Posted
2012-04-03 05:40:00
by
Dave Graichen
NEWS FOR TUESDAY 040312
BY DAVE GRAICHEN
THE GILLIS LONG OR JACKSON STREET BRIDGE THAT CONNECTS DOWNTOWN ALEXANDRIA WITH PINEVILLE IS CLOSE DUE TO MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. THE BRIDGE WAS CLOSED TO TRAFFIC YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. ALL OFFICIALS WILL SAY AT THIS POINT IS THAT THE BRIDGE SHOULD REOPEN SOMETIME TODAY.
GOV. BOBBY JINDAL'S CENTERPIECE EDUCATION BILLS FOR THE SESSION ARE ON TRACK FOR A FULL SENATE DEBATE WEDNESDAY, WHERE PASSAGE COULD GET THE PROPOSALS TO THE GOVERNOR'S DESK LATER THIS WEEK. THE COMPLEX MEASURES TO CREATE A STATEWIDE VOUCHER PROGRAM THAT USES TAX DOLLARS TO PAY FOR PRIVATE SCHOOL TUITION, TO EXPAND CHARTER SCHOOLS IN LOUISIANA AND TO REVAMP TEACHER PAY AND JOB PROTECTIONS HAVE BEEN MOVING AT A SPEEDY CLIP THROUGH THE SESSION, WHICH STARTED THREE WEEKS AGO. THE VOUCHER BILL RECEIVED APPROVAL IN THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE WITH A 9-2 VOTE MONDAY. IT WAS THE FINAL STEP NEEDED BEFORE AN EXPECTED SENATE FLOOR DEBATE WEDNESDAY.
THE NFL PLAYERS UNION HAS REPORTEDLY HIRED LAWYERS FOR THE PLAYERS INVOLVED IN THE SAINTS BOUNTY PROGRAM, BECAUSE THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THEY COULD FACE CRIMINAL CHARGES. THE NFL SAID THERE WERE 22 TO 27 DEFENSIVE PLAYERS INVOLVED IN THE PAY-FOR-PAIN BOUNTY POOL. BUT LEGAL ANALYST DOUG SUNSERI SAYS IT'S UNLIKELY A D-A WOULD BRING UP CRIMINAL CHARGES. MEANWHILE, COACH SEAN PAYTON AND GENERAL MANAGER MICKEY LOOMIS WILL BE IN NEW YORK THIS WEEK TO MEET WITH COMMISSIONER ROGER GOODELL AS THEY APPEAL THEIR SUSPENSIONS. SUNSERI SAYS ITS UNLIKELY GOODELL WILL REDUCE THEIR PUNISHMENTS.
ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY LP SAID MONDAY IT HAS FILED FOR PERMISSION FROM FEDERAL REGULATORS TO BUILD ITS PROPOSED NATURAL GAS EXPORT TERMINAL AT LAKE CHARLES.
DALLAS-BASED ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY SAID THAT IF THE FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION APPROVES, CONSTRUCTION WILL BEGIN IN 2014 WITH A TARGET DATE OF EXPORTING GAS IN THE SPRING OF 2018. LAST AUGUST, THE FEDERAL ENERGY DEPARTMENT GAVE THE COMPANY PERMISSION TO EXPORT UP TO 2 BILLION CUBIC FEET OF NATURAL GAS A DAY FOR 25 YEARS. ENERGY TRANSFER EQUITY PLANS TO MODIFY A TERMINAL THAT OPENED IN 1981 TO HANDLE LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS IMPORTS SO IT CAN HANDLE EXPORTS. AT LEAST 10 EXPORT TERMINALS ARE IN VARIOUS STAGES OF PLANNING IN LOUISIANA, TEXAS, MARYLAND AND OREGON.
A CADDO PARISH HIGH SCHOOL HAD TO SEND STUDENTS HOME YESTERDAY, BECAUSE THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS DISABLED BY COPPER THIEVES. CADDO SHERIFF'S SPOKESPERSON CINDY CHADWICK SAYS OVER 1200 FT OF WIRE HAD BEEN CUT FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM; LIKELY OVER SPRING BREAK LAST WEEK. SHE SAYS COPPER THEFTS ARE COMMON, BUT THE AMOUNT STOLEN FROM THE SCHOOL WAS SIGNIFICANT.
A FORMER PRIEST FROM DUSON IS FACING ADDITIONAL CHARGES FOR ALLEGEDLY HAVING A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH A BOY. MARK BROUSSARD WAS FIRST ARRESTED ON MARCH 22ND ON RAPE AND BATTERY CHARGES RELATED TO AN 8-YEAR-OLD VICTIM YEARS AGO. CALCASIEU PARISH SHERIFF'S OFFICE SPOKESPERSON KIM MYERS SAYS NEW CHARGES WERE FILED AS A RESULT OF A 2ND VICTIM COMING FORWARD. MYERS SAYS BROUSSARD HAS TOLD INVESTIGATORS HE HAD A SEXUAL RELATIONSHIP WITH FOUR BOYS. BROUSSARD RETIRED FROM THE PRIESTHOOD IN 1994.
LOUISIANA MOTORISTS WOULD BE ABLE TO GET THEIR VEHICLES INSPECTED EVERY TWO YEARS, INSTEAD OF EACH YEAR, IF LAWMAKERS BACK A PROPOSAL THAT RECEIVED THE SUPPORT MONDAY OF THE SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE. THE MEASURE (SENATE BILL 610), WOULD TAKE EFFECT SEPT. 1. IN PARISHES WITH AUTO EMISSION PROBLEMS, LIKE THE BATON ROUGE AREA, ANNUAL INSPECTIONS STILL WOULD BE REQUIRED.
THE BILL HEADS TO THE FULL SENATE FOR DEBATE.
CASINOS WOULD BE PROHIBITED FROM ISSUING PLAYERS' CARDS THAT AUTOMATICALLY WITHDRAW FUNDS FROM A CREDIT, SAVINGS OR CHECKING ACCOUNT, UNDER A BILL THAT RECEIVED OVERWHELMING SUPPORT MONDAY FROM THE STATE HOUSE. REP. HUNTER GREENE, R-BATON ROUGE, SAID CASINOS IN LOUISIANA AREN'T USING SUCH CARDS NOW, BUT HE SAID THEY ARE USED IN LAS VEGAS. GREENE SAID HIS PROPOSAL (HOUSE BILL 146) WOULD "MAKE PEOPLE THINK FOR A MINUTE" BEFORE DRAINING THEIR BANK ACCOUNTS FOR GAMBLING. THEY WOULD STILL BE ABLE TO WITHDRAW CASH FROM ATM MACHINES AT THE CASINOS AND GET MONEY FROM THEIR ACCOUNTS THROUGH TELLERS. THE BILL HEADS NEXT TO THE SENATE.
SOME HAVE GONE UNCLAIMED BY FAMILY MEMBERS FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS. THERE'S AT LEAST ONE JOHN DOE. IN ALL, THE REMAINS OF 93 PEOPLE HAVE GONE UNCLAIMED IN LAFAYETTE PARISH IN THE PAST 20 YEARS. THOSE PEOPLE WILL RECEIVE A FUNERAL AT 10 A.M. APRIL 28 AT CATHEDRAL OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST. WHILE A CATHOLIC CHURCH AND AGENCY ORGANIZED THE SERVICE, OTHER MINISTERS OF FAITH HAVE BEEN INVITED TO BE A PART OF THE ECUMENICAL SERVICE TO RESPECT THE OTHER RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OF THE DEAD. A GRAVESIDE MILITARY SERVICE WILL HONOR THOSE VETERANS WHO WILL BE INTERRED. THE COMMUNITY HAS RESPONDED WITH DONATIONS TO HELP COVER THE COST OF ENGRAVING THE NAMES OF PEOPLE ON THE GRANITE DOORS OF A COLUMBARIUM CONSTRUCTED FOR THE SERVICE.
POLICE IN SULPHUR ARE INVESTIGATING A BANK ROBBERY YESTERDAY MORNING. OFFICERS SAYS AN UNARMED MAN DEMANDED CASH AND FLED THE CHASE BANK BRANCH ON FOOT. THEY HAVE A GOOD DESCRIPTION AND BANK SURVEILLANCE VIDEO.
A TEAM OF ENGINEERING STUDENTS AT LOUISIANA TECH HAS WON 1ST PLACE AWARDS IN SHELL OIL'S ECO-MARATHON COMPETITION. THE TECH TEAM'S CAR GETS OVER 600 MILES TO A GALLON OF GAS.
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