News For Friday 102612

By Dave Graichen

Another cool front is moving across Louisiana, bringing the coldest  temperatures seen so far this season. State Climatologist Barry Keim  says you'll want to have a coat or at least a sweater ready this weekend, especially in the overnight hours. Keim says parts of the state may see some rain today, as the cold front pushes through. He says, by early Sunday morning, we can expect lows in  the 30's in northern and central parishes, and in the mid-to-upper 40's nearer  to the coast.

Police say they arrested four former LSU football players, including one-time Heisman Trophy finalist  Tyrann Mathieu, after finding them with marijuana at Mathieu’s apartment. Baton Rouge police on Thursday said they also arrested ex-LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson, and former defensive backs Derrick Bryant and Karnell Hatcher. Police say Mathieu, Jefferson and Hatcher were booked on charges of marijuana possession while Bryant faces a charge of possession with intent to distribute. Police say they were called to the apartment complex after receiving a complaint from a neighbor of Mathieu.

Gannett newspapers report a yet-unnamed steel manufacturer will locate  a plant in the Caddo-Bossier area--creating hundreds of new jobs. An  official announcement is scheduled for this afternoon at the Caddo- Bossier Port.  The steel mill project could mean 800 new jobs and even more indirect

 jobs.

Rapides and 51 other Louisiana parishes are about to share $68.8 million in windfall tax money that has accumulated in escrow during a long-running court battle with three pipeline companies. Rapides will receive the seventh-largest share of the purse, and now is figuring out how to disperse almost $2.57 million among its taxing districts, including the School Board and Police Jury. The case, which has been ongoing for close to 17 years, has to do with the amount of taxes several pipelines pay and have paid over the years, to travel through the state.  

It’s what you call a win win negotiation ,The England Authority Board of Commissioners approved an agreement Thursday that will transfer land to St. Mary's Residential Training School in return for the cancellation of a lease on land that is part of England Airpark. The authority recently purchased 149 acres from the state with the intention of using some of that property to extend a Runway. The Diocese of Alexandria and St. Mary's held lease rights on that land, renewable for more than 150 years. In exchange for cancelling the lease, the authority is donating 47 of the 149 acres to St. Mary's. When the transfer is complete, the airpark will have 102 of the 149 acres to do with as they see fit, while St. Mary's will take ownership of 62 acres of land.

The RPSO Reports an investigation into a Tuesday armed robbery and battery resulted in the arrests of two Hineston men living across the street from the crime scene. 30 year old Brandon Stokes and 23 year old Jarret Dryden were both charged with one count of armed robbery, one count of aggravated second-degree battery, one count of criminal conspiracy and two counts of false imprisonment while armed with a dangerous weapon. Both were booked into the Rapides parish jail.

The American Dream; get married,  start  a  family,  buy  a home and retire at 65, right? Now a survey by Pew Research says fewer  of  us believe  we'll be able to retire at so young an age. Over 30% of the 1000 surveyed  don't  think  they'll  be able to retire until 80. Good luck with that. The  average life expectancy in the US. is 78 & a half.

The  Walker  man  charged  with  first degree feticide and attempted second-degree murder could face a  first  degree  murder  charge  if autopsy  evidence  of the baby he cut out of his pregnant wife shows that the fetus began  to  breathe after being removed from the womb. District  Attorney Scott Perriloux  says  they're  awaiting  autopsy results on  the  baby  and  toxicology tests for 31-year-old Jeffrey Reynolds.

An  abandoned pipe that is believed to be the source of an oil sheen spotted near the site of the 2010 Gulf Oil spill has now been capped and plugged  according  to  BP. The company announced yesterday  that the Coast Guard says no oil has been  seen leaking out of that container since it was capped and plugged. Reports  of  the  sheen in the Gulf started in September.

A  Baton  Rouge  mother  is under arrest accused of putting her baby inside of a plastic box then  leaving  her  alone  inside her house. Apparently 26-year-old Sharesse Joseph was walking down  the  street when  the  16  month  old  baby's grandmother notified the apartment manager that the child may be  left  inside alone. Police reportedly found the baby inside a Rubbermaid container  with  an  empty bottle and wearing a soiled diaper.

For the seventh time  in  the past 30 days, Governor Bobby Jindal has traveled out of state to attend  campaign  or  other  functions. His office announced  that  he  was  in  Iowa stumping for Mitt  Romney Wednesday  and in Jacksonville last night to  attend  the  first  coast women's services  pro-life  dinner. He returned home after that.

The earth is moving again at the site of that giant sinkhole in Assumption  Parish  near Bayou Corne.  The  U.S.  Geological  Survey confirms a sharp tremor  Wednesday around 9. The tremor was located about 500 meters deep, near  the  underground  salt cavern under the sinkhole.  The  sinkhole now covers about 4 acres  in  area.  Nearby residents were evacuated  in  early August, and haven't been able to return home since.

Long-time northeast Louisiana  philanthropist  Kitty  DeGree  passed away  this morning at the age of 90. DeGree made millions of dollars in real  estate  and  gave much of it back to the community. She was ULM's  largest  benefactor   and   the   university's   director  of development,  Anne  Lockhart,  says  DeGree touched every aspect  of Louisiana-Monroe. DeGree's foundation has given away over $4-million to worthy causes.

The Thibodaux man accused of beheading and dismembering his disabled 7-year-old  son last year has  had  a  key  hearing  delayed  again. 31-year-old Jeremiah  Wright  was  originally scheduled for a mental competency hearing in September. It  was delayed until November, but then  delayed  again  until  January 3rd.   Wright  reportedly  told authorities he killed the boy because he was tired of taking care of him. He remains in jail pending a $5-million bond.

Downtown Houma will be full of Halloween fun tonight with the first ever  Rougarou Festival. Jonathan Foret is the development director of the  South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center. He says the festival will  feature a parade, a costume contest, an obstacle course in involving  zombies and swamp monsters and lots of Cajun-themed food. Foret says the festival kicks off at 5 o'clock this afternoon with live  music  in Courthouse Square. He says the festival aims to  capitalize on renewed interest in Cajun culture thanks to shows like  "Swamp People."

Former LSU track star LoLo Jones is has landed a spot  on the United States  bobsled  team.  The  2-time  Olympic hurdler was one  of  24 athletes  selected for the team and 1 of  6  women's  push  athletes selected.  The  skeleton  roster  for  the  national  team  will  be announced next week after team selection races take place in Utah.

The Saints seek their third win in a row on Sunday night when they meet  the Denver Broncos. After an 0-and-4 start, New Orleans has been playing  better, but interim head coach Joe Vitt says the Broncos are getting  better too. Vitt says Denver Q-B Peyton Manning is looking more  comfortable with his new team. Sunday marks Vitt's first game with the Saints since serving a six-game  suspension as a result of the NFL's bounty investigation. Vitt says it's  been a great week.