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Officials seek $28M for juvenile justice upgrades 16% increase over the Office 122 positions, while $2.5 million will pay some money would go toward new facility aofroughly Juvenile Justice’s budget for the cur- for operational costs such as medical
BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN
budget cycle — including $15.2 million to open a new secure care facility in Verstaff writer non Parish. If approved by the Louisiana LegisCiting a need for more beds to house incarcerated youth, Louisiana’s juvenile lature, which will take up the budget justice system has asked for $28 mil- during the legislative session that belion more in state funding for the next gins March 9, the change would mark
rent fiscal year, which sits at about $177 million. The OJJ’s secure care facilities are the equivalent of juvenile detention centers. They house convicted youth in need of the highest level of security. Of the $15.2 million for the Vernon Parish facility, $11 million is slated to fund
care, supplies, lease costs and insurance costs, according to Commissioner of Administration Taylor Barras, a top budget official. Another $1.6 million is set aside for repairs to the building, he said. That
The
drooling class
Barras
ä see UPGRADES, page 4A
Man convicted in theft of millions from widows Fake aliases used to woo victims into sending money
BY JAMES FINN staff writer
The scheme started on Facebook and Instagram with elderly widows, romantic entreaties — and lies. Posing as an oil rig worker or a decorated military officer, the man would gain the women’s trust over social media, then ask to move their amorous chats to email or encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp. There, his true motivations would become clear. He pressed one 77-year-old Mandeville
ä see WIDOWS, page 4A
Members of the Flamingeauxs and their dogs march downtown in the CAAWs Mystic Krewe of Mutts parade on sunday.
The CAAWs Mystic Krewe of Mutts took a walk along North Boulevard in downtown on sunday. The event included a dog costume contest and an afterpawty. All proceeds benefit the Capital Area Animal Welfare society.
WEATHER HIGH 57 LOW 31 PAGE 6B
Dressed as Harry Paw-ter, Buttercup won the costume contest. sTAFF PHoTos By MICHAEL JoHNsoN
ABOVE: Lola shows off her ballgown with help from chaperone Amelia during the costume contest. RIGHT: Porsche sits on her throne.
Secret Service: Armed man who breached Mar-a-Lago killed BY MICHELLE L. PRICE and ALLEN G. BREED Associated Press
WASHINGTON — An armed man drove into the secure perimeter of Mar-a-Lago, President Donald Trump’s resort in Palm Beach, Florida, before being shot and killed early Sunday morning, according to a spokesman for the U.S. Secret Service. Although Trump often spends weekends at his resort, he was at the White House when the breach occurred about 1:30 a.m. The man had a gas can and a shotgun, authorities said. Investigators identified him as 21-year-old Austin Tucker Martin, of North
ä see MAR-A-LAGO, page 4A
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