News For Thursday 103113
By Dave Graichen
There are flash flood watches still in effect for several parishes in northern and western part of the state through tonight. State Climatologist Barry Keim says almost all of the state will see showers and possible severe thunderstorms.
Senator David Vitter says folks who loaded up on groceries during a data glitch with the EBT card system earlier this month should be held responsible. The error caused cards to show no credit limits, causing chaos at several Wal-Mart stores, as cardholders loaded their baskets to the brim. Vitter urges Attorney General Buddy Caldwell to prosecute. Wal-Marts in Springhill and Mansfield were virtually cleaned out by a "feeding frenzy" of EBT cardholders. Vitter says most of them KNEW they were purchasing far beyond the monthly credit limit of their EBT card. Some shoppers left without making any attempt to pay - even with an EBT card - which is outright theft.
The 2014 Bayou Country Superfest lineup has been announced! Reba McIntyre will be joining George Strait Friday night May 23rd, Luke Bryan headlines Saturday along with Florida Georgia Line, Jason Aldean will close Sunday the 25th along with Eric Church and Breaux Bridge's Hunter Hayes.
There are some consolidation plans underway for the University of Louisiana at Monroe. President Nick Bruno plans to announce more budget cuts this week that will reportedly include staff reductions of some 35 positions and the consolidation of ULM's five colleges into three. Bruno says the cuts will save ULM almost 400 thousand dollars.
The LHSAA suspends five assistant football coaches from Destrehan for hacking into a website that allowed them to see video of closed practices for South Lafourche High School. Destrehan has also forfeited its victory over South Lafourche as part of the ruling.
A former Calcasieu Parish priest awaiting trial on charges he molested young boys is out of jail today on a one-point-five-million dollar bond. Defense attorney Tom Lorenzi says friends and family
members of 57-year-old Mark Anthony Broussard put together their resources to get Broussard out of jail after he missed out on a family wedding. Broussard is facing five counts of sexual abuse. He had been in the Calcasieu Parish jail since his March 2012 arrest.
State Police say a single vehicle crash overnight claimed the life of a woman from Natchitoches. They say it happened around 12:40 am when 50 year old Sandra Ponthieux lost control of her vehicle and exited the roadway before slamming into a tree. The driver is suspected of being impaired at the time of the crash and she was not wearing her seatbelt.
The Monroe Police Department says the boy who was run over by an 18 wheeler after falling off his bike into the road was likely suffering some type of medical condition. Spokesman Sgt Mark Johnson says there were several witnesses to this tragic incident. Johnson says the bike fell directly into the path of the 18 wheeler and the little boy was pronounced dead at the scene.