A report from the state inspector general and legislative auditor discovers former Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary David LaCerte mismanaged his department. LaCerte resigned suddenly during the investigation by Inspector General Stephen Street and Legislative Auditor Darryl Purpera. Street says they found improprieties at multiple Veterans homes across Louisiana…
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Lacerte’s attorney, Jarrett Ambeau, says this is nothing more than a political attack by Purpera and Street because his client was pushing an agenda in favor of veterans.

Thibodaux Police have identified the two Napoleonville men who shot and injured each other during a parade on Sunday. They believe 20-year-old Ryan Harris got into an argument with 33-year-old Quincy Johnson, when Harris came back to the scene in body armor and shot Johnson in the chest. Johnson returned fire and struck Harris in the left side. The men are both in stable condition.

Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards attended a Republican legislative retreat today in Lafayette. GOP lawmakers met to discuss plans to deal with the state’s budget crisis. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says this is interesting yet not shocking…
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Cross feels Republicans will be wary of Edwards’ proposals to fix the budget deficit, particularly those involving raising taxes.

The US Army Corps of Engineers closed the last open bays of the Bonnet Carre Spillway today. The spillway opened earlier this month to divert rising Mississippi River floodwaters from New Orleans. Spokesperson Ricky Boyette says about 290 of the 350 bays of the Bonnet Carre were opened during the operation. He says when they built this spillway, they built it right…
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A report from the state inspector general and legislative auditor finds former Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary David LaCerte mismanaged his department. Eric Gill reports…:
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The final bays on the Bonnet Carre Spillway were closed Monday as the Mississippi River levels continue to fall. US Army Corps of Engineers Spokesman Ricky Boyett says the structure was operational for 22 days after the bays were opened January 10th, 2016…:
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A Texas man accused of raping a woman he met on Tinder in 2014 was acquitted today by an East Baton Rouge Parish jury. 24-year-old Jacob Witz, of Bellaire, Texas, was indicted on the charge in January 2015. If found guilty, he could have served up to 40 years in prison on the forcible rape charge.

Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards attends a Republican retreat today in Lafayatte in a gathering to discuss budget crisis plans, and some consider in a strange twist. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says Edwards needs all the help he can get since the legislature is Republican-controlled. He says we’ll have to wait and see if Republicans are willing to work with the governor…:
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He says some of the revenue committees are heavily stacked with Republican lawmakers, which will make Governor Edwards’ job much harder getting the legislation he wants passed.

An investigative report by the Legislative Auditor and Inspector General alleges former state Department of Veterans affairs secretary David LaCerte irresponsibly handled his agency. Investigators also say LaCerte’s military service record doesn’t match claims in his department biography. Lacerte’s attorney, Jarrett Ambeau, says it’s easy to find facts that prove his client was not misrepresenting his service…:
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The report stated under LaCerte’s leadership, work and travel were improperly documented and authorities weren’t informed about potential crimes involving residents at three war veteran homes.

Impairment is suspected in a weekend head-on collision in Calcasieu Parish that police say claimed three lives. Cops say a car, driven by 22-year-old Alejandro Delgado of Sulphur, crossed the center line and collided with an SUV with two occupants inside. All three succumbed to their injuries. The investigation is ongoing.

Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards is meeting with Republicans today at a retreat in Lafayette during discussions over Louisiana’s budget woes, and potential fixes. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross says with a GOP controlled legislature, Edwards has no choice but to seek their support…:
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He feels Republicans will be very wary of Edwards’ proposals to deal with the budget deficit, particularly those involving raising taxes.

A woman was rescued by Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s deputies after police say she jumped off the Huey P Long Bridge over the Mississippi River. Colonel John Fortunato says they found the woman stuck head first in a beam supporting the bridge and were able to pull her out. He says Deputies Jordan Burst and David Lowe were extremely heroic in their efforts..:
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The woman sustained minor injuries and is receiving psychiatric care at a hospital.

In a bit of a strange twist, Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards is scheduled to attend a Republican legislative retreat today in Lafayette. Eric Gill reports…:
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Thibodaux Police identify the two Napoleonville men who shot and injured each other at a parade Sunday. They believe 20-year-old Ryan Harris got into an altercation with 33-year-old Quincy Johnson, when Harris returned to the scene in body armor and shot Johnson in the chest. Johnson returned fire and struck Harris in the left side. The men are listed in stable condition.

An investigative report was released Monday alleging widespread improprieties at the Department of Veterans Affairs under the leadership of former secretary David LaCerte. An audit found problems with hiring practices, mismanagement of federal funds and problems with reporting potential crimes. Inspector General Stephen Street says there are many who agree with the findings of the investigation…:
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Lacerte’s attorney, Jarrett Ambeau, says this is nothing but a political attack.

The US Army Corps of Engineers began closing the remaining open bays of the Bonnet Carre Spillway today. The spillway was opened to divert rising Mississippi River floodwaters from New Orleans. Spokesman Ricky Boyett says about 30 bays remained opened this morning…:
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The structure has been operational for 22 days after the Corps began opening bays on January 10th for the 11th time since 1931.

A report from the state inspector general and legislative auditor finds former Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary David LaCerte mismanaged his department. Eric Gill reports…:
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In a bit of a strange twist, Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards is scheduled to attend a Republican legislative retreat today in Lafayette. GOP lawmakers are gathering to discuss plans to deal with the state’s budget crisis. UL-Lafayette Political Science Professor Pearson Cross finds this very interesting, but not surprising…:
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A woman is undergoing psychiatric evaluation today after police say she tried to jump off the Huey P Long Bridge Sunday, but got stuck head first in a support beam. Colonel John Fortunato says the deputies who responded, Jordan Burst and David Lowe, found the woman. He says Burst climbed over the railing to comfort the woman, while Lowe retrieved a toe strap from his unit…:
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Fortunato says the woman sustained minor injuries and was transported to a hospital for psychiatric evaluation.

A man who police say was killed in a major accident in Shreveport Sunday, may have had a medical emergency, resulting in the crash. Shreveport Police say a male driver of a 2015 Ford-F 250 left a roadway and drove through a row of pine trees before stopping. The victim was airlifted to University Health Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.

Former state Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary David Lacerte is being accused of mismanaging the agency. Legislative Auditor Darryl Purpera claims in the report that Lacrete used over $27,000 in federal funds, earmarked for a veterans cemetery, to buy an SUV for department use. Purpera claims LaCerte also paid $44,000 to some law school classmates for professional services without a contract or documentation of what they did…:
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Lacerte’s attorney, Jarrett Ambeau, says this is nothing more than a political attack by Purpera and Inspector General Stephen Street because his client was pushing an agenda in favor of veterans:
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The audit also found problems with hiring practices, and reporting of potential crimes under the previous administration.

Thibodaux police identify the two men who shot and injured each other during a parade Sunday as 20-year-old Ryan Harris, and 33-year-old Quincy Johnson, both of Napaleaonville. They are reported to be in stable condition.

A woman who was rescued by Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s deputies after jumping off the Huey P Long Bridge over the Mississippi River, is undergoing psychiatric care today. Colonel John Fortunato says they got a 911 call around 1pm Sunday, from someone saying they’d seen a female park and abandon her car on the bridge…:
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Fortunato says the deputies who responded, Jordan Burst and David Lowe, found the woman stuck headfirst into a hole in a support beam and were able to tether down and save her.

The first electoral event in the 2016 presidential race happens today with the Iowa Caucus. Eric Gill reports…:
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Two Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s deputies assisted a woman who attempted suicide by jumping off the Huey P. Long Bridge over the Mississippi River. The incident was reported around 1pm Sunday and responding deputies located the 53-year-old woman stuck headfirst into a hold supporting a steel beam, the Sheriff’s Office said. Responding deputies were able to tether down to the woman who sustained only minor injuries.

A report from the state inspector general and legislative auditor finds former Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary David LaCerte mismanaged his department. LaCerte resigned unexpectedly in October during the investigation by Inspector General Stephen Street and Legislative Auditor Darryl Purpera. Street says they found improprieties at several Veterans homes across the state…:
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LaCerte’s attorney says these allegations are false and part of a character assassination.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will finish closing the Bonnet Carre Spillway Monday. The structure was opened to divert water from the swollen Mississippi River into Lake Pontchartrain. The Corps is also expected to give a status update of the river later today.