOOT OUT OF THE CITY JAIL.  BLANCHARD WAS IN JAIL ON CHARGES OF BURGLARY AND CRIMINAL TRESPASS.  HARDY SAYS BLANCHARD IS NOT CONSIDERED DANGEROUS BUT THEY ASK ANYONE WHO SEES HIM NOT TO APPROACH HIM BUT CALL NINE-ONE-ONE INSTEAD.

A MAN WAS FOUND SHOT IN LAFAYETTE SUNDAY AFTERNOON.  CAROLINE MARCELLO REPORTS.

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At least one person has been arrested after more than 175 bronze vases were stolen off graves in two southwest Louisiana cemeteries. More than 100 vases were stolen from Consolata Cemetery in Lake Charles and, next door, nearly 70 vases were taken from Prien Memorial Park. In custody is 36-year-old Kenneth Stillson of Ragley. He faces several charges including desecration of graves, obstruction of justice and aggravated flight from an officer.

A SUSPECT IN A SHOOTING FRIDAY IN AMELIA WAS ARRESTED BY SAINT MARY PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES LATE FRIDAY NIGHT.  ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN THE SHOOTING AT A LOCAL BUSINESS ON DUHON BOULEVARD.  THIRTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD CODY MICHAEL SMITH OF MORGAN CITY WAS IDENTIFIED AS THE SUSPECTED SHOOTER AND WAS ARRESTED IN LAFOURCHE PARISH.  HE FACES NUMEROUS CHARGES INCLUDING ATTEMPTED FIRST DEGREE MURDER.

Louisiana’s largest health system is ratcheting up pressure to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Ochsner Health told employees it will charge them a monthly premium of $200 if a spouse or domestic partner covered under an Ochsner health plan is not vaccinated. Ochsner has previously set an October 29 deadline for all employees to be vaccinated. President and CEO Warner Thomas said the surcharge for unvaccinated spouses and partners is part of an effort to keep health premiums low for employees.

A SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES CALL LED TO THE DISCOVERY OF HUMAN REMAINS ON A BURN PILE IN LAFAYETTE PARISH.  THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE RECEIVED A CALL AT AROUND TEN-TWENTY-FIVE YESTERDAY MORNING.  THE CALLER SAID THAT THEY HAD FOUND, WHAT THEY BELIEVED WERE, HUMAN REMAINS ON A BURN PILE IN THE THREE HUNDRED BLOCK OF BURBANK ROAD.  THE IDENTITY OF THE REMAINS AND THE CAUSE OF DEATH ARE UNDER INVESTIGATION.

THE SAINT MARTIN PARISH SCHOOL DISTRICT IS IMPLEMENTING A POLICY ALLOWING PARENTS TO DECIDE WHETHER TO QUARANTINE THEIR CHILD IF THEY COME INTO CLOSE CONTACT WITH SOMEONE WHO HAS COVID-NINETEEN.  ON WEDNESDAY, THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ANNOUNCED THE PARENT CHOICE QUARANTINE OPTION.  SAINT MARTIN PARISH IS THE ONLY ONE SO FAR TO OPT INTO THE POLICY IN ACADIANA.  THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH SAYS IN A NEWS RELEASE THEY WERE NOT CONSULTED ABOUT THE POLICY AND HAVE STRONGLY URGED LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO FOLLOW PUBLIC HEALTH GUIDANCE.

THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH REPORTED THIRTY-ONE PERCENT OF COVID CASES AS OF TODAY ARE AMONG CHILDREN SEVENTEEN AND YOUNGER.  SYLVIA MASTERS HAS MORE ON THE COVID-NINETEEN NUMBERS FOR LOUISIANA AS OF YESTERDAY.

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THE U-S CONGRESS YESTERDAY BROKE AN IMPASSE THAT WILL ALLOW THE GOVERNMENT TO KEEP OPERATING FOR TWO MORE MONTHS AND FREES UP TWENTY-EIGHT-POINT-SIX BILLION DOLLARS IN AID.  IT INCLUDES FUNDS FOR DAMAGES FROM LAST YEAR’S HURRICANES IN SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA AS WELL AS THE FREEZE IN FEBRUARY.  GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS CALLED IT TRAGIC THAT SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA HAD TO WAIT THIS LONG, BUT THE MONEY WILL HELP REVITALIZE THOSE COMMUNITIES.  LAKE CHARLES MAYOR NIC HUNTER TELLS THE ADVOCATE THAT THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WILL FILTER INTO SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA IS A “PITTANCE” COMPARED TO THE DISASTER RELIEF PACKAGES GOING TO OTHER COMMUNITIES.

A JUDGE HAS RULED THAT THE VACCINE MANDATE FOR EMPLOYEES OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES HOSPITAL WILL REMAIN IN PLACE BUT THE CHALLENGE COULD BE REVISITED IF SOMEONE LOSES THEIR JOB OVER IT.  THE NEW POLICY REQUIRES A LEADERS GROUP AT THE HOSPITAL TO BE VACCINATED BY NOVEMBER THIRTIETH OR THEY WILL BE TERMINATED.  THE DEADLINE IS DECEMBER THIRTY-FIRST FOR THE REMAINING EMPLOYEES WHO ARE NOT PART OF THE LEADERS GROUP.  ATTORNEY JIMMY FAIRCLOTH, WHO REPRESENTED LOURDES’ EMPLOYEES TRYING TO STOP THE MANDATE, WAS ENCOURAGED BY THE JUDGE’S RULING, SAYING IT’S CLEAR TO HER THAT LOURDE’S IS VERY CLOSE TO VIOLATING RIGHTS.

A NEW IBERIA MAN WAS SENTENCED TO TEN YEARS IN PRISON ON DRUG TRAFFICKING CHARGES.  TWENTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD DEONDRICK W. BROWN WAS ARRESTED AFTER A TRAFFIC STOP IN JUNE OF LAST YEAR.  STATE TROOPERS WHO CONDUCTED THE STOP SMELLED MARIJUANA IN THE CAR AND, AFTER A SEARCH, FOUND MORE THAN FORTY-SIX THOUSAND MULTI-COLORED PILLS AND TABLETS.  A DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION LAB FOUND THAT THE PILLS CONTAINED METHAMPHETAMINE.

The Biden administration has scheduled an offshore oil and gas lease sale for the Gulf of Mexico on Nov. 17, obeying a court order. The Democratic president’s moratorium on new oil and gas leasing on federal lands was blocked by a judge in June. The government said it would resume sales while appealing that order. An industry group official says the sale is important for American workers and security

OPELOUSAS POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A SHOOTING THAT LEFT ONE PERSON DEAD AND ANOTHER INJURED.  SYLVIA MASTERS REPORTS.

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ONE PERSON IS DEAD AND ANOTHER INJURED AFTER A SHOOTING HAPPENED OVERNIGHT IN OPELOUSAS.  SYLVIA MASTERS REPORTS.

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SOME CITIZENS IN JENNINGS RESTRAINED A MAN THAT THEY SAID WAS TRYING TO STEAL CATALYTIC CONVERTERS FROM VEHICLES.  IT HAPPENED ON MONDAY AND OFFICERS RESPONDED TO THE COMPLAINT AT AN ADDRESS ON GALLUP STREET AND ARRESTED FORTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD FREDRICK FONTENOT, ALSO KNOWN AS T-BUTCH.  FONTENOT POSSESSED A RECIPROCATING SAW AND WRENCHES THAT ARE COMMONLY USED IN CATALYTIC CONVERTER THEFTS, PLUS HE HAD A SYRINGE AND METHAMPHETAMINE.  HE WAS CHARGED WITH ATTEMPTED THEFT BUT, BECAUSE OF A LACK OF BED SPACE AT THE JEFF DAVIS PARISH JAIL, HE WAS RELEASED ON A SUMMONS.

ENROLLMENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA LAFAYETTE HAS DECREASED FOR THE SECOND YEAR IN A ROW.  THERE ARE SIXTEEN THOUSAND, TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE TOTAL STUDENTS ENROLLED AT U-L FOR THE FALL SEMESTER, DOWN TWO HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE FROM LAST FALL’S ENROLLMENT.  THAT’S A ONE-POINT-FOUR PERCENT INCREASE.  GRADUATE ENROLLMENT INCREASED BY THREE-POINT-NINE PERCENT BUT THE UNDERGRADUATE CLASS WAS DOWN BY THREE HUNDRED TWENTY.

U-L LAFAYETTE IS BREAKING RECORDS IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT DOLLARS WITH THE MOST RECENT YEARLY TOTAL AT ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-FOUR MILLION.  THAT’S A ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE PERCENT INCREASE OVER THE PAST SEVEN YEARS.  BRITTANY LECOUR DEAL, THE STRATEGIC ANALYSIS MANAGER AT THE LOUISIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY, SAYS THE ONE HUNDRED SIXTY FOUR MILLION DOLLARS IN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SUPPORTS ABOUT NINE HUNDRED THIRTY-SEVEN JOBS IN LAFAYETTE PARISH.  DOCTOR RAMESH KOLLURU, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF RESEARCH INNOVATION AT U-L, SAYS THEY FOCUS ON RESEARCH THAT HELPS LOUISIANA BUSINESSES CREATE NEW PRODUCTS, OFFER MORE SERVICES, BECOME MORE PROFITABLE AND HIRE MORE PEOPLE.

Louisiana’s education department is no longer recommending that public school systems quarantine asymptomatic students who have come into close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19. That goes against state and federal health guidance. Louisiana’s local school districts already had the ability to determine whether they want to send the students home for days because of exposure, but most of the districts had been following the education department’s recommendation that those students should be quarantined. New guidance issued Wednesday by Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley suggests districts could instead choose to notify parents of the exposure and let the parents decide whether to keep the child in school.

HERE’S SYLVIA MASTERS WITH THE LATEST COVID-NINETEEN NUMBERS IN LOUISIANA.

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BECAUSE OF A RECENT UPTICK IN CRIME IN ABBEVILLE, THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE VERMILLION PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE HAS REACTIVATED A COOPERATIVE VIOLENT CRIMES TASK FORCE.  EDDIE LANGLINAIS, THE DIRECTOR OF THE TASK FORCE, SAYS HE FEELS CONFIDENT THE UNIT HELPED PREVENT A MAJOR CRIME ON MONDAY, ITS FIRST NIGHT ON PATROL.  THEY ATTEMPTED TO PULL OVER A VEHICLE WITH THREE MALES INCLUDING ONE WEARING A SKI MASK,  BUT THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO STOP AND EVENTUALLY CRASHED.  THE THREE FLED ON FOOT AND OFFICERS FOUND THE SKI MASK IN THE VEHICLE AS WELL AS A LOADED ASSAULT RIFLE AND NARCOTICS.

A GROUP OF VILLE PLATTE RESIDENTS GATHERED IN FRONT OF THE CLECO OFFICE ON WEST LINCOLN STREET YESTERDAY TO PROTEST HIGH UTILITY BILLS.  CLECO’S COMMUNITY STRATEGIST, FRAN PHOENIX, SAYS ONE OF THE MAJOR CONTRIBUTERS TO ELEVATED BILLS IS THE HIGH COST OF FUEL, FROM WHICH CLECO DOES NOT PROFIT.  SHE ALSO CITED THE FREEZE IN FEBRUARY IN WHICH THE COSTS FROM THAT HAVE BEEN SPREAD OUT OVER TWELVE MONTHS.  THE GROUP PLANS ANOTHER PROTEST NEXT WEEK IF THEY DO NOT SEE THE CITY DO SOMETHING ABOUT THEIR CONTRACT WITH CLECO.

Gov. John Bel Edwards is reupping Louisiana’s indoor mask mandate for another month. The Democratic governor Tuesday credited the face covering requirement with keeping students safe from COVID-19 and helping to combat the state’s fourth surge of the coronavirus illness. Edwards reinstated the mask mandate in August as Louisiana faced its worst spike in coronavirus cases. The mask mandate covers all public indoor locations and includes K-12 schools and colleges.

HERE’S SYLVIA MASTERS WITH THE LATEST CORONAVIRUS NUMBERS.

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A MAN WHO WAS SHOT AT AROUND THREE-THIRTY SUNDAY MORNING IN OPELOUSAS WAS WANTED BY PORT BARRE POLICE ON SEVERAL CHARGES INCLUDING ATTEMPTED SECOND DEGREE MURDER.  OPELOUSAS POLICE CHIEF MARTIN MCCLENDON SAYS OFFICERS WERE MONITORING TRAFFIC NEAR LOCAL NIGHTCLUBS IN THE SAINT CYR AND BLANCHARD STREET AREA, WHEN THEY HEARD GUNSHOTS AND FOUND A MAN WHO HAD BEEN SHOT INSIDE A BROWN BUICK.  IT TURNED OUT TO BE JAMARCUS J. HARDY OF PORT BARRE, WHO WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL IN SERIOUS CONDITION.  MCCLENDON SAYS, ONCE HARDY IS STABLE ENOUGH, HE WILL BE BROUGHT TO JAIL TO FACE THE CHARGES AGAINST HIM.

A BICYLIST ON THE EVANGELINE THRUWAY NEAR I-TEN WAS KILLED YESTERDAY MORNING IN A CRASH.  THE IDENTITY OF THE BICYCLIST HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED.  KATC TV IS REPORTING THAT SIX PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HIT AND KILLED IN THAT AREA SINCE LAST YEAR.  THERE HAS BEEN TALK OVER THE PAST YEARS ABOUT BUILDING A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE BUT MAYOR PRESIDENT JOSH GUILLORY SAYS THERE ARE NO PLANS FOR A BRIDGE AT THIS TIME, BUT IT’S NOT OUT OF THE PICTURE.

Five people were injured in an explosion at a Westlake chemical plant. Louisiana State Police spokesman Derek Senegal said the explosion at the Westlake petrochemical plant near Lake Charles was reported late Monday night. He said five workers were taken to a hospital, but their conditions were not immediately known. A fire at the site is now out, and the cause of the blast is under investigation.

A GROUP OF VILLE PLATTE RESIDENTS WANT CITY LEADERS TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE HIGH UTILITY BILLS THEY ARE GETTING FROM CLECO.  SYLVIA MASTERS HAS MORE.

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THE FAMILY OF A LAFAYETTE MAN ARE WORRIED THAT HIS HOMOCIDE WILL BECOME A COLD CASE.  THIRTY-SEVEN-YEAR-OLD HAROLD CARMOUCHE WAS ONE OF THREE PEOPLE SHOT WHILE RIDING IN A VEHICLE ON I-TEN NEAR CROWLEY ON JUNE SIXTH, BUT HE WAS THE ONLY ONE WHO LOST HIS LIFE.  HAROLD’S SISTERS TELL KLFY TV-TEN THAT THEY BELIEVE SOMEONE KNOWS WHO THE GUNMAN IS AND WHY HE ENDED HAROLD’S LIFE.  ACADIA PARISH SHERIFF K-P GIBSON SAYS THE CASE IS STILL OPEN AND THEY ARE RUNNING DOWN EVERY LEAD THEY HAVE.

ACADIA PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES ARE SEARCHING FOR A LAFAYETTE WOMAN WHO GAVE A BIRTHDAY PRESENT TO A THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL, WHICH CONTAINED HEROIN AND DRUG PARAPHERNALIA.  FORTY-YEAR-OLD JULIE MARIE HAYES IS WANTED FOR CONTRIBUTING TO THE DELINQUENCY OF A JUVENILE.  THE THIRTEEN-YEAR-OLD, WHO WAS A FAMILY MEMBER OF HAYES, WAS NOT INJURED.  ANYONE WHO KNOWS THE LOCATION OF HAYES IS ASKED TO CALL SEVEN-EIGHT-NINE-TIPS.  UP TO A THOUSAND DOLLAR CASH REWARD IS BEING OFFERED FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO AN ARREST.

RAYNE IS IN THE LAST LEG OF THE CITY’S WATER LINE IMPROVEMENTS, ACCORDING TO CITY ENGINEER BRETT BAYARD.  HE SAYS THEY ARE FLUSHING THE WATER THROUGH HYDRANTS IN ORDER TO STIR UP THE WATER AND GET THE SETTLEMENT THAT HAS BEEN IN THE PIPES FOR SIXTY TO ONE HUNDRED YEARS OUT THROUGH THE HYDRANTS RATHER THAN PEOPLE’S HOMES.  THIS FLUSHING IS EXPECTED TO TAKE ABOUT THREE WEEKS.  MAYOR CHUCK ROBICHAUX SAYS RESIDENTS MAY SEE A BRASSY DISCOLORATION IN THEIR TAP WATER BUT IT IS SAFE TO DRINK.

A THIRTY-EIGHT-YEAR-OLD WOMAN FROM LEESVILLE ALLEGEDLY ADMITTED TO STABBING HER BOYFRIEND ON INTERSTATE TEN IN JEFF DAVIS PARISH.  DISPATCHERS WITH THE JEFF DAVIS PARISH SHERIFF’S OFFICE RECEIVED A CALL FROM JENNIFER RENEE BRAXTON, WHO REPORTEDLY TOLD THEM SHE HAD STABBED HER BOYFRIEND, AND DEPUTIES WENT OUT TO THE VEHICLE, WHICH WAS AT AROUND MILE MARKER FORTY-EIGHT.  THE BOYFRIEND WAS BLEEDING HEAVILY FROM THE CHEST AND ARM.  BRAXTON WAS BOOKED INTO THE JEFF DAVIS PARISH JAIL ON CHARGES OF AGGRAVATED SECOND DEGREE BATTERY AND BATTERY OF A DATING PARTNER.

YESTERDAY OCHSNER LAFAYETTE GENERAL HOSPITAL BEGAN GIVING OUT THE PFIZER BOOSTER SHOT.  THEY HAD MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED PEOPLE SCHEDULED TO RECEIVE THE SHOT YESTERDAY.  IN ORDER TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THE SHOT, A PERSON MUST BE AT LEAST SIX MONTHS REMOVED FROM HAVING RECEIVED THE PFIZER TWO DOSE VACCINE.  ALSO TO BE ELIGIBLE, A PERSON MUST BE AT LEAST SIXTY-FIVE OR IF YOU’RE OVER THE AGE OF EIGHTEEN AND HAVE AN UNDERLYING MEDICAL CONDITION OR WORK OR LIVE IN A PLACE WITH A HIGH RISK OF GETTING COVID.

HERE’S SYLVIA MASTERS NOW WITH THE LATEST COVID NINETEEN NUMBERS FOR LOUISIANA.

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TODAY GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS WILL PROVIDE AN UPDATE ON LOUISIANA’S RESPONSE TO THE COVID-NINETEEN PANDEMIC.  SYLVIA MASTERS HAS MORE.

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SOME IBERIA PARISH FAMILIES HAVE LOST PETS TO A PACK OF FERAL DOGS INCLUDING ONE FAMILY THAT LOST TEN SHOW RABBITS.  IBERIA PARISH COUNCILWOMAN NATALIE BROUSSARD SAYS THE PACK APPEARS NOT TO BE KILLING FOR FOOD BUT FOR THE SAKE OF KILLING.  PARISH PRESIDENT LARRY RICHARD SAYS THE BEST SOLUTION IS TO ADD TWO FULL TIME ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICERS, BUT THEY DON’T HAVE THE BUDGET FOR THAT.  HE SAYS THE PLAN NOW IS TO BRING IN A WILDLIFE SPECIALIST, AND THEY ARE INVESTIGATING HOW TO DO THAT.

A SPECIAL OLYMPICS VOLLEYBALL TEAM IS HAVING TROUBLE FINDING A PLACE TO PRACTICE IN ACADIANA.  THE COACH, MIKE RHODES, SAYS THEY ARE LOOKING TO PRACTICE EVERY OTHER SATURDAY FROM TEN TO TWO AND THEN EVERY WEEK WHEN IT GETS CLOSER TO THE SPECIAL OLYMPICS IN JUNE, TAKING PLACE IN ORLANDO, FLORIDA.  RHODES SAYS THEY ARE REACHING OUT TO ACADIANA TO SEE IF ANYBODY CAN PROVIDE A FACILITY.  THERE ARE 80 SPECIAL OLYMPIC LOUISIANA TEAM MEMBERS THAT PARTICIPATE IN VARIOUS SPORTS, AND ABOUT THIRTY-FIVE OF THEM ARE FROM ACADIANA, ACCORDING TO RHODES.

THE SAINT LANDRY PARISH SCHOOL BOARD YESTERDAY ANNOUNCED THE DEATH OF ONE OF THEIR BOARD MEMBERS.  DENISE OLNEY ROSE PASSED AWAY SUNDAY, BUT THE CAUSE OF DEATH WAS NOT RELEASED.  ROSE HAD BEEN A TEACHER AT MELVILLE AND PALMETTO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND SERVED AS PRINCIPAL AT WASHINGTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FROM TWENTY-TWELVE TO TWENTY-SIXTEEN, WHEN SHE RETIRED.  SHE WAS ELECTED TO THE SCHOOL BOARD IN TWENTY-EIGHTEEN TO REPRESENT DISTRICT FIVE, WHICH INCLUDES PALMETTO, MORROW, LEBLEAU AND MELVILLE.

ONE PERSON IS DEAD AFTER A SHOOTING HAPPENED OVERNIGHT IN THE TRUMAN NEIGHBORHOOD OF LAFAYETTE.  SYLVIA MASTERS REPORTS.

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THE FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF FORTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD NICOLE HAMILTON GATHERED YESTERDAY AT THE SITE ALONG MILLS HIGHWAY IN SAINT MARTIN PARISH WHERE HER BODY WAS FOUND ON AUGUST THIRTIETH.  THEY RELEASED RED, WHITE AND SILVER BALLOONS IN HER MEMORY.  THE FAMILY IS WANTING ANSWERS AND JUSTICE FOR NICOLE, WHO WAS SHOT MULTIPLE TIMES.  THEY ARE OFFERING A THREE THOUSAND DOLLAR REWARD FOR ANYONE WHO COMES FORWARD WITH INFORMATION THAT LEADS TO AN ARREST.

The man in charge of a southwest Louisiana nonprofit for developmentally disabled people is retiring after decades. The American Press reports that the Beauregard Arc is looking for a new director to replace Jackie Hickman. Hickman is retiring at the end of the year. He has worked for the organization for 39 years, including 23 as its director.

Deer hunters across Louisiana can qualify for a $1,000 drawing by having the head of a mature white-tailed buck tested for a slow, fatal illness called chronic wasting disease. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says taxidermists in the state can do the same for a chance in a $500 drawing — with permission from the hunter who shot the buck. Chronic wasting disease is always fatal in deer, but symptoms can take 16 months to four years to develop. It has not yet been found in Louisiana but has shown up in all three neighboring states — Texas, Arkansas and Mississippi.

A BLOOD DRIVE IS BEING HELD TODAY AT SCOTT CITY HALL FOR A BROUSSARD FIRE FIGHTER.  TWENTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD ALEX BOURQUE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH BONE CANCER.  BLOOD DRIVES HAVE BEEN HELD PREVIOUSLY TO HELP OFFSET THE FAMILY’S MEDICAL EXPENSES.  TODAY’S BLOOD DRIVE AT SCOTT CITY HALL IS FROM TEN A-M TO TWO P-M.

RAYNE POLICE ARRESTED A WOMAN ON CHARGES OF FELONY CARNAL KNOWLEDGE OF A JUVENILE.  FORTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD APRIL ROMINE IS ACCUSED OF HAVING AN INAPPROPRIATE RELATIONSHIP WITH A SIXTEEN-YEAR-OLD BOY OVER SEVERAL MONTHS.  SHE WAS BOOKED INTO THE ACADIA PARISH JAIL ON FOUR COUNTS OF CARNAL KNOWLEDGE.  HER BOND WAS SET AT THIRTY-THOUSAND DOLLARS.

A THIRTY-THREE-YEAR-OLD MAN WAS SHOT AND KILLED SATURDAY AFTERNOON.  LAFAYETTE PARISH SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES RECEIVED A CALL SHORTLY AFTER NOON AND WENT TO THE SIX HUNDRED BLOCK OF MARGINY CIRCLE.  THEY FOUND DEVON JOHNSON UNRESPONSIVE AND SUFFERING FROM A GUNSHOT WOUND.  HE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL, WHERE HE LATER DIED, ACCORDING TO SHERIFF’S OFFICE SPOKESPERSON VALERIE PONSETTI.

Louisiana’s governor will give a speech about ethics to a university audience. Louisiana Tech says Gov. John Bel Edwards’ speech will be carried live on Zoom at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday. He will be the 15th speaker in the William Ardis Marbury, Jr. and Virginia Lomax Marbury Lecture Series. People who want the Zoom link can register online at https://tinyurl.com/MarburyEthics21.

HEALTH CARE WORKERS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE HOLDING MORE PROTESTS IN OPPOSITION OF COVID-NINETEEN VACCINE MANDATES IN HOSPITALS.  CAROLINE MARCELLO  HAS MORE.

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

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THREE PEOPLE ARE WANTED IN CONNECTION WITH A SHOOTING EARLIER THIS MONTH IN NEW IBERIA.  ONE PERSON WAS KILLED AND THREE HOSPITALIZED AFTER THE SHOOTING SEPTEMBER THIRD NEAR THE SUPER ONE.  POLICE ARE SEARCHING FOR TWENTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD BRYCE SIMON, TWENTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD TYLER PHILLIPS AND EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD JAMONTRE BATISTE.  IF YOU KNOW THE WHEREABOUTS OF ANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS, YOU ARE ASKED TO CALL IBERIA CRIME STOPPERS AT THREE-SIX-FOUR-TIPS.

AN ESCAPED INMATE FROM A TRANSITIONAL WORK PROGRAM WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY POLICE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.  CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF TONY MANCUSO SAYS POLICE SURROUNDED A HOUSE ON ELEVENTH STREET WHERE DESMOND D. LOUIS WAS AND, WHEN HE CAME OUT OF THE HOUSE SHOOTING, OFFICERS RETURNED FIRE.  LOUIS HAD WALKED OFF A JOB AT CANCUN RESTAURANT MONDAY EVENING.  THREE PEOPLE IN THE HOUSE WHERE THE SHOOTOUT HAPPENED HAVE BEEN ARRESTED.

SOME LAFAYETTE RESIDENTS GATHERED IN FRONT OF CITY HALL TO PROTEST WHAT THEY CONSIDER A LACK OF SUPPORT FROM THE CITY COUNCIL TO REDEVELOP NORTH LAFAYETTE.  MAYOR PRESIDENT JOSH GUILLORY HAD DESIGNATED TWO HUNDRED FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR THE NORTH LAFAYETTE REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY BUT THE COUNCIL VOTED TO REMOVE THE FUNDING.  GUILLORY HAS SINCE VETOED THE COUNCIL’S DECISION AND IT WILL BE ADDRESSED AGAIN AT THE NEXT BUDGET HEARING.  ANOTHER RALLY IS PLANNED AT CITY HALL ON OCTOBER FIFTH, WHICH IS THE DAY THE COUNCIL VOTES ON THE ISSUE.

Experts at the LSU AgCenter estimate that Hurricane Ida’s winds and floods did at least $584 million in damage to agriculture in Louisiana. Economist Kurt Guidry says about half of that is timber damage, with another 35% in damage to buildings, equipment and other infrastructure. The report doesn’t include damage to the seafood industry, which will be estimated by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Guidry’s total includes estimates for damages still to come, including likely increased production costs and reduced yields for crops still in the field.

SAINT MARTINVILLE POLICE ARRESTED A MAN WANTED ON AN ATTEMPTED SECOND DEGREE MURDER CHARGE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.  ISAIAH FRANCOIS WAS ARRESTED AT A RESIDENCE ON SOUTH VIVIER STREET.  A  SEARCH OF THE HOME RESULTED IN THE DISCOVERY OF ONE HUNDRED EIGHTEEN GRAMS OF MARIJUANA, TWO FIREARMS AND TWO SCALES.  FRANCOIS IS SUSPECTED OF SHOOTING AT A MAN DURING A DISTURBANCE LAST JANUARY IN WHICH THE BULLET GRAZED THE OTHER MAN’S HEAD.

IOTA POLICE SAY THEY ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN THEFTS AND BURGLARIES ALONG WEST KENNEDY STREET.  THE LATEST ARE STORAGE UNITS BROKEN INTO AND, AMONG THE ITEMS MISSING, IS AN AIR CONDITIONER UNIT TAKEN FROM AN OFFICE WINDOW.  THE STOLEN ITEMS HAVE YET TO BE RECOVERED.  ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THE THEFTS IS ASKED TO CONTACT THE IOTA POLICE DEPARTMENT.

A NURSING STUDENT PREPARING FOR CLINICALS IS SUING U-L LAFAYETTE AND OCSHNER LAFAYETTE GENERAL OVER COVID-NINETEEN VACCINE MANDATES.  THE LAWSUIT BY MIA BOURG OF ERATH COMES ON THE DAY OCHSNER GAVE AS A DEADLINE FOR NURSING STUDENTS TO SUBMIT VACCINE EXEMPTIONS FOR VERIFIED RELIGIOUS OR MEDICAL REASONS.  THE LAWSUIT ALLEGES THAT OCHSNER HAS VIOLATED A LOUISIANA LAW THAT ALLOWS STUDENTS TO OPT OUT OF A VACCINE BASED SOLELY ON A WRITTEN DISSENT WITH NO EXPLANATION OR JUSTIFICATION REQUIRED.  THE LAWSUIT WAS FILED TWO DAYS AFTER ANOTHER SIMILAR LAWSUIT BY MORE THAN EIGHTY EMPLOYEES AT OCSHNER AND OUR LADY OF LOURDES.

THE CROWLEY POLICE DEPARTMENT IS DEALING WITH AN OFFICER SHORTAGE DUE TO COVID-NINETEEN.  CAROLINE MARCELLO HAS MORE.

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Louisiana is reporting its 16th child death from COVID-19. The state said Wednesday that the victim was between the ages of 12 and 17. The state reported a total of 99 new COVID-19-related deaths Wednesday. The latest hospitalization figure was 1,221 — still much higher than the spring and early summer, but down from a peak of over 3,000 in August.

Authorities in Louisiana say three freshmen defensive backs on the McNeese State football team are among five people arrested after an investigation that started with a drive-by shooting. Lake Charles police said Wednesday that the shooting on Sept. 6 was retaliation for an August armed robbery. Police say 18-year-olds Lathan Adams of Waxahatchie, Texas, and Edward Gilds of Harvey are accused of that holdup. They say 18-year-old Travis Walker of Kenner and 19-year-old Davonte Simmons of Westwego were arrested on drug and weapons charges. Adams, Walker and Gilds were on the football team.

THE OWNER OF J-E-H SOLAR OF LAFAYETTE SAYS A PERSON POSED AS AN EMPLOYEE OF HIS TO SCAM A POTENTIAL CUSTOMER.  EDDIE HAYNES SAID, THANKFULLY, THE CUSTOMER FELT SOMETHING WAS UP WHEN THE PERSON ASKED FOR A TEN THOUSAND DOLLAR DOWN PAYMENT WITHOUT MEETING FACE TO FACE FIRST.  HAYNES SAYS THE SCAMMER HAD A CONTRACT WITH HIS COMPANY’S NAME, LOGO AND ADDRESS.  HE SAYS IF YOU, AS A CUSTOMER, ASK WHO TO WRITE THE CHECK TO AND A PERSONAL NAME INSTEAD OF THE COMPANY NAME IS GIVEN, THAT SHOULD BE A RED FLAG.

THE IBERIA PARISH COUNCIL PASSED A RESOLUTION YESTERDAY SUPPORTING A RESUMPTION OF FEDERAL OFF SHORE LEASING IN THE GULF OF MEXICO.  THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PUT A HOLD ON ALL LEASE SALES EARLIER THIS YEAR, WHICH IS BEING CHALLENGED IN FEDERAL COURT.  PARISH PRESIDENT LARRY RICHARD SAYS THE PARISH USED TO RECEIVE BETWEEN FOUR AND SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS IN ROYALTIES FROM OIL AND GAS EACH YEAR, BUT, LAST YEAR, THEY ONLY RECEIVED THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND.  HE SAYS THAT IS PARTLY THE REASON THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN THE PARISH PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT HAS GONE FROM SIXTY-TWO TO THIRTY.

Louisiana anglers will be able to take up to four red snappers a day when the recreational season reopens on Friday. That’s double the previous limit. The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says the season will also expand to seven days a week rather than weekends only. A news release Wednesday said it’s possible because 30% of the state’s recreational limit remains uncaught.

MONEY WAS STOLEN FROM THE ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT SAFE AT SAINT MICHAEL CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN CROWLEY.  A JANITOR ENCOUNTERED THE SUSPECT, POSSIBLY DISRUPTING THE THEFT, AT AROUND FIVE NINETEEN YESTERDAY MORNING, BUT THE SUSPECT FLED BEFORE POLICE ARRIVED.  DETECTIVES ARE HOPING ITEMS LEFT BEHIND WILL HELP THEM IN IDENTIFYING THE THIEF.  ANYONE WITH INFORMATION ON THE THEFT IS ASKED TO CALL CRIME STOPPERS OF ACADIA PARISH AT SEVEN-EIGHT-NINE-TIPS.

YOUNGSVILLE POLICE CHIEF RICKY BOUDREAX UNDERWENT HEART SURGERY TUESDAY MORNING AFTER A HEART BLOCKAGE WAS DISCOVERED DURING A DOCTOR’S VISIT.  SYLVIA MASTERS HAS MORE.

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HERE’S SYLVIA MASTERS AGAIN WITH THE LATEST COVID-NINETEEN NUMBERS FOR LOUISIANA.

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PORT BARRE POLICE CHIEF DEON BOUDREAUX, WHO ANNOUNCED HE HAD COVID-NINETEEN ON MONDAY, RECEIVED A COVID-NINETEEN MONOCLONAL INFUSION SHOT YESTERDAY.  HE SAYS HE RECOGNIZES THERE IS SKEPTICISM ABOUT THE SHOT BUT HE’S FINE TAKING PART IN SOMETHING THAT HELPS HIM AND HIS FAMILY.  OPELOUSAS GENERAL HEALTH SYSTEM OFFICIALS ANNOUNCED THEIR SOUTH CAMPUS ALONG THE I-FORTY-NINE SERVICE ROAD IS NOW A TREATMENT SITE FOR MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY THERAPY.  IT’S OPEN WEEKDAYS FROM EIGHT TO EIGHT AND CAN SERVE ABOUT FIFTY PATIENTS A DAY BUT THEY MUST HAVE A REFERRAL FROM A MEDICAL PROVIDER.

TWO PEOPLE WERE KILLED IN A CRASH IN CALASIEU PARISH AT AROUND NINE A-M TUESDAY MORNING.  STATE POLICE SAY SIXTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD BOBBIE MCCRANEY OF WESTLAKE WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON CHOUPIQUE ROAD AND, FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON, DROVE THROUGH A STOP SIGN AND WAS HIT BY AN EIGHTEEN WHEELER.  MCRANEY AND SIXTY-NINE-YEAR-OLD ETHEL SIMMS OF SULPHUR WERE PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE.  THE DRIVER OF THE EIGHTEEN-WHEELER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES.

PRO GOLFER CHRIS ARCENEAUX IS WORKING WITH FIFTEEN LAFAYETTE COMPANIES AND ORGANIZATIONS ON A DISASTER SUPPLY DONATION DRIVE.  SUPPLIES COLLECTED THROUGH THE DRIVE WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO THOSE IMPACTED BY HURRICANE IDA.  THE DONATION DRIVE TAKES PLACE AT THE HOLY ROSARY EVENT CENTER ON CARMEL DRIVE IN LAFAYETTE.  SUPPLIES CAN BE DROPPED OFF THERE NEXT WEDNESDAY FROM ONE TO SIX AND THE FOLLOWING THURSDAY FROM NINE TO SIX.

The electric company subsidiary that provides electricity to New Orleans is responding to calls for an investigation of power losses during Hurricane Ida with options that include having the city assume control of municipal electrical service. That’s one of four options Entergy New Orleans outlined Tuesday in a statement as it prepared for discussions with the City Council. The other options include a merger with another Entergy subsidiary, Entergy Louisiana; a sale of Entergy New Orleans to another entity; or the formation of a spinoff utility company separate from Entergy corporation. The council’s utility committee is scheduled to meet today.

A PEACE RALLY IS BEING PLANNED FOR FRIDAY NIGHT AT SIX ON MIXON STREET IN NEW IBERIA.  THAT’S WHERE TWO PEOPLE WERE SHOT ON SATURDAY IN A HOUSE WHERE POLICE OFFICERS FOUND DRUGS AND WEAPONS.  DONAVON D. DAVIS, A COMMUNITY ACTIVIST WITH PROJECT ORANGE, TELLS KATC TV THAT HE BELIEVES THE SHOOTINGS ARE THE RESULT OF INTERCOMMUNITY WARS BETWEEN MIXON AND MURTIS STREETS.  HE SAYS PEOPLE NEED TO COME TOGETHER AND THINK OF OTHERS IN ORDER TO PREVENT MAKING THE WRONG DECISIONS.

AERIAL SPRAY OPERATIONS ARE BEING CONDUCTED THIS WEEK IN ACADIA PARISH.  THERE’S BEEN A SURGE IN THE MOSQUITO POPULATION DUE TO THE RECENT TROPICAL RAINS AND THE ACTIVATION OF RICE AND CRAWFISH FIELDS.  VECTOR DISEASE CONTROL IS CONDUCTING THE AERIAL SPRAYING.  THE AERIAL APPLICATION IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED BETWEEN TODAY AND FRIDAY DEPENDING ON THE WEATHER.

LAFAYETTE’S MAYOR PRESIDENT OVERRID THE COUNCIL’S VOTE TO STRIP MONEY FROM ITS BUDGET.  CAROLINE MARCELLO HAS THE DETAILS.

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THE POLICE CHIEF OF PORT BARRE HAS TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-NINETEEN.  DEON BOUDREAUX ANNOUNCED IN A FACEBOOK POST THAT HIS YOUNGEST CHILD IS ALSO SICK AND HE EXPECTS OTHERS IN HIS HOUSEHOLD TO BE INFECTED.  HE ALSO DENIED RUMORS THAT HE IS IN REHAB, WHICH HE SAYS WAS STIRRED UP BY ONE INDIVIDUAL.  BOUDREAUX SAYS HE DOESN’T SMOKE OR DRINK AND HE RARELY USES OVER THE COUNTER MEDICINES.

The mayors of two Louisiana cities have announced a friendly competition aimed at bolstering efforts to get more people vaccinated against COVID-19. Adrian Perkins, the mayor of Shreveport, and Nic Hunter, the mayor of Lake Charles are vying to see which city can achieve the higher increase in first-dose vaccinations. Their deadline is  Oct. 31. The state health department says Perkins issued the challenge and Hunter accepted in a video posted Monday.

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

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A LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED AGAINST OUR LADY OF LOURDES AND OCHSNER LAFAYETTE GENERAL OVER THEIR MANDATE THAT EMPLOYEES BE VACCINATED OR FACE TERMINATION.  KATC-TV IS REPORTING THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN FORTY PLAINTIFFS INCLUDING NURSES AND OTHER EMPLOYEES IN THE MEDICAL FIELD.  EMPLOYEES OF THE HOSPITALS CAN REQUEST TO BE EXEMPTED FOR MEDICAL OR RELIGIOUS REASONS BUT THE ATTORNEY REPRESENTING THE PLAINTIFFS, JIMMY FAIRCLOTH, SAYS A LOT OF THOSE FORMS HAVE BEEN DENIED.  FAIRCLOTH IS HOPING THE COURTS WILL GRANT A TEMPORARY INJUNCTION TO STOP THE VACCINE MANDATE AND THAT THEY WILL SET A QUICK HEARING ON A PRELIMINARY INJUNCTION.

NEW IBERIA POLICE HAVE RELEASED MORE DETAILS IN THE A-T-V CRASH INVOLVING THREE JUVENILES.  IT HAPPENED AT AROUND SEVEN P-M SUNDAY NIGHT IN THE FIVE HUNDRED BLOCK OF TEXACO ROAD WHEN THE A-T-V WENT ON THE ROADWAY RESULTING IN A COLLISION WITH A VEHICLE.  THE JUVENILES WERE AGED SEVEN, EIGHT AND THIRTEEN, AND TWO OF THE THREE WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL.  POLICE ARE CONTINUING TO INVESTIGATE, BUT THEY DO NOT BELIEVE THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS IMPAIRED.

Louisiana State Police say a Colorado man walking across Interstate 10 at night was hit and killed by an SUV. A news release Monday said 48-year-old David Joseph Williams of Aurora, Colorado, was hit about 7:45 p.m. Sunday. That was about a half-hour after sunset. Trooper First Class Derek Senegal says Williams tried to cross the interstate after he and another person had pulled over their 2014 Jeep near Sulphur.

TWO MORE ARRESTS HAVE BEEN MADE IN CONNECTION WITH THE HOMOCIDE OF A BREAUX BRIDGE MAN LAST FRIDAY, WHICH POLICE BELIEVE WAS THE RESULT OF A DRUG DEAL GONE BAD.  ON MONDAY POLICE AND A SWAT TEAM SURROUNDED A HOME AND, AFTER A BRIEF STANDOFF, THIRTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD BRIAN DEROUSSELLE WAS ARRESTED ON SEVERAL CHARGES INCLUDING FIRST DEGREE MURDER.  ALSO  ON MONDAY, A SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD WAS ARRESTED IN SAINT LANDRY PARISH AND WILL FACE A FIRST DEGREE MURDER CHARGE.  THE FIRST SUSPECT WHO WAS TAKEN INTO CUSTODY WAS TWENTY-YEAR-OLD LASON EDMOND, WHO WAS ARRESTED SATURDAY.