The House Retirement Committee, at the behest of the Jindal administration, hijacked a bill Wednesday that could help advance stalled legislation to consolidate Louisiana’s school employees and teachers retirement systems. Opponents criticized the governor’s office for submitting a 47-page amendment to a non-controversial three-page bill that already has passed the state Senate. The maneuver allows the … Continue reading →

The $19 million River Center branch library project will continue to move forward despite a nearly successful attempt Wednesday by some Metro Council members to derail it for the third time in the past two years. The council also rejected for the second time this month three requests from council members to use its discretionary … Continue reading →

Murphy J. Painter, former commissioner of the Louisiana Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control, was indicted by a federal grand jury Wednesday for alleged improper use of state and federal law enforcement databases. The indictment accuses Painter of computer fraud, lying about his use of the databases and aggravated identity theft. The indictment also says Painter, … Continue reading →

A state House panel on Wednesday altered, then endorsed a Senate-passed bill aimed at increasing the pension system contributions of more than 50,000 state employees. Critics continued to warn that the legislation is unconstitutional because it breaks employment contracts and amounts to a tax on current employees to pay state retirement obligations. In addition, opponents … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — Tips related to missing college student Michaela “Mickey” Shunick have streamed in each hour of the day since word spread of her Saturday disappearance, but so far none have resulted in a solid lead, a police spokesman said Wednesday. “We’re receiving several per hour … and it really hasn’t slowed down,” Lafayette … Continue reading →

LIVINGSTON — Sales tax collections in Livingston Parish were higher than those of any previous April on record, the latest report shows. The April collections were also the second-highest for any month in the history of the parish, the director of the sales tax program confirmed. Only Christmas sales in 2008 were higher than … Continue reading →

PRAIRIEVILLE — Deputies arrested a Prairieville mother on a count of child desertion tied to the drowning of her 2-year-old daughter earlier this month, the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office reported Wednesday. Deputies said juvenile and family services investigators found that Fallon Gautreau, 22, Trailer Land, 18387 Donna St., on May 9 … Continue reading →

After purging one-time money from the state spending plan, a group of Republicans in the Louisiana House began preparing Wednesday for a fight to keep the budget rewrite intact. The latest bargaining chip in the struggle between Gov. Bobby Jindal and some Republicans over the $25 billion proposed state operating budget is the state’s “rainy day” … Continue reading →

A House-passed bill that would allow a state agency to survey some public school students on their sexual practices was killed Wednesday by the Senate Education Committee. Critics of the measure, including Gov. Bobby Jindal’s office, said the legislation was too broad and would intrude on the privacy of students and families. “We have some concerns … Continue reading →

Members of the Louisiana Board of Regents acknowledged Wednesday they didn’t have much success at the state Legislature this year. The general consensus at the regents’ board meeting at Southern University’s Baton Rouge campus was that the governor’s emphasis on overhauling the state policies concerning kindergarten through the 12th grade derailed the higher education agenda. The … Continue reading →

Property taxes for homeowners in the Mayfair and Glen Oaks areas of Baton Rouge would increase under legislation that cleared a Senate committee Wednesday. The Senate Committee on Local and Municipal Affairs voted without objection to advance House Bill 253 by state Rep. Franklin Foil, R-Baton Rouge, and House Bill 480 by state Rep. Regina Barrow, D-Baton … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — The state’s regulators Wednesday allowed Entergy Corp. to transfer functional control of its electricity grid to a regional coalition of power companies that would stretch from the Gulf of Mexico to Hudson Bay. The result, should regulators in other states agree, would lower costs to Entergy Corp. by more than $500 million, which … Continue reading →

Fourth- and eighth-grade public school students showed slight gains this year on a test required for promotion, including students in the Baton Rouge area, officials said Wednesday. In addition, the number of students performing on grade level rose by two percentage points, which state Superintendent of Education John White said is notable in grappling with one of … Continue reading →

WASHINGTON — Sen. David Vitter, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., announced a compromise Wednesday to move forward with reauthorizing the National Flood Insurance Program that is scheduled to expire at the end of May. The deal means approving a two-month extension to the program and then taking up Vitter’s more expansive five-year … Continue reading →

The state Public Service Commission gave phone companies the right to stop delivering white page directories under certain conditions Wednesday. AT&T, which has the most customers in Louisiana, is still delivering phone books and will continue for the time being, said Debbie Canale, AT&T regional vice president, after the vote. AT&T has stopped delivering phone … Continue reading →

Derrick George Gordy was convicted early Wednesday of manslaughter in the AK-47 assault rifle shooting deaths of a mother and her son outside their Baton Rouge homes in September 2009. An East Baton Rouge Parish jury of nine women and three men deliberated for more than eight hours Tuesday and Wednesday before finding Gordy … Continue reading →

Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. will raise rates for wind-only policies an average of 58 percent following the failure Wednesday of state Treasurer John Kennedy’s alternative proposal for an increase of 12 percent. During a special Citizens board meeting, Kennedy claimed the state-backed insurer of last resort had broken the law in calculating rates for the wind-only policies, which … Continue reading →

Large and small businesses in Louisiana do not foresee the national economy improving much in the coming months, and they will likely hold off on any increases in hiring, business development and investments, a recent quarterly business outlook survey by Capital One Bank found. However, local business leaders are reasonably optimistic about Baton Rouge’s economy as the region … Continue reading →

The owners of The Pig Stand in Ville Platte have filed a lawsuit against two state agencies and a set of foster parents, accusing them of slander, negligence and damaging their reputations over a 2011 arrest. Barry and Marla Giglio, who own the The Pig Stand, filed the lawsuit in St. Landry Parish against … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — Detectives are investigating the early Wednesday morning death of a 22-year-old Lafayette man who was shot at least once, Lafayette police said. Police spokesman Cpl. Paul Mouton identified the victim as Isiah Morgan, of the 2500 block of Louisiana Avenue. Officers found Morgan’s body at the intersection of Goldman and … Continue reading →

Police are investigating a Tuesday night slaying in the 900 block of North 31st Street, a police spokesman said. Jeremy McKenzie, of 12205 La Margie Ave., died at a local hospital after he was shot in the back at about 10 p.m. on North 31st Street near Gracie Street, Cpl. Thomas Stubbs … Continue reading →

NEW IBERIA — The Iberia Parish Council passed a resolution 10-2 Wednesday to postpone an investigative meeting into a conflict between the Parish President Errol “Romo” Romero and the 16th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. The council instead will hire Lafayette attorney Donald Washington to advise the council on how to put a package … Continue reading →

VILLE PLATTE — The Evangeline Parish School Board on Wednesday showed its appreciation to Superintendent Toni Hamlin by unanimously approving a two-year extension of her contract, which was due to expire in December. “We want to thank the superintendent and her staff for doing a great job,” board member Arthur Savoy said. Mayor Jennifer … Continue reading →

East Baton Rouge Parish sheriff’s detectives are looking for a man accused in a May 14 shooting death on Oak Park Drive, a sheriff’s spokeswoman said. Detectives said Roman Montrell Trosclair, 28, 7263 Maplewood Drive, shot and killed Dederick Droze, 24, Casey Rayborn Hicks said. Continue reading →

GONZALES — Ascension Parish officials are weighing whether a proposed half-cent rural sales tax for roads should have a limited duration. The sales tax, if approved by parish voters, would generate $8 million a year, enough to fund $80 million in bonds for a specified list of projects presented to voters, … Continue reading →

DENHAM SPRINGS — City workers began signing up for a new health insurance plan Wednesday designed to save the city about $170,000 while offering participants lower co-payments in the coming fiscal year, officials said. Denham Springs will continue to pay full premiums for its more than 160 employees enrolled in the health insurance program and … Continue reading →

A company headquartered in Texas agreed to pay a fine of $557,000 and to stop operating any hydrocarbon business interests in Louisiana after pleading guilty Wednesday to negligently discharging oil into the bayous of Jefferson Parish. Cedyco Corp., which was incorporated in Delaware but is headquartered in Houston, pleaded guilty in federal court to three counts … Continue reading →

DONALDSONVILLE — The City Council voted unanimously to adopt a $6.5 million budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year. Budget documentation made available during Tuesday night’s council meeting shows total predicted revenues at $6.52 million, with expenditures at $6.47 million. Projected city general fund revenue stands at about $2.88 million for next year, according to … Continue reading →

LOREAUVILLE — Loreauville High School held its 2012 graduation ceremony at 6 p.m. May 15 in the school’s new gym. Valedictorian: Zachary Galatas. Salutatorian: Dylan Hanks. Distinguished … Continue reading →

ZACHARY — Commencement exercises for the 2012 graduates of Zachary High School were held Tuesday, May 22 , at Bethany World Prayer Center in Baker. Valedictorians: Taylor Jolyn Garig, Emily Renee Mann, Taylor Brooke Odom, Madeline Paige Pipkin and Deanne Claire Seamon. Continue reading →

BAKER — Baker High School held commencement exercises Thursday, May 17, 2012, at Bethany World Prayer Center. Valedictorian: Frederick Demond Parker Jr. Salutatorian: G’Ariel Alaysia Young. Summa cum laude graduates: … Continue reading →

DONALDSONVILLE — Commencement ceremonies were held Friday, May 18, for Donaldsonville High School’s Class of 2012 at Floyd Boutte Memorial Statdium. Valedictorian: Stefanie Renee Rodrigue. Salutatorian: Devonta Micole Guidry. Other … Continue reading →

ST. MARTINVILLE — St. Martinville Senior High School held its 2012 graduation ceremony at 6 p.m. Friday, May 18, 2012, in the high school gym. Valedictorian: Kimber Chataignier. Salutatorians: Dylon Boudreaux and … Continue reading →

CLINTON — Silliman Institute held commencement exercises for 30 graduates on Friday, May 18, 2012, at Knighton Stadium. Valedictorian: Claire Catherine Trahan. Salutatorian: Austin Caulfield Gayle. Honor graduates: James Quincy Austin, James Heylin … Continue reading →

PLAQUEMINE — Four Georgia Gulf contract employees underwent hospital treatment Tuesday night after being exposed to chlorine at the company’s plant in Plaquemine, a spokesman said Wednesday. Alan Chapple, spokesman for Georgia Gulf, said the four were working near a railcar they didn’t know was leaking chlorine around 9 p.m. Tuesday. Chapple said … Continue reading →

HAMMOND — Federal prosecutors charged a Hammond man Wednesday in connection with a gambling investigation. Frank G. Donewar, 56, was accused in a bill of information of transmission of wagering information and money laundering, U.S. Attorney Jim Letten announced. If convicted on both charges, Donewar could face up to 22 years in prison and $750,000 … Continue reading →

An Independence shrimp processing plant has been charged with mislabeling more than $100,000 worth of Mexican-caught shrimp as U.S. products, U.S. Attorney Jim Letten said Tuesday. DoRan Sea-Pak of Independence and distributor Worldwide Shrimp Co., of Highland Park, Ill., operated a business partnership between November 2007 and December 2008, wherein Worldwide would send the shrimp to DoRan … Continue reading →

PORT ALLEN — Residents living within a one-mile radius of the Air Liquide Speciality Chemicals plant were given the OK to return home, and a portion of U.S. 190 reopened Wednesday morning following Monday’s explosion and chemical fire at the Port Allen site. However, what caused the fire remained under investigation, officials said. Continue reading →

A 23-year-old Zachary man was indicted Wednesday in the March 3 shooting death of a former Southern University football player. An East Baton Rouge Parish grand jury charged Walter Jerome Fort with second-degree murder and illegal use of a weapon. A second-degree murder conviction carries an automatic sentence of life in prison. Fort, 6817 Lower Zachary … Continue reading →

Gov. Bobby Jindal signed into law Wednesday a ban on certain convicted sex offenders using Facebook and other social networking websites. “We already restrict sex offenders from playgrounds, daycares, and schools, and they should not be allowed to prey on our children in … Continue reading →

ISSUES TO WATCH THURSDAY SB299 and SB563 would allow southeast Baton Rouge neighborhoods to breakaway from the East Baton Parish School System is set for a vote before the full House. House convenes at 9:00 a.m. Senate convenes at 9:00 a.m. Continue reading →

OPELOUSAS — State Police is investigating an officer-involved shooting in St. Landry Parish that occurred at noon Wednesday during a traffic stop. No one was injured in the shooting, but authorities arrested Charles Martin, 61, of Oberlin, on one count of attempted first-degree … Continue reading →

DUSON — State Police say a Duson teenager died when he was ejected from his truck on La. Highway 719. The accident happened around 7 a.m. Tuesday. Troopers say Kye Doucet’s truck was traveling north when it ran off the road and struck several trees. Doucet was not wearing a seat … Continue reading →

WASHINGTON — Americans bought more new homes last month, the latest evidence that the U.S. housing market could be starting to recover. New-home sales increased 3.3 percent in April from March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 343,000, the Commerce Department said Wednesday. Sales rose sharply in every region of the country but the … Continue reading →

NEW YORK — A big final-hour comeback pulled the Dow Jones industrial average nearly back to where it started Wednesday. The Dow was down as much as 191 points earlier as the threat of a financial crisis spreading from Europe shook markets. The euro dropped to a nearly two-year low against the dollar, and oil … Continue reading →