I’ve noticed in the arrests listings lately a lot of people charged with racketeering. What exactly does that mean?

Cynthia Killingsworth, first assistant district attorney for Calcasieu Parish, said the definition of racketeering is set forth in Louisiana Revised Statute 15:1352. 

“Racketeering activity means the committing, attempting to commit or the conspiring to commit, or the soliciting, coercing or intimidating another person to commit any crime listed in the racketeering statute,” she said. 

The statute, Killingsworth said, can involve three things: 

1) Title 14 — general criminal law.

2) Title 40 — Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substance Law.

3) Title 51 — Louisiana Securities Law.

School holidays

With Labor Day around the corner, I was wondering how does the School Board choose which holidays to allow the students days off?

Calcasieu Parish School Board Chief Academic Officer Tommy Campbell said the district school calendar is created each year by a committee of around 25 stakeholders made up of teachers, counselors, librarians, assistant principals, principals, district staff and parents.  

“They meet in January of each year to develop the calendar, which is then posted to our website for public review and comment,” he said. “The draft calendar is then presented to the Curriculum and Instruction Committee in late January and is then approved by the full board at their regularly scheduled meeting in February.”

Campbell said the goal of the Calendar Committee is to carve out at least 173 instructional days between the second week in August and Memorial Day the last week in May.  

“The holidays observed on the CPSB District Calendar are those that have traditionally been observed in Calcasieu Parish and other surrounding parishes,” he said. 

Mail complaints

How do I contact the Postmaster General about my mail service? I have mailed two letters containing money orders that have been lost. 

Megan J. Brennan is the 74th Postmaster General of the United States and the chief executive officer of the world’s largest postal organization, according to the United States Postal Service. 

She can be reached by email at Megan.J.Brennan@usps.gov or by mail at Megan J. Brennan, Postmaster General and Chief Executive Officer, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW Room 4012, Washington, D.C. 20260-2200. 

The Postal Service does not offer a direct line to the postmaster general. Instead, they recommend you call 1-800-ASK-USPS to file a complaint.

The Informer answers questions from readers. It is written by Crystal Stevenson, American Press executive editor. To ask a question, call 494-4098 and leave a voice mail, or email informer@americanpress.com.

racketeering