News for Friday 021513

By Dave Graichen

Alexandria mayor Jacques Roy’s chief of staff, T.W. Thompson, has turned in his letter of resignation. Thompson holds three important positions in the city. Chief of staff for the mayor, director of the Division of Public Works and that of  Commissioner of Public Safety. Thompson cited personal reasons for his resignation. His last day will be March 29.

The city of Leesville and surrounding towns are concerned about the Army's recent assessment of  a possible huge troop reduction at Fort Polk. If implemented, would reduce the post's staffing by about half. Local Officials are asking area residents to pitch in by commenting on the report and contacting their congressmen. Information on the campaign, including sample letters commenting on the report and contact information for key congressmen and other elected officials, can be found on websites for the city of Leesville, the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce, England Airpark, the Vernon Parish Police Jury and the Vernon Parish Chamber of Commerce.

A  statewide  survey  conducted  by the Public Policy Polling Survey shows Governor Jindal's approval rating  has  hit an all-time low of 37-percent.  The same group conducted  a similar poll two years ago, and Jindal's approval rating was 58-percent.

Gov. Bobby Jindal told reporters yesterday, that they don’t have a proposal yet, but everything is on the table as he tries to develop a plan that eliminates personal and corporate income taxes in a “revenue neutral” way. Jindal said he continues to meet with legislators and others to get their ideas before settling on a bill he will ask a legislator to submit for consideration in the legislative session, which begins April 8.

A four-month investigation spanning Rapides and Natchitoches parishes into meth manufacturing led to the arrests of eight people and the discovery of multiple drug cooking spots in the Flatwoods and Mora areas. Local authorities say the investigation began in October 2012 after complaints were received.

A professor of physics at Louisiana Tech along with NASA predict an  asteroid will fly closer to Earth today than any object of its size has ever before. Dr. Lee Sawyer says the big rock is about 150 feet in

diameter, about half the length of a football field. He  says the asteroid will pass within 17,200 miles of the Earth's  surface which is actually closer than most communications satellites.

Former US Attorney Jim Letten  has  been  hired by Tulane University Law  School.  They  say  Letten  will  be  an  assistant   dean  for "experiential learning" , a newly created position. He is  expected

to start the new job later this month.

A federal judge today found Transocean, the company that  owned BP's ill-fated Deepwater Horizon oil rig, guilty of violating the federal Clean Water Act. Transocean will have to pay $400-million in federal

fines and be on probation for 5 years.

Police in Bossier say a Shreveport woman robbed a Wal-Mart by hiding about $70 worth of items in her  6-year-old  son's  jacket. When she was confronted she ran through the parking lot, dragging her son who

almost got hit by a car. The 28 year old woman then went back  to  the  same  Wal  Mart  hours  later to pick up a ring she'd dropped off to be sized. She was arrested.

Police  in  Maringouin  say  a  school bus went into the bayou there after hitting a house Thursday  morning.  They  say  at  the  time of the accident there were 20 students on the bus and four were taken  to a local hospital complaining about head and back pain. The driver told investigators  he  couldn't turn the bus, and that's when he hit the house.

Authorities in Caddo Parish say a Keithville school teacher is under arrest  for  alleged  sexual  contact  with a special needs student. 33-year-old Jeremy Pierce, a teacher at  Port City Christian Academy

in Shreveport, is believed to have had inappropriate  behavior  with the  girl on several occasions, on school grounds.

Jeff  Davis  Parish  deputies arrest a Hathaway  teen  for  indecent behavior with a minor  and  other charges. 18-year-old Michael Gotte Jr. was charged   with computer-aided solicitation  of a minor, inappropriate behavior with a juvenile and production of child pornography. The girl was 14.

Sports..

The 2013 LSU baseball team begins its quest today for Omaha and an  appearance in the College World Series. The Tigers host Maryland at 7:00  tonight in the season opener. Airtime 6:30 on Talk Radio 970 KSYL.