News for Tuesday 012913

By Dave Graichen

District 4 Alexandria city council member Harry Silver  is recovering after he passed out over the weekend at his business, Weiss and Goldring clothing. Ted Silver, the councilman’s son says his father’s low blood pressure was is what led to him fainting. Silver underwent a procedure yesterday to install a pacemaker. He is reported to be doing fine. The councilman, who celebrated that 91st birthday just last week, is well-known for his workout regimen, that includes a swim each morning. Silver, is expected to be released from the hospital today.

Pineville PD report a 60-year-old Pineville man died Sunday when he lost control of his motorcycle on Cottingham Expressway and was thrown from the bike. William Woolley was taken to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police say they do not believe alcohol was a factor.

The spring like weather in Louisiana is about to come to an end and more  seasonable temperatures are on their way. Jeff Hood, with the National  Weather Service in Shreveport, says a cold front is approaching and it's  bringing with it a good chance for severe weather tonight and into  tomorrow morning. Hood  says heavy rain and strong winds are likely as the cold front moves  through the state

A hearing to determine whether a Thibodaux man, accused of killing and  dismembering his disabled 7-year-old son two years ago, is competent to  stand trial will finally happen today.31 year old jeramiah  Wright reportedly told investigators he killed the boy because he was tired of taking care of him. Whether or not Wright goes to a  murder trial or an asylum will hinge on today's hearing.

Cuts to health care services, here in Louisiana,  begin this week for at-risk children, low-income moms and HIV patients, part of Gov. Bobby Jindal's rebalancing of the budget to close a midyear deficit. Slated for elimination are programs that provide behavioral health services for at-risk children, offer case management visits for low-income HIV patients and pay for at-home visits by nurses who teach poor, first-time mothers how to care for their newborns. The Medicaid program will no longer cover physical therapy and speech therapy rehabilitation services for nursing home residents. Dental benefits to pregnant women through Medicaid will be cut off. Hospitals and doctors will be paid less when they care for Medicaid patients.

The  tragic  case of  U.L.  Lafayette  coed  Mickey  Shunick,  whose disappearance  and murder last year made national headlines, will be featured again tonight  on Dateline NBC. The story will also focus on sister Charlene Shunick's fight to find Mickey and not give up hope. Brandon Scott Lavergne is  serving life for Mickey's murder and the killing of Lisa Pate in 1999.

State Superintendent of Education John White yesterday took issue with a recent report that said  Teachers are leaving the classroom in any greater numbers now,  than before Gov. Bobby Jindal’s education system revamp. White said the figures from the state teacher’s retirement system, that showed a 25% increase in the number of teachers retiring didn’t tell the whole story. White said more retirements are based on financial considerations than changes in the classroom. He also went on to say “the teachers who are leaving are more likely to be ineffective.” White insists the overall teacher work force attrition rate has remained at or close to 12 percent for the last three years.

Former Louisiana gubernatorial candidate John Georges, who has business holdings ranging from food service distribution to Galatoire’s restaurant in New Orleans , said Monday he has a “serious interest” in buying The Baton Rouge Advocate. The 52 year old Georges says talks with Capital City Press, which owns The Advocate, “have gone beyond a conversation.” Richard Manship, president and CEO of Capital City Press, disclosed Friday the family-owned newspaper was in talks with a potential buyer.

Chitimacha Police officer, Sgt. Rick Riggenbach, who was killed this weekend  in  a  shootout  with  a 48-year-old St. Mary Parish man is being hailed as a hero.  Wilbert  Thibodeaux  of  Charenton has also

been  charged  with  shooting  deputies  Jason  Javier  and  Matthew Strickland. State Police spokesperson Stephen Hammons says they also believe  Thibodeaux set a mobile home on fire and killed 78-year-old Eddie Lyons.

A  23-year-old old SLU graduate student was found shot to  death  in his  apartment  and  Hammond  police  say one suspect is in custody, while  another  remains at large. They say  Richard  Hudson  of  New Orleans is behind  bars  and  they're  still looking for 20-year-old Terry Landry. It is believed this shooting  occurred  during  a drug deal gone bad.

Police  in  Bossier  City say two people have been found dead inside their home. They say an  elderly couple lived there and police found signs of trauma but no signs  of  forced  entry.  The  investigation

continues.

After  two  weak  years, it looks like Louisiana's crawfish  harvest will be better this  year.  LSU  AgCenter aquaculture specialist Dr. Greg Lutz says even though the torrential  rains  earlier this month knocked  a  small  dent in the mudbug population, folks  coming  for Super Bowl will find plenty..:

A  part  of  the  Mississippi River near Vicksburg remains closed to ship traffic as a result  of a barge that hit a railroad bridge. The barge was carrying more than 80-thousand gallons of oil, and some of

it has leaked into the Mississippi  River.  Cleanup  crews are using booms to skim the oily water out of the river.

A Tangipahoa Parish man is recovering from a gunshot to the backside after  a  homeowner  caught him in the act of burglarizing the place. 20-year-old  Richard  Stewart   Jr.   was   reportedly  wearing  the

homeowner's clothes and had some of the man's firearms in hand, when confronted. He fired at the man and missed.  The homeowner fired his weapon--hitting Stewart in the buttocks.

A handcuffed suspect managed to get a New Orleans  Police  officer's gun  and  shoot him with it early Sunday morning. 41-year-old  Damon Jones was being  arrested for causing a disturbance at a convenience store in Eastern New  Orleans.  After  being  cuffed,  he  was being placed in the squad car, and grew combative--getting his hand on the officer's gun and pulling the trigger. The cop was shot in the  leg, but is listed in good condition.

The Louisiana Supreme Court has denied  death  row inmate Christopher Sepulvado's plea to stay his scheduled February  13  execution.  The 69-year-old  Shreveport  area  man was convicted in 1992 for beating and fatally scalding his 6 year old step son. Sepulvado continues to press for clemency from Governor Bobby Jindal.

A part of the Superbowl 47 pregame show  Sunday,  One  Republic  and Matchbox  20  will  be  performing.  Beyonce  will  be  the halftime entertainment and Alicia Keys will sing the National Anthem.