News for Tuesday 102913
By Dave Graichen
The statewide average for a gallon of regular gasoline has hit $3.10 according to the American Automobile Association. The price at the pump has fallen 23 cents over the last month and Triple-A fuel analyst Don Redman says many retailers are selling unleaded gasoline for less than three dollars a gallon. Redman says January 2011 was the last time the statewide average was
below three-dollars a gallon.
The East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's office is investigating, yet another apparent murder suicide. Police say Sunday afternoon it appears 39-year-old Sedric Richard shot his girlfriend, 26-year-old Brittany Rogers. The motive in the incident is still unknown.
State Highway safety officials say seat belt usage by Louisiana drivers this year has increased by 3%; it's biggest jump in ten years. According to the Highway Safety Commission, 82 & a half
percent of us use our seatbelts regularly. Seat belt usage doubles your chances of surviving an auto crash.
The tea party-connected Senate Conservatives Fund announced Monday it would support Rob Maness over fellow Republican Rep. Bill Cassidy in the 2014 U.S. Senate race. It’s the biggest endorsement yet for the retired U.S. Air Force Col. Maness. of Madisonville, and gives the tea party candidate greater ability to draw in national fundraising dollars.
A bipartisan group of US senators and representatives will introduce flood insurance reform legislation today that seeks to prevent dramatic rate hikes for thousands of south Louisiana residents. Louisiana's US Senators, Mary Landrieu and David Vitter, are part of this group, Vitter
says one key provision would delay any extreme premium hike. Changes to the National Flood Insurance Program went into effect on October first and an estimated 18-thousand Louisiana policies will see an immediate impact. Vitter says Louisiana is not the only state that could see these large increases, which is why he's confident Congress will pass the legislation that will be filed today in the US Senate.
LSU System President F. King Alexander says he's willing to discuss raising the price of Tigers football tickets. Last week, Athletic Director Joe Alleva asked LSU Board members to consider hiking tickets next year. Dr. Alexander says they'll look carefully at Alleva's request over the next six weeks, but any changes in prices are up to the board. Some have suggested that, if LSU needs to increase game day revenues, they should consider selling beer in Tiger Stadium. Alexander says
that's never been debated by the LSU Board (to his knowledge) and he's not sure it's a good idea.
East Baton Rouge Parish coroner Dr. Beau Clark plans to work with state lawmakers to increase sentencing laws for those individuals convicted of dealing heroin. Dr. Clark is advocating for a stiffer punishment against heroin dealers, because of a recent surge in heroin overdose deaths. He says life sentences used to be handed out for dealing heroin, but lawmakers recently changed the sentencing guidelines. He says heroin has become more accessible and those dealing it
should face great consequences.
Two years ago, Lafayette-based Schumacher Group announced it would spend $19 million to expand its emergency medical services management business and create 600 jobs by 2017. On Monday, the company announced its third layoff of the year; 42 people nationwide, 32 of them in Louisiana.
The St. Mary Parish Sheriff's office says a man is under arrest for allegedly banning an elderly woman from eating. They say 55 year old Sidney Elair of Centerville was booked on charges of cruelty to the infirm, resisting a police officer, simple assault and disturbing the peace intoxicated.
Reviews are rolling in for The Governor's Wife starting former Governor Edwin Edwards and wife Trina which premiered Sunday night on A&E. Some are calling the reality show, "creepy in almost every way." But there are some who are intrigued and can't wait to see more. The Governor's Wife airs Sunday nights at 9 on A&E.
The Lafayette Police Department says a 14-year-old is under arrest for attempted first degree murder for allegedly stabbing a woman in the chest. They say the victim was in an argument with the mother of the suspect when the teen intervened. Reports indicate the stab wounds placed the woman in critical condition at a local hospital. The teen was booked into the Lafayette Parish Juvenile detention center.
The Coast Guard is searching for a welder who fell from on offshore rig in the Gulf; about 55 miles from shore. They say the 38-year-old man was knocked overboard when an empty barrel fell on him. Few other details are known at this time.
Sports..
Saints Coach Sean Payton had the players at the team's practice facility yesterday going over some of the mistakes that were made in the 35-17 win over Buffalo. Payton says there were a number of things they could have done a lot better. The head coach says the corrections will be made as they get ready to play the Jets.
Louisiana Tech announces they plan to break ground this spring on an 18-million dollar South End Zone complex which will close the south end of the Stadium. Athletic Director Tommy McClelland says the three story athletic facility will be 70-thousand square feet and it will feature state of the art technology and furnishings. McClelland says the facility would not be possible without the genoristy
of some of their loyal supporters and alumni.