Louisiana news briefs

UL-Lafayette adds artificial heart lab
LAFAYETTE (AP) — An assistant professor of mechanical engineering has created an artificial heart lab at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.
Charles Taylor is developing tools to help test current medical devices and to design and test the next generation of medical devices. Its focus is on prosthetic heart valves and ventricular assist devices, the university said in a news release Monday.
His lab is set up to create computer models. He hopes to soon add the capability for students to build and test systems.
“The medical impact keeps me involved,” he said. “I talk with design groups that are developing the devices and to clinicians who are implanting these devices. I also hear from patients who have these devices who say, ‘Look, there’s got to be something better than this.’
Taylor said he’s adapting a design process used in the aeronautics industry, working simultaneously on computational models and bench-top systems.
Taylor joined the faculty in 2013. In spring 2014, he taught a pilot course in bioengineering. It covered the principles of creating artificial organs.

Maringouin audit suggests misuse
of public funds
MARINGOUIN (AP) — A state investigative audit finds several former Maringouin officials may have misused more than $1,000 in public funds and failed to properly account for about $100,000 in supplemental pay from the state.
State audit claims former officials improperly lowered speeding tickets.
The 30-page report also says the town’s former mayor did not provide proper oversight over the police department and the town magistrate improperly reduced 43 percent of the police department’s speeding tickets, costing the town nearly $12,000 in revenue.
Assistant District Attorney Scott Stassi said on Monday his office is reviewing the audit and will probably meet with state auditors soon to discuss their investigation.
The town’s current Mayor Demi Vorise released a statement Monday saying her administration already is working to correct several problems.

Teacher accused of slapping, taking food from first-grader
ST. FRANCISVILLE (AP) — Sheriff’s deputies say a first-grade teacher accused of striking a student during lunch at Bains Lower Elementary School in St. Francisville has been arrested.
The West Feliciana Parish Sheriff’s Office issued an arrest warrant for the teacher, 31-year-old Chanel Lemelle, on Thursday after witnesses reported seeing Lemelle allegedly berate, kick and slap a first-grade student on Jan. 23.
Deputies say Lemelle also is accused of taking some of the boy’s lunch food.
Erin Foster, a sheriff’s office spokeswoman, says Lemelle, of Baton Rouge, was booked Monday on one count of cruelty to juveniles. Foster says Lemelle posted $20,000 bail and was released.
School officials say Lemelle, who worked for the school district for about 10 years, resigned last week.

BP appeal seeks ouster of claims administrator
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — BP is trying again to force the ouster of the administrator of claims arising from a settlement reached with businesses claiming economic harm from the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.
BP argues that Patrick Juneau has mismanaged the settlement program and that he had a conflict of interest that he didn’t disclose when he was appointed to administer claims arising from the 2012 settlement. The corporation also says that Juneau “actively advocated against BP’s interests” as part of his work for the state of Louisiana in 2010 and 2011.
U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier flatly rejected BP’s arguments in November. That led the corporation to head to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, where a three-judge panel was set to hear arguments today.

Trial date set for former Brusly police chief
PORT ALLEN (AP) — The former Brusly police chief accused of stealing guns and cash from the department is scheduled to go to trial in April.
Jamie Whaley and his attorneys met with prosecutors for a pre-trial conference Monday. The trial date was set for April 20.
Whaley resigned last year after admitting using a city fleet card to take more than $1,000 of fuel for his personal vehicle and boat. State officials later accused Whaley of stealing several guns and forging a second signature on department checks worth $600 made out as cash to himself.
A judge sentenced Whaley to 18 months’ probation for the fuel theft.
His April trial will be for two charges of forgery and theft and one of malfeasance in office stemming from the state’s investigation.

State police: OMV employee stole cash
BATON ROUGE (AP) — An employee at the state Office of Motor Vehicles is accused of felony theft.
Louisiana State Police say they arrested Heather Prather, a 34-year-old from Baker, Monday after an internal audit found money missing from the Office of Motor Vehicles.
State police say more than $4,000 could not be accounted for and that records were altered to hide the alleged theft. Investigators say Prather admitted to stealing cash and falsifying records to conceal her alleged actions.
She was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on charges of felony theft, injuring public records and malfeasance in office. It was unknown if she has an attorney.
Prather was placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation. She has been with the OMV for eight years.

Audit: Fire marshal’s office needs to improve inspections
BATON ROUGE (AP) — Louisiana’s fire marshal’s office hasn’t consistently inspected schools, universities, state buildings and health facilities to ensure compliance with fire and safety codes, according to an audit released Monday.
Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera’s Office reviewed inspection and enforcement actions from 2011 through 2013 and outlined several ways the fire marshal was falling short.
The fire marshal doesn’t make sure violations are quickly corrected and doesn’t penalize repeat offenders to ensure they clean up their mistakes, the audit said.
In a written response, State Fire Marshal Butch Browning defended his office’s work, saying the agency has been reorganized and improved since 2008. He said a computer upgrade in May will “completely revolutionize” inspection and enforcement to put them in line with the auditor’s recommendations.
The fire marshal’s office has an operating budget around $22 million and 54 inspectors for nearly 25,900 structures, according to Purpera’s review. Fire marshal employees said they had competing responsibilities — such as arson investigations and amusement ride inspections — that often take away from their building inspections, the audit said.
Louisiana law puts the fire marshal in charge of inspections for all state or federally-licensed buildings, universities and schools. The office is required to do annual inspections of health care facilities, day care centers, group homes and substance abuse facilities.

USDA makes $18M
in grants to support young farmers
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden says the U.S. Department of Agriculture is providing more than $18 million in grants to help young farmers.
She says more than 15 percent of the grants support veterans farming, while about half focus on socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.
Harden announced the grants Monday at Recirculating Farms Coalition in New Orleans.
A USDA news release says Recirculating Farms got a grant to develop training focused on soil-based production and aquaculture in New Orleans.
The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program was created under the 2008 Farm Bill. It aims to provide workshops, training and technical help to people who have been farming or ranching for less than 10 years.

Galliano man faces black drum fishing violations
BATON ROUGE (AP) — A state wildlife and fisheries agent has cited a Galliano man for alleged fishing violations on the Pointe-aux-Chenes Wildlife Management Area.
The department said Monday that Senior Agent Michael Marques cited 34-year-old Rufino Gonzalez-Ibarra for taking and possessing over the legal limit of black drum and possessing undersized black drum and red drum.
From The Associated Press.
Marques says Jan. 31 he found Gonzalez-Ibarra in possession of 26 black drum and one red drum under the minimum size of 16 inches. The legal limit for black drum is five per person per day, making him four times over the legal limit.
Possessing over the legal limit of black drum and possessing undersized black drum and red drum each brings a $100 to $350 fine and up to 60 days in jail for each offense.