BATON ROUGE, La., (KNOE 8 News) - Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain is planning on borrowing $7 million to take control of a defunct sugar cane mill in southwest Louisiana that was built with state tax dollars and only operational for 90 days.
Strain received approval Thursday from the Bond Commission to borrow the money through a bond sale and repay it over 10 years.
The mill is teetering on default of its debt payments. Strain says if the state doesn't buy out the mill, a bank would take over the property and the agriculture department wouldn't be able to sell it or lease it to recoup some of its investment.
Strain said his department has spent $78 million to build and maintain the Lacassine mill constructed under his predecessor, Bob Odom. It was appraised for less than $7 million.
Saturday, May 25 2013 1:48 PM EDT2013-05-25 17:48:48 GMT
MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - University of Louisiana at Monroe Police are searching for a suspect in a residential burglary in the 4100 block of Bon Aire Drive.
MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - University of Louisiana at Monroe Police are searching for a suspect in a residential burglary in the 4100 block of Bon Aire Drive.
Friday, May 24 2013 6:40 PM EDT2013-05-24 22:40:16 GMT
RIVER RIDGE, La. (AP) - Jefferson Parish sheriff's deputies say a 52-year-old man apparently shot his 16-year-old son in the head and then turned the gun on himself in their home in River Ridge.
RIVER RIDGE, La. (AP) - Jefferson Parish sheriff's deputies say a 52-year-old man apparently shot his 16-year-old son in the head and then turned the gun on himself in their home in River Ridge.
Friday, May 24 2013 10:47 PM EDT2013-05-25 02:47:06 GMT
MOREHOUSE PARISH, La. (KNOE 8 News) - A search is underway for an inmate who escaped from Morehouse Parish.25-year-old Christopher Allen Jones walked away from a work detail on Friday afternoon. Neighboring
MOREHOUSE PARISH, La. (KNOE 8 News) - A search is underway for an inmate who escaped from Morehouse Parish.
MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - A Monroe lawmaker is pushing a bill to allow Louisiana's public school students to pray before and after school and even invite religious leaders on campus? Our Nolan Crane explains.
MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - A Monroe lawmaker is pushing a bill to allow Louisiana's public school students to pray before and after school and even invite religious leaders on campus? Our Nolan Crane explains.
