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 Louisiana
Monday, Feb. 22
Baton Rouge - State education officials have said the cost of providing teacher sabbaticals was minimal because money to pay a substitute is deducted from the teacher's salary. But an Education Dept. report shows that public schools spent $30 million last year on sabbaticals. School districts can't deduct the entire cost of a substitute from the teacher's pay and must make up the difference.
Friday, Feb. 19
Baton Rouge - Policies for extended sick leave and rest and recuperation sabbatical in various public school districts ''opens the door for abuse of the system by some employees,'' said a report issued by the Louisiana Department of Education. One husband and wife teaching team took sabbatical leave for health reasons and used the time to open a private business. Another teacher has been drawing a salary for five years while staying home on sick leave.
Thursday, Feb. 18
Lafayette - Richard Schmidt, a gastroenterologist convicted in October of injecting his lover with AIDS-tainted blood, was sentenced to 50 years at hard labor for attempted second degree murder. Janice Trahan Allen said Schmidt injected her with blood from two patients, pretending it was a vitamin shot.
Wednesday, Feb. 17
Baton Rouge - A grand jury will be asked to decide whether Vermilion Parish Clerk of Court Sam Theriot should be allowed to buy health club memberships for his workers. Theriot says the $1,900 worth of memberships is a valid program to keep his workers fit, reducing absenteeism and health care costs.
Tuesday, Feb. 16
Alexandria - The Cenla Community Action Council exaggerated the number of hours worked by volunteers to get $3.9 million in federal Head Start money, a state inspector general's report said. The falsification involved services valued at $330,386. The council was required to provide $973,470 in funds and services to obtain the federal funds, officials said.
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