A cold front arrives this week, which will give us our first taste of fall. Jeff Palermo reports the cold air will also push Hurricane Michael away from Louisiana…
_____________________________________________
Bishop Douglas Deshotel announced punishment today for a Lafayette priest who is accused of child sex abuse. Jeff Palermo has the story…
State Police has released new details in the officer-involved shooting that killed 23-year-old Coltin LeBlanc of Loranger in downtown Hammond in the early morning hours of September 27th. State Police Lt. Nick Manale explains why the traffic stop occurred…
Witnesses say LeBlanc’s truck peeled out and sped off down the street during his interaction with the as of now unnamed trooper. One Hammond resident says he saw the officer attach himself to the truck as it drove away, and a few moments later, heard shots fired, but Manale says the investigation into those events is still ongoing.
The Advocate reports that LeBlanc, who was battling for custody of his newborn at the time, racked up four DWIs in the summer of 16’ and that his license was suspended at the time of the shooting.
Manale says they interviewed witnesses at the scene shortly after the shooting, and are analyzing the officer’s body camera to put together a report on what occurred that night.
______________________________________
Louisiana appears to be out of the path of Hurricane Michael. The storm may have a dangerous impact on the Florida Panhandle with storm surge, heavy rainfall, and hurricane-force winds. As far as an effect on Louisiana, National Weather Service New Orleans Meteorologist Bridgette Lim doesn’t anticipate it will be too bad.
Cut 6 (08) “…setup around here.”
Lim says Michael is heading north now, but anticipates it being pushed off the wall of an oncoming cold front that is moving the storm to the east.
Cut 7 (08) “…Michael get turned.”
Lim says although Michael isn’t an issue this time around for Louisiana, it’s important to remember hurricane season isn’t over until November 30th.
cut 8 (04) “…eye on the gulf.”
The hurricane could be a Category 3 on Wednesday when it strikes the Florida panhandle.
__________________________
Governor John Bel Edwards has declared a water emergency in the Concordia Parish town of Clayton after learning that the water system’s contractor quit because it was no longer getting paid. Mayor Josephine Washington says the town’s water issues are part of a bigger monetary issue for the town.
Cut 9 (11) “…work out something”
Washington says she’s pitched that the town go to a three-day work week as well as says she’ll take a pay cut.
Some of the 700 residents of the town say they believe a poor working relationship between the mayor and town aldermen is part of the problem. Health officials say that without an operator, the water could become undrinkable in less than 24 hours. Washington says the root of the problem is clear.
Governor Edwards’ emergency order allows for the state to pay JCP Management to run the water system, which is costing state taxpayers more than $5,200 a month.
_______________________
Lafayette Bishop Douglas Deshotel announces that Monsignor Robie Robichaux has been placed on administrative leave for allegedly sexually abusing a teenage girl from 1979 to 1981. Deshotel says he only learned of the accusation last month….
Cut 12 (11) “…to our attention”
Robichaux has also been removed from position as Judicial Vicar. Deshotel admits the victim first brought her claims to the Lafayette Diocese in 1994 and again in 2004, after a zero-tolerance policy went into effect in 2002. But Deshotel says he was first made aware of the accusations on September 18th…
Deshotel says when the victim came forward in 2004, the Bishop at the time, Michael Jarrell, requested a ruling from the “Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith”, who said since since the victim was 16-to-17 years old, she was an adult under Canon Law. But Deshotel says state law would have considered her minor…