Latest news with #LafayetteRegionalAirport
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Suspicious bag prompts evacuation at Lafayette Regional Airport
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) — Earlier today, a bag that passed through the TSA checkpoint scanning equipment at the Lafayette Regional Airport prompted an evacuation. Authorities suspected the bag contained a suspicious device. Airport executive director Steven Picou informed KLFY 10 the Lafayette parish sheriff's office was the initial law enforcement response to the incident. 'The protocol is that we start evaluating what we think we may have, then we start backing people up from that area,' Picou noted. As a result, some flights were delayed, and the isolated section of the airport was cleared out and locked down. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now 'As more and more experts rolled in, that circle could get larger or smaller and ours went larger,' Picou said. Picou explained upon inspection of the bag it was determined the contents of the checked bag posed no danger. 'Fortunately at the end of the day it was just auto parts, some were found inside of the bag,' Picou added. The airport was reopened to the public around 12:00pm the same day. St. Landry Parish residents frustrated by sudden bridge closure House Republicans tee up tweaks to Trump megabill Abbeville police chief speaks on drive-by shooting video More Storms Likely For The Rest of The Week, Low End Severe Threat… Suspicious bag prompts evacuation at Lafayette Regional Airport Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
St. Landry Parish residents frustrated by sudden bridge closure
ST LANDRY PARISH, LA. (KLFY) – Residents in St. Landry Parish said they're frustrated, cut off and looking for answers after a popular bridge was suddenly closed due to structural concerns. The Bayou Portage bridge, which was rebuilt and reopened in 2022 after weeks of repairs, was closed again on April 15 following a state inspection that uncovered deeper issues with the bridge's pilings. The closure has left many in the community with few options and much longer commutes. 'We're having to drive an extra 60 miles for nothing, when it could take us five minutes,' said local resident Scotty LaGrange. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Beyond the inconvenience, residents said the bridge's closure poses a serious safety risk. 'The [other] bridge if something happens to it, all these people are trapped,' said Paul Calais. 'Hundreds of people trapped. This is their way out. This is an escape route, and it's closed.' According to Saint Landry Parish President Jessie Bellard, the issue lies in the foundation of the bridge. 'The reason for it being closed is because of the pilings underneath,' Bellard said. 'The state does an inspection on these pilings and they said it needs to be shut down. They're going to give us their review, and we haven't received it yet.' Bellard added that the parish cannot begin repairs until the state provides a formal deficiency letter outlining what exactly needs to be fixed. 'As soon as they give us that deficiency letter, we'll know what exactly the problem is. Then we can go get the repairs done,' Bellard said. If that documentation arrives soon, Bellard said repairs could be completed within four to five weeks. Still, he emphasized that safety remains the top priority. 'The decision's on our part, but I'm not going to go against engineers,' Bellard said. 'If they say it needs to be shut down, we're going to shut it down. Safety reasons are our main concern.' But for many in Bayou Portage, waiting for paperwork is not good enough. 'We need an explanation,' Calais said. 'And then let's fix it—because it's our escape route.' St. Landry Parish residents frustrated by sudden bridge closure House Republicans tee up tweaks to Trump megabill Abbeville police chief speaks on drive-by shooting video More Storms Likely For The Rest of The Week, Low End Severe Threat… Suspicious bag prompts evacuation at Lafayette Regional Airport Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Iberia Parish arrest tied to global online investment scam
IBERIA PARISH, La. (KLFY) — A man was arrested in Iberia Parish in connection with an international online investment scam that defrauded victims of thousands of dollars and involved the use of cash shipments and cryptocurrency kiosks. Pengfei Tian, 29 years old, Flushing, New York, arrested and charged for criminal conspiracy, illegal transmission of monetary funds, theft between $5,000 and $25,000, attempted theft over $25,000, money laundering, obstruction of justice and racketeering, deputies said. According to deputies, Tian is allegedly believed to be in the United States on an expired work visa and is suspected to be involved with an organized group operating a fictitious online gold exchange scheme that has defrauded victims of thousands of dollars. The investigation revealed that victims are typically approached via social media, where a member of the organization allegedly builds a relationship and eventually introduces them to what appears to be a high-yield gold investment opportunity, deputies said. Victims are allegedly instructed to send funds via cash shipments or cryptocurrency kiosks, which are then used to set up access to a fake online investment portal displaying artificially inflated returns. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now According to officials, victims are encouraged to take out personal loans to increase their investments. Once indebted, they are allegedly coerced into sending more money with false promises that their 'profits' can only be released once the loans are paid off. The scheme intensifies when couriers are sent under the guise of helping victims pay off their debts and delivering their supposed earnings in cash, none of which ever materialize, deputies said. Deputies urges the public to be cautious when asked to send money through untraceable means or when promised unrealistic returns on investments. This investigation is active and ongoing, with additional arrests and charges anticipated as other members of the group are identified. We will update as more information is released. House Republicans tee up tweaks to Trump megabill Abbeville police chief speaks on drive-by shooting video More Storms Likely For The Rest of The Week, Low End Severe Threat… Suspicious bag prompts evacuation at Lafayette Regional Airport New bill seeks to improve ER care for trafficking victims and sexual abuse Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Lafayette Regional Airport lockdown lifted, no explosives found
UPDATE, 6/10/2025, noon: The Lafayette Regional Airport has reopened to the public. State police have confirmed there were no explosives devices or hand grenades found in the investigation. 'At 11:38 a.m. routine operations resumed at LFT. An investigation by law enforcement determined that a package detected in the TSA scanning area was not hazardous and presented no threat to LFT passengers or operations staff,' Executive Director Steven Picou said. Some flights have been delayed. To stay up to date for flight information click here. UPDATE, 6/10/2025, 11: a.m.: Sources said TSA found two hand grenades in a bag with other items. Witness said at least two people have been arrested. UPDATE, 6/10/2025, 11 a.m.: Steven Picou, Lafayette Regional Airports Executive Director, has released a statement about the investigation that is underway at the airport. 'Law enforcement agencies are investigating a suspicious package that was detected during the TSA scanning process. As a precaution, an isolated section of the LFT terminal has been evacuated. At this time, flights have been delayed. Please monitor flight information from your airline for the most up to date schedule.' Picou said. ORGINAL STORY: LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) — News 10 has learned that Lafayette Regional Airport is under lockdown and refuse entry for anyone, sources said. Sources told News 10 an arrest was made due to a items found in suitcase. At this moment, all flights are grounded at the airport, sources said. Sources said there may be multiple arrests. We will update as more information is released. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Liquid Glass: What is Apple's new design feature, and when is it available? Federal minimum wage would rise to $15 under Sen. Hawley bill House GOP effort to lock in DOGE cuts faces Republican resistance California Republican pushes back against Trump immigration enforcement Cameron Parish couple killed in house fire Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Baton Rouge man convicted of killing pregnant girlfriend, child sentenced
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — A Baton Rouge man who pleaded guilty to killing his pregnant girlfriend and her son was sentenced Tuesday morning. Brynnen Murphy, 23, was sentenced to 40 years plus 40 years plus 15 years concurrently with credit for time served. The sentencing was part of an agreed-upon plea deal. East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore said in April that the victims' family was satisfied with the plea deal. 'I'm sorry to the family. I'm sorry to cause them so much pain,' Murphy said in court Tuesday. Murphy pleaded guilty to charges of manslaughter and first-degree feticide in connection with the deaths of Kaylen Johnson, 24, and Kaden Johnson, 2, ahead of an April trial. He originally faced two counts of first-degree murder. According to an affidavit, Murphy admitted to fatally shooting Kaylen in March 2022 before taking her car to Central Throughway, where Kaden was thrown over the overpass. Former Baton Rouge city-parish contractor sentenced to 7 years in prison on child porn charges Lafayette Regional Airport lockdown lifted, no explosives found House GOP effort to lock in DOGE cuts faces Republican resistance St. George school system amendment bill headed to Louisiana Senate Federal minimum wage would rise to $15 under Sen. Hawley bill California Republican pushes back against Trump immigration enforcement Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
