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Political Illusions of the Cajun Mafia

This book examines “robust” political corruption in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. The book scrutinizes the transparency, schemes and co-conspirators involved in political corruption. It discusses how top elected officials use their power and public resources funded by local sales and property taxes to improperly target, retaliate and even maliciously prosecute the most ridiculous matters to further their personal agenda. The book examines in detail the types of public infringements involving corruption as well as the vast network of political connections to other various public schemes. The book is further evidence that political corruption in Louisiana is not only profound but more like organized crime controlled by mob bosses. Louisiana no longer will turn a “blind eye” and now demands zero tolerance for corruption and nepotism of elected officials.

This book examines “robust” political corruption in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. The book scrutinizes the transparency, schemes and co-conspirators involved in political corruption. It discusses how top elected officials use their power and public resources funded by local sales and property taxes to improperly target, retaliate and even maliciously prosecute the most ridiculous matters to further their personal agenda.

The book examines in detail the types of public infringements involving corruption as well as the vast network of political connections to other various public schemes. The book is further evidence that political corruption in Louisiana is not only profound but more like organized crime controlled by mob bosses.

Louisiana no longer will turn a “blind eye” and now demands zero tolerance for corruption and nepotism of elected officials.

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1/A1<br />

Difficult<br />

negotiationS<br />

Sticking points remain<br />

in talks between<br />

U.S., European<br />

allies and Iran.<br />

D6<br />

Halfway to<br />

final four<br />

Two teams punch<br />

ticket. Kentucky<br />

survives scare.<br />

Wisconsin also wins.<br />

B1<br />

00903614<br />

americanpress.com<br />

Sunday, March 29, 2015<br />

HHH No. 43,909 Lake Charles, Louisiana $1.25<br />

Multiplying<br />

fractions<br />

A fifth-grade<br />

math problem<br />

Here is how a student in Danielle Palmore’s fifth-grade class at<br />

St. John Elementary successfully answered three questions on a<br />

recent test about 10 kittens in an animal shelter.<br />

weight <strong>of</strong> kittens<br />

in <strong>the</strong> animal shelter (lb)<br />

1<br />

4<br />

3<br />

8<br />

1<br />

2<br />

5<br />

8<br />

use <strong>the</strong> line plot at left for questions 1-3.<br />

1. How many kittens weigh at least 3/8 <strong>of</strong> a pound?<br />

2. What is <strong>the</strong> combined weight<br />

<strong>of</strong> all <strong>the</strong> kittens?<br />

3. What is <strong>the</strong> average weight <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

kittens at <strong>the</strong> shelter?<br />

Parish voters renew<br />

law enforcement tax<br />

By Justin B. Phillips<br />

iff ’s Office had revenues <strong>of</strong><br />

The tax renewal<br />

jphillips@americanpress.com<br />

$74.1 million and expenditures<br />

<strong>of</strong> $79.7 million. The<br />

passed 83 percent<br />

Calcasieu Parish residents<br />

$5.6 million in expenditures<br />

voted to renew a one-half percent<br />

sales tax for <strong>the</strong> Calca-<br />

to a change in governmental<br />

to 17 percent with over revenue was due, in part,<br />

sieu Parish Law Enforcement 8 percent voter accounting standards in 2009<br />

District.<br />

to include <strong>the</strong> amount <strong>of</strong><br />

The tax renewal passed by turnout.<br />

money an entity would have<br />

a vote <strong>of</strong> 8,569-1,734, or 83 percent<br />

to 17 percent, with 8 per-<br />

Voters in Allen and Jeff Davis to retire did so, according<br />

More inSiDe<br />

to spend if everyone eligible<br />

cent voter turnout, according parishes and Merryville also to representatives from <strong>the</strong><br />

to <strong>the</strong> Louisiana Secretary <strong>of</strong> voted on Saturday. a4<br />

accounting firm that handled<br />

State’s Office.<br />

<strong>the</strong> audit.<br />

The tax was originally have also been put toward<br />

In February, Mancuso<br />

approved in July 2006, by a upgrading equipment and <strong>the</strong><br />

told <strong>the</strong> American Press <strong>the</strong><br />

60 percent margin. When <strong>the</strong> creation <strong>of</strong> a reserve fund for<br />

sheriff ’s <strong>of</strong>fice is financially<br />

tax was approved, Calcasieu natural disasters or o<strong>the</strong>r crisis.<br />

Between October 2006 and<br />

sound and taxpayers should<br />

Sheriff Tony Mancuso said<br />

know “we are good stewards<br />

it would generate $16 million December 2008, <strong>the</strong> sales tax<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir money and we’re going<br />

to continue to be.”<br />

a year to be used, in part, generated nearly $47 million<br />

to pay for raises and capital for <strong>the</strong> sheriff ’s <strong>of</strong>fice.<br />

The tax will last 10 years,<br />

improvement projects.<br />

A 2014 legislative audit<br />

beginning on Oct. 1, 2016, and<br />

Over <strong>the</strong> years, <strong>the</strong> funds showed <strong>the</strong> Calcasieu Sher-<br />

expiring on Sept. 30, 2026.<br />

Vietnam veterans honored<br />

By Justin B. Phillips<br />

jphillips@americanpress.com<br />

Grade<br />

EXPLORING THE<br />

5<br />

NEW STANDARDS<br />

editor’s note: This is <strong>the</strong> sixth which is <strong>of</strong>ficially written as<br />

installment <strong>of</strong> a nine-part Sunday “Apply and extend previous<br />

series that will highlight one understandings <strong>of</strong> multiplication<br />

to multiply a fraction<br />

Common Core standard in English<br />

language arts and one in math for or whole number by a fraction.”<br />

grades K-8. This week, fifth-grade<br />

standards are featured.<br />

Palmore said students<br />

usually come to her with<br />

By Kara carrier<br />

a good understanding <strong>of</strong><br />

kcarrier@americanpress.com fractions from <strong>the</strong> previous<br />

anielle Palmore,<br />

a fifth-<br />

<strong>the</strong>m a refresher. She said<br />

grade, but she stills gives<br />

grade math<br />

she <strong>the</strong>n starts teaching <strong>the</strong><br />

and science<br />

standard by using concrete<br />

visual strategies such as area<br />

teacher at St.<br />

models, number lines, dominos,<br />

cards, dice and word<br />

John Elementary,<br />

said that using visuals<br />

problems.<br />

to help students understand<br />

“I always start with pictures<br />

and lots <strong>of</strong> area mod-<br />

multiplying fractions is <strong>the</strong><br />

key to mastering Common els,” Palmore said. “When I<br />

Core math standard 5.NF.4., start teaching multiplication<br />

Concrete visuals<br />

help students<br />

master fractions<br />

<strong>of</strong> fractions, I use <strong>the</strong> word<br />

‘<strong>of</strong> ’ such as taking two-thirds<br />

<strong>of</strong> one-fourth.”<br />

She said this method helps<br />

students understand because<br />

most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m assume <strong>the</strong><br />

product <strong>of</strong> a fraction times a<br />

fraction will be greater than<br />

<strong>the</strong> factors. However, Palmore<br />

said, <strong>the</strong> product will be less<br />

than both factors because<br />

students are taking a part <strong>of</strong><br />

a part.<br />

Palmore said when working<br />

with fractions, it’s important<br />

for students to have<br />

a solid, concrete understanding<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m before moving to<br />

more abstract concepts. She<br />

said to help reinforce this,<br />

See core, A6<br />

Saturday’s Vietnam<br />

Veterans Honor Day at<br />

Veterans Memorial Park featured<br />

speakers praising <strong>the</strong><br />

sacrifice <strong>of</strong> service members<br />

while o<strong>the</strong>rs shared<br />

stories from <strong>the</strong> battlefield<br />

only a select few could relate<br />

to. The idea behind <strong>the</strong> day<br />

is to commend a generation<br />

that, for a time, went unappreciated.<br />

Elected <strong>of</strong>ficials from<br />

across <strong>the</strong> city and state<br />

attended <strong>the</strong> function,<br />

including Calcasieu Parish<br />

District Attorney John<br />

DeRosier, who served as <strong>the</strong><br />

event’s guest speaker.<br />

Mayor Randy Roach gave<br />

<strong>the</strong> opening remarks to <strong>the</strong><br />

crowd ga<strong>the</strong>red on <strong>the</strong> lakefront.<br />

He began by talking<br />

about a special resolution<br />

passed in <strong>the</strong> most recent<br />

state legislative session<br />

commending and recognizing<br />

<strong>the</strong> military history <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> USS Orleck, designating<br />

Rick Hickman / American Press<br />

it as “<strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficial Vietnam<br />

memorial museum ship <strong>of</strong><br />

A member <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Louisiana National Guard stands next to a<br />

<strong>the</strong> state <strong>of</strong> Louisiana.” statue <strong>of</strong> 1st Lt. Douglas B. Fournet on Saturday during a Vietnam<br />

Veterans Honor Day event. Fournet was posthumously<br />

See VietnaM, A3 awarded <strong>the</strong> Medal <strong>of</strong> Honor for his actions during <strong>the</strong> war.<br />

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