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Tuesday, May 21 2013 10:36 PM EDT2013-05-22 02:36:47 GMT
It's no secret the Calcasieu Parish School Board's projected budget for the 2013-2014 school year is nearly $13 million in the hole and KPLC is learning teacher reductions is one of their options to reducingMore >>
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Tuesday, May 21 2013 9:58 PM EDT2013-05-22 01:58:28 GMT
Travis Matte and the Kingpins will take the stage at "Downtown at Sundown" in Lake Charles from 6:15 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday, May 24. Since 2004, the group has blended together various musical stylesMore >>
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Tuesday, May 21 2013 5:37 PM EDT2013-05-21 21:37:13 GMT
As children with autism grow into adults-- their parents strive to help them live as independently as possible. But housing to meet the needs of adults with autism is in short supply. Brendan o'reillyMore >>
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The following is a Press Release from the Louisiana Office of Alcohol
and Tobacco Control:
Louisiana Alcohol and Tobacco Control (ATC) Commissioner Troy
Hebert announces that two Lake Charles convenience store owners have pled
guilty to crimes exposed through a series of joint undercover operations
between ATC and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) into a
massive food stamp fraud scheme.
On March 9, 2012 Goodfellas Grocery and Goodfellas Grocery II
owners Craig and Hillary Nash entered guilty pleas in relation to a 26-count
indictment ordered by a federal grand jury last June based on evidence of
illegal activity uncovered by agents with ATC and USDA. According to the indictment, the two
businesses redeemed $2.7 million worth of fraudulently obtained benefits from
the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly referred to as
the food stamp program. The indictment
further alleges that the Nash brothers allowed individuals with SNAP benefits
to exchange their food stamps for alcohol, tobacco, and cash and profited by
charging a fee of approximately half the food stamp benefits from the debit
card before providing a reduced amount of cash to the card holder. Such transactions are strictly prohibited
under federal law. The Nash brothers now
face a 20 year prison sentence, up to $250,000 in fines, and restitution to the
United States government.
"Food stamps are meant to purchase
food, not beer and cigarettes much less traded for cash. These blatant actions will not be tolerated
by businesses permitted by ATC." Hebert stated.
Several bills are currently
pending in the Louisiana Legislature that will enable ATC to suspend or revoke
tobacco licenses held by businesses that conduct food stamp fraud. These bills
are sponsored by Senator Jean-Paul Morrell and Representatives Jeff Arnold and
Simone Champagne.
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