ALEXANDRIA CITY COUNCILMAN JERRY W. JONES JR. DEFENDED HIMSELF YESTERDAY AFTERNOON AGAINST AN ETHICS COMPLAINT THAT WAS FILED AGAINST HIM EARLIER THIS MONTH. THE COMPLAINT, FILED BY ALEXANDRIA ATTORNEY GREG AYMOND ON BEHALF OF TWO CITIZENS ALLEGES THAT JONES UNETHICALLY VOTED IN FAVOR OF A RESOLUTION THAT APPLIED TO HIMSELF. IN ADDITION, THE COMPLAINANTS ALLEGE THAT JONES, WHO WAS APPOINTED TO THE DISTRICT 3 COUNCIL SEAT ON DEC. 13, HAD AN UNETHICAL BUSINESS RELATIONSHIP WITH CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT HARRY SILVER. JONES SAID HE HAD MADE NO DEALS WITH SILVER, WHO VOTED IN FAVOR OF JONES BEING NAMED TO REPLACE JONATHAN GOINS AS DISTRICT 3 COUNCILMAN. GOINS RESIGNED FROM THE COUNCIL ON DEC. 3 OF LAST YEAR. AFTER JOINING THE COUNCIL, JONES VOTED TO ELECT SILVER AS COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
FORMER WINN PARISH SHERIFF JAMES EDWARD "BUDDY" JORDAN HAS DIED.JORDAN DIED TUESDAY AT HIS HOME IN WINNFIELD. JORDAN SERVED AS SHERIFF FROM 1992 TO 2008. HE HAD SERVED AS CHIEF DEPUTY UNDER SHERIFF DAN PAGE FROM 1976-1988. HE ALSO RETIRED FROM THE LOUISIANA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD AFTER 22 YEARS OF SERVICE. FUNERAL SERVICES ARE SET FOR 2 P.M. FRIDAY, AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF WINNFIELD. BUDDY JORDAN WAS 69
TODAY IS THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE AND BE ABLE TO CAST A BALLOT IN THE STATE'S MARCH 24TH PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY. THE SAME DEADLINE APPLIES IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE YOUR VOTER REGISTRATION. MOST REGISTRARS OFFICES CLOSE AT 4:30..
GOVERNOR BOBBY JINDAL IS THROWING HIS SUPPORT BEHIND LEGISLATION THAT WILL RAISE $325-MILLION TO FIX RURAL ROADS AND HIGHWAYS THAT HAVEN'T SEEN ANY KIND OF MAINTENANCE IN DECADES. THE PLAN WOULD FINANCE A BOND SALE WITH A SPECIAL RURAL HIGHWAYS FUND, TO RAISE THE $325-MILLION FOR THE ROAD PROJECTS.
A NEW SURVEY BY AAA SHOWS MOTORISTS FEEL GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO SPEND MORE ON HIGHWAY UPKEEP, BUT THEY DON'T WANT TOLL ROADS TO PAY FOR IT. LOUISIANA AAA'S DON REDMAN SAYS THE IDEA OF MAKING A PUBLIC ROAD INTO A TOLLWAY, AS A HIGHWAY FUNDING SOURCE, IS PRETTY UNPOPULAR. 82% OPPOSE THE IDEA. THOUGH THEY'RE OPPOSED TO TOLL ROADS, REDMAN SAYS 70% OF SURVEY RESPONDENTS FEEL MORE MONEY NEEDS TO BE INVESTED IN LOUISIANA'S HIGHWAYS. SURPRISINGLY THEY FAVOR PAYING A BIT MORE AT THE PUMP.
GASOLINE CONTINUES TO RISE FOR LOUISIANA DRIVERS. LOUISIANA AA'S WEBSITE REPORTS THE STATEWIDE AVERAGE PRICE OF REGULAR IS $3.50 TODAY; UP ALMOST A PENNY FROM YESTERDAY...UP A NICKEL FROM A WEEK AGO...UP 20 CENTS FROM A MONTH AGO. .AND UP 47 CENTS FROM A YEAR AGO.
A NEW ORLEANS LAWMAKER PRE-FILES A BILL THAT WOULD ALLOW POLITICAL "ROBOCALLS" TO BE ADDED TO THE "DO NOT CALL LIST." REPRESENTATIVE CAMERON HENRY SAYS MANY PEOPLE HAVE ASKED HIM WHY THEY KEEP GETTING NUMEROUS POLITICAL CALLS AROUND ELECTION TIME WHEN THEY ARE ON THE DO NOT CALL LIST. HENRY SAYS HE CAN'T IMAGINE ANYONE OPPOSING HIS LEGISLATION. HE SAYS POLITICIANS WOULDN'T BE BANNED FROM USING THE ROBOCALL SERVICE TO CAMPAIGN, BUT THE CALLS WOULDN'T COME TO PEOPLE ON THE "DO NOT CALL LIST." THE BILL WILL BE DEBATED DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT BEGINS IN MARCH
STATE POLICE SAY A SULPHUR MAN WAS ARRESTED TWICE MONDAY FOR DWI--BOTH TIMES WHILE HE HAD KIDS IN THE CAR. LSP SPOKESMAN SGT. JAMES ANDERSON SAYS 23-YEAR-OLD ZACH PARKER WAS PULLED OVER BY SULPHUR POLICE, BUT NOT TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. LATER HE WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR CRASH IN MOSS BLUFF. ANDERSON SAYS HE'S NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED DURING PARKER'S FIRST ARREST. SULPHUR PD HAS NO COMMENT ON THE MATTER.
AUTHORITIES SAY TWO CHILDREN WERE KILLED WHEN THE CAR THEY WERE IN WENT OFF THE ROAD AND INTO A BAYOU IN SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA. LOUISIANA STATE POLICE SAY THE DRIVER AND TWO OTHER CHILDREN IN THE CAR WERE ABLE TO SWIM TO SAFETY IN THE CRASH THAT HAPPENED SHORTLY BEFORE 10 P.M. TUESDAY IN ASCENSION PARISH.
SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES WHO ARRIVED AT THE SCENE JUMPED INTO THE BAYOU AND TRIED TO SAVE THE TWO CHILDREN WHO WERE TRAPPED BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO GET INTO THE CAR. EVENTUALLY, RESCUE DIVERS PULLED THE TWO CHILDREN — AGES 9 AND 7 — FROM THE CAR, BUT THEY DID NOT SURVIVE. THE CRASH REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION, BUT AUTHORITIES SAY THEY DON'T THINK THE DRIVER WAS IMPAIRED.
A WEST MONROE MAN IS APPEALING HIS SIX-MONTH PRISON SENTENCE FOR HIS ROLE IN A HATE CRIME AT A SCHOOL. A COURT FILING TUESDAY BY 30-YEAR-OLD TONY L. JOHNSON'S ATTORNEY ASKS U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE ROBERT JAMES IN MONROE TO REVIEW THE FEB. 7 SENTENCE HANDED DOWN BY U.S. MAGISTRATE KAREN HAYES. JOHNSON IS ONE OF THREE MEN WHO PLEADED GUILTY LAST YEAR TO TYING A NOOSE AROUND A DEAD RACCOON'S NECK AND HANGING IT FROM A FLAGPOLE OUTSIDE BEEKMAN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL IN MOREHOUSE PARISH IN 2007. FEDERAL PROSECUTORS SAID THE MEN WERE ANGRY THAT THE SCHOOL'S NEW BUSING POLICY HAD INCREASED THE NUMBER OF BLACK STUDENTS.
HAYES ALSO SENTENCED JAMES LEE WALLIS JR. TO EIGHT MONTHS IN PRISON AND SENTENCED HIS BROTHER, BRIAN WALLIS, TO FIVE MONTHS IN PRISON.
FOLLOWING A THREE-MONTH INVESTIGATION, 44 YEAR OLD WENDELL MASON OF OPELOUSAS WAS BOOKED INTO THE OPELOUSAS CITY JAIL ON CHARGES OF 58 COUNTS OF THEFT AND 53 COUNTS OF FELONY THEFT. ACCORDING TO DETAILS OF THE INVESTIGATION, MASON ALLEGEDLY RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY $120,000 OVER A THREE-YEAR PERIOD FROM THE UNIDENTIFIED OPELOUSAS MAN. MASON HAD CONVINCED THE VICTIM TO INVEST IN AND HELP ESTABLISH A CRAWFISH COMPANY, ACCORDING TO POLICE. AFTER NEARLY TWO YEARS, NO CRAWFISH. THE INVESTIGATION SHOWED THE MASON HAD DEPOSITED THE MONEY INTO HIS PERSONAL BANK ACCOUNT.
ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR SPOTS TO HIT TODAY FOR MARDI GRAS IN LOUISIANA IS LAFAYETTE. LAFAYETTE CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GERALD BREAUX SAYS PARADES IN LAFAYETTE START AT 10 THIS MORNING AND WILL ROLL UNTIL LATE AFTERNOON. HE SAYS LAFAYETTE PARADES ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR FAMILY FRIENDLY ENVIRONMENT. CONSERVATIVE ESTIMATES ARE THAT 500,000 PEOPLE WILL ATTEND MARDI GRAS IN LAFAYETTE.
AFTER TORRENTIAL RAINS OVER THE WEEKEND AND A THREAT OF RAIN FOR FAT TUESDAY THE FORECAST IS NOW CALLING FOR A PICTURE PERFECT MARDI GRAS. STATE CLIMATOLOGIST BARRY KEIM SAYS THE RAIN WE EXPECTED FOR TODAY HAS BEEN MOVED BACK AT LEAST A DAY TO ASH WEDNESDAY. HE SAYS FOR MARDI GRAS WE WILL ENJOY BEAUTIFUL WEATHER ACROSS ALL OF SOUTH LOUISIANA.
LOUISIANA COLLEGE WILL CHALLENGE THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION'S HEALTH CARE REFORM'S PROVISIONS FOR CONTRACEPTION IN FEDERAL COURT. MIKE JOHNSON IS DEAN OF LOUISIANA COLLEGE'S PRESSLER LAW SCHOOL. HE SAYS THE LAW COVERS ABORTION-INDUCING DRUGS OR THE MORNING AFTER PILL, STERILIZATION AND CONTRACEPTIVES AT NO COST TO THE EMPLOYEES. JOHNSON SAYS FEDERAL COURT PAPERS HAVE BEEN FILED ELECTRONICALLY TO CHALLENGE THE CONTRACEPTION MANDATE AS A VIOLATION OF FREEDOM OF WORSHIP, AND AN INFRINGEMENT ON CONSTITUTIONAL FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.
JERRY JONES JR., THE NEW DISTRICT 3 COUNCILMAN FOR THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA, IS FACING A COMPLAINT OF ETHICS VIOLATIONS. JULES GREEN, A DISTRICT 4 RESIDENT, AND GAYLE UNDERWOOD, WHO LIVES IN DISTRICT 5, FILED THE COMPLAINT. GREEN SAID MONDAY THAT HE WANTED TO WAIT UNTIL TODAY TO COMMENT ON THE COMPLAINT. BUT, HE DID SAY "IT STEMS FROM HIS TOTAL APPOINTMENT." THE COUNCIL'S FINANCE AND LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE IS SCHEDULED TO DISCUSS THE COMPLAINT AT 3:30 P.M. TODAY.
JURY SELECTION BEGINS TODAY IN SHREVEPORT IN THE CASE OF FORMER WINN PARISH SHERIFF A.D. "BODIE" LITTLE. LITTLE WAS ARRESTED LAST AUGUST AT HIS WINNFIELD HOME AFTER HE AND 10 OTHER PEOPLE WERE INDICTED BY A FEDERAL GRAND JURY OF CHARGES RELATED TO THE ORGANIZED DISTRIBUTION OF MORE THAN 50 GRAMS OF METHAMPHETAMINE IN THE WINN PARISH AND SHREVEPORT AREAS. ALL OF THE DEFENDANTS EXCEPT LITTLE HAVE REACHED PLEA DEALS AND HAVE AGREED TO TESTIFY IF NEEDED AGAINST LITTLE, WHO HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO THE CHARGES.
ST. MARTINVILLE AUTHORITIES HAVE ARRESTED TO PEOPLE IN CONNECTION WITH A KIDNAPPING LAST WEEK BUT ARE STILL SEARCHING FOR A THIRD SUSPECT IN THE CASE.
POLICE REPORT THE THREE MEN WENT TO A HOUSE LAST WEEK AND ASSAULTED A MAN WHO LIVED THERE. THEY THEN KIDNAPPED THE VICTIM AND HIS GIRLFRIEND, APPARENTLY OVER A DEBT THAT WAS OWED. THE TWO VICTIMS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES IN THE INCIDENT.
MOEX OFFSHORE IS THE FIRST COMPANY INVOLVED IN THE DEEPWATER HORIZON DISASTER TO SETTLE WITH LOUISIANA. MOEX IS A MINORITY PARTNER IN B-P'S WELL BLOWOUT THAT CAUSED THE NATION'S WORST OIL SPILL. GARRET GRAVES, DIRECTOR OF COASTAL AFFAIRS, SAYS HALF OF THE 13-POINT-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS WILL GO TOWARDS REPAIRING THE COAST THAT WAS IMPACTED BY THE SPILL, THE OTHER HALF WILL GO TOWARDS LAND ACQUISITION THAT WILL HELP PRESERVE THE COAST. GRAVES SAYS FOUR COMPANIES, INCLUDING B-P AND TRANSOCEAN HAVE BEEN DESIGNATED AS RESPONSIBLE PARTIES. HE SAYS THE STATE IS STILL TRYING TO WORK OUT SETTLEMENTS WITH THOSE COMPANIES. THAT WILL EVENTUALLY BRING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO THE STATE. THERE IS SPECULATION B-P WILL SETTLE ITS SUIT THIS WEEK WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND THE FIVE GULF COAST STATES IMPACTED BY THE SPILL.
THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS PASSED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD MEAN ABOUT $2-BILLION MORE IN FUNDING FOR LOUISIANA'S COASTAL RESTORATION AND PROTECTION. IT WAS BACK IN 2006 THAT SENATOR MARY LANDRIEU AND THEN-CONGRESSMAN BOBBY JINDAL PUSHED A BILL THROUGH TO GET LOUISIANA, AND OTHER GULF STATES, A FAIR SHARE OF OFFSHORE ROYALTIES. HOWEVER THAT LAW SET AN ANNUAL CAP OF $500-MILLION. NEW IBERIA CONGRESSMAN JEFF LANDRY SAYS HIS LEGISLATION RAISES THAT CAP TO $750-MILLION. LANDRY HOPES FOR CONTINUED SUPPORT FROM SENATORS LANDRIEU AND VITTER AS THE BILL MOVES THROUGH THE U.S. SENATE.
CRIME STOPPERS IS OFFERING A $5,000 REWARD FOR INFORMATION IN A CASE IN WHICH HOME INVADERS SLIT THE THROATS OF A COUPLE IN THEIR 70S AND THE WOMAN'S 50-YEAR-OLD SON, KILLING BOTH MEN AND LEAVING THE WOMAN CRITICALLY INJURED.THE REWARD IS FOR INFORMATION THAT LEADS TO AN ARREST AND CONVICTION. DEPUTIES WERE SENT TO THE HOUSE LATE SATURDAY BECAUSE RELATIVES HAD BEEN UNABLE TO REACH THE FAMILY BY PHONE, AND BROKE IN WHEN NOBODY ANSWERED THE DOOR. THEY FOUND 72 YEAR OLD SHIRLEY MARCHAND STILL ALIVE AND THE BODIES OF HER SON, DOUGLAS DOOLEY, AND HUSBAND, ROBERT IRWIN MARCHAND. THEIR THROATS HAD BEEN CUT AND THEY APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN BLUDGEONED. AUTHORITIES SAY A COIN COLLECTION WORTH $500,000 WAS LIKE THE MOTIVE IN THE ROBBERY AND ATTACK.
STATE POLICE REPORT A EUNICE MAN HAS DIED IN HEAD-ON COLLISION ON LOUISIANA HIGHWAY 13. TROOPERS SAID THE WRECK HAPPENED EARLY MONDAY WHEN 24-YEAR-OLD TOMMY DORE OF CHURCH POINT COLLIDED WITH TRUCK DRIVEN BY 21-YEAR-OLD ADAM MEAUX OF EUNICE. POLICE SAID DORE CROSSED THE CENTERLINE AND STRUCK MEAUX'S VEHICLE HEAD ON. MEAUX DIED AT AN AREA HOSPITAL. DORE WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL WITH MINOR INJURIES.
SOUTHERN BAPTISTS FIRST CONSIDERED CHANGING THEIR NAME IN 1903. LEADERS HAVE SERIOUSLY PROPOSED IT AT LEAST 13 TIMES SINCE THEN. NOW, SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION PRESIDENT BRYANT WRIGHT HOPES A COMPROMISE OF SORTS COULD PUT THE ISSUE TO REST BY ADDING THE MONIKER "GREAT COMMISSION BAPTISTS."
A TASK FORCE FORMED BY THE NATION'S LARGEST PROTESTANT DENOMINATION RECOMMENDED TO CHURCH LEADERS ON MONDAY THAT THEY SHOULD NOT COMPLETELY CHANGE ITS NAME. RATHER, THEY SAY THE "GREAT COMMISSION" NAME GIVES AN OFFICIAL OPTION TO THOSE WHO MIGHT NOT EMBRACE THE "SOUTHERN" NAME AND IDENTITY.
THE TASK FORCE RULED OUT A COMPLETE LEGAL NAME CHANGE, SAYING IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TOO COSTLY AND DIFFICULT, AMONG OTHER REASONS.
SHREVEPORT POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A SUNDAY MORNING HOMICIDE. OFFICERS SAY 26-YEAR-OLD ANTHONY CRAIN WAS FOUND LYING IN THE STREET OF A QUIET NEIGHBORHOOD; SHOT MULTIPLE TIMES.
LAKE CHARLES POLICE BUST SEVEN PEOPLE; ALL FOR ALLEGEDLY RUNNING A METH LAB OUT OF A LOCAL HOME. THE THREE WOMEN AND FOUR MEN ARE ALL BETWEEN 21 AND 39 YEARS OF AGE. THEY'RE ALL CHARGED WITH RUNNING A CLANDESTINE DRUG LAB.
RESEARCHERS AT LSU HEALTH SHREVEPORT WILL SHARE A 2.5 MILLION-DOLLAR NIH GRANT WITH THEIR PARTNERS AT WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST. LOUIS FOR A FIVE YEAR STUDY TO SEE IF A COMMON COLD VIRUS COULD BE USED TO CURE COLON CANCER. DR. MICHAEL MATHIS, DIRECTOR OF GENE THERAPY AT LSU HEALTH SAYS THE GOAL IS TO INSERT A SUICIDE GENE INTO CANCER CELLS.
GOV. BOBBY JINDAL SAID MONDAY HE WANTS TO BORROW MONEY TO GENERATE $325 MILLION IN REPAIRS TO RURAL ROADS ACROSS LOUISIANA. JINDAL SAID THE PLAN, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE BONDS TO BE ISSUED, WOULD PAY FOR RESURFACING AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS ON NEARLY 1,000 MILES OF ROADS THAT ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR FEDERAL MATCHING DOLLARS.
ALEXANDRIA MAYOR JACQUES ROY ANNOUNCED FRIDAY THAT WORK ON BOLTON AVENUE, PART OF THE CITY’S SPARC PROGRAM, IS SLATED TO GET UNDER WAY SOON. THE WORK INCLUDES A $2.5 MILLION STREETSCAPE PROJECT ON BOLTON AVENUE, THE DEMOLITION OF NEGLECTED STRUCTURES, PRESERVATION OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES, CONSTRUCTION OF A BUS DEPOT, NEW SIDEWALKS AND LANDSCAPING. THE MAYOR SAYS THE PROJECT IS LIKELY TO START IN LESS THAN TWO MONTHS. NO WORD AS TO HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO COMPLETE THE JOB.
HEREIN ALEXANDRIA, THE WEATHER WAS HELD A MIXED BAG OF TRICKS FOR MARDI GRAS REVELERS. SATURDAY’S CHILDREN’S PARADE, AFTER BEING POSTPONED TIL 2PM, WAS OFFICIALLY CANCELLED DUE TO A LINE OF THUNDERSTORMS MOVING ACROSS THE STATE. HOWEVER, WEATHER FOR SUNDAY’S CREW PARADE COULD NOT HAVE BEEN BETTER. LARGE CROWDS TURNED OUT TO ENJOY THE SHOW. POLICE SAY THE CROWD SAY WELL BEHAVED AND THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF ANY MAJOR PROBLEMS.
A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS SET A MAY 16 HEARING ON THE EVANGELINE PARISH SCHOOL BOARD’S REQUEST TO END FEDERAL OVERSIGHT IN THE PARISH’S DECADES-OLD DESEGREGATION CASE. ATTORNEYS FOR THE SCHOOL BOARD FILED A MOTION LAST WEEK SEEKING “UNITARY STATUS.” THE MAIN STICKING POINT IN RECENT YEARS HAD BEEN THE POOR CONDITION OF VILLE PLATTE HIGH SCHOOL, WHICH HAS A PREDOMINANTLY BLACK STUDENT POPULATION. THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AT ONE TIME SUGGESTED POSSIBLY CLOSING VILLE PLATTE HIGH AND SENDING THE STUDENTS TO OTHER SCHOOLS IN THE PARISH. THE SCHOOL BOARD OPTED INSTEAD FOR A MAGNET PROGRAM AND ADVANCED PLACEMENT CLASSES AT VILLE PLATTE HIGH AND HAS UNDERTAKEN AN EXTENSIVE RENOVATION PROGRAM AT THE SCHOOL, SPENDING OVER $6 MILLION TO UPGRADE THE FACILITY.
WEDNESDAY IS THE LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE IN THE MARCH 24 ELECTION. EARLY VOTING TAKES PLACE BETWEEN MARCH 10-17. TO REGISTER, VOTERS ARE REQUIRED TO PRESENT A PICTURE IDENTIFICATION. LOCAL ISSUES AND THE PRESIDENTIAL PREFERENCE PRIMARY ARE ON THE MARCH BALLOT. RUNOFFS, IF NEEDED, WILL BE HELD APRIL 21.
GENERAL ELECTRIC ANNOUNCES THE OPENING OF AN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CENTER IN NEW ORLEANS THAT WILL EMPLOY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE. THE COMPANY SAYS THE I-T JOBS WOULD PAY UP TO $100,000. THE CENTER IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN OPERATING IN MID-2012.
THE US HOUSE APPROVES LEGISLATION THAT WOULD SEND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO LOUISIANA. THE MONEY WOULD COME FROM FINES IMPOSED AGAINST BP FOR THE 2010 OIL SPILL AS A RESULT OF THE CLEAN WATER ACT. REPUBLICAN SENATOR DAVID VITTER SAYS THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT STEP AND NOW THE GOAL IS TO GET TO THE PRESIDENT'S DESK FOR HIS SIGNATURE. THE LEGISLATION SAYS 80% OF BP FINES WOULD GO TOWARDS RESTORING THE ECOSYSTEM, WILDLIFE HABITATS, BEACHES AND OTHER ECONOMIC HARM THAT WAS CAUSED BY THE OIL SPILL.
THE NAVY HAS PROPOSED DECOMMISSIONING A SQUADRON AT THE AIR STATION IN BELLE CHASSE AS PART OF ITS PLANS TO MEET PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S BUDGET CUTS.
THAT WOULD ELIMINATE THE ONLY NAVAL AVIATION UNIT DEDICATED TO FIGHTING DRUG SMUGGLERS. UNDER THE 2013 SPENDING PLAN RELEASED LAST MONDAY, THE NAVY RESERVE'S CARRIER AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING SQUADRON 77 WOULD CEASE TO EXIST SEPT. 30.WITH ABOUT 7,000 ACTIVE DUTY AND RESERVE NAVY, MARINE CORPS, AIR NATIONAL GUARD, ARMY RESERVE AND COAST GUARD PERSONNEL, THE NAVAL AIR STATION-JOINT RESERVE BASE IS CONSIDERED ONE OF THE STATE'S TOP EMPLOYERS.
DRIVER'S CAUGHT WITHOUT MINIMUM CAR INSURANCE MORE THAN ONCE COULD HAVE THEIR VEHICLE "BOOTED" RATHER THAN IMPOUNDED, UNDER A BILL PROPOSED BY NORTHWESTERN LOUISIANA LAWMAKER. REP. HENRY BURNS, OF HAUGHTON. BURNS SAYS HIS INTENT IS THAT THE BOOT COULD BE A LOWER COST ALTERNATIVE TO TOWING AND IMPOUNDING A VEHICLE, AFTER A MOTORISTS 2ND OFFENSE OPERATING WITHOUT INSURANCE OFFENSE. BURNS SAYS THE UNINSURED DRIVE UP THE COST OF INSURANCE FOR ALL OF US.
THE STATE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS LEADER IS PREDICTING GOVERNOR JINDAL WILL HAVE A TOUGH TIME GETTING LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL ON CHANGING THE AGE WHEN STATE EMPLOYEES CAN COLLECT BENEFITS. JINDAL WANTS TO RAISE CURRENT STATE EMPLOYEES' RETIREMENT AGE TO 67 FOR THOSE NOT YET 55. AMITE REPRESENTATIVE JOHN BEL EDWARDS CALLS THE PROPOSAL MEAN SPIRITED. JINDAL IS CALLING FOR CHANGES TO THE STATE'S RETIREMENT SYSTEM, BECAUSE LOUISIANA IS 18.5 BILLION DOLLARS SHORT IN WHAT'S NEEDED TO PAY FOR FUTURE BENEFITS. EDWARDS IS ALSO PREDICTING A DIFFICULT TIME IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR JINDAL'S PROPOSAL TO FORCE SOME STATE EMPLOYEES TO PAY MORE TOWARDS THEIR RETIREMENT. THESE PROPOSALS WILL BE DEBATED WHEN THE LEGISLATURE MEETS NEXT MONTH.
A SURVEY OF AAA MEMBERS IN LOUISIANA AND TWO NEIGHBOR STATES SHOWS STRONG OPPOSITION TO PROPOSALS TO ALLOW BIG RIGS TO GET BIGGER, LONGER AND HEAVIER. SUCH A PROPOSAL IS BEING DISCUSSED IN CONGRESS RIGHT NOW. LOUISIANA AAA'S DON REDMAN SAYS 93% OF MEMBERS ARE DEAD SET AGAINST IT. THE PROPOSAL WOULD LET TRACTOR-TRAILER RIGS INCREASE THEIR MAXIMUM WEIGHT FROM 80-THOUSAND POUNDS TO 97-THOUSAND. IT WOULD ALSO LIFT A BAN ON LONGER, MULTI-TRAILER RIG CONFIGURATIONS ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. REDMAN SAYS AAA MEMBERS SEE THAT AS A DANGEROUS IDEA. REDMAN SAYS THE STRONG MAJORITY OF THOSE POLLED THINK BIG RIGS ARE BIG ENOUGH.
POLICE SAY ONE MAN WAS KILLED IN A SHOOTING AT A MARDI GRAS PARADE IN PLAQUEMINE
PLAQUEMINE POLICE CAPT. KENNY SAYS POLICE HAVE A SUSPECT, BUT AT THIS TIME NO MOTIVE.
A CELL PHONE VIDEO OF A FIGHT AFTER A WEST BATON ROUGE MARDI GRAS PARADE LEADS TO AN ARREST AND CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER. AUTHORITIES ARRESTED 25-YEAR OLD CHARLES BURTON FOR THE BEATING DEATH OF 26-YEAR OLD ROBERT CROWE. THE VIDEO SHOWS CROWE AND BURTON FIGHTING WITH BURTON ON TOP OF CROWE DELIVERING SEVERAL BLOWS TO HIS HEAD. INVESTIGATORS SAY CROWE WAS INVOLVED IN THREE FIGHTS THAT NIGHT. THEY BELIEVE HE PASSED OUT ON HIS WALK HOME. AN AUTOPSY REPORT SHOWS HE DIED FROM BRAIN HEMORRHAGING.
ASCENSION PARISH OFFICIALS SAYS A $500,000 COIN COLLECTION IS THE LIKELY REASON HOME INVADERS KILLED A 74-YEAR-OLD MAN AND HIS 50-YEAR-OLD STEPSON, LEAVING THE OLDER MAN'S WIFE CRITICALLY INJURED. DEPUTIES SAY THE TWO MEN WERE DEAD WHEN THEY ARRIVED, THEIR THROATS CUT. IT APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN BLUDGEONED AS WELL. POLICE SAY THE SAFE THAT HELD THE COIN COLLECTION IS MISSING.
FORMER LSU FOOTBALL PLAYERS JARRETT LEE AND T-BOB HEBERT WILL SERVE AS THE GRAND MARSHALS FOR TONIGHT'S KREWE OF ZEUS PARADE IN METAIRIE. KREWE SPOKESPERSON WAYNE VIZZINI SAYS THEY ASKED JARRETT AND T-BOB AFTER THE BCS TITLE GAME AND BOTH AGREED. VIZZINI SAYS THE PARADE IS SCHEDULED TO ROLL TONIGHT AT 6:30. HE SAYS THEIR PARADE ALWAYS ROLLS ON LUNDI GRAS AND PEOPLE FROM AROUND THE STATE COME OUT IN FULL FORCE TO CELEBRATE THE DAY BEFORE FAT TUESDAY.
ACCOLADES AND FOND REMEMBRANCES ARE COMING IN FROM ACROSS THE STATE FOR FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE ISRAEL BO CURTIS. CURTIS DIED YESTERDAY MORNING. CURTIS WAS A TEACHER AND COACH WHO BECAME THE FIRST BLACK STATE LEGISLATOR FROM ALEXANDRIA SINCE RECONSTRUCTION WHEN HE WAS ELECTED IN NOVEMBER 1991 TO SERVE DISTRICT 26. HE SERVED THAT DISTRICT FOR 16 YEARS BEFORE BEING TERM-LIMITED FROM SEEKING A FIFTH TERM IN 2007. PRIOR TO HIS ELECTION TO THE STATE LEGISLATURE, CURTIS SERVED THREE TERMS ON THE RAPIDES PARISH SCHOOL BOARD. ISRAEL BO CURTIS WAS 79.
WITH MARDI GRAS WEEKEND UPON US, THE FORECAST IS AGAIN CALLING FOR RAIN. THE BULK OF THE BAD WEATHER WILL BE TODAY AND SATURDAY. WITH SUNSHINE RETURNING TO THE AREA SUNDAY. IT’S HOPES THE RAIN WILL HOLD OFF LONG ENOUGH FOR SOME OF OUR FAVORITE EVENTS TO BE HELD. THE COLLEGE CHEERLEADERS AND CLASSIC CARS PARADE WILL TAKE PLACE TODAY AT 4:30 P.M. IN DOWNTOWN ALEXANDRIA, FOLLOWED BY A TASTE OF MARDI GRAS HELD AT 7 P.M. AT THE ALEXANDRIA RIVERFRONT CENTER. THE CHILDREN'S MARDI GRAS PARADE IS SCHEDULED TO START AT 10:45 A.M. SATURDAY IN DOWNTOWN ALEXANDRIA. FOLLOWING THE CHILDREN'S PARADE, A KING CAKE PARTY WILL BE HELD AT 2 P.M. AT THE ALEXANDRIA ZOO. THEN, ON SUNDAY, THE ALEXANDRIA KREWE PARADE WILL START AT 2 P.M.
AN ALEXANDRIA LAWMAKER HAS FILED A BILL THAT WOULD, BASICALLY, ALLOW EMPLOYERS TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST EMPLOYEES WHO SMOKE CIGARETTES. REP. HERB DIXON SAYS HIS BILL IS ALL ABOUT HEALTHY WORKPLACES AND LOWER HEALTH INSURANCE COSTS FOR EMPLOYERS. CURRENT LAW SAYS EMPLOYERS MAY NOT DISCRIMINATE AGAINST WORKERS IN MATTERS OF FIRING, COMPENSATION, PROMOTION OR PERSONNEL ACTION DUE TO A SMOKING HABIT--SO LONG AS THE SMOKER COMPLIES WITH STATE LAW AND POLICY ON SMOKING. DIXON SAYS HIS BILL REPEALS ALL OF THAT.
A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS THROWN OUT A LOUISIANA LAW THAT BANS CERTAIN SEX OFFENDERS FROM FACEBOOK AND OTHER SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES, CALLING IT AN UNREASONABLE RESTRICTION ON CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED SPEECH. GOV. BOBBY JINDAL SAID HE WOULD APPEAL THE DECISION, WHICH HE DESCRIBED AS PUTTING SEX OFFENDERS' RIGHTS ABOVE THOSE OF POTENTIAL VICTIMS. THE LAW, WHICH TOOK EFFECT IN AUGUST, MADE IT A CRIME FOR ANYONE CONVICTED OF A SEX OFFENSE AGAINST A MINOR OR OF VIDEO VOYEURISM TO USE NETWORKING WEBSITES, CHAT ROOMS AND PEER-TO-PEER NETWORKS.
A GRASSY PLOT ON A PINEY STRETCH OF LA. HIGHWAY 467 NEAR FORT POLK IN VERNON PARISH WILL BE THE FINAL RESTING PLACE FOR VETERANS OF ALL BRANCHES OF THE U.S. MILITARY. STATE LEADERS, MILITARY OFFICIALS, VETERANS AND RESIDENTS GATHERED WEDNESDAY TO MARK THE OPENING OF CENTRAL LOUISIANA VETERANS CEMETERY.
BURIALS IN THE 204-ACRE CEMETERY ARE SLATED TO BEGIN IN DAYS. THE CEMETERY WAS PAID FOR WITH FEDERAL MONEY, BUT IT WILL BE OPERATED BY THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS.
U.S. SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LEON PANETTA IS COMING TO BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE TO SAY THANK YOU TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO KEEP THE AIRCRAFT USED FOR LONG-RANGE BOMBING IN TOP CONDITION. PANETTA WILL PRESENT MEDALS ON FRIDAY TO AIRMEN WHO HAVE SERVED IN AFGHANISTAN AND OTHER OVERSEAS LOCATIONS. HE ALSO WILL GET BRIEFINGS FROM TOP OFFICIALS OF AIR FORCE GLOBAL STRIKE COMMAND, WHICH IS IN CHARGE OF THE NATION'S NUCLEAR ARSENAL — BOTH LAND-BASED NUCLEAR MISSILES AND LONG-RANGE NUCLEAR BOMBERS. THE COMMAND IS HEADQUARTERED AT BARKSDALE.
U.S. SEN. MARY LANDRIEU WILL INTRODUCE PANETTA AT BARKSDALE. ON SATURDAY, SHE WILL VISIT FORT POLK.
A HIGHER EDUCATION CONSULTANT HAS RECOMMENDED CONSOLIDATING LOUISIANA TECH UNIVERSITY AND LSU-SHREVEPORT TO IMPROVE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO THE UNDERSERVED IN NORTHWEST LOUISIANA. THE REPORT, BY VIRGINIA-BASED EVA KLEIN & ASSOCIATES, LTD., WAS PRESENTED THURSDAY IN SHREVEPORT. THE STUDY WAS COMMISSIONED BY A GROUP OF SHREVEPORT AND BOSSIER CITY AREA CIVIC AND BUSINESS LEADERS AND THE LOUISIANA BOARD OF REGENTS. EVA KLEIN RECOMMENDS THE TWO UNIVERSITIES BE MERGED AS A SINGLE LOUISIANA TECH, WITH A RUSTON CAMPUS AND A SHREVEPORT CAMPUS. THE UNIVERSITY WOULD BE PART OF THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA SYSTEM. THE TWO CAMPUSES ARE ABOUT 70 MILES APART.
SHREVEPORT POLICE AND THE CADDO PARISH CORONER ARE INVESTIGATING THE DEATH OF A ONE-YEAR-OLD BOY. FIREFIGHTERS WERE CALLED TO THE HOME YESTERDAY MORNING TO FIND THE CHILD UNCONSCIOUS AND NOT BREATHING. HE WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL, WHERE HE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD. NO CHARGES HAVE BEEN FILED, AS THE INVESTIGATION HAS JUST BEGUN. HOWEVER SPD REPORTS THE CHILD'S FATHER DOES HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD, AND TWO OUTSTANDING WARRANTS ON DRUG CHARGES. HE WAS TAKEN IN FOR THOSE.
A GRISLY SCENE THURSDAY MORNING ON STATE HIGHWAY 30 SOUTH OF THE LSU CAMPUS, AFTER TWO BIG RIGS PLOWED INTO A SMALL HERD OF COWS THAT HAD GOTTEN ONTO THE ROADWAY. ABOUT 70 CATTLE GOT LOOSE FROM A PEN AT THE LSU AG CENTER. 17 COWS WERE KILLED IN THE CRASH. ONE OF THE TRUCKS WAS CARRYING HAZARDOUS MATERIAL AND OVER TURNED--BRINGING HAZMAT TO THE SCENE FOR HOURS.
A 35-YEAR-OLD SCOTT MAN PLEADED GUILTY TO ONE COCAINE CONSPIRACY CHARGE AND GOT NEARLY 16 YEARS IN PRISON. U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE RICHARD HAIK SENTENCED JESSIE ALFRED TO 15 YEARS AND NINE MONTHS ON ONE COUNT OF CONSPIRACY TO POSSESS AND DISTRIBUTE COCAINE AND COCAINE BASE. IT SAYS THE PLEA WAS THE RESULT OF A 10-YEAR DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION INVESTIGATION CALLED "OPERATION SMACKDOWN."
INVESTIGATORS SAY ALFRED ALLEGEDLY DISTRIBUTED BETWEEN 220 AND 330 POUNDS OF COCAINE FOR A LAFAYETTE-BASED DRUG GROUP CALLED THE WINTERS ORGANIZATION.
A CONVENIENCE STORE OWNER IN NEW IBERIA, AND HIS MANAGER, HAVE BEEN ARRESTED & CHARGED WITH SELLING SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA, WHICH IS SOLD LABELED AS INCENSE OR POTPOURRI. IBERIA SHERIFF'S NARCOTICS AGENTS BUSTED THE TWO AFTER A MONTH-LONG UNDERCOVER INVESTIGATION.
WORKERS AT CHIMP HAVEN IN KEITHVILLE WERE SURPRISED ON VALENTINES DAY MORNING TO FIND ONE OF THE FEMALE CHIMPS, FLORA, HAD GIVEN BIRTH. THAT'S UNUSUAL BECAUSE MALE CHIMPS ARE STERILIZED WHEN THEY ARRIVE AT CHIMP HAVEN. STAFF SAY THEY'LL DO DNA TESTS TO DETERMINE WHO'S VASECTOMY DIDN'T TAKE...BECAUSE FLORA'S NOT TALKING.
TWO YEARS AFTER NEARLY COLLAPSING INTO FINANCIAL RUIN, GENERAL MOTORS HAS RECORDED ITS HIGHEST PROFIT EVER IN 2011 AT $7.6 BILLION. BOB ISREAL IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LOUISIANA AUTOMOBILE DEALERS ASSOCIATION. HE SAYS AUTOMAKERS SCALED DOWN THE NUMBER OF CARS PRODUCED, RESTRUCTURED RETIREMENT FUNDING AND ALSO CHANGED UP THE CARS THEMSELVES. DESPITE G-M'S RECORD PROFIT, THE U-S AUTO MAKER STILL PLANS ON CLOSING ITS FACILITY IN SHREVEPORT LATER THIS YEAR.
ASCENSION PARISH OFFICIALS SAY, A MAN WHO DOVE THROUGH A WINDOW AND FOUGHT DEPUTIES WITH A FLOOR FAN DIED AFTER BEING HIT TWICE WITH STUN GUNS. IT ALL HAPPENED DURING A CALL TO A DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE. 30 YEAR OLD CHARMIN BENNETT OF DONALDSONVILLE DIED ON THE WAY TO THE HOSPITAL. AUTHORITIES SAY BENNETT HAD A NUMBER OF PAST ARRESTS, INCLUDING ALLEGATIONS OF ATTEMPTED RAPE, BURGLARY, DISTURBING THE PEACE, RESISTING ARREST AND THEFT. AN AUTOPSY WILL DETERMINE THE PRECISE CAUSE OF DEATH.
WITH LOUISIANA'S STATE-LICENSED CASINOS FACING THE PROSPECT OF RAPIDLY INCREASING COMPETITION FROM WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE STATE, LAST MONTH'S WINNINGS FELL 3.5 PERCENT FROM JANUARY 2011. THE TALLY FOR THE 13 GAMBLING RIVERBOATS, HARRAH'S LAND CASINO IN NEW ORLEANS AND THE FOUR RACE TRACK CASINOS TOTALED $185.6 MILLION IN JANUARY. GAMBLERS LOST $191.3 MILLION THE PREVIOUS JANUARY AND $189.7 MILLION IN JANUARY 2010. THE BOATS WON $126.4 MILLION, HARRAH'S WON $26.9 MILLION AND THE TRACK CASINOS TOOK IN $32.3 MILLION.
LOUISIANA RANKS THIRD FOR THE HIGHEST SALES TAX IN THE NATION. THAT'S ACCORDING TO A REPORT PUBLISHED BY WASHINGTON-BASED TAX FOUNDATION. TENNESSEE HAS THE HIGHEST SALES TAXES. ARIZONA IS RANKED NUMBER TWO AHEAD OF LOUISIANA. STATE TREASURER JOHN KENNEDY SAYS THESE RANKINGS SUGGEST LOUISIANA HAS ENOUGH MONEY AND CAN CUT TAXES.
A NEW REPORT ON PUBLIC CORRUPTION SHOWS LOUISIANA HAS THE NATION'S HIGHEST PER CAPITA CONVICTION RATE FOR CORRUPTION CASES. THE REPORT WAS DONE BY THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS INSTITUTE OF GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC AFFAIRS, USING DATA FROM THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT. LOUISIANA RACKED UP MORE CORRUPTIONS CONVICTIONS--FOR ITS POPULATION, THAN ANY OTHER STATE.
GOVERNOR BOBBY JINDAL SAYS HE'D LIKE TO CHANGE THE STATE'S TOPS PROGRAM TO ALLOW SOLDIERS WHO RE-ENLIST TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR POPULAR SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM WHEN THEY LEAVE THE MILITARY. UNDER CURRENT LAW, STUDENTS WHO IMMEDIATELY ENTER SERVICE AFTER THEY GRADUATE FROM HIGH SCHOOL ARE ELIGIBLE FOR TOPS FOR FIVE YEARS, BUT IT DOESN'T ALLOW A VETERAN TO RE-ENLIST AND RECEIVE TOPS AFTER A SECOND ROUND OF SERVICE. JINDAL'S PROPOSED CHANGE WOULD ALLOW A VETERAN TO GET TOPS AS LONG AS THEY ENROLL IN COLLEGE WITHIN A YEAR OF COMPLETING
SERVICE.
RESIDENTS IN FOREST HILL, FROM RANDOLPH ROAD TO INTERSTATE 49, ARE UNDER A WATER BOIL ADVISORY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. A WATER MAIN BREAK IS THE CULPRIT. AGAIN, THAT’S RESIDENTS OF FOREST HILL WHO LIVE ANYWHERE FROM RANDOLPH ROAD TO INTERSTATE 49, BOIL YOUR WATER BEFORE YOU USE IT.
YOU HEAR OF BOMB THREATS BEING CALLED IN ALL THE TIME TO COURT HOUSES, SCHOOLS AND OTHER PUBLIC PLACES. BUT, TO THE SALVATION ARMY? ALEXANDRIA POLICE HAVE ARRESTED 25 YEAR OLD BRANDON ORTEGO OF BUNKIE AFTER HE ALLEGEDLY CALLED IN A BOMB THREAT TO THE LOCAL SALVATION ARMY CENTER. IT HAPPENED LATE TUESDAY AFTERNOON. THE FACILITY WAS CHECKED TOP TO BOTTOM AND NO DEVICE WAS FOUND. ORTEGO HAS BEEN BOOKED INTO THE PARISH DETENTION CENTER.
PINEVILLE POLICE OFFICERS ARE SEARCHING FOR A JUVENILE WHO RAN AWAY FROM CAMP BEAUREGARD. 16 YEAR OLD DALTON BAKER, A YOUTH CHALLENGE PROGRAM STUDENT, WAS LAST SEEN ON JAN. 27 WEARING A GRAY SWEAT SUIT. IF ANYONE HAS INFORMATION ON THE BOY’S WHEREABOUTS IS ASKED TO CALL THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE.
A POLICE OFFICER IN ABBEVILLE HAS BEEN FIRED FOR HIS INVOLVEMENT IN A SHOOTING LAST DECEMBER. THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED TO TERMINATE WILLIAM PROCTOR FOR OPENING FIRE ON A VEHICLE THAT REFUSED TO PULL OVER. A GRAND JURY HAS FOUND THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO INDICT PROCTOR IN THE INCIDENT.
STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS CONFIRM THE LAST SO-CALLED FEMA TRAILER HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM NEW ORLEANS. THE MOBILE HOME AND CAMPER TRAILER UNITS DOTTED THE CITYSCAPE IN THE WAKE OF HURRICANE KATRINA IN 2005. PAT FORBES, WITH THE STATE OFFICE OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, SAYS THE FEMA TRAILER ERA IS COMING TO A CLOSE AND IT'S A SYMBOLIC MILESTONE FOR NEW ORLEANS RECOVERY. FORBES IS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE OCD'S DISASTER RECOVERY UNIT. HE
SAYS 230 OF THE TEMPORARY SHELTERS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE CITY
IN THE LAST 14 MONTHS, AND THERE ARE ONLY 6 REMAINING IN THE ENTIRE STATE.
READY FOR YOUR CLOSE UP?? A MOVIE STARING TOM CRUISE AND MORGAN FREEMAN THAT'S SET TO FILM IN THE NEW ORLEANS AND BATON ROUGE AREAS, IS LOOKING FOR ADULT EXTRAS. THE CASTING COMPANY SAYS ANYONE INTERESTED CAN SEND A PHOTO TO UTCPCASTING@GMAIL.COM.
A TRAGIC OVERNIGHT FIRE IN HOLDEN HAS CLAIMED THE LIFE OF A MOTHER AND HER DAUGHTER. STATE FIRE MARSHAL BUTCH BROWNING SAYS THE FAMILY WOKE UP TO SMOKE IN THE TRAILER AND FATHER BARELY ESCAPED WITH THREE OTHER CHILDREN. HE SAYS THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO DETERMINE HOW THE FIRE STARTED. BROWNING SAYS ONE OF THE CHILDREN ESCAPED BY "CRAWLING LOW IN SMOKE", A LESSON SHE LEARNED IN SCHOOL. IN CASE YOU ARE WONDERING, BROWNING SAYS THERE WERE NO WORKING SMOKE DETECTORS IN THE HOME.
GOV. BOBBY JINDAL HAS NEARLY $4 MILLION IN HIS CAMPAIGN ACCOUNT, EVEN AFTER WRAPPING UP HIS ELECTION COSTS AND TALLYING MUCH OF HIS INAUGURATION CEREMONY SPENDING, ACCORDING TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS FILED WEDNESDAY. THE GOVERNOR HAS NO ANNOUNCED POLITICAL PLANS FOR USING THE CASH. HE'S BARRED FROM A THIRD CONSECUTIVE TERM AS GOVERNOR AND HAS SAID HIS ONLY PLANS CURRENTLY ARE TO FINISH HIS TERM, WHICH RUNS UNTIL 2016. THE MONEY COULD BE USED FOR DONATIONS TO OTHER CAMPAIGNS, CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS AND CONTINUING POLITICAL CONSULTING, ADVERTISING AND MAILER EXPENSES.
A PROPOSED $185 MILLION CONTRACT WITH A FIRM TO HANDLE LOUISIANA'S MEDICAID CLAIMS PROCESSING HAS BEEN APPROVED BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S HEALTH AGENCY. STATE HEALTH AGENCY OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR MONTHS FOR THE U.S. CENTER FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES TO AGREE TO LOUISIANA'S DEAL WITH CNSI, THE MARYLAND COMPANY THAT WON THE BID. CNSI AT ONE TIME EMPLOYED BRUCE GREENSTEIN, THE HEAD OF THE AGENCY THAT WOULD OVERSEE THE WORK CONTRACTED BY THE STATE. THE GOVERNOR STILL HAS TO SIGN OFF ON THE DEAL. THAT IS EXPECTED IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO.
LESS THAN A DAY AFTER INITIATING A POLICY OF PUTTING SIGNS ON HOUSES INVESTIGATED FOR DRUGS AS A RESULT OF A CRIMESTOPPERS TIP, NEW ORLEANS POLICE SUPERINTENDENT RONAL SERPAS RETHOUGHT THE IDEA AND CANCELED IT. THE PLACARDS THAT WERE TO BE PLACED ON HOUSES READ, "THE NOPD HAS SERVED A NARCOTICS-RELATED WARRANT OR CHECKED THIS RESIDENCE AS A RESULT OF A CRIMESTOPPERS HOTLINE CITIZEN'S TIP." SERPAS SAYS THE PLACARDS INITIATIVE WAS PUT IN PLACE WHEN HE OVERSAW THE NASHVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND IT WORKED WELL THERE. BUT CRITICS ARGUED THE PROPOSED CRIME-FIGHTING TOOL MIGHT TARGET INNOCENT PEOPLE.
ON WEDNESDAY, SERPAS SAID HE WOULD LOOK FOR OTHER WAYS TO NOTIFY NEIGHBORHOODS OF EFFORTS TO GET RID OF DRUGS.
PROSECUTORS HAVE RESTED THEIR CASE IN THE FRAUD TRIAL OF JAILED TEXAS TYCOON R. ALLEN STANFORD. THE FINAL WITNESS FOR PROSECUTORS WRAPPED UP HIS TESTIMONY IN HOUSTON FEDERAL COURT WEDNESDAY. PROSECUTORS SPENT THREE WEEKS PRESENTING MORE THAN A DOZEN WITNESSES IN SUPPORT OF THEIR CLAIMS STANFORD BILKED INVESTORS OUT OF MORE THAN $7 BILLION IN A PONZI SCHEME CENTERED ON THE SALES OF CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT FROM HIS CARIBBEAN BANK ON THE ISLAND NATION OF ANTIGUA.
STANFORD'S DEFENSE ATTORNEYS BEGAN PRESENTING THEIR CASE LATE YESTERDAY.
THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY AND CORRECTIONS HAS REACHED A SETTLEMENT RESOLVING JUSTICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMS THAT THE DEPARTMENT FAILED TO PROPERLY RESPOND TO AN EMPLOYEE'S COMPLAINTS THAT A SUPERVISOR SEXUALLY ASSAULTED HER. THE SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT FILED WEDNESDAY IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF LOUISIANA CALLS FOR THE DEPARTMENT TO MODIFY ITS POLICIES AND TRAINING FOR PREVENTING SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE. THE AGREEMENT ALSO RESOLVES A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE DEPARTMENT BY THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT'S CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION.
ALEXANDRIA BUSINESSMAN KEN MORAN THE OWNER OF COWBOY TOWN, COULD LOSE THAT PROPERTY AND OTHERS HE PUT UP FOR COLLATERAL ON LOANS OF MORE THAN $6.2 MILLION FROM 2002 TO 2010. KEN MORAN AND THE COMPANIES HE OWNED ARE BEING SUED IN 9TH DISTRICT COURT IN ALEXANDRIA BY WHITNEY BANK, WHICH LOANED MORAN THE MONEY. IN A BIDDING BATTLE IN U.S. BANKRUPTCY COURT IN ALEXANDRIA WITH ANOTHER POTENTIAL BUYER, MORAN PAID $2.9 MILLION FOR COWBOY TOWN IN 2004. THIS YEAR, MORAN COULD LOSE THE ARENA ON ALMOST 28 ACRES OFF INTERSTATE 49 NORTH OF ALEXANDRIA AND OTHER PROPERTY ALONG AND NEAR BROADWAY AVENUE THAT HE PLEDGED AS COLLATERAL WHEN HE SIGNED PROMISSORY NOTES FOR THE LOANS.
A COUPLE FROM THE TOWN OF BOYCE IS A MILLION BUCKS RICHER, AFTER WINNING THE POWERBALL'S MATCH FIVE. KIMBERLY CHOPIN FROM THE LOUISIANA LOTTERY SAYS MARY AND MIKE ROBERTS WON A MILLION DOLLARS FOR MATCHING FIVE NUMBERS ON THEIR POWERBALL TICKET. CHOPIN SAYS MIKE IS A CONSTRUCTION WORKER AND HE AND HIS WIFE PLAN TO MOVE TO SHREVEPORT TO BE CLOSER TO THEIR FAMILY. CHOPIN SAYS THE ROBERTS' PURCHASED THE WINNING TICKET FROM THE SUPER ONE FOODS IN ALEXANDRIA.
THE MOTHER OF A WOODWORTH WOMAN WHO DIED LAST YEAR HAS FILED A WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT AGAINST DONALD PICKNEY, WHO IS SUSPECTED OF HOLDING HIS WIFE CHANDA PICKNEY HOSTAGE FOR DAYS AND KILLING HER. THE SUIT FILED BY CHANDA PICKNEY'S MOTHER, BERNADELL WHITE, ALSO SEEKS TO COLLECT FROM TWO INSURANCE COMPANIES WHO HELD CHANDA'S LIFE INSURANCE POLICIES.
UNION PACIFIC CORP. SAYS IT WILL SPEND $200 MILLION TO EXPAND ITS OPERATIONS IN SOUTH LOUISIANA TO MEET EXPECTED HIGHER CUSTOMER DEMAND FROM PETROCHEMICAL PLANTS ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. THE PLANS CALL FOR THE HIRING OF 225 NEW EMPLOYEES. THE EXPANSION ANNOUNCED TUESDAY INCLUDES A NEW SUPPORT YARD IN ST. JAMES PARISH, AN ADDITIONAL 29 MILES OF TRACK FROM LIVONIA TO ADDIS AND MORE SLOTS TO ASSEMBLE TRAINS IN LIVONIA. UNION PACIFIC SAID AT THE PEAK OF CONSTRUCTION IN JUNE, 1,500 CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYEES WILL BE NEEDED.
LOUISIANA'S CATHOLIC SCHOOLS COULD TAKE IN ONLY A SLIVER OF STUDENTS WHO WOULD BE ELIGIBLE UNDER GOV. BOBBY JINDAL'S VOUCHER PROPOSAL, A REALITY THAT WOULD LIMIT HOW MUCH CHOICE PARENTS COULD TRULY GET AS THE GOVERNOR PITCHES THE IDEA AS AN ANSWER FOR IMPROVING THE STATE'S TROUBLED EDUCATION SYSTEM.
AS MANY AS 380,000 STUDENTS WOULD MEET THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS UNDER JINDAL'S PLANS TO USE STATE TAX DOLLARS TO SEND CHILDREN TO PRIVATE SCHOOLS. BUT UNDER AN INFORMAL TALLY, THE STATE'S CATHOLIC SCHOOLS, WHICH MAKE UP TWO-THIRDS OF STATE PRIVATE AND PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS, ESTIMATE THEY COULD FIT ABOUT 1,000 OF THOSE VOUCHER STUDENTS.
THE MAN WHO INVESTIGATORS SAY WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR AN ACCIDENT ON INTERSTATE 10 THAT LEFT FIVE PEOPLE DEAD HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED. A SPOKESMAN FOR LSU CONFIRMED TUESDAY THAT 30-YEAR-OLD RYAN GIBBS, A GRADUATE STUDENT, WAS BEHIND THE WHEEL OF THE CAR THAT WAS DRIVING THE WRONG WAY ON THE INTERSTATE AND SLAMMED INTO ANOTHER CAR LAST FRIDAY. GIBBS AND THE FOUR PEOPLE IN THE OTHER VEHICLE WERE PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE.
THE OFFICE OF ALCOHOL TOBACCO CONTROL IS CRACKING DOWN ON BUSINESSES THAT CONTINUE TO SELL SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA BY SUSPENDING LIQUOR LICENSES. ATC COMMISSIONER TROY HEBERT SAYS THEY'RE WORKING WITH OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO FIND STORES THAT SELL ILLEGAL PRODUCTS. HE SAYS THEY ARE IMPLEMENTING A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY. HEBERT SAYS FOUR BUSINESSES HAVE ALREADY BEEN SERVED SUSPENSIONS AND THERE ARE MANY MORE TO COME ACROSS THE STATE.
STATE OFFICIALS RAISED COMPLAINTS TUESDAY ABOUT A PROPOSAL BEING CONSIDERED BY THE LOUISIANA SEAFOOD PROMOTION AND MARKETING BOARD TO BUY THE NAMING RIGHTS TO THE NEW ORLEANS ARENA, WHERE THE NBA'S HORNETS PLAY. HOUMA-AREA STATE SEN. NORBY CHABERT SAID SEVERAL SOUTH LOUISIANA LAWMAKERS THINK THE PROPOSAL IS A BAD IDEA. THE MONEY WOULD COME FROM $30 MILLION BP PLC GAVE TO MARKET LOUISIANA SEAFOOD AFTER THE GULF OIL SPILL IN 2010. WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES SECRETARY ROBERT BARHAM, WHO OVERSEES THE MONEY, TOLD A LEGISLATIVE PANEL THAT THE STATE WOULD HAVE TO REACH A LONG-TERM AGREEMENT WITH THE NBA TO KEEP THE NEW ORLEANS HORNETS IN LOUISIANA BEFORE ANY NAMING RIGHTS DEAL WAS STRUCK.
A REVIVED AUTO RACING TRACK IN MONROE HAS RECLAIMED A NASCAR AFFILIATION.
NOW KNOWN AS REVOLUTION PARK, THE CONCRETE OVAL AT THE 55-ACRE, 4,000-SEAT COMPLEX IS THE ONLY NASCAR-AFFILIATED TRACK IN LOUISIANA. RACING BEGINS APRIL 21 WITH A GRAND OPENING EVENT SCHEDULED FOR MAY 5. DRIVERS WILL COMPETE IN THE NASCAR WHELEN ALL-AMERICAN SERIES.
A POOR CHOICE OF WORDS ALMOST LANDED A SHREVEPORT MAN IN JAIL FOR BANK ROBBERY YESTERDAY. POLICE SAY AS THE MAN ENTERED THE BANK, HE JOKINGLY ASKED AN ARMORED CAR GUARD TO GIVE HIM ALL THAT MONEY. THE GUARD, NOT AMUSED, CALLED POLICE. AFTER SOME QUESTIONING, THE MAN WAS LET GO...MORE THE WISER.
THE TERREBONNE NAACP HAS ACCUSED THE NEW PRINCIPAL AT SOUTH TERREBONNE HIGH SCHOOL OF HARASSING TWO INTERRACIAL COUPLES. JEROME BOYKIN, PRESIDENT OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS GROUP'S HOUMA BRANCH, SAID PRINCIPAL DANE VOISIN CALLED TWO DIFFERENT PAIRS OF STUDENTS INTO HIS OFFICE LAST WEEK AND ENCOURAGED THEM TO BREAK OFF THEIR RELATIONSHIPS. BOYKIN SAID VOISIN CALLED A WHITE GIRL, A JUNIOR AT THE SCHOOL, TO HIS OFFICE AND TOLD HER IT WAS INAPPROPRIATE FOR HER TO DATE A STUDENT BECAUSE HE IS BLACK. NO COMMENT YET FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
AFTER SAYING THEY WOULD, MEMBERS OF THE RAPIDES PARISH POLICE JURY HAS DECIDED NOT TO PROTEST THE CLOSURE OF AN INTERSECTION IN WOODWORTH, AFTER ALL.
JURORS VOTED IN COMMITTEE MEETINGS LAST WEEK IN FAVOR OF A RESOLUTION OBJECTING TO A D.O.T.D. DECISION TO CLOSE A CROSSOVER ON U.S. HIGHWAY 165 WHERE IT INTERSECTS WITH COULEE CROSSING ROAD. BUT, WHEN THE MOTION CAME UP FOR APPROVAL AT THE JURY'S MONTHLY MEETING YESTERDAY, THE JURY ADOPT A RESOLUTION "IN FAVOR OF SAFETY OVER CONVENIENCE," AND SUPPORT WHATEVER SOLUTION THE DOTD DEEMS THE SAFEST. DOTD OFFICIALS SAY THE CROSSOVER IS BEING CLOSED FOR SAFETY REASONS. TRAFFIC IN THE AREA IS EXPECTED TO RISE SIGNIFICANTLY BECAUSE OF NEARBY DORMON JUNIOR HIGH, WHICH WILL OPEN NEXT SCHOOL YEAR.
THE RAPIDES PARISH SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAS RELEASED THE IDENTITY OF A BODY THAT WAS FOUND LAST WEEK IN THE RED RIVER AS THAT OF 56 YEAR OLD FOSTER BONTON. THE GRUESOME DISCOVERY WAS MADE ON FEB. 9 BY AN EMPLOYEE AT THE OVERTON LOCK AND DAM NO. 2 NEAR THE POLAND COMMUNITY IN RAPIDES PARISH. SHERIFF CHUCK WAGNER SAID YESTERDAY THAT RPSO OFFICIALS ARE STILL INVESTIGATING HOW THE MAN’S BODY ENDED UP IN THE RIVER. HOWEVER, FOUL PLAY IS NOT SUSPECTED IN HIS DEATH.
A STATE LAWMAKER HAS FILED A BILL THAT WOULD GIVE THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HOSPITALS LEGAL AUTHORITY TO PULL DANGEROUS SYNTHETIC DRUGS OFF THE SHELVES. SENATOR FRED MILLS OF ST. MARTINVILLE SAYS IF A NEW DANGEROUS DRUG GOES ON THE MARKET, THE LEGISLATURE CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT WHILE OUT OF SESSION. HE SAYS HIS BILL FIXES THAT PROBLEM. MILLS SAYS IT'S NOT UNPRECEDENTED TO GIVE POWER SUCH AS THIS TO A STATE AGENCY BETWEEN SESSIONS.
LOUISIANA'S SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS ARE ASKING THE JINDAL ADMINISTRATION TO REQUIRE THAT PRIVATE AND PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS THAT ACCEPT STUDENTS WHO GET STATE AID ALSO RECEIVE AN ANNUAL LETTER GRADE LIKE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. IN ADDITION, MICHAEL FAULK, PRESIDENT OF THE LOUISIANA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS SAY STUDENTS WHO GET THE AID SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO TAKE THE SAME STATE SKILLS TESTS AS STUDENTS DO IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. BOTH REQUESTS STEM FROM GOV. BOBBY JINDAL'S PROPOSAL TO GREATLY EXPAND THE AID, WHICH JINDAL CALLS SCHOLARSHIPS AND WHICH OPPONENTS CALL VOUCHERS. UNDER THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN, LOW-INCOME STUDENTS ATTENDING A "C," ''D" OR "F'' SCHOOL, AS RATED BY THE STATE, WOULD HAVE THE OPTION OF GETTING THE AID. JINDAL SAYS THE CHANGE WOULD GIVE FAMILIES A WAY OUT OF FAILING CLASSROOMS.
A REPORT FROM THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR'S OFFICE CONFIRMS WHAT GOVERNOR JINDAL HAS SAID MANY TIMES ABOUT HIS REDUCTIONS IN THE STATE WORKFORCE. NICOLE EDMONSON, WITH THE AUDITOR'S OFFICE, SAYS THE DECREASE IN STATE WORKERS FROM 2005 TO 2011 IS SIGNIFICANT, CLOSE TO 12-THOUSAND EMPLOYEES. THE AUDITOR'S REPORTS NUMBERS WERE ONLY SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FROM THOSE RELEASED LAST WEEK BY THE JINDAL ADMINISTRATION. EDMONSON SAYS THE NUMBERS DIFFER BECAUSE THEY'RE FROM 2005-2011, WHEN THE GOVERNOR'S FIGURES ONLY LOOK AT HIS TIME IN OFFICE SINCE 2008. EDMONSON SAYS, HOWEVER, THAT WHILE THE NUMBER OF STATE WORKERS IS
DECREASING. THE AMOUNT SPENT PAYING THEM HAS GONE UP.
LOUISIANA'S LONGEST KNOWN MARRIED COUPLE FOR 2012 HAS BEEN ANNOUNCED BY THE LOUISIANA FAMILY FORUM. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GENE MILLS SAYS 101 YEAR-OLD NORMAN BURMAH AND 98-YEAR-OLD NORMA BURMAH OF MARKSVILLE HAVE BEEN MARRIED FOR 81 YEARS. HE SAYS THE TWO MET ON THE ROOF GARDEN DANCE HALL IN NEW ORLEANS. MILLS SAYS THE COUPLE LIVED IN NEW ORLEANS UNTIL 2005 WHEN THEY TRAGICALLY LOST THEIR HOME DURING HURRICANE KATRINA. HE SAYS THAT'S WHEN THE BURMAH'S MOVED TO MARKSVILLE. THE COUPLE WILL BE HONORED TODAY AT THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION DURING A SPECIAL CEREMONY THIS AFTERNOON.
A PRESCRIBED BURN IS UNDERWAY AT KISATCHIE NATIONAL FOREST IN CENTRAL LOUISIANA AND THE U-S FOREST SERVICE'S GOAL IS TO BURN 130-THOUSAND ACRES. KISATCHIE SPOKESPERSON JIM CALDWELL SAYS INTENTIONALLY BURNING TREES AND BUSHES CAN LATER PREVENT OUT OF CONTROL WILD FIRES. CALDWELL SAYS THE PRESCRIBED BURNS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS SPRING AND INTO THE EARLY SUMMER.
A THIBODAUX MAN REPORTED MISSING SATURDAY WAS FOUND YESTERDAY, INSIDE HIS PICKUP TRUCK, SUBMERGED IN A SWAMP. LAFOURCHE DEPUTIES SAY CHAD TABOR'S TRUCK APPARENTLY SKIDDED OFF THE ROADWAY AND INTO THE WATER. TABOR HAD NOT BEEN SEEN SINCE FRIDAY NIGHT. HIS JOB REPORTED HIM MISSING SATURDAY.
ANOTHER ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING IN BATON ROUGE. BRPD SPOKESMAN SGT. L'JEAN MCKNEELY SAYS SOME TEENS WERE PARTYING, AND GOOFING AROUND WITH A PISTOL SUNDAY AFTERNOON, AND WHEN ONE HANDED THE GUN TO ANOTHER, IT WENT OFF--STRIKING 19-YEAR-OLD DONTA YOUNG. YOUNG DIED FROM THE INJURIES. A 16-YEAR-OLD IS NOW IN CUSTODY, CHARGED WITH NEGLIGENT HOMICIDE.
THE SOUTHWEST LOUISIANA TOWN OF WELSH IS SEEKING HELP FROM STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL BUDDY CALDWELL IN SOLVING THREE UNSOLVED MURDERS. THREE YOUNG MEN HAVE BEEN KILLED IN THE LAST YEAR, WHICH IS UNUSUAL FOR WELSH. POLICE CHIEF TOMMY CHAISSON WOULDN'T SAY THE MOTIVE FOR THESE KILLINGS, BUT HE SAYS THE JEFFERSON DAVIS PARISH TOWN HAS SEEN AN INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIMES. HE SAYS HIS SMALL POLICE DEPARTMENT DOESN'T HAVE SUFFICIENT RESOURCES TO CONDUCT A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION INTO THESE MURDERS.
A FARMERVILLE HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER IS ARRESTED; ACCUSED OF HAVING A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH A MALE STUDENT. 29-YEAR-OLD XAVIER FRAZIER FACES MULTIPLE CHARGES; HIS BOND SET AT $105-THOUSAND. POLICE SUSPECT FRAZIER HAD CONTACT WITH OTHER STUDENTS AS WELL, SO THEY'RE INVESTIGATING.
THE JEFFERSON PARISH SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT SAYS THREE TEENAGE INMATES AT THE BRIDGE CITY CENTER FOR YOUTH TRAPPED AN EMPLOYEE INSIDE THEIR DORM, MANHANDLED HER AND THREATENING HER WITH RAPE. SHERIFF NEWELL NORMAND SAID MONDAY THE TEENS, AGES 14, 15 AND 16, WILL BE CHARGED WITH FALSE IMPRISONMENT, BATTERY ON A CORRECTIONAL OFFICER, CRIMINAL DAMAGE AND OBSCENITY. IN ADDITION, HE SAYS THEY WILL FACE FURTHER PUNISHMENT BY THE JUVENILE COURT SYSTEM.
STATE POLICE SAY A CAR HIT AND KILLED A PEDESTRIAN WEARING BLACK WHEN HE WALKED INTO LOUISIANA HIGHWAY 115 NEAR HESSMER IN AVOYELLES PARISH. THE DRIVER WAS NOT CITED, BUT THE ACCIDENT IS STILL BEING INVESTIGATED. TROOPER SCOTT MOREAU SAYS 76-YEAR-OLD WILBERT DUCOTE OF MANSURA WAS WEARING A BLACK SHIRT, BLACK PANTS AND BLACK SHOES. HE SAYS THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED ABOUT 6:40 P.M. SATURDAY NIGHT ON LOUISIANA HIGHWAY 115 NORTH OF LOUISIANA HIGHWAY 114.
CENTRAL LOUISIANA OFFICIALS ARE NOT HAPPY WITH GOVERNOR BOBBY JINDAL'S PLAN TO CLOSE ONE PRISON AND PRIVATIZE ANOTHER. THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSED BUDGET CALLS FOR THE CLOSING DABADIE CORRECTIONAL CENTER IN PINEVILLE AND SELLING THE AVOYELLES PARISH PRISON TO A PRIVATE COMPANY. IF THE GOVERNOR'S PLAN IS APPROVED BY LAWMAKERS, OVER ONE-HUNDRED WORKERS AT DABADIE CORRECTIONAL CENTER WILL BE OUT OF THE JOB. PINEVILLE MAYOR CLARENCE FIELDS WONDERS WHERE THESE PEOPLE WILL FIND A JOB. MARKSVILLE STATE REPRESENTATIVE ROBERT JOHNSON SAY THE GOVERNOR IS TRYING TO BALANCE THE BUDGET ON THE BACKS ON STATE WORKERS. HE SAYS PRIVATIZING THE AVOYELLES PRISON WOULD LIKELY BE DETRIMENTAL TO THE NEARLY 300 PEOPLE WHO WORK THERE. JOHNSON WAS A VOCAL OPPONENT OF JINDAL'S UN-SUCCESSFUL PLANS TO SELL OR PRIVATIZE PRISONS LAST YEAR.
GOVERNOR JINDAL PROPOSES LEGISLATION HE SAYS WILL ENHANCE ETHICS ENFORCEMENT IN LOUISIANA. IN 2008, JINDAL AND THE STATE LEGISLATURE AGREED ON SEVERAL ETHICS REFORM MEASURES DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE STATE'S IMAGE. ONE OF JINDAL'S PROPOSALS WOULD GIVE THE ETHICS BOARD THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAL CERTAIN CASES IT LOSES. THE GOVERNOR’S ETHIC REFORM PROPOSALS FOR THIS SESSION ALSO CLARIFY THE BOARD'S TIME LIMIT ON BRINGING CHARGES AGAINST A PUBLIC OFFICIAL AND THE AUTHORITY IT HAS FOR ASSESSING PENALTIES FOR LATE CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS.
CONGRESSMAN BILL CASSIDY HAS FILED LEGISLATION TO ALLOW INVESTORS TAKEN IN BY R. ALLEN STANFORD'S ALLEGED PONZI SCHEME TO OPT OUT OF A FEDERAL LAWSUIT THAT WOULD GIVE THEM A ONE-TIME BUYOUT. CASSIDY SAYS HIS BILL WOULD ALLOW STANFORD INVESTORS OUT OF THE FEDERAL SUIT AND ENABLE THEM TO TAKE A $250-THOUSAND SETTLEMENT FROM THE SIPC.. THE SECURITIES INVESTMENT PROTECTION CORP. IS BEING SUED BY FEDERAL AUTHORITIES TO PAY UP TO HALF-MILLION DOLLARS TO STANFORD INVESTORS, BUT CASSIDY SAYS THAT COULD TAKE YEARS. HE SAYS HIS BILL WOULD ENABLE VICTIMS OF THE PONZI SCHEME TO RECOVER SOMETHING AND MOVE ON. HE SAYS IT WILL GIVE INDIVIDUALS A CHOICE AND DECISION TO MAKE
TWO MEN WHO HAD APPARENTLY BEEN SLEEPING ON THE TRACKS WERE STRUCK BY AN AMTRAK TRAIN EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. THE ST. TAMMANY SHERIFF'S OFFICE REPORTS ONE MAN IS DEAD, AND A SECOND SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE TWO MEN, BOTH IN THEIR 20S AND FROM THE SLIDELL AREA, APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN SLEEPING ON THE TRACKS WHEN A NORTHBOUND AMTRAK TRAIN STRUCK THEM JUST NORTH OF PEARL RIVER. THE TWO MEN APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN HUNTING AND CAMPING IN THE AREA.
A FORMER 15TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY SERVING AN 18 MONTH PRISON SENTENCE FOR FEDERAL TAX EVASION HAS BEEN DISBARRED. 51-YEAR-OLD JOSEPH JOHNSON PLEADED GUILTY TO ONE FELONY COUNT OF TAX EVASION IN 2010. A FEDERAL JUDGE IN JUNE SENTENCED JOHNSON TO SERVE 18 MONTHS IN PRISON AND ORDERED HIM TO PAY ABOUT $180,000 IN RESTITUTION.
LSU CALLS THE $34 MILLION SLASHED FROM ITS NETWORK OF PUBLIC HOSPITALS AND CLINICS FOR THE POOR AND UNINSURED A CONSEQUENCE OF GOV. BOBBY JINDAL'S MIDYEAR BUDGET CUTS. JINDAL ADMINISTRATION LEADERS CALL THE DEEP REDUCTIONS THE RESULT OF SHODDY MANAGEMENT, OVERSPENDING AND POOR BOOKKEEPING BY LSU.
NO MATTER WHO IS RESPONSIBLE, PATIENTS ARE ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK, SET TO GET FEWER SERVICES AMID A BLAME-GAME. THOUSANDS CURRENTLY SERVED BY LSU WOULD BE SENT TO LOOK FOR CARE ELSEWHERE, AND HUNDREDS OF HOSPITAL WORKERS WOULD BE LAID OFF.
A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER ISSUED BY THE SIXTH DISTRICT COURT PREVENTED LAME-DUCK EAST CARROLL PARISH SHERIFF MARK SHUMATE FROM TURNING OVER THE MANAGEMENT OF THE RIVERBEND DETENTION CENTER TO EMERALD COMPANIES, A PRIVATE PRISON MANAGEMENT FIRM. THE ORDER CALLS FOR A HEARING ON THE MATTER ON FEB. 16 AT THE EAST CARROLL COURTHOUSE. SHERIFF-ELECT WYDETTE WILLIAMS ASKED THE COURT TO ISSUE THE ORDER BECAUSE HE FEARS THE CONTRACT WOULD FINANCIALLY GUT THE EAST CARROLL PARISH LAW ENFORCEMENT DISTRICT. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE CURRENTLY MANAGES RIVERBEND. WILLIAMS SAYS THE CONTRACT WOULD ELIMINATE MORE LOCAL JOBS AND PLACE HIS ABILITY TO PROVIDE QUALITY LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE PARISH IN GRAVE JEOPARDY.
WITH WESTLAKE'S CASINO INCOME SETTING SAIL, CITY OFFICIALS ARE LOOKING TO JOIN OTHER CALCASIEU PARISH CITIES IN THE PARISHWIDE GAMBLING POOL. A BOSSIER CITY VENTURE BOUGHT THE ISLE OF CAPRI'S CROWN CASINO ON THURSDAY FOR $15 MILLION, NULLIFYING WESTLAKE'S $1.8 MILLION-A-YEAR CONTRACT WITH THE ISLE. THE ISLE'S OTHER LAKE CHARLES CASINO IS OUTSIDE WESTLAKE. MAYOR DAN CUPIT SAYS HE BELIEVES THE ISLE WILL MAKE THIS FISCAL YEAR'S PAYMENT, BUT HE DOESN'T KNOW ABOUT THE NEXT TWO YEARS. BOTH THE CITY AND CASINO OFFICIALS SAY THE NEXT STEP IS HAVING WESTLAKE JOIN THE CALCASIEU PARISH GAMING REVENUE DISTRICT. THAT AGENCY GETS REVENUE FROM RIVERBOAT CASINOS AND THE SLOT MACHINES AT DELTA DOWNS AND DIVIDES IT AMONG THE PARISH, SULPHUR, DEQUINCY, VINTON, IOWA AND LAKE CHARLES.
THE JINDAL ADMINISTRATION UNVEILED A 25-BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET YESTERDAY THAT CALLS FOR A REDUCTION IN THE STATE WORKFORCE, HIGHER RETIREMENT COSTS FOR STATE EMPLOYEES AND NO CUTS TO HIGER ED. COMMISSIONER OF ADMINISTRATION PAUL RAINWATER SAYS TO HELP CLOSE A 900-MILLION DOLLAR REVENUE SHORTFALL, THEY PROPOSE THE ELIMINATION 63-HUNDRED STATE JOBS. AND THIS HAS A FAMILIAR RING, THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET ALSO CALLS FOR THE CLOSURE OF THE DABADIE CORRECTIONAL CENTER IN PINEVILLE, THE TRANSFER OF THE 330 LOW-RISK OFFENDERS AT DABADIE TO THE AVOYELLES CORRECTIONAL CENTER IN COTTONPORT AND THEN SALE OF THE AVOYELLES PARISH PRISON TO A PRIVATE COMPANY.
SEVERAL STATE LAWMAKERS ARE CONCERNED WITH THE NUMBER OF CONTINGENCY ITEMS IN THE GOVERNOR’S BUDGET PROPOSAL. ITEMS THAT CALL FOR FUNDING TO BE AVAILABLE, ONLY IF SPECIFIC CHANGES ARE MADE. ANOTHER MAJOR CONCERN, THE USE OF ONE TIME MONEY, SOME $230 MILLION, TO PLUG BUDGET HOLES.
A MEMORIAL SERVICE TO HONOR LOUISIANA TECH RUNNING BACK TYRONE DUPLESSIS WILL BE HELD IN RUSTON THIS AFTERNOON IN RUSTON. TECH SPOKESMAN PATRICK WALSH SAYS THE THOMAS ASSEMBLY CENTER WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC STARTING AT 4:30 THIS AFTERNOON FOR FANS, STUDENTS, FRIENDS AND TEAMMATES. DUPLESSIS DIED ON THURSDAY FEBRUARY 2ND IN HIS APARTMENT AND THE CAUSE OF DEATH IS NOT YET KNOWN.
THE LOUISIANA NATIONAL GUARD IS SCHEDULED TO WELCOME HOME SOLDIERS OF THE 204TH THEATER AIRFIELD OPERATIONS GROUP AT ESLER FIELD IN PINEVILLE TODAY.
MORE THAN 20 SOLDIERS FROM THE 204TH, BASED IN HAMMOND, WILL RETURN FROM THEIR 365-DAY DEPLOYMENT TO KUWAIT, WITH DETACHMENTS IN IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN. THE 204TH ALSO SUPPORTED THE SUCCESSFUL WITHDRAWAL OF ALL ARMY AVIATION FORCES FROM IRAQ.
LOUISIANA'S PROPERTY INSURER OF LAST RESORT HAS OFFERED TO SETTLE A DISPUTE OVER SLOW HANDLING OF HURRICANE CLAIMS FROM 2005 FOR UP TO $80 MILLION, WITH NO MORE THAN $25 MILLION OF THAT FOR ATTORNEYS' FEES. THE GOVERNING BOARD OF THE INSURER OF LAST RESORT APPROVED THE OFFER ON THURSDAY. THE BOARD WAS TOLD THAT WOULD COVER ABOUT 25,000 POLICYHOLDERS WHO SAY CITIZENS DID NOT BEGIN ADJUSTING THEIR CLAIMS FOR HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA WITHIN 30 DAYS AS REQUIRED BY STATE LAW. CITIZENS HAS SAID THAT IT WAS TOTALLY OVERWHELMED IN STARTING THE CLAIMS ADJUSTMENT PROCESS AFTER KATRINA DEVASTATED THE NEW ORLEANS AREA WITH FLOODING IN AUGUST 2005 AND RITA FOLLOWED A MONTH LATER WITH FLOODING IN SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA.
THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION HAS AMENDED ITS COMPLAINT AGAINST VILLE PLATTE AND THE CITY'S LATE-NIGHT WALKING CURFEW. THE AMENDED COMPLAINT ALLEGES THAT WHILE THE CURFEW HAS BEEN SUSPENDED, THE DANGER HAS NOT PASSED. THE AMENDED COMPLAINT WAS FILED MONDAY. ARTHUR SAMPSON, PRESIDENT OF THE EVANGELINE CHAPTER OF THE NAACP AND THE PLAINTIFF IN THE CASE, SAYS HE REMAINS FEARFUL THAT THE CITY WILL REINSTATE THE CURFEW FOR THE SAME ARBITRARY AND IRRATIONAL REASONS AS IT INSTITUTED IT IN THE FIRST PLACE. THE CITY ADOPTED THE CURFEW IN FEBRUARY 2011 IN RESPONSE TO A RASH OF BREAK-INS AND BURGLARIES.
AS EXPECTED FORMER LSU QUARTERBACK JORDAN JEFFERSON PLED NOT GUILTY YESTERDAY THROUGH HIS ATTORNEY ON A CHARGE OF SIMPLE BATTERY FOR HIS ALLEGED ROLE IN A OUTSIDE OF A BATON ROUGE BAR. JEFFERSON WAS NOT IN THE COURTROOM FOR THE HEARING BUT APPEARED ON AN ATLANTA RADIO STATION AND ONCE AGAIN DENIED ANY INVOLVEMENT IN THE INCIDENT. JEFFERSON'S NEXT COURT APPEARANCE WILL BE ON MAY 10TH. JEFFERSON SAYS PROOF THAT HE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN THE BAR FIGHT WILL COME OUT SOON ENOUGH. HE CALLS THE ENTIRE SITUATION A SCAM.
FORMER LSU RUNNING BACK CHARLES EDWARD SCOTT HAS PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO ONE COUNT OF SEXUAL BATTERY OF AN 18-YEAR-OLD WOMAN LAST YEAR. SCOTT ENTERED THE PLEA THURSDAY. THE 23-YEAR-OLD SCOTT WAS ARRESTED IN NOVEMBER ON A COUNT OF SIMPLE RAPE.
THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS IS SPENDING $22 MILLION FOR WORK ON ABOUT A DOZEN RIVERS AND PORTS IN LOUISIANA. THE MONEY WAS ANNOUNCED WEDNESDAY BY THE AGENCY. THE BIGGEST CHUNKS GO TO DREDGING TWO RIVERS. OFFICIALS SAY $6.9 MILLION HAS BEEN SET ASIDE FOR THE CALCASIEU RIVER AND $9.1 MILLION FOR WORK ON THE ATCHAFALAYA RIVER. THERE IS ALSO MONEY FOR DREDGING PARTS OF THE RED. U.S. SEN. MARY LANDRIEU, D-LA., SAID THE FUNDS WOULD KEEP VITAL WATERWAYS FROM SILTING IN.
THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM IS LOOKING FOR FESTIVAL FANATICS WHO WOULD BE PAID TO ATTEND FESTIVALS. JACQUES BERRY IS A SPOKESPERSON FOR THE LT. GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, HE SAYS BERRY PEOPLE LOVE TO READ ABOUT LOUISIANA FESTIVALS ON THEIR WEBSITE. HE SAYS THEY'RE LOOKING FOR OUTGOING PEOPLE WHO LOVE FESTIVAL LIFE THAT WOULD BE WILLING TO SPEND A DAY AT A FESTIVAL, TAKE PICTURES AND VIDEO AND WRITE A STORY ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE. HE SAYS THE "JOB" DOESN'T PAY MUCH, BUT IF YOU'RE INTERESTED IN BECOMING A FESTIVAL FANATIC YOU CAN VISIT LOUISIANATRAVEL.COM.
A BATON ROUGE MAN IS UNDER ARREST IN CONNECTION WITH THE DEATH OF HIS FOUR YEAR-OLD SON. BRPD SPOKESMAN SGT. DON KELLY SAYS 26-YEAR-OLD SHAWN DEAN IS CHARGED WITH 2ND DEGREE CRUELTY TO A JUVENILE AND FELON IN POSSESSION OF A FIREARM. KELLY SAYS INVESTIGATORS DETERMINED DEAN IS THE ONE WHO LEFT THE HANDGUN IN THE HOME WHERE THE CHILD COULD FIND IT. HE SAYS DEAN WAS OUT ON AN ERRAND WHILE THE MOTHER AND ANOTHER CHILD WERE ASLEEP WHEN THE TODDLER FOUND THE GUN AND ACCIDENTALLY SHOT HIMSELF IN THE HEAD WITH IT. WHEN POLICE ARRIVED ON THE SCENE THE GUN WAS MISSING. IT WAS LATER FOUND IN A NEARBY FIELD. KELLY SAYS DEAN LIKELY HID THE GUN BECAUSE HE IS A CONVICTED FELON.
THE CADDO PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS LOOKING FOR A SUSPECT WHO SHOT AT TWO SCHOOL BUSES YESTERDAY MORNING WITH A BB GUN. SPOKESPERSON CINDY CHADWICK SAYS BOTH INCIDENTS HAPPENED IN KEITHVILLE AND THAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR A RED JEEP CHEROKEE WITH BLACK TRIM.
THOUSANDS OF BOWLERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD WILL BE IN THE CAPITAL CITY OVER THE NEXT FIVE MONTHS FOR THE BIGGEST BOWLING TOURNAMENT IN THE COUNTRY. MATT CANNIZZARO WITH THE UNITED STATES BOWLING CONGRESS OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP SAYS NEARLY 60,000 BOWLERS WILL BE COMPETING IN THE GAMES. CANNIZZARO SAYS ABOUT 500 BOWLERS A DAY WILL BE COMING INTO TOWN AND LEAVING TOWN, BUT WILL ONLY BE BOWLING FOR A FEW HOURS DURING THE DAY. HE SAYS OUTSIDE OF THAT TIME THEY'LL BE EATING ENJOYING WHAT LOUISIANA HAS TO OFFER. HE SAYS THE EVENT WILL RUN FROM 7AM- 2AM DAILY UNTIL JULY 10TH.
RED RIVER BANK ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY THAT THEY WERE DONATING A MOBILE BANKING CENTER TO THE ALEXANDRIA POLICE DEPARTMENT TO USE AS A NEW MOBILE EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER. BLAKE CHATELAIN, PRESIDENT OF THE BANK, SAID THEY PURCHASED A NEW MOBILE UNIT SEVERAL MONTHS AGO TO REPLACE ITS ORIGINAL MOBILE BANKING CENTER. THE BANK THOUGHT ABOUT SELLING THE OLDER MOBILE CENTER, WHICH IS LESS THAN 10 YEARS OLD, BUT DECIDING TO DONATE IT TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. MAYOR ROY AND POLICE CHIEF LOREN LAMPERT BOTH EXPRESSED THEIR APPRECIATION UPON RECEIVING THE DONATION YESTERDAY.
AN ALEXANDRIA WOMAN WAS ARRESTED ON MULTIPLE CHARGES, INCLUDING DRIVING WHILE INTOXICATED, ON TUESDAY AFTER SHE WAS INVOLVED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT ON COTTINGHAM EXPRESSWAY. 22 YEAR OLD RHEA BROWN WAS CHARGED WITH OPERATING A VEHICLE WHILE INTOXICATED, DRIVING UNDER SUSPENSION, RECKLESS OPERATION OF A VEHICLE, OPEN CONTAINER, NO PROOF OF INSURANCE AND NO PROOF OF REGISTRATION. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES IN THE ACCIDENT. BROWN'S BLOOD-ALCOHOL CONTENT WAS 0.15 PERCENT, NEARLY TWICE THE LEGAL LIMIT.
GOVERNOR JINDAL IS SCHEDULED TO REVEAL HIS PROPOSAL FOR BALANCING THE STATE BUDGET FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR TODAY; A BUDGET $900-MILLION IN THE RED. PUBLIC AFFAIRS RESEARCH COUNCIL PRESIDENT ROBERT TRAVIS SCOTT SAYS THE EXECUTIVE BUDGET PROPOSAL IS A DRAMATIC STARTING POINT OF A LONG DANCE BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND LAWMAKERS. IN RECENT YEARS, JINDAL AND LAWMAKERS HAVE BALANCED THE BUDGET BY USING ONE-TIME MONEY ON RECURRING EXPENDITURES. SCOTT SAYS HE EXPECTS JINDAL AND LEGISLATORS WILL TRY WHAT WORKED FOR THEM BEFORE.
GOV. BOBBY JINDAL'S BUDGET PROPOSAL WOULD NOT CUT PUBLIC COLLEGES NEXT YEAR, AND WOULD GIVE THE SCHOOLS AN EXTRA $100 MILLION IF LAWMAKERS AGREE TO RAISE RETIREMENT COSTS FOR STATE WORKERS AND MAKE OTHER CHANGES TO THE STATE EMPLOYEE PENSION SYSTEM. STEPHEN WAGUESPACK SAID THE SPENDING PROPOSAL, BEING UNVEILED TO LAWMAKERS TODAY, WOULD KEEP HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING AT ITS CURRENT LEVEL IN THE YEAR THAT BEGINS JULY 1. THAT WOULD INCLUDE ALREADY APPROVED TUITION INCREASES SET TO TAKE EFFECT IN THE 2012-13 SCHOOL YEAR.
NONE OF THE TICKETS SOLD FOR THE POWERBALL GAME WEDNESDAY EVENING MATCHED ALL SIX NUMBERS DRAWN. THE PRIZE GOES TO AN ESTIMATED $310 MILLION FOR SATURDAY. TICKETS.
AN ARRAIGNMENT HEARING IS SCHEDULED TODAY FOR FORMER LSU QUARTERBACK JORDAN JEFFERSON, WHO IS FACING A SIMPLE BATTERY CHARGE RELATED TO A BRAWL OUTSIDE OF A BATON ROUGE BAR LAST AUGUST. JEFFERSON WAS ORIGINALLY CHARGED WITH 2ND-DEGREE BATTERY FOR HIS ALLEGED ROLE IN THE FIGHT. BUT HE WAS LATER INDICTED FOR SIMPLE BATTERY.
THE GOVERNING BOARD OF LOUISIANA'S PROPERTY INSURER OF LAST RESORT PLANS TO MEET TODAY TO DISCUSS A $100-MILLION-PLUS COURT JUDGMENT AGAINST THE COMPANY FOR TAKING TOO LONG TO BEGIN HANDLING CLAIMS FOR HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA.
STATE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER JIM DONELON SAID THE PLAINTIFFS HAVE OFFERED TO SETTLE THE CASE, BUT HE COULDN'T DISCUSS DETAILS OF THE OFFER. LOUISIANA CITIZENS PROPERTY INSURANCE CORP. HAS BEEN ORDERED BY STATE COURTS TO PAY $5,000 EACH TO MORE THAN 18,000 POLICYHOLDERS FOR FAILING TO START ADJUSTING STORM CLAIMS WITHIN 30 DAYS AFTER THE STORMS. CITIZENS HAS ASKED THE U.S. SUPREME COURT TO REVIEW THE CASE.
AFTER A SLOW START TO THE CRAWFISH SEASON, THERE ARE SIGNS IT'S PICKING UP. LAST YEARS DROUGHT RESULTED IN FEWER AND SMALLER CRAWFISH IN JANUARY, BUT LSU AG CENTER AQUACULTURE SPECIALIST ROBERT ROMAIRE SAYS THE CATCH IS PICKING UP AS DEMAND RISES. ROMAIRE SAYS WARM WATER HELPS THE GROWTH OF CRAWFISH AND SINCE LOUISIANA SAW A WARMER THAN NORMAL JANUARY, IT'S MADE THE MUDBUGS MUCH BIGGER..
SEASON THREE OF THE POPULAR HISTORY CHANNEL SHOW SWAMP PEOPLE PREMIERES TONIGHT AT 8PM. THE SHOW FOLLOWS THE DAY-TO-DAY ACTIVITIES OF SEVERAL CAJUNS, INCLUDING TROY LANDRY, WHO LIVE IN THE ATCHAFALAYA RIVER BASIN SWAMP AND HUNT ALLIGATORS FOR A LIVING. LANDRY SAYS HE IS A TRUE CAJUN WHO TAKES PRIDE IN SHOWING OFF HIS FAMILY'S LONG HISTORY OF BEING SELF-SUFFICIENT AND GETTING EVERYTHING THEY NEED FROM THE LAND. HE SAYS HE IS HUMBLED BY THE NATIONAL ATTENTION HIS LIFESTYLE HAS RECEIVED. LANDRY BELIEVES SEASON THREE WILL BE THE BEST YET.
THE FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY ANNOUNCED WEDNESDAY THAT IT IS ROLLING OUT A PLAN TO WAIVE DEBTS FOR MANY VICTIMS OF HURRICANE KATRINA AND OTHER DISASTERS WHO MAY HAVE MISTAKENLY RECEIVED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN AID.
THE DEBTS, WHICH AVERAGE ABOUT $4,622 PER RECIPIENT, REPRESENT SLIGHTLY LESS THAN 5 PERCENT OF THE ROUGHLY $8 BILLION THAT FEMA DISTRIBUTED TO VICTIMS OF KATRINA AND OTHER 2005 STORMS. SOME OF THE OVERPAYMENTS WERE CAUSED BY FEMA EMPLOYEES' OWN MISTAKES. FEMA IS EXPECTED TO MAIL OUT ROUGHLY 90,000 LETTERS NEXT WEEK TO INFORM DISASTER VICTIMS THAT THEY MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR DEBT WAIVERS. THE RECIPIENTS WILL HAVE 60 DAYS TO RESPOND AND REQUEST A WAIVER.
BATON ROUGE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING THE DEATH OF A 4-YEAR-OLD CHILD. POLICE SPOKESMAN SGT. DON KELLY SAYS THE CHILD WAS SUFFERING FROM A GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE HEAD. HE WAS LATER PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE. INITIAL REPORTS INDICATED THE CHILD FOUND THE GUN AT HIS HOME AND WAS PLAYING WITH IT WHEN IT DISCHARGED.
AN OPELOUSAS MAN HAS PLEADED GUILTY TO FRAUDULENTLY OBTAINING DISABILITY INSURANCE BENEFITS FROM THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION. FORTY-SIX-YEAR-OLD KEVIN V. LEDAY FACES A MAXIMUM SENTENCE OF 10 YEARS IN PRISON FOLLOWING HIS GUILTY PLEA WEDNESDAY IN LAFAYETTE TO THEFT AND FRAUD CHARGES. FEDERAL PROSECUTORS SAY LEDAY EMBEZZLED NEARLY $42,000 AFTER CLAIMING IN 2002 THAT AN INJURY PREVENTED HIM FROM WORKING. PROSECUTORS SAY LEDAY DIDN'T NOTIFY THE AGENCY THAT HE RETURNED TO WORK IN 2006, AND HE KEPT RECEIVING THE PAYMENTS THROUGH SEPTEMBER 2010.
AN INADVERTENT OVERSIGHT BY A ST. FREDERICK HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT'S MOTHER LED TO HIS EXPULSION FROM THE SCHOOL AND ARREST. MONROE POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SCHOOL TUESDAY IN REFERENCE TO A FIREARM BROUGHT TO SCHOOL BY A SEVENTH-GRADER IN HIS LUNCH BOX. AUTHORITIES SAY AFTER AN INVESTIGATION, IT WAS REVEALED THAT THE MOTHER PLACED THE HANDGUN IN THE LUNCH BOX SOME TIME AGO, AND THE STUDENT UNKNOWINGLY TOOK THE LUNCH BOX TO SCHOOL. SHE SAID THE MOTHER CLAIMS SHE FORGOT THE WEAPON WAS IN BOX. THE STUDENT, WHOSE NAME WAS NOT RELEASED BECAUSE OF HIS AGE, WAS BOOKED INTO JUVE ON A CHARGE OF ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF A HANDGUN ON SCHOOL GROUNDS.
THE RAPIDES PARISH SCHOOL BOARD VOTED TUESDAY TO RESTORE A YEARLY STIPEND TO PSYCHOLOGISTS, SOCIAL WORKERS, SPEECH PATHOLOGISTS AND AUDIOLOGISTS. THE BOARD ALSO PLANS TO LOOK FOR FUNDS TO RESTORE SOME OR ALL OF A 15 PERCENT CUT TO EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. THE CUTS WERE MADE IN APRIL AS PART OF AN EFFORT TO MAKE UP A PROJECTED SHORTFALL OF MORE THAN $5 MILLION. THE BOARD APPEARS READY TO REINSTATE THE EXTRACURRICULAR FUNDS CUT OUT OF THE BUDGET. SCHOOLS WERE LEFT TO THEIR OWN DEVICES TO FIND WAYS TO REIMBURSE THE DISTRICT TO MAKE UP FOR THE CUT. HOWEVER, SEVERAL MONTHS INTO THAT PLAN, SUPERINTENDENT GARY L. JONES SAID, "THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO DO IT."
THE ALEXANDRIA CITY COUNCIL YESTERDAY AWARDED A CONSULTING CONTRACT TO ALEXANDRIA ARCHITECTURE FIRM BARRON, HEINBERG & BROCATO FOR IMPROVEMENTS AT THE ALEXANDER FULTON HOTEL. THE FIRM WAS ONE OF FOUR THAT SUBMITTED PROPOSALS TO THE CITY FOR ROOF REPLACEMENT, WATER INTRUSION REMEDIES AND OTHER DEFERRED MAINTENANCE, INCLUDING THE CONSTRUCTION OF ELEVATORS, AT THE FULTON HOTEL.
ON HIS PUSH FOR SWEEPING CHANGE TO THE WAY LOUISIANA EDUCATES ITS STUDENTS, REPUBLICAN GOV. BOBBY JINDAL HAS AN UNLIKELY ALLY IN DEMOCRATIC U.S. SEN. MARY LANDRIEU. THOUGH THE TWO HAVE NOT TYPICALLY BEEN PARTNERS IN POLITICS, BOTH LEADERS SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF CHARTER SCHOOLS, CHANGES TO THE TEACHER JOB PROTECTION SYSTEM CALLED TENURE AND THE INCREASE OF CHOICES FOR PARENTS SEEKING TO GET THEIR CHILDREN OUT OF FAILING SCHOOLS. IN HER SUPPORT FOR SOME OF JINDAL'S IDEAS, LANDRIEU IS BUCKING THE TRADITIONAL PRO-DEMOCRAT TEACHER UNIONS. BUT DIVISIONS REMAIN. LANDRIEU SAYS JINDAL'S FOCUSING TOO HEAVILY ON CREATING A STATEWIDE VOUCHER PROGRAM THAT FUNNELS STATE TAXPAYER MONEY INTO PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION. AND SHE WANTS MORE SPENDING ON SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION, AN ISSUE JINDAL HASN'T RAISED.
SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS ARE MEETING WITH THE STATE'S NEW PUBLIC EDUCATION LEADER, JOHN WHITE, TO DISCUSS GOVERNOR JINDAL'S EDUCATION REFORM PLANS. LOUISIANA ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENTS PRESIDENT MICHAEL FAULK SAYS THEY HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL TO EXPAND VOUCHERS STATEWIDE FOR STUDENTS WHO ATTEND STRUGGLING PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE GOVERNOR IS ALSO PUSHING CHANGES TO THE STATE'S PRE-K PROGRAMS. JINDAL WANTS TO EXPAND PRE-K AND ASSIGN LETTER GRADES TO PROGRAMS BASED ON KINDERGARTEN READINESS. FAULK SAYS THEY APPLAUD THIS IDEA, BECAUSE STRONG PRE-K PROGRAMS BENEFIT K-THROUGH-12 SCHOOLS..
A $365 MILLION EXPANSION OF NUSTAR ENERGY LP'S CRUDE OIL TERMINAL ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IS EXPECTED TO CREATE 32 NEW JOBS IN ST. JAMES PARISH. THE COMPANY AND GOV. BOBBY JINDAL SAID TUESDAY THAT THE NEW JOBS WILL PAY AN AVERAGE OF $98,000 ANNUALLY WITH BENEFITS. THE TEXAS-BASED COMPANY ALSO WILL KEEP 23 EXISTING JOBS AT ITS ST. JAMES TANK FARM. WORK ON THE EXPANSION, TO INCREASE NUSTAR'S TANK STORAGE CAPACITY FROM 8 MILLION BARRELS TO 11 MILLION BARRELS, IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN 2016.
CINDY ROUGEOU, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE LOUISIANA STATE EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM SAID YESTERDAY GOV. BOBBY JINDAL'S PROPOSED CHANGES TO BENEFITS FOR STATE WORKERS ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL, UNNECESSARILY HARSH AND UNFAIR TO EMPLOYEES VESTED IN THE SYSTEM AND THAT THE GOVERNOR IS TARGETING WORKERS WHO ARE BARRED FROM LOBBYING ON THEIR OWN BEHALF, THOSE LEAST ABLE TO SPEAK UP IN OPPOSITION. IN A THREE-PAGE WRITTEN RESPONSE TO THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSALS, ROUGEOU SAID THE CHANGES WOULD BREAK A PROMISE MADE TO EMPLOYEES WHEN THEY WERE HIRED ABOUT THE BENEFITS THEY WOULD RECEIVE. TO CHANGE PROVISIONS SUCH AS THOSE TARGETED WOULD VIOLATE THE CONSTITUTIONAL RESTRICTION AGAINST IMPAIRING EXISTING BENEFITS. NO COMMENTS FROM THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE.
GOVERNOR BOBBY JINDAL WILL REVEAL HIS EXECUTIVE BUDGET PROPOSAL FOR THE STATE'S NEXT FISCAL YEAR TOMORROW. THE STATE IS LOOKING AT A REVENUE SHORTFALL OF NEARLY A $900-MILLION. SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN JACK DONAHUE, OF MANDEVILLE, SAYS HE'S PREPARING FOR ANOTHER TOUGH BUDGET STRUGGLE IN THE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR. SENATOR DONAHUE SAYS STATE REVENUES HAVE COME UP SHY OF THE MARK AGAIN THIS YEAR, AND HE SAYS IT'S LARGELY BECAUSE CORPORATE TAX COLLECTIONS ARE DOWN.
GOV. BOBBY JINDAL'S TOP BUDGET ADVISER HAS AGREED TO PARTICIPATE IN A YEAR-LONG PROGRAM FOR DWI OFFENDERS INSTEAD OF STANDING TRIAL FOR HIS RECENT DRUNKEN DRIVING CHARGE. COMMISSIONER OF ADMINISTRATION PAUL RAINWATER WAS ARRESTED DEC. 10 ON FIRST-OFFENSE DWI, RECKLESS OPERATION OF A VEHICLE AND FAILURE TO OBEY A STOP SIGN OR YIELD SIGN.
THREE MEN HAVE BEEN SENTENCED TO PRISON TERMS FOR TYING A NOOSE AROUND A DEAD RACCOON'S NECK AND HANGING IT FROM A FLAGPOLE TO INTIMIDATE BLACK STUDENTS AT A NORTH LOUISIANA SCHOOL. THE THREE MEN PLEADED GUILTY LAST YEAR TO CHARGES THEY HUNG THE DEAD RACCOON OUTSIDE BEEKMAN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL IN MOREHOUSE PARISH IN 2007 OUT OF ANGER ABOUT THE SCHOOL'S NEW BUSING POLICY, WHICH HAD INCREASED THE NUMBER OF BLACK STUDENTS.
AN ENGINEERING FIRM WITH AN OFFICE IN BATON ROUGE SAYS IT HAS RECEIVED A CONTRACT FROM METHANEX CORP., A MAJOR PRODUCER OF METHANOL, TO PROVIDE SERVICES IF METHANEX DECIDES TO MOVE ONE OF ITS IDLE PLANTS FROM CHILE TO LOUISIANA. JACOBS ENGINEERING GROUP INC. ANNOUNCED TUESDAY THAT IT HAS A CONTRACT FROM METHANEX FOR ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION WORK AT THE 225-ACRE SITE IN GEISMAR. VANCOUVER-BASED METHANEX HAS SAID IT WOULD MAKE A FINAL DECISION ON WHETHER TO BRING THE PLANT TO LOUISIANA DURING THE THIRD QUARTER. PRODUCTION WOULD BEGIN IN THE SECOND HALF OF 2014. THE COMPANY HAS NOT SAID HOW MANY JOBS WOULD BE CREATED.
THE LSU BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAS APPROVED MERGING THE LSU AGCENTER'S DEPARTMENT OF VETERINARY SCIENCE INTO ITS SCHOOL OF ANIMAL SCIENCES.
AGCENTER CHANCELLOR BILL RICHARDSON SAYS THE MERGER WILL STRENGTHEN RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PROGRAMS IN BOTH UNITS AND COMPLEMENT THEIR MOVE INTO A BUILDING UNDER CONSTRUCTION. RICHARDSON SAYS THERE'S SUBSTANTIAL OVERLAP BETWEEN THE UNITS, WITH ANIMAL SCIENCE CONSIDERING ALL ASPECTS OF ANIMAL SCIENCE AND VETERINARY SCIENCE FOCUSING ON DISEASES
THE LOUISIANA LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR'S OFFICE SAYS A RETIREMENT SYSTEM, WHICH PROVIDES BENEFITS FOR OFFICERS PATROLLING THE PORT OF NEW ORLEANS, IS ON PACE TO RUN OUT OF MONEY AS EARLY AS 2020 UNLESS CHANGES ARE MADE TO THE PENSION FUND. THE REPORT FOUND THAT THE PENSION SYSTEM WAS ABOUT 56 PERCENT FUNDED AS OF FISCAL YEAR 2010, MEANING THAT IT DOES NOT HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO PAY THE TOTAL OBLIGATIONS OWED TO CURRENT RETIREES.
THE ST. LANDRY PARISH SCHOOL SYSTEM HAS ANOTHER FINANCIAL PROBLEM TO OVERCOME. A $240,000 EXPENSE THAT PREVIOUSLY WAS PAID FOR BY STATE OR FEDERAL FUNDING WAS NOT BUDGETED FOR THIS YEAR. THE SCHOOL SYSTEM RECENTLY DISCOVERED THAT THIS FISCAL YEAR'S BUDGET DID NOT ACCOUNT FOR SUMMER SCHOOL FOR FOURTH- AND EIGHTH-GRADERS WHO FAIL THE STATE STANDARDIZED LEAP TEST REQUIRED FOR PROMOTION TO THE NEXT GRADE.
THE ST. MARTIN PARISH DA'S OFFICE SAYS IT WILL SEEK THE DEATH PENALTY AGAINST HELLEN DUPIS AND TONIE DUPIS. BOTH ARE CHARGED WITH THE DEATH OF 83-YEAR OLD JESSIE MESSEX OF BREAUX BRIDGE. SHE WAS THE MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER OF THE TWO WOMEN. INVESTIGATORS SAY THE PAIR MOVED IN WITH MESSEX AFTER SHE HAD A STROKE. NO MOTIVE FOR THE APPARENT MURDER HAS BEEN RELEASED AS OF
YET.
FIVE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES HAVE AGREED TO PAY LOUISIANA A COMBINED $25-MILLION TO SETTLE CLAIMS THEY FUDGED ON DRUG PRICING TO INFLATE MEDICAID REIMBURSEMENTS. THE COMPANIES ARE GLAXOSMITHKLINE, SHERING-PLOUGH, ACTAVIS, BOEHRINGER INGELHAIM AND DEY PHARMACEUTICAL.
A COMMISSIONER IN CADDO PARISH WHO IS TRYING TO BAN THE WEARING OF PAJAMA PANTS IN PUBLIC IS MOVING FORWARD WITH THE ORDINANCE. MICHAEL WILLIAMS SAYS HE WOULD LIKE TO MEET WITH PARISH ATTORNEY CHARLES GRUBB TO WRITE THE ORDINANCE WITH SIMILAR LANGUAGE AS THE CITY OF SHREVEPORT'S "SAGGY PANTS POLICY". FELLOW CADDO COMMISSIONER JOHN ESCUDE SAYS HE CANNOT SUPPORT THE
BAN. HE SAYS HE'S ASHAMED THAT THIS ISSUE HAS GOTTEN NATIONAL ATTENTION.
IT'S BEEN ALMOST 48 HOURS NOW AND STATE POLICE ARE STILL LOOKING FOR A VEHICLE THAT WAS INVOLVED IN A FATAL ACCIDENT THAT KILLED A PEDESTRIAN IN WALKER. ST POLICE TROOPER RUSSELL GRAHAM SAYS A PICKUP TRUCK HIT A WHITE FORD EXPLORER FROM BEHIND WHEN IT WAS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THIS CAUSED THE TRUCK TO VEER AND RUN OVER AND KILL THE PEDESTRIAN AND SMASH INTO A HOUSE. THE WHITE FORD EXPLORER FLED THE SCENE.
IT WASN’T YOUR AVERAGE SCUFFLE. 12 TEENAGERS IN SHREVEPORT HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH FIGHTING ON A SCHOOL BUS. THE DRIVER JUST HAPPENED TO BE PASSING THE SHREVEPORT POLICE DEPARTMENT WHEN THE FIGHT BROKE OUT. SO SHE DID THE BEST THING SHE KNEW TO DO.. SHE PULLED INTO THE POLICE STATION PARKING LOT. IT TOOK TEN OFFICERS TO PUT STOP TO THE FIGHT
BETWEEN STUDENTS AT THE HAMILTON TERRACE LEARNING CENTER. SERGENT
BILL GOODIN SAYS THE CAUSE OF THE ALTERCATION IS STILL UNDER INVESTIGATION.
A MOTORCYCLIST WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED LAST NIGHT WHEN HE BROADSIDED A MINIVAN AT THE INTERSECTION OF JACKSON STREET EXT. AND VERSAILLES BLVD IN ALEXANDRIA. THE IDENTITY OF THE DRIVER HAS NOT RELEASED. THE MINIVAN TOOK SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE ON ITS PASSENGER SIDE. DEBRIS FROM THE MOTORCYCLE WAS STREWN ON JACKSON STREET EXTENSION, AND TRAFFIC WAS BACKED UP AS ALEXANDRIA POLICE OFFICERS WORKED TO CLEAR THE SCENE. IT IS UNKNOWN IF ANYONE IN THE MINIVAN WAS INJURED.
THE FATHER OF A 22-YEAR-OLD ALEXANDRIA MAN WHO DIED IN POLICE CUSTODY IN FEBRUARY OF LAST YEAR, HAS FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST A LONG LAUNDRY LIST OF LOCAL OFFICIALS. ROBERT RICKS DIED AFTER BEING TASERED. A CORONER'S REPORT AND A LOUISIANA STATE POLICE INVESTIGATIVE REPORT EXONERATED OFFICERS INVOLVED IN THE CASE, SAYING THAT RICKS DIED OF "EXCITED DELIRIUM" FROM HAVING A LETHAL AMOUNT OF COCAINE IN HIS SYSTEM. ACCORDING TO THE 16-PAGE LAWSUIT, LAWRENCE RICKS IS SEEKING DAMAGES FOR THE WRONGFUL DEATH, DEPRIVATION OF RIGHTS AND NEGLIGENCE THAT HE ALLEGES LED TO HIS SON'S DEATH
9TH DISTRICT JUDGE HARRY RANDOW RULED MONDAY , ALEXANDRIA MAYOR JACQUES ROY CAN REVIVE HIS DORMANT LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY COUNCIL,. THIS TIME, HOWEVER, THE MAYOR ISN'T AIMING AT A MAJORITY OF THE CITY COUNCIL. INSTEAD, THE SUIT FOCUSES ON JUST ONE COUNCILMAN, ROOSEVELT JOHNSON. THE ORIGINAL SUIT FILED BY ROY IN AUGUST 2007 SOUGHT TO BLOCK FIVE COUNCIL FROM HIRING ATTORNEYS FOR THE COUNCIL. JOHNSON IS THE ONLY REMAINING DEFENDANT WHO HASN'T BEEN DISMISSED FROM THAT SUIT. JOHNSON’S ATTORNEY, SAID THAT REVIVING THE OLD LAWSUIT AND FOCUSING ONLY ON JOHNSON "SMACKS OF POLITICS" BECAUSE JOHNSON IS UP FOR RE-ELECTION LATER THIS YEAR.
THE RAPIDES PARISH POLICE JURY HAS DECIDED TO GET INVOLVED IN A D.O.T.D. DECISION TO CLOSE AN INTERSECTION IN WOODWORTH. JURORS VOTED IN COMMITTEE MONDAY TO APPROVE A RESOLUTION AGAINST A LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND DEVELOPMENT'S DECISION TO CLOSE A CROSSOVER ON U.S. HIGHWAY 165 WHERE IT INTERSECTS WITH COULEE CROSSING ROAD. THE MOTION WAS PASSED WITHOUT OPPOSITION. THE RESOLUTION, AND OTHER MOTIONS PASSED MONDAY, WILL COME UP FOR OFFICIAL APPROVAL AT THE REGULAR POLICE JURY MEETING NEXT MONDAY.
GOVERNMENT RETIREMENT ISSUES WILL KEEP LAWMAKERS' BUSY DURING THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT STARTS NEXT MONTH. LOUISIANA'S FOUR STATEWIDE RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ARE A COMBINED 18-POINT-5 BILLION DOLLARS IN DEBT. HOUSE RETIREMENT CHAIRMAN KEVIN PEARSON SAYS THE DOWNTURN IN THE ECONOMY CREATED A GAP BETWEEN MONEY ON HAND AND WHAT THE STATE MUST PAY OUT. GOVERNOR BOBBY JINDAL IS PROPOSING A SERIES OF CHANGES TO THE PENSION PLAN THAT COVERS MANY STATE WORKERS. IT WOULD RESULT IN PUBLIC EMPLOYEES PAYING MORE INTO THEIR RETIREMENT, WOULD HAVE TO WORK LONGER AND END UP WITH SMALLER PENSION CHECKS
THE LOUISIANA HIGHWAY SAFETY COMMISSION BEGINS A PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN TODAY, ABOUT THE DANGERS OF OVER INDULGING AND GETTING BEHIND THE WHEEL DURING CARNIVAL SEASON. LHSC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COL. JOHN LEBLANC SAYS MARDI GRAS IS ONE OF THE MOST DANGEROUS HOLIDAYS TO BE ON THE ROADS IN LOUISIANA. LEBLANC SAYS THAT AS WITH MOST HOLIDAYS IN LOUISIANA, THE LHSC HAS PROVIDED FUNDING GRANTS TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE STATE TO INCREASE PATROLS IN AN EFFORT TO REMOVE DRUNK DRIVERS FROM THE ROADS THIS MARDI GRAS.
A RARE FEBRUARY TROPICAL DISTURBANCE HAS MOVED INTO THE SOUTHERN GULF OF MEXICO NEAR THE YUCATAN PENINSULA. JACK BEVAN WITH THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER, SAYS THEY DON'T EXPECT THIS AREA OF LOW-PRESSURE TO DEVELOP INTO A NAMED STORM. BEVAN SAYS THE MAIN EFFECT OF THIS SYSTEM WILL BE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTHERN FLORIDA.
A LOUISIANA MAN HAS PLEADED GUILTY TO PARTICIPATING IN A PLOT TO SUBMIT MORE THAN $21 MILLION IN FRAUDULENT CLAIMS TO THE MEDICARE PROGRAM. FORTY-FIVE-YEAR-OLD RODNEY TAYLOR FACES A MAXIMUM SENTENCE OF 15 YEARS IN PRISON FOLLOWING HIS GUILTY PLEA MONDAY IN BATON ROUGE TO CONSPIRACY CHARGES. FEDERAL PROSECUTORS SAY TAYLOR WORKED AS A RECRUITER FOR LOUISIANA-BASED COMPANIES THAT FRAUDULENTLY BILLED MEDICARE FOR UNNECESSARY MEDICAL EQUIPMENT BETWEEN 2004 AND 2009.
U.S. SEN. DAVID VITTER HEDGED MONDAY WHEN ASKED IF HE WAS CONSIDERING A RUN FOR LOUISIANA GOVERNOR IN THREE YEARS, SAYING HE HASN'T BEEN "FOCUSING ON THAT," BUT STOPPING SHORT OF DISCARDING THE POSSIBILITY OF A BID FOR THE JOB. SINCE GOV. BOBBY JINDAL WILL BE TERM-LIMITED AND UNABLE TO RUN AGAIN FOR GOVERNOR IN 2016, SPECULATION IS FLOURISHING ABOUT WHO MIGHT RUN TO REPLACE HIM.IN MORE IMMEDIATE POLITICAL RACES, VITTER DECLINED TO ENDORSE A GOP CONTENDER FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. HE SAID HE'LL SUPPORT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY NOMINEE, WHOEVER THAT IS, THOUGH HE ACKNOWLEDGED HIS FRIENDSHIP WITH FORMER PENNSYLVANIA SEN. RICK SANTORUM.
WITH VALENTINE'S DAY JUST A WEEK AWAY, THE DEADLINE IS APPROACHING TO NOMINATE LOUISIANA'S LONGEST MARRIED COUPLE. LOUISIANA FAMILY FORUM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GENE MILLS SAYS HIS GROUP BESTOWS THE HONORS EACH YEAR. MILLS SAYS THERE ARE STILL TWO DAYS TO NOMINATE COUPLE WHO'VE BEEN HAPPILY MARRIED A LONG TIME. HE SAYS THE COUPLE PROCLAIMED LOUISIANA'S LONGEST-MARRIED COUPLE WILL BE HONORED AT A VALENTINE'S DAY EVENT AT THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION IN BATON ROUGE.
FOR INFORMATION CALL 800-606-6470.
THE 14-PARISH ATCHAFALAYA HERITAGE AREA IS GETTING NEW SIGNS TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHEN THEY'VE TRAVELED INTO THE SPECIALLY-DESIGNATED REGION. LT. GOV. JAY DARDENNE, WHO OVERSEES TOURISM EFFORTS IN LOUISIANA, SAID MONDAY THAT 264 HIGHWAY SIGNS ARE BEING INSTALLED AROUND THE ATCHAFALAYA REGION.
THE MARKERS, PAID WITH $165,000 IN FEDERAL FUNDS, DEFINE THE BOUNDARIES OF THE HERITAGE AREA, WHICH WAS DESIGNATED BY CONGRESS AS ONE OF 49 NATIONAL HERITAGE AREAS IN THE UNITED STATES. THE SIGN INSTALLATION WORK SHOULD BE FINISHED IN THE SPRING.
PINEVILLE POLICE SAY CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING APPARENTLY CAUSE THE DEATH OF 55-YEAR OLD EMMA HARPER AND HER 17-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER EBONY HARPER. POLICE SAY THEY WENT TO THE HOME SATURDAY AFTERNOON, AFTER A CALLER REPORTED THAT THE WOMEN WERE UNRESPONSIVE. INVESTIGATORS SAY A GENERATOR APPARENTLY WAS BEING USED INDOORS FOR ELECTRIC POWER, AND ITS EXHAUST FUMES WERE NOT VENTED TO THE OUTDOORS. THOUGH IT’S BELIEVED THE DEATHS WERE ACCIDENTAL, AUTHORITIES HAVE ORDERED AUTOPSIES ON BOTH WOMEN.
RECENT RAINS HAVE ELEVATED WATER LEVELS IN CANE RIVER LAKE, ALLOWING THE ENTIRE LAKE TO REOPEN TO BOATING TRAFFIC. PARTS OF THE LAKE MUST BE CLOSED WHEN THE WATER LEVEL DROPS BELOW 96 FEET ABOVE MEAN SEA LEVEL. THE LEVEL DROPPED TO 93.4 FEET LAST SUMMER BECAUSE OF THE DROUGHT BUT THIS PAST WEEK WAS BACK UP ABOVE 96 FEET.
STATE POLICE REPORT A PEDESTRIAN WAS KILLED IN A HIT-AND-RUN SATURDAY ON LA. HIGHWAY 1 IN SIMMESPORT. TROOPERS SAY THE BODY OF 36 YEAR OLD LEVI JONES JR OF MARKSVILLE WAS FOUND IN THE SOUTH LANE OF LA. HIGHWAY 1 AFTER AN UNIDENTIFIED VEHICLE STRUCK HIM AROUND 3 P.M. JONES WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE.
THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE JUST KEPT ON GOING..
A NEW ORLEANS LAWMAKER PROPOSES A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO STRIP THE GOVERNOR'S POWER TO GRANT PARDONS. REP. AUSTIN BADON SAYS HE FILED HIS LEGISLATION AFTER PUBLIC OUTRAGE IN MISSISSIPPI THAT OUTGOING GOVERNOR HALEY BARBOUR PARDONED FOUR CONVICTED KILLERS. BADON'S BILL WOULD REQUIRE AMENDING THE STATE CONSTITUTION; SO IT WILL NEED TWO-THIRDS MAJORITY APPROVAL IN BOTH CHAMBERS, BEFORE GOING TO VOTERS ON A FALL BALLOT. BADON'S BILL HAS BEEN PRE-FILED FOR THE SPRING LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT STARTS MARCH 12TH.
A TEENAGER CONVICTED OF KILLING HIS PARENTS AT THEIR WESTERN OUACHITA PARISH HOME, HAS BEEN SENTENCED TO LIFE IN PRISON. SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD DALTON FLETCHER WAS SENTENCED FRIDAY IN THE BOSSIER PARISH COURTHOUSE TO TWO LIFE SENTENCES WITHOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF PROBATION, PAROLE OR SUSPENSION OF SENTENCE. FLETCHER WAS CONVICTED OF TWO COUNTS OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER IN DECEMBER FOR THE SHOOTING DEATHS JOHN AND TAMMY FLETCHER IN SEPTEMBER 2010. HE PLEADED NOT GUILTY BY REASON OF INSANITY.
NOW THAT SUPER BOWL 46 IS IN THE BOOKS, THE PLANNING STEPS UP A NOTCH FOR SUPER BOWL 47 IN NEW ORLEANS. LT. GOVERNOR JAY DARDENNE SAYS 2002 WAS THE LAST TIME THE SUPER BOWL WAS PLAYED IN THE MERCEDES-BENZ SUPERDOME AND THE KEY IS TO PUT ON A GREAT EVENT, SO THE N-F-L WILL WANT TO COME BACK IN A FEW MORE YEARS. DARDENNE SAYS THEY ESTIMATE NEXT YEAR'S SUPER BOWL WILL GIVE THE ECONOMY ABOUT A 450-MILLION DOLLAR BOOST. HE SAYS HOSTING THE GAME ALSO GIVES THE CITY AND STATE PUBLICITY YOU CAN'T PUT A DOLLAR-FIGURE ON.
STATE FIRE MARSHAL BUTCH BROWNING SAYS A MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED FOR A SERIES OF ARSON FIRES IN THE KAPLAN AREA. BROWNING SAYS A NINE MONTH LONG INVESTIGATION INTO SUSPICIOUS FIRES ENDED SATURDAY WITH THE ARREST OF 56-YEAR-OLD FELICIAN PRIMEAUX. BROWNING SAYS PRIMEAUX IS IN THE VERMILIAN PARISH JAIL, CHARGED WITH 12 COUNTS OF SIMPLE ARSON. THE BUILDINGS BURNED INCLUDE THE OLD KAPLAN RICE HOUSE AND OTHERS. BROWNING SAYS PRIMEAUX MAY HAVE CHOSEN EMPTY TARGETS, BUT HIS ALLEGED CRIMES STILL COULD HAVE HURT SOMEONE.
A LIVINGSTON PARISH STATE REPRESENTATIVE HAS PRE-FILED LEGISLATION THAT WOULD MAKE FAILURE TO REPORT A MISSING CHILD A CRIME. SHERMAN MACK SAYS HE DECIDED TO WRITE THE BILL BECAUSE OF THE CASEY ANTHONY TRIAL. HE SAYS HE FEELS THERE NEEDS TO BE A LOUISIANA LAW THAT STATES A "CARETAKER" MUST REPORT A MISSING CHILD TO PROPER AUTHORITIES WITHIN 24 HOURS.
A STOMACH VIRUS OUTBREAK DELAYED THE DEPARTURE OF THE CRUISE SHIP "VOYAGER OF THE SEAS" FROM NEW ORLEANS IN ONE OF THREE OUTBREAKS OF ILLNESS ABOARD U.S.-BASED CRUISE SHIPS REPORTED OVER THE WEEKEND. THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION NOTIFIED LOUISIANA ON FRIDAY THAT A CRUISE SHIP MIGHT BE COMING IN WITH A NOROVIRUS OUTBREAK. STATE EPIDEMIOLOGIST RAOULT RATARD SAID SUNDAY, ABOUT 200 PASSENGERS ON THE NEW ORLEANS SHIP BECAME ILL FROM THE VIRUS, WHICH CAUSES VOMITING AND DIARRHEA AND SPREADS RAPIDLY IN CLOSE QUARTERS SUCH AS CRUISE SHIPS AND NURSING HOMES.
EARLY SUNDAY MORNING, SINGLE VEHICLE CRASH, CLAIMED THE LIFE OF A MONTEREY WOMAN. STATE POLICE SAY 46 YEAR OLD SHEILA FARRAR WAS KILLED WHEN HER VEHICLE LEFT HIGHWAY 129 IN CONCORDIA PARISH AND STRUCK A BRIDGE RAILING. FARRAR WAS NOT WEARING HER SEAT BELT AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. ROUTINE TOXICOLOGY TESTS ARE PENDING. THE CRASH REMAINS UNDER INVESTIGATION.
STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS ANNOUNCE PLANS FOR A NEW CENTRAL STATE HOSPITAL IN PINEVILLE. STATE HEALTH & HOSPITALS SECRETARY BRUCE GREENSTEIN SAYS THE EXISTING HOSPITAL IS OVER A HUNDRED YEARS OLD, AND AN UPGRADE IS LONG OVERDUE. GREENSTEIN SAYS THE FIRST PHASE OF THE PROJECT WILL BE CONSOLIDATING THE CURRENT CENTRAL HOSPITAL CAMPUS, AND ADJACENT PINECREST SUPPORTS & SERVICES CENTER, ALL INTO ONE COMPACT AREA IN THE FACILITIES NORTHWEST CORNER. CONSTRUCTION WILL START LATER THIS YEAR ON A NEW, STATE-OF-THE-ART MENTAL HEALTH HOSPITAL BUILDING THAT WILL EXIST IN TANDEM WITH THE EXISTING FACILITY. HE SAYS THE PROJECTED COST WILL BE AROUND $6-MILLION.
A STUDY RELEASED YESTERDAY SHOWS THE BAN ON SMOKING IN BARS AND GAMING ESTABLISHMENTS IN ALEXANDRIA HAS MADE AN IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON AIR QUALITY IN THOSE VENUES. THE DATA COLLECTED IN THE STUDY WAS ANALYZED BY THE LSU HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER'S SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH IN NEW ORLEANS. THE STUDY SHOWED THAT AIR INSIDE THE FACILITIES IS NOW 36 TIMES CLEANER AND HAS SEEN A REDUCTION OF 97 PERCENT OF THE PARTICULATE MATTERS IN THE AIR. NO WORD IN THE REPORT AS TO WHAT EFFECT THE BAN HAD ON BUSINESS IN THOSE BARS.
LSU ECONOMIST LAUREN SCOTT WAS IN TOWN YESTERDAY ADDRESSING THE CENTRAL LOUISIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ALLIANCE LUNCHEON. SCOTT TOLD THE ASSEMBLED
BETTER TIMES ARE COMING FOR CENTRAL LOUISIANA. NOT ALL THE NEW WAS GOOD THOUGH, SCOTT DID SAY RECOVERY FROM THE ECONOMIC DOWNTURN WILL BE SLOW ON A NATIONAL LEVEL.
FOUR MEN WERE CHARGED WITH THEFT AFTER THEY ALLEGEDLY STOLE SOME GUNS FROM A STORE IN PINEVILLE. ARRESTED WERE 21 YEAR OLD MATTHEW DAVIS OF ALEXANDRIA; 19 YEAR OLD STEVEN MITCHELL OF BOYCE; 22 YEAR OLD ERIC MOORE OF PINEVILLE; AND 20 YEAR OLD HERBERT BLANCHARD PINEVILLE. EACH WAS CHARGED WITH THEFT OF A FIREARM AND CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY. DAVIS WAS ALSO CHARGED WITH RESISTING AN OFFICER, AND MITCHELL WAS CHARGED WITH ILLEGAL USE OF A WEAPON.
LOUISIANA'S MEDICAID PROGRAM ON WEDNESDAY STARTED PROVIDING HEALTH CARE THROUGH PRIVATE MANAGED CARE NETWORKS IN NINE PARISHES AROUND NEW ORLEANS, THE FIRST STEP IN A SWEEPING REVAMP OF THE PROGRAM THAT PROVIDES CARE TO THE POOR. NEARLY 246,000 MEDICAID RECIPIENTS, MOSTLY CHILDREN, ACROSS SOUTHEAST LOUISIANA WERE SWITCHED TO THE MANAGED CARE NETWORKS IN THIS FIRST PHASE OF THE INSURANCE-BASED MODEL, CALLED BAYOU HEALTH. ONLY ABOUT A QUARTER OF THOSE SHIFTED TO THE NEW INSURANCE MODEL CHOSE HOW THEY WILL GET THAT CARE. THE STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAD TO ASSIGN 73 PERCENT TO THEIR NEW HEALTH PLANS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T SELECT THEIR OWN AMONG THE FIVE OPTIONS OFFERED.
STARTING THIS YEAR, LOUISIANANS CAN HELP FIGHT HUNGER WHILE FILING THEIR STATE INCOME TAXES, BY INCLUDING ON THEIR RETURNS A CONTRIBUTION TO THE LOUISIANA FOOD BANK ASSOCIATION. LFBA SPOKESPERSON CINDY GREENSTEIN SAYS IT'S NEW AND IT'S EASY TO DO. THE 2011 STATE TAX RETURN FORMS WILL HAVE A LINE ITEM THAT TAX FILERS CAN CHECK TO GIVE SOME OF THEIR TAX RETURN TO THE FOOD BANKS. SHE SAYS THAT MONEY WILL BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE MORE THAN 400 MEMBER AGENCIES IN LOUISIANA, SEEKING TO HELP THE NEEDY.
DIXIE ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORP. HAS ENTERED A 10-YEAR CONTRACT TO GET ITS POWER FROM CLECO POWER LLC STARTING IN APRIL 2014. DEMCO SERVES ABOUT 100,000 CUSTOMERS IN A SEVEN-PARISH BATON ROUGE AREA. GOING FORWARD, JOHN VRANIC, DEMCO'S CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND GENERAL MANAGER, SAID CLECO POWER'S PROPOSAL IS DEMCO'S BEST OPTION TO KEEP CUSTOMERS' COSTS DOWN AND SERVE THE UTILITY'S GROWING POWER NEEDS.
ALTHOUGH THE WATER IS STILL LOW AT TOLEDO BEND RESERVOIR, LOUISIANA'S OFFICE OF STATE PARKS SAYS IT HAS RISEN ENOUGH TO REOPEN THE BOAT LAUNCH AT NORTH TOLEDO BEND STATE PARK NEAR ZWOLLE. SPOKESWOMAN SHARON BROUSSARD SAYS THE LAUNCH REOPENED WEDNESDAY. SHE SAYS THE LAUNCH AT SOUTH TOLEDO BEND STATE PARK REMAINS CLOSED UNTIL THE SABINE RIVER AUTHORITY CAN DREDGE OUT BOAT LANES. BOTH LAUNCHES CLOSED IN JULY BECAUSE THE LAKE WAS EXTREMELY LOW.
NEW US CENSUS DATA SHOWS LOUISIANA AS HAVING ONE OF THE LARGEST POPULATIONS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN RESIDENTS IN THE NATION. THE DATA SHOWS NEARLY ONE-THIRD OF PEOPLE LIVING IN THE STATE IN 2010 IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS BEING EITHER BLACK OR BLACK AND A COMBINATION OF ANOTHER RACE. LOUISIANA HAS THE SECOND-LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF BLACK PEOPLE FOLLOWED BY MISSISSIPPI. THE DATA ALSO SHOWS THERE'S BEEN AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF AFRICAN AMERICANS WHO ARE REGISTERED TO VOTE, BUT LOUISIANA REPUBLICANS STILL HOLD MORE VOTING POWER.
OPELOUSAS ATTORNEY MARION OVERTON WHITE IS SEEKING $1.6 MILLION IN LEGAL FEES FOR HIS WORK IN THE EVANGELINE PARISH DESEGREGATION CASE. THE ADVOCATE REPORTS (HTTP://BIT.LY/WDJMDN ) WHITE'S REQUEST COMES AS THE SCHOOL BOARD IS ANTICIPATING AN END TO THE 47-YEAR-OLD CASE. THE $1.6 MILLION REQUEST IN EVANGELINE PARISH FOLLOWS WHITE'S AGREEMENT LAST YEAR TO ACCEPT $800,000 IN NEIGHBORING ST. LANDRY PARISH. WHITE HAD INITIALLY SOUGHT NEARLY $10 MILLION IN LEGAL FEES FOR HIS WORK IN THE ST. LANDRY DESEGREGATION CASE BUT SETTLED FOR THE LESSER AMOUNT.
INSURANCE COMMISSIONER JIM DONELON SAYS A DECISION WON'T BE MADE UNTIL NEXT WEEK ON WHETHER THE STATE'S PROPERTY INSURER OF LAST RESORT WILL PURSUE A U.S. SUPREME COURT APPEAL OF A $93 MILLION JUDGMENT AGAINST THE COMPANY. CITIZENS WAS FOUND TO HAVE MOVED TOO SLOWLY IN DEALING WITH CLAIMS AFTER HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA. AT ISSUE IS WHETHER CITIZENS WILL PAY $350,000 TO A WASHINGTON-BASED LAW FIRM TO ASK THE SUPREME COURT TO CONSIDER AN APPLICATION FOR APPEAL OF THE JUDGMENT, WHICH HAS GROWN TO $104 MILLION WITH INTEREST. THE HIGH COURT REFUSED TO STALL PAYMENT OF THE JUDGMENT, EVEN IF CITIZENS TRIES THE FEDERAL APPEAL.
ACADIA PARISH AUTHORITIES ARE INVESTIGATING THE DEATH OF A 58-YEAR-OLD MAN WHOSE BODY WAS FOUND IN A DRAINAGE DITCH. DEPUTIES REPORT THE MAN'S BODY WAS FOUND TUESDAY MORNING OFF THE BASILE EUNICE HIGHWAY NEAR BASILE. DEPUTIES SAY FOUL PLAY IS NOT SUSPECTED IN THE MAN'S DEATH. THE BODY WAS TAKEN TO THE CALCASIEU PARISH CORONER'S OFFICE FOR AN AUTOPSY. THE MAN'S IDENTITY IS BEING WITHHELD PENDING NOTIFICATION OF FAMILY.
WILDLIFE OFFICIALS HAVE A MESSAGE FOR A COUPLE WHO FLED LOUISIANA WITH THEIR FOUR MONKEYS OUT OF FEAR THEIR ANIMALS WOULD BE CONFISCATED: COME HOME AND LET US INSPECT YOUR CAGES AND MONKEYS. JIM AND DONITA CLARK FLED THEIR HOME IN DERIDDER LAST OCTOBER AND HAVE BEEN LIVING WITH THEIR MONKEYS IN THEIR MOTOR HOME IN TEXAS. BO BOEHRINGER, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES, INVITED THE CLARKS TO RETURN TO LOUISIANA AND UNDERGO AN INSPECTION, AS REQUIRED NOW FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS EXOTIC ANIMALS IN THEIR HOMES. HE ADDED THAT THE CLARKS HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR AS LONG AS THEIR MONKEYS ARE FOUND TO BE WELL TREATED AND THEIR CAGES SAFE.
BUT THE CLARKS REMAIN SKEPTICAL. THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A LAWYER.
A STATE LAWMAKER FILES TWO BILLS FOR THE MARCH LEGISLATIVE SESSION AIMED AT CRACKING DOWN ON CRIME. ONE OF NEW ORLEANS REP. JEROD BROSSETT'S BILLS WOULD MAKE FIRING A GUN WITHIN A THOUSAND FEET OF A SCHOOL A CRIME. THE OTHER SEEKS TO STIFFEN THE MINIMUM PENALTIES FOR THOSE FOUND GUILTY OF HOME INVASION CRIMES.
A NEW STUDY FINDS THAT LOUISIANA'S SECOND GULF OF MEXICO DEAD ZONE STRETCHES AT LEAST FROM THE CHANDELEUR SOUND OFF LOUISIANA TO ALABAMA'S DAUPHIN ISLAND — AND COULD BE BIGGER. THE LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN BASIN FOUNDATION SAYS IT COULD CHECK ONLY AS FAR AS DAUPHIN ISLAND LAST YEAR. OFFICIALS HOPE TO GET OTHER STATES TO EXTEND THE REACH OF STUDIES THAT WILL START LATER IN FEBRUARY.
IN 2010, SCIENTISTS FOUND A 250-SQUARE-MILE AREA WHERE OXYGEN LEVELS WERE TOO LOW TO SUPPORT LIFE IN THE CHANDELEUR SOUND. THE ONE FOUND LAST YEAR WAS MORE THAN 1,000 SQUARE MILES. FOUNDATION HEAD JOHN LOPEZ SAID WEDNESDAY THE AREA PROBABLY DIDN'T GROW — THE SCIENTISTS JUST LOOKED FARTHER.
ALLIGATOR HUNTERS, RACCOON WRANGLERS AND CRAWFISH CATCHERS IN LOUISIANA'S CRITTER-FILLED SWAMPS AND BAYOUS ARE INCREASINGLY COMMON ON TELEVISION.
SINCE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE HISTORY CHANNEL'S WILDLY POPULAR "SWAMP PEOPLE" IN 2010, ROUGHLY A DOZEN OTHER LOUISIANA-BASED REALITY SHOWS HAVE MADE THEIR TELEVISION DEBUTS, AMONG THEM THE TRAVEL CHANNEL'S "GIRLS, GUNS AND GATORS," CMT'S "CRAWFISH COWBOYS" AND THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL'S "RAGIN' CAJUNS."
THE REASON FOR THE RECENT BOOM IN LOUISIANA-BASED REALITY TV IS TWO-FOLD, SAID LOUISIANA LT. GOV. JAY DARDENNE. NOT ONLY DO REALITY SHOWS FILMED IN LOUISIANA TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE STATE'S TV AND FILM TAX CREDIT PROGRAM, BUT LOUISIANA HAS A RICH CULTURE THAT MAKES FOR GREAT ENTERTAINMENT. SOME FEAR THE REALITY SHOWS ARE ANYTHING BUT AND PUT THE STATE IN A POOR LIGHT.
POLICE IN EUNICE SAY A WOMAN ALLEGEDLY STABBED HER BOYFRIEND FOR TAKING TOO LONG TO FINISH YARD WORK. OFFICERS WERE CALLED TO A HOME, WHERE THEY FOUND A MALE VICTIM WITH A GASH TO HIS SHOULDER AND RECOVERED A KNIFE--PRESUMABLY USED IN THE ASSAULT.
A NATCHITOCHES PARISH MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF STEALING HORSE FEED, WELDING EQUIPMENT AND POWER TOOLS FROM A FARM SHED IN POINTE COUPEE PARISH. LOUISIANA AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRY COMMISSIONER MIKE STRAIN'S OFFICE SAYS 32-YEAR-OLD STEVEN LESLIE JONES WAS ARRESTED TUESDAY IN MORGANZA ON THEFT CHARGES AFTER A HIDDEN CAMERA CAPTURED FOOTAGE OF HIS TRUCK NEAR THE SHED. THE FARMER WHO OWNED THE STOLEN EQUIPMENT REPORTED THE THEFT TO THE LOCAL SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT LAST WEEK. AUTHORITIES RECOVERED ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT.
TWO CENTRAL LOUISIANA TRUCK DRIVERS DIED IN VERNON PARISH YESTERDAY MORNING WHEN THEIR RIGS COLLIDED ON LA. HIGHWAY 28 AT LA. HIGHWAY 8. THE EAST AND WEST LANES OF LA. 28 NEAR THE CRASH SITE WERE CLOSED MOST OF THE DAY AFTER THE WRECK, BUT REOPENED JUST BEFORE 3 P.M., THIRTEEN HOURS AFTER THE CRASH OCCURRED. TROOPERS SAY 54 YEAR OLD HAROLD DURAND OF POLLOCK WAS DRIVING A LOGGING TRUCK ON HIGHWAY 8. AND FAILED TO STOP AT THE INTERSECTION OF HIGHWAY 28 WEST. HE THEN ENTERED THE HIGHWAY AND STRUCK ANOTHER 18 WHEELER BEING DRIVEN BY 29 YEAR OLD JOSEPH WINFORD OF DERIDDER. WINFORD DIED AT THE SCENE OF THE CRASH. DURAND DIED A SHORT TIME LATER AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL.
A GOOD CROWD SHOWED UP YESTERDAY FOR A MEETING IN PINEVILLE AIMED AT GETTING PUBLIC INPUT ON LOUISIANA'S HIGHWAY NEEDS. IN THE END THOUGH, MUCH OF THE MEETING WAS JUST LIP SERVICE TO FRUSTRATED RESIDENTS, BECAUSE THE STATE DOESN’T HAVE THE MONEY NECESSARY TO ADDRESS THEIR PROBLEMS. ACCORDING THE STATE D.O.T.D. THE STATE CURRENTLY HAS MORE THAN $12 BILLION IN HIGHWAY NEEDS AND ONLY $757 MILLION BUDGETED FOR THE 2012 / 2013 FISCAL YEAR.
35 YEAR OLD MARCUS HOWARD HAS BEEN INDICTED BY A RAPIDES PARISH GRAND JURY ON ONE COUNT OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AND ONE COUNT OF POSSESSION OF A FIREARM BY A CONVICTED FELON, IN CONNECTION WITH THE NOVEMBER SLAYING OF MICHAEL HUDSON BREW, WHO WAS SHOT TO DEATH IN HIS FOURTH STREET HOME IN ALEXANDRIA.
HOWARD IS ONE OF FIVE PARISH RESIDENTS INDICTED YESTERDAY. ALL FIVE ACCORDING TO THE PARISH DA’S OFFICE, CAREER FELONS.
THE U.S. SUPREME COURT HAS DENIED A REQUEST BY THE STATE'S INSURER OF LAST RESORT TO BLOCK A RAID ON ITS ASSETS TO PAY OFF A STATE COURT JUDGMENT.
JUSTICE ANTONIN SCALIA THREW OUT THE STATE'S LEGAL REQUEST TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
THE LOUISIANA CITIZENS PROPERTY INSURANCE BOARD ON TUESDAY HIRED A WASHINGTON, D.C., ATTORNEY TO APPEAL A LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT RULING THAT CALLS FOR CITIZENS TO PAY $93 MILLION, PLUS INTEREST, TO POLICYHOLDERS WHO SUED BECAUSE CITIZENS DID NOT MEET A DEADLINE FOR STARTING TO PROCESS CLAIMS AFTER HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA.
LT. GOVERNOR JAY DARDENNE IS OFF TO THE BIG APPLE. DARDENNE WILL HELP PROMOTE LOUISIANA TOURISM WITH THE HELP OF THE HISTORY CHANNEL, WHO CARRY "SWAMP PEOPLE". CHEF JOHN FOLSE WILL ALSO BE THERE, SERVING UP DELICIOUS LOOZIANA CUISINE.
JANUARY HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MILDEST, AND WARMEST IN RECENT HISTORY. STATE CLIMATOLOGIST BARRY KEIM SAYS THE PACIFIC LA NINA IS MOSTLY TO BLAME - OR THANK - FOR THAT. HE SAYS EVEN THOUGH THIS WINTER HAS BEEN WARMER THAN NORMAL, WE CAN STILL EXPECT SOME CHILLY DAYS IN FEBRUARY. KEIM SAYS USUALLY WE GET A LOT OF CANADIAN AIR IN JANUARY; THIS YEAR IT'S BEEN COMING IN MOSTLY FROM THE PACIFIC.
STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS ARE SOMEWHAT PUZZLED BY THE LOW NUMBERS OF REPORTED FLU CASES IN LOUISIANA THIS SEASON. DR. FRANK WELCH IS DIRECTOR OF IMMUNIZATION PROGRAMS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HOSPITALS. HE SAYS THERE'S A "FLU INDEX" BY WHICH HEALTH OFFICIALS GRADE INFLUENZA SEASONS' SEVERITY...AND THIS YEAR IT'S VERY LOW. WHY MIGHT THIS BE? WELCH SAYS DHH IS NOT SURE, BUT HE THINKS IT MAY BE DUE TO EFFECTIVE FLU SHOT PUBLIC AWARENESS ADS ON RADIO AND TV.
GOVERNOR BOBBY JINDAL HAS APPOINTED FORMER STATE LAWMAKER RICKEY HARDY, OF LAFAYETTE, TO THE PARDON BOARD -- ONE OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT BOARDS THAT PAYS ITS MEMBERS A SALARY; ABOUT $36K A YEAR. THE FIVE-MEMBER BOARD MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR ABOUT CLEMENCY APPLICATIONS.
GOVERNOR BOBBY JINDAL'S FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF BELIEVES PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA IS IN GOOD SHAPE TO BE REELECTED THIS NOVEMBER. TIMMY TEEPELL, WHO IS NOW A PARTNER WITH ON-MESSAGE, A NATIONAL POLITICAL FIRM, SAYS OBAMA WILL LIKELY WIN THE SAME BASE STATES THAT SENATOR JOHN KERRY WON EIGHT YEARS AGO, LEAVING HIM JUST A FEW ELECTORAL VOTES AWAY FROM RE-ELECTION. BUT TEEPELL SAYS A LIKELY OBAMA VICTORY COULD MEAN REPUBLICANS WILL DO WELL IN COMPETITIVE CONGRESSIONAL RACES. TEEPELL SAYS THE LACK OF OPTIMISM SHOWED BY VOTERS IN THEIR POLLING, SUGGESTS THAT THE G-O-P CAN TAKE CONTROL OF THE SENATE...
EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH DEPUTIES ARE INVESTIGATING THE SHOOTING DEATHS OF TWO MEN--FOUND LYING IN THE ROAD IN THE CITY'S GLEN OAKS AREA. THE MEN HAVE NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED, AND SO FAR DETECTIVES HAVE NO SUSPECT OR MOTIVE IN THE KILLINGS. BATON ROUGE STILL RANKS IN THE TOP TEN US CITIES FOR ANNUAL MURDERS PER CAPITA.
THE FORMER SHREVEPORT CITY OFFICIAL CONVICTED LAST WEEK OF RAPE AND ABUSE OF OFFICE WILL BE SENTENCED TODAY. RICK SEATON COULD GET 45 YEARS IN PRISON. SEATON WAS FOUND GUILTY OF BRINGING AN 18 YEAR OLD WOMAN--DRUNK AND DISTRAUGHT OVER HER BOYFRIEND'S ARREST--TO CITY OFFICE'S WHERE HE TOOK ADVANTAGE OF HER CONDITION. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED ON THE DAY OF THE 2010 INDEPENDENCE BOWL.
A CRASH INVOLVING THREE PONCHATOULA HIGH TEENAGERS HAS LEFT THE DRIVER DEAD, AND THE TWO PASSENGERS INJURED. STATE POLICE SAY 17-YEAR-OLD KRISTINA BERNARD’S VEHICLE DRIFTED OFF OF I-12 AND CRASHED. AUTHORITIES BELIEVE DISTRACTED DRIVING MAY HAVE BEEN A FACTOR.
A FEDERAL JUDGE RULED TUESDAY THAT HALLIBURTON CAN AVOID PAYING MOST OF THE POLLUTION CLAIMS THAT RESULTED FROM THE CATASTROPHIC 2010 GULF OF MEXICO OIL SPILL BECAUSE IT WAS SHIELDED IN A CONTRACT WITH WELL-OWNER BP. STILL, U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE CARL BARBIER SAID THAT HALLIBURTON IS NOT EXEMPT FROM PAYING PUNITIVE DAMAGES AND CIVIL PENALTIES THAT ARISE FROM THE APRIL 20, 2010, BLOWOUT OFF THE LOUISIANA COAST. THOSE PENALTIES COULD AMOUNT TO BILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
IT'S BEEN THREE MONTHS SINCE IT HAPPENED LAST TIME, BUT A COUPLE IN OUACHITA PARISH HAS FOUND ANOTHER DEAD HORSE ROTTING NEAR THEIR PROPERTY. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS INVESTIGATING THE INCIDENT AND BELIEVE THEY HAVE A SUSPECT WHO THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO LOCATE. THE SAME COUPLE FOUND THREE DEAD HORSES ON ANOTHER NEIGHBOR'S LAND AROUND THANKSGIVING.
A 17-YEAR-OLD STUDENT AT A BATON ROUGE SCHOOL FOR GIFTED STUDENTS IS UNDER ARREST FOR MULTIPLE COUNTS OF IDENTITY THEFT. AUTHORITIES ALLEGE THAT AMELIA BUCKLES STOLE THE NAMES, BIRTH DATES AND SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS OF OVER A HUNDRED FELLOW STUDENTS; USING SOME TO FILE BOGUS FEDERAL TAX RETURNS AND GET REFUND CHECKS.
THE WIFE OF FORMER GOVERNOR EDWIN EDWARDS SAYS HER HUSBAND IS NOW HOME AND RESTING. TRINA SCOTT EDWARDS SAYS THE FORMER GOVERNOR WAS ADMITTED THIS WEEKEND WITH A CASE OF PNEUMONIA. TRINA SAYS WHEN THEY GOT TO THE HOSPITAL SATURDAY MORNING, EDWARDS HAD A FEVER OF 104.7 AND WAS PLACED IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT. BUT, DOCTORS SAID HE WAS WELL ENOUGH TO RETURN HOME YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.
A NEW STUDY SHOWS SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZE BUSINESSES HAVE BEEN SEVERELY IMPACTED IN LOUISIANA BY THE SLOWDOWN OF DRILLING PERMITS IN THE GULF. GREATER NEW ORLEANS INC PRESIDENT MICHAEL HECHT SAYS THEY SURVEYED 102 COMPANIES IN THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY AND 41-PERCENT SAY THEY ARE NOT MAKING A PROFIT. HECHT SAYS THEY SPOKE WITH COMPANIES THAT BUILD SHIPS, OPERATE BOATS, CATERERS AND EVEN FOLKS IN REAL ESTATE. HE SAYS 50-PERCENT OF THE SURVEYED COMPANIES HAVE LAID OFF EMPLOYEES AND 76-PERCENT HAVE LOST CASH RESERVES.
THE NATCHITOCHES PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE IS OUT IN FULL FORCE, SEARCHING FOR THE SUSPECT IN A DOUBLE HOMICIDE WHO ESCAPED FROM THEIR OFFICES IN HANDCUFFS FRIDAY NIGHT. DEPUTIES ARE SEARCHING FOR 30-YEAR-OLD READO NARGO WHO WALKED OUT AN UNATTENDED DOOR AFTER HE HAD BEEN LEFT ALONE FOR A MOMENT. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION TO NARDO'S WHEREABOUTS TO CALL THE NATCHITOCHES PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE. NARGO WAS LAST SEEN WEARING A BLACK JACKET WITH A HOOD, BLUE JEANS, BLACK BOOTS AND A BABY BLUE T-SHIRT.
OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS, ODDS ARE YOU’LL SEE SMOKE IN FORESTED AREAS OF THE KISATCHIE AS FOREST MANAGERS CONDUCT PRESCRIBED BURNS. PRESCRIBED BURNS HAVE SEVERAL POSITIVE EFFECTS ON THE FOREST. THE FIRE REDUCES DANGEROUS FOREST FUELS, PREVENTS THE SPREAD OF INSECT PESTS AND DISEASE, IMPROVES THE HABITAT FOR VARIOUS WILDLIFE SPECIES AND PROVIDES FOR A QUICK RELEASE OF MINERALS AND NUTRIENTS. HOWEVER, ALL OF THESE BURNS ARE CONTROLLED BY FORESTRY PERSONNEL. IF YOU SEE ONE THAT IS UNATTENDED, CALL 911 TO REPORT THE FIRE.
RESIDENTS FROM RANDOLPH ROAD TO FOREST HILL AND SURROUNDING AREAS ON U.S. HIGHWAY 165 ARE UNDER A WATER BOIL ADVISORY UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. THE FOREST HILL WATER SYSTEM HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS DUE TO A BREAK IN THE MAIN WATER LINE, LEADING TO THE BOIL ADVISORY.
THE GOVERNOR'S FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF SAYS POLLING OF LOUISIANANS SHOWS STRONG SUPPORT FOR BOBBY JINDAL'S PROPOSED EDUCATION REFORMS. TIMMY TEEPELL SAYS HIS NEW EMPLOYER, ONMESSAGE CONSULTANTS, DID A STATEWIDE SURVEY OF 800 VOTERS. HE SAYS 60% POLLED WANT "BOLD REFORMS" OF PUBLIC EDUCATION. TEEPELL SAYS 29% FAVORED FOCUSING MORE ATTENTION ON FIXING FAILING SCHOOLS. TEEPELL SAYS, OTHER POLLS SUGGEST WIDESPREAD SUPPORT FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL VOUCHERS AND OTHER PROPOSALS THAT JINDAL IS PUSHING.
THE SENATE AND HOUSE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEES BEGIN A SERIES OF MEETINGS TODAY TO GET PUBLIC INPUT ON WHICH HIGHWAY PROJECTS SHOULD RECEIVE FUNDING. SENATE TRANSPORTATION CHAIRMAN ROBERT ADLEY SAYS THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, THE STATE HAS FOCUSED ON IMPROVING THE INTERSTATE SYSTEM. ADLEY SAYS THERE'S MORE FOCUS ON STATE HIGHWAYS THIS YEAR. THE "ROAD SHOW" AS ITS CALLED, BEGINS THIS MORNING IN PINEVILLE AT 10:30 AT CITY HALL. THERE'S ANOTHER HEARING THIS AFTERNOON IN BOSSIER CITY.
A STATE DISTRICT JUDGE RULED MONDAY, LOUISIANA'S LAWMAKERS WON'T BE FORCED TO REFILL THE STATE "RAINY DAY" FUND TO ITS CAP, PREVENTING A NEW BUDGET SHORTFALL THAT COULD HAVE TOPPED $150 MILLION. AT ISSUE WAS WHETHER LAWMAKERS NEEDED TO REFILL THE BUDGET STABILIZATION FUND AFTER USING IT TWO YEARS AGO. FORMER STATE LAWMAKER RON GOMEZ AND LOCAL TEA PARTY LEADER BOB REID CLAIMED LEGISLATORS VIOLATED THE STATE CONSTITUTION BY NOT REPLENISHING THE RAINY DAY FUND AFTER TAPPING IT TO HELP CLOSE A DEFICIT IN THE 2009-10 FISCAL YEAR. THE LEGISLATURE AND GOV. BOBBY JINDAL’S ADMINISTRATION ARGUED THAT A MORE RECENT STATUTE POSTPONED ANY NEED TO PUT MONEY BACK INTO THE FUND.
A STATE JUDGE ORDERS A STOP TO EFFORTS TO SEIZE OVER $100-MILLION WON BY HOMEOWNERS WHO SUED LOUISIANA'S LAST-RESORT PROPERTY INSURER FOR ADJUSTING 2005 HURRICANE CLAIMS TOO SLOWLY. STATE INSURANCE COMMISSIONER JIM DONELON SAYS PLAINTIFFS' ATTORNEY TRIED TO SEIZE THE FUNDS MONDAY, BUT A GRETNA JUDGE STOPPED THEM. DONELON SAYS THE SEIZURE OF CITIZENS' ASSETS IS ON HOLD, BY JUDICIAL ORDER, WHILE CITIZENS AND THE DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE EXPLORE EVERY AVENUE OF APPEAL.
AN ATTORNEY FOR A LOUISIANA MAN FIGHTING LIFETIME SEX OFFENDER REGISTRATION SAYS HE IS CONSIDERING AN APPEAL TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT. THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT RULED LAST WEEK THAT JIMMY L. SMITH MUST REGISTER WITH STATE AUTHORITIES AS A SEX OFFENDER AND COMPLY WITH OTHER PROVISIONS SUCH AS HAVING "SEX OFFENDER" PRINTED IN ORANGE LETTERS ON HIS DRIVER'S LICENSE. SMITH RECEIVED TWO PRISON SENTENCES IN 1995 FOR SEX OFFENSES INVOLVING JUVENILES. AT THE TIME, SMITH WAS REQUIRED TO REGISTER FOR 10 YEARS AFTER HIS RELEASE FROM PRISON. HE WAS DISCHARGED FROM THE REQUIREMENT IN 2005. THE DISPUTE BEGAN WHEN LOUISIANA AUTHORITIES TOLD SMITH IN 2009 THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO REGISTER AS A SEX OFFENDER UNDER A REVISED STATE LAW.
DEPUTIES SAY A DEQUINCY MAN HAS BEEN ARRESTED IN THE ALLEGED RAPE AND BEATING OF A 94-YEAR-OLD WOMAN, WHO SUFFERED A HEART ATTACK AFTER THE ASSAULT.
48-YEAR-OLD GABE MCKEEL JR. WAS BOOKED SATURDAY IN THE CALCASIEU CORRECTIONAL CENTER ON CHARGES OF AGGRAVATED RAPE, AGGRAVATED BURGLARY AND SECOND-DEGREE BATTERY. POLICE SAY MCKEEL WAS ARMED WITH A KNIFE WHEN HE ENTERED THE VICTIM'S HOME AND ALLEGEDLY ATTACKED AND RAPED HER. POLICE SAY THE VICTIM IS IN STABLE CONDITION AT A LAKE CHARLES HOSPITAL. MCKEEL'S BOND HAS BEEN SET AT $1.6 MILLION.
SOME SEAFOOD INDUSTRY PEOPLE ARE OPPOSED TO A PLAN BY THE LOUISIANA SEAFOOD PROMOTION AND MARKETING BOARD TO BUY NAMING RIGHTS TO THE NEW ORLEANS ARENA. THE PROPOSAL WOULD USE MONEY BP GAVE THE BOARD TO HELP OFFSET THE NEGATIVE IMPRESSION OF LOUISIANA SEAFOOD AFTER THE 2010 GULF OIL SPILL. SOME SAY THAT MONEY SHOULD BE SPENT ON OUT-OF-STATE ADVERTISING AND MARKETING TO GET THE MESSAGE OUT THAT OUR SEAFOOD IS SAFE TO EAT.
ARTWORK DRAWN BY CONVICTED SERIAL KILLER DERRICK TODD LEE IS BEING SOLD ONLINE. THE WEBSITE, SERIAL KILLERS INK .NET. ANGOLA PRISON AND WARDEN BURL CAIN CALLS THE WEBSITE "SICK" AND SAYS IT IS PROFITING OFF LEE'S AND OTHER SERIAL KILLERS ART. CAIN SAYS THE PRISONER RECEIVED MONEY FROM THE FOUNDER OF THE WEBSITE, JESSIKA GEIN, BUT IT WAS NOT SOLICITED. LEE IS ON DEATH ROW AT ANGOLA STATE PRISON.
WITH A TRIAL OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO OIL SPILL PENDING, BP PLC IS ASKING A FEDERAL JUDGE TO BLOCK TWO KEY PLAINTIFFS' EXPERTS FROM TESTIFYING ABOUT AN ALLEGED DISREGARD FOR SAFETY THROUGHOUT THE COMPANY THAT THOSE EXPERTS SAY CAUSED THE BLOWOUT OFF LOUISIANA'S COAST, LEADING TO THE NATION'S LARGEST OFFSHORE OIL SPILL. BP'S LEGAL MANEUVER TO LIMIT THE TWO CALIFORNIA EXPERTS FROM TESTIFYING ABOUT A LACK OF A SAFETY CULTURE AT BP WAS MADE PUBLIC MONDAY AFTER U.S. MAGISTRATE SALLY SHUSHAN UNSEALED 30 COURT MOTIONS TO LIMIT AND BLOCK EXPERT TESTIMONY.
NED SIMMONS, THE GREAT-GRANDSON OF TABASCO SAUCE INVENTOR E. MCILHENNY, AND LONGTIME CEO OF MCILHENNY CO. PASSED AWAY OVER THE WEEKEND. A NATIVE OF NEW ORLEANS AND TULANE GRADUATE. SIMMONS WAS 83.
A TERREBONNE PARISH MAN THAT'S BEEN MISSING SINCE LAST MONDAY, WAS FOUND DEAD YESTERDAY; ONLY A FEW HUNDRED YARDS FROM HIS HOME. 37-YEAR-OLD HERB JOHNSON JR. SUFFERED FROM MENTAL ILLNESS, AND LEFT HIS HOUSE A WEEK AGO COMPLAINING HE WAS HOT. THE CAUSE OF HIS DEATH IS NOT APPARENT. AN AUTOPSY IS SCHEDULED.
FORMER GOV. EDWIN EDWARDS REMAINED HOSPITALIZED WITH PNEUMONIA SUNDAY.
AS OF LATE SUNDAY EVENING HE WAS MOVED FROM INTENSIVE CARE TO A REGULAR HOSPITAL ROOM. HIS WIFE, TRINA EDWARDS SAID EARLIER IN THE DAY, SHE EXPECTED HIM TO RETURN TO THEIR HOME IN GONZALES POSSIBLY TODAY OR TOMORROW. MS EDWARDS WENT ON TO SAY THE 84 YEAR OLD FORMER GOVERNOR IS TIRED, BUT DOING WELL OVERALL. WITH A LITTLE REST SHE SAYS, HE SHOULD BE AS GOOD AS NEW. EDWARDS WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE SATURDAY TO OUR LADY OF THE LAKE REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER IN BATON ROUGE.
FIRST-TIME CLAIMS FOR UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE IN LOUISIANA FOR THE WEEK ENDING JAN. 21 DECREASED FROM THE PREVIOUS WEEK'S TOTAL. THE STATE LABOR DEPARTMENT FIGURES RELEASED FRIDAY SHOW THE INITIAL CLAIMS DECREASED TO 3,343 FROM THE PREVIOUS WEEK'S TOTAL OF 3,969. THE FIGURE WAS LOWER THAN IT WAS THE SAME WEEK, LAST YEAR.
THE LOUISIANA WORKFORCE COMMISSION IS SPONSORING A MASSIVE JOB FAIR IN KINDER TODAY FOR COUSHATTA CASINO, WHICH IS LOOKING TO HIRE EMPLOYEES FOR ITS NEW HOTEL. LWC SPOKESPERSON TIFFANY DICKERSON SAYS COUSHATTA IS LOOKING TO HIRE BETWEEN 200-250 PEOPLE FOR A VARIETY OF POSITIONS. DICKERSON SAYS THE COUSHATTA CASINO RESORT'S HOTEL WILL OPEN IN JUNE, BUT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR EMPLOYEES TO START WORKING IMMEDIATELY. DICKERSON SAYS THE EVENT WILL BE HELD TODAY AT THE COUSHATTA CASINO RESORT BANQUET ROOM FROM 11AM-7PM AND IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. SHE SAYS COUSHATTA WOULD BE A GREAT PLACE TO WORK.
US SENATOR MARY LANDRIEU ANNOUNCED, LATE FRIDAY, THE ARMY IS BUYING 4,900 ACRES OF LAND SOUTH OF FORT POLK. THE MOVE COMES AS MAJOR CUTS ARE BEING ANNOUNCED IN THE NATIONAL DEFENSE BUDGET. LANDRIEU'S NEWS RELEASE SAYS THIS IS CURRENTLY THE ONLY LAND ACQUISITION THAT THE U.S. ARMY IS ACTIVELY PURSUING IN THE COUNTRY AND A MOVE THAT LANDRIEU SAYS POINTS TO CONTINUED EXPANSION OF THE BASE.
ABOUT 800 PEOPLE ARE EXPECTED AT AN EDUCATION-CENTERED MEETING TODAY IN BATON ROUGE THAT WILL INCLUDE SPEECHES BY STATE AND NATIONAL LEADERS, INCLUDING FORMER FLORIDA GOV. JEB BUSH, SCHOOLS CHOICE ADVOCATE HOWARD FULLER AND FORMER NEW YORK CITY EDUCATION CHANCELLOR JOEL KLEIN. THE "LEADERSHIP FOR CHANGE" SESSION ALSO WILL INCLUDE TALKS BY GOV. BOBBY JINDAL, U.S. SEN. MARY LANDRIEU, D-LA., AND STATE EDUCATION SUPERINTENDENT JOHN WHITE. THE AIM OF THE SUMMIT IS TO BRING TOGETHER GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE MADE SUCCESSFUL EDUCATION REFORMS IN THEIR AREAS.
A STATE TEACHERS' UNION PROPOSES ITS OWN PROPOSALS FOR EDUCATION REFORMS, INCLUDING TEACHER TENURE AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS. LOUISIANA ASSOCIATION OF EDUCATORS PRESIDENT JOYCE HAYNES SAYS USING STANDARDIZED STUDENT TEST SCORES AS HALF A TEACHER'S REVIEW IS IMPROPER. THE LAE FEELS STUDENT TEST SCORES SHOULD BE A SMALLER PERCENTAGE OF TEACHER REVIEWS, WITH OTHER FACTORS CONSIDERED AS WELL. HAYNES SAYS LAE OPPOSES GOVERNOR JINDAL'S PROPOSED TEACHER TENURE REFORMS. SHE SAYS THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO WEED UNDER-PERFORMING TEACHERS OUT OF THE CLASSROOM. HAYNES SAYS THEY'D LIKE TO DISCUSS THE COUNTER-PROPOSAL WITH MR. JINDAL FACE-TO-FACE.
GAS PRICES HAVE BEEN STEADLY RISING DURING 2012, BUT WILL IT CONTINUE? AMERICAN AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION FUEL ANALYST DON REDMAN SAYS THE PRICE AT THE PUMP TRADITIONALLY GOES UP AS WE MOVE INTO SPRING AND HE SAYS THEY'RE ADVISING THEIR MEMBERS OF THE POSSIBILITY THAT GAS WILL COST FOUR-DOLLARS A GALLON IN MAY. BUT, IN ANY CASE, REDMAN SAYS THEY DON'T SEE A SCENARIO WHERE GAS PRICES WILL FALL BACK TOWARDS $2.50 A GALLON IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
A MEMBER OF LOUISIANA'S "FIRST FAMILY OF POLITICS" IS CONSIDERING RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR IN 2015, WHEN BOBBY JINDAL'S SECOND TERM ENDS. WINNFIELD STATE SENATOR GERALD LONG JOKES THAT ALL LONG'S IN PUBLIC OFFICE EVENTUALLY LOOK AT RUNNING FOR THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION. LONG IS RELATED TO FORMER GOVERNORS HUEY AND EARL LONG, FORMER CONGRESSMAN GILLIS LONG, FORMER U.S. SENATOR RUSSELL LONG AND FORMER STATE HOUSE MEMBER JIMMY LONG. HE SAYS PUBLIC SERVICE IS IN THE FAMILY BLOOD. LONG SAYS HE'LL DECIDE WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR OR SO, WHETHER TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR OR RUN AGAIN FOR SENATE DISTRICT 31 IN 2015.
FORMER STATE TROOPER JAY SANDIFER WILL BE SENTENCED MARCH 8 ON FEDERAL CHILD PORNOGRAPHY CHARGES. SANDIFER, WHO PLEADED GUILTY IN OCTOBER, HAD BEEN SCHEDULED FOR SENTENCING THIS PAST WEEK. HOWEVER, U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE DEE DRELL DELAYED THE PROCEEDING BECAUSE OF A SCHEDULING CONFLICT INVOLVING SANDIFER'S LAWYER. THE 41 YEAR OLD SANDIFER, FACES FIVE TO 20 YEARS IN PRISON AND A FINE UP TO $250,000. THE FORMER TROOPER, WHO ALSO FACES STATE CHILD-SEX CHARGES IN THREE CENTRAL LOUISIANA PARISHES, WAS WITH STATE POLICE FOR 15 YEARS. HE WAS FIRED IN JULY 2010.
THE TRIAL OF VILLE PLATTE HIGH SCHOOL HEAD FOOTBALL COACH ROY SERIE ON VEHICULAR HOMICIDE CHARGES HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED FOR MARCH. THE 45 YEAR OLD SERIE WAS SCHEDULED FOR TRIAL THIS PAST WEEK, BUT THE CASE WAS POSTPONED BECAUSE OF COURT SCHEDULING CONFLICTS. SERIE WAS ARRESTED IN AUGUST 2010 AFTER AUTHORITIES SAID TESTS SHOWED HE HAD ILLEGAL DRUGS IN HIS SYSTEM AT THE TIME OF A MAY CAR CRASH THAT KILLED HIS WIFE AND A LAKE CHARLES WOMAN WHO WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE HE STRUCK.
BY NOW YOU HAVE HEARD THE STORY OF A GROUP OF PEOPLE STEALING OVER 600 IRON FLOWER VASES FROM A BALL CEMETERY. NOW ANOTHER THEFT ALONG THAT SAME VEIN. FOUR PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED BY THE LIVINGSTON PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE FOR STEALING STORM DRAIN GRATES. THAT AFTER A DEPUTY NOTICED THEIR LOW-RIDING MINIVAN IN DENHAM SPRINGS. AUTHORITIES SAY THE DEPUTY PULLED IT OVER AND FOUND SIX METAL STORM DRAIN GRATES, WHICH WEIGH ABOUT 250 POUNDS EACH. THE GRATES ARE VALUED AT ABOUT $300 EACH. CURRENT SCRAP VALUE IS ABOUT $28 EACH.
STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT DATA SHOW THAT, FOR THE PAST TWO FISCAL YEARS, LOUISIANA HAS SPENT ABOUT $1.7 MILLION A YEAR ON EMERGENCY ROOM TREATMENT AND PAIN RELIEF FOR MEDICAID PATIENTS WHO HAD DENTAL PROBLEMS. THE PATIENTS GOT PAIN RELIEF ONLY, NO CURE, BECAUSE MEDICAID PAYS FOR ER VISITS FOR ADULT DENTAL EMERGENCIES BUT DOESN'T COVER DENTAL CARE FOR MOST ADULTS, OR THE COST OF AN EXTRACTION. MOST FEDERALLY REQUIRED DENTAL COVERAGE UNDER MEDICAID ENDS WHEN RECIPIENTS TURN 18. IN LOUISIANA, DENTAL CARE FOR MEDICAID ENROLLEES ENDS AT 21. A FEDERAL REPORT LAST YEAR FOUND LOUISIANA AMONG 10 STATES THAT DON'T OFFER DENTAL BENEFITS TO ADULTS UNDER MEDICAID.
THE HIRING OUR HEROES JOB FAIL YESTERDAY OUT AT ENGLAND AIRPARK, BY ALL ACCOUNTS, WAS A MAJOR SUCCESS. THE FAIR WAS ONE OF ABOUT 100 HIRING OUR HEROES EVENTS BEING HELD ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN A U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE INITIATIVE THAT WAS CO-SPONSORED LOCALLY BY THE CENTRAL LOUISIANA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
NINETY-TWO EMPLOYERS PARTICIPATED THURSDAY. MORE THAN 350 JOB-SEEKERS HAD PRE-REGISTERED. BUT, MANY MORE WERE ON HAND WHEN THE DOORS OPENED YESTERDAY MORNING.
NATCHITOCHES PARISH AUTHORITIES ARE INVESTIGATING A DOUBLE HOMICIDE THAT LEFT TWO PEOPLE DEAD FROM APPARENT GUNSHOT WOUNDS IN CAMPTI. A 32 YEAR OLD MAN’S BODY AS FOUND LYING IN THE STREET EARLY YESTERDAY MORNING. LATER IN THE DAY AUTHORITIES FOUND ANOTHER BODY ON THE RAIL ROAD TRACKS, A DISTANCE AWAY FROM THE FIRST SHOOTING. AUTOPSIES WILL BE PERFORMED ON BOTH BODIES.
THE CONVICTION AND DEATH SENTENCE OF A COUSHATTA MAN WHO KILLED HIS GIRLFRIEND'S SON BY BURNING HIM ALIVE HAS BEEN UPHELD BY THE LOUISIANA STATE SUPREME COURT. TERRANCE CARTER SOUGHT AN APPEAL FROM THE STATE'S HIGH COURT BASED ON 28 ERRORS HE SAYS OCCURRED DURING HIS SEPTEMBER 2008 CAPITAL MURDER TRIAL. CARTER WAS ARRESTED IN JULY 2006 AFTER RED RIVER PARISH SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES FOUND THE BURNED BODY OF 5-YEAR-OLD CORINTHIAN HOUSTON TIED TO A CHAIR IN AN ABANDONED HOUSE NEXT DOOR TO CARTER'S MOTHER'S HOME. HOUSTON HAD BEEN DOUSED WITH GASOLINE AND SET ON FIRE. HE SUFFERED THIRD- AND FOURTH-DEGREE BURNS OVER 54 PERCENT OF HIS BODY AND LIKELY DIED WITHIN A MINUTE.
WORD IN YESTERDAY AFTERNOON OF A FORT POLK SOLDIER BEING KILLED IN AN ACCIDENTAL SHOOTING WHILE HUNTING IN THE KISATCHIE NATIONAL FOREST. THE INCIDENT HAPPENED LAST WEEKEND. THE RAPIDES PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE REPORTS THE SATURDAY SHOOTING LEFT 30-YEAR-OLD LOUIS ALAMO DEAD. AUTHORITIES SAY ALAMO'S BODY WAS SENT TO LAFAYETTE FOR AN AUTOPSY. WHY IT TOOK SO LONG TO REPORT THE INCIDENT IS NOT KNOWN.
A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT HAS UPHELD THE CONVICTIONS AND SENTENCING OF FORMER STATE SEN. CHARLES D. JONES. JONES WAS CONVICTED IN 2010 FOR ONE COUNT OF TAX EVASION AND TWO COUNTS OF FILING A FALSE TAX RETURN. HE WAS SENTENCED TO 27 MONTHS IN PRISON. IN HIS APPEAL, JONES CHALLENGED HIS CONVICTIONS BASED ON INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE, SPECIFICALLY FAILURE TO PROVE INTENT. THE COURT DID NOT AGREE.
THE PRESIDENT IS MAKING GOOD ON A PLEDGE ME MADE EARLIER THIS WEEK DURING THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS. THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERIOR SAYS IT HAS SET A JUNE DATE FOR THE NEXT GULF OFFSHORE OIL AND NATURAL GAS LEASE SALE. THE SALE WILL INCLUDE ALL AVAILABLE UN-LEASED AREAS IN THE CENTRAL PLANNING AREA OFFSHORE OF LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI AND ALABAMA. THE SALE WILL TAKE PLACE IN NEW ORLEANS ON JUNE 20.
A PLAN TO REWORK LOUISIANA'S UNCOORDINATED SYSTEM OF PREKINDERGARTEN AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS IS TUCKED IN THE LIST OF GOV. BOBBY JINDAL'S EDUCATION AGENDA FOR THE UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THE PROPOSALS WOULD GRADE PRESCHOOLS, STREAMLINE GOVERNANCE AND YANK FUNDING FOR UNDERPERFORMING PROGRAMS. SO FAR, THEY HAVE BEEN OVERLOOKED IN THE HEATED DEBATE OVER THE GOVERNOR'S OTHER EDUCATION IDEAS, INCLUDING THE CREATION OF A STATEWIDE VOUCHER PROGRAM, REVAMPING TENURE LAWS AND MAKING IT EASIER TO CREATE NEW CHARTER SCHOOLS
THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS SAYS DAMAGE FROM LAST YEAR'S RECORD SPRING FLOODS COULD LEAVE MANY PEOPLE ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER IN EVEN MORE DANGER THIS YEAR. THE CORPS SAYS IT IS ASSESSING THE DAMAGE AND WILL BEGIN NOTIFYING AFFECTED COMMUNITIES IN FEBRUARY. CONGRESS GAVE THE CORPS $802 MILLION IN DECEMBER TO FIX LEVEES UP AND DOWN THE RIVER. CORPS SPOKESMAN BOB ANDERSON, IN VICKSBURG, MISS., SAID THURSDAY THAT IDENTIFYING THE WEAKEST POINTS AND LETTING PEOPLE KNOW WHERE THEY ARE IS PART OF THAT. THE CORPS SAID IT'S ALSO LOOKING AT WAYS TO REDUCE RISKS BEFORE FULL REPAIRS CAN BE COMPLETED.
FORECLOSURES MADE UP FOR 12 PERCENT OF ALL LOUISIANA HOMES SOLD IN THE THIRD QUARTER OF 2011. FORECLOSURE LISTING FIRM REALTYTRAC INC. SAID THURSDAY THAT THE AVERAGE SALE PRICE FOR THE 507 FORECLOSED HOMES IN THE STATE WAS JUST OVER $113,000 — A 39 PERCENT DISCOUNT ON HOMES NOT IN FORECLOSURE. FORECLOSURE SALES INCLUDE HOMES PURCHASED AFTER THEY RECEIVED A NOTICE OF DEFAULT OR WERE REPOSSESSED BY LENDERS. REALTYTRAC SAID THE NUMBER OF LOUISIANA FORECLOSURE SALES WAS DOWN SLIGHTLY FROM BOTH THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2011 AND A YEAR AGO
A MAN ACCUSED OF KILLING A ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIEST AND TAKING THE VICTIM'S CAR ON A FAMILY VACATION TO WALT DISNEY WORLD WAS FOUND DEAD EARLY THURSDAY IN A PRISON CELL WITH A SHEET WRAPPED AROUND HIS NECK. 33 YEAR OLD JEREMY MANIERI WAS CHARGED WITH SHOOTING THE REV. ED EVERETT OF HAMMOND LAST SUMMER AT A BEACH HOUSE IN WAVELAND, MISSISSIPPI WHEN THE PRIEST WAS VACATIONING. RANKIN COUNTY CORONER JIMMY ROBERTS SAID AN AUTOPSY IS BEING PERFORMED, HOWEVER, OFFICIALS BELIEVE MANIERE’S DEATH WAS A SUICIDE.
FOUR CHILDREN ARE IN STATE CUSTODY AND THEIR PARENTS BEHIND BARS AFTER ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST PARISH SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES FOUND THE CHILDREN LIVING IN "DEPLORABLE CONDITION." THE CHILDREN — AGES 7, 5, 4 AND 3 — WERE REMOVED FROM THEIR HOME IN LAPLACE ON WEDNESDAY. DEPUTIES, WHO WERE CALLED TO THE HOME BY A CHILD SERVICES WORKER, SAY THE FAMILY SLEPT IN ONE BEDROOM OF THE TWO-BEDROOM HOME. DEPUTIES REPORTED CLOTHING "CLUTTERED WITH OTHER ITEMS SCATTERED AMONG FILTH THROUGHOUT THE HOME." THE POLICE SAY THE PARENTS REPORTED THE OLDER CHILDREN HAD NEVER ATTENDED SCHOOL. AUTHORITIES ARRESTED THE PARENTS ON CHARGES OF IMPROPER SUPERVISION OF A MINOR BY A PARENT AND CRUELTY TO JUVENILES. BOND FOR EACH WAS SET AT $20,000.
FBI AGENTS HAVE OFFERED THEIR HELP IN IDENTIFYING AND FINDING THE MAN SUSPECTED IN KILLING A NEW ORLEANS MAN WHO WAS TRYING TO STOP A CARJACKING. POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING THE DEATH OF 44-YEAR-OLD HARRY "MIKE" AINSWORTH, WHO WAS GUNNED DOWN WEDNESDAY MORNING AS HIS TWO YOUNG SONS LOOKED ON. AINSWORTH WAS WAITING WITH HIS KIDS FOR THEIR SCHOOL BUS WHEN HE SAW A CARJACKING IN PROGRESS. HE RAN TO THE CAR AND JUMPED ON ITS HOOD TO STOP THE GUNMAN FROM DRIVING OFF. THE SUSPECT SHOT AT AINSWORTH, STRIKING HIM IN THE CHEST. AINSWORTH RAN A FEW FEET FROM THE CAR, COLLAPSED IN SOMEONE'S FRONT YARD AND DIED ON THE SCENE. THE GUNMAN RAN AWAY.
LAWYERS FOR AN ALABAMA MAN ACCUSED OF COMMITTING SEXUAL BATTERY ON AN UNCONSCIOUS LSU FAN AFTER THE BCS CHAMPIONSHIP FOOTBALL GAME SAY IT'S MIND-BOGGLING THAT POLICE AND PROSECUTORS WOULD GIVE SUBSTANTIAL ENERGY AND ATTENTION TO THE MATTER. ATTORNEYS FOR THE ALABAMA MAN CHARGED IN THE CASE SAID YESTERDAY IN A PRESS CONFERENCE THAT CHARGING 32 YEAR OLD BRIAN DOWNING WITH SEXUAL BATTERY "DEMEANS THE REAL AND SERIOUS TRAUMA OF ACTUAL VICTIMS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE. THEY ALSO SAID, THE IDEA THAT THEIR CLIENT COULD BE CHARGED AND FACE UP TO 10 YEARS IN JAIL IF CONVICTED IS "ALSO A LITTLE TROUBLING." SINCE THEY BELIEVE THE PENALTY DOESN’T FIT THE CRIME.
TALK SHOW HOST ELLEN DEGENERES AND "AMERICAN IDOL" JUDGE RANDY JACKSON ARE HOSTING A STAR-STUDDED GALA IN NEW ORLEANS TO BENEFIT BRAD PITT'S MAKE IT RIGHT HOME REBUILDING EFFORT. PITT WILL ATTEND THE $1,000-PER-PERSON GALA ON MARCH 10 CALLED "A NIGHT TO MAKE IT RIGHT," WHICH WILL INCLUDE PERFORMANCES BY SINGERS SHERYL CROW, RIHANNA, SEAL AND DR. JOHN. PITT LAUNCHED MAKE IT RIGHT IN 2007 TO HELP LOWER 9TH WARD RESIDENTS WHO LOST THEIR HOMES DURING HURRICANE KATRINA IN 2005. ALL THE MONEY RAISED WILL GO TOWARDS THOSE CONTINUING EFFORTS.
THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE HUMANE SOCIETY WILDLIFE LAND TRUST ARE OFFERING $2,500 FOR INFORMATION LEADING TO THE ARREST AND CONVICTION OF WHOEVER SHOT AND CRIPPLED A BALD EAGLE IN UNION PARISH. THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES SAYS AGENTS FOUND THE BIRD AFTER A DRIVER REPORTED A WOUNDED BALD EAGLE WALKING BESIDE LOUISIANA HIGHWAY 15 NORTH OF FARMERVILLE. THE EAGLE WILL NEVER FLY AGAIN. WILDLIFE VETERINARIANS AT THE LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY VETERINARY SCHOOL HAD TO AMPUTATE THE TIP OF ITS RIGHT WING. IT WILL BE PLACED IN A ZOO OR A WILDLIFE SANCTUARY AFTER RECOVERY.
THE JOHN FOLSE CULINARY INSTITUTE AT NICHOLLS STATE UNIVERSITY IS PREPARING FOR A SHOT AT A NATIONAL TITLE AFTER A TOP STUDENT WON A REGIONAL COMPETITION FOR THE FIFTH YEAR IN A ROW. PAUL TERREBONNE, A SENIOR CULINARY MAJOR FROM LAROSE, WON TOP HONORS THIS WEEK IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. TERREBONNE'S WINNING DISH INCLUDED PAN ROASTED RED SNAPPER WITH CORN MAQUE CHOUX PUREE; JAZZMEN RICE PREPARED WITH ABITA BEER; AND A CONFETTI OF PICKLED VEGETABLES. TERREBONNE WILL TAKE HIS WINNING RECIPES TO NAPA VALLEY, CALIF. AS HE COMPETES AGAINST NINE ADDITIONAL REGIONAL WINNERS FROM THE U.S. AND CANADA.
35 YEAR OLD KIMBERLY DEVILLE, 19 YEAR OLD BILLY JOHNSON, AND 55 YEAR OLD DEBORAH PRICE, ALL FROM PINEVILLE, HAVE BEEN ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH STEALING OVER 600 FLOWER VASES FROM A CEMETERY IN BALL. EACH WERE CHARGED THIS WEEK WITH 612 COUNTS OF THEFT FROM A RELIGIOUS BUILDING, CEMETERY OR GRAVEYARD AND CRIMINAL CONSPIRACY IN CONNECTION WITH THE THEFT. DEVILLE HAD BEEN PREVIOUSLY ARRESTED ON OTHER CHARGES IN THE CASE BEFORE BEING ARRESTED AGAIN ON THE HUNDREDS OF NEW CHARGES. BOND HAS BEEN SET AT OVER $300K FOR EACH OF THE THREE.
FROM THE, JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT THEY WERE ALL PLAYING NICE DEPARTMENT.. ALEXANDRIA MAYOR JACQUES ROY AND CITY COUNCILMAN ROOSEVELT JOHNSON ARE HEADED BACK TO COURT. A HEARING HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR THE MORNING OF FEBRUARY THE 6TH IN 9TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT. THE CASE DATES BACK TO AUGUST 2007, WHEN MAYOR ROY FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST FIVE MEMBERS OF THE ALEXANDRIA CITY COUNCIL, AFTER THEY VOTED TO OVERRIDE HIS VETO OF AN ORDINANCE THAT WOULD HAVE ALLOWED THE COUNCIL TO HIRE ITS OWN ATTORNEYS. JOHNSON IS THE ONLY ONE OF THOSE FIVE MEMBERS STILL ON THE COUNCIL.
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAYS CENTRAL LOUISIANA RECEIVED OVER AN INCH OF RAIN YESTERDAY, AS A STORM FRONT MOVED IT’S WAY ACROSS THE STATE. THERE WERE REPORTS OF STRONG WINDS AND VERY HEAVY RAIN, EVEN A REPORT OF A TORNADO BEING SITED IN THE FT. POLK AREA. THE GOOD NEWS IS, OTHER THAN A FEW INCONVENIENCES, THERE WERE NO REPORTS OF ANY SERIOUS INJURIES. WITH THE FRONT THROUGH, THE WEATHER SERVICE SAYS WE CAN LOOK FORWARD TO A NICE WEEKEND.
WELL-GROOMED DOGS WILL COMPETE IN THE MARDI GRAS CLUSTER ALL-BREED DOG SHOWS TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY AT THE RAPIDES PARISH COLISEUM IN ALEXANDRIA.
THE BATON ROUGE KENNEL CLUB'S MARDI GRAS CLUSTER AKC DOG SHOW IS SET FOR TODAY AND FRIDAY, BEGINNING AT 8:30 A.M. EACH DAY. THE ALEXANDRIA KENNEL CLUB'S MARDI GRAS CLUSTER AKC DOG SHOW IS SET FOR SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, BEGINNING AT 8 A.M. EACH DAY. MORE THAN 160 BREEDS OF DOGS WILL BE COMPETING, INCLUDING SIX NEW BREEDS RECENTLY RECOGNIZED BY THE AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB. HERE’S THE BEST PART, ADMISSION IS FREE.
GOV. BOBBY JINDAL PROPOSED WEDNESDAY A PACKAGE OF PENSION CHANGES THAT WOULD SHRINK RETIREMENT BENEFITS FOR THOUSANDS OF CURRENT STATE WORKERS, BOOST THEIR COSTS AND PUSH BACK THE AGE FOR COLLECTING BENEFITS. NEW STATE EMPLOYEES HIRED AFTER THE CHANGES WOULDN'T RECEIVE THE PROMISE OF A SET MONTHLY RETIREMENT PAYMENT, AND INSTEAD WOULD GET A CHEAPER, 401(K)-TYPE OF ACCOUNT WHERE RETIREMENT CONTRIBUTIONS ARE INVESTED AND A RETIREE GETS A LUMP SUM PAYMENT WHEN LEAVING WORK. JINDAL SAID THE STATE MUST REIN IN THE COSTS OF ITS RETIREMENT PROGRAMS, WHICH ARE $18.5 BILLION SHORT OF THE MONEY THEY NEED TO BE FULLY FUNDED AND ARE EATING MORE AND MORE INTO STATE FINANCES.
YESTERDAY, A DAY AFTER PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH, PETROLEUM INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES CALLED WEDNESDAY FOR A MORE-AGGRESSIVE ENERGY DEVELOPMENT POLICY, SAYING THE UNITED STATES COULD TAKE CARE OF MORE OF ITS PETROLEUM NEEDS WHILE CUTTING DEPENDENCE ON UNSTABLE FOREIGN OIL SUPPLIES. DURING THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE LOUISIANA MID-CONTINENT OIL AND GAS ASSOCIATION, INDUSTRY OFFICIALS SAID THE FORMULA SHOULD INCLUDE SHALE OIL PRODUCTION, OFFSHORE DRILLING IN MORE AREAS AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE KEYSTONE XL PIPELINE THAT WOULD BRING OIL FROM CANADA TO TEXAS.
A NEW ORLEANS LAWMAKER FILES LEGISLATION TO MAKE FAILING TO REPORT KNOWN INCIDENTS OF SEXUAL CHILD ABUSE A FELONY. STATE SENATOR J.P. MORRELL SAYS CURRENT LOUISIANA LAW STATES THAT WILLINGLY & KNOWINGLY FAILING TO REPORT SUCH CONDUCT IS A MISDEMEANOR, CARRYING A MINIMAL PENALTY. MORRELL'S BILL WOULD UPGRADE THE OFFENSE; MAKING FAILURE TO REPORT SEXUAL ABUSE OF A CHILD TO LAW ENFORCEMENT A FELONY, WITH FINES UP TO $10-THOUSAND AND UP TO 5 YEARS IN PRISON. HE SAYS HIS BILL WILL HELP ASSURE PEOPLE DO THE RIGHT THING, WHEN THEY'RE AWARE OF SEX CRIMES AGAINST KIDS.
THE LOUISIANA SUPREME COURT HAS PUBLICLY CENSURED STATE DISTRICT JUDGE ROBERT BURGESS FOR VIOLATING THE JUDICIAL CONDUCT CODE AND ORDERED HIM TO PAY $1,738 IN COSTS. BURGESS, ONE OF TWO JUDGES SERVING THE 42ND JUDICIAL DISTRICT IN DESOTO PARISH, WAS CITED FOR INTERVENING ON BEHALF OF HIS NIECE IN HER 2008 ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN A PROTECTIVE ORDER AGAINST HER ESTRANGED HUSBAND. THE COURT SAYS BURGESS' CONTACT WITH THE JUDGE WHO SIGNED THE PROTECTIVE ORDER CREATED "AN OBVIOUS APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY." IT ALSO NOTED THAT BURGESS HAD STIPULATED FAULT AND EXPRESSED REMORSE FOR HIS ACTIONS.
A GOOD SAMARITAN LOOSES HIS LIFE. NEW ORLEANS POLICE SAY A MAN TRYING TO STOP A CARJACKING WAS SHOT AND KILLED. THE GUNMAN FLED AFTER THE SHOOTING AND TWO SCHOOLS IN THE AREA WERE PLACED ON LOCKDOWN WEDNESDAY MORNING.
POLICE SAY A 44-YEAR-OLD MAN WAS SHOT SEVERAL TIMES. HIS IDENTITY HAS NOT BEEN MADE PUBLIC.
A 57-YEAR-OLD EUNICE MAN, ARRESTED IN NOVEMBER FOR IMPERSONATING A POLICE OFFICER, IS BACK IN JAIL AGAIN AND FACING THE SAME CHARGE. EUNICE POLICE CHIEF RONALD DIES SAYS MICHAEL ROLAND WASHINGTON JR., WHO IS BEING HELD WITHOUT BAIL, HAS BEEN BOOKED WITH THEFT, FALSE IMPERSONATION OF A PEACE OFFICER AND THREE COUNTS OF THREATENING A PUBLIC OFFICIAL. DIES SAYS WASHINGTON WAS ARRESTED ON A CHARGE OF SHOPLIFTING AT A LOCAL STORE. HE SAYS WASHINGTON IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AS A ST. LANDRY PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE DEPUTY SEVERAL TIMES AT THE SCENE AND THREATENED TO HAVE THE OFFICERS' JOBS. DIES SAYS WASHINGTON WAS EMPLOYED BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE BRIEFLY IN 2005.
A FORMER BP EMPLOYEE HAS FILED A WHISTLEBLOWER LAWSUIT AGAINST THE COMPANY, CLAIMING HE WAS FIRED FOR AIRING CONCERNS ABOUT THE CLEANUP OF MISSISSIPPI'S SHORELINE AFTER THE GULF OIL SPILL. IN A FEDERAL SUIT FILED LAST FRIDAY IN NEW ORLEANS, AUGUST WALTER CLAIMS ONE OF HIS BP BOSSES MANIPULATED DATA ON SHORELINE CLEANUP AND DIDN'T GIVE THE COAST GUARD "THE TRUE STATUS" OF WHAT SUBSTANCES NEEDED TO BE CLEANED. WALTER, A COVINGTON, LA., RESIDENT WHO HELPED DEVELOP BP'S CLEANUP PLANS IN MISSISSIPPI AFTER THE 2010 SPILL BEGAN, CLAIMS IN THE SUIT THAT HE WAS FIRED LAST MONTH IN RETALIATION FOR COMPLAINING THAT BP WASN'T FOLLOWING ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS AND WAS "PICKING AND CHOOSING WHAT OIL TO PICK UP."
NARCOTICS AGENTS HAVE ARRESTED TWO MISSISSIPPI MEN AFTER LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES AGENTS ALLEGEDLY FOUND THEM WITH THE MATERIALS FOR A METHAMPHETAMINE LAB IN A VEHICLE IN THE RUSSELL SAGE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA.
THE TWO MEN, BOTH OF VICKSBURG, MISS., WERE BOOKED MONDAY INTO OUACHITA CORRECTIONAL CENTER ON CHARGES OF CREATION AND OPERATION OF A CLANDESTINE LAB. ACCORDING TO ARREST AFFIDAVITS, WILDLIFE AGENTS CONTACTED NARCOTICS AGENTS AFTER THEY FOUND THE PAIR ON A ROADWAY IN RUSSELL SAGE. AGENTS SAID THE MEN TOLD THEM THEY DROVE TO MONROE FROM VICKSBURG TO BUY PSEUDOEPHEDRINE TO MANUFACTURE METHAMPHETAMINE.
A NEW ORLEANS AREA LAWMAKER WANTS THE PEOPLE TO VOTE ON WHETHER ELECTED AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS WHO ARE CONVICTED ON CORRUPTION CHARGES SHOULD HAVE THEIR PUBLICLY FUNDED RETIREMENT BENEFITS TAKEN AWAY. METAIRIE REP. TONY LIGI HAS OFFERED THIS PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT IN THE PAST WITH NO LUCK. LIGI SAYS NEW MEMBERS ON THE HOUSE AND SENATE RETIREMENT COMMITTEES SHOULD GIVE HIS LEGISLATION A BETTER CHANCE OF PASSING AND GOING TO THE PUBLIC FOR A VOTE. HE SAYS HIS LEGISLATION FAILED TO PASS IN THE PAST, BECAUSE OPPONENTS WOULD RAISE CONCERNS ABOUT THE FINANCIAL IMPACT IT WOULD HAVE ON THE FAMILIES OF CONVICTED POLITICIANS AND STATE WORKERS.
THE ALEXANDRIA CITY COUNCIL BALANCED ITS BUDGETS YESTERDAY, TAKING MONEY LEFT OVER FROM THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR AS WELL AS INCREASED SALES TAX REVENUES AND PUTTING THEM TOWARD OVERTIME FOR EMPLOYEES, CONTRACT LABOR AND AGING INFRASTRUCTURE. AMONG THE ITEMS ADDED TO THE BUDGET WERE OVERTIME FOR THE POLICE, FIRE AND PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENTS; THE ADDITION OF CONTRACT PUBLIC WORKS LABOR; THE PURCHASE OF POLICE CARS; AND ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR THE CITY'S LEGAL DEPARTMENT. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS RECEIVED $232,000 IN EXTRA OVERTIME TO BE AWARDED OVER THE REMAINING MONTHS OF THE FISCAL YEAR, WHICH ENDS APRIL 30.
FOUL PLAY IS NOT SUSPECTED IN THE DEATH OF A MAN WHOSE BODY WAS FOUND TUESDAY MORNING AT THE ALEXANDRIA TEEN ACTIVITY CENTER CASSON ST IN THE CITY. THE MAN'S IDENTITY WAS NOT RELEASED PENDING NOTIFICATION OF NEXT OF KIN, BUT WE ARE TOLD HE WAS A 62-YEAR-OLD MAN FROM ALEXANDRIA. OFFICIALS BELIEVE THE MAN DIED OF NATURAL CAUSES, BUT THEY ARE AWAITING AUTOPSY REPORTS AND CLINICAL TESTING.
LOUISIANA ADDED 47,400 NON-FARM JOBS IN 2011 AS THE STATE POSTED A 2.5 PERCENT GROWTH RATE DURING A YEAR WHEN THE NATIONAL ECONOMY CONTINUED A SLOW RECOVERY FROM THE GREAT RECESSION. THE STATE'S SEASONALLY ADJUSTED JOBLESS RATE FELL TO 6.8 PERCENT IN DECEMBER FROM 6.9 PERCENT IN NOVEMBER AND 7.7 PERCENT IN DECEMBER 2010. HERE IN ALEXANDRIA FROM NOVEMBER TO DECEMBER WE SAW 400 NEW JOBS. THE COUNT WAS 1,400 FROM DECEMBER OF 2010.
STATE AGRICULTURE & FORESTRY COMMISSIONER MIKE STRAIN SAYS HE'S CONSIDERING RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR IN 2015. STRAIN IS GETTING AN EARLY START ON WHAT WILL PROBABLY BE A CROWDED FIELD SEEKING TO REPLACE TWO- TERM GOVERNOR BOBBY JINDAL. DR. STRAIN SAYS A NUMBER OF PEOPLE HAVE TOLD HIM THEY THINK HE SHOULD RUN. STRAIN SAYS HE’S NOT READY TO FIRMLY COMMIT TO RUNNING FOR THE GOVERNOR'S
MANSION, BUT ADMITS - YES - HE WOULD LIKE TO BE GOVERNOR SOMEDAY. HE SAYS HE LOVES HIS CURRENT JOB, AND LOVES SERVING THE PEOPLE OF LOUISIANA.
LOUISIANA HAS BEEN GIVEN AN OVERALL GRADE OF C-MINUS BY A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION IN ITS LATEST RANKING OF U.S. TEACHER QUALITY. THE REPORT, BEING RELEASED WEDNESDAY BY THE NATIONAL COUNCIL ON TEACHER QUALITY, ALSO TAKES AIM AT TENURE AND SENIORITY PRACTICES ALREADY UNDER FIRE BY GOV. BOBBY JINDAL. IT DOES CITE SOME STRENGTHS, AMONG THEM EFFORTS TO EXPAND THE POOL OF AVAILABLE TEACHERS BY OPENING THE PROFESSION TO EXPERTS ON VARIOUS SUBJECTS. THE REPORT SAID THE STATE DOES TOO LITTLE TO KEEP EFFECTIVE TEACHES AND GET RID OF INEFFECTIVE ONES.
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC HAS ANNOUNCED THAT ALEXANDRIA IS AGAIN ON THEIR TOP 100 "BEST ADVENTURE TOWNS" IN THE COUNTRY LIST. IT IS THE SECOND TIME IN JUST OVER TWO YEARS ALEXANDRIA MADE THE LIST. THE MAGAZINE ALSO SINGLED OUT TUNK'S CYPRESS INN ON KINCAID LAKE AS A GOOD PLACE TO EAT IN ALEXANDRIA AND THE FAIRMOUNT PLANTATION BED & BREAKFAST IN COLFAX AS A GOOD PLACE TO STAY. THE ONLY OTHER CITY IN THE STATE TO MAKE THE LIST.. A NO BRAINER HERE.. NEW ORLEANS..
POLICE SAY TWO PEOPLE IN A VEHICLE DIED AFTER IT COLLIDED WITH AN AMTRAK TRAIN IN KENNER. AMTRAK SPOKESMAN MARC MAGLIARI (MAG-LEE-AIR E) SAID NOBODY ON THE NEW ORLEANS-BOUND TRAIN WAS INJURED IN THE TUESDAY AFTERNOON ACCIDENT. A SPOKESMAN FOR THE KENNER POLICE DEPARTMENT SAID BOTH OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE DIED UPON IMPACT. MAGLIARI SAID THE TRAIN HAD DEPARTED CHICAGO ON MONDAY NIGHT AND WAS CARRYING ROUGHLY 59 PASSENGERS AT THE TIME OF THE COLLISION.
THE LOUISIANA SEAFOOD PROMOTION AND MARKETING BOARD MIGHT USE SOME OF THE $30 MILLION IT GOT FROM BP PLC TO BUY NAMING RIGHTS FOR THE NEW ORLEANS ARENA, WHERE THE NBA'S HORNETS PLAY. EWELL SMITH, THE BOARD'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, SAID TUESDAY THAT HE AND OTHER BOARD OFFICIALS HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH JACK SPERLING, WHO WAS APPOINTED BY NBA COMMISSIONER DAVID STERN TO OVERSEE THE HORNETS WHEN THE LEAGUE BOUGHT THE CLUB IN LATE 2010. THE NAME CHANGE TO THE LOUISIANA SEAFOOD ARENA WOULD BE ONLY A SMALL PART OF A CAMPAIGN TO BOLSTER GULF OF MEXICO SEAFOOD IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE 2010 OIL SPILL. SMITH SAID HE WOULD ALSO LIKE VENDORS' BOOTHS FOR LOUISIANA SEAFOOD IN OTHER NBA ARENAS AROUND THE COUNTRY.
STATE POLICE ARE INVESTIGATING A SINGLE VEHICLE CRASH THAT KILLED A 42-YEAR-OLD WOMAN. THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED AROUND 6 P.M. MONDAY ON LA HIGHWAY 3180 JUST WEST OF VIDALIA. TROOPERS SAY CAROLYN WILLIAMS OF VIDALIA WAS EASTBOUND WHEN HER CAR RAN OFF THE ROAD AND OVERTURNED. WILLIAMS WAS NOT WEARING A SEATBELT AND WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD AT THE SCENE.
AN 11-YEAR-OLD SHADY GROVE ELEMENTARY STUDENT HAS BEEN ARRESTED AFTER THREATENING TO STAB ANOTHER STUDENT AT SCHOOL. OUACHITA PARISH SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES WERE CALLED TO THE SCHOOL MONDAY AFTER A 12-YEAR-OLD FEMALE STUDENT REPORTED THE THREATS. POLICE SAID THE MALE STUDENT DID NOT PRODUCE THE WEAPON WHEN HE MADE THE THREAT, BUT INVESTIGATING DEPUTIES DISCOVERED A POCKET KNIFE IN HIS BACKPACK. THE STUDENT WAS BEING HELD AT GREEN OAKS DETENTION CENTER.
THE ACADIA PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE HAS SIGNED ON TO NIXLE, A COMPANY THAT SENDS NEIGHBORHOOD-LEVEL PUBLIC SAFETY AND COMMUNITY EVENT NOTIFICATIONS BY WEB, EMAIL AND CELLPHONE. MAXINE TRAHAN, A SPOKESWOMAN FOR THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE SAYS THE FREE SERVICE ALLOWS AUTHORITIES TO SEND ALERTS ON ANYTHING FROM ROAD CLOSURES TO UPCOMING PUBLIC EVENTS. TRAHAN SAID THE SERVICE PROVIDES "INSTANT" INFORMATION SINCE VIRTUALLY EVERYONE CARRIES THEIR CELLPHONES WITH THEM AT ALL TIMES.
A SHREVEPORT HOMEOWNER - ARMED WITH A GUN - SURPRISED A BURGLAR WHO WAS RANSACKING HIS HOME. MR. PHIL WILSON SAYS HE CAME FACE-TO-FACE WITH THE SUSPECT, WHO TRIED TO JUMP IN HIS TRUCK AND FLEE. WILSON SHOT OUT THE TRUCK'S REAR TIRE, THEN A FRONT TIRE. THE MAN FLED ON FOOT, BUT WAS CAUGHT A SHORT TIME LATER AND TAKEN TO JAIL. 23-YEAR-OLD MATTHEW MOSES IS CHARGED WITH BURGLARY AND DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.
FANS OF THE MAN CALLED THE BOSS ARE HAPPY TO KNOW THAT THE NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL HAS ADDED BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AND THE E-STREET BAND TO THE LINEUP FOR SUNDAY, APRIL 29TH.
MOONBOT MOVIE STUDIOS OF SHREVEPORT HAS HAD THEIR FIRST EVER ANIMATED PROJECT NOMINATED FOR AN OSCAR. BRANDON OLDENBURG, CO-DIRECTOR OF HE FANTASTIC FLYING BOOKS OF MR. MORRIS LESSMORE, SAYS HE AND AWARD WINNING AUTHOR WILLIAM JOYCE OF SHREVEPORT HAVE BEEN COLLABORATING ON PROJECTS FOR YEARS. THE MOVIE HAS BEEN NOMINATED FOR BEST ANIMATED SHORT FILM.
TONIGHT, THE PRESIDENT TAKES TO THE AIRWAVES FOR THE STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS. YOU CAN HEAR THAT SPEECH BEGINNING AT 8 THIS EVENING ON 970 KSYL. YESTERDAY, IT WAS THE STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS IN ALEXANDRIA. ACCORDING TO MAYOR JACQUES ROY, THE CITY OF ALEXANDRIA IS THRIVING. ROY SAID HIS ADMINISTRATION ACCOMPLISHED MANY OF ITS GOALS OVER THE PAST YEAR AND HAS SEVERAL AMBITIOUS NEW GOALS PLANNED FOR 2012.ROY TOUTED HIS ADMINISTRATION'S CONSERVATIVE OPERATIONAL SPENDING. SOMETHING THE MAYOR CREDITS FOR THE CITY’S ABILITY TO ADD $5 MILLION TO THE CITY’S SURPLUS DURING THE PAST FISCAL YEAR, BRINGING THE OVERALL SURPLUS TO NEARLY $17 MILLION.
THE $895 MILLION SHORTFALL PROJECTED FOR THE UPCOMING STATE BUDGET YEAR SHOULDN'T COME AS A TOTAL SURPRISE TO LAWMAKERS OR GOV. BOBBY JINDAL'S ADMINISTRATION. AT LEAST 40 PERCENT OF THE GAP IS TIED TO THE USE OF ONE-TIME MONEY THAT PROPPED UP PARTS OF THE CURRENT BUDGET AND THAT IS EXPECTED TO FALL AWAY IN THE NEW FISCAL YEAR THAT BEGINS JULY 1, MOST OF IT USED IN THE STATE'S MEDICAID PROGRAM. ANOTHER SLICE OF NEXT YEAR'S SHORTFALL IS CAUSED BY TUITION INCREASES APPROVED BY LAWMAKERS AND SOUGHT BY JINDAL, THAT WHILE HELPING PLUG SOME HIGHER EDUCATION HOLES, WILL ALSO INCREASE THE COST OF THE STATE'S FREE COLLEGE TUITION PROGRAM.
ALLSTATE CORP. IS ASKING TO RAISE RATES FOR 144,000 LOUISIANA HOMEOWNERS WHO GET THEIR INSURANCE COVERAGE FROM TWO ALLSTATE COMPANIES. ACCORDING TO THE STATE INSURANCE DEPARTMENT, ALLSTATE WANTS AN AVERAGE 11.3 PERCENT INCREASE FOR 71,000 HOMEOWNERS COVERED BY ALLSTATE INSURANCE CO. THE COMPANY IS PROPOSING AN AVERAGE 5.9 PERCENT HIKE FOR 73,000 HOMEOWNERS COVERED BY ALLSTATE INDEMNITY CO. TOGETHER, THE REQUESTS TOTAL JUST UNDER $17 MILLION IN HIGHER RATES. IF LOUISIANA INSURANCE COMMISSIONER JIM DONELON AGREES, HIGHER RATES WOULD GO INTO EFFECT WITH NEW AND RENEWED POLICIES ON MARCH 1.
ALLSTATE IS THE STATE'S SECOND-LARGEST INSURER OF HOMES.
LOUISIANA TREASURER JOHN KENNEDY IS REMINDING TAXPAYERS TO CHECK TO SEE IF THE IRS OWES THEM OLD FEDERAL INCOME TAX REFUNDS. KENNEDY SAID MONDAY THAT MORE THAN $1.3 MILLION IS OWED TO 1,362 LOUISIANA TAXPAYERS WHOSE FEDERAL INCOME TAX REFUND CHECKS WERE UNDELIVERABLE BECAUSE OF AN OLD ADDRESS OR OTHER REASON.
THE STATE SAYS 126 PEOPLE WERE ARRESTED IN LOUISIANA IN DECEMBER FOR PAST-DUE CHILD SUPPORT BILLS TOTALING $1.1 MILLION. THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN & FAMILY SERVICES SAID THE ARRESTS YIELDED ABOUT $33,000 IN BACK PAYMENTS — AND $41,000 IN OTHER CASES THAT WERE CLOSED. AT THE TIME OF ARREST, STATE OFFICIALS TRY TO COLLECT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE AND THE PARENTS ARE GIVEN A COURT DATE TO ESTABLISH A NEW PAYMENT PLAN. THE FAMILY SERVICES AGENCY SAYS IT COLLECTED MORE THAN $385 MILLION IN CHILD SUPPORT LAST YEAR. THE AGENCY ESTIMATES NEARLY $1.2 BILLION IS OWED BY LOUISIANA'S NON-CUSTODIAL PARENTS.
A LEADER OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN LOUISIANA BELIEVES THE GOP PRESIDENTIAL NOMINATION PROCESS WILL BE STILL UNDECIDED WHEN THE STATE HOLDS ITS MARCH 24TH PRIMARY. LOUISIANA REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIRMAN ROGER VILLERE SAYS RIGHT NOW THE FOCUS OF THE CANDIDATES IS ON FLORIDA, THE NEXT PRIMARY STATE. HE SAYS, HOWEVER, HERE IN LOUISIANA THE ELECTION IS UP FOR GRABS.
OFFICIALS WITH THE LOUISIANA DEMOCRATIC PARTY ANNOUNCE A STATEWIDE TOUR TO REVAMP THE PARTY HERE. SPOKESPERSON JAMES HALLINAN SAYS IT'S NO SECRET THAT THE GOP HAS TAKEN CONTROL OF STATE GOVERNMENT ON MANY LEVELS. HE SAYS THE GETTING BACK TO BASICS TOUR WILL VISIT 35 LOUISIANA CITIES OVER 10 DAYS. HE SAYS THE TOUR IS INTENDED TO REBUILD THEIR STATEWIDE BASE AND GRASSROOTS NETWORK.
THE NATION'S LEADING NATURAL GAS DRILLER SAYS IT WILL CUT BACK ON DRILLING IN LOUISIANA'S HAYNESVILLE AND BARNETT SHALES, DUE TO DROPPING PRICES FOR GAS. LOUISIANA OIL & GAS ASSOCIATION PRESIDENT DON BRIGGS SAYS THERE WERE, AT ONE POINT, OVER 150 NATURAL GAS DRILLING RIGS IN NORTHWEST LOUISIANA, BUT NOW THERE ARE ABOUT HALF THAT. CHESAPEAKE ENERGY PLANS TO REDUCE ACTIVE DRY GAS DRILLING DOWN TO ABOUT 24 RIGS WITHIN A FEW MONTHS. THERE ARE CURRENTLY 47 IN OPERATION AND THERE WERE 75 IN 2011. BRIGGS SAYS CHESAPEAKE IS ACTING IN THE INTERESTS OF COST-EFFICIENCY AND RETURN-ON-INVESTMENT.
MILD WINTER TEMPERATURES AND PERIODS OF LIGHT TO MEDIUM RAIN HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO HIGHER THAN NORMAL MOSQUITO ACTIVITY FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR. HERF JONES, A MEMBER OF THE LOUISIANA MOSQUITO CONTROL ASSOCIATION SAYS LIGHT TO MODERATE RAINS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO PLENTY OF BREEDING SITES. HE REMINDS US WE CAN LIMIT OUR EXPOSURE TO MOSQUITOES AND THE POSSIBILITY OF EXPOSURE TO WEST NILE VIRUS BY TAKING NORMAL PRECAUTIONS.
NOW THAT FOOTBALL SEASON IS BEHIND US, THE STATE CAN FOCUS ON THE NEXT MAJOR SPORTING EVENT, WHICH IS THE FINAL FOUR. COLLEGE BASKETBALL'S MARQUEE EVENT WILL BE HELD MARCH 31ST AND APRIL 2ND IN NEW ORLEANS. LT. GOVERNOR JAY DARDENNE SAYS THEY PROJECT THE FINAL FOUR TO GENERATE AT LEAST 134-MILLION DOLLARS IN REVENUE FOR THE LOCAL AND STATE ECONOMY.
RICE FARMERS IN LOUISIANA ANNOUNCED TODAY THEY'VE AGREED TO CONTINUE PAYING A NICKEL FOR EVERY 100 POUNDS OF RICE FOR RESEARCH, AND 3 CENTS PER HUNDRED POUNDS FOR PROMOTION. 85 PERCENT VOTED IN FAVOR OF THE RESEARCH REFERENDUM AND 72 PERCENT THE PROMOTION REFERENDUM. THE PAYMENTS WILL BE MADE OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS WHEN THE FARMERS WILL VOTE AGAIN.
THE NEW ORLEANS KREWE OF ZEUS ANNOUNCES LSU PLAYERS JARRETT LEE AND T-BOB HEBERT WILL BE GRAND MARSHAL'S OF THE PARADE THIS YEAR. KREWE LEADERS SAY THE TWO WERE CHOSEN BECAUSE OF THEIR ROLL IN THE SUCCESS OF THE 2011 LSU FOOTBALL SEASON. THE PARADE ROLLS MONDAY FEBRUARY 20TH.
A LEGISLATIVE AUDIT SAYS GRAMBLING STATE UNIVERSITY HAS FAILED TO ADDRESS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN MISSING OR STOLEN PROPERTY FOR SEVEN YEARS IN A ROW. THE REVIEW, RELEASED MONDAY SAYS FOR THE LAST BUDGET YEAR RUNNING THROUGH JUNE 30, GRAMBLING COULDN'T ACCOUNT FOR $1.6 MILLION IN ITEMS LIKE COMPUTERS AND FURNITURE. THAT'S NEARLY 7 PERCENT OF THE UNIVERSITY'S $24 MILLION MOVABLE PROPERTY INVENTORY. ON TOP OF THAT, THE SCHOOL HAS HAD TO USE PUBLIC FUNDS TO REPLACE MISSING ITEMS.
LOUISIANA'S LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR SAYS THE STATE'S RECOVERY SCHOOL DISTRICT, WHICH TAKES OVER FAILING PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN LOUISIANA, NEEDS TO IMPROVE LONGSTANDING FINANCIAL CONTROL PROBLEMS TO SAFEGUARD AGAINST OVERPAYMENT OF EMPLOYEES AND THE LOSS OF EQUIPMENT. THE AUDIT SAID RSD CONTROLS HAVE BEEN IMPROVING BUT IT WAS THE FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR THAT MOVEABLE EQUIPMENT WAS NOT SUFFICIENTLY PROTECTED AGAINST LOSS AND THAT OVERPAYMENTS WERE MADE TO SOME EMPLOYEES.
POLICE IN CROWLEY ARE SEEKING A SUSPECT FOR THE ALLEGED RAPE OF A MINOR. WILLIAM LANGLEY JR. IS A FUGITIVE AND COULD BE HIDING OUT IN THE VINTON AREA OR IN ORANGE, TEXAS. ANYONE WITH USEFUL INFORMATION IS ASKED TO CALL 337-251-6921. THERE IS A REWARD.
TWO YOUNG MEN WERE FOUND DEAD INSIDE OF A BOGALUSA HOME MONDAY AFTERNOON AFTER A FAMILY MEMBER SAID CALLS TO THE HOME WENT UNANSWERED. BOGALUSA POLICE CHIEF JOE CULPEPPER SAYS THE VICTIMS WERE 21 AND 23 YEARS OLD AND BOTH MEN WERE SHOT. IT IS BELIEVED THE SHOOTINGS WERE DRUG RELATED.
A TEACHER AT SOUTH LAFOURCHE HIGH SCHOOL HAS BEEN CITED FOR ALLEGEDLY HAVING SEXUAL RELATIONS WITH A 17-YEAR-OLD STUDENT. LAFOURCHE PARISH SHERIFF CRAIG WEBRE SAID MONDAY THAT 29-YEAR-OLD HEATHER CHIASSON WAS ISSUED A SUMMONS FRIDAY ON THE MISDEMEANOR CHARGE OF PROHIBITED SEXUAL CONDUCT BETWEEN AN EDUCATOR AND A STUDENT. WEBRE SAYS DETECTIVES QUESTIONED THE MALE STUDENT, WHO DETAILED THE ALLEGED SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH TEACHER, WHO TAUGHT HIM LAST YEAR. THE TEACHER HAS BEEN SUSPENDED PENDING THE OUTCOME OF THE INVESTIGATION.
GREENER PASTURES ARE GREETING SOME OF THE MALNOURISHED AND NEGLECTED HORSES SEIZED TWO WEEKS AGO FROM A SABINE PARISH PROPERTY OWNER.
THE SABINE HUMANE SOCIETY HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN FINDING ADDITIONAL FOSTER HOMES WHERE THE ANIMALS CAN RECEIVE INDIVIDUALIZED ATTENTION. THE SOCIETY SEIZED ABOUT 60 THOROUGHBREDS FROM CHARLES FORD'S HILLCREST FARMS NEAR MANY.
GOATS AND PIGS ALSO WERE SEIZED FROM FORD.
A 20-YEAR-OLD WOMAN FROM KENTUCKY WAS KILLED SUNDAY IN A WRECK IN VERNON PARISH. STATE POLICE SAY TROOPERS RESPONDED TO A CRASH ABOUT 4 A.M. ON U.S. HIGHWAY 171, NORTH OF ROSEPINE. POLICE SAY THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND LEFT THE ROAD AND HIT TWO TREES. THE DEAD WOMAN WAS A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE. TROOPERS SAY SHE WAS NOT WEARING A SEATBELT. THE DRIVER RECEIVED MODERATE INJURIES AND IS BEING TREATED AT A LOCAL HOSPITAL.
AN EVANGELINE PARISH MAN HAS BEEN ACCUSED OF SETTING FIRE OVER THE WEEKEND TO THE TRAILER HE WAS LIVING IN. STATE FIRE MARSHAL H. "BUTCH" BROWNING SAYS 38-YEAR-OLD OLEN FUESLIER, OF PINE PRAIRIE, WAS ARRESTED ON A CHARGE OF SIMPLE ARSON. HE WAS BOOKED INTO THE EVANGELINE PARISH JAIL AND IS BEING HELD IN LIEU OF $50,000 BOND. AFTER AN EXTENSIVE INVESTIGATION, AUTHORITIES SAYS FUSELIER WAS ACCUSED OF SETTING FIRE TO THE HOME. IT APPEARS HE HAD BEEN RECENTLY EVICTED BY HIS ROOMMATE.
TURN OUT WAS GOOD FRIDAY FOR A JOB FAIR AT THE RAPIDES PARISH COLISEUM EXHIBITION HALL, THAT WAS HELD TO TEST THE JOB POOL IN CENTRAL LOUISIANA. AN UNDISCLOSED COMPANY IS LOOKING AT CENLA AS A POSSIBLE NEW LOCATION FOR A CALL CENTER. IT IS EXPECTED TO BE MARCH BEFORE WE KNOW WHETHER OR NOT THE COMPANY WILL MAKE THE MOVE.
THE JINDAL ADMINISTRATION IS PROJECTING AN $895 MILLION SHORTFALL IN LOUISIANA’S BUDGET FOR THE SPENDING YEAR THAT STARTS JULY 1. DEPUTY BUDGET DIRECTOR TERNISA HUTCHINSON TOLD MEMBERS OF THE JOINT LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON THE BUDGET THAT THE SHORTFALL IS BASED ON A NUMBER OF FUNDING PROBLEMS.
THE BIGGEST IS A $538 MILLION PROJECTED SHORTFALL IN THE MEDICAID PROGRAM. OTHER AREAS IN NEED OF A REVENUE BOOST INCLUDE A COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM AND BASIC STATE AID FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE SHORTFALL PROJECTION GAVE LEGISLATORS AN INDICATION OF THE NUMBERS GOV. BOBBY JINDAL IS USING TO BUILD A PROPOSED STATE OPERATING BUDGET, WHICH WILL BE RELEASED FEB. 9.
PASSENGERS TRAVELING TO AND FROM MONROE REGIONAL AIRPORT THROUGH DALLAS-FORT WORTH SOON WILL HAVE SMOOTHER AND FASTER FLIGHTS AS AMERICAN AIRLINES REPLACES ITS TURBO PROPELLER-POWERED AIRCRAFT WITH JETS. THE NEW JETS, THOUGH FASTER, HOLD FEWER PASSENGERS. THE NEW SERVICE BEGINS THE END OF THIS MONTH.
A LEGISLATIVE BUDGET COMMITTEE APPROVES A 275-THOUSAND DOLLAR ANNUAL SALARY FOR NEW STATE SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION JOHN WHITE. HIS CONTRACT ALSO CALLS FOR SIX-PERCENT ANNUAL PAY RAISES, IF HE RECEIVED A POSITIVE EVALUATION. GOVERNOR BOBBY JINDAL HAND PICKED WHITE AS THE STATE'S NEW PUBLIC EDUCATION LEADER. WHITE'S ANNUAL SALARY IS 80-THOUSAND DOLLARS LESS THAN WHAT FORMER STATE SUPERINTENDENT PAUL PASTOREK RECEIVED.
THE HEAD OF THE STATE'S BIGGEST TEACHERS' UNION SAYS GOVERNOR JINDAL'S PROPOSED STATEWIDE PRIVATE SCHOOL VOUCHERS PROGRAM, FOR PARENTS OF KIDS IN POOR PERFORMING PUBLIC SCHOOLS, IS A BAD DEAL. LOUISIANA FEDERATION OF TEACHERS PRESIDENT STEVE MONAGHAN SAYS THE ADMINISTRATION IS PEDDLING A MYTH OF SCHOOL CHOICE FOR POVERTY-RIDDEN PARENTS. MONAGHAN SAYS PARENTS WHO GET VOUCHERS MAY WELL FIND FEW PRIVATE SCHOOL CHOICES, AND MAY EVEN HAVE THEIR APPLICATIONS REJECTED. HE SAYS LFT WOULD HOPE LAWMAKERS KEEP IN MIND THAT PRIVATE SCHOOLS HAVE NO ANNUAL REVIEWS, NOR ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE STATE.
THE LOUISIANA FAMILY FORUM IS ONCE AGAIN LOOKING FOR THE STATE'S TOP TEN LONGEST KNOWN LIVING MARRIED COUPLES. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR GENE MILLS SAYS THE LONGEST-MARRIED COUPLE WILL BE HONORED AT A DESSERT RECEPTION IN THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION ON VALENTINE'S DAY. MILLS SAYS THE TOP TEN WILL BE ACKNOWLEDGED IN THE LOUISIANA FAMILY FORUM'S MARRIAGE HALL OF FAME AND RECEIVE A PROCLAMATION FROM THE GOVERNOR. ENTRANTS MAY APPLY BEFORE FEBRUARY NINTH BY SENDING THEIR THEIR CONTACT INFO AND WEDDING DATE TO INFO@LAFAMILYFORUM.ORG
LOUISIANA HAS BEEN NAMED THE MOST PRO-LIFE STATE IN THE COUNTRY. LOUISIANA RIGHT TO LIFE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR BENJAMIN CLAPPER SAYS AMERICANS UNITED FOR LIFE BASES THEIR RANKINGS ON HOW STATE LEGISLATORS PASS LAWS WHEN IT COMES TO THE PROTECTION OF THE UNBORN. HE SAYS LOUISIANA'S PRO-LIFE LEGISLATION IS CUTTING EDGE. CLAPPER CREDITS PRO-LIFE ORGANIZATIONS, LOUISIANA'S LAWMAKERS AND GOVERNOR BOBBY JINDAL FOR STANDING FIRM ON LEGISLATION DEALING WITH ABORTION.
LOUISIANA INVESTORS WHO LOST A BUNDLE TO AN ALLEGED PONZI SCHEME CARRIED OUT BY STANFORD INVESTMENTS, WILL BE WATCHING WHEN R. ALLEN STANFORD'S FRAUD TRIAL BEGINS TODAY. STANFORD IS ACCUSED OF MISLEADING INVESTORS WHO BOUGHT CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT FROM HIS BANK IN ANTIGUA; THEN SPENDING THEIR MONEY ON HIS OWN LAVISH LIFESTYLE.
THE STEAMY TEMPERATURES OF LAST SUMMER AND THE DRY CONDITIONS MAY HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THIS YEAR'S CRAWFISH SEASON. LOUISIANA CRAWFISH FARMERS ASSOCIATION DIRECTOR STEPHEN MINVIELLE SAYS LAST YEAR IT WAS DRY BUT THE COOLER WEATHER HELPED OUT THE HARVEST. MINVIELLE SAYS THE SEASON IS STARTING OFF SLOW BECAUSE OF THE WEATHER AND FARMERS ARE ONLY PULLING IN ABOUT 30% OF WHAT THEY NORMALLY CATCH ON AVERAGE. MINVIELLE EXPECTS THIS YEAR'S CRAWFISH CROP WILL BE SIMILAR TO LAST YEAR, STARTING SLOW THEN EXPLODING LATER IN THE SEASON. HE'S HOPING FOR LOTS OF RAIN.
REPLICAS OF TWO OF THE THREE SHIPS THAT CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS SAILED TO THE NEW WORLD WILL BE DISPLAYED NEXT MONTH IN HOUMA. THE NINA AND PINTA WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FEB. 17-26 AT THE DOWNTOWN MARINA, AND WILL DEPART ON FEB. 27.
A STATEMENT FROM THE COLUMBUS FOUNDATION SAYS THE NINA WAS BUILT BY HAND AND WITHOUT POWER TOOLS. THE PINTA IS LARGER THAN THE SHIP USED BY COLUMBUS. IT WAS BUILT RECENTLY IN BRAZIL TO ACCOMPANY THE NINA. THEY TOUR TOGETHER AS A SAILING MUSEUM. AFTER TEXAS VISITS, THEY'LL BE IN LAKE CHARLES ON APRIL 27-MAY 8.
A FORMER SHREVEPORT CITY STAFFER IS IN JAIL AWAITING SENTENCING AFTER BEING CONVICTED OF RAPING AN 18-YEAR-OLD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ON A COUCH IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE. FORTY-FOUR-YEAR-OLD RICHARD SEATON WAS CONVICTED ON FRIDAY IN THE RAPE, WHICH OCCURRED AFTER THE DECEMBER 2010 INDEPENDENCE BOWL.
PROSECUTORS SAID SEATON USED HIS INFLUENCE AND POSITION TO COERCE THE INTOXICATED TEEN INTO ACCOMPANYING HIM TO SHREVEPORT'S GOVERNMENT PLAZA.
HE IS TO BE SENTENCED ON FEB. 1 AFTER A JUDGE FOUND HIM GUILTY OF FORCIBLE RAPE AND ABUSE OF OFFICE.
