MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - On the heels of the completion of a new airport terminal, Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo announced on New Years Day, his next big vision for the city: A new civic center arena. He calls it 2013's signature project. "This is an ambitious project, but certainly the Monroe airport terminal was an ambitious project as well," said Mayo and says the Civic Center, built in the 1960's is now outdated.
He says there's a need for a bigger 21st century entertainment venue with anywhere from 10-thousand to 14-thousand seats. "When you look across the state and across the country we just don't compare with some of those [venues], it's a competitive type thing when you're trying to get those acts," said Mayo.
But the first step to turning the idea into reality is a feasibility study, which is a report written by a consulting firm that judges the cost and value of the plans. Monroe's city council took that first step by ordering up the 95-thousand dollar study in November. Once completed it will determine options concerning the arena size, location, and most importantly how much it will cost. "The price tag, the determination of it will be made by the size of the arena, obviously we know it will be millions [of dollars]," said Mayo, also adding he wants the new arena to be built downtown. However he admits such decisions can't be made until the feasibility study is completed in three to six months.
In addition to the arena, the consulting firm will also study the value of building a four star hotel.
A Virginia man who was once one of the nation's most prominent swimming coaches has been sentenced to seven years in prison for sexually abusing one of the girls he instructed.
A once-prominent swimming coach who trained thousands of children was sentenced to seven years in prison Thursday for sexually abusing one of the girls he instructed.
Thursday, May 23 2013 8:20 AM EDT2013-05-23 12:20:47 GMT
DENHAM SPRINGS, La. (KNOE 8 News) - Authorities say a 40-year-old corrections officer assigned to the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola has been arrested in a Livingston Parish home invasion case.
DENHAM SPRINGS, La. (KNOE 8 News) - Authorities say a 40-year-old corrections officer assigned to the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola has been arrested in a Livingston Parish home invasion case.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 11:45 PM EDT2013-05-23 03:45:18 GMT
MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - Many in the ArkLaMiss are opening up their wallets for monetary donations or personal products to tornado ravaged Oklahoma.
MONROE, La. (KNOE 8 News) - Many in the ArkLaMiss are opening up their wallets for monetary donations or personal products to tornado ravaged Oklahoma.
Thursday, May 23 2013 9:22 PM EDT2013-05-24 01:22:41 GMT
GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) - The Boy Scouts of America's National Council has voted to ease a long-standing ban and allow openly gay boys to be accepted as Scouts.Of the local Scout leaders voting at their
GRAPEVINE, Texas (AP) - The Boy Scouts of America's National Council has voted to ease a long-standing ban and allow openly gay boys to be accepted as Scouts.
Thursday, May 23 2013 8:57 PM EDT2013-05-24 00:57:22 GMT
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - After last week's severe weather in Northwest Louisiana, Gov. Bobby Jindal has declared a state of emergency for the area. The National Weather Service says a May 16 thunderstorm
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - After last week's severe weather in Northwest Louisiana, Gov. Bobby Jindal has declared a state of emergency for the area.
Thursday, May 23 2013 2:40 PM EDT2013-05-23 18:40:28 GMT
BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announces enhanced monitoring along La. 70, near the Assumption Parish sinkhole.
BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announces enhanced monitoring along La. 70, near the Assumption Parish sinkhole.
Thursday, May 23 2013 9:05 PM EDT2013-05-24 01:05:01 GMT
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Louisiana Senate has killed a resolution that sought to keep the state from using a set of uniform national standards for public school testing, called Common Core standards.The
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Louisiana Senate has killed a resolution that sought to keep the state from using a set of uniform national standards for public school testing, called Common Core standards.
