January 2020

REVENGE

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ELTON – After suffering their only district loss to the Merryville Lady Panthers in the first round of action, the Lady Indians returned the favor when the two collided at Oris Guidry Gymnasium Tuesday night. The Lady Indians snuck out a 53-50 win over their rivals, and are now tied atop the district standings for the league lead. Elton improves to 15-7 overall with the win, 7-1 in district play.

Audit released for city entities

The City Court and City Marshal showed healthy finances with only two minor findings of noncompliance for the year ending June 30, 2019.

The 66-page audit report of the entity’s financial statements was released this week by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office (LLAO). The report was completed by certified public accountant J. Aaron Cooper of Jennings.

Nicki Minaj’s brother sentenced to 25 years to life

MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) — The brother of rapper Nicki Minaj was sentenced Monday to 25 years to life in prison for sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl at his Long Island home.

A judge convicted Jelani Maraj of predatory sexual assault and child endangerment in November 2017. The victim testified during the trial that Maraj repeatedly raped her in 2015 while her mother was at work.

Prosecutors have said DNA evidence recovered from the girl’s pajama pants was linked to Maraj. The girl’s younger brother also testified at the trial that he witnessed one assault.

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California tests find illegal vapes tainted with additives

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California officials announced Monday that marijuana vape cartridges seized in illegal shops in Los Angeles contained potentially dangerous additives, including a thickening agent blamed for a national outbreak of deadly lung illnesses tied to vaping.

Officials also found that the illegal vapes confiscated in the December raids typically were not as potent as advertised, and sometimes contained just a fraction of the THC claimed on the labels, according to state testing results. THC is the chemical in marijuana that makes users feel high.

NY, feds sue ‘Pharma Bro’ for ‘scheme’ to keep drug price up

NEW YORK (AP) — State and federal authorities sued imprisoned entrepreneur Martin Shkreli on Monday over tactics that shielded a profitable drug from competition after a price hike made the so-called “Pharma Bro” infamous.

Shkreli was scorned as the bad-boy face of pharmaceuticals profiteering after he engineered a roughly 4,000 percent increase in the price of a decades-old medication for a sometimes life-threatening parasitic infection.

Hong Kong halts trains from mainland China as virus spreads

BEIJING (AP) — Hong Kong’s leader announced Tuesday that all rail links to mainland China will be cut starting Friday as fears grow about the spread of a new virus.

Chief Executive Carrie Lam, wearing a green surgical mask, said both the highspeed rail station and the regular train station would be closed.

She stopped short of a total closing of the border but said that flights from the mainland would also be reduced.

Trump to unveil Middle East peace plan amid skepticism

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is set to unveil his administration’s much-anticipated Middle East peace plan in the latest American venture to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Odds of it taking shape, though, appear long, given the Palestinians’ preemptive rejection of the plan and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s shaky political standing.

For both men, the White House summit looks to be a welcome diversion.

Churchill Downs executive addresses surge in horse deaths

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The corporate owner of a New Orleans horse racing track appeared before Louisiana’s Racing Commission on Monday to address a surge in horse deaths there.

Mike Ziegler, executive director of racing for Kentucky-based Churchill Downs Inc., presented a list of potential reforms for the commission to consider, including restrictions on certain equine drugs that have been linked by some to premature horse deaths at the Fair Grounds Race Course, The Times-Picayune/The News Orleans Advocate reported.

Lelia LeBlanc Hill

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A Mass of Christian burial for Lelia LeBlanc Hill, 96, of Shreveport will be held at Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020, at 11 a.m., with Father Charles McMillin officiating.

Visitation will be held at Matthews and Son Funeral Home today, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2020, from 4-9 p.m., with a rosary recited at 6 p.m. Visitation will resume Thursday from 8 a.m. until the time of her Funeral Mass.

Lelia will be laid to rest in Bertrand Cemetery.