State News

• News - State

  Harahan council considers increasing tax millage

  

  Posted 8:47 AM 5/17/2013 by AP

  Harahan property owners would pay slightly more taxes under an ordinance the City Council introduced Thursday to raise the city's tax rate by 1/5 of a mill.
  The Times-Picayune reports the increase would net $30,000 more a year citywide, which Mayor Vinny Mosca and several council members said the city needs to address rising operating costs.
  Council members said they plan to vote on the proposal at their next meeting, June 20.

  
  

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  Sterlington asst. police chief indicted

  

  Posted 8:07 AM 5/17/2013 by AP/CS

  MONROE, La. (AP) - Sterlington Assistant Police Chief Todd Newton has been indicted by a Ouachita Parish grand jury in connection with an investigation into the sale of fake "moonshine" to minors. The News-Star reports the indictment follows a (More)

  
  

• News - State

  Ex-Monroe Councilman Arthur Gilmore found guilty

  

  Posted 8:05 AM 5/17/2013 by AP/CS

  SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) - Former Monroe City Councilman Arthur Gilmore has been convicted of racketeering and not guilty of extortion in federal court in Shreveport. The New-Star reports U.S. District Court Judge Donald Walter, who presided over the (More)

  
  

• News - State

  Elton woman killed in auto crash

  Posted 8:03 AM 5/17/2013 by AP/CS

  LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) - An 18-year-old Elton woman was killed and two other women critically injured in a two-vehicle crash on Ward Line Road and La. Highway. State police Sgt. James Anderson tells the American Press 18-year-old Kennedy Renee Isaac (More)

  
  

• News - State

  Lake Charles shows drop in crime

  

  Posted 8:02 AM 5/17/2013 by AP/CS

  LAKE CHARLES, La. (AP) - Overall, crime is down in Lake Charles. That's according to numbers released Thursday by the police department. Criminal offenses reported were down 3 percent and arrests were down 8 percent, according to the department's 2012 crime report. (More)

  
  

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• News - State

  Illegal firearms suspect pleads guilty to 1 count

  

  Posted 7:55 AM 5/17/2013 by AP/CS

  HOUMA, La. (AP) - A Houma man has pleaded guilty in federal court to receiving and having an unregistered firearm.
  
  The Courier reports 62-year-old Michael J. Hebert was arrested in August after police evacuated several buildings at his apartment complex as they investigated whether he had bombs.
  
  Hebert entered his plea on Thursday.
  
  His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 22.

  
  

• Lafayette

  Media campaign planned for school funding program

  

  Posted 7:53 AM 5/17/2013 by AP/CS

  LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - The Lafayette Parish school system and individual schools may soon be able to draw from private donations to pay for new computers, band uniforms or renovations without siphoning money out of the district's budget. The Advocate (More)

  
  

• News - State

  Ascension moves to ban private parties for minors

  

  Posted 7:52 AM 5/17/2013 by AP/CS

  GONZALES, La. (AP) - The Ascension Parish Council has voted to outlaw the practice of parents hosting parties where youths under the age of 21 are allowed to consume alcohol. Sheriff Jeff Wiley urged the council Thursday to adopt an ordinance that targets adults who host large parties (More)

  
  

• News - State

  Former insurance agent gets 5 years in fraud case

  

  Posted 7:50 AM 5/17/2013 by AP/CS

  BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A 35-year-old Denham Springs man has been sentenced in Baton Rouge federal court to nearly five years in prison and ordered to pay two life insurance companies more than $1.4 million for frauds he committed against them. The (More)

  
  

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  St. James residents get a break on garbage fees

  

  Posted 7:48 AM 5/17/2013 by AP/CS

  VACHERIE, La. (AP) - A new garbage contract will save St. James Parish residents $1.45 each month. The Advocate reports the St. James Parish Council unanimously agreed in a 7-0 vote Wednesday to reduce fees for the parish's residential solid waste (More)

  
  

• News - State

  Man convicted in Ponchatoula stabbing death

  

  Posted 7:47 AM 5/17/2013 by AP/CS

  AMITE, La. (AP) - A Tangipahoa Parish jury has convicted a 33-year-old Springfield man of second-degree murder and aggravated burglary in the stabbing death of 65-year-old Rube Rogers, of Ponchatoula. The Advocate reports Eric Maurer was accused of (More)

  
  

• News - State

  Section of US 190 to be widened in Mandeville

  

  Posted 7:37 AM 5/17/2013 by AP/CS

  MANDEVILLE, La. (AP) - The state highway department is starting work on an $11.3 million project to widen a 1.2-mile stretch U.S. Highway 190 in Mandeville from two lanes to four. Allison Schilling, a district administrator for the state Department of Transportation and Development (More)

  
  

• News - State

  Arrests in New Orleans parade shootings cheered

  

  Posted 7:34 AM 5/17/2013 by Kevin McGill

  NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Days after sudden gunfire brought a chaotic and bloody end to a Mother's Day neighborhood parade in New Orleans, news of six arrests gave an organizer of the traditional event reason to celebrate again. "I'm just ecstatic," Edward Buckner, president of the Original (More)

  
  

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  Child care workers arrested, accused of abuse

  

  Posted 4:14 AM 5/17/2013 by AP

  Three workers at a Haughton child care center face charges ranging from simple battery to cruelty to a juvenile. The Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office arrested 31-year-old Fanisty J. Kennon, 25-year-old Antionikia L. Moncrief and 23-year-old Tronica N. Peterson on Wednesday. Peterson and (More)

  
  

• News - State

  Dalai Lama kicks off New Orleans visit

  

  Posted 4:13 AM 5/17/2013 by AP

  The Dalai Lama kicks off his visit to New Orleans with a series of speeches Friday at the city's convention center. The Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader arrived Thursday. On Saturday, he is scheduled to speak at the University of New Orleans Lakefront Arena and deliver Tulane University's (More)

  
  

• News - State

  Outage stops symphony's program

  

  Posted 4:10 AM 5/17/2013 by AP

  A power outage briefly stopped Thursday's performance of the Louisiana Philharmonic and New Orleans Children's Chorus at First Baptist Church of New Orleans. The symphony was in the middle of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 3 when the electricity went out. After it was off for several minutes (More)

  
  

• News - State

  Saints coach Payton settles tax credit lawsuit

  

  Posted 4:09 AM 5/17/2013 by AP

  New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton has settled his lawsuit against a former Saints player who sold him nonexistent state movie tax credits from a defunct film studio. Payton's attorney, Daniel Becnel Jr., described the settlement approved Thursday as "substantial." He refused to give (More)

  
  

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  Original Big 7 to hold 're-do' second-line

  

  Posted 3:39 AM 5/16/2013 by AP

  The Original Big 7 Social Aid and Pleasure Club says its "second-line" is returning to the neighborhood where gunfire abruptly ended its Mother's Day celebration leaving 19 people injured. Club President Edward Buckner says it will hold a "Re-Do Mother's Day Parade" on June 1 at 1 p.m. (More)

  
  

• News - State

  Talks continue on NO police reform oversight

  

  Posted 3:37 AM 5/16/2013 by AP

  Talks continue about who should be chosen by a federal judge to oversee police reforms in New Orleans. U.S. District Judge Susie Morgan this week extended the deadline for choosing a monitor until May 28. The monitor will oversee the city's compliance with a court-approved agreement (More)

  
  

• News - State

  Jindal, Wolverine Terminals announce $30M project

  

  Posted 3:34 AM 5/16/2013 by AP

  A $30 million crude oil terminal and blending operation is coming to St. James Parish. Gov. Bobby Jindal and Wolverine Terminals LLC General Manager Terry Wilson said Wednesday the company will set up on a 15-acre site along the Mississippi River. The project will create 20 new direct (More)