Louisiana news briefs

Woman dies after apparent dispute over drugs
HOUMA — Terrebonne Parish authorities are investigating a shooting death.
The woman was fatally shot and her boyfriend was injured after they were involved in what Terrebonne Sheriff’s Office officials say was a dispute over drugs in the Smithridge community.
The pair drove to Marty J’s truck stop for help about 7:20 p.m. Wednesday. The woman later died of her injuries. Her boyfriend was treated at a local hospital and released. No arrests have been reported.

St. Landry to study feasibility of arena
OPELOUSAS — The St. Landry Economic and Industrial Development District has voted to study the feasibility establishing a major multi-purpose arena for St. Landry Parish.
The parish’s economic development agency has for years been discussing a roughly $15 million arena with seating for more than 3,000 people.
This week it voted to spend $25,000 to hire a consultant, Charles D’Agostino with Developmental Consulting LLC, to create a detailed feasibility study for the project.
“We will be formalizing the details this week,” said SLEIDD Executive Director Bill Rodier, who said the study should be ready within the next 90 days.
Board member Daniel Lyons, an advocate for the project, expressed confidence it could be a major moneymaker for the parish. He urged the board to move forward with the project as quickly as possible.
The SLEIDD board also voted to go ahead with the sale of a 422-acre site just north of Opelousas. It was unclear whether the sale is related to the arena plans.

Student, 15, arrested, accused of bus robbery
MANSFIELD — A 15-year-old North DeSoto High School student has been arrested on multiple felony charges.
The student is accused of threatening to rob and shoot students on a bus last week.
DeSoto Parish sheriff’s investigators are still unsure if the student, who could not be identified because of his age, was armed with an actual weapon. Additional information indicates the student could have broken down a gun and only had part of it in his possession.
Sheriff Rodney Arbuckle said students on the bus believed he had a gun.
“The kids were questioned, and they thought he had a gun and were in fear,” Arbuckle said.
The student was arrested Tuesday after investigators consulted with DeSoto District Attorney Richard Johnson.

Jeff Davis panel votes to help buy land for Sowela
JENNINGS — The Jefferson Davis Parish School Board’s finance committee has agreed to commit $100,000 to help buy 10 acres of land south of Jennings High School for a new Sowela Technical Community College campus.
The School Board is one of three local entities that have committed financial support to help buy the property for the proposed $10 million campus.
The Jeff Davis Parish Police Jury agreed last week to give up $200,000 for the project, and the city of Jennings is expected to approve a $100,000 commitment in January. The school panel’s vote came Tuesday, sending the issue to the full board.
“We are told, by doing this, it is very likely that local government bodies will not have to put up the $1.2 million local contributions originally discussed six months ago,” city financial adviser Greg Marcantel said. “The commitment from the three government bodies should be enough funds to accomplish the goal.”

Jindal of A&E over Robertson ‘hiatus’
BATON ROUGE — The A&E cable television network’s suspension of “Duck Dynasty” patriarch Phil Robertson from the hit reality show has drawn criticism from the governor of his home state.
The network says Robertson was placed on “hiatus” after he gave an interview in GQ magazine disparaging gays as sinners akin to adulterers and swindlers.
Governor Bobby Jindal issued a brief statement on the matter Thursday.
Jindal didn’t offer an opinion on Robertson’s comments but said everyone is entitled to express a view. He added: “It is a messed-up situation when Miley Cyrus gets a laugh, and Phil Robertson gets suspended.”
The show is produced around the Robertson family’s home base in Ouachita Parish.

Fisherman arrested after fight on boat
BELLE CHASSE — A Gretna fisherman has been arrested after police say he cut another fisherman’s throat with a knife during an argument earlier this month aboard a shrimp boat in Plaquemines Parish.
Lau Thanh Ho, 49, surrendered to Plaquemines Sheriff’s Office investigators Wednesday. Deputies say he was booked with attempted second-degree murder.
The 52-year-old victim, whose name was not released, was hospitalized in New Orleans, investigators said.
Deputies say that on Dec. 1, the Coast Guard received a call about a man bleeding from the neck aboard the boat Sister Brother, owned and operated by Ho.
Plaquemines investigators say the Coast Guard was told the injury happened after a boat cable malfunctioned.
After later interviews with the victim and witnesses, Plaquemines deputies said they suspected the victim had been attacked by Ho.
Authorities said Ho initially fled before returning to surrender.

Old UL horse farm closer to becoming park
LAFAYETT — The Lafayette City-Parish Council has accepted a preliminary plan to turn the former University of Louisiana at Lafayette Horse Farm into a public park.
Tuesday’s action paves the way the way for preparation of a master plan.
City-Parish President Joey Durel told the council that the master plan also must be approved by the council before construction can proceed. Durel said that details on exactly what is built will depend in large part on fundraising success.
“A wish list is what they’ve got so far,” Durel told the council before the vote. “With your blessing, they can put details to paper and return with a master plan where you’ll see specifically potentially what will be on the property.”
Construction on phase one could begin as early as summer 2014 with a grand opening targeted for 2015.
Forty-nine residents signed in Tuesday in support of the park programming.
“We’re very excited,” said Chris Adams with the citizens’ group Friends of the Horse Farm. “I’ve been watching the progress from the days of Save the Horse Farm to now and I feel like it’s on the right track. It’s great seeing it come together.”

Pineville fabrication plant to expand
PINEVILLE — The Hayes Cos. will invest $3 million to expand its metal fabrication plant.
Hayes will hire another 75 workers in Pineville, paying them $45,000 a year, on average.
The company says it’s selling more to large clients, including Union Tank Car Co., General Electric Co. and OneSubsea.
Hayes will add 60,000 square feet to its plant, growing by more than 50 percent. The expansion is targeted for late 2014 completion
Louisiana Economic Development will make a $500,000 loan that will be forgiven if Hayes meets certain targets. The company could also claim $1.7 million from Louisiana’s Quality Jobs program over 10 years, a rebate of 5 percent of average salary.
From The Associated Press.
The company will also get worker training and industrial tax exemptions.
Hayes also provides crane services and plant maintenance.