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ST. FRANCISVILLE — A tractor-trailer rig flipped on its side and lost its load of timber near the intersection of U.S. 61 and La. 10 Tuesday morning, Police Chief Scott Ford said. Ford said the driver reported that his brakes failed and caused him to lose control of the vehicle. The mishap spilled logs … Continue reading →
The state Senate Education Committee is scheduled Tuesday to consider the $3.5 billion spending plan for the public schools in Louisiana. Senate Education last week rejected Senate Concurrent Resolution 23, which would have authorized the MFP, or the Minimum Foundation Program, sending it back for BESE to recalculate and resubmit. The state Board of Elementary and … Continue reading →
INDEPENDENCE — A 10-year-old girl died Monday afternoon after she was ejected from a car in a crash on La. 1054 about 3 miles north of La. 40 in Tangipahoa Parish, State Police said. An unlicensed 15-year-old girl was driving a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am north on La. 1054 with three juveniles when it … Continue reading →
Updated at 10:25 a.m. – MOORE, Okla. (AP) - Emergency crews searched the broken remnants of an Oklahoma City suburb Tuesday for survivors of a massive tornado that flattened homes and demolished an elementary school. At least 24 people were killed, including at least seven children, and those numbers were expected to climb. As the sun rose over the shattered community of Moore, the state medical … Continue reading →
Coverage of the 2013 Regular Session of the La. Legislature. For previous coverage of this session go to http://theadvocate.com/news/politics . The website for the Legislature is at http://www.legis.la.gov/legis/home.aspx . Live coverage of the session is provided by LPB each day from 2-6 p.m. Continue reading →
BAYOU CORNE — Gov. Bobby Jindal told Texas Brine Co. on Monday “no more excuses, no more delays” on buyouts for Assumption Parish residents near a massive sinkhole and threatened the company’s continued operations in Louisiana if it did not stand by the promised settlements. Minutes before Jindal spoke, Texas Brine officials announced that … Continue reading →
Baton Rouge police said Monday they are searching for a man who a woman says raped her at knife point early Saturday just south of LSU’s campus. But police waited more than 48 hours to let the public know there was a rapist on the loose, releasing no information about the attack until Monday afternoon. Continue reading →
The chanting started off deep and guttural as nine Tibetan monks began the opening ceremony Monday for the construction of a mandala sand painting at the Tam Bao Meditation Center in Baton Rouge. With their eyes closed, the chant blended into a song punctuated by music of drums, horns and hand bells. Lobsang … Continue reading →
About 21,600 Entergy customers in Ascension and East Baton Rouge parishes have been without power since around 5:30 p.m. Monday after an equipment malfunction. The bulk of the outage is in Ascension Parish with 19,000 customers without power and 2,600 customers in East Baton Rouge Parish are without power, said Sheila Pounders, a spokeswoman … Continue reading →
WASHINGTON — Members of the Louisiana congressional delegation on Monday wrote to the Obama administration asking the White House to stop opposing efforts to preserve funding for river dredging and ports projects. Reps. Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans; Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson; and Rodney Alexander, R-Quitman, were part of 25 House members writing to the … Continue reading →
A Louisiana judge ordered former LSU, McNeese State University and Miami Dolphins running back Cecil “The Diesel” Collins held without bond Monday until a July 1 hearing, when the judge could revoke Collins’ probation in a 1998 Baton Rouge case and send him back to prison for up to five years. Collins, 36, who was released … Continue reading →
PLAQUEMINE — The Addis man accused of firing 12 shots into a crowd, hitting two people, outside a gas station late Sunday is refusing to talk to police and more arrests are possible in a fight that preceded the shootings. Shannon Dale Holmes Jr., 19, 3754 Chris Drive, Addis, surrendered to police at 5 a.m. … Continue reading →
Baton Rouge police arrested a woman Monday accused of throwing a brick at her 13-year-old daughter’s back and stabbing her in the right shoulder Sunday. Linda Thomas, 57, 1067 W. 5 Central Road, Baton Rouge, was booked by with cruelty to a juvenile and aggravated battery, … Continue reading →
The city-parish Planning Commission on Monday approved the rezoning for a haunted house and outdoor Halloween attraction just south of Central and shot down a subdivision near Pecue Lane and Perkins Road because the density of homes there would be out of step with the area. The commission voted 6-2, with commissioners Tara Wicker and Sarah Holliday-James voting against and W.T. … Continue reading →
Baton Rouge police are seeking a fugitive who was involved in a bar fight this month in which a man was seriously injured and later died, authorities said Monday. Andres Gonzalez, 27, 2225 College Drive, is wanted on one count of second-degree murder, police said. Gonzalez is accused of punching Raphael Domino Jr., 39, 15438 Jester … Continue reading →
The ex-boyfriend of a woman who was fatally shot earlier this month has been booked on allegations he broke into the woman’s Baton Rouge home and stole several items just weeks before her death, court records show. Carlos Jerome Thomas, 37, 2121 Highland Road, also is accused of taking Amanda Lea McCullough’s car in violation … Continue reading →
LIVINGSTON — A Livingston Parish sheriff’s deputy responding to a disturbance call Sunday shot a man after the man attacked the deputy, according to the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office. Zebulun Kennedy, 25, 12398 Florida Blvd., accused of attacking the deputy, was treated at a hospital for … Continue reading →
ST. FRANCISVILLE — The West Feliciana Parish Police Jury voted 5-2 Monday to table an attempt to call an Oct. 19 election to possibly repeal the home-rule charter voters approved by a 337-vote margin on Nov. 6. Jurors Otis Wilson and Melvin Young moved to call the election, but jurors instead … Continue reading →
LAFAYETTE — A volunteer committee charged with finding a way to pay for Lafayette Parish school system needs discussed Monday using a combination of sales and property taxes to fund educational programs and facility improvements. The group began meeting twice a month in March and at next month’s meeting, it will finalize its recommendations … Continue reading →
LAFAYETTE — A Eunice man was shot and later died after he and two others were attacked Sunday night in the small Acadia Parish community of Branch, officials said. D’Andre Goodley, 18, of Eunice, died at Acadia-St. Landry Hospital, Sheriff Wayne Melancon said in a news release. Authorities did not release … Continue reading →
LAFAYETTE — Nineteen Comeaux High seniors’ alleged romp on campus Sunday night overturning garbage cans and Saran-wrapping walkways led to each of them receiving a misdemeanor citation and the possibility of sitting out their graduation ceremony. The 19 students received misdemeanor summonses for criminal mischief and criminal trespassing for vandalizing the school … Continue reading →
LAFAYETTE — A New Iberia woman has been sentenced to 26 months in prison in a tax refund scheme that netted $77,349 that the woman used for gambling expenses, the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Monday. Veta Thompson, 40, was accused of receiving the money as a refund after submitting more than $12 million in … Continue reading →
LAFAYETTE — St. Martin Parish investigators are looking into a Sunday afternoon crash that killed a motorcyclist in Breaux Bridge. Jerry Levier, 28, of Arnaudville, was pronounced dead at the scene on Hilda Street in Breaux Bridge after the motorcycle he was riding crashed into a car, said Capt. Stacey Blanchard, public information officer … Continue reading →
LOUISIANA STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE COMMISSION: 10:30 a.m., Louisiana Retirement Systems Building, 8401 United Plaza Blvd. DOLLARS AND SENSE: 6 p.m., Greenwell Springs Road Regional Library Branch, 11300 Greenwell Springs Road. Financial advisers will provide information about saving and spending. (225) 274-4440. KARAOKE AT THE CREEK: 6:30 p.m., Jones … Continue reading →
The 70-member Lafayette Concert Band will play a Memorial Day tribute to fallen soldiers on Sunday at the East Bayou Baptist Church. The concert begins at 3:30 p.m. and will feature marches and music for families. The concert is free. Additional parking is available on Kaliste Saloom Road near the church. Continue reading →
Baton Rouge Metro Airport will give a standard incentive package to Elite Airways when the company begins flying out of the market in July. Elite Airways will get a two-year waiver on landing fees and rent, said Jim Caldwell, an airport spokesman. Metro Airport will also help support advertising for the startup airline and could put up … Continue reading →
LEEVAC Shipyards Jennings LLC has signed contracts with Hornbeck Offshore Services LLC, an affiliate of Hornbeck Offshore Services Inc. of Covington, for the construction of two marine supply vessels. “These will be the 23rd and 24th vessels to be built by LEEVAC for Hornbeck” said Christian Vaccari, president and CEO of LEEVAC Shipyards LLC, parent company of … Continue reading →
RoyOMartin will spend $20 million to modernize and expand its Martco plywood mill in Natchitoches Parish, a move that will create 24 new jobs. Along with the new jobs, which will have an average salary of $42,000 plus benefits, the Louisiana Economic Development department estimates the expansion of the Chopin facility will add 56 indirect jobs. RoyOMartin … Continue reading →
Globalstar, the Covington-based satellite phone company, has reached an agreement with creditors and lined up $85 million in financing to bolster its long-term liquidity. The agreement, announced Monday evening, clears up an issue Globalstar had with noteholders, who had the right to surrender their securities and claim nearly $70.7 million last month. The company didn’t have … Continue reading →
LIVONIA — Livonia High School held its commencement exercises at 6 p.m. Friday, May 17, 2013, at the school’s football stadium. Valedictorians: Porsha Blackmore, Chassidy Francois and Paige Vaughn. Other graduates: Austin Matthew Abshire, Tanner Joseph … Continue reading →
LAFAYETTE — Teurlings Catholic High School held its commencement Monday, May 20, at 7 p.m. at the Heymann Performing Arts Center. Monsignor Charles Fortier honor graduates with a 4.0 grade-point average and at least 11 honor courses are: Lauren Elizabeth Barry, Lauren Elizabeth Darby, Bailey Mae Grimsley, … Continue reading →
LAFAYETTE — Westminster Christian Academy held its 2013 commencement ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 19, in the Crusader Complex. Valedictorian: Monique Kathryn Claiborne** Salutatorian: Peter Francis Schexnayder** Historian: Gabrielle Elizabeth Karam** ** denotes honors graduates with at … Continue reading →
OPELOUSAS — Northwest High School held its 2013 commencement ceremony Friday, May 17, 2013, in the school gym. Valedictorian: Katelyn Rose Boudreaux. Salutatorian: Patrice Maria Victorian. Historian: Shavonne Monique Hardy. Other graduates: Tony Allen, Deonte Andrus Donquarious, … Continue reading →
House convenes at 2:00 p.m. Senate convenes at 1:30 p.m. Criminal Justice. 9:30 a.m. in Committee Room 6. Agenda includes: SB133 Provides for the obligation of lottery board members to disclose certain business relationships to the Senate Committee on Senate and Governmental Affairs. SB150 … Continue reading →
A state Senate committee is set to consider a $3.5 billion spending plan for public schools on Tuesday at 9 a.m. The proposal, Senate Concurrent Resolution 23, has been the subject of controversy for the past week. The Senate Education Committee initially shelved the measure because the panel concluded that it needed reworking because of a … Continue reading →
A state Senate committee Monday steered dollars toward a Louisiana State Police training academy through legislation creating a state debt collector. If the bill becomes law with the amendment intact, new troopers would be trained for the first time in several years. Another significant change was made to House Bill 629 by the Senate Committee … Continue reading →
Questions about how many senior citizens are losing their homes to back taxes stalled legislation Monday aimed at helping them. Senate Bill 104 is a constitutional amendment that would allow homeowners 65 and older to stop paying their property taxes if they are in financial difficulties. The taxes, including interest, would come due at death. The … Continue reading →
A bid to give judges five years of annual pay raises easily received the backing Monday of the state Senate’s budget committee — after it was changed to require money for the salary hike to come from the annual judicial budget. Supporters said the judges haven’t had a raise since 2010. “It really is appropriate to do … Continue reading →
The state Senate Finance Committee on Monday advanced two proposed constitutional amendments that opponents said would protect more areas of the budget from cuts. The propositions, contained in House Bills 532 and 533, would provide more financial stability for hospitals, nursing homes, intermediate care facilities and pharmacists through constitutionally protected funds. But … Continue reading →
The Senate Finance Committee quickly signed off Monday on multi-year, 4 percent pay raises for Louisiana clerks of court. Under House Bill 174, the clerks could opt for 4 percent pay raises in each of four years. The money to cover the raises would have to come from self-generated funds. State Rep. Jeff Arnold, D-New … Continue reading →
A bill that would shed light on who receives college scholarships awarded by higher education board members passed in the state House of Representatives Monday on an 88-0 vote. Senate Bill 31, by state Sen. Dan Claitor, R-Baton Rouge, would require that the board members make public who they are giving scholarships to and the value … Continue reading →
The Louisiana House backed another attempt Monday to force a 10 percent cut on state agencies’ spending on consulting and professional services contracts. State Rep. Jerome “Dee” Richard, No Party-Thibodaux, has tried a similar bill for several years, only to see the idea killed in the state Senate. The House voted unanimously for this year’s … Continue reading →
The Louisiana Senate on Monday advanced legislation that would provide state help to finance infrastructure improvements related to the planned Juban Crossing development. The Senate voted 34-2 for measure sponsored by state Sen. Dale Erdey, R-Livingston. Senate Bill 50 now heads to the Louisiana House for debate. Juban Crossing is a 470-acre planned mix use development … Continue reading →
Inmates in parish jails will be able to do manual labor at churches and other religious buildings as part of their work duties, after Senate-passed legislation cleared its final legislative vote in the Louisiana House. The House voted without objection to pass Senate Bill 8, sponsored by state Sen. Rick Gallot, D-Ruston. The measure heads to Gov. … Continue reading →
Higher education leaders around the state will have their eyes on the State Capitol this week as legislators are set to debate two bills that would take tuition-setting control away from the Legislature and give it to the boards that manage Louisiana’s public colleges and universities. Should either House Bill 194 or House Bill 87 become … Continue reading →