KPLC Hot Topic

WikiLeaks: Right or Wrong?

The Obama administration is lashing out at WikiLeaks - the whistle-blower website - and its fugitive Australian founder, saying the massive document dump of confidential and embarrassingly candid U.S. diplomatic messages is dangerously criminal and an attack on civilization.

WikiLeaks, which had previously published hundreds of thousands of U.S. Defence Department documents exposing details of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars, bills itself as a digital-era platform where governments can be held to account.

What do you think? Is WikiLeaks breaking the law by releasing this information, or is it part of the freedom of the press as it's founder claims?

A time to give thanks

As we gather with friends and family this holiday, we take time to reflect on what we have to be thankful for. Today, you can tell us what you are thankful for.

Korea Tensions

     The whole world is watching the two Koreas.  South Korea is pledging to respond with force after Tuesday's attack by North Korea.  The two countries exchanged artillery fire along their disputed border.  South Korea says two of its marines were killed, and that there could be a lot of North Korean casualties.  North Korea was angered over the South's refusal to stop military drills near their sea border, and then launched a deadly artillery attack on a South Korean Island.  President Barack Obama says the U.S. will stand by its commitment to defend South Korea.  But the president would not speculate on actual military action.  To what extent, do you believe, the U.S. should get involved in the tensions between North and South Korea? 

Casino Lawsuit

     Put one in the win column for former Pinnacle Entertainment CEO Dan Lee.  A Nevada District Court ruled Monday in favor of Lee in a lawsuit brought by Pinnacle to try and stop Lee from building a competitor casino right next to L'Auberge du Lac.  Pinnacle claims Lee is in violation of his separation agreement.  Pinnacle also believes the former CEO has used inside knowledge to provide the Port of Lake Charles with information to try and terminate its land lease agreement with Pinnacle.  Pinnacle also has litigation pending against the Port of Lake Charles over the land that was to be used for Sugarcane Bay... the very same land that Lee proposes to build his "Mojito Pointe."  The District Court in Nevada ruled in favor of Lee on Monday.  But this may not be the end.  Pinnacle has plans to strengthen its case against Lee, and could soon file another lawsuit.  What's your reaction to the court's ruling in favor of Lee and against Pinnacle?

Calcasieu Money Woes

     Budget problems for Calcasieu Parish... and that could mean workers won't get a cost of living increase.  Thursday night, Calcasieu Administrative officials unveiled the proposed parish budget for next year.  And it's 10.2% less than this year.  That's due in part to a projected five percent decrease in sales tax revenues.  This is the first budget in recent memory that does not include a cost of living increase for employees.  Gaming funds are also expected to decline by 4%.  But the police jury has a long standing policy of not using those funds for the operating budget.  The gaming revenues are used for building projects.  Today we're opening up our "Hot Topic" blog to your thoughts on the budget situation facing Calcasieu Parish.  How do you think parish administrators should deal with ever increasing demands in a depressed economic climate?

Cypress Group In Default?

     Time could be running out for the Cypress Group.  According to the Lake Charles City Council, the development group missed an important deadline in its plans for downtown development.  City council members say the Cypress Group failed to meet the November 4th deadline to submit their pre-application to HUD for funding that would be used to partially finance the project, and that puts them in default of their agreement.  Last night, the council voted to introduce an ordinance at their December 13th meeting giving Mayor Roach the ability to terminate the agreement with Cypress Group, should they fail to submit the application.  What do you think?  Should the city pull the plug on the Cypress Group? 

Another McNeese Accident

     It was just over a month ago that a McNeese student was killed when she was hit by a vehicle while she was walking to class.  And now there's been another accident involving a McNeese student.   This time a student on a bicycle was struck by a car Tuesday afternoon.  The student was using a crosswalk on Common Street near Gayle Street, when he was struck.  McNeese police say the student did not appear to be seriously injured, but was taken to the hospital for an evaluation.  The driver was cited for failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.  The accident happened just about a week after the speed limit was lowered on that section of Common.  What's your reaction to another student being hit?  

Just Passing Through...

     By now, many of you have either heard of... or have seen with your own eyes, the bus load of young people stuck in the Target parking lot on board their broken down bus.  They're a group of young adults from all over the country riding along with bus owner David King.  They say they raise money where ever they go to help feed the hungry.  While passing through Lake Charles their bus broke down.  They've been stuck in the Target parking lot ever since... waiting for a new transmission.  But the Lake Charles Police Department have received around ten calls of concern from citizens.  Each time they received a complaint, officers were sent to check things out.  Police tell us, they've gone out to the site, and the travelers seem to be very polite and engaging.  There are dozens of animals on board the bus as well.  As a result,  Animal Control was called out.  But we're told all of the animals appear to be in good shape with no signs of abuse.   The group says they're just as anxious to move on, as the complainers are for them to leave.  But until their bus gets fixed, everyone will just have to wait.  What do you think about our group of weary travelers?  The business owners in the Target Shopping Center have agreed to allow them to stay there until their bus is fixed... so should others be complaining?

 

Slow down around McNeese

Speed limit signs have been changed on two streets around the McNeese campus. The limit was reduced on Sale Road and Common Street from 35mph to 25mph near the campus. Thursday, McNeese Police was already enforcing the new speed limits. So far, they are only giving out warnings, but say that will change.

The speed limit was changed following the recent death of a McNeese student killed as she walked to class.

What do you think of this change, and should more be done to ensure student safety?

Where's Bobby?

    "Where's Bobby?"   That was the cry from hundreds of college students Wednesday as they protested on the steps of the State Capitol.  As you know, the students held a rally in Baton Rouge yesterday to show their concern over a hundred million dollars in cuts to higher education being proposed by the Jindal Adminstration.  But Governor Bobby Jindal wasn't even in town during their rally.  He was in North Louisiana at the time of the rally, working on his "Building a Better Louisiana for Children" tour.  The Governor also has a new book on store shelves that he's been promoting.  All of this leads the students to ask the question is Governor Jindal spending too much time concentrating on other endeavors, when he should be concentrating on looming cuts to higher education?  Is Governor Jindal still focused on Louisiana?