KPLC Hot Topic

The American Dream

     It's good news for Southwest Louisiana.  According to the Southwest Louisiana Association of Realtors, residential home sales are up... they rose some 13 percent from January to February of this year.  76 Homes sold in January.  87 homes sold in February.  Grace Robideaux, President of the realtors group says the average days on the market for a house in our area is now about 120 days.  She says low interest rates are the primary reason for the upswing in the market here.  With interest rates still as low as they are,  do you intend to take advantage of the buyers' market, and purchase a home? 

Tulane Suit

     There's a big lawsuit against a well known Louisiana hospital... It all centers on a device called an endoscope.  It's used in procedures like a colonoscopy.  So as you can imagine, keeping it clean is important.  But the Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans admits, the device was not cleaned properly for several months.  Now the hospital is facing a lawsuit that claims patients were exposed to diseases like hepatitis, and even the HIV virus.  The hospital maintains the cleaning lapse only created a minimal risk of infection.  What's your reaction to this major blunder that could put so many at risk? 

Park Plans

The Lake Charles City Council heard a tale of two parks Wednesday night. While Millennium Park was destroyed by arson in January, the city is committed to rebuilding it bigger and better. Plans for an expanded children's park, now referred to as Millennium Park II, will be the centerpiece of the proposed Bord du Lac Park.

Mayor Roach presented the City Council with the overall plan for Millennium Park II at Wednesday's agenda meeting.  

After a series of recent meetings with the public, the city has come up with a design which includes a two-story tree house, a pirate ship, a rock climbing wall, and tons of swings and slides. The entire Millennium Park II project will sit on a rubberized surface, similar to the product used at Adventure Cover.

The park will have one entrance and be surrounded by two gates - one that surrounds the entire park and another that surrounds the new Millennium Park play area. Also parents are getting something they wanted.  

Bord du Lac Park improvements include an amphitheater, shaded picnic areas, a spray park, new lighting, security cameras, restrooms, covered pavilion, landscaping and other playground equipment.

An attraction that does come with a price tag: 
Overall project cost: $1,900,000 to $2,500,000
Millennium Park II - Estimated Cost: $650,000
Bord du Lac Park/Amphitheater Improvements: $1,200,000 to $1,850,000

What do you think of the plans for the two parks?

Another oil crisis?

    What will President Obama do about gas prices?  So far he has not released any of the strategic petroleum reserves that are stored away at sites in various locations in the country... something Republicans on Capitol Hill think he should be doing by now.  Some Republicans are also demanding that the government open Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico to more drilling.  But the "drill baby drill" mantra isn't budging the President. Predictions are that gas prices could be 3.70 a gallon this spring.  Should we be tapping into the petroleum reserves and opening up more drilling?

Fat Tuesday

     Let the good times roll!  Mardi Gras is here.  And even though it may rain on our parade, revelers from near and far will converge upon Southwest Louisiana today to celebrate the Fat Tuesday tradition.  Mardi Gras of Imperial Calcasieu has tuned in to some of the requests of year's past on ways to make Mardi
Gras better, for example there will be two family friendly and alcohol free zones set up along the parade route this year... One of them is Lock Park.  The other alcohol free zone is on Pujo and Ryan Street.  Do you have any suggestions on how to make Mardi Gras better?

Jindal Foundation

     Governor Bobby Jindal is coming under fire for unregulated donations flowing into his wife's foundation by companies that have business before the state.  The Governor sidestepped questions from reporters about donations after The New York Times reported that the Supriya Jindal Foundation has taken in nearly one million dollars in pledges from oil companies, telecommunications firms and other firms that are regulated by the Governor.  Jindal said the accusations were ridiculous.  The Governor went on to say that the Foundation has been transparent in all its activities. What do you think?  Should the Governor be held accountable about moneys donated to his wife's foundation?

Funeral Protests

     The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that those disturbing anti-gay protests at U.S. soldiers' funerals can continue.  In an eight to one ruling, justices say the free speech rights of the protestors outweight the rights of parents who want to lay their loved ones to rest.  The whole ordeal stems from the Phelps family, who's been going to soldiers' funerals staging protests.  Here's what takes place:  The Phelps and their tiny Westboro Baptist Church will show up at a soldier's funeral, and in their words, they "celebrate the deaths of the soldiers,"  which they claim are God's punishment for America tolerating gays.  When they picketed the funeral of U.S. Marine Matthew Snyder... Snyder's father sued.  Mr. Snyder said, "I think it's an insult to every veteran out there that has served this country."  The Supreme Court ruled that the Phelps are protected by the first amendment right to free speech.  But what about the families who feel the dignity of their loved one's funeral is being trampled on and disrespected by the protests?  What's your reaction to the Supreme Court ruling?  Was it the right decision?  Or should these families be allowed to bury their soldiers in peace? 

Rising From The Ashes

     It was burned down nearly two months ago by arson, but with the help of the community, a new Millinneum Park will soon rise from the ashes.  Tuesday night the public got a chance to see the new plans to rebuild the park.  The old park was fully insured and had a 100,000 dollar deductible.  The new park with upgrades is expected to cost in the neighborhood of 600 to 650 thousand dollars.  Organizers say they'll likely have to raise some 400 thousand dollars.  A master plan included a pirate ship, an airplane, bayou castle and tree house, as well as tunnels, and a rock climbing wall.  Children were also encouraged to attend last night's meeting to give their input as well.  Work is expected to begin sometime late summer, early August.   What would you like to see in the new park?

Ryan Street Streetscape

     In just a matter of days, downtown Lake Charles is about to experience a revival as the Ryan Street streetscape project gets underway.  The project will be done in 15 phases over the next 15 months, from Clarence Street all the way to Pine Street.  Business owners along Ryan Street say they know there may be a few headaches because of the construction that will be going on.  But for the most part, they look forward to the progress.  Dan Schadd, the owner of Pujo Street Cafe says he's very enthusiastic about the changes that will be made to Ryan Street. "I'm just excited it's finally here and that we are finally doing it."   The streetscape project, when it's all complete, will reduce Ryan Street to two lanes with additional parking on the sides.  The design of the project will be similar to what's been done on the Lakefront Promenade in order to tie the two areas together in one theme.  Since the project is being done in phases... one section at a time,  Ryan Street for the most part should be open to traffic the entire time.  There will only be small detours here and there, throughout the project.  What do you think about the Ryan Street Streetscape project, and are you looking forward to the facelift for Ryan Street?