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A Thibodaux man faces a fourth DWI charge after Lafourche Parish authorities say he arrived to the scene of a Sunday (July 2) crash to help his friend, who had driven into a ditch and was charged with a second DWI. John Roath, 65, was charged with his fourth-offense DWI, driving under suspension and no vehicle registration, while Larry Fontenot Jr., 55, was charged with second-offense DWI, Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre said in a news release. About 8:45 p.m. Sunday, deputies responding to a single-vehicle crash on Erika Drive in Thibodaux learned that Fontenot had crashed his truck into...

BAYOU CORNE, La. (AP) — A massive sinkhole that went viral in 2013 swallowing trees in Assumption Parish and forcing more than 300 residents from their homes has quieted down as officials slowly allow residents to come home. The sinkhole, located in Bayou Corne about 30 miles northwest of Thibodaux, is still growing. Assumption Parish Government officials say it has grown between 1 1/2 and 2 feet since last year, now up to about 35 acres.

A Louisiana man is accused of decapitating and dismembering his disabled 7-year-old son and leaving the boy's head near the street so the child's mother would see it -- a killing that brought seasoned police officers to tears, authorities said Monday. A stuffed bear and a handwritten note are seen outside the home where seven year old Jori Lirette, who was disabled and wheelchair bound from cerebral palsy, was found decapitated and left on the street in Thibodaux, Monday, Aug. 15, 2011. Jeremiah Lee Wright, 30, of Thibodaux has confessed to killing Jori Lirette, Police Chief Scott Silverii said. He...

The Louisiana American Civil Liberties Union fired off a letter to the mayor of Thibodaux, La., warning that the small town's promotion of a city festival featuring Christian bands may be a violation of the First Amendment. The Thibodeauxville Festival, which draws nearly 12,000 people to the town whose population barely exceeds 14,000, has featured fun, food, street dancing and bands from a variety of genres for the past 16 years. But when the ACLU spied the city's seal on a flier that also promoted the Christian bands performing at the festival, it took action. Marjorie Esman, executive director of...

A Thibodaux, Louisiana police officer has been fired for hanging a noose from the rear-view mirror of his personal car. A group of black police officers went to the chief of police after noticing the display. Corporal Michael Rodrigue had the vehicle parked on city property. "They're hurt by it. You know, what could he possibly be representing to put something like this up?" Chief Craig Melancon said. Rodrigue originally was suspended with pay. His termination came, Melancon said, after the officer couldn't come up with a reasonable explanation for the noose. "I to this day do not know what...