News

Warm waters boosted 2017’s major hurricane tally, study says

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Atlantic’s warmer waters triggered the unusual number of major hurricanes last year, according to a new study that predicts the region could see a couple of extra whopper storms each year by the end of the century.

Six major hurricanes — with winds of at least 111 mph (178 kph) — spun around the Atlantic last year, including Harvey, Irma and Maria which hit parts of the United States and the Caribbean. Since 2000, the Atlantic has averaged three major hurricanes a year. Before that the average was closer to two.

Standing Rock Sioux pledges support for pipeline protests

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — An American Indian tribe that has led opposition to the Dakota Access oil pipeline for more than two years has formally pledged its support for protests against three other pipeline projects.

Facebook says 50M user accounts affected by security breach

NEW YORK (AP) — Facebook says it recently discovered a security breach affecting nearly 50 million user accounts.

The hack is the latest setback for Facebook during a year of tumult for the global social media service.

In a blog post , the company says hackers exploited its “View As” feature, which lets people see what their profiles look like to someone else. Facebook says it has taken steps to fix the security problem and alerted law enforcement.

Tsunami sweeps away homes on Indonesian island of Sulawesi

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — A powerful earthquake rocked the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on Friday, triggering a 3-meter-tall (10-foot-tall) tsunami that an official said swept away houses in at least two cities.

Disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho said the tsunami hit Palu, the capital of central Sulawesi province, as well as the smaller city of Donggala and several other coastal settlements.

Pope defrocks Chilean priest at center of abuse scandal

 

 

Everybody on plane survives crash landing in Pacific lagoon

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — A passenger on a plane that crashed into a Pacific lagoon on Friday said the flight attendants were panicking and he saw water pouring through a hole in the side of the plane before he was able to escape.

Local boats helped rescue all 47 passengers and crew after the plane hit the water while trying to land at the Chuuk Island airport in the Micronesia archipelago.

Seven people were taken to a hospital, according to officials, including one described as being in critical but stable condition.

Dillon Disposal rates to increase

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Rates are going up slightly for residents living in rural areas of the parish for trash pickup services. The Jeff Davis Police Jury approved a request on Wednesday from Dillon

Bon Appétit

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The public is invited to attend the Libraries Southwest 2018 annual author dinner in Lake Charles at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, October 16 at Treasure’s of Marilyn’s located at 3510

Police jury signs off on GIS agreement

The parish is one step closer to getting a new geographic information system (GIS) that will help to better analyze land data and ensure more accurate tax collection. The new

DA convictions announced

(Editor’s Note: This is the second and final article detailing recently convictions in Jeff Davis Parish.) Convictions obtained during the Sept. 17 criminal petit jury in the 31st Judicial District