Section INDReporter

Cindy’s worst yet to come

The storm remains offshore, and much of Southwest Louisiana including Lafayette is still likely to see heavy rainfall and other effects, including tornadoes, from the storm as it moves up the Louisiana-Texas border then curves to the northeast.

LCG opens emergency sandbag site at Blackham

With Tropical Storm Cindy official — and unpredictable — and much of South Louisiana still skittish after last August’s devastating floods, Lafayette Consolidated Government says it is making sandbags available to residents on an temporary, emergency basis

Amid complaints, LUS suspends tree trimming

Residents of some of Lafayette’s older, more arboreal neighborhoods took to social media to gripe about the Asplundh hatchet job on their beloved live oaks and the city took note.

Lessening plans

Superintendent Donald Aguillard, school board adjust to diminishing resources even as foes of public education continue to spread misinformation.

Brian Pope, the $200K marshal

Yes, dear readers, your city marshal is making more than $220,000, the bulk of which he appears to be collecting illegally.

Activists stage ‘die-in’ outside Higgins’ office

And after a Chase Tower rep attempted to bar them, members of Indivisible Acadiana were able to go to the congressman’s eighth-floor office and fill out constituent cards. Higgins was not in town at the time. (With videos)

You go, Daniel Phillips!

KATC meteorologist righteously pontificates on the morons who drive through floodwater, and it goes viral.

Cops: Deceased in Jefferson St. shooting fired first

The New Iberia man killed overnight Saturday during a shootout on Jefferson Street pulled a gun and shot two others before one of the men returned fire and killed him, according to the latest account from Lafayette Police.

Booze revamp would let cops shut down bars on the spot

Intro ordinance gives Lafayette police — and sheriff’s deputies in unincorporated Lafayette Parish — the authority to immediately shutter a bar if it presents “an immediate danger to the health, safety and welfare of the public.”

Wells goes far in defending Louisiana

The journalist/author and native son writes that metrics don’t define states — in the very news magazine that labeled Louisiana “worst in the nation.”

The Current is now

The premier issue of The Current is hot off the press, destined for more than 200 distribution locations throughout the Lafayette metro.

ACLU sues Lafayette cop over cell-phone pic

The suit claims a Lafayette police officer violated resident Chelline Carter’s rights when he confiscated her cell phone and deleted a photograph she had taken of her son under arrest in the cruiser’s back seat.

Suit: federal judge mentally incompetent

U.S. District Judge Patricia Mindaldi, who was yanked from the trial of Iberia Parish Sheriff Louis Ackal, has been away on an extended leave of absence since late January.

Has Theall lost the high ground?

Personal loans from a Lafayette businessman funded Susan Theall’s successful 2011 15th JDC campaign in apparent violation of state campaign finance laws.

Squeeze Play

The calendar is Vanessa Anseman’s toughest opponent in her bid to remain in the Third Circuit Court of Appeal race.

Judge: Anseman ineligible for Third Circuit seat

The IND was first to report on questions of Vanessa Anseman's qualifications, and a district judge has found that she falls short of the 10 years of practice required by the state constitution to seek the seat.

A requiem for the Alexandria Daily Town Talk, 1883-2017

I cannot help but lament the ways in which the blind rush to consolidate media companies, more than any other factor, murdered the local newspaper, which is not only a critical community institution; the local newspaper, more than anything else, continues to be the most important check against public corruption.

D.A. Earl Taylor challenging Anseman’s candidacy

Taylor says he filed a lawsuit after a resident complained that Anseman, one of three Republican women vying for the Third Circuit Court of Appeal, did not meet the minimum qualifications to run.

Aguillard, LPSS make pitch for April tax prop

The school superintendent characterized the .5 cent, 10-year tax dedicated to facility improvements as “something reasonable that has a chance of getting voters to accept.”

Gagnard Perret’s ex-fiancé issues letter of apology

Nearly 13 years later, New Orleans attorney John Houghtaling expresses regrets about not filing a lawsuit alleging false arrest, saying he was unaware of the statute of limitations. Make of the letter what you will.

JUDGMENT CALL

The circumstances surrounding Candyce Gagnard Perret’s 2004 arrest raise questions about her judgment and, potentially, her character and suitability for the appeals court.

Good read: 15 turkeys and a dead cat

NPR dives into a Twitter video that speculates on the behavior of more than a dozen wild turkeys circling a dead cat on a residential street.

Sentiment simmers at Cassidy town hall

Sen. Bill Cassidy ended his weeklong town hall tour across the state in Breaux Bridge where he addressed constituents about his Patient Freedom Act bill and the controversy surrounding the potential repeal and replacement of the Affordable Care Act.

Vanessa Anseman: practice imperfect

After three years away from the legal profession, Vanessa Waguespack Anseman got her law license reinstated on Jan. 13, the same day she qualified for a seat on the Third Circuit Court of Appeal.

Higgins pledges support for I-49 South

Higgins joins the national GOP's resurgent interest in infrastructure spending, saying the Louisiana congressional delegation unanimously supports completing I-49 South.

Together LA: Corporate giveaways continue apace

In fact, in spite of an executive order by the governor last summer, the un-elected board in Baton Rouge that hands out corporate welfare in Louisiana gave away more last year than ever before.

Let’s talk about the elephant in the room

The IND’s Pearson Cross will moderate a bi-partisan — stop laughing; there is such a thing! — discussion about the 2016 election tonight at Cité des Arts.

Forecasting 25 more years of sprawl in Acadiana

Not quite time to panic, but if all goes according to the MPO's long range transportation plan, the Acadiana region could see worse fiscal trouble thanks to a swelling suburban road network.

UNO poll finds Lege unpopular, many still blame Jindal

The poll found that by a two-to-one margin poll participants disapprove of the Legislature's performance, which overall received an approval rating of 24 percent, with 50 percent disapproving and 26 percent undecided.

Former Vangy cop gets 18 months in cover-up

A former detective with the Ville Platte Police Department was sentenced to a year and a half in prison this week after pleading guilty to filing a false report to cover up a theft.

French immersion in Arnaudville one step closer

Supporters of an ambitious plan to convert an abandoned hospital in Arnaudville into a French Immersion campus are celebrating today — and have inched closer to making their plan a reality.

JBE goes (back) to Washington

The governor is once again in the nation's capital to rally Congress and the Trump administration for an additional $2 billion in financial relief from the March and August 2016 floods.

Good read: NYT Mag on Victor White III, awful Sheriff Ackal

New York Times Magazine contributor Nathaniel Rich's exquisitely reported and deeply sourced story about the suspicious 2014 death of Victor White III in the back of an Iberia Parish Sheriff's vehicle is long-form journalism at its best.

Good read: La.’s forgotten black cemeteries

In vine-chocked stands of trees and the weedy margins of cane fields in West Baton Rouge Parish, genealogist Debbie Martin plies her avocation: finding the forgotten black cemeteries lost to neglect and time.

Good read: Times-Pic’s poboy history probe

The popular story tells of a pair of brothers who fed striking streetcar workers they referred to as "poor boys" in the late 1920s. Popular doesn't necessarily mean historically accurate.

Suit filed over La.’s indigent defense program

A class action lawsuit was filed Monday in state court in Baton Rouge, accusing the state of mismanaging the public defender program designed to provide adequate legal defense for poor and indigent defendants.

UL prez: University benefits from foreign students

UL "has historically benefited from the scientific, cultural and economic contributions of international students and scholars and values all students, faculty members and researchers, regardless of their country of origin."

Leges file friendly brief on behalf of Pat Cooper

Nine members of the Louisiana Legislature have submitted a friend of the court brief on behalf of former Lafayette school Superintendent Pat Cooper, who was recently granted a rehearing in his wrongful termination lawsuit against the Lafayette Parish School Board.

The Connector’s new urban renewal

A new Connector coalition hopes against history that the interstate project will be a boon to Lafayette's neglected black community.

This week in awesome: Holy Rosary, FIL

Corporate sponsors step up to save Festival International de Louisiane. Dilapidated and defunct, Holy Rosary Institute gets a shot at salvation with a $450K federal grant.

This week in ‘OMG, she’s awful!’

Racist social media comments by a co-owner of a white, family-run business in the heart of a black neighborhood on Lafayette’s northside lead to calls for a boycott.

School board does 180, embraces sales tax

The board hasn’t made a final decision on whether to ask voters for hundreds of millions in additional revenue, but it appears now that if the board votes to place a tax referendum on the ballot this year, it will be a sales tax.

Home Again

IND video: Nearly five months after being forced from their flooded home, a Lafayette couple finally sleep in their own bed.

It has come to this

Higher ed officials consider offering naming rights to corporations to buttress beleaguered TOPS.

Long distance librarian

UL’s Peter Ochieng has a vision to transform his Kenyan home village through books.

Sons of American Revolution wades into monument debate

The local chapter is asking the state Legislature to craft a constitutional amendment that would allow voters statewide to decide whether historic monuments should be permanently shielded from “destruction, dismantling, removal, moving, storage or hiding.”

Donate to The Lens through Jan. 19, and the Knight Foundation doubles your gift

[Editor's Note to IND readers: The appeal below is from Steve Beatty, publisher of nonprofit The Lens, and is directed at readers like you who value high-quality journalism and are willing to pay for it. While The Lens is New Orleans-based, many of the public policy stories it reports are important to Lafayette-area readers and appear at theind.com. Please consider making a donation by Jan. 19.]

Scouts buy McGee’s Landing

A subsidiary of the Evangeline Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America purchased McGee’s Landing, a move that will turn the Henderson levee property into a magnet for scouting adventure and educational activities for decades to come.

SCOLA denies Marshal Pope’s appeal — again

On Dec. 16, the Louisiana Supreme Court declined to hear the embattled official's latest appeal, affirming that The Independent had the right to file a public records lawsuit against him.

Contract spat leads to changes in fire service in rural Lafayette

The Lafayette Fire Department is taking over service in an unincorporated area of rural west and northwest Lafayette Parish previously serviced by the Scott Volunteer Fire Department after a dispute between the SVFD and Lafayette Consolidated Government over the cooperative endeavor agreement and reimbursement schedule.

Wheels of mercy roll into Angola

Twice a year Acadiana residents travel to the Louisiana State Penitentiary to visit incarcerated family members, thanks to the Catholic Diocese of Lafayette.

Angele Davis eyeing race for treasurer?

The potential candidate should be questioned about her role on Jindal’s Commission on Streamlining Government and its greatest gaff: the taking of severance tax audit authority away from the DOR and handing it to DNR.

Four Lafayette deputies injured in accidental shooting

One Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s deputy was treated at a hospital and three others treated on the scene for minor injuries after a fifth deputy’s gun accidentally discharged at the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office firing range.

Does Higgins suggest using campaign funds for child support debt?

The congressional candidate who denied to KATC that he ever missed a child support payment, acknowledges in a phone conversation with his ex-wife that he owes her more than $100,000. You decide if he seems to contemplate using campaign funds to settle the debt.

ASO taps Baker as new ED

The former Festival International executive director will assume the same role with the Acadiana Symphony.

FIL makes it official: no Heritage Stage

Three weeks after this paper reported it and on the same day The Advertiser published a story, Festival International de Louisiane confirms that lagging corporate sponsorships have forced it to cancel the Heritage Stage for the 2017 FIL.

Farmer resigns as UL athletic director

After five successful years on the job, Scott Farmer is moving from the post of athletic director to take a teaching position in UL Lafayette’s Kinesiology Department, calling the move “an opportunity ... I’ve looked forward to.”

Bayou Bridge Pipeline fight hits the local airwaves

Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle sits on the board of Sunoco Logistics, which is threatening eminent domain action against property owners during a time when Angelle is desperately trying to save his political career.

Donald Trump and America’s wetland

President Trump, who says he wants to address our deplorable infrastructure, could start with saving our coastal infrastructure, which aids both the environment and our energy economies.

Marshal Brian Pope begins serving house arrest

Seven-day sentence is being supervised by the office of Sheriff Mark Garber, the very man prosecutors say Pope abused his own office to oppose in last year’s race for sheriff.

Hudspeth: two wins in mere hours

Moments after his Ragin’ Cajuns defeated Georgia Southern on the gridiron, UL’s head football coach offered a spirited defense of his players who appeared in an off-color cellphone video.

SCOLA denies city marshal’s appeal

It’s the end of the rope for Brian Pope, who must now serve his house arrest and community service resulting from contempt of court judgment in public records case.

Boudreaux doubles down

The councilman turned the screw on civil service board members and attorney Monday, demanding they step down due to ‘inappropriate’ comments recorded at an Oct. 11 meeting.

Capt. Clay fails the fact-check

Records from internal affairs investigations reveal Higgins roughed up a young black man much more than he admitted to The IND. Oh, and his “peacock” story doesn’t hold up either.

Toby Aguillard named new police chief

Denham Springs native has a combined 28 years in law enforcement and criminal justice experience, including stints as an assistant district attorney and an assistant attorney general.

Kennedy leads in new poll

Perhaps most news-worthy: Former KKK leader David Duke makes the cut for the next televised debate.

LPD chief selection imminent

Mayor Joel Robideaux could begin conducting final interviews for Lafayette’s vacant police chief position as early as this week.

Senate hopeful Troy Hebert goes ‘big coconuts’

Stung by a judge’s refusal to open the U.S. Senate debate to candidates with less than $1 million in their campaign accounts and at least 5 percent in the polls, the thousandaire 1-percenter lashes out in a ham-handed parody video. Warning: You can’t un-watch it.

Four Acadiana solons join AG Landry’s anti-LGBT crusade

Attorney General Jeff Landry’s fight against Gov. John Bel Edwards’ executive order protecting LGBT employees in state contracts to private firms has the support of 17 state lawmakers, including four Acadiana reps.

Judge Edwards to Pope: ‘you decide’

Edwards gave the marshal two options: Produce the "Mr. Redmond" motion now or wait for the criminal proceedings to conclude, which — Edwards appeared to indicate — means Pope will face $100-a-day penalties, swelling the tens of thousands in penalties he already owes to The IND.

Rep. Bishop’s party line in the marsh

Joined by all Rs in the Acadiana House delegation, Bishop claims in an Oct. 4 letter to Gov. John Bel Edwards that the agreement Edwards has with attorneys in the coastal damages cases against oil and gas companies violates the spirit and letter of the law.

Scott Angelle in the hot seat?

Independent exclusive explores how Angelle and Gov. Bobby Jindal effectively gave control of the state’s severance tax collections to the oil and gas industry, costing the state hundreds of millions if not billions in revenue and abetting a budget crisis that led to devastating cuts to higher education and health care for the poor and disabled.

Chinese plot leaves New Orleans steamed

No reaction yet from city officials in the wake of what appears to be clear — though as-yet unconfirmed — meddling by China in the Crescent City’s night life.

Scores to contest tax bills

Aaron’s, a rent-to-own store with two locations in Lafayette, is seeking the biggest tax relief: $1.6 million of its $1.7 million bill.

‘Mr. Redmond’ revealed in Pope case

Baton Rouge-based political consultant Jason Redmond is the man whose name was used on invoices for legal services paid for by the city marshal’s office last year to unseal Sheriff Mark Garber’s divorce records.

Senate race tightens

Kennedy plummets in SMOR poll on the heels of coy handling of Boustany prostitution “scandal.”

Local animal adoption event begins this Saturday

The Lafayette Parish Animal Control Center (LACC) is kicking off its first in a series of monthly “Adoption Events,” on Saturday, Sept. 24 from 1 - 5 p.m. at its facility located at 613 W. Pont Des Mouton Road in Lafayette.

Do La.’s tax incentives work? Who knows

A new legislative auditor report finds that state agencies that administer the incentives either don’t file required reports or file incomplete reports. But hey, what’s $1.1 billion?

C’est What, AG Landry?

The attention-hungry state attorney jumps into another head-scratcher of a dispute with his arch-rival, Gov. John Bel Edwards.

Horse Farm = flood aid Saturday

The weekly Saturday-morning farmer’s market at Moncus Park at the Horse Farm is doubling as a donation drive for flood victims tomorrow.

Ramblers’ ‘Revival’ raises storm funds

The Lost Bayou Ramblers are returning to their roots to help victims of historic South Louisiana flooding with a re-release of their maiden recording, which also happens to be a recording of their very first performance way back in 1999.

FEMA reps at Evangeline Thruway Home Depot

In Lafayette, FEMA mitigation specialists will be on hand to provide information at the Home Depot at 1700 NE Evangeline Thruway from Aug. 25 through Sept. 10.

Council to consider emergency ordinances

Describing the current situation in the parish as “hazards to life, health, property and public safety,” the ordinances will allow Mayor Joel Robideaux to “enter into contracts exempt from the Louisiana Public Bid Law.”

Site reunites lost pets with owners

Tens of thousands of displaced Louisiana residents equals thousands of lost pets. A newly launched free website service aims to reunite the four-pawed diaspora with its human companions.

President Obama visiting Baton Rouge next week

The president directed his team to coordinate with Louisiana officials to determine an appropriate time for him to visit, and together they decided he will arrive in Baton Rouge Tuesday, Aug. 23.

KATC, UW team up for telethon

Dubbed the Spirit of Acadiana Flood Relief Telethon, the fundraiser will air today, Wednesday, Aug. 17, from 4-7 p.m. on KATC TV3.

Rise and shine

After two days of a deluge, residents finally got a break Sunday when the sun shone, revealing the extent of the damage.

Enter the drones

Aerial footage shows just how bad the flooding has been.

Governor declares state of emergency

Widespread flooding across central South Louisiana — and the prospect of much more rain to come through Saturday — prompted Gov. John Bel Edwards Friday morning to make the declaration.

Forever Griff

Memorial aims to celebrate beloved UL professor’s efforts to preserve 100-acre Horse Farm for posterity.

Councilman: Lafayette Parish is broke

Long a proponent of city of Lafayette self-determination, Bruce Conque lays out how why Lafayette Consolidated Government isn’t really consolidated at all.

Parc Lafayette: Pokemon ‘No’!

Complaints from some of the development’s retailers about “strange-looking people” prompted management to contact the app’s developer and ask it to remove Parc Lafayette from the game.

AG Jeff Landry: politics as usual

Why in the world would a black Democrat also-ran in last year’s attorney general election throw her support behind the Tea Party firebrand in the runoff? Surely not to get her daughter a job.

Lafayette cops feel the love

Appreciation bags, complementary lunches, notes, new equipment — and of course donuts (!) — the LPD receives an outpouring of appreciation from the Hub City.

LCG scrambles to outfit cops

The City-Parish Council has added an emergency meeting to Tuesday’s regular agenda in order to make available money to purchase safety equipment for the Lafayette Police Department.

‘Why Alfred’ will rise again

The coalition of residents seeking relocation of the monument to Confederate Gen. Alfred Mouton from a prominent Downtown plaza is meeting regularly and planning long-term.

Time for tough, frank conversations about race

Is Lafayette's sense of community strong enough to insulate it against what's been playing out nationally in recent weeks as people take to the streets in protest of yet another round of fatal police shootings of black males?

A $12.5 billion task

Where do you start to clean up a transportation mess over 11,000 miles long?

Oh, that’s rich, Sheriff Ackal

The anti-Semitic Iberia lawman facing civil rights charges for allegedly orchestrating the beatings of inmates clutches his pearls after an employee posts a racially charged comment to social media.

LPD chief list whittled to nine

The Lafayette Municipal Fire and Police Civil Service Board met Thursday to review the list of candidates vying for the top post at the Lafayette Police Department and scrubbed five of the 14 candidates because they did not meet requirements for the job.

Your move, Mr. Robideaux

A few hundred well-to-do folks inconvenienced by bike lanes on West Bayou Parkway want them removed. More than 2,000 cycling enthusiasts want them to remain. What ya gonna do, mayor?

Baton Rouge: racist hellhole?

The shooting death of Alton Sterling is just the latest evidence that Louisiana’s capital city is still in need of some reconstruction.

School board digs in heels on Pledge of Allegiance

Despite advice from legal counsel that its policy requiring students to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance is unenforceable and unconstitutional, the Lafayette Parish School Board voted 8-1 Wednesday to keep the policy on the books.

Meese endorses Rees in 3rd CD race

Edwin Meese, a former confident of President Ronald Reagan who served for four years as The Gipper’s attorney general, has endorsed Grover Joseph Rees in the race to replace U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany.

Immaculate Heart closes its doors

Local Catholic school closes amid insufficient number of families paying tuition and inadequate "resources to sustain its operations despite being subsidized by the Diocese and the Parish."

JBE: State will review movie credit program

The announcement came on the same day the Associated Press reported that Louisiana’s robust film industry is down about 90 percent this year after the state winded down the tax credit program last summer.

Neustrom hones in on mental illness

In one of the last major initiatives of his 16-year administration, Lafayette Parish Sheriff Mike Neustrom turned the office's focus toward changing our approach to the mentally ill.

A tale of two sheriffs

Unlike our friends in Iberia Parish, Lafayette has been fortunate to have a sheriff who has valued integrity and innovation for nearly two decades.

Bike lane petitioners cite congestion, hazards, low use

The roughly 235 residents who signed a petition seeking removal of the bike lanes along West Bayou Parkway say the elimination of the center turn lane between Roselawn Boulevard and South College Drive has led to dangerous driving conditions.

Whistleblower takes to the airwaves

Louisiana landman-turned-whistleblower Dan Collins was featured on Mike Stagg's local podcast "Where the Alligators Roam" as the program’s first guest after being picked up by KPEL News 96.5 FM.

Bike lane battle begins

An online petition seeks to counter a petition submitted to the mayor urging him to remove the bike lanes on West Bayou Parkway.

State announces changes to Industrial Tax Exemption

On the heels of a scathing report detailing how an un-elected board forgives billions in annual corporate property taxes that would otherwise go to schools and police at a cost of roughly half a million dollars for every job created, Louisiana Economic Development has announced changes to the program.

3rd Circuit rejects Marshal Pope

The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal has denied a writ filed by City Marshal Brian Pope seeking a review of the judgment handed down against him by District Court Judge Jules Edwards on March 24.

Rob Reardon says ’so long’ to LPSO

With Mark Garber set to take the reins of the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office on July 1, longtime Director of Corrections Rob Reardon has made a surprising announcement, saying he'll be following Sheriff Mike Neustrom when he leaves office at month's end.

LPSS’ Brad Duhon’s days are numbered

The lone casualty in that May 25 (non) incident involving Judice Middle School teachers, a privately contracted school bus and an end-of-school celebration has three options: resign, be canned or become a bus driver.

New study underscores the supply-side swindle in La.

Through an un-elected, largely unaccountable board called the Commerce & Industry Board, Louisiana is forgiving roughly $16.7 billion in local governments’ property tax revenue for a cost of about $535,000 per job created.

Boudreaux puts ethics probe behind him

The city-parish councilman held a press conference at City Hall Monday morning to announce that the Louisiana Board of Ethics had cleared him of any wrongdoing during his former employment with the district attorney’s office.

Fleming responds to Boustany’s Facebook gaffe

The pair of Louisiana U.S. Senate candidates most likely to cancel each other out in November have stumbled into a row that started with an errant thumb and some off-hand comments broadcast live over social media.

LAE mobilizes against school bill

House Bill 887, approved overwhelmingly during the regular session, is on Gov. John Bel Edwards’ desk awaiting his signature — or his veto.

Suit targets LUS payments to LCG

It could, if successful, force LUS to stop making ILOT payments to LCG, which would represent a crippling hit to Lafayette Consolidated Government’s revenue stream in an era of plummeting sales tax collections.

Clock running on sales tax flub

Money would have to paid from April 1 to the effective date of the legislation lawmakers are expected to pass in the special session that convenes Monday.

Captain Clay shows his softer side

In a filmed encounter with artist Jake Hebert, we learn that Higgins is a far more complicated figure than his infamous Crime Stoppers videos indicate.

Council slashes DA budget by $500K

The feinting and jabbing between District Attorney Keith Stutes and Lafayette Consolidated Government continued into another round Tuesday night. The haymakers fly next week.

LPSS’ Brad Duhon: On paid leave or terminated?

While LPSS officials have officially placed Brad Duhon on paid administrative leave, a source close to the situation tells The IND his days as assistant transportation director are numbered.

Council likely to consider DA funding ordinance

The Council is likely to approve the ordinance stripping the funding from the district attorney’s office so that the issue of “consolidation” can finally be settled through the court system.

Judge delays Pope testimony

The IND’s questions about whether the marshal used public funds to intervene in the sheriff-elect’s divorce last year will have to wait.

Stutes takes wait-and-see approach, eyes council vote

If the council approves the measure, Stutes will be back in court seeking to have the finalized ordinance set aside and preventing LCG from amending the budget to reflect the funding reduction to his office.

LPSS official fired over end-of-year teacher party

While the Judice Middle School teachers involved in last week’s so-called bar-hopping incident have been cleared of any wrongdoing, that’s not the case for the Lafayette Parish School System official who allegedly acted as their paid chauffeur.

The TIGER team steps in the vacuum

At tonight’s Evangeline Corridor presentation, city planners will unveil a community vision forI-49 Connector-adjacent neighborhoods which could influence the Connector’s design.

Revenue committee: New taxes needed

After nearly two years studying city-parish revenue, the Future Needs/Funding Sources Committee recommends a slate of new revenue measures to fix Lafayette’s mounting fiscal ills.

Missed Reads: Lost Louisiana

A 2015 documentary offers an unvarnished look at the drug-addicted, anger-addled, economically lost white folks of rural Louisiana.

Judge refuses to halt email search in Garber v. Garber

District Judge Thomas Duplantier said it is not his place to stop investigators from reviewing email evidence that incoming sheriff Mark Garber claims will prove his estranged wife stole files from his law office.

C’est Bon: Rep. Julie Stokes

We generally don’t agree with the Kenner Republican’s politics but we applaud her outrage even as we point out her hypocrisy.

Higgins is so much better with an epic soundtrack

Likening himself to a Biblical savior poised to chase the money changers from the temple, Clay Higgins on Wednesday announced his bid for Congress. We set it to some damn Viking music.,INDReporter

D.A. Stutes files suit against LCG

Lafayette’s top criminal prosecutor is seeking full funding for his office from Lafayette Consolidated Government and is seeking an immediate stay order blocking the council from voting on an introductory ordinance related to D.A. office funding at Tuesday night’s council meeting.

Feet of Clay, run!

The Higg, AKA Clay “The Cajun John Wayne” Higgins, will announce Wednesday which seat in Congress — the U.S. House or Senate — he will win in November.

Missed Reads: Billy Tauzin, drug kingpin

PhRMA’s successfully lobbying of Congress to keep U.S. drug prices the world’s highest is as American as apple pie, and former U.S. Congressman Billy Tauzin of Louisiana is its Johnny Appleseed.

Marshal Pope: a turn of the screw(ed)

Did City Marshal Brian Pope use taxpayer dollars to cover the cost of legal action last year seeking to open the Garber divorce files? The paper trail suggests so.

DOTD sets playing field on I-49 Connector

It’s a mistake to look at the DOTD’s now infamous community letter as a power move to crush opposition. In reality, DOTD has finally made clear the rules of the game.

LHS supporters critical of LPSB plans

A group of vocal LHS alumni and families is urging the Lafayette Parish School Board to abandon plans to move one of the school-of-choice academies and half the Gifted Program from LHS to Comeaux High.

David Egan memorial set

Family, friends and fellow musicians will gather Sunday, May 15 beginning at 2 p.m. at Warehouse 535 on Garfield Street to honor the late singer-songwriter.

Castille hearing draws phalanx of lawyers

The case has broadened such that attorneys for not only Pope and Castille were present, but also lawyers representing Scott Police Chief Chad Leger, the city of Scott and Lafayette Consolidated Government.

Trying to ’Connect’ with the public on I-49

It’s been a long few months, and we’ve got many left to go before a design is churned out of the I-49 community design machine. DOTD and its team are working to prove that they’re listening to the public.

DOTD hosting public I-49 meeting tonight

In a bid to collect more organic public comment, the team in charge of the Lafayette Connector projector is opening the doors to what will likely be a vigorous community chat.

Couillon: Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser

The tourism chief is contrite following published reports of an epic boondoggle involving a too-good-to-be-true economic development deal with the Iraqi government.

Blogger White Jr. goes pro

Lamar White Jr. made a name for himself exposing political hypocrisy and speaking truth to power as a frequent-blogging law student and grad student. Now he's doing it professionally.White announced

Anti-censorship group notes Nipple-gate

Some Downtown galleries participating in Saturday’s Nude ArtWalk-themed Second Saturday ArtWalk will post a statement issued by the National Center Against Censorship.

The high cost of the marshal’s cover up

Pope has rung up thousands to date in legal bills and fees in an attempt to hide a rank abuse of office from public view. Meanwhile, the public has footed the bill.

Bach Lunch cancelled

This is the second rain-out of Bach Lunch in the three weeks the spring series has run thus far.

Being John Milkovich

Or, the Internet says Noah’s Ark was found and heliocentric circles. Or something. And guns.

Marshal to bond out during his appeal

The District Court has allowed Marshal Pope to post bond while he takes his case to the 3rd Circuit, avoiding his house arrest sentence for the time being.

Rally set for juvenile justice

Hundreds are expected to gather on the Capitol steps in Baton Rouge on April 6 for the “Raise the Age Louisiana” rally urging state lawmakers to make 18 the age at which an individual can be charged and incarcerated as adults.

David Egan has died

A few days short of his 62nd birthday, the gifted, gentle-souled singer-songwriter passed away Friday at home surrounded by family.

Buddy Webb puts HUD on notice

Former housing commissioner sounds off on his disillusionment with the scandal-ridden agency and its decision to fire the woman working to right the ship.

Out of chaos comes change

The special session left hard choices but made significant changes and set up Louisiana’s opportunity to move forward with reform.

Baldwin suit ends in mistrial

A Baton Rouge jury was unable to reach a verdict in civil trial pitting former UL Lafayette against its former head football coach Jerry Baldwin, who filed a racial discrimination suit against the university.

Coming: new Latino radio station

“It will be information about what’s going on in our city, how to conduct things in order to be successful here in the United States.”

Angelle joins congressional field

The Public Service commissioner and former head of the state Department of Natural Resources announces his bid for Rep. Charles Boustany’s seat in Congress.

Capt. Higgins, Sheriff Guidroz part ways

Tough-talking Crime Stoppers spokesman says he can't abide by Sheriff Guidroz's "current orders" and could not "work within the parameters that I have been commanded."

House agrees to 18-month state sales tax hike

With a 76-27 vote Thursday, lawmakers voted to boost Louisiana's 4-cent sales tax to 5 cents, without many of the exemptions allowed on the other four pennies of the tax.

Vouchers smouchers

Study finds state voucher students falling behind peers who stayed in public schools.

Rep. Beryl Amedee: righteous temerity

The freshman Republican state representative from Houma takes her elders to task for their complicity in the state’s current budget disaster.

Reconnecting the grid

Planning officials floated an I-49 refinement concept that could utilize the Connector’s alignment to repair the interior grid broken by the Evangeline Thruway

Festival International announces 2016 lineup

Festival International de Louisiane has released its 2016 performance lineup, which includes performers such as Alpha Blondy & the Solar System from the Ivory Coast, France’s CharlElie Couture, Latin-inspired Boogat of Québec, along with up-and-coming female front-runners, A-WA of Israel.

Rees announces for Congress

Lafayette resident and former Bush II-appointed ambassador joins a crowded field seeking to replace U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany.

Task force to focus on north Lafayette murders

Although total crime in Lafayette saw a two percent decrease, the homicide rate in Lafayette more than doubled in 2015, with 20 people losing their lives last year to violence compared to nine in 2014. All 20 were shot to death.

Zoning Commish steps back from bar ban

The Zoning Commission on Monday passed the hot potato back to consolidated government on the issue of lifting the 13-year-old ban on new bars in Downtown Lafayette, indicating that it wants LCG to host a series of public forums before tackling the issue.

Freetown-Port Rico named to National Register

“There are so many important stories from inside this neighborhood that need to be told and need to be remembered. This district captures a quality of tolerance, creativity and vibrance that is really unique.”

Does Gen. Mouton have the law behind him?

A 1980 stipulated injunction granted to the local chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy could shield the General Mouton monument Downtown from ever being relocated.

Anatomy of the Chicot Aquifer

With attention turned to national and local threats to drinking water, we thought it appropriate to get to the bottom of how our beloved aquifer works.

Six arrested in DA bribery scandal

Two local attorneys, a former probation officer, a law enforcement official, a deputy clerk of court and a DMV employee facing felony state charges resulting from cooperative effort between AG Jeff Landry and FBI.

Derrick Todd Lee is dead

The convicted serial killer was pronounced dead Thursday morning, according to state corrections officials.

Knezek announces for Congress

Barely a year into his first term in elected office on the school board, Lafayette businessman Erick Knezek angles for a bigger fish.

Calling all cameras

AOC Community Media is looking for volunteers interested in supporting the community while gaining new skills as part of its latest project called Take On Lafayette.

Robideaux names Thomas interim police chief

Mayor-President Joel Robideaux announced today that he has named Capt. Reginald “Reggie” Thomas as the interim police chief for the Lafayette Police Department.

Boudreaux going part-time at Parks & Rec

Newly elected state Sen. Gerald Boudreaux, who has served as Lafayette’s director of Parks & Recreation for three decades, will scale back to 34 hours per week as rec director to comply with state laws regard dual office-holding.

NCAA goes easy on UL football

The governing authority for college sports will place the university on probation for two years, fine it $5,000 and place additional restrictions on the football staff’s recruiting activities for the upcoming season.

With big December boost, Horse Farm raises $11M in 2015

Community stepped up to a $1 million matching challenge by Kip Schumacher, Carolyn Doerle and several anonymous donors — and then beat it by another $600,000, bringing December fundraising total to $2.64 million.

New era begins for LCG

Joel Robideaux and the new City-Parish Council were sworn in as Lafayette Parish’s top elected officials at a ceremony Monday afternoon at City Hall.

’Mickey’s Loop’ signage unveiled

A sign to commemorate the Mickey Shunick Memorial Bike Loop was unveiled during a ceremony Wednesday morning attended by city and university brass along with family and friends of the late anthropology student.

Dardenne paints gloomy picture of task ahead

The incoming budget chief for Gov.-elect John Bel Edwards says he's confident, despite a deep financial hole facing the state in this and next fiscal year, that Louisiana can clamber up and out of our mess.

Pope’s bull

The city marshal’s long-awaited compliance with our first records request paints a very different story than the one he told in court.

Ethics Board gets cold feet with Nichols?

The board was expected to bar recently former Jindal top aide Kristy Nichols from doing much of what she hired to do when she took a lobbying gig with Ochsner Health System. Then the board decided not to decide.

The IND and ABiz’s Top 10 stories of 2015

From tragedy and loss to racist politics, from education and new retail to businessmen behaving badly, these are the stories that helped define the year that was.

Lafayette gets ‘B’ in latest edu grades

The district report card shows Lafayette Parish still lagging behind the state and nation in both the percentage of students earning college and career credit and in the percentage of students who graduated high school in four years with a diploma.

Ethics Board blocks Nichols

The former commissioner of administration — Gov. Bobby Jindal’s budget director and chief legislative contact — will be prevented for two years from doing much of the job she was hired to do at Ochsner Health System.

Durel roasted by community

Here’s video of The IND Carolers (and Friend) performing “Joey Durel’s Holiday To-Do List.”

Boustany makes it official Monday

The six-term congressman and retired physician will formally announce his candidacy at 5:30 p.m. at his family home in Oaklawn subdivision in Lafayette.

C’est what, Tehmi Chassion?

The District 4 school board rep filed a criminal complaint on Oct. 29, 2015, against Erica Williams, his opponent in the Nov. 4, 2014 election — less than a week shy of the one-year anniversary of the election.

Burl Cain out as Angola warden

Alida Anthony, whose son was murdered by a man who received preferential treatment from Cain, told The Advocate she was elated at the news.

Feds: No probe in Victor White III case

"The investigation revealed that Mr. White was in possession of a .25 caliber handgun earlier that evening. ...In addition, gunshot residue was found on both of Mr. White’s hands."

Garber names Stout top deputy

Sheriff-elect Mark Garber is beginning to round out his top brass, naming Carencro Police Chief Carlos Stout as his chief deputy.

Alfred & Kate

Wherein DLU's Kate Durio, per her Friday column in The Times of Acadiana, actually gets to ask Confederate Gen. Alfred Mouton what he would like to see become of the Downtown space that honors him

LPD’s top cop announces retirement

Chief Jim Craft’s final day with the Lafayette Police Department will be Jan. 31, 2016 — the 39th anniversary of the start of his law enforcement career.

Council nixes border stand-down

The City-Parish Council Tuesday defeated an ordinance that would have repealed previously approved measures challenging the border between Lafayette and Vermilion parishes.

The Connector, The Corridor and The TIGER

With the introduction of the team funded by the TIGER grant, the list of stakeholders in the I-49 South project is getting bigger and the process more complex.

PI Williamson begins serving 6.5-year sentence

Robert Williamson The private investigator largely responsible for ousting District Attorney Mike Harson from office last year has begun serving his 6.5-year sentence at an Arkansas federal prison.In

You are the Place Mouton Preservation Society

DDA has announced yet another public meeting concerning the redesign of Place Mouton in Downtown. Whether you like the ideas they're rolling out or want to see the grass left alone, you should get out and say something about it.

Boustany all but in for ’16 Senate race

The Lafayette congressman’s office sent out a press release saying he would make an announcement in the coming weeks. But the wording of the release all but ensures his entry.

A mandate for the unknown

Garber's victory in the sheriff's race reflects his status as a political unknown. In a race lacking in extreme policy differences, Lafayette voters cast against Leger, the devil they knew.

25 politicos in Vitter’s home parish endorse Edwards

This has to be the ultimate snub to governor wannabe Sen. David Vitter: More than two dozen elected officials in Jefferson Parish have endorsed rival John Bel Edwards. The kicker: Most of them are Republicans.

Ordinance would drop border dispute

The ordinance to cease further appeals in the case was submitted by Councilman Jared Bellard, who cited the cost of appealing to the state Supreme Court.

Troopers endorse Edwards

“During the eight years that Mr. Edwards has served in the state legislature, he has always demonstrated concern for the troopers and has stood with us on many issues that have passed through his chamber."

Cook Report shifts gov race to “Lean Dem”

According to Cook, a key hinge in swinging the election for Edwards will be white women, a reliable voting bloc for Republicans in deep red Louisiana for the last several years.

Leger's and Garber's shared illusion

The two remaining candidates for sheriff seem blind to the deteriorating relationship between the black community and Lafayette lawmen.

Petersen endorses Lewis in CPC-3 runoff

John Petersen, the fourth-place finisher in the Oct. 24 election for the City-Parish Council District 3 seat, has endorsed Pat Lewis in the runoff with two-term incumbent Brandon Shelvin.

Leger evolves

In a break from his oft-repeated campaign promises, Leger says in the final sheriff's forum that he would not honor ICE detainer requests — a shift that undermines his previous criticisms of the current administration.

Braxton Moody not competent for trial

Commitment to mental institution means the local businessman will be entered into the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System and unable to own a firearm upon his release.

Duson, ’Cro chiefs endorse Garber

Garber came within five points of winning the Oct. 24 primary outright, leading the four-candidate field with 46 percent of the vote in a low-turnout election.

In their own words

GumboPAC releases new ad featuring vanquished GOP primary foes Angelle and Dardenne trashing Vitter.

Turnout turns down for sheriff's race

With 15 percent of the voting public still up for grabs and an assuredly dwindling electorate, the sheriff's race looks to be up in the air.

Here is what you'll see on Saturday's statewide ballot

All seven of Louisiana’s statewide elected positions are on Saturday’s ballot, with wide open competitions for governor and lieutenant governor because the incumbents aren’t running for re-election. Runoffs, as needed, will be Nov. 21.

Mann: Why your vote counts

Our favorite journalism professor-blogger on why allowing fewer than half of eligible voters to decide our next governor is bad for democracy

Durel: What a sad time for Lafayette!

City-Parish President Joey Durel, whose longtime right-hand man, Chief Administrative Officer Dee Stanley, is running to replace him and has been the subject of the nastiest of nasty campaign tactics by operatives close to Joel Robideaux, has evidently had enough.

Arts/culture, social service agencies set for LCG support

More than two dozen arts/culture presenters and venues and social service agencies in the greater Lafayette area will receive nearly $300,000 in financial support from Lafayette Consolidated Government pending approval of a resolution before the City-Parish Council.

Castille joins Council Q&A series

The questionnaire series covers everything from roads and other infrastructure to public funding for the arts and culture, taxes and other issues.

Dearest Dee

We hope this finds you well in your leave of absence. We're just writing to let you know a top gay rights org has endorsed you.

Council Q&A Part 6

Today’s sixth and final installment concerns crime and the distribution and collection of taxes.

Beam: Dardenne gets my vote

The longtime American Press columnist says gubernatorial candidate Jay Dardenne, the current lieutenant governor, “lives and breathes Louisiana” and praises Dardenne’s level-headed leadership.

Chef Paul Prudhomme dead at 75

Prudhomme rose to fame in the 1980s through his popular French Quarter restaurant K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen, and for an eponymous line of Cajun seasonings.

City marshal attacks Garber in bizarre presser

Attempting to scandalize Mark Garber's bid for sheriff, City Marshal Brian Pope claims the Broussard attorney courted business from illegal immigrants while on a trip to Honduras.

Council Q&A Part 1: Issues

In mid-September, The Independent sent a questionnaire to candidates seeking seats on the City-Parish Council — incumbents and challengers, 17 candidates total.

Blueprint La. endorses Medicaid expansion

Expanding the government-run health care option for the working poor on “principled and financial grounds” is among the nonpartisan public-policy group’s top priorities heading into the Oct. 24 election.

In sheriff money race, Garber doubles Leger

Mark Garber’s $338,000 loan to his campaign should come in handy in the home stretch to the Oct. 24 election as it leaves him with more than twice as much cash on hand as the other top competitor in the race in terms of money: Scott Police Chief Chad Leger.

B.E.D., rath and beyond

Jefferson Street club loses booze license for six months, fined $5K, because pot!

Miss the forums? Catch ’em on AOC

If you were unable to attend the Sept. 14 city-parish president forum with Dee Stanley and Joel Robideaux or the Sept. 16 sheriff forum involving Rick Chargois, Mark Garber, Chad Leger and John Rogers, AOC will begin airing them tonight (Thursday).

Alas, the Cooper era is over

The (now officially) former superintendent, however, didn’t walk away from the Lafayette Parish Courthouse without some vindication.

Neustrom endorses Garber

Sheriff Mike Neustrom Tuesday issued an endorsement of candidate Mark Garber, one of four seeking to replace Neustrom as the parish’s top law enforcement officer.

Letter confirms Chad Leger failed sheriff's promotional exam

Confirming information The Independent obtained from an LPSO source earlier this year, an online publication has obtained and published a copy of a human resources letter addressed to Chad Leger that informed him of his failure to pass the promotional sheriff's exam.

Durel allows budget add-ons sans signature

Almost $1 million in additional expenses added to LCG's 2015-16 budget were approved by default Monday when City-Parish President Joey Durel declined to sign the budget approved by the City-Parish Council Sept. 3.

Few surprises as qualifying closes

Two council races will be crowded with four candidates, virtually ensuring runoffs, while a handful of incumbents will skate back in to office without opposition.

C’est Bon: ATC gives Artmosphere, city six-month reprieve

The state office of Alcohol & Tobacco Control has granted Artmosphere and the city six months to work out how to keep the popular live-music bistro in business without being subject to state rules governing liquor licenses issued to restaurants.

It’s on: Marohn, O’Toole to debate planning

The case for comprehensive planning will be made — and challenged — Thursday evening at LITE when a noted planner squares off against an equally noted free-market libertarian in a debate.

Durel mulling veto after budget vote

Additional expenditures were added to Durel’s budget by various council members and include pay raises for firefighters and $1 million for various infrastructure improvements on Lafayette’s north side.

Plans afoot for old federal courthouse

What to do with the old federal courthouse at the corner of Jefferson and Main streets Downtown has been a nagging and divisive issue for more than a decade.

‘Fair Share’ Series Returns

The Independent’s investigation into property taxes will be expanded to analyze whether residential and commercial property owners across the parish are paying their fair share.

C’EST BON: Housing the Homeless

A new collaborative effort involving government and nonprofit agencies seeks to address one of the CBD's historically nagging issues.

Leger leads sheriff’s race, Garber gaining

Two days after separate polls point to a likely runoff between the Scott police chief and attorney Mark Garber, the four men hoping to replace Mike Neustrom tried to distinguish their candidacies before a crowd of several hundred.

Prosecutor seeks stiffer sentence for Fontenot

The Lafayette assistant district attorney who won a manslaughter conviction against Seth Fontenot has asked the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal to review District Judge Ed Rubin’s 13-month sentence for Seth Fontenot.

Downtown mega bar ordered closed

City officials say the Plaza failed to meet a requirement built into the moratorium on bars Downtown because the building at the corner of Jefferson and Garfield streets went more than a year without selling any booze.

This week in ‘petty clash’

It’s United Way versus schoolmarms in an epic trademark battle. Caught in the crossfire: the innocent chirrens!

Komen Acadiana clarifies Facebook post

The post riled some in the Lafayette progressive community who noted that Planned Parenthood offers thousands of health care screenings including mammograms to poor and low-income Louisiana women every year, a mission that dovetails with Komen.

Komen Acadiana distances itself from national controversy

In apparent effort to curry favor in conservative and Catholic South Louisiana and create some distance between itself and a controversy that erupted this summer in the U.S. Congress, the Acadiana affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation has jumped on the anti-Planned Parenthood bandwagon.

Union-bustin’ Bishop seeks re-election

The south side concrete magnate announced this week his intention to seek re-election to the District 43 seat in the state House of Representatives representing south Lafayette Parish including Broussard and Youngsville.

Artmosphere wants out

The popular live music venue seeks to exit Downtown Lafayette. In a manner of speaking.

Smooth sailing, Mr. Flanagan

After three years of cranking out prototypical IND investigative journalism, staff writer Patrick Flanagan moves on to his next adventure.

Jindal targets working-poor women

In his quixotic bid for the White House, former Gov. Booby Jindal has voided Planned Parenthood’s Medicaid provider contracts with the state of Louisiana.

Mark Knight et al indicted on racketeering charges

Oil patch multi-millionaire Mark Knight of Lafayette and three others were indicted by a Lafayette Parish grand jury Wednesday in connection with an alleged plot to plant drugs on Knight’s brother in an effort to force him out of the lucrative family business.

The un-candidate in District 3

Can a Tea Party-leaning Republican win a seat on the City-Parish Council in a district that is majority black? Ursula Anderson thinks so.

Tragedy keeps its crosshairs on Lafayette

A GoFundMe account has been established to help a pair of Lafayette French Immersion teachers return to France with the body of their 13-year-old son, who died suddenly and unexpectedly overnight Sunday.

Sanders fires up NO-area crowd at Pontchartrain Center

"I think my colleagues in the Democratic Party have made a very serious mistake, and that is they have written off half of America, including Louisiana. And I'm here to tell you the time is now to fight for 50 states in the country."

Poll position: Has John Georges lost it?

Is the super-wealthy New Orleans business magnate and publisher of Louisiana’s biggest and best daily newspaper actually mulling a run for governor just three months before the election?

Gov. race: Edwards leads as Vitter skids

A widely respected firm’s latest poll on the governor's race — a poll obtained by The Independent that hasn’t been publicly released — shows state Rep. John Bel Edwards with a six-point lead over previous frontrunner Sen. David Vitter.

Rivault supporters speak to Rubin through billboards

Friends, family and supporters of the 15-year-old shot and killed by Seth Fontenot are taking to the sky to urge Judge Ed Rubin to give Fontenot a stiffer sentence when Fontenot is resentenced on Thursday.

LCG ordinance seeks BP claim $

The City-Parish Council on Tuesday will vote on an introductory ordinance that, if approved for final adoption in two weeks, would clear the way for contracting with a law firm to pursue a cash settlement related to the BP oil spill.

Landry announces re-election bid

The first-term state rep — and the first and only representative to serve the relatively new district — wants voters to give him another go-round.

Acadiana man charged in international hacking case

An Opelousas man is among a dozen individuals in four U.S. states plus Sweden, Slovenia and Pakistan facing charges in connection with an international computer hacking collective known as Darkode brought down by an FBI investigation.

Ethics: Charter school employees are ‘public’

At the urging of the Legislature, the Louisiana Board of Ethics has weighed in on whether employees of public charter schools operated by for-profit corporations are considered “public employees.”

Fontenot faces resentencing, and unknowns

Seth Fontenot will back before Judge Ed Rubin on July 23 after his attorney acknowledged in a court filing that Rubin’s original sentence — three years at hard labor with all but 13 months suspended — was illegal.

A fiber-rich 'ask me anything'

Apparently, staring down big scaries like ATT or Cox makes you brave. Tuesday afternoon, LUS Director Terry Huval and Lafayette C-P President Joey Durel did an "ask me anything" segment about LUS Fiber on Reddit.

The Reckoning Redux

The most recent meeting of the Future Needs/Funding Sources Committee underscores what a dire strait the parish side of city-parish government is navigating.

About that UL tuition increase

Never trust an English major to do math: it’s actually 20 percent for a full-time student, not 10 percent as we reported.

Former La. governor to visit home state

Bobby Jindal will make a rare appearance in his home state today (Thursday) when he delivers a speech at the National Right to Life Convention in New Orleans.

Lewis announces in council District 3

The Lafayette businessman announced Wednesday that he will challenge two-term incumbent Councilman Brandon Shelvin for the District 3 seat on the City-Parish Council.

Seth Fontenot to serve 13 months

Seth Fontenot received a three-year sentence for his manslaughter conviction in the 2013 death of 15-year-old Austin Rivault but will serve a little more than a year in jail.

Another (symbolic) victory for equality in La.

The Louisiana Supreme Court on Tuesday sided with Lafayette Judge Ed Rubin in declining Attorney General Buddy Caldwell’s appeal of Rubin’s ruling that Louisiana’s ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional.

UL to hike tuition 10 percent

After seven years of state universities getting squeezed by Gov. Bobby Jindal’s no-tax insanity and a lapdog Legislature, students in the University of Louisiana System will once again see their tuition rise via the hidden Jindal Tax.

Fund established to aid Lafayette teacher

French Immersion teacher Karine Ruatta is in a coma in a hospital in Guadalajara, Mexico, following an automobile accident on a remote road two hours outside the Pacific-coast resort city.

Rednecks will be rednecks

Rednecks were out in force over the weekend in Ville Platte, rallying for their so-called Southern heritage and the right to wave a flag of hatred and oppression.

Farm to Forest

Mitigation banks are helping restore Louisiana’s invaluable wetlands.

Hub City thespians mourn Brown

Born in Chicago and raised in Arizona and California, Walter Brown moved to Lafayette in 1990 and was instrumental in helping the Hub City finally express the robust theater arts that had been bubbling beneath the surface for decades when it was more or less a one-community-theater town.

Shunick to be honored with bike route

The Mickey Shunick Memorial Bike Loop will tie together existing bike lanes and routes around central Lafayette surrounding UL, the Horse Farm and Girard Park.

Divorces skyrocket in Acadiana*

A Lafayette attorney who specializes in divorce and child-custody matters tells The Independent she’s never seen anything like it.

Voters could make four constitutional changes in fall

In what will be a noticeable change of pace, voters will only have to read through four proposed constitutional amendments on the Oct. 24 ballot, including two that would institute substantive changes to the way transportation projects are funded.

Liz Webb Hebert makes council run official

“Our council should be a diverse incubator of solutions, not an obstacle to success. This is particularly important in District 8, which has experienced profound growth in the past decade and is poised for even more change."

Lafayette vet announces council bid

“I have the tools and passion to be really good at identifying and implementing what is needed and wanted by the people in my district."

Council resolution urges Jindal veto

The City-Parish Council has called a special meeting Tuesday to vote on a resolution urging Gov. Bobby Jindal to veto a bill passed in the recent legislative session that alters municipal annexations.

Angelle gaining foothold in gov race?

A recently released poll by Market Research Insight shows the public service commissioner from Breaux Bridge climbing in the race to replace the replaceable Bobby Jindal.

DA investigating Civil Service Board's handling of public meetings

The impromptu closed-door executive session followed by the ouster of this reporter for video recording Wednesday’s meeting of the Lafayette Fire and Police Civil Service Board has led to an investigation by the DA into potential Open Meetings Law violations.

LUS ‘betterment’ ordinance back before LPUA, council

The purpose of the ordinance is to allow LUS to fund certain water, sewer, electric and telecommunications projects in such a fashion as to have excess capacity needed for future development in the area to be serviced by the facilities.

What is the Lafayette Civil Service Board hiding?

At its June monthly meeting Wednesday, the Lafayette Fire and Police Civil Service Board showed complete disregard not only for the Louisiana Open Meetings Law, but also the public’s right to know.

AcA gets $240K for development director

After mulling for months a request for a $750,000 cash infusion to stabilize the Acadiana Center for the Arts’ budget, the Lafayette Public Trust Financing Authority elected instead on Tuesday to give the AcA $240,000 to fund the salary for a development director for three years.

Norquist non-responds to leges

Grover Norquist has replied to state Rep. Joel Robideaux and a handful of colleagues who wrote to Norquist seeking his take on whether the Gov. Bobby Jindal-backed Senate Bill 284 will really allow the state budget to remain tax neutral.

Crowley PD out of control?

On May 25, officers with the Crowley Police Department busted through the front door as a family was sitting down for Sunday dinner.

Swift enters District 45 House race

The attorney and executive director of the Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation joins a field of three vying to replace term-limited Rep. Joel Robideaux.

Be a big bro, yo

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana is set to kick of its “30 Years • 30 Men • 30 Days” campaign in June and is seeking qualified mentors.

Hearts of Hope's funding crisis; here's how you can help

Information received from a recent public records request shows a financial setback of over $100,000 for Hearts of Hope — annual funding the local non-profit had received for years from the 15th Judicial District Attorney’s Office to aid in its advocacy for Acadiana’s victims of sexual assault and rape.

Jeanerette top cop popped in topless probe

For decades, the city of Jeanerette has dealt with a troubled police department and a crime wave that doesn't stop; the situation worsened last week with the arrest of Police Chief Marvin Grogan as part of a months-long investigation of a Lafayette gentleman's club.

Lafayette teacher announces BESE bid

Michael Kreamer, a lifelong resident of Lafayette Parish and long-time educator, announced this week his candidacy for the District 7 seat on the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Council nixes smoking ban for bars

The 5-4 vote came following more than three hours of public comment, the overwhelming majority of it in favor of the ban and much of that support coming from musicians who work in bars and nightclubs.

DA cuts huge chunk of funding from Hearts of Hope

Nonprofit plays a vital role in our community by advocating and fighting for the victims of sexual abuse and rape; that's why news that the DA's office had slashed the group's funding came as such a shock.

Conque makes it official

The former city-parish councilman and current chairman of the Lafayette Planning Commission announces bid to reclaim his former seat on the council.

The burning question

Should Lafayette follow New Orleans’ lead and ban smoking in bars? The council will decide Tuesday.

Vitter’s biggest campaign boosters: colleagues who hate him

On Capitol Hill, Sen. David Vitter is despised by colleagues on both sides of the aisle — along with their staff members — for his long-running campaign to strip congressional employees of the employer (Uncle Sam) contribution to their health insurance.

Hayride publisher exposed as snake oil salesman

After a brief, failed attempt in sports media, Scott McKay refashioned himself as a soldier in the conservative movement and began making a living preying on the paranoid and the gullible.

Tragedy strikes Northside High

Jo’Nathan Delacroix had two weeks to go before graduating from Northside High School; yet, that day will never come for the high school senior who police say was accidentally shot by a friend over the weekend.

Council approves UDC

The Unified Development Code is now on the books. Here’s a review of last night’s council proceedings. In screencaps.

Council to decide on UDC

The City-Parish Council will vote Tuesday on final approval of the Unified Development Code, a rewrite and streamlining of the planning and zoning codes that govern development in Lafayette and unincorporated Lafayette Parish.

JoDu bringing the Almighty to LCG

City-Parish President Joey Durel is putting a resolution before the City-Parish Council Tuesday that would display the U.S. national motto, In God We Trust, prominently at City Hall.

PAR: Cut legislative, judiciary budgets

There are only two areas of state government that have standstill budgets for the next fiscal year: the legislative and judicial branches, with $108 million and $176 million proposed, respectively.

Play it again, Kev

A Cajun accordionist and band leader-turned-city parish councilman, Kevin Naquin says he’ll seek an encore on Lafayette Consolidated Government’s governing body.

Market Watch: Lafayette Parish real estate still rocking

Despite a prevailing concern about the oil and gas industry and its impact on the local economy, real estate in Lafayette Parish is still on a roll. New construction sold is up 5.3 percent from early 2014 to early 2015.

On second thought: Patin bows out

Less than a month after issuing a press release indicating his intention to seek a third term on the City-Parish Council, Keith Patin of District 8 has had a change of heart.

Cockerham slapped with ethics charge

Former Lafayette Parish School Board member Mark Cockerham was charged with an ethics violation for receiving New Orleans Saints tickets from a consultant in 2013.

Ross seeking District 8 council seat

The president of Edge Communications, Ross has ties to south Lafayette’s tea party movement and promises to bring “strong, conservative leadership” to the District 8 seat.

Former school board member Ed Sam dies

Edward Sam, a longtime Lafayette Parish educator, school board member and advocate for the at-risk students of the district, died Monday. Sam was 84 years old.

It’s tea time for the council

The City-Parish Council will discuss and vote on extending the TIF at Louisiana Avenue/I-10 — the T in TIF stands for tax OMG! — and council members will get an earful from a libertarian adversary of comprehensive planning.

A busy and productive week for LPSS

In recent days, the Lafayette Parish School System has closed the gap on one of two ongoing principal vacancy searches; it also has a new superintendent following a rare and unexpected show of board unanimity.

Coussan makes it official

Most voters have known for more than 18 months that Jean-Paul Coussan is running to replace the term-limited Rep. Joel Robideaux. On Tuesday Coussan made the “official” announcement.

LSU to file for bankruptcy?

Louisiana’s flagship university is taking on water as its president announces he’s drawing up financial exigency paperwork. Thanks, Bobby Jindal and the legislators who have voted with him for seven years!

Feds probe Ville Platte PD, Evangeline Sheriff

Federal investigators will look at the departments’ use of so-called “investigative holds” during which individuals are detained without probable cause, typically while local police or deputies investigate those individuals’ suspected ties to a crime.

Drew Landry is on the mend

But he has a lot of mending to do. A Go Fund Me campaign will help pave his long road to recovery.

Mark Knight booked on racketeering charge

The former CEO of Knight Oil Tools, accused of paying three co-conspirators to frame his brother Bryan in a 2014 drug bust, was booked into the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center Tuesday.

Remembering Charlie Milam

Charlie Milam was a trailblazing businessman with a nose for making companies profitable; he also knew the value of having a good time. Milam died early Monday morning; he would have turned 85 in July.

Opening of session ignites race for House speaker

Although the governor has traditionally enjoyed tremendous influence over whom the House selects as its leader — and even though the gubernatorial contest is far from being decided — there are already 10 representatives who tell LaPolitics they are either running for speaker or are considering the internal race.

Tonight's DTA turns DOA; thank the weather

We received the news this morning and we’re to sad to say: Carol Fran and Major Handy and his Louisiana Soul Revue will not be performing at this evening’s Downtown Alive! due to nasty weather.

9 down, 3 to go in the search for a new super

The LPSB pared down its list of potential superintendents this week eliminating nine names; that leaves three finalists in the running to become our school system's 28th superintendent.

New super PAC enters governor's race

In another move that suggests this year's race for governor could become the most expensive ever waged in the state's history, another super PAC has announced its intentions to pour money into the election.

Vitter puts spotlight on tort reform

If you back out the budget issue as well as education and Common Core, U.S. Sen. David Vitter's most significant campaign plank in this year's race for governor may very well be tort reform.

Tehmi's busy day

It was Monday morning, and LPSB member Tehmi Chassion had just arrived for a surprise visit at J.W. Faulk Elementary when he got the call on his cell: Northside High Principal Melinda Voorhies had just dropped off her resignation letter at the central office.

Former Iberia deputy pleads to civil rights abuse

Cody Laperouse, who was fired by the department in the days after a citizen video of the incident went viral on YouTube, faces up to a year in prison, a $100,000 fine and one year supervised release.

Bill proposes hiking homestead exemption

A Gretna lawmaker has filed a bill for the upcoming session that would raise the homestead exemption in Louisiana by a third, from the current level of $75,000 to $100,000.

This week in ‘That Won’t Pass’: legal pot

A Baton Rouge Democrat has pre-filed a bill for the 2015 spring session that, if approved by the Legislature, signed by the governor and approved by a statewide vote would decriminalize the possession of recreational marijuana.

Angelle makes hay with attacks

The Cajun Commissioner knows a good opportunity when he sees it, even when it’s being on the receiving end of negative campaigning.

Duson officials tap Kip Judice to turn around beleaguered PD

For the longtime Lafayette Parish Sheriff's deputy, 2014 was a year spent on the campaign trail in an unsuccessful run to become Lafayette’s first new city marshal in decades; but for 2015, it appears he'll be taking on a whole new set of challenges with his selection Tuesday as the new chief of Duson's police force.

“LAFA ETTE” goes pink for Komen

The annual Komen Race for the Cure is Saturday in Downtown Lafayette, and the sculpture installed late last year at Parc Sans Souci is getting in the spirit with a coat of pink paint in keeping with the color theme of breast-cancer awareness and the race.

Ethics: Raise wine-n-dine cap to $60

Set at $50 in 2008, the law tied the per-day spending cap to the Consumer Price Index and it has been rising with the CPI incrementally ever since.

Alford: Angelle targeted early in race

The barbs began with Democratic state Rep. John Bel Edwards’ campaign running anti-Angelle ads on black radio stations linking Angelle to Gov. Bobby Jindal.

ACLU to Opelousas: zip the saggy pants ban

The letter warns the council that the ordinance, if adopted, would tread on the First Amendment right to self-expression through fashion and would disproportionately target black men.

More to the story?

One Lafayette man’s alleged obsession with a Crestlawn Drive residence — a home he’s believed to have set afire on Jan. 16 — resulted in an arrest on Monday.

Seth Fontenot's day in court has finally arrived

If all goes as planned, Seth Fontenot’s first-degree murder trial — after being postponed four times over the last two years — should finally get underway this week in the 15th Judicial District.

Rarity: Carville offers apology

Carville referred to anti-tax zealot/lobbyist and bearer of “the pledge” Grover Norquist as “the human equivalent of pond scum.”...

Getting your INDsider late? A fix is on the way

Some INDsider subscribers have received their AM and PM emails later than normal this week; have no fear, a fix for this "glitch" is in the works and everything should be ironed out soon.

Creepy murderer Lavergne denied again

Recreational lawsuit filer and convicted double murderer Brandon Lavergne managed to get one of his frivolous suits all the way to the United States Supreme Court. Or at least to the receptionist, who put it in the circular file.

Jindal hits new ‘approval’ low

So who likes the job Jindal is doing? As columnist, professor and semi-pro Jindal foil Bob Mann tweeted Monday afternoon: “Basically, immediate family.”

Up yours, Woodworth, La.!

An appeals court has upheld $30,000 in punitive damages against the small CenLa town stemming from one of the most egregious traffic stops ever.

Coq au vin, anyone?

The City-Parish Council might soon debate banning roosters in the city limits because it’s 4:30 a.m. and damn it, bird!

Launch of Bach Lunch delayed a week

For those looking forward to this Friday’s launch of the spring season of Bach Lunch — now in its 27th year — we have some bad news: it’ll be at least another week of waiting, weather permitting.

$2K ... the price of ‘excellence’?

Many colleges and universities agree that $2,000 is what students and their families will pay in the form of an “excellence fee” proposed by Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration.

Sheriff 2015: John Rogers makes it official

In a press conference Monday afternoon at the Blue Dog Cafe, John Rogers became the second candidate to officially announce his bid to become the next sheriff of Lafayette Parish.

Cosby's Lafayette show goes off without a hitch

As Bill Cosby arrived in Lafayette Friday at the Heymann Performing Arts Center, another alleged sexual assault victim had just come forward, but that didn’t put a damper on the comedian’s performance.

Who’s getting cut?

Here’s a look at some of the state agencies facing proposed cuts in Gov. Bobby Jindal’s executive budget released Friday.

Jindal proposes $141M cut to higher ed

It’s far less than anticipated, and while UL Lafayette will be forced to absorb some of the total, an economic development center at UL will actually get a funding boost.

Lafayette PD investigates alleged police racism

The Lafayette Police Department is facing new allegations of unchecked racism among some of its white officers following a recently retired black officer’s distribution of an audio clip to members of the City-Parish Council.

Bill would shield testing opt-outs

A bill pre-filed for the 2015 legislative session beginning in April would prohibit the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education from “penalizing a student for not taking certain assessments due to his parents’ refusal to allow such participation...”

2015 Home, Garden and Lifestyle Show hits the Cajundome this weekend

The annual Home, Garden and Lifestyle Show returns this weekend with over a hundred local exhibitors and loads of priceless information covering everything from the best and newest types of building materials, technologies and products to the hottest new design and decorating trends, as well as the latest in cooking, health and fitness.

Garber to make his Sheriff 2015 bid official next week

With his event next week, attorney Mark Garber will join Scott Police Chief Chad Leger as the only candidates — at least so far — to hold a press conference officially announcing their bid to become Lafayette Parish's next sheriff.

Preacher announces council bid

Joseph “Bobby” Richard, pastor of Hope Alive Freedom Church, has announced that he will seek the District 7 seat on the Lafayette City-Parish Council in the fall election.

Bills target governor's veto pen

House Bills 31 and 32 would, respectively, require state lawmakers to hold a veto-override session following each annual spring legislative session and take away Louisiana governors’ ability to issue line-item vetoes on appropriations bills.

How La. became a bit more transparent over the summer

Despite a strong public records law, Louisiana has long suffered from a deep-seeded resistance among local and state government officials when it comes to handing over certain documents to the media and public; change, however, is coming.

Circling the drain

It’s time to contact your state representative and senator and tell them: Higher education in Louisiana has been cut enough already. Figure out how to increase revenue — Bobby Jindal’s political fantasies be damned.

Hub City crime falls

All crime categories show decreases over 2013 except for auto thefts.

UL System planning budget blitz

Gov. Bobby Jindal is expected to release his executive budget on Feb. 27, at which time higher-ed officials will have a clearer picture of how deeply the cuts will go.

A Vision for the Future of Urban Architecture in Acadiana

What will the 21st century hold for the future of Acadiana architectural style? The possibilities will be unveiled at our 11th annual INDesign Awards luncheon on April 16, featuring keynote speaker Steve Mouzon, an author and award-winning architect/urban designer known for championing smaller and more sustainable styles of living.

A closer look at Louisiana's lynchings

Following Tuesday’s release of a report logging close to 4,000 lynchings (including about 700 newly discovered cases), here’s a closer look at the numbers for Louisiana and Acadiana.

Artmosphere hearing set for Lafayette

The state Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control will hold an administrative hearing for Artmosphere Bistro on Feb. 25 in the council auditorium at City Hall in Lafayette.

JoDu takes a victory lap

At times emotional in reminiscing on his three terms in office, City-Parish President Joey Durel delivers his final State of the Parish address to a packed and grateful Cajundome Convention Center.

Former Carencro policeman indicted in federal Desperado's case

A former officer with the Carencro Police Department has been indicted by a federal grand jury for a range of charges resulting from an alleged inappropriate relationship with the owners of the now closed Desperado’s Gentleman’s Cabaret.

An uncomfortable truth; coming to a city near you?

It’s no secret that the terror of Jim Crow claimed thousands of African-American lives by lynching; it’s a history many in our country wish to forget and was the main impetus for a study released Tuesday aimed at reclaiming that past.

PAR to Jindal: Leave coastal fund alone

It will be a hard sell, no doubt, in light of the governor’s penchant for “fund sweeps” — moving funds from unrelated programs into the general fund to shore up the budget.

Bill filed to honor slain deputy

One of the first bills pre-filed for the 2015 legislative session beginning in April would rename a stretch of U.S. Hwy. 167 between Maurice and Abbeville after a Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy who was murdered while off duty last summer.

LUS Fiber in jeopardy of losing LPSS' biz

When the local school system sent out its recent RFP for Internet services, its current provider, LUS Fiber, was not included in the competitive bid process. But why?

Mann: Where’s the supply-side salvation?

The blogger, nola.com columnist and LSU prof throws down the gauntlet: If slashing taxes is really the prescription for robust economic growth, as Bobby Jindal and his ilk insist, now is the time to do it.

A house full of dogs

Hoarders are an interesting breed, and that was literally the case for one Acadiana man, who’d amassed a collection of nearly 40 dogs inside his St. Martin Parish home.

Downtown’s Arcadian B&G loses license

Pimping its beer selection on social media as recently as Sunday, the bar's lights were off and it appeared to be closed around lunchtime Wednesday.

3rd Circuit orders teacher reinstated

The unanimous decision found that Section 3 of Act 1, part of Gov. Bobby Jindal’s ambitious and controversial 2012 education-reform package, violated Kasha LaPointe’s rights to due process under the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Artmosphere in ATC crosshairs?

The popular bisto-slash-music venue has been forbidden from giving away food to meet a sales ratio and its owner has been summoned to Baton Rouge. Could this be the beginning of the end of one of Lafayette’s best bars for live music?

'Cancer alley' gets more toxic; public kept out of the loop

Why was a mostly minority neighborhood located in an area already known as “Cancer Alley” not advised that their community would be the site of a $1.85 billion methanol plant run by a company with a history of environmental infractions?

Green Army: mixed report for area lawmakers

State lawmakers were graded on their votes in the 2014 session on issues such as air/water quality, salt dome regulation, legacy lawsuits and abandoned drilling sites, litter, coastal restoration and the granddaddy of them all, the levee board lawsuit.

State credit rating in jeopardy

“Moody’s is telling us that we’d better get our fiscal house in order or we are going to be downgraded, which will cost taxpayers dearly in higher interest rates on our bonded indebtedness.” — State Treasurer John Kennedy

Cassidy still pushing EGO Act

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy has hit the ground running with some very important legislation that undertakes the people’s business and addresses the scourge of privilege in our nation’s capital.

'Send Boudreaux to BR'

Gerald Boudreaux launched his campaign for the state Senate District 24 seat during a packed-house event Friday in Carencro.

Uber rolls into Lafayette

Lafayette has joined the ridesharing revolution with the arrival of Uber, bringing another option for residents in need of a ride.

Tikia faces ethics charges in LPSB's 'Saintsgate'

The Louisiana Board of Ethics has charged Rina Tikia, a former insurance consultant for the Lafayette Parish School Board, for giving a board member tickets to a New Orleans Saints game.

Will Gayle Benson be haunted by her past?

In a previous life, before becoming Mrs. Tom Benson — wife of the billionaire owner of the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans — Gayle Benson was an interior designer with a penchant for getting sued.

Tragedy strikes twice for Lomas family

Over the weekend, Lance Lomas lost his life in a ATV accident in St. Landry Parish; but making this story even more tragic is the eerie similarity between his death and that of his brother Lon Lomas six months earlier.

Council moves forward on Four Corners

The City-Parish Council, following at-times energetic discussion and input from residents, voted 7-1 Tuesday night in favor of an ordinance to acquire the Less Pay Motel at Four Corners to raze the blighted property and construct a police substation and public plaza in its place.

Picou signs on as airport director

The Lafourche Parish native, who most recently served as deputy director of aviation in Amarillo, Texas, agreed to the $125,000-per-year post following a unanimous vote of the commission that oversees airport operations.

Voter group questions council action

The local chapter of the League of Women Voters takes aim at a recent council override of a vote by the Lafayette Public Utilities Authority.

Sheriff 2015 hopefuls already lining up

With the dust barely settled since Mike Neustrom went public with news this would be his last term as sheriff, it didn’t take long for a cast of candidates to start lining up to take the job.

Pope faces Ethics fine for late filing

The most interesting nugget to come from the new city marshal’s late report was that NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, a standout at LSU who has long had an interest in law enforcement, donated the maximum $2,500 to Pope’s campaign.

Louisiana's new and awesome historical archive

A most valuable resource for seeing into Louisiana’s past is slated for launch next week as LPB President Beth Courtney and Secretary of State Tom Schedler unveil the Louisiana Digital Media Archive.

10-year sentence for Daniel Stanford

The federal Curious Goods conspiracy case came to close once and for all Thursday with the sentencing of Lafayette criminal defense attorney Daniel Stanford.

Schedler: Jindal cuts ‘daunting’

Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler is scrambling to figure out how to absorb a proposed $3.8 million mid-year budget cut Gov. Bobby Jindal’s office is forcing on his office.

Bossier Parish: Louisiana's own Peyton Place

So, you think Bossier City is a sleepy suburban community in Louisiana's Bible Belt, where people go to church potlucks on Sundays and then to work on Mondays, right? Well, think again.

Even Obama knows the awesomeness of LUS Fiber

It’s not just Lafayette residents who now know that our city’s so-called “gamble” on fiber has paid out big time over the last seven or so years; President Barack Obama knows it too.

Goats!

There are 122 in Lafayette Parish — a fact that is utterly trivial, and if this story gets more clicks than our hard news, our managing editor will shave his head with a cheese grater.

KATC returns to DIRECTV

The Cordillera Broadcasting-owned ABC affiliate has returned to the satellite television provider after the two sides hammered out an agreement on the retransmission fee paid by DIRECTV.

Former St. Landry Parish president arrested

Don Menard, the former two-term president of St. Landry Parish, has bonded out of the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center after being arrested on a charge of issuing worthless checks.

Chief Craft comments on most violent ranking

Mulling a run for sheriff, the police chief disputes a recent blog citing Lafayette as a main contributor to Louisiana's ranking as the nation’s fifth most dangerous state.

Bill Cosby's Lafayette appearance is still a go

Comedian Bill Cosby is back on the road and will be heading to Lafayette in February, despite allegations of drugging and sexually assaulting dozens of women over the last several decades.

Cydra Wingerter named Durel's new assistant

As Lafayette City-Parish President Joey Durel embarks on his last year in office, a new assistant has been named to help accomplish his remaining goals for the community.

LCG targets Less Pay

The City-Parish Council on Tuesday passed an introductory ordinance that, if approved in a final vote in two weeks, would authorize local government to negotiate with the Less Pay Motel owner to purchase the property or expropriate it.

Donations being accepted for Gobert Burn Fund

Local non-profit 232-HELP is collecting donations for the Gobert family after the tragic Christmas Eve fire that took the life of 13-year-old Brandon Gobert and severely injured his father, Milton.

La. ranked 5th most violent state

As violent crime rates drop across the nation, Louisiana has proven one of the few exceptions, receiving a top five ranking among the country’s most dangerous states.

Dee Stanley makes it official

Lafayette Consolidated Government’s chief administrative officer and longtime right-hand man to City-Parish President Joey Durel announces what everyone has known for months: He will seek his term-limited boss’ job in the election this fall.

Ensuring Downtown's safety must be a priority

Two recent attacks have left a black eye on the nightlife scene in Downtown Lafayette, but restoring safety to the area is doable, it’ll just take a commitment from the City-Parish Council.

KATC, DIRECTV dig in heels

The local ABC affiliate is currently blocked from DIRECTV as the two sides try to settle a dispute over a retransmission fee.

Bourque to grads: Work for change

If you read one thing today, make it this — the former Louisiana poet laureate’s Dec. 26 commencement address to UL graduates.

Local graphic designer brutally assaulted Downtown

The tireless efforts of one Jefferson Street business owner to find the man responsible for the recent early-morning assault on Andre Broussard has quickly morphed into an effort at making Downtown Lafayette safer.

Motorist armed with firecrackers takes aim at protestors

At Saturday’s police reform march along Ambassador Caffery, protestors were greeted to everything from honking horns to middle fingers, with some participants even becoming target practice for a crazed motorist armed with a handful of firecrackers.

More trouble ahead for embattled Crowley PD?

It was Sunday, May 25, when J. Clay LeJeune and his wife Mitzi Mayeaux were about to sit down for a meal with their teenage daughter, but that meal would never be eaten thanks to a surprise visit by the Crowley PD.

Police reform movement arrives in Acadiana

From the frustration over the police killings of Michael Brown and Eric Garner and subsequent grand jury decisions clearing the involved officers, there’s a growing voice rising up throughout this country in protest of America’s police forces, and it’s starting to be heard here in Acadiana too.

Whitney leads the liars

State Rep. Lenar Whitney's unintentionally funny campaign video, “Global Warming is a Hoax,” is the top vote-getter in PolitiFact.com’s 2014 reader poll for top lie of the year.

Cravins outed for role in far-reaching conspiracy

It wasn’t long ago when Don Cravins Sr. — a former state senator and soon-to-be former mayor of Opelousas — stood before a crowd inside the Clifton Chenier Center and defended his political ethics.

‘Straight’ bar inspires entrepreneur

Remember our stories about Barcode, the Jefferson Street drinking hole that ripped off the logo of a gay bar in Virginia and has since painted over the “gay” part of the sign?

American Zombie posts epic, spot-on rant

In the latest post on his blog, the New Orleans investigative reporter almost sounds like he’s ready to quit out of frustration with the staggering level of corruption we in Louisiana have become so depressingly blasé about.

Lafayette protestors march on ArtWalk

In recent weeks, the solidarity movement sparked by the police killings of Michael Brown and Eric Garner has spread to cities across the country; it finally hit Lafayette over the weekend with a march protesting the rise in excessive force incidents involving police.

Is LPD backpedaling on body cams?

The Lafayette Police Department is testing out various types of officer-mounted body cameras, but despite overwhelming evidence and expert opinions about the benefits in terms of evidence collection, department higher-ups appear more skeptical than anything.

Welch fires back with lawsuit against LPSS

After helping put an end to the graft and corruption that had long plagued the LPSS maintenance department, Thad Welch was rewarded with his termination; he filed suit Friday.

Lafayette teachers win back-pay dispute with board

The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal has sided with a pair of teachers and against the Lafayette Parish School Board in a back-pay dispute that, if the ruling holds, will net the teachers thousands of dollars in compensation.

‘Straight’ bar: straight out of business

What happens after you rip off the logo of a gay bar in Richmond, Va., folks assume you’re a gay bar, you post a status update to your Facebook page clarifying that you’re a “straight bar” and social media slams you for it?

The rift that keeps on giving

It’s been nearly a month since the Lafayette Parish School Board canned former Superintendent Pat Cooper, but, lo, the acrid scent of enmity continues to clog the Hub City’s collective nasal passage.

Candidate Brian Pope ignores the rules — again

Lafayette City Marshal candidate Brian Pope was supposed to have filed his personal financial disclosure documents with the Louisiana Ethics Administration three days after qualifying.

Why the election matters for women

In a state where one in four women are affected by domestic violence - where women can expect to earn less than men in almost every occupation, right out of college - it‘s critical for women to vote carefully.

La. La. Land: Guillory's stunning bigotry

Monday's Blogs from the Bog! Monday's Blogs from the Bog! Mann: Guillorys stunning bigotry DEC 1 If Elbert Guillory had Bob Mann on his Christmas card list, he can probably save a stamp. In this...

Lafayette Parish is getting tough on litter

The fight to clean up Lafayette Parish could get some added ammunition with two ordinances up for votes Tuesday by the City-Parish Council targeting litter-bugs. The fight to clean up Lafayette Parish...

LaPESC survey a bust

Abysmally low participation by the public has prompted the council to scuttle the 2014 survey with plans to simplify it and try again next year. It's back to the drawing board for the Lafayette...

Alleged cop killer deemed mentally unfit for trial

Thinking himself the "son of God," the man charged with the 2013 killing of an officer of the Chitimacha Tribal Police will not stand trial following a ruling Thursday on his mental...

Wilson Viator to the rescue!

The Ethics Board gives the lame duck Youngsville mayor permission to offer a sweet parting gift to the community he's presided over for three terms. Outgoing Younsville Mayor Wilson Viator will donate...

Jerry Lee Comeaux dies

A legend in the Acadiana Oil Patch, Comeaux died Monday, Nov. 17. A legend in the Acadiana Oil Patch, Jerry Lee Comeaux died Monday, Nov. 17. A lifelong resident of Lafayette and former board member...

Early voting commences Saturday

Early voting for the runoff is shortened by two days because of the Thanksgiving holiday. Early voting for the Saturday, Dec. 6 runoff election begins this Saturday, Nov. 22, and runs through...

The Wit & Wisdom of ‘Coach Don' pt. 7

"Coach Don" Gagnard is running for school board. Today he offers his critique of the socioeconomic relationship between government subsidies and obesity. "Coach Don" Gagnard is...

Noted chef Hallman Woods III dies

Former Le Rosier chef who cooked at the James Beard House and was named one of the "Best New Chefs in America" by Food & Wine magazine in 1995 was 48. Noted New Iberia chef Lambert...

‘Tiger captor' Sandlin gets reprieve

A national animal rights group has been rebuffed by a Baton Rouge district court judge, although the group might still get its day in court. A national animal rights group seeking to overturn a state...

The Wit & Wisdom of ‘Coach Don' pt. 6

"Coach Don" Gagnard is running for school board. Today he ruminates on the work ethic of the poor. "Coach Don" Gagnard is running for school board. Today he ruminates on the work...

LCG seeks portion of Ridge

The deal, if approved by the council on Tuesday, would shore up funding for an interstate-grade interchange at Verot School Road and Highway 90. The City-Parish Council will vote Tuesday on an...

La. La. Land: Are you a grammar nazi?

Friday's Blogs from the Bog! Friday's Blogs from the Bog! ARE THERE SOME GRAMMATICAL ERRORS UP WITH WHICH YOU WILL NOT PUT? NOV 14 Here's an amusing post from columnist Jarvis DeBerry. In it, he's...

The Wit & Wisdom of ‘Coach Don' pt. 4

"Coach Don" Gagnard is running for school board. Today he shares a meditation on the Affordable Care Act. "Coach Don" Gagnard is running for school board. Today he shares a...

The Wit & Wisdom of ‘Coach Don' pt. 3

"Coach Don" Gagnard is running for school board. Today he shares his thoughts on America's social-safety net. "Coach Don" Gagnard is running for school board. Today he shares his...

The Wit & Wisdom of ‘Coach Don' pt. 2

"Coach Don" Gagnard is running for school board. Today he shares his keen insights on the executive branch of the federal government. "Coach Don" Gagnard is running for school...

LPSB picks Cooper's temporary replacement

The LPSB has named an interim replacement following the termination of Superintendent Pat Cooper. The LPSB has named an interim replacement following the termination of Superintendent Pat Cooper. At a...

The Wit & Wisdom of 'Coach Don' pt. 1

'Coach Don' Gagnard is running for school board. Today he offers an insight on tolerance and citizenship. 'Coach Don' Gagnard is running for school board. Today he offers an insight on tolerance and...

Fake weed puts 18 in the hospital

Putting the kibosh on Curious Goods' sell of "Mr. Miyagi" has done little to curb the abuse of synthetic marijuana among locals. Putting the kibosh on Curious Goods' sell of "Mr....

'Coach Don' enters damage control mode, sorta

After being outed by The IND for a series of bigoted gems of social media "wisdom" - and defending those positions in a follow-up interview with KATC TV3 - District 1 school board candidate "Coach" Don Gagnard's Facebook account is no more.

Judge upholds bar suspension

In an interesting twist, the suspension of Jersey's liquor license would have ended Tuesday, but the settlement hammered out in court between ATC and the bar now prevents the former owner/manager from...

Civil rights leaders headed to New Iberia for protest

The Rev. Al Sharpton is slated for a return to Louisiana making a stop Saturday in New Iberia to demand justice in the mysterious death of Victor White III. The Rev. Al Sharpton is slated for a return...

Big surprise: board cans Cooper

His mind so made up long in advance of the "disciplinary hearing," board President Hunter Beasley slipped up and tried to adjourn the meeting before the vote to fire the superintendent even...

Picard: Pope, Judice 'haven't earned my vote'

Earl "Nickey" Picard says when the Dec. 6 runoff rolls around to decide who will take his place as Lafayette City Marshal, he won't be voting for Kip Judice or Brian Pope. Earl...

Chris Williams & co. make out like bandits

This year's candidate endorsements from Chris Williams' political machine, the United Ballot, were released late last week to the residents of Lafayette's third and fourth political districts. This...

Unsure where to vote? Here's how to find out

Twenty-six polling locations in Lafayette Parish have changed since the last election. Twenty-six polling locations in Lafayette Parish have changed since the last election. The IND has gotten calls...

Empower PAC's recommendations for LPSB

There's no doubt, the Lafayette Parish School Board elections are among the most important facing voters as they head to the polls today. There's no doubt, the Lafayette Parish School Board elections...

ESA one of La.'s best private schools

Episcopal School of Acadiana placed among the best private schools in Louisiana in a ranking released Monday by Niche.com. Episcopal School of Acadiana placed among the best private schools in...

La. La. Land: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! GRACE TALLIES THE BEST AND WORST NOV 3 Columnist Stephanie Grace gives us her scorecard of the best and worst of this campaign (so far)...

Most expensive DA race in history

Mike Harson's coffers show the advantage of incumbency. The race for district attorney in Louisiana's 15th Judicial District is unquestionably the most costly in history, and the latest campaign...

Verot widening on tap?

The Lafayette City-Parish Council will vote on an ordinance for final adoption Tuesday that, if approved, would give the city the green light to take over a stretch of Verot School Road from the state...

Advertiser: Stutes DA man

Paper cites the former ADA's "experience as a prosecutor, his demonstrated integrity, and his ideas for reshaping the [DA's] office" in urging voters to support Keith Stutes Nov. 4. The...

No Fun League puts kibosh on Downtown party

Saints fans were to gather, make merry, eat/drink compliments of a new Downtown group and watch the Saints beat Carolina and claim 1st place in the NFC South. But... Heil Shitler! The National...

Acadiana vet dead in apparent triple murder-suicide

Dr. Emily Champion was found shot to death inside the Trigg County, Ky., home of her parents, who were also killed. A 31-year-old equine veterinarian who practiced in Sunset and served as the track...

Cooper digs in

The Lafayette superintendent insists the budget is illegal and vows to fight on. [Editor's Note: Superintendent Pat Cooper has expanded on the statement he released Thursday regarding District Judge...

Politico: Landrieu gettin' it done

You may not like all of "it," but U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, unlike many of her colleagues, isn't sitting around twiddling her thumbs in Congress. This week Politico published an infographic...

La. La. Land - Aswell has the Picture

Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! ASWELL HAS THE PICTURE OCT 23 Blogger Tom Aswell posts the photo that started making the rounds of the Facebook this week; it shows...

Cooper responds to ‘black mafia' brouhaha

"I am extremely disheartened by the political machines that are attempting to hijack my efforts along with others that advocate for children." Superintendent Pat Cooper has released a...

La. La. Land - Prosperity v. Planet

Monday's Blogs from the Bog! Monday's Blogs from the Bog! CANADIAN PAPER BOILS IT DOWN OCT 20 The Globe and Mail, a Canadian paper, has posted its story on Louisiana's coastal loss here. In it,...

Beasley's tee tiny war chest

Will $400 be enough for the re-election campaign of LPSB's Hunter Beasley to overcome two years of holding our school system hostage and hurting the education of our children all because of a...

Supreme Court: Act 1 is legit

It's been decided: Superintendents of Louisiana's public school system will retain the controversial powers granted by Act 1 of the 2012 session. Superintendent Pat Cooper It's been decided:...

Kennedy begs to differ in budget fracas

Louisiana Treasurer John Kennedy has a bone to pick with the Jindal administration, which recently - surprise! - announced that the state ended the most recent budget year with a $178.5 million dollar...

Cockerham gets his reelection bid back on track

Despite the hype and potential misinformation to have spread in the wake of Mark Cockerham's recent departure from the LPSB, his candidacy for reelection is still on - now with the backing of the...

La. La. Land: The Guardian's coastal loss story

Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! GUARDIAN'S COASTAL LOSS STORY OCT 15 The Guardian, a UK newspaper, produces its own Louisiana coastal loss story here. Louisiana "is losing land to the sea...

Forget ebola ash - it's the Romanian Mafia!

No, seriously, the state says today cops nabbed seven people suspected of being "members and affiliates of Romanian organized crime." In Lafayette. No, seriously, state Attorney General...

La. La. Land - That's a lot of couch change!

Monday's Blogs from the Bog! Monday's Blogs from the Bog! THAT'S A LOT OF CHANGE TO FIND IN THE COUCH! OCT 13 Blogger CB Forgotston is taking a look at the alleged (miraculous) surplus announced...

Vermilion River gains new allies

A new initiative called the Vermilion River Alliance has formed to give the waterway new protections in the vein of the Atchafalaya Basinkeeper.

BESE's Boffy backs Centanni for LPSB

Justin Centanni has pulled down another endorsement for his bid for District 6 of the school board, this time from BESE board member Holly Boffy. Justin Centanni has pulled down another endorsement...

Cooper's fate in hands of the 15th JDC

The future of Superintendent Pat Cooper's tenure with the LPSS now lies in the hands of Judge Durwood Conque of the 15th JDC. The future of Superintendent Pat Cooper's tenure with the Lafayette...

Knezek scores Empower PAC endorsement

The chamber's Empower PAC has weighed in on the District 8 LPSB race, throwing its support behind challenger Erick Knezek. The chamber's Empower PAC has weighed in on the Lafayette Parish School...

La. La. Land - More sex advice from duck people

Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! More sex advice from duck people OCT 9 Here's more sage advice from the man whose qualifications appear to be his ability to make duck...

Empower PAC backs Cobb for school board

The chamber's political action committee has come out in support of Shelton Cobb's re-election bid for LPSB's District 3 seat. LPSB's Shelton Cobb The chamber's political action committee has come...

La. La. Land - Still no gay marriage in Louisiana

Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! STILL NO GAY MARRIAGE IN LOUISIANA OCT 8 Here's a post from Richard Burgess on the Advocate about how the Supreme Court's decision...

Redevelopment resolution goes to council

"I just want to know we are negotiating in good faith." - City-Parish President Joey Durel The old federal courthouse Downtown, left, and the Lesspay Motel at Four Corners The LCG Council...

Scott Angelle's angle

The PSC's Scott Angelle, a Breaux Bridge Republican, changed the dynamic of the 2015 governor's race Oct. 2 when he decided the contest needed a major candidate from Acadiana - Angelle...

Bang bang boudin!

The notion of a restaurant offering its gun-packing diners a discount has prompted Advocate columnist James Gill to look into his crystal ball, and what he sees is downright tragic. The notion of a...

Here's the preliminary Cooper report

Draft investigative report created by "independent" investigator/prosecutor/star witness finally sees the light of day. Attorney Dennis Blunt: laughing all the way to the bank The draft...

Road rage on the basin

A late night crash on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge nearly turned deadly when one motorist allegedly retaliated with gunshots. Cahafer Benjamin A late night crash on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge...

LUS Fiber praised by FCC chair

The little network that could right here in Lafayette is held up as a beacon for competition and expanding access to high-speed broadband. Tom Wheeler The National Association of Telecommunications...

La. La. Land - What about Matthew 19:24 Bobby?

Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! BOBBY AND HOBBY LOBBY OCT 1 Bobby Jindal is sure doing his best to court the far right; this post on TIME magazine says he'll be...

Poll Position

Is Mary fading as Vitter solidifies his lock on the fourth floor? Is Mary fading as Vitter solidifies his lock on the fourth floor? U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu will make the December runoff following the...

Voter registration deadline looms

Citizens, you have less than a week to register to vote in the Nov. 4 election. Remember, if you don't vote you can't complain about the outcome. Well, you can but it's kind of hypocritical. The last...

EarthShare Gardens is back

After being forced out by its former landlords last year, the community garden has a new location and a 10-year lease. After being forced out by its former landlords last year, EarthShare Gardens has...

Oh, brother! Kermit Harson supporting Stutes

"[Mike] is no longer the energetic ADA that his recent ad is trying to portray. I just think Mike needs to get the hell out." - Kermit Harson, DA Mike Harson's brother An oversized...

La. La. Land - Lamar has a point!

Friday's blogs from the bog! Friday's Blogs from the Bog! LAMAR HAS A POINT HERE SEP 26 Here's a little something blogger Lamar White Jr. posted Thursday. It's a side-by-side of a recent image of...

C'est what? Juneau, Barbier break bread?

The American Zombie blog by New Orleans independent journalist Jason Berry has a photograph of U.S. District Court Judge Carl Barbier having dinner with Lafayette attorney Pat Juneau - yeah, that Pat...

La. La. Land - So... We like monopolies and pizza?

Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! SO, WE LIKE MONOPOLIES AND PIZZA? SEP 25 Here's an interesting story from the Point Blank blog about internet searches by state; this...

La. La. Land - Vitter's off the deep end

Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! VITTER'S OFF THE DEEP END SEP 24 Here's a post on Breitbart in which our Sen. David Vitter is heard saying that, until he receives...

Empower PAC backs Centanni for school board

The Chamber's Empower PAC is throwing its support behind Justin Centanni in his bid for the District 6 seat on the LPSB. Justin Centanni The Chamber's Empower PAC is throwing its support behind...

Go ahead, Ed, make my day!

Numerous local media outlets are reporting that State District Judge Ed Rubin has ruled unconstitutional the state's ban on same-sex marriage. State District Judge Ed Rubin On Monday State District...

Hidalgo scores endorsements from Acadiana leges

With the turmoil raging and our school system continuing to hold on by a thread in anticipation of November's elections, several Acadiana's legislators are throwing their names and their support...

Next week: 3 days, 3 forums, 20 LPSB candidates

The LPSB races are sure to get heated between now and Nov. 4, and with only 9 available seats, this year's field of 20 candidates will surely be wanting to set themselves apart from the crowd early;...

Southside solons endorse Knezek

The campaign announced that Rep. Stuart Bishop of District 43 and Nancy Landry, District 31, have thrown their support behind the Naval Academy graduate and entrepreneur in his bid to unseat current...

La. La. Land - What to do about ISIS?

Friday's Blogs from the Bog! Friday's Blogs from the Bog! WHAT TO DO ABOUT ISIS? SEP 20 Jim Brown is blogging about ISIS and the Middle East in this week's post. Mostly, he's posing questions...

Amid OWI scandal, Harson sneaks in a raise

The feds converge on your office, seizing records on several employees as part of a pay-for-plea investigation. WWYD? If you're Mike Harson, you give yourself a $12k raise. In February 2012 Mike...

Tax consolidation goes before council

The Lafayette City-Parish Council is expected to decide tonight (Tuesday) whether to go along with a proposal City-Parish President Joey Durel made in February's State of the Parish Address and...

LPSB, Cooper to resume budget dance tonight

The superintendent will make another go at getting a budget passed for the already commenced fiscal year as the LPSB is slated to meet tonight on the eve of the state's budget adoption deadline. The...

La. La. Land - We need the clean power plan

Monday's Blogs from the Bog! Monday's Blogs from the Bog! HONORE: WE NEED THE CLEAN POWER PLAN SEP 15 Russel Honore, retired U.S. Army lieutenant general and commander of the Green Army, pens this...

Alison Neustrom: a beautiful soul

If you didn't know Alison, Sheriff Mike Neustrom's 42-year-old daughter who died Wednesday after battling cancer for a year, you missed out on something really special. If you didn't know Alison...

3 OWIs, 1 dead and only 1 year in prison; seriously?

Tyson Dupuis accumulated three OWI arrests in less than 10 years, with his most recent resulting in the death of an 18-year-old Crowley woman in 2011, yet his punishment would only amount to a year in...

Judge Haik assuming senior status in March

The timing of U.S. District Judge Richard Haik's semi-retirement paves the way for a Dem, and perhaps the first African American, to serve the Western District.

La. La. Land - Cassidy won't debate

Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! CASSIDY STANDS BY COMMENT, BUT WON'T DEBATE SEP 11 You have to wonder about these people who can't stop telling you how smart they are...

C'est what, Bill Cassidy?

About a week after mistakenly using a Twitter hashtag for the Cincinnati Bengals to wish the New Orleans Saints good luck, the Cassidy camp refers to the EPA as the "Energy Protection...

Coroner's cooler on the fritz

When we got the emergency-meeting agenda via email today we thought, "Hmmm ... cooler on the blink ... coroner ... corpses ... this could be bad." Stock Photo The City-Parish Council will...

Lawsuit against Cockerham gets stranger

The attorney representing LPSB member Mark Cockerham in a lawsuit calling for the vacancy of his District 7 seat is questioning an attempt to expedite the process. [CORRECTION: This story has been...

La. La. Land - Don't Ride with CB

Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! DON'T RIDE WITH CB SEP 10 Blogger CB Forgotston isn't impressed with the legal opinion provided to the board that oversees State...

Judge Bouillion can't be too worried about Joe Riley

If Joe Riley is as indecisive on the bench as he was about what office he would seek, we'll all be in big trouble. Joe Riley II When Joe Riley II arrived at the Lafayette Parish courthouse on Aug....

Former U.S. attorneys 'fed up' with DA Mike Harson

"Ask your friends and neighbors in law enforcement and they'll tell you who to vote for, and that person is Keith Stutes, our next DA." Mike Skinner, the former Democratic U.S. attorney for...

Another dead at the hands of local police

Robert Minjarez Jr. was a drug addict, but that's not what killed him, according to a recently released autopsy by the Lafayette Parish Coroner, which shows his death resulted from the forceful manner...

La. La. Land - Losing the Boot

Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! GETTING REAL ABOUT THE BOOT SEP 9 Here's an exhaustive piece on coastal loss by Brett Anderson in Matter Magazine. There is lots of...

Race tightens between Landrieu and Cassidy

Rasmussen poll shows Cassidy leading by 3 points. A new Rasmussen Reports poll shows U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy with a slight edge over incumbent U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, chairwoman of the Senate...

La. La. Land - Jindal's Kiss of Death

Friday's Blogs from the Bog! Friday's Blogs from the Bog! POLL: JINDAL'S SUPPORT KISS OF DEATH SEP 5 A recent poll in the 5th Congressional District race, reported here by the Picayune, indicates...

DTA adds Wi-Fi for Fall 2014

Downtown Lafayette Unlimited announced Thursday that LUS Fiber-powered high-speed WiFi is coming to Parc International and Parc Sans Souci just in time for the commencement of the Fall 2014 concert...

La. La. Land - Vitter 'pandering' to polluters

Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! VITTER "PANDERING" TO POLLUTERS SEP 4 This post on The Lens calls Sen. David Vitter on his recent attack on proposed EPA...

La. gay marriage ban upheld

A federal judge in New Orleans has upheld both Louisiana's constitutional ban on same-sex marriage as well as the state's refusal to recognized such marriages performed in states where it is legal. A...

Cockerham's re-election bid should be in the clear

The lawsuit over his District 7 residency will likely boil down to how the court interprets a state law dealing with reapportionment. District 7 school board member Mark Cockerham The lawsuit...

La. La. Land - Defense of Amendment Comical

Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! CB: DEFENSE OF EDMONSON AMENDMENT COMICAL SEP 3 Blogger CB Forgotston is getting a kick out of the PR campaign that was launched to...

Feds investigating Victor White III death

The circumstances surrounding the death last March while in the backseat of a sheriff's cruiser of Victor White III, long a source of dispute by White's family, have earned an investigation by federal...

Curious lawsuit filed against LPSB's Cockerham

An attorney signs up to run against LPSB's Mark Cockerham, and within a week a lawsuit is filed by a former LPSS employee in an attempt to disqualify him. Coincidence? Zooming in on the current...

La. La. Land - Banshee moves production to La.

Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! 'BANSHEE' MOVES PRODUCTION TO LOUISIANA SEP 2 North Carolina's film tax incentive is about to expire, and Louisiana is getting the first...

Bouillion to seek re-election

Lafayette City-Court Judge Francie Bouillion has served on the bench for two decades since winning a special election to replace Judge Kaliste Saloom when he retired in 1994. Lafayette City-Court...

Daniel Stanford case goes to jury

High-profile criminal defense attorney Daniel Stanford awaits his fate in the Curious Goods conspiracy trial. Attorney Daniel Stanford Thursday afternoon the jury in the federal Curious Goods...

No helper monkey for you!

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is set to put the kibosh on the legal ownership of monkeys trained to help the disabled, and the agency wants to know what you think. The Louisiana...

La. La. Land - ALEC and the OGB

Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! More info on the OGB mess from Aswell AUG 28 As the controversy surrounding the Office of Group Benefits intensifies, blogger Tom Aswell...

Lafayette school on lockdown

Authorities are investigating a report that a student there warned the principal of impending violence similar to that depicted in the movie "The Purge." KATC is reporting that the W.D....

La. La. Land - Vitter's no Jindal

Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! VITTER'S NO JINDAL AUG 27 Columnist Stephanie Grace is writing about those bosom buddies (not), Bobby Jindal and David Vitter, in this...

La. La. Land - A face palm on Slap Ya Mama

Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! IAN: NFL FACEPALM ON SLAP YA MAMA AUG 26 Here's blogger Ian McGibboney's take on the great NFL-Slap Ya Mama controversy of 2014. Ian's...

New PACs surface in Senate race

Incumbent U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu and her lead GOP challenger Congressman Bill Cassidy are running close when it comes to money. Landrieu has $5.5 million to Cassidy's $5.6 million in the bank. U.S....

Jindal being watched closely as exit approaches

With expectations mounting that Gov. Bobby Jindal will soon announce his campaign for president, attention is turning to not only who he will bring along with him but also what will transpire...

La., Texas own 'dangerous' diet ranking

Seven of the 11 U.S. cities in a new ranking of "most dangerous diets" are in the Bayou and Lone Star states, but the ranking is more about poverty than fried oysters. Long known for the...

20 LPSB candidates now racing for November

With qualifying over, the start of campaign season is official, and for the Lafayette Parish School Board, the race toward Nov. 4 will pit 20 candidates in battles for all 9 of the district's...

Lessig inveighs against money in politics at Top 50

"Candidates for Congress and members of Congress spend between 30 and 70 percent of their time raising money to get back to Congress or to get their party back into power." There are...

La. La. Land - Another verse, same as the first!

Friday's Blogs from the Bog! Friday's Blogs from the Bog! MANN: ANOTHER VERSE, SAME AS THE FIRST! AUG 22 Blogger Robert Mann is writing about the so-called Edmonson Amendment in this post, and he's...

La. La. Land - $140 an hour? Really?

Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! $140 AN HOUR? REALLY? AUG 21 Tom Aswell is telling us about another "efficiency" contract the state has signed. This one is...

Memorial set for Spider Guidry

Friends and family will celebrate Spider's life in September. A memorial service has been set for Milton "Spider" Guidry, the popular, 61-year-old man-about-town, lounge singer and host of...

Confident Cooper addresses Top 50 crowd

Superintendent tells crowd he'd just emerged from a four-hour meeting with the attorney hired to investigate him. In a brief address at Wednesday's Top 50 luncheon, which featured keynote speaker...

La. La. Land - Hump Day Ridiculousness

Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! HUMP DAY RIDICULOUSNESS AUG 20 Here's a Gambit post that's nothing but an entertaining waste of time. Sarah Baird has taken it upon...

Horse Farm ‘fly-over' is worth seeing

Visualize Lafayette's next great thing from 3,000 feet. We've been meaning to post this video since last week. Lafayette Central Park Inc., the nonprofit that is currently raising funds and planning...

Tea Party ‘shocked and outraged' by Vitter

The Tea Party of Louisiana is calling Sen. David Vitter a "turncoat" for his newfound embrace of Common Core educational standards. The Tea Party of Louisiana is calling Sen. David Vitter a...

Breaux seeking judicial seat

Lafayette attorney Michelle Meaux-Breaux has announced her plans to seek the Division E seat for judge in the 15th Judicial District. Lafayette attorney Michelle Meaux-Breaux has announced her plans...

'Pal Spidey' dies in Calif.

A card-carrying member of Lafayette's "tribe," Milton "Spider" Guidry died over the weekend. IND music writer Nick Pittman remembers the character and the man. Milton...

La. La. Land - State Police do what??

Monday's Blogs from the Bog! Monday's Blogs from the Bog! STATE POLICE DO WHAT?? AUG 18 This post by blogger CB Forgotston is pretty appalling. He's telling us of special "services"...

La. La. Land - That creepy new FB app

Friday's Blogs from the Bog! Friday's Blogs from the Bog! EAST ON THE CREEPY NEW FACEBOOK APP AUG 15 In this post on DIG Magazine, blogger Katie East is talking about that new messenger app that...

This week in Oh For Krissake What The Hell!

C-P councilmen sponsor a resolution in support of the notion that one should subscribe to Tea Party ideas about civics before being allowed to seek public office. When Moses descended the mount with...

ATC targets sales to minors

More than three dozen restaurants, bars, convenience stores and supermarkets in Lafayette Parish are facing fines in connection with the state office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control's 2014 "Summer...

La. La. Land: Robin Williams and Depression

Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! IAN ON ROBIN WILLIAMS AND DEPRESSION AUG 14 If anything good has come from the death of Robin Williams, it is that we are having a...

A look at who's running for school board

Election season is upon us, and for the LPSB, the lineup of candidates is quickly growing. Justin Centanni, District 6 school board candidate Election season is upon us, and for the Lafayette...

Suspect indicted in UL bomb scare

Thirty-year-old Devin Haywood of Lafayette is facing one count of using a facility in interstate commerce to willfully make a threat or maliciously convey false information and one count of attempted...

La. La. Land - Tulane Doctor Explains Ebola

Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! TULANE DOC TALKS ABOUT EBOLA AUG 13 If you're worried about Ebola, here's a NOLA Defender interview with an expert at the Tulane...

McAllister treads water; Boustany flush with cash

According to many observers, the scandal-scarred McAllister is the only vulnerable incumbent in the state's House delegation. U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, is second among Louisiana's House...

Feminist group targets NOLA tourists

Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport has rejected a bid by a national women's rights group to place a billboard within the airport highlighting Louisiana's poor record on equality. The...

DA won't investigate clergy sex abuse claims

District Attorney Mike Harson says unless a victim comes forward, his office will not launch an investigation into recently uncovered allegations of sexual abuse by a priest from the Diocese of...

La. La. Land - Son of a Gun arrested

Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! REALITY 'STAR' BOOKED ON MOLESTATION CHARGES AUG 12 A guy featured on the "Sons of Guns" program on Discovery was arrested for...

Davis seeks to expedite lawsuit against LPSB

The application is for a preliminary injunction hearing to bring an end to the stalemate over this year's budget approval process. An application to expedite the lawsuit against the Lafayette Parish...

Vitter auditioning for History Channel?

The junior senator from Louisiana deserves his own series, "Fossil-Fueled Conspiracies." Photo Illustration Sen. David Vitter injected serotonin into the conservative blogosphere recently...

Analysis: Landrieu's clout pitch has a weakness

U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu wants her ascension to the chairmanship of the Senate's energy committee to showcase her seniority and ability to champion Louisiana issues in Washington as she tries to...

Jindal lays out his Christian bona fides in Iowa

Gov. Bobby Jindal was in Iowa again over the weekend, this time with a message of how big a Christian he is. Gov. Bobby Jindal was in Iowa again over the weekend, this time with a message of how big a...

La. La. Land - Snakes Everywhere

Monday's Blogs from the Bog! Monday's Blogs from the Bog! SNAKES EVERYWHERE! AUG 11 Columnist Clancy DuBos gives his take on the Edmonson Amendment in this post, comparing it to a snake...

Gardens to bloom in Freetown, McComb

With an assist from LCG, neighborhood coteries in historic neighborhoods have broken ground on communities gardens - and you can help. Residents and students in UL's SOUL Camp prepare the...

Cockerham makes it official

Lafayette Parish School Board member Mark Cockerham confirmed expectations Friday with an announcement that he'll be defending his District 7 seat come November. District 7 school board member Mark...

La. La. Land - Tweedledee and Tweedledum

Friday's Blogs from the Bog! Friday's Blogs from the Bog! GILL: VITTER IS TWEEDLEDEE TO JINDAL'S TWEEDLEDUM AUG 8 Columnist James Gill is aiming his rapier wit at David Vitter again. This time, he's...

Six sentenced in Desperado's case

Six people including a former co-owner of Desperado's Cabaret strip club in Carencro were sentenced Thursday for their role in a racketeering and drug-selling scheme at the club. Six people including...

DDA, locals race to save historic building

Supporters have managed to delay demolition, but the wrecking ball could be on site any day. [Correction: There will not be a candlelight vigil Friday night at the site; that event will take place at...

Stutes outpacing Harson in fundraising

Challenger raises nearly double what incumbent takes in from April 29 to July 27, reducing Mike Harson's cash-on-hand advantage. DA candidate Keith Stutes and wife Carolyn The Keith Stutes campaign...

LPSB refuses discussion on lawsuit threat

Given the chance during Wednesday night's meeting to discuss the threat of a federal lawsuit, the Lafayette Parish School Board decided to ignore the issue, instead opting to go home early. Given the...

Autism advocate Vickie Nettles dies unexpectedly

Nettles died suddenly Wednesday while recovering from gall bladder surgery. [Editor's Note: This story has been updated with information on funeral arrangements.] Photo by Robin May The IND Media...

Officials meet to discuss med school in Lafayette

"I know two things: We need more doctors. No. 2, they're not just going to fall from heaven - we've got to grow them." About 50 government officials, civic leaders and representatives of...

La. La. Land - A bunch of baloney!

Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! ASWELL: DHH REPORT IS A BUNCH OF BALONEY AUG 6 Conservative bloggers and Jindal apologists may have swallowed them, but blogger Tom...

Cooper probe could land LPSB in federal court

As a majority of Lafayette Parish School Board members await the results of a board-initiated investigation of Superintendent Pat Cooper and refuse to compromise on the budget, sources tell The IND a...

La. La. Land - Bobby's headed home

Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! BOBBY HEADED BACK HOME TO IOWA AUG 5 As soon as he's done telling people in Texas what to do about all those terrible, horrible...

Accused priest uses pulpit to blame victim

The ugly specter of pedophilia has returned to haunt the Catholic Diocese of Lafayette, yet on Sunday churchgoers seemed unfazed by allegations that a predator may still be lurking in its...

La. La. Land: Daylight Train Robbery

Monday's Blogs from the Bog! Monday's Blogs from the Bog! "DAYLIGHT TRAIN ROBBERY BY STATE POLICE" AUG 4 Blogger CB Forgotston says there's no "diplomatic way" to describe what's...

Amid turmoil, Fatima reaches out to families

On the cusp of a new school year, with the fallout from The IND's special report, "What's the Matter at Fatima," still settling, the administration at Our Lady of Fatima is reaching out to...

Lenar Whitney gets a little help from her friends

The Hayride - Louisiana's one-stop shop for far-right perspectives - has come to the defense of state Rep. Lenar Whitney following her embarrassing, early-exit interview last week with Cook Political...

Proof of accused priest's innocence non-existent

The Catholic Diocese of Lafayette says a 1992 investigation cleared the Rev. Gilbert Dutel of pedophilia allegations, yet when asked to produce those records, church officials came up...

Perrin schools Texas solon on ‘coonass'

The former president and longtime board member of the Council on the Development of French in Louisiana has taken a Texas lawmaker to task over his use of the slur "coonass" during a...

State seeks input on new housing program

The state is accepting public comments on a plan that would invest $1 million in a new Homeowner Rehabilitation Program for low- to moderate-income residents whose homes were damaged after Hurricane...

La. La. Land - That emperor is naked!

Friday's Blogs from the Bog! Friday's Blogs from the Bog! DESHOTELS: THAT EMPEROR IS NAKED AUG 1 Blogger Mike Deshotels takes the gloves off in this post as he writes about education...

UL, LCG seeking bus service expansion

The City-Parish Council on Tuesday will be asked to sign off on an agreement between UL Lafayette and Lafayette Consolidated Government that would expand mass transit opportunities for UL students by...

Even in the billionaire club, La. is ‘poor'

Among the one-percenters nationally, Louisiana's fattest cat is a relative pauper. Saints owner Tom Benson The real estate blog Movoto, borrowing data from Forbes and Celebrity Net Worth (jeez) has...

Mississippi's 'Good Samaritan' abortion doc

Responding to Tuesday's federal appeals court decision to save Mississippi's lone abortion clinic, Esquire magazine profiles the unique story behind one of the doctors working at the clinic in...

La. La. Land - A little thing we call the Facebook

Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! A LITTLE SOMETHING WE CALL THE FACEBOOK JUL 31 Blogger Rod Dreher is offering excerpts, as he often does, from a blog he's found...

La. La. Land - Kicking a guy when he's down

Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! TALK ABOUT KICKING A GUY WHEN HE'S DOWN JUL 30 "Pranksters" have taken over Ray Nagin's website, the Picayune reports here....

LaPESC announces school board candidate forums

With the qualifying deadline for Lafayette Parish School Board elections quickly approaching, a series of candidate forums have been announced by the Lafayette Parish Public Education Stakeholders...

La. La. Land - *facepalm*

Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! *FACEPALM* JUL 29 Saints Quarterback Drew Brees, who clearly is no slouch at public relations, countered any worries about his age by...

NYT: U.S. Chamber to back Landrieu

It wouldn't be a first, however, as the Chamber has thrown money behind Landrieu before. Is the conservative, pro-business U.S. Chamber of Commerce about to endorse Sen. Mary Landrieu's re-election...

La. La. Land - It's not 30K, it's 55K?!

Monday's Blogs from the Bog! Monday's Blogs from the Bog! WAIT - IT'S NOT 30K IT'S 55K? JUL 27 The news gets worse in the case of the 11th hour bill that added a bunch of money to the retirement...

La. joins Indiana gay marriage suit

Louisiana has joined nine other states in support of Indiana's appeal of a federal judge's ruling that the Hoosier State's ban on sam-sex marriage violates the Constitution. Attorney General Buddy...

Durel submits budget, takes aim at consolidation

"The solutions are obvious: undo consolidation, or amend the charter to make this hybrid attempt at a new form of government work better." City-Parish President Joey Durel submitted at $604...

La. La. Land - Louisiana by the Numbers

Friday's Blogs from the Bog! Friday's Blogs from the Bog! LOUISIANA BY THE NUMBERS JUL 25 Elliott Stonecipher writes about his specialty in this post on Forward Now: numbers. He's running down...

La. La. Land - All about Mike on his Birthday

Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT MIKE ON HIS BIRTHDAY JUL 24 This post on the Red Stick Blog reveals nine facts about Mike the Tiger, the LSU mascot...

La. La. Land - We're the new Hollywood

Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! MASHABLE: WE'RE THE NEXT HOLLYWOOD JUL 23 This post on Mashable says Louisiana is poised to be the next (and better) Hollywood. Sure,...

District judges faced with age limit question

Attorneys, judges and others interviewed by LaPolitics expect 15 to 20 district judge races this year. Attorneys, judges and others interviewed by LaPolitics expect 15 to 20 district judge races this...

Several district attorney races expected

"I feel like I'm under siege," an attorney said recently over drinks at Galatoire's Bistro in Baton Rouge. "We all do. Every time I turn around somebody wants a check. District attorney...

The difference between Stanford and Madoff victims

Unlike those swindled by Bernie Madoff, the victims of Texas businessman Robert Allen Stanford's Ponzi scheme won't be getting any relief from the Securities Investor Protection Corp.'s emergency fund...

La. La. Land - A lock to win the conference

Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! 'A LOCK TO WIN THE SUN BELT' JUL 22 The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is "a lock" to win the Sun Belt Conference in...

LaPolitics: A bigger minefield for Common Core?

Jeremy Alford is reporting that a group of state lawmakers will file for a declaratory judgement asking a judge to rule on whether the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education followed proper...

La. La. Land - Education Week on our testing abyss

Monday's Blogs from the Bog! Monday's Blogs from the Bog! EDUCATION WEEK ON OUR 'TESTING ABYSS' JUL 21 Education Week's EdWatch blog takes a look at our current snafu over Common Core in this post....

Garrett to seek judge seat

Attorney Valerie Gotch Garrett will announce on Tuesday that she plans to run for the Division E seat of the 15th Judicial District Court. Garrett Attorney Valerie Gotch Garrett will announce on...

The good and bad from Wednesday's bomb threat

Local, state and federal law enforcement officials spent much of Thursday reviewing their reaction to this week's bomb threat, which led to the closure and evacuation of UL Lafayette and Girard Park,...

Jindal intractable after meeting with White?

Gov. Bobby Jindal appears to remain unmoved by offers of a compromise on procuring testing materials tied to the Common Core based on a terse statement his office released following a meeting Thursday...

La. La. Land - What's up with that Super PAC?

Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! WHAT'S UP WITH THAT SUPER PAC? JUL 17 Columnist Jeremy Alford gives us the latest on the super PAC that most believe was created to...

Ethics nixes cops' bid for LPCD director

Two members of the Lafayette Parish law enforcement community who also serve on the Lafayette Parish Communications District will not be allowed to apply for the paid position of director of the...

Update: UL bomb threat defused

After determining that the two reported bomb-like devices at Girard Park and UL Lafayette this morning were non-explosive, authorities have lifted the barricades, and an investigation into who was...

The abortion TRAP

Anti-abortion advocates are getting "smarter" in their ongoing attack against Roe v. Wade, and in recent years have effectively been employing one of two new tactics, as witnessed in...

Council kicks can on sign ordinance

The Lafayette City-Parish Council Tuesday delayed a finalization vote on amending the zoning ordinance for political signs, deferring the matter to give consolidated government's legal and zoning...

La. La. Land - The horse has left the building

Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! CB: THAT HORSE DONE LEFT THE BARN JUL 16 Bobby Jindal's executive order aimed at limiting the state's debt (to what? $3 billion?) is...

Theall to announce re-election bid next week

With one challenger already in campaign mode, 15th Judicial District Judge Susan Theall will be formally launching her bid for re-election next week. With one challenger already in campaign...

La. La. Land - The Bobby who would be king.

Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! Tuesday's Blog from the Bog! BUZZ: THE BOBBY WHO WOULD BE KING JUL 15 The national media may be fawning over Bobby Jindal, but we at home know the real story, Stephen...

Fest seeks input

Love Festival International de Louisiane? Want to help ensure its longevity? Participate in a survey and let Fest know how you feel. Festival International de Louisiane is asking fans (and non fans if...

Two-time LPSB candidate announces a third bid

After two unsuccessful bids for the District 3 seat on the Lafayette Parish School Board, Elroy Broussard has decided to run again, announcing a run against school board member Shelton Cobb. After two...

KATC owns annual AP awards

The Lafayette ABC affiliate dominated in its weight class, bringing home 28 awards including the coveted "Best Newscast" trophy. KATC TV3 was the big dog at Saturday's Louisiana Associated...

La. La. Land - A White School's Winnings

Monday's Blogs from the Bog! Monday's Blogs from the Bog! A WHITE SCHOOL MAKING MONEY IN INNER CITY JUL 14 Blogger Lamar White Jr. writes a revealing piece here about a (private white) Alexandria...

Memorial ride being held for fallen cyclist

A memorial ride is being held Sunday in memory of cyclist Lon Lomas, who was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver early Monday. A memorial ride is being held Sunday in memory of cyclist Lon...

Huebner fires back

KLFY TV10's longtime anchor and investigative reporter Chuck Huebner has responded to his recent termination from the station, confirming that his departure was a long time coming. KLFY TV10's...

La. La. Land - Too incompetent

Friday's Blogs from the Bog! Friday's Blogs from the Bog! NAGIN WASN'T MASTERMIND, HE'S TOO INCOMPETENT JUL 11 Columnist Clancy DuBos offers former NOLA Mayor Ray Nagin a back-handed compliment in...

Body found inside Jefferson Street antique shop

The Lafayette Police Department setup a roadblock in Freetown this afternoon after a body was discovered inside a nearby antique shop. The Lafayette Police Department setup a roadblock along Jefferson...

Fred Daspit funeral Friday at 2 p.m.

Beloved artist and former professor died Tuesday night after a brief illness. Funeral services for Fred Daspit, the beloved 83-year-old artist and retired UL art history professor who died Tuesday,...

Sign ordinance could get re-think

The council approved an introductory ordinance two weeks ago watering down the zoning ordinance. If it approves it as a final ordinance on Tuesday, well, anyone can put up a sign in their yard or at...

La. La. Land - The bulls are coming!

Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! THE BULLS ARE COMING! JUL 10 If you're not busy and you're not up for getting gored by a real bull, the NOLA version of the Running of...

Oh, KLFY, you just can't catch a break!

Poor TV10, once a ratings juggernaut among Lafayette television-news consumers, reduced now to doddering among its ceramic cat collection in a musty TV parlor, muttering about the good old days as it...

Cooper: Board, union giving LPSS 'black eye'

The Lafayette Parish School Board made about $13 million in cuts during Tuesday's special meeting, but what are the repercussions? The Lafayette Parish School Board made about $13 million in cuts...

‘Gay' blood drive planned

Gay and bisexual men, who are banned for life by the FDA from donating blood, are being urged to make a statement Saturday. Gay and bisexual men, who are banned for life by the Food and Drug...

Louisiana: Judicial hellhole or Big Oil's wasteland?

The tumultuous fight between Louisiana landowners and the oil and gas industry over environmental damages and legacy lawsuits is an overly politicized process, which typically results in tainted lands...

Artist, lifelong educator Fred Daspit dies at 83

To know the retired UL art history professor was to love him. Photo by Robin May Fred Daspit with one of his intricate reliquary sculptures Lafayette's arts community lost a brilliant mind and...

Jindal fares poorly in new PPP poll

In spite of the so-called "Jindal Miracle" - AKA smoke and mirrors - Gov. Bobby Jindal remains one of the most unpopular governors in the United States. In spite of the so-called...

Huebner out at KLFY

Chuck Huebner, the veteran anchor and investigative reporter at KLFY TV10, has been fired. [Editor's Note: This story has been adjusted to reflect KLFY General Manager Kenny Lawrence's clarification...

La. La. Land - Say What?

Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! SAY WHAT? FOURTH? JUL 8 Here's another one of those pointless lists that we can't stop reading on the interwebs. This one ranks the 50...

Briggs claims the industry is faced with a new enemy

Big Oil mouthpiece Don Briggs is at it again, this time turning his attention away from legacy lawsuits against the industry to the overregulation of the industry. Big Oil mouthpiece Don Briggs is at...

La. La. Land - "No form, no substance."

Monday's Blogs from the Bog! Monday's Blogs from the Bog! CLANCY: JINDAL HAS NO DEPTH, NO SUBSTANCE JULY 7 Columnist Clancy DuBos says he's finally found the right metaphor for "the shallowness...

Downtown restaurants, bars unite

"From what I can tell, business owners Downtown have been more reactive than proactive in certain areas, and we've never been united in the sense that we can work together." Athena Greek...

Fiddling while Rome burns?

After tediously chipping away, the school board has managed to close the budget gap by $1 million. Now, just $22.5 million left to go (with the new school year barely a month away). Photo by Robin...

La. La. Land - Slick Eddie does Hollywood

Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! EWE MOVIE ON THE HORIZON? JUL 3 LaPolitics gives us the latest on Edwin Edwards' biographer, Leo Honeycutt, in this post. Leo has left...

Is Cooper investigator asleep on the job?

In early June, LPSB members were supposed to be contacted by the special attorney hired to investigate Superintendent Pat Cooper. Four board members, however, tell The IND they didn't even hear from...

La. La. Land - Dead Huey Long on Fracking

Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! DEAD HUEY ON FRACKING JUL 2 Dead Huey Long answers your questions about fracking in this post on NOLA Defender. If you're unaware,...

Is Guillory planning a run for Congress?

Known for being somewhat of a flip-flopper, state Sen. Elbert Guillory, the Republican-turn-Democrat-turn-Republican, is now considering ditching his bid for lieutenant governor in favor of a run for...

State bar backs marijuana reform

Feeling that lawmakers were ignoring them, marijuana advocates held a rally at the State Capitol last month to gain traction for their chosen issue. Feeling that lawmakers were ignoring them,...

Ethics board targets Quincy Richard Sr.

Just when it appeared things couldn't get any worse for former St. Landry Parish School Board member Quincy Richard Sr. - who's serving a 33-month sentence in federal prison for soliciting a bribe...

An exclusive interview with Gov. Edwin Edwards

Last Thursday, I drove down to Baton Rouge to interview the Cajun Prince, the Silver Fox, former four-term Louisiana governor, former state Supreme Court justice, former U.S. Congressman, former...

La. La. Land - Buzz has Bobby on Hobby Lobby

Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! BUZZ HAS BOBBY ON HOBBY LOBBY JUL 1 The staff of Bayou Buzz must have been waiting on Bobby's Hobby Lobby speech with bated breath....

La. candidate gets the Wonkette treatment

State Rep. Lenar Whitney, R-Houma, finds herself in crosshairs of the interwebs' snark central after she posted a ridiculous campaign video. A Sarah Palin wannabe' indeed! Lenar Whitney wants to be...

Sheriff could use a refresher course in history

Bossier Parish Sheriff Julian Whittington is a religious man, he enjoys prayer, and he also wants everyone to know about it. Bossier Parish Sheriff Julian Whittington Bossier Parish Sheriff Julian...

La. La. Land - An island of blue in a sea of orange

Monday's Blogs from the Bog! Monday's Blogs from the Bog! AN ISLAND OF BLUE IN A SEA OF ORANGE JUN 30 The New York Times published this map of the US, using color to show the results of a study of...

La. La. Land - The highest in the world

Friday's Blogs from the Bog! Friday's Blogs from the Bog! OUR INCARCERATION RATE HIGHER THAN EVERYBODY JUN 27 Here's a ranking that should be humiliating for us: this chart on the News.Mic blog...

Has LPSB's Hunter Beasley had a change of heart?

Since becoming president of the Lafayette Parish School Board, Hunter Beasley has been no friend to Superintendent Pat Cooper. LPSB President Hunter Beasley Since becoming president of the...

La. La. Land - Money's Talking

Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! ASWELL: MONEY'S TALKING! CAN YOU HEAR IT? JUN 26 Blogger Tom Aswell breaks down the nuts and bolts (or dollars and cents, as the case...

Drunk on moonshine

When Bobby Jindal campaigned for governor in 2007, he railed against cronyism and corruption and promised to implement a new era of fair, honest, and transparent government. When Bobby Jindal...

La. La. Land - Drunk on Moonshine!

Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! LAMAR: DRUNK ON MOONSHINE JUN 25 Blogger Lamar White Jr. comments upon our fearless leader's ethics (or lack thereof) in this post....

Vermilion deputy killed on his day off

The city of Abbeville was placed on lock-down Monday after an off-duty Vermilion Parish Sheriff's deputy was shot in front of his home while mowing the grass. Allen Bares Jr. According to this...

La. La. Land - CB doesn't need a nanny!

Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! CB: THESE NANNIES ARE FORCING HIM TO GET A PASSPORT JUN 24 Blogger CB Forgotston is grumbling again about the political grandstanding that...

Jindal signs ‘pregnant life support' bill

The bill allows the state to keep brain-dead pregnant women on life support so their fetuses can be brought to term and delivered, even if the patient's family opposes such a measure. Gov. Bobby...

Life support bill demands a veto

Everyone is wrong about Austin Badon's bill requiring brain-dead pregnant women to be on life support, including Austin Badon. Rep. Austin Badon During the last few weeks, more than a couple of...

La. La. Land - Say What? Duck Welfare?

Monday's Blogs from the Bog! Monday's Blogs from the Bog! SAY WHAT? DUCK DYNASTY GOVERNMENT HANDOUTS? JUN 23 The millionaire West Monroe clan that's raking in even more dough by performing on a TV...

La. high court agrees to hear Baldwin-V-UL

The Louisiana Supreme Court has granted a writ filed by former UL Lafayette head football coach Jerry Baldwin, now a north Louisiana minister, in his bid to get money after being canned by the...

Cassidy, Vitter won't go after Landrieu on Obamacare

While lots of pundits and other observers have been saying Sen. Mary Landrieu's support of the Affordable Care Act will do her in this time around, T-P columnist Robert Mann has argued it will be play...

Dramatic car chase ends in Lafayette

An early morning car chase along I-10 ended in Lafayette with the recovery of a kidnapped Florida teen and her captor. An early morning car chase along I-10 ended in Lafayette with the recovery of a...

Sen. Elbert Guillory gets the Daily Show treatment

Sen. Elbert Guillory's effort to legalize chicken boxing during this year's legislative session didn't pass muster with his fellow lawmakers, but he's not through fighting for the sport as he brought...

La. La. Land - We beat everybody!

Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! WE BEAT EVERYBODY TO THE TOP OF A ROTTEN LIST JUN 19 Mississippi may have come in first for corruption, but Louisiana is on top of...

LA GOP threatens TV stations over ad

The state Republican Party is threatening legal action against some two dozen Louisiana television stations for airing an attack ad against Congressman Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge. The state...

White and Jindal go head to head over Common Core

As expected, Gov. Bobby Jindal took steps Wednesday to pull Louisiana from Common Core testing, but Superintendent of Education John White says the new academic standards will remain in place for the...

La. La. Land - Aswell Dishing Some Dirt!

Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! ASWELL HAS SOME DIRT ON PARCC JUN 18 Here's a classic Tom Aswell post, this one taking a look at a testing company connected to Rupert...

Council to take up airport tax election

If approved by voters, the sales tax would be dedicated to the airport project and would only last for eight months - from April 1 to Nov. 30 of next year. The Lafayette City-Parish Council will vote...

*All clear at Artmosphere

*That's what a jubilant owner was proclaiming Monday morning before bringing receipts to BR; the state, however, is still reviewing the evidence. Fingers crossed, y'all. Photo by Robin...

City Marshal waxes poetic on upcoming election

"In the end I'm sure they'll see ... The city marshal will be me." Earl "Nickey" Picard Earl "Nickey" Picard has been the Lafayette City Marshal for 30 years, and will...

La. La. Land - Orphan Wells

Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! GILL: EVEN BIG OIL THINKS THEY SHOULD DO MORE JUN 17 Columnist James Gill writes about orphan wells in this post. A recent audit found...

Ladies and gents, meet the Tea Party of Louisiana

It's a fever swamp of federal bogeymen and communist-takeover conspiracies. Just read the group's recent letter to Gov. Bobby Jindal. It's a fever swamp of federal bogeymen and communist-takeover...

Former officer discusses ills of law enforcement

With the Crowley Police Department's arrests of Theresa Richard - both incidents because she was video recording officers in the line of duty - the Photography is Not a Crime guys were in town...

La. La. Land - Hey, Loki Fangirls!

Monday's Blogs from the Bog! Monday's Blogs from the Bog! HEY, LOKI FANGIRLS! JUN 16 Although there is a lot of beefiness in the Avengers crew, Tom Hiddleston's Loki always seems to attract the...

A 'Curious' Goode conflict?

Lafayette criminal defense attorney Bill Goode appeared in federal court for a sanctions hearing Wednesday for his behind-the-scenes role in the Curious Goods conspiracy case. Lafayette criminal...

Jindal recall gains traction online

A quixotic petition seeking the recall of Gov. Bobby Jindal - not we wouldn't love to see it happen, only that it never will before the end of 2015 - is getting a head of steam on the interwebs. A...

LPSB gives lip service to school system priorities

Lafayette Parish School Board members cited closing the the achievement gap, raising test scores and lowering the drop-out rate as some of their priorities for the upcoming school year. "If we...

La. La. Land - A data crisis at DOE?

Friday's Blogs from the Bog! Friday's Blogs from the Bog! IS THERE A DATA CRISIS AT DOE? JUN 13 Blogger Crazy Crawfish tells a pretty alarming story in this post about an alleged situation over at...

10 Things to Know Today

Spurs lead NBA Finals 3-1; insurgents continue inroads in Iraq; Bergdahl at Texas base and more national and international news for Friday, June 13, 2014. Spurs lead NBA Finals 3-1; insurgents...

La. La. Land - We're number one! Oh - wait...

Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! YAY! WE'RE NUMBER 1! OH, WAIT... JUN 12 For all those people who say Bobby Jindal isn't taking this state to the top, this blog post is...

Local tax preparer caught gaming the system

A Lafayette Parish tax preparer received two years in federal prison Wednesday for filing false tax returns for herself and her clients. A local tax preparer received two years in federal prison...

Maness wastes no time after Cantor defeat

U.S. Senate candidate Rob Maness, who hopes to unseat Sen. Mary Landrieu this fall, knows he'll have to get through U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy to do it. Maness (and the Constitution) U.S. Senate...

‘Do or die time' for Artmosphere

The popular restaurant/music venue has only a few days remaining to get its food sales up or face loss of its liquor license by the state. A popular bar restaurant has only a few days remaining to...

It's time to fund J.W. Faulk's turnaround

J.W. Faulk Elementary is the last among the LPSS's failing schools, so why is the school board resisting an allocation of money to fix the problem? J.W. Faulk Elementary is the last among the...

La. La. Land - A look behind the curtain

Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! A LOOK BEHIND THE CURTAIN JUN 11 Blogger Mike Deshotels takes a look at the recent Washington Post article that revealed (or reminded...

UL bans tobacco campus-wide*

*Except in your vehicle in campus parking lots and while tailgating at athletic events UL Lafayette has joined some 1,300 other American universities in enacting a smoke-free campus policy. UL's...

Jindal's press secretary out already

After no more than a two month stint, Gov. Bobby Jindal's newest press secretary, Sarah Haley, is no more. After no more than a two month stint, Gov. Bobby Jindal's newest press secretary, Sarah...

La. La. Land - We're fiddling while Rome burns

Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! NATIONAL JOURNAL: WE'RE FIDDLING WHILE ROME BURNS JUN 10 Wonder what the rest of the nation thinks of our coastal situation? Here's a...

An 'unspectacular session' indeed

As far as the people of Louisiana are concerned, this year's legislative session did little to improve life here in the Bayou State. As far as the people of Louisiana are concerned, this year's...

Services for Irma Belle Abdalla

Family mourns Lafayette retail trailblazer The matriarch of the Abdalla family known well for a legacy of retail success died Thursday in her home at the age of 100. Irma Belle Poche Abdalla, who was...

La. La. Land - Abita rolls out new summer beers

Friday's Blogs from the Bog! Friday's Blogs from the Bog! Abita releasing new beers this summer JUN 6 Abita is releasing several new beers this summer, a post on NOLA Defender tells us. The...

‘Large amount of jewelry' stolen from Andy's

Police say thieves gained entry through roof of Feu Follet Road business. The Lafayette Police Thursday morning issued a press release seeking the public's help in locating the thief or thieves who...

LPSB is on the road again; big time

Travel expenses for Lafayette Parish School Board members nearly doubled between the 2014 and 2013 fiscal years. Travel expenses for Lafayette Parish School Board members nearly doubled between the...

La. La. Land - MEOW!

Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Meow! JUN 5 When one reads a story like this one in the Advocate, in which state education Superintendent John White seems to cast...

Cassidy releasing first TV ad in U.S. Senate race

Ad focuses on Republican congressman's opposition to the federal health care law. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy is launching his first TV ad in Louisiana's Senate race next week,...

What's LPSB's problem with LaPESC?

Some Lafayette Parish School Board members just don't like the Lafayette Parish Public Education Stakeholders Council and want the school system out of its membership. Maybe it's the initiative to get...

Appeals court orders hearing for canned LPD officer

The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal has reversed a ruling by a Lafayette district court judge delaying an appeal hearing before the Lafayette Municipal Fire & Police Civil Service Board by a former...

Sign wars

From the looks of it, election season is already getting heated, but officials with Lafayette Consolidated Government aren't too happy about it, namely the recent flood of campaign signs showing up...

Will Jindal dismantle Common Core?

With lawmakers refusing to scrap the Common Core, the fight over Louisiana's use of the education standards shifted Tuesday to Gov. Bobby Jindal. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - With lawmakers refusing to...

La. La. Land - It ain't over till it's over

Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Beam: It ain't over till it's over JUN 4 Columnist Jim Beam says in this post that Big Oil shouldn't start counting any chickens yet....

Horse Farm resolution approved

With approval of the plan, Lafayette Central Park Inc., the nonprofit established to oversee the 100 acres' transformation into a public green space, will begin fundraising in earnest. The Lafayette...

Council to vote on Horse Farm

The plan, created over months of public input under the guidance of the nonprofit Lafayette Central Park Inc., represents an ambitious - and expensive - guide for converting the 100 acres of raw,...

Edwin Edwards Running Without Pro Help

Wife, friends serving as campaign team for now By Jeremy Alford LaPolitics News Service When former Gov. Edwin Edwards announced his 6th District bid in March, he told LaPolitics that he planned on...

La. La. Land - More on the Fox in the Henhouse

Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! Aswell: More on the Fox in the Henhouse JUN 3 The chair of the Natural Resources committee of our esteemed legislature has even more...

And it begins ...

It's official: The Lafayette Parish School Board's investigation of Superintendent Pat Cooper gets rolling this week. It's official: The Lafayette Parish School Board's investigation of Superintendent...

The devil's bill

Sen. Page Cortez's bill to stop charter schools from getting dedicated tax revenues from the Lafayette Parish School System should have been an easy sell to his fellow lawmakers, but there was one...

Business grows as Hollywood embraces Louisiana

A batch of big-budget films is set to be shot in Louisiana over the summer as the state's investment in a tax credit program draws cost-conscious producers. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A batch of big-budget...

Animal rights group responds to SB 250

"Allowing an individual to override court decisions and violate local and state laws in order to retain possession of a dangerous wild animal invites other would-be big exotic cat owners to come...

Duck Dynasty dude steals the show

The GOP pulled out all the stops with an all-star cast of crazy for Thursday's kick-off of the three-day Republican Leadership Conference in New Orleans. The GOP pulled out all the stops with an...

Once again, equal pay discussion goes nowhere

On average, Louisiana women make 67 cents for every $1 men make, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Lawmakers have wrapped up their debate on the pay gap between men and...

UL trademarks 'Geaux Cajuns'

"Geaux Cajuns" is now more than just a rallying cry at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Now, it's also a registered trademark. "Geaux Cajuns" is now more than just a...

La. La. Land - Dead Huey Long explains fracking

Friday's Blogs from the Bog! Friday's Blogs from the Bog! DEAD HUEY LONG EXPLAINS FRACKING MAY 30 An infrequent feature on the NOLA Defender blog is the "Ask Dead Huey Long" column, which...

La. La. Land - Plenty of snakes, but no Jindal

Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! ALFORD: PLENTY OF SNAKES, NO JINDAL MAY 29 This entertaining first-person piece in Gambit by columnist Jeremy Alford analyzes Gov....

For pro-choice La., eyes turn to Wisconsin

A legal challenge to a law requiring abortion physicians to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals is under way in the Badger State. If he hasn't already today, Gov. Bobby Jindal will...

School closures announced

Thanks to heavy rains and possible flooding, Lafayette Parish School System officials are calling it a day. Thanks to heavy rains and possible flooding, Lafayette Parish School System officials are...

LPSB's budget hawks are at it again

Though the Lafayette Parish School System has a chief financial officer, who's also an accountant, the school board is once again trying to take the budget process into its own hands. Though the...

La. La. Land - Not a lot of cuts - but a big bill!

Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! A&M can't find cuts but they sure can bill MAY 28 The Alvarez & Marsal firm, hired by Bobby Jindal to find $500 million in...

Budget deficit could spell trouble for N.P. Moss

Programs aimed at curbing dropout rates in the Lafayette Parish School System face elimination as a result of this year's budget crunch. The Lafayette Parish School System faces an $18 million...

La. La. Land - They don't see eye to eye

Monday's Blogs from the Bog! Monday's Blogs from the Bog! THEY DON'T SEE EYE TO EYE - HAR HAR MAY 26 Bob Mann is blogging about the dispute between othamologists and optometrists that didn't prevent...

Political journalist John Maginnis dies

One of the state's most brilliant political minds, John Maginnis was 66. LaPolitics founder and Publisher John Maginnis died Sunday morning at the age of 66. The staff of LaPolitics Weekly and...

Legal fees skyrocket for LPSS

In March the law firm of Hammonds & Sills officially became the interim general counsel for the Lafayette Parish School Board, and with that transition, the cost of the school system's monthly...

Group asks Gov. Jindal to veto payday loan bill

A national organization that advocates for minorities has asked Gov. Bobby Jindal to veto a bill calling for mild restrictions to the payday loan industry. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A national...

UL to offer 3 new programs

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette will offer three new academic certificates this fall. LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - The University of Louisiana at Lafayette will offer three new academic certificates...

La. La. Land - We love our Golden Girls!

Friday's Blogs from the Bog! Friday's Blogs from the Bog! Happy Friday! MAY 23 There are tons of pointless lists on social media, but this one is truly a funny one. It's a list of the top searches,...

OMG Vance McCallister!

The disgraced north Louisiana congressman infamous for kissing not his wife knows initiative when he sees it. Hint: duct tape Jeez, Kissing Congressman Vance McAllister, just when we were feeling a...

Info released on ex-prosecutors online misconduct

A Justice Department report into the once-anonymous online postings of two former federal prosecutors makes clear they engaged in "extensive and intentional prosecutorial misconduct"...

La. La. Land - Like Two Peas in a Pod!

Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Brown: Bobby and Barack are two peas in a pod MAY 22 Jim Brown is blogging about Bobby Jindal again in this week's post, and again Bobby...

Bill seeks to curb heroin's rising popularity

Penalties will be toughened for heroin dealers in Louisiana, under a bill that has received final legislative passage. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Penalties will be toughened for heroin dealers in...

Budget woes are back for LPSS

While the Lafayette Parish School System appears to be in a dire budgetary situation with a projected deficit of more than $18 million, the school board has two options: Tap into the more than $70...

La. La. Land - What's going on with Kleinpeter?

Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! What is going on with Kleinpeter? MAY 21 Complaints about Kleinpeter milk have been popping up on social media for a while now, and...

Here's the new Downtown parklet

Spoiler alert: It's really cool! Enter the parklet. The folks at the Downtown Development Authority spent all day Monday and into Tuesday morning assembling palettes, plywood, tables, chairs and...

Stutes urges Harson to debate

"The voters of Acadia, Lafayette and Vermilion Parishes deserve a real discussion about how best to keep our communities safe, while upholding the law." Former Assistant District Attorney...

Appeals court won't rehear BP settlement issue

A federal appeals court on Monday refused to reconsider its previous ruling that businesses don't have to prove they were directly harmed by BP's 2010 Gulf Of Mexico oil spill to collect settlement...

Jindal signs cigarette butt ban

Flicking a cigarette butt out of your car window could get you slapped with a hefty fine and community service. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Flicking a cigarette butt out of your car window could get you...

LPSB's investigation of Cooper needs transparency

"[F]or some this is definitely a personal issue and I believe that in my heart," says Lafayette Parish School Board member Kermit Bouillion of the attempt to investigate Superintendent Pat...

La. La. Land - Brother Can You Spare a Dime?

Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! Brother, can you spare a dime? MAY 20 Looks like the Jindal administration is going to need yet another loan to keep the lights on at...

Garbage fines face council Tuesday

An ordinance that would levy fines for failing to move one's garbage and recycling bins away from the curb in a timely fashion goes before the City-Parish Council for final approval. An ordinance that...

Supreme Court revives taser death lawsuit

The Supreme Court has ordered a lower court to take a new look at a case involving repeated police use of a Taser stun gun on a handcuffed Louisiana man who later died. WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme...

La. La. Land - Saints sign Walker

Monday's Blogs from the Bog! Monday's Blogs from the Bog! SAINTS SIGN DEVON WALKER MAY 19 The New Orleans Saints showed they're more than just a football team this weekend when they signed safety...

Party in the Park fundraiser all day Sunday!

Support the effort to convert the 100-acre tract of Johnston Street land into a world-class public park, see the master plan and enjoy music, food and more. Party in the Park till 6:30 p.m. today...

Cameron beaches ‘world's worst'

The Cajun Riviera needs some cleaning. Beaches in Cameron Parish have been ranked the worst in world by Nster, one of those kazillion "content provider" websites within the vast, informative...

But whatever, here's the La. coast in 2200

There is no Cameron Parish! And Abbeville, Thibodaux, Houma, New Orleans? Fuhgidaboudit! A projection of what the Louisiana coast will look like after a sea-level rise of 4 feet (in about 200...

Bill toughening cockfighting ban nears passage

An effort to close loopholes in Louisiana's 2008 ban on cockfighting is nearing final legislative passage. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - An effort to close loopholes in Louisiana's 2008 ban on cockfighting...

Budget lacking $ for oil spill litigation

Louisiana's budget for next year doesn't include any money for the state's ongoing litigation against BP for damages caused by the 2010 oil spill. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's budget for next...

La. La. Land - Got a Louizilla idea?

Friday's Blogs from the Bog! Friday's Blogs from the Bog! Pic wants your Louisiana monster ideas MAY 16 In anticipation of today's release of the new Godzilla movie, the Picayune is looking for...

Harson counters Stutes with a poll of his own

The longtime district attorney says "Not so fast, mister" to a recently released poll by his rival. Keith Stutes, left, and Mike Harson Criticizing his rival's recent poll as one...

La. La. Land - DOE has a double standard

Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Civil rights suit: DOE has a double (racial) standard MAY 15 The state Department of Education is closing down black schools for poor...

Senate passes bill to keep tiger at truck stop

A bid to let a Grosse Tete truck stop owner keep a tiger onsite has squeaked through the Louisiana Senate on its second try. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A bid to let a Grosse Tete truck stop owner keep a...

Bill would allow survey on teen sex risk behavior

A measure to allow the state education department to survey students on sex-related risk behaviors narrowly advanced to the Louisiana House for debate after passing a committee Tuesday. BATON ROUGE,...

J.W. Faulk should be everyone's concern

J.W. Faulk Elementary School is on the path to being deemed an "Academically Unacceptable School," but that doesn't mean it can't be saved. J.W. Faulk Elementary School is on the path to...

La. La. Land - Armani turns herself in

Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Armani Nicole, nee Larry, turns herself in MAY 14 The transgender lady accused of killing someone through black market silicone...

Is Stutes pulling away in DA race?

The former lead felony prosecutor, according to a new poll, has turned a 2-point deficit into a 7-point lead since last August. A new poll commissioned by district attorney candidate Keith Stutes...

Lawmakers agree to fine cigarette butt littering

Cigarette butts should stay in your car's ashtray. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Cigarette butts should stay in your car's ashtray. That's the message lawmakers are sending to smokers, giving final passage...

House says fox pen hunting part of La. folklife

"Slavery is part of our heritage, but we're not going to give that an honorary designation," said Rep. Nancy Landry, R-Lafayette, one of the chief critics of the bill. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)...

La. La. Land - Playing shell games with the IRS

Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! Playing shell games with the IRS MAY 13 Legislators and Jindal administration officials are "quietly" moving money around...

Hospital deal rejection threatens budget

On paper, the federal rejection of financing plans for Gov. Bobby Jindal's LSU hospital privatization deals looks like it has all the makings of a fiscal calamity for the state. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)...

La. La. Land: Medicaid rejection led to deaths

Monday's Blogs from the Bog! Monday's Blogs from the Bog! Study: Medicaid rejection led to deaths MAY 12 Gov. Bobby Jindal may see his rejection of Medicaid expansion only in political terms, but...

House approves $25 billion state budget

A nearly $25 billion budget for next year that includes Gov. Bobby Jindal's proposals for new spending on health care, colleges and state worker pay won passage Thursday from the Louisiana...

Senate education committee stands behind Common Core

Another effort to dismantle Louisiana's use of the Common Core education standards has been defeated, this time by a resounding vote Thursday of the Senate Education Committee. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -...

District 9 school board race gets messy early

The first signs of a heated campaign for the District 9 seat on the Lafayette Parish School Board are taking form, with the first attack coming against candidate Brian West over what's either a nice...

Maness says he'll fight Washington's gators

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Rob Maness is on the airwaves in his bid to unseat Democrat Mary Landrieu. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Republican U.S. Senate candidate Rob Maness is on the airwaves in...

La. La. Land - Bobby's a Snake Oil Salesman

Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Aswell: Bobby's just a snake oil salesman MAY 8 Blogger Tom Aswell is in rare form in this post, questioning the credulity of some...

Guerilla urbanism coming to Downtown

Get ready for the parklet. A parklet in San Francisco where the concept emerged Get ready for the parklet. Don't look for it in a paper dictionary, and Spell Check will flag it, but the relatively...

'John Wayne Bill' gains traction

Under the measure, lawmakers could carry a weapon where judges and district attorneys can carry them, in public buildings including courthouses and state offices, provided they go through annual...

Bid to sideline traffic cameras fails in House

A New Orleans lawmaker's efforts to place new limits on red light cameras and automated speed enforcement systems used to issue traffic tickets hit roadblocks in the House. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A...

La. La. Land - Birds of a Feather

Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Birds of a feather MAY 7 The Duck Dynasty crew helped get Vance McAllister elected, but his loose lips put a quick end to his...

Delinquent taxpayers will help balance budget

A new amnesty program is on the move that could offer delinquent taxpayers much more in the way of waivers than originally projected. With lawmakers working to plug holes in the state budget that...

LPSB gets checked by DA

District Attorney Mike Harson weighs in on the Lafayette Parish School Board's April 23 special meeting, saying it clearly violated the state's Open Meetings Law. District Attorney Mike Harson has...

Bill would stop cuts when colleges raise tuition

Louisiana's public colleges could receive some protection from budget cuts when they raise tuition on students, under a bill that won support from the state House. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's...

La. La. Land - Not a good family tradition

Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! Not a good family tradition MAY 6 Shreveport witnessed a terrible case of domestic violence last week, when a local man shot and killed...

LCG sues traffic cam scofflaws

Two individuals and a company are the first to face city-parish government in small claims court over unpaid red-light camera citations. Two individuals and a company are the first to face city-parish...

UL Lafayette names VP for student affairs

The University of Louisiana-Lafayette has appointed Patricia Frilot Cottonham as vice president for student affairs. LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - The University of Louisiana-Lafayette has appointed Patricia...

Lawmakers differ on how to address gender pay gap

Louisiana Democrats and Republicans have divided over the importance of intent when it comes to pay discrimination based on gender. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana Democrats and Republicans have...

Judge rules in favor of pro-Vitter super PAC

A federal judge has ruled that a super PAC supporting Republican U.S. Sen. David Vitter can raise unlimited amounts of money for Vitter, who is running for governor in 2015. U.S. Sen. David...

2 complaints filed against LPSB

It's no secret the Lafayette Parish School Board has had its issues with Louisiana's Open Meetings Law. It's no secret the Lafayette Parish School Board has had its issues with Louisiana's Open...

Jindal's 2016 presidential checklist

A look at preparations by Gov. Bobby Jindal, R-La., for a potential 2016 presidential campaign: [EDITOR'S NOTE: 2014 is a year of auditioning, positioning, networking and just plain hard work for...

Senate panel backs bill to derail coastal lawsuit

Another bill pushed by Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration to undermine a lawsuit filed by a south Louisiana flood protection board against oil and gas companies started advancing Thursday in the state...

La. La. Land - Former fed trolls cut a deal

Friday's Blogs from the Bog! Friday's Blogs from the Bog! Two former fed trolls cut a deal MAY 2 Here's another shoe dropping in the case of the federal prosecutors making anonymous troll comments...

Ensuring the Future of Festival International

Fest's success is stretching the resources of Downtown. Where to from here? Fest's success is stretching the resources of Downtown. Where to from here? There are few things that happen in Lafayette to...

Council to mull fines for lazy trash customers

The C-P Council at its Tuesday meeting will consider an introductory ordinance that would levy fines against residents who fail to move their garbage and recycling bins away from the road in a timely...

Botched execution could renew 'cruel' challenges

The botched execution of an Oklahoma inmate is certain to fire up the debate over what constitutes cruel and unusual punishment - the phrase written into the U.S. Constitution and defined by the...

Speed camera ban on interstates gets final passage

Speed cameras and other automated speed enforcement devices will be prohibited on Louisiana's interstates, if Gov. Bobby Jindal agrees to the ban. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Speed cameras and other...

La. La. Land - In Memoriam...

Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Swamp People star dies MAY 1 One of the "stars" of the reality show Swamp People has died of heart failure, TMZ reports in...

Sound advice for the LPSB

The message from the Lafayette Public Education Stakeholders Council to the school board is simple: Get your priorities straight. The message from the Lafayette Public Education Stakeholders Council...

Female votes key to controlling Senate

Recent history - including Democratic U.S. Sens. Mary Landrieu's and Kay Hagan's 2008 victories - demonstrates why women are an electoral commodity. ATLANTA (AP) - Democrat Michelle Nunn happily notes...

Bill capping payday loans dies on Senate floor

The payday-lending industry has successfully beaten back efforts to add new restrictions on short-term loans in Louisiana, after a measure to put a cap on consumer loans failed to win passage Tuesday...

La. La. Land - What about raw milk?

Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! What's all this hoo-hah about raw milk? APR 30 Here's a post on the Capital Press about the current argument in the legislature over...

LPSB goes back to the drawing board

In a surprising turn of events, the special legal counsel hired by the Lafayette Parish School Board to investigate Superintendent Pat Cooper now says he's too busy for the job. In a surprising turn...

John Barry will speak Wednesday at UL

As part of the GreenARMY's No Big Oil Bailout Tour, John Barry will address UL Lafayette students and faculty members at 10 a.m. Wednesday. Photo by Robin May John Barry As part of the GreenARMY's...

Limit on La. lobbyist spending edges up to $58

Louisiana's lobbyists can spend a little bit more wining and dining legislators and others they seek to influence. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's lobbyists can spend a little bit more wining and...

Fox pen hunting: Blood sport or culture?

Lawmakers in the House are resisting an effort to have Louisiana declare that "fox pen hunting" is part of the state's folklife heritage and should be preserved. Rep. Sherman Mack BATON...

La. La. Land - Mr. Magoo in BR?

Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! Oh Magoo, you've done it again! APR 29 If you're not old, you might not know who Mr. Magoo is. CB Forgotston knows, and he's comparing the...

Why are La.'s universities suddenly out of money?

Without a $40 million loan from State Treasurer John Kennedy's office, they cannot keep the lights on and pay employees. Photo courtesy Wikipedia UL Lafayette's Martin Hall Louisiana's colleges and...

LPSB's 'Witch Hunt' is on

The ball has started rolling on the Lafayette Parish School Board's investigation of Superintendent Pat Cooper. Photo by Robin May "I don't have anything to hide" - Superintendent Pat...

Mangham taking on Boffy for BESE seat?

Board of Elementary and Secondary Education member Holly Boffy, state teacher of the year in 2010, could have another distinguished former educator, Melinda Mangham, challenging her next year. Board...

'The Salt of the Earth'

The Save Lake Peigneur advocacy group releases a short documentary detailing its fight against an Atlanta-based natural gas company over its plans to develop two salt dome storage caverns beneath the...

Will Goliath win this time?

The showdown between Big Oil and those who seek to defend the constitutional right of citizens and their leaders to hold miscreants accountable is coming this week in the state Capitol. It's a true...

Book focuses on artists and their studios

A New Orleans photographer's work will be showcased in a book to be published by the University of Louisiana-Lafayette Press. LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - A New Orleans photographer's work will be showcased...

Bills to scuttle 'Big Oil' suit progress

The state Senate's recent passage of a bill that could scuttle a lawsuit over damage done to coastal wetlands by the oil and gas industry would also seem to scuttle any notion that the political winds...

La. La. Land - Why are our colleges broke?

Monday's Blogs from the Bog! Monday's Blogs from the Bog! Mann: why are state universities broke? APR 28 Blogger Robert Mann isn't buying what Gov. Jindal and his economic cheerleaders are selling....

Recycling returns to Fest today!

A local volunteer's impassioned letter spurs action Greg Guidroz could not believe what he was hearing when he showed up Wednesday, as he's done for the past 14 years, to help out with the recycling...

Cassidy pushes Landrieu to consider oil money bill

Republican challenger urges senator to support House-passed bill to steer more offshore oil and gas drilling money to state for coastal restoration efforts. But Landrieu is pushing her own proposal in...

Senators kill proposal to raise minimum wage

Senators rejected a proposal Thursday that could have increased the minimum wage in Louisiana, a vote that's expected to shelve the debate for the legislative session. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Senators...

22-year-old booked with DWI in death of Jerry Meaux

Longtime SLEMCO board member and racing commission chair killed in two-vehicle accident; driver of car that struck him head-on facing multiple charges. Photo by Dean Church Longtime SLEMCO board...

La. La. Land - We can't get rid of them!

Friday's Blogs from the Bog! Friday's Blogs from the Bog! Beam: We can't get rid of speed traps APR 25 In this post, columnist Jim Beam details this year's attempts to stop towns from setting up...

Jindal as unpopular as Obama in La., oh my!

New York Times poll shows Obama, Jindal have identical approval and disapproval ratings in the state. Photo courtesy White House President Barack Obama talking with Gov. Bobby Jindal aboard Air Force...

La. La. Land - Another billion? That's a deep hole!

Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Another billion? That's a deep hole! APR 24 In addition to the billion-dollar hole predicted for Louisiana's budget in the next couple...

Hunter Beasley: Time for a reality check

Once again, Lafayette Parish School Board President Hunter Beasley is focused on an issue that has nothing to do with the educational well-being of our public school children. Once again, Lafayette...

Sneaky Sandlin tries legislative end run

After exhausting his appeals all the way to the state Supreme Court, the owner of the Tiger Truck Stop in Grosse Tete has no legal remedy left save one: do an end run around the high court via a bill...

Bourque wins Louisiana Writer Award

Louisiana poet Darrell Bourque has won the 2014 Louisiana Writer Award, given annually to recognize outstanding contributions to Louisiana's literary and intellectual life. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -...

Senators reject bill to lessen marijuana penalties

Louisiana won't lessen its penalties for marijuana possession, keeping laws on the books that allow people to be jailed up to 20 years for repeat offenses of having the drug in hand. BATON ROUGE, La....

House says dogs in truck beds should be secure

Drivers would have to secure dogs riding in truck beds while on interstate highways, if the Senate agrees to a bill backed by the House. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Drivers would have to secure dogs...

La. La. Land - La. Politics a Stand-Up Routine

Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Sherman: Louisiana politics a comedy routine APR 22 Louisiana politics is entertainment, nothing more than a comedy routine that...

Boudreaux: close the ‘Jindal gap'

"This is one of the oldest divides that exists, and that divide is about the haves and the have-nots." [From the Editors: We cannot state emphatically enough that we support Councilman...

Senate rejects bill to limit drones in Louisiana

A bid to limit the use of unmanned aircraft on private property in Louisiana stalled Monday in the Louisiana Senate. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A bid to limit the use of unmanned aircraft on private...

Lawmaker shelves bill to name Bible as state book

A Shreveport lawmaker said Monday he's scrapping his proposal to name the Bible as Louisiana's official state book. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A Shreveport lawmaker said Monday he's scrapping his...

La. La. Land - Calling all Zombies!

Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! Calling all zombie fans APR 22 If you're a Walking Dead fan, you might want to check out this story on DIG Baton Rouge about the program's...

State education official arrested

An official with the Louisiana Department of Education was arrested on a range of charges Friday after allegedly breaking into a home and brandishing a knife. Stephanie Funderburk A state education...

Talking from both sides of his mouth

State Rep. Stuart Bishop says he's concerned with the quality of Capitol Lake, but when it comes to Louisiana's coastline, this Lafayette Republican doesn't seem to give a damn. [Update: Blogger C.B....

Lawmakers Worried About Capitol Lake

At a recent fundraiser held not far from the banks of Capitol Lake, Rep. Stuart Bishop, R-Lafayette, spent more time eyeing the water body than the influencers at the party. At a recent fundraiser...

Delay won't quell 2014 wrangling over Keystone XL

Democrats sweating this year's elections may be hoping that the Obama administration's latest delay to the proposed Keystone XL pipeline takes a politically fraught issue off the table for the...

La. La. Land - 'white flags of cowardice'

Monday's Blogs from the Bog! Monday's Blogs from the Bog! Mann: 'White Flags of Cowardice" APR 21 Blogger Bob Mann has been keeping track of all the yellow-bellied sapsuckers in the state...

ATC raid shutters Keg on McKinley

Local and state agents Thursday night raided The Keg, the popular college bar located in the area known as The Strip, leading to the (at least) temporary closure of the venue.

La. La. Land - CB Blocked from Tweets!

Friday's Blogs from the Bog! Friday's Blogs from the Bog! Man, that was quick! APR 18 So Gov. Jindal's new press secretary already has blocked blogger CB Forgotston from her Twitter account, CB...

More words of 'wisdom' from LPSB's Babineaux, Trahan

Time and time again, the Lafayette Parish School Board shows an overwhelming tendency toward idiocy, but Wednesday night's contentious discussion over Northside High School's teen mother program tops...

Crawfish pincher arrested

State wildlife and fisheries agents have arrested a 39-year-old man accused of stealing crawfish. CROWLEY, La. (AP) - State wildlife and fisheries agents have arrested a 39-year-old man accused of...

Lawmaker scraps bill toughening appeals process

An East Feliciana Parish lawmaker has jettisoned his proposal to make it harder for a condemned prisoner to appeal a death sentence. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - An East Feliciana Parish lawmaker has...

Senate continues assault on levee board

Senators advanced a proposal Wednesday that would let the governor remove New Orleans-area levee board members for violating what he considers to be public policy, despite concerns it would introduce...

La. La. Land - Was Joe less than truthful?

Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! TT: JOE NOT COMPLETELY TRUTHFUL? APR 17 At the start of the Tuesday board meeting that ended with his removal from the President's post,...

Council to mull airport tax

The Lafayette City-Parish Council on Tuesday will vote on a resolution that if approved would clear the way for a December ballot proposition asking voters to approve a 1-cent sales tax parishwide to...

BP's shoreline cleanup comes to an end in La

Just days before the fourth anniversary of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster and oil spill, the Coast Guard has moved cleanup of Louisiana's coast to a new phase, allowing BP to end its...

Senate opts against packing heat in Capitol

Legislators still must leave their guns at the door of the Louisiana Capitol. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Legislators still must leave their guns at the door of the Louisiana Capitol. The Louisiana Senate...

Morality police kill anti-sodomy repeal

The Louisiana House overwhelmingly rejected a repeal of the state's unconstitutional anti-sodomy law Tuesday. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Louisiana House overwhelmingly rejected a repeal of the...

Senate backs bill against levee board lawsuit

The Louisiana Senate sided with Gov. Bobby Jindal and the oil industry Tuesday, agreeing to void a lawsuit that a south Louisiana flood board filed against more than 90 oil and gas companies for...

La. La. Land - That's one billion dollars!

Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Kingfish: that's a billion, i say a billion APR 16 Lamar Parmentel writes about the latest forecast for Louisiana's future - and it...

The real reason LPSB needs a security detail

While it isn't all too unusual for public bodies to have hired security present during meetings, the LPSB's push to do so is arguably a response to the antics of one board member. Photo by Robin...

District Judge Conque retiring

15th Judicial District Judge Durwood Conque has announced that he will not seek re-election after 27 years on the bench. 15th Judicial District Judge Durwood Conque has announced that he will not seek...

Senate backs ban on drones in certain locations

The Louisiana Senate has agreed to prohibit unmanned aircraft from flying over chemical plants, water treatment systems, telecommunications networks and other items considered "critical...

KATC called out for ‘victim blaming'

It didn't take long for KATC TV 3 to jump all over the news of a dead body found in Girard Park, but in its rush to produce headlines, the local TV station got sloppy. It didn't take long for KATC TV...

La. La. Land - a press secretary who can't be found?

Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! CB: HELLO?? APR 15 Blogger CB Forgotston is writing in this post about the newest hire by Gov. Bobby Jindal, a press secretary whose only...

‘Baggy Bandits' nabbed in Eunice

An unholy trinity of civil-society upheavalers whose first names are not Conner, Tanner or Logan are facing charges in Eunice. An unholy trinity of civil-society upheavalers whose first names are not...

Woman found dead in Girard Park

Lafayette police are investigating the death of a 21-year-old woman whose body was found early Sunday in a drainage ditch in Girard Park. Alexandria Shelton/Facebook Lafayette police are...

LHA cuts Chris Williams $30k check

Chris Williams knows how to pilfer from the public coffers, this time with a back-pay lawsuit filed three years ago against the Lafayette Housing Authority, which netted the former city-parish councilman a cool five figures.

Green Army wants attention of Sen. Cortez

The Green Army's Lafayette brigade has announced it will pay a visit Friday morning to Sen. Page Cortez to urge him to vote against Sen. Robert Adley's SB 553, which the group is calling the "Big...

LSU students spend spring break restoring wetlands

For the sixth consecutive year, Andy Nyman, LSU associate professor of wetland wildlife management, and his service-learning students plan to spend spring break differently from those students...

The Gulf Oil Spill: A never-ending saga

When a BP oil well began gushing crude into the Gulf of Mexico four years ago, fisherman George Barisich used his boat to help clean up the millions of gallons that spewed in what would become the...

La. La. Land - McAllister-Vitter Fan Fiction

Friday's Blogs from the Bog! Friday's Blogs from the Bog! MCALLISTER-VITTER FAN FICTION APR 11 This post on Raw Story's Panic in Funland blog gives us a Sam Spade-style fictionalization of the...

Who leaked it?

A top aide to a Louisiana congressman videotaped kissing a married woman who is not his wife was one of the few people with access to the leaked security footage that exposed the dalliance. MONROE,...

La. La. Land - Butt Bill advances

Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Butt bill advances APR 10 The so-called Butt Bill advances, WGNO tells us in this post. The bill would make it a crime, punishable by a...

Bogged down by bureaucracy

Aside from being sponsored by Giles Automotive, Acadiana Heroes has nothing to do with the car sales business; it's actually a monthly initiative to spotlight and reward the people who are doing good...

'Cafeteria Conversations' with Cooper

Parents Empowered, a local group of parents from the Lafayette Parish School System, has announced a series of town hall meetings over the coming weeks featuring Superintendent Pat Cooper. Photo by...

Feds keeping tabs on Jindal's voucher program

A federal judge has ordered Louisiana education officials to provide federal lawyers with regular reports each year on students and schools involved in a state voucher program that provides public...

LA getting $300,000 to fight feral swine

The National Feral Swine Management Program is giving Louisiana $300,000 to help reduce the animals' damage to farms, wetlands and other areas. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The National Feral Swine...

La. La. Land - How Big Oil gets away with it

Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Lamar: how big oil gets away with it APR 8 Blogger Lamar White Jr. starts digging into the history of Big Oil and its relationship...

Bill would exempt Horse Farm

House Bill 992 would exempt the Horse Farm property from the Louisiana Public Lease Law, which require public bodies to publicize and open for competitive bidding leases of publicly owned land. The...

KRVS gets Divine intervention

Uber-talented singer-songwriter Johanna Divine has been named sales director at the NPR affiliate. Singer-songwriter Johanna Divine has joined KRVS as the public radio station's new sales director. No...

Vance McAllister's 'Redneck Watergate'

So far, the media's coverage of Congressman Vance McAllister's philandering has overlooked the real issue, argues blogger Lamar White Jr. So far, the media's coverage of Congressman Vance...

La. La. Land - deGrasse Tyson to Speak at Tulane

Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! Tuesday's Blogs from the Bog! deGrasse Tyson to speak at Tulane APR 8 Nerd alert! Neil deGrasse Tyson, the sexy-smart astrophysicist who hosts the new Cosmos (and a...

MoveOn.org prevails in billboard fight

A liberal group that used a state tourism slogan to hit Gov. Bobby Jindal over the governor's refusal to expand Medicaid in Louisiana can continue to use the state's tourism slogan - "pick your...

Rep. McAllister caught in affair

U.S. Rep. Vance McAllister has evidently been outed as something less than the family-values Christian he portrayed himself as when he campaigned last year. [UPDATE: Republican U.S. Rep. Vance...

Robideaux/LOGA bill up for a vote Tuesday

Rep. Joel Robideaux's House Bill 862 will rob parish governments of the ability to sue the oil and gas industry for permit violations. Rep. Joel Robideaux's House Bill 862 will rob parish governments...

Simons hosting memorial for attorney Domingue

On Sunday, April 13, Lafayette attorney Clé Simon and his wife Kathy will host a memorial and celebration of the life of fellow attorney Barry L. Domingue, who took his own life last week in the midst...

2016 campaign checklist: Jindal

A look at preparations by Gov. Bobby Jindal, R-La., for a potential 2016 presidential campaign: BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A look at preparations by Gov. Bobby Jindal, R-La., for a potential 2016...

Arming the Legislature

Some Louisiana lawmakers are fearing for their safety, according to this report from the Advocate, and that fear has prompted a bill from Sen. Bret Allain to allow legislators to pack heat within the...

A teenaged killer says he's rehabilitated

A St. Landry Parish man serving a life sentence for a murder he committed as a teenager has asked for a review of his sentence, according to this report from Eunice Today. A St. Landry Parish man...

Green Army pays Robideaux visit

Green Army claims state Rep. Joel Robideaux is dodging calls from his constituents who want answers on why he's become a "waterboy" for the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association. Photo by...

Adley to the rescue pt. 2

Oil and gas interests have no better friend in Baton Rouge than the combative Sen. Adley Robert Adley rushed out of the state Senate chamber last week - past fellow politicians, past lobbyists wanting...

Attorney Barry Domingue dies

Defendant in Curious Goods synthetic marijuana case shot himself in the head Wednesday morning. Carencro attorney Barry Domingue, who had been on trial this week, accused of conspiring with his...

Pit bull attack raises more questions

Owners of the pit bull that viciously attacked and killed 4-year-old Mia Derouen in Houma last week have lawyered up, leaving local police frustrated and with few answers. Owners of the pit bull that...

Arrested for baring it all

A Lafayette Parish man with a sick fetish was arrested Wednesday for allegedly standing buck naked in his doorway in full frontal view of children waiting for the school bus. A Lafayette Parish man...

Harson finally apologizes, accepts 'criticism'

More than a year after his longtime assistant admitted to her role in a bribery scheme that went on within earshot of his office for four years, D.A. Mike Harson says he's sorry. Mike Harson More than...

Here we go again

Once again (as if the first go-round wasn't enough), the Lafayette Parish School Board appears poised to resurrect last year's so-called "witch hunt" of Superintendent Pat Cooper. Once again...

‘Adam' campaign draws campus backlash

A movement that has popped up on the LSU campus - and possibly elsewhere - seeking to galvanize frank discussions about Christianity and spread the Good News is running into opposition from...

Billboard fight goes to court

The fight between MoveOn.org and the state Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism is heating up this week in federal court, reports the Baton Rouge Advocate. The fight between MoveOn.org and...

Local pastor convicted

Ernest Carter, the pastor of New Life Pentecostal Holiness Church in Scott, was convicted Monday of attempted aggravated rape - a crime that happened nearly three decades ago. Ernest Carter, the...

La. La. Land - That's one busy lawyer!

Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Thursday's Blogs from the Bog! Aswell: that's one busy lawyer! APR 3 Blogger Tom Aswell digs up some interesting info on a Baton Rouge attorney who represents two...

LHA's out-of-court deal with Williams still unknown

After a nearly three-year fight, Chris Williams and the Lafayette Housing Authority have agreed to walk away from the back-pay lawsuit filed by the former city-parish councilman in 2011, with each...

This week in ‘that figures': payday loans

An attempt in the state Senate to rein in predatory payday lenders has been turned into a macabre joke. An attempt in the state Senate to rein in predatory payday lenders, which typically set up shop...

Our ineffectual War on Drugs

"They always say lock 'em up until its their kid." Since its launch in the early 1970s, the War on Drugs has proven to be a misguided endeavor focusing on incarceration over rehabilitation,...

La. La. Land - Elbert & The Boxing Chickens

Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Wednesday's Blogs from the Bog! Elbert out to protect boxing chickens APR 2 See, here's the thing about reading the newspapers in Louisiana on the first day of April....

Medium Rare

Choice cuts from local news media for Tuesday, April 1, including Gov. Jindal's Asian excursion, a lack of funding for an alleged killer's death penalty case and an argument on why Louisiana needs...

Mouton statue removed from old City Hall

A statue of Gen. Alexandre "Alfred" Mouton that had stood in front of the former City Hall for more than 75 years was hoisted out of the ground early Tuesday. Photos by Robin May All that...

Chamber taken to task over Common Core

"For those of us who've followed the changes at the chamber with some discomfort, today is the day our worst fears are realized." The Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce has released its...

Medium Rare

Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Friday, March 28, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Friday, March 28, 2014: Penny Crappell Another white collar criminal gets a slap on the...

MoveOn.org escalates Jindal attack

The liberal group is taking its battle against Gov. Bobby Jindal over the latter's refusal to expand Medicaid in Louisiana from a prominent billboard to the Internet with JindalCare.com. The liberal...

Medium Rare

Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Wednesday, March 26, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Wednesday, March 26, 2014: More ?s than answers The questionable circumstances...

The reign of Hunter Beasley

As LPSB prez, Hunter Beasley's agenda has become clear as he pushes to hire a law firm partial to the school board. If last year's push to buck tradition and hire a consultant to oversee the school...

Coussan currying favor with young professionals

The Lafayette attorney who will seek the seat of term-limited state Rep. Joel Robideaux in 2015 has evidently been working his connections in the under-40 set. Coussan Jean-Paul Coussan, the...

Medium Rare

Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Monday, March 24, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Monday, March 24, 2014: Rearing its ugly, masked head At least one card carrying member of...

Poll: former Gov. Edwards makes the runoff

Silver Fox leads with 43 percent of the vote, followed by Republican Dan Claitor at 20.3 percent. Saying it's not a traditional poll from a widely recognized source, LaPolitics published a story...

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Friday, March 21, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Friday, March 21, 2014: Swim at your own risk Fisherman or potential swimmers may want to...

Durel reaching out

The city-parish president will host a series of town hall meetings with parish residents beginning Tuesday. City-Parish President Joey Durel will host a series of town hall meetings with parish...

Sabine caves; but will it stick?

The public school system in this Bible Belt parish in west Louisiana decided not to fight a lawsuit accusing it of unconstitutional religious practices. File Photo by Robin May A portrait of Jesus...

Is Rep. Robideaux LOGA's 'waterboy'?

According to Louisiana Oil and Gas Association Vice President Gifford Briggs, at least one member of the Acadiana legislative delegation will be going to bat for Big Oil during this year's...

PAR: Fix campaign finance rules

"Louisiana should strive for a campaign finance reporting and enforcement system that promotes compliance, sets a high ethical standard and provides clear procedures that are practical,...

Storm clouds over Artmosphere

The popular bistro-slash-music venue is set to appear Thursday before the state's office of Alcohol & Tobacco Control to prove it's a restaurant and not a bar. [Update: We spoke with ATC...

Lunch on LOGA

The Louisiana Oil and Gas Association is offering a pretty sweet deal, the only catch is you've gotta sit through their spiel about how "greedy trial lawyers" are killing the industry and...

Sources: Feds investigating LPSB 'Saintsgate'

The Lafayette Parish School Board's mishandling of its insurance selection process over the last two years has caught the attention of the FBI. Rina Tikia The Lafayette Parish School Board's...

LPSB's Bouillion announces re-election bid

Lafayette Parish School Board member Kermit Bouillion says he will defend his District 5 seat in the upcoming election. Lafayette Parish School Board member Kermit Bouillion says he will defend his...

Electing the education superintendent

Hot-button education issues ranging from Common Core to charter schools have some lawmakers pushing to scrap the appointing process and go back to electing the state's super. At one time, Louisiana's...

Did Victor White III really shoot himself?

Police say the handcuffed man fatally shot himself in the back, but his family isn't buying the story. Victor White III allegedly died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound earlier this month while in...

Briggs in BR court Monday

Hopefully he'll be better prepared today than he was in that Feb. 20 deposition. Photo by Robin May Don Briggs Louisiana Oil & Gas Association President Don Briggs is scheduled to testify in...

Preaching to the choir?

They came by the hundreds, arriving from all regions of the state to gather on the steps of our Capitol in protest of the Legislature's long tradition of giving industry the go-ahead to abuse our air,...

Jindal slips in annual CPAC straw poll

Gov. Bobby Jindal's recent rhetoric against President Barack Obama has failed to boost his standing among the conservative base. Photo Illustration Gov. Bobby Jindal's recent rhetoric against...

Mr. Bill meets Mr. Governor: Oh no!

The former star of Saturday Night Live throws in his 2 cents on the Big Oil lawsuit. Mr. Bill, the former star of Saturday Night Live, has thrown in his 2 cents on the Big Oil lawsuit. In a new...

Already legal; sorta

While two medical marijuana bills are slated for the upcoming legislative session, what some Louisianans might not know is that the plant was approved for therapeutic use by state lawmakers in...

‘Ducknappers' apprehended!

Two Lafayette men have been revealed by police as the infamous duo behind a caper that shook our fair city to its core. We can all rest easy now, folks. A pair of Lafayette men has been revealed,...

The cost of doing business

The Lafayette Parish School Board has received a second letter of demand related to last year's insurance debacle, this time from Key Benefit Administrators claiming it's owed $93,000 from the school...

Bye-bye, Scofield Bay

The Louisiana coastline is vanishing faster than mappers can keep track. A side-by-side comparison of Adams and Bastian bays from the same perspective (see the Mississippi River upper right in each...

‘Pro-discrimination' bill withdrawn

A bill that would have overridden local ordinances prohibiting public and private employers from discriminating against lesbian, gay and transgender people has been pulled within less than a week of...

Captain Picard's satire escapes some

Conservatives have been losing their minds over this satirical bit on the Colbert Report. Conservatives have been losing their minds over this satirical bit on the Colbert Report, in which Patrick...

Rep. Nancy Landry needs 10k signatures

The Lafayette Parish School Board leaves a lot to be desired, but is scrapping the election process in favor of an appointed board the answer? [Editor's Note: This story has been updated to reflect...

The curious case of Ralph Wadleigh

The circumstances surrounding the Jan. 26 fire of the 18,000-square-foot home on Verot School Road seemed strange, but what's even more bizarre is the back-story behind owner Ralph Wadleigh. The...

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Friday, Feb. 28, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Friday, Feb. 28, 2014: Who steals from the Boys and Girls Club? Somebody. According to this...

Services set for Berard

Al Berard, the gifted Cajun musician and music producer who died suddenly Wednesday following an aneurysm, will be buried following a Mass Saturday in Cecilia. Al Berard, the gifted Cajun musician and...

Sensible sex ed bill on tap

It'll never pass, of course. The Louisiana Family Forum will make sure of that. Rep. Smith A bill that would require public schools in Louisiana to teach age-appropriate sex education has been filed...

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Thursday, Feb. 27, 2014: The annual Summer School for Judges conference in Destin,...

Joshua Broussard is running for school board

When election season rolls around later this year, Lafayette Parish School Board member Tehmi Chassion will have some competition for his District 4 seat. "I'm running for this position because...

Al Berard, masterful Cajun musician, has died

Award-winning multi-instrumentalist and music producer Al Berard was pronounced dead at Our Lady of Lourdes hospital Wednesday after suffering an aneurysm. Al Berard, the award-winning...

Group seeks funding for communal workshop

A newly formed group is working toward opening a "makerspace," or a community workshop where members could have access to tools and the freedom to share creative ideas and work together to...

UL grabs a dozen journalism awards

UL Lafayette collected 12 awards in the Southeast Journalism Conference's 2013 Best of the South competition, presented during the SEJC's 28th annual convention held at the Lafayette Hilton over the...

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014: Lyle Boudreaux Making Louisiana proud For reality TV...

LPSB: 'you scratch my back ...'

"Everything this majority on the board is doing is a joke ... a bad one, but still a joke." Several members of the Lafayette Parish School Board faced fines - some exceeding $1,000 - for...

Five accept posts to LCG revenue committee

A committee organized by City-Parish Council Chairman Kevin Naquin will soon begin taking a look under the hood of Lafayette Consolidated Government's very complex structure with an eye toward making...

Has LHA given up fight against Chris Williams?

The Lafayette Housing Authority, despite repeated assurances it would fight the back-pay lawsuit from former City-Parish Councilman Chris Williams over a lack of evidence proving the work was...

Saints gear to die for?

Not so fast says the NFL franchise, which is challenging an area merchant's use of gold fleurs-de-lis on black coffins with the phrase "Who Dat!" emblazoned across the front. Image...

C'est what? Butch Speer: House clerk, philosopher

"It has to do with what Rep. Champagne intends, where she feels her home is, and if she says her domicile is in District 49, then that's where it is until someone proves it isn't." State...

This week in good ideas: cap ‘payday' loans

The bill, HB 239, would cap the annual interest rate charged by payday lenders at 36 percent. A cadre of Baton Rouge Democrats in the state House of Representatives has filed legislation designed to...

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Thursday, Feb. 20, 2014: Photo courtesy of Louisiana Department of Wildlife and...

C'est what? EWE to run for Congress

Former Gov. Edwin Edwards wants your vote. [Editor's Note: Trina Edwards, the former governor's wife, hedges in a Facebook post on whether her husband is running for governor, writing, "I was...

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014: On Friday, a district judge ruled that New Iberia City...

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014: Photo courtesy of Vermilion Today Sen. Jonathan Perry Louisiana...

Busted in Acadiana's Chris Hebert needs a lawyer

A fourth continuance was granted Tuesday for the felony trial of Busted in Acadiana administrator Chris Hebert, this time because his lawyers withdrew from the case. Chris Hebert A fourth...

The Southern Benefit connection

One burning question from last year's controversial attempt by the LPSB to select a health plan administrator was whether the selection of insurance consultant Rina Tikia was a back-door approach to...

Hub City crime rises

Lafayette saw a 9 percent hike in overall crime in 2013 compared to 2012, according to new data released Monday by the Lafayette Police Department. Lafayette saw a 9 percent hike in overall crime in...

Guillory admits he took bribes from vendors

The former head of the Lafayette and Opelousas housing authorities pleaded guilty in federal court Friday to soliciting and accepting bribes from vendors and for his role in a bid-fixing...

LPSB stands strong, sans Chassion

The Lafayette Parish School Board, in an uncharacteristically short and drama-free meeting, decided against caving to insurance consultant Rina Tikia's demand for $200,000. Lafayette Parish School...

Cassidy: When a demotion is good

U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy has confirmed to the Associated Press that he was bumped from a Republican leadership position in the House after breaking with party leaders. And that's a good thing. U.S. Rep....

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014: Vincent Campell's alleged attempt to swipe a woman's purse...

Odd bedfellows

A strange cast of witnesses has been subpoenaed by the attorney for former City-Parish Councilman Chris Williams for his upcoming civil case against the Lafayette Housing Authority. A strange cast of...

That's the ticket?

New questions arise about whether a consultant for the school system tried to grease the skids with Saints swag. New questions arise about whether a consultant for the school system tried to grease...

A Better SWLA: LC-LF-AX Airport

Why leadership in Lafayette, Lake Charles and Alexandria should look beyond their existing small local horizons and take it to the "20-thousand-foot" level. [Editor's Note: City-Parish...

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2014: Eunice Police officer Richard Abadie was caught on camera in...

Rina Tikia's demand holds no weight

Rina Tikia says in a demand letter to the LPSS that she's owed $200,000 for consulting work, but a close inspection of the controversial matter reveals she may very well be owed nothing. Rina...

A senseless act

Last week's shooting of two endangered whooping cranes in Jefferson Davis Parish deserves justice. One of the resident whooping cranes living near the White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area in...

Bank exec/IND Media partner Jerry Reaux dies

It is with the heaviest of hearts that we report on the death of the longtime Lafayette banker and IND Media founding partner at the age of 53. Jerry Reaux was a fine banker. A fine father and...

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Monday, Feb. 10, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Monday, Feb. 10, 2014: The Gazette is back After ceasing operations in 1996, the Attakapas...

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Friday, Feb. 7, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Friday, Feb. 7, 2014: Jacqueline Frugé Bad, bad teacher While a teacher at Eunice High,...

Make them pay

For far too long, the oil and gas industry has been given free reign by our state's lawmakers to ravage our coastline. For far too long, the oil and gas industry has been given free reign by our...

Gerald Boudreaux eyeing state Senate seat

Longtime parks and rec director confirms his interest in the District 24 seat held by Elbert Guillory. Photo by Terri Fensel Gerald Boudreaux Gerald Boudreaux isn't showing his hand just yet, but...

Tehmi Chassion: The 'boy who cries wolf'

When Lafayette Parish School Board member Tehmi Chassion doesn't get his way, he has one fail safe: He'll call the police and say whoever ruffled his feathers roughed him up. When Lafayette Parish...

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014: Jail Break The two men who escaped the St. Mary Parish Jail early...

Pennies from heaven

A Lafayette resident is pursuing her educational dreams one cent at a time. Photo by Lyndsy Bradley Ana Veal Lafayette resident Ana Veal is turning to social media to help her further her...

New hope for Danielle Wright?

What does Salvadoran fisherman Jose Salvador Avarenga have to do with a 19-year-old UL Lafayette student who vanished seven months ago? Possibly a lot. Danielle Wright What does Salvadoran...

COURhouse could be yours

UL architecture students' sustainable home, on the market for $190k, features a centralized courtyard connecting the living room and kitchen to the outdoors. From 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday,...

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Monday, Jan. 3, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Monday, Jan. 3, 2014: Did police play a role in the unsolved murders of 8 prostitutes? Eight...

Let's grill Joey Durel

Have a question about the comprehensive plan or consolidated government? How about public safety? Nothing is off the table. City-Parish President Joey Durel will present his State of the Parish...

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Friday, Jan. 31, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Friday, Jan. 31, 2014: New Iberia City Councilman David Merrill A councilman haunted by...

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Thursday, Jan. 30, 2014: Photo courtesy of the Franklin Banner-Tribune St. Mary Parish...

Lafayette schools shuttered again Thursday

The Lafayette Parish School System has announced that schools will again be closed on Thursday due to lingering hazardous road conditions. The Lafayette Parish School System has announced that schools...

Curfews being issued due to chill

Discretion is the better part of valor. We suppose. Discretion is the better part of valor. We suppose. Several Acadiana parishes and municipalities are issuing curfews beginning Tuesday evening and...

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Monday, Jan. 27, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Monday, Jan. 27, 2014: A photo by Vermilion Today of a bleacher clearing fight between...

Lafayette Parish schools to close again

In anticipation of another round of wintery weather, the Lafayette Parish School System has announced an emergency closure for Tuesday and Wednesday. In anticipation of another round of wintery...

Saving the coast: the issue of our lifetime

When it comes to issues of wetlands loss, oil exploration and climate change, a new survey by the group America's Wetlands reveals surprising consensus among Republicans, Democrats and...

Harson dispels 'rumors,' saying he's all in

Let there be no doubt he's running, DA Mike Harson says in a recent letter about an upcoming fundraiser: "I understand that there have been rumors to the contrary and I wanted to personally set...

A server's scheme backfires

An Erath woman pleaded guilty in federal court this week to a scheme she cooked up while working at Walk-On's Bistreaux and Bar in Lafayette, according to a press release issued Thursday by U.S....

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Friday, Jan. 24, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Friday, Jan. 24, 2014: Sgt. Frederick Riggenbach of the Chitimacha Tribal Police was...

This week in "Seriously, dude?"

U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy will not stand for taxpayer-funded oil portraits. Nor will he sit for them! U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge In an effort to burnish an otherwise undistinguished tenure...

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014: Shondreka Alexander and her daughter Solage, who is gay, told...

Sabine Parish: The Bible Belt's big brass buckle

The school board in this rural Louisiana parish is facing a federal lawsuit brought by the parents of a student they say was harassed because he isn't Christian. This photo, from a group of...

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2014: Abbeville's gang threat There's been an unexpected rise in gang...

Analysis: Vitter gives Democrats the next move

It may be unprecedented to have three statewide-elected Republicans, all with their own strengths and weaknesses, eyeing the same seat in Louisiana, but U.S. Sen. David Vitter has made it a reality...

Mann: 6 questions for Vitter

Political blogger and LSU professor Robert Mann wonders aloud about some of the possible dynamics in the 2015 race for Louisiana governor. Political blogger and LSU professor Robert Mann wonders aloud...

Dardenne: ‘Hey ... um ... me, too!"

Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne, who long ago declared his intention to be Gov. Bobby Jindal's successor, released a "Mr. Nice Guy" statement Tuesday on the heels of U.S. Sen. David Vitter's...

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Monday, Jan. 20, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Monday, Jan. 20, 2014: Eunice police officer calls chief a bald-face-liar' A civil service...

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Friday, Jan. 17, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Friday, Jan. 17, 2014: Don Briggs Briggs: Elect pro-business judges Louisiana Oil and Gas...

Another Curious Goods conspirator bites the dust

Federal prosecutors received another guilty plea in the Curious Goods conspiracy to mislabel and market synthetic marijuana, leaving three standing, including two Acadiana attorneys who still maintain...

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014: Matthew McConaughey, left, and Woody Harrelson, pictured in...

Beasley keeping it on the down low

Lafayette Parish School Board member Hunter Beasley's plan to call a closed-door executive session to discuss the unpaid invoice submitted by the private contractor hired to oversee the selection of...

Act 1: bitter pill for LPSB?

The sweeping changes to Louisiana's public education system wrought by Act 1 of the 2012 Legislative Session have impacted school districts throughout the state in different ways, especially for the...

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Wednesday, Jan. 15, 2014: Sun Belt Commissioner Karl Benson The squeaky wheel After a...

Another Trahan challenger steps forward

Brian West, a UL Lafayette faculty member, has thrown his hat into the ring. Brian West School board member Rae Trahan will have at least two challengers in November is she chooses to seek...

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014: What's in a name? It seems the so-called controversy over what the...

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Monday, Jan. 13, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Monday, Jan. 13, 2014: Stung by Slate The Yellow Jacket - an accessory developed out of...

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Friday, Jan. 10, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Friday, Jan. 10, 2014: Abbeville's next thriller Filming is under way this week in...

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Thursday, Jan. 9, 2014: K-9 on trial The fate of a Kaplan pit bull who killed its...

CPC elects new leaders

Freshman Councilman Kevin Naquin, a popular Cajun musician who represents northwest Lafayette Parish, is the new chairman of the council. Vice Chairman is Kenneth Boudreaux. In an annual...

Karma owners shutter venue

Karma Nightclub & Lounge is now but a remnant of the sometimes sordid, sideways history of downtown Lafayette revitalization. [Update: As KATC reported, Karma was also the subject of a lawsuit by...

Bertrand repeats on utility board

Lafayette City-Parish Councilman Don Bertrand will serve a second three-year term on the American Public Power Association's Policy Makers Council. Bertrand Lafayette City-Parish Councilman Don...

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Monday, Jan. 6, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Monday, Jan. 6, 2014: C'est What? Blaming a 14-year-old rape victim A scandal is rocking...

Clarifying Act 1

The changes wrought by the passage of Act 1 during the 2012 Legislative Session have proven controversial, for the Lafayette Parish School Board and for school districts statewide, and will be the...

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014: Baby New Year Born at 1:15 a.m. Jan. 1, Isabelle Kate Delahoussaye...

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Monday, Dec. 30, 2013: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Monday, Dec. 30, 2013: Another housing authority scandal In this report from Eunice Today,...

Ethics to former traffic head: be careful

Tony Tramel, the former director of traffic and transportation for Lafayette Consolidated Government, has been told to proceed with caution in his new role as a private traffic consultant lest he run...

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Friday, Dec. 27, 2013: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Friday, Dec. 27, 2013: When cops behave badly A Breaux Bridge Police officer's attempt to...

Walter Guillory going down in housing authority mess

Bribery charge comes three years after executive director resigned from the Lafayette Housing Authority, and there is more to come. Walter Guillory is facing federal bribery and wire fraud charges...

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Thursday, Dec. 26, 2013: Body cams for Eunice PD The Eunice Police Department has joined...

Thad Welch: The policy breach that wasn't

The Lafayette Parish School Board members in pursuit of Superintendent Pat Cooper's job will need to search for new ammunition come 2014, when an external audit report will be released debunking their...

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Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Friday, Dec. 20, 2013: Choice cuts from Acadiana's news media for Friday, Dec. 20, 2013: UL QB Terrance Broadway Bikers make merry Forget the gruff...

Greg Awbrey's December surprise

Lafayette Parish School Board member Greg Awbrey deserves an attaboy for his unexpected vote during Wednesday's meeting approving a mediation session between the board and Superintendent Pat...

Sage advice from outgoing LPSB Prez

In a letter distributed during Wednesday night's meeting, Lafayette Parish School Board member Shelton Cobb, in his final meeting as board president, called on his fellow board members to start...

Breaux Bridge counterfeiter gets 18 months

Joshua Dore of Breaux Bridge was sentenced Tuesday to 1.5 years in prison for counterfeiting, according to a press release issued by U.S. Attorney Stephanie Finley's office on Wednesday. Joshua Dore...

Skylar Credeur's alleged killer now faces life

Kerry Bertrand's charge was upgraded Tuesday by an Acadia Parish grand jury from manslaughter to second-degree murder for his alleged role in the drowning death of his stepdaughter, Skylar...

Enough is enough

The agenda for Wednesday's meeting of the Lafayette Parish School Board tells it all: The board has lost sight of its elected purpose. The agenda for Wednesday's meeting of the Lafayette Parish School...

3 Lafayette bars' liquor licenses suspended

Says ATC Commissioner Troy Hebert, "Obviously, they are not responsible enough to have the privilege of selling alcohol. This blatant disregard of the law will not be tolerated." After being...

5 LPSB members may face fines for absences

Five members of the Lafayette Parish School Board are facing potential fines of as much as $1,400 for excessive absences from board meetings in 2013. Five members of the Lafayette Parish School Board,...

Couillon on da loose: Wilson Viator

It took a unanimous vote of the Youngsville Council to compel the mayor to pay some $7,500 in bills to a few vendors used by the city's PD. Opines Mayor Wilson Viator to himself: "Youngsville...

Guillory to save the lost through ... tourism

America is lost, says state Sen. Elbert Guillory, and that's the reason he'll be running for Lieutenant Gov. come 2015. State Sen. Elbert Guillory America is lost, says state Sen. Elbert Guillory,...

The rebate debate

An ordinance phasing out a rebate businesses receive for collecting and remitting sales taxes is tabled, but it doesn't solve the vexing issue of government revenue. Amid mounting pressure from...

The Advertiser + USA Today = Butterfly Project

As part of a national undertaking known by industry insiders as the "Butterfly Project," a rebranded version of The Daily Advertiser is set to launch with Sunday's edition of the...

She's ba-ack!

The Denham Springs woman who placed Christmas lights in the shape of a butter finger on her roof in a display of anger directed at neighbors has doubled the trouble for the 2013 holiday season. Sarah...

Louisiana choots 'em up

The number of per-year gun deaths in the U.S. is poised to outpace the number of traffic deaths by 2015, except for Louisiana, which is among a handful of states to already eclipse that marker. The...

Shutdown Jr. says Shutdown Sr. will run for gov

That would be Congressman John Fleming talking about Sen. David Vitter. Louisiana Congressman John Fleming, who last October following the shutdown of the federal government vowed to shut 'er down...

‘Secret Cajun Man' too ill for trial?

The alleged mastermind behind the bribery scheme that went on for four years under DA Mike Harson's nose isn't just schizophrenic, bipolar and recovering from mini strokes; he now says he has...

Is the Advertiser catching 'butterflies'

If a recent advertisement in The Daily Advertiser is any indication, speculation the local daily will be implementing the "Butterfly Project" could be more of a reality than the...

Paving Paradise?

Hushed plans for a commercial development along the Louisiana Avenue portion of the Holy Rosary campus put the future of longtime tenant EarthShare Gardens in jeopardy. Hushed plans for a commercial...

Rebate repeal clears intro

An ordinance to phase out a 2 percent rebate to Lafayette merchants for collecting and remitting on time sales taxes cleared the City-Parish Council by a 6-3 vote. Councilman Kevin Naquin An...

La. joins suit against flood insurance hike

Louisiana has joined four other states in filing a so-called "friend of the court" brief in support of Mississippi's lawsuit against the federal government over new flood insurance rates set...

Charge filed against Skylar Credeur's alleged killer

Kerry Wayne Bertrand was charged Monday for the alleged killing of his stepdaughter, Skylar Lee Credeur, a UL Lafayette chemistry major found dead in the bathtub of her family home in August. Kerry...

Another trial delay for Busted in Acadiana's Hebert

The attorneys for Busted in Acadiana administrator Chris Hebert got an extra 2.5 months Monday to prepare for their client's felony trial, marking the third time the case has been delayed this...

Cooper's olive branch

In an effort to ease tensions, Lafayette Parish Superintendent of Schools Dr. Pat Cooper is calling for board approval of two day-long workshops: one to address lingering questions caused by Act 1 of...

Comp Plan draft released

The Citizens Advisory Committee working on Lafayette's comprehensive plan will meet with representatives of planning firm WRT on Tuesday to commence the next stage in developing the plan for...

21 NGOs referred to debt office; Colomb cleared (?)

Nearly two dozen non governmental organizations that have received $2.5 million in state funding have been referred to the newly created state Office of Debt Recovery and the Louisiana Attorney...

Choreographer Breaux dead at 89

The Carencro native and UL alumnus rose to prominence via his work on Mary Poppins' and The Sound of Music.' Choreographer Marc Breaux, right, rehearses with Dick Van Dyke and Julie...

Campus Dems to host Obamacare forum

UL Lafayette's College Democrats will host a public forum on the Affordable Care Act featuring panelists who will highlight the benefits of the law for Louisiana college students. UL Lafayette's...

CPC to consider phase out of vendor tax compensation

The City-Parish Council on Tuesday, Dec. 3 will revisit an ordinance that would end the 2-percent cut merchants in the city and unincorporated parish get for remitting sales tax collections on time....

Alleged victim speaks out in Catholic High scandal

Paula Latiolais' alleged victim steps forward to say he was molested by the former New Iberia Catholic High teacher. Paula Latiolais' alleged victim stepped forward Monday, saying he was molested...

Lafayette bars face revocations

An undercover operation by state officials reveals numerous violations at several Lafayette bars. ATC Commissioner Troy Hebert Several Lafayette bars are facing suspension or "probable"...

Downtown Alive is cancelled!

Let us commence a community-wide gnashing of teeth. Our beloved downtown Friday concert series is no match for Mama Nature this...

Tehmi's playing hooky

State law requires school board members to attend ethics/governance classes annually. LPSB member Tehmi Chassion has attended none this year and fell short in 2012. Photo by Robin May Tehmi...

9/11 ‘vandal' cleared by grand jury

Thirty-five-year-old Salvador Perez of Lafayette was facing a charge of criminal damage to historic buildings after being arrested on the 12th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. A Lafayette Parish grand...

Six pack of fools

Six Lafayette Parish School Board members violated their own policy Wednesday night by terminating their relationship with the 15th Judicial District Attorney's Office, begging the question: Must they...

Colomb lawyers up amid Kennedy crusade

Sterling Colomb, executive director and founder of the Lafayette-based Colomb Foundation, has hired high-powered Baton Rouge attorney Mary Olive Pierson to fend off state Treasurer John Kennedy's...

A taxing issue

Whether a sales and property tax election is put before voters in May will depend on Wednesday night's vote by the Lafayette Parish School Board. Whether a sales and property tax election is put...

Boustany targeted by teapsters

U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, might be looking at another challenge from the right, assuming he seeks re-election to a sixth term in Congress next year. U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany,...

Stakes are high with Common Core

With more complaints than big ideas being heard, supporters and opponents are wondering what happens next in regard to Common Core. With more complaints than big ideas being heard, supporters and...

‘Judge Reggie' dead at 87

Edmund Reggie, one of the most well-connected people ever in state politics, has died. Edmund Reggie, one of the most well-connected people ever in state politics, has died. According to the family,...

Ousted flood board member touting new organization

Historian John Barry is among those launching a new organization formed to boost public support for a south Louisiana flood control board's lawsuit against oil and gas companies over coastal wetlands...

Analysis: Jindal in shadows of flood rate fight

Despite the calls for alarm, Gov. Bobby Jindal has largely stayed quiet on an issue that is one of the biggest worries in his home state. An AP News Analysis BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Steep rate...

This week in couillon: Lindel Toups

The Lafourche Parish councilman has him some priorities all right: send the sons of bitches back to Mexico and build a new jail. Yeah, this guy A Lafourche Parish councilman has him some priorities...

Man the gannons, it's all-out war-telle!

Prepare to overdose on the adjectives scrumptious, sumptuous, elegant and regal as The Acadiana Advocate and The Daily Advertiser go to battle in "the ladies' section" of their respective...

North La. race highlights GOP divide

But the battle between political newcomer Vance McAllister and state Sen. Neil Riser isn't tea party outsider vs. the chamber of commerce politician. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Republican Party's...

Finances improving for state-run property insurer

Steve Cottrell, chief financial officer for the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp., said the company's doing better than projected but is still $15 million in the red, with more money owed...

Gulf states get first $113M from oil spill fines

The grants were announced Thursday by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. Louisiana is getting $67.9 million, Florida $15.7 million, Alabama $12.6 million, Texas $8.8 million and Mississippi...

Two parishes file suits against oil companies

The lawsuits allege a variety of environmental law violations, including operating unpermitted waste pits and the dredging of canals without proper permits. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Two southeast Louisiana...

House speaker opens door to tuition changes

Legislation granting university boards more control over tuition didn't make it through this year's regular session, but House Speaker Chuck Kleckley, R-Lake Charles, said he's willing to give it...

Gumbo weather racing into Acadiana

Areas south of Interstate 10, including Lake Charles, Lafayette and New Orleans, will still see cold winds, but will likely stay above freezing. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Winter will sweep into Louisiana...

Evidence in kidnap suspect's death headed to DA

Scott Thomas, 29, was found shot Friday at an abandoned house in Duson, and autopsy results are pending. Bethany Arceneaux Evidence in the death of a man apparently shot as he stabbed his kidnapping...

C'est what, Advocate?

It's the "Official Newspaper of the New Orleans Saints." You wouldn't know it from the sports section in today's Acadiana edition. We respect The Advocate. It is, pound for pound - as...

Landrieu threatened by rollout of health law

Mary Landrieu needs some good news from the federal health care law - and soon - or an issue that's already tricky for the Democratic U.S. senator's 2014 re-election bid threatens to become a tough...

What's been up with Beasley?

LPSB member Hunter Beasley's role in this year's selection of an administrator for the school system's group benefits plan recently drew the ire of many teachers and retired educators, and was the...

Obama to pitch US exports at New Orleans port

President Barack Obama is heading to the Gulf Coast to make the case that more exports equals more jobs. [Editor's Note: At the invitation of the White House, Lafayette City-Parish Councilman Kenneth...

State to cut food stamp benefits for overspending

Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration intends to strip food stamps from people who are believed to have deliberately spent more than their monthly benefits when the electronic food stamp service was down...

Louisiana Medicaid program has $50M budget gap

State health officials are asking lawmakers to close with more money, rather than cuts. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's Medicaid program that cares for the poor, elderly and disabled has a $50...

LPSB: Why buy the cow when the milk's free?

The Lafayette Parish School Board has developed an unhealthy reliance in on paying for its legal advice, and that advice hasn't come cheap. Despite having an appointed assistant district attorney from...

Fundraising has two faces for Cassidy

The fundraising gap in the U.S. Senate race between Sen. Mary Landrieu and Congressman Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, is not getting smaller and is actually larger than reported. The fundraising gap in...

Lawmakers say shift to Common Core moving too fast

Lawmakers said Monday they support toughening Louisiana's educational standards, but they criticized state education leaders for the way the standards have been rolled out in school districts. BATON...

Vitter seeks tougher response on food stamp misuse

Vitter accused people who overspent their benefits of theft and said they should be prosecuted and ousted from the food stamp program. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - State leaders haven't done enough to...

Donelon: At least 80,000 face canceled policies

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says at least 80,000 people in Louisiana won't be able to keep their current insurance coverage because of the federal health overhaul. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -...

C'est what, An LPSB member with leadership concerns?

The agenda for Wednesday's Lafayette Parish School Board meeting includes a discussion item from a board member who wants to share his "personal" thoughts and "concerns" on styles...

Audit: DHH paid $1.9M for Medicaid for dead people

Louisiana paid nearly $1.9 million last year through the state's privatized Medicaid programs for 1,727 people who were not receiving services because they had died, according to an audit released...

Court to hear arguments on BP oil spill settlement

A federal appeals court is set to hear dueling arguments on whether a judge should have approved BP's multibillion-dollar settlement for compensating victims of its 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of...

Seabaugh skips 2014 Senate race, endorses Cassidy

A Republican state lawmaker who had talked about entering Louisiana's U.S. Senate race has decided against a campaign. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A Republican state lawmaker who had talked about entering...

Pardon our progress

You've probably noticed some glitches at theind.com. We're aware of them. You've probably noticed some glitches at theind.com. We're aware of them. Late last week we switched over to a larger server...

US Senate OKs further support for Chimp Haven

It would let the secretary of Health and Human Services override a $30 million cap on federal money for Chimp Haven if that would cut the cost of maintaining chimpanzees owned by the National...

Whooping cough up in La, Texas, Ark

Whooping cough has set a post-1960s record in Louisiana and state officials are asking doctors to keep an eye out for it. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Whooping cough has set a post-1960s record in Louisiana and...

Study calls on La. to change sentencing laws

Louisiana should shrink its prison population and costs by repealing minimum mandatory sentences for nonviolent crimes. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana should shrink its prison population and costs...

Not all legislators paid the same

In total, the state spent $6.1 million last calendar year compensating, in terms of taxable income, the elected members of the Legislature, including $4.3 million doled out by the House and $1.7...

Landrieu's embrace of Obamacare targeted

A Republican outside political group says it will spend more than $2 million in advertising in the coming weeks to tie Senate Democrats Kay Hagan of North Carolina and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana to...

Karma celebrates by hosting knife fight?

No. But word of a pair of stabbings in the downtown mega club last weekend will no doubt have many shaking their heads and muttering, "I told ya so!" Just days after reaching an agreement...

Lawmakers push to delay huge flood insurance hikes

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is pressing for a four-year delay to changes to the federal government's flood insurance program that are threatening to sock thousands of people with unaffordable...

41 state schools participate in tolerance project

The 12th annual National Mix It Up at Lunch Day, sponsored by the Southern Poverty Law Center's Teaching Tolerance project, encourages students to sit with someone new in the cafeteria for just one...

Seatbelt use up in La., but below national average

The Louisiana Highway Safety Commission says an annual survey to determine how many people buckle up showed the percentage had risen to 82.5 percent of drivers and front-seat passengers following the...

LPSB's Awbrey: Let's shoot the messenger

The Lafayette Parish School Board member representing District 6 in Lafayette evidently wants to can the district attorney's office as legal counsel for the board. Greg Awbrey The Lafayette Parish...

French ambassador to address UL grads

French Ambassador Francois Delattre will be the featured speaker Dec. 20 for graduation exercises at UL Lafayette. LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - French Ambassador Francois Delattre will be the featured...

Crystal Ball gives Landrieu an edge

"We'll save our Republican friends a recitation of all the damage they did to themselves during the recent battle over the government shutdown and the debt limit. Anyone who can read a poll knows...

State releasing latest school, district grades

State education officials are preparing to release the latest evaluations of public schools and school districts - including letter grades that take into account student achievement on state...

La. about average in international test comparison

A new report comparing eighth-graders in the United States with 38 other countries shows that Louisiana students scored slightly above the international average in science and on par with the average...

Regents asks for $87M budget increase next year

The Board of Regents approved its 2014-15 budget request Wednesday, to be forwarded to the governor's Division of Administration. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The state's top higher education board is...

Feds oppose parents' intervention in voucher case

Gov. Bobby Jindal, a voucher proponent, accused Justice Department lawyers Wednesday of trying to "muzzle" parents. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The U.S. Justice Department says parents of Louisiana...

Today in awesome: Horse Farm packs 'em in

Dozens of Lafayette residents filled a meeting room at the Rosa Parks Transportation Center downtown over the lunch hour to offer their input on what they want the Horse Farm to look like when design...

Back to the drawing board

The Lafayette Parish School Board decided during Tuesday's special meeting to restart the process of selecting an administrator for the school system's health benefits program. 15th Judicial District...

Lawmakers look into flood insurance rate hikes

The House and Senate insurance committees planned a special public hearing on the topic Wednesday, as they look for ways to stop or lessen the skyrocketing rates. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana...

LPSB: Tuesday's meeting may not be legit

Tuesday's special meeting of the Lafayette Parish School Board - called by the board's president to deal with confusion created by this year's selection of a group health plan provider - appears to be...

Voucher contract with firm could grow

Even though BESE recently approved a $150,000 contract with a D.C. firm to defend the state against a lawsuit from the U.S. Justice Department, there are indications the payoff could be much larger....

What do you want the Horse Farm to become?

Offer your input beginning Wednesday during a series of forums aimed at drilling down on a community vision for the park. The "Share Your Vision" forum series that will allow Lafayette...

Voucher program grows by 1,800 students this year

Lawsuits, funding concerns and questions about quality haven't stopped the growth of Gov. Bobby Jindal's voucher program. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Lawsuits, funding concerns and questions about quality...

Karma, state reach agreement

The downtown Lafayette nightclub facing a possible revocation of its liquor permit has reached an accord with the state and will remain in business. Karma on a typical Saturday night The downtown...

Analysis: Pay raises uneven across La. government

State government employees are getting pay raises again, but the policies are not uniform across agencies, creating a system of haves and have-nots where pay raises aren't dictated by performance...

Republicans keep 'Obamacare' in their sights

Or, if at first you don't succeed, and you don't succeed on the next 39 tries and you shut down the federal government to no avail, by all means try, try again! WASHINGTON (AP) - "Obamacare"...

LPSB catches its head

Perhaps blinded by the notion of an alleged $8 million in savings, the Lafayette Parish School Board appears to have since seen the light on how this year's selection of a group health plan provider...

2nd candidate enters HD 45 race

Jean-Paul Coussan, a Lafayette attorney and partner at the real estate title company Andrus Boudreaux, has announced his intention to replace popular term-limited state Rep. Joel Robideaux. Jean-Paul...

Boustany proves sensible, responsible

U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, deserves an attaboy after demonstrating an increasingly rare trait on Capitol Hill late Wednesday: sanity. U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, deserves an...

LPSB plays dodgeball

Faced with a long list of problems surrounding its selection of a group health plan provider, the Lafayette Parish School Board instead zeroed in during Wednesday's meeting on the most minute of the...

La. senators split on budget deal

Democrat Mary Landrieu voted for it, saying important work was halted by what she called "antics by a few in the House." Republican David Vitter said he was against the bill because it...

Report says 242,000 uninsured in coverage gap

More than 242,000 poor, uninsured Louisiana residents fall into a health care coverage gap because the state isn't expanding its Medicaid program. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - More than 242,000 poor,...

BESE tweaks regulations for Common Core standards

Louisiana's top school board made modest tweaks Wednesday to its regulations governing the state's shift to tougher testing and educational standards, in response to critics who wanted the standards...

Jindal names 3 to board that sued oil companies

Governor makes good on promise to not re-appoint anyone who supported the lawsuit to the nine-member Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority-East. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Gov. Bobby Jindal has named...

And another one bites the dust

It's not too surprising that within a few weeks of announcing its new publisher, another head at The Daily Advertiser, has, well, rolled. It's not too surprising that within a few weeks of announcing...

Who is Key Benefit Administrators?

For two years running, the Lafayette Parish School Board's selection of a group health benefits provider has been tainted with misinformation, fuzzy math and a push to hire a company with a résumé...

La. high court strikes down immigrant driver law

Divided court rules that the state law is pre-empted by a federal law that imposes similar requirements but carries a lighter punishment. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The Louisiana Supreme Court has struck down...

FIL names new exec. director

Festival International de Louisiane announced Tuesday evening that Missy Paschke-Wood has been name executive director. Festival International de Louisiane announced Tuesday evening that Missy...

Out of context

Shortly after our blog on BESE's approval of the two applications for Type 2 charters hit TheIND.com on Tuesday, a conversation about comments made by Lafayette Parish Schools Superintendent Dr. Pat...

As predicted, the charters are coming.

After foregoing its chance to have an oversight role by denying the applications last month from two charter operators to open Type 1 charter schools, the Lafayette Parish School Board will still be...

Landrieu outpaces Cassidy in latest fundraising

Information released by the campaigns indicates Landrieu raised nearly twice as much as Cassidy in the fundraising period from July through Sept. 30. The reports were due Tuesday to the Federal...

BESE hears concerns about Common Core standards

Groups of parents, tea party supporters and teacher union leaders are asking the state's top school board to change course on the use of tougher educational standards called the Common Core. BATON...

Does 2012 La gun amendment trump 1975 law?

Louisiana's law banning felons from having guns is too loosely drawn to stand up under a newer constitutional amendment protecting the right to bear arms, the attorney for a man who once pleaded...

Southern Dems mostly careful on shutdown

In the tempest over shutdown politics, Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu stands out among Southern Democratic candidates with her embrace of the three-year-old health care law at the core of Capitol Hill...

Deslatte: Grim reality for La. women

A raft of recent reports and census data showed Louisiana fared poorly in pay equity, economic security, safety, representation in government and health outcomes. Louisiana's women received a string...

Lawyers could cash in on education lawsuit

Lawyers for a Louisiana school board and a state teacher union could get a windfall of up to $20 million if successful in their lawsuit claiming the state's school funding formulas were not properly...

Council agenda: pay raises, border dispute

Pay hikes for public-safety employees and a disagreement over the Lafayette-Vermilion parish line top Tuesday's council action. The Lafayette City-Parish Council on Tuesday will consider three...

Charter issue heats up as BESE decision nears

Opposition is growing more vocal as the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education prepares to make its final decision on the applications from two companies seeking Type 2 Charter status in...

U.S. Attorney's Office running half-kiltered

The U.S. Attorney's Office for Louisiana's Western District continues to feel the impact of the partial shutdown of the federal government. The U.S. Attorney's Office for Louisiana's Western District...

Oh no he didn't!

KATC is reporting quite a story about Louisiana's latest rising Republican star. With his "Why I am a Republican" video now inching toward 1 million hits on YouTube and spiteful hatemongers...

That litigious Jerry Baldwin

The former UL head football coach is crying race in yet another lawsuit, this time against the state Department of Education. Jerry Baldwin Jerry Baldwin sees the world in black and write: "You...

Iberia deputy terminated for overt force

Outcry over the altercation during last month's Sugar Cane Festival between residents of New Iberia's predominately black West End community and the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office has resulted in the...

New task force to study La. college tuition rates

The study panel was asked to look at: the impact of increased tuition rates on the state's free college tuition program called TOPS; strategies for increasing college access and affordability; and new...

La. residents slowly signing up for insurance

Insurance companies are seeing an uptick in the small number of people in Louisiana signing up for health insurance plans through the federally run marketplace, but enrollments remain low as people...

Former DHH secretary's deposition set for Oct. 29

Gov. Bobby Jindal's one-time health secretary will be questioned under oath Oct. 29 in a lawsuit filed against the Jindal administration over a canceled Medicaid contract. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov....

State has more than $2M budget gap for elections

Louisiana's election expenses are running over-budget. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's election expenses are running over-budget. According to an update from the Legislature's fiscal analysts, the...

Truck stop owner vows to keep up fight for tiger

Last week, the state Supreme Court refused to hear Michael Sandlin's appeal over a license he lost to keep the 550-pound Bengal tiger in his 3,200-square-foot cage near Baton Rouge. NEW ORLEANS (AP) -...

The little house that couldn't

City-Parish President Joey Durel so wanted to save the white house on the Horse Farm property, but it's just not in the cards. City-Parish President Joey Durel has long hoped to save the white wooden...

Vouchers: much ado about not much?

"Taxpayers across the U.S. will soon be spending $1 billion a year to help families pay private school tuition - and there's little evidence that the investment yields academic gains." A...

La Supreme Court won't hear truck stop tiger case

Animal Legal Defense Fund attorney Matthew Liebman says that's probably the end of the road in this case. Michael Sandlin and Tony in "happier" times NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A truck stop owner...

La. agencies hold off most shutdown impacts so far

But as the stalemate stretches into its second week, uncertainty lingered Monday about whether agencies can continue to hold off the shutdown's impacts on federally funded programs. BATON ROUGE, La....

Leader says schools given little Common Core help

The executive director of the Louisiana School Boards Association says state education leaders have improperly left local districts to grapple with applying a more rigorous set of testing standards...

Jeff Landry for AG?

LaPolitics raises the question - again. In a Monday post, LaPolitics' Jeremy Alford says Dems may see an opportunity in the AG's office, writing: Democrats see the Republican statewide official - he...

La. ‘only' 7th most-dangerous state

The stark reality of crime in Louisiana is reflected in its murder rate: 10.8 per 100,000. That is the worst in the country. Typically a bottom dweller in good rankings and top o' the list on the...

Army Corps awards Carencro contract

Construction of phase I is expected to begin November 2013 and includes excavation of a detention pond, construction of concrete slope paving, clearing and grubbing and installation of erosion...

Horse Farm master planning kicks off Oct. 12

LPTFA will present $2.6 million check to Lafayette Central Park to get the ball rolling. What do you want Lafayette's central park to look like? Have your vision heard by attending the kick-off of the...

TS Karen will stop river traffic at SW Pass

Traffic at the mouth of the Mississippi River stopped at 6 a.m. CDT Friday as coastal Louisiana prepared for a possible strike by Tropical Storm Karen, which is churning in the Gulf of Mexico. NEW...

La. continues WIC, despite federal budget battle

Louisiana will continue operating a nutrition program for more than 140,000 low-to moderate income women and children even though the federal government is in the midst of a partial shutdown. A sign...

Horse Farm forums set

Lafayette Central Park Inc. will be fielding ideas on what the public wants the 100 acres to become at a series of forums in late October. With a consulting/design team contracted and the project...

Tropical Storm Karen forms in the Gulf of Mexico

Hurricane watch in effect from Fla. to La. The Louisiana Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness released the following statement: GOHSEP is closely monitoring Tropical Storm...

A not-so-sweet tradition: Iberia Sheriff versus black people

Somewhat of a tradition is in the making in Iberia Parish, one that coincides with the annual Sugar Cane Festival, but instead of celebrating the start of harvest, this developing new custom is one shared solely by the city's predominately black West End community and the sheriff's office.

Council goes all Obamacare on country peeps

The parallels are striking, and the measure went before the council on the day the Affordable Care Act marketplace opened for business. On the day that open enrollment in the health insurance...

GOP states offer little help on buying insurance

But in the 36 mostly Republican states that left the operation of their exchanges to the federal government, consumer interest Tuesday was high. ATLANTA (AP) - After three years of bashing President...

State wildlife refuges to remain open

As deer and resident small game hunting seasons open this week, state officials say Louisiana hunters can access nearly 1.5 million acres of Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries-managed...

Senator: Flood insurance bill blocked by politics

A bipartisan proposal to delay federal flood insurance rate hikes that take effect Tuesday is being stymied by a bitter congressional dispute over President Barack Obama's signature health care...

Caught Up in the Cover-up

A widespread practice of falsifying documents prompts an internal affairs investigation of the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center, resulting in the need for a scapegoat.

Pooyie for October 2013

It's good. It's bad. It's just plain crazy! C'EST BON What's that rustling in the coop? Ah yes, it's the chickens coming home to roost. The FBI and HUD wasted no time launching an investigation into...

Fall is for Fashion

Lafayette kicks off a season of style. Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2013 By Amanda Bedgood, Style Editor September is the month for fashion globally. Lafayette is no different. It all kicked off with the IND...

Lafayette-Vermilion border dispute wakes up

A long-running squabble between Lafayette and Vermilion parishes could get new life beginning Tuesday when the Lafayette City-Parish Council votes on rejecting a 2003 State Land Office survey that was...

C'est what, Rep. Fleming?

John Fleming was elected by Louisiana voters. Just sayin'... U.S. Rep. John Fleming, R-1%, is a skeptical man. Increasingly aligned with the Tea Party faction of the GOP, the Minden physician is...

Greenstein deposition set for Oct. 10

The former DHH secretary will be deposed as part of a lawsuit filed by CNSI accusing the state of breach of contract. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A Baton Rouge judge refused on Monday to delay the...

Former DHH secretary to be deposed in lawsuit

A Baton Rouge judge refused on Monday to delay the deposition of Gov. Bobby Jindal's one-time health secretary in a wrongful termination lawsuit filed against the Jindal administration over a canceled...

Jindal invites Obama for school visit

Gov. Bobby Jindal is asking President Barack Obama to check out Louisiana's voucher program firsthand, saying the visit would make him scrap an administration lawsuit against the program. BATON ROUGE,...

Jindal facing pressure on Common Core

Common Core standards are causing fear and anxiety among tea party supporters and conservative groups. An AP News Analysis BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's adoption of uniform national standards...

One down in housing authority debacle; who's next?

"I believe she was instructed to make it happen," one source says of 75-year-old Garnette Thomas, who pleaded guilty Thursday to circumventing state and federal bid laws. There is no doubt...

LSU board hit with penalty in public records case

The price tag for the LSU Board of Supervisors' refusal to publicly release its presidential search records has topped $140,000. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The price tag for the LSU Board of Supervisors'...

La. worst state for women

You haven't come a long way, baby. A state-by-state examination of women's issues by the Center for American Progress reveals what most Louisiana women already know: the not-so-great Bayou State ranks...

Former La. Ag Commissioner Dozier dies

His son's law office in Lafayette confirmed the death Wednesday but did not release the cause. LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - Gil Dozier, a former Louisiana's Commissioner of Agriculture and Forestry whose...

EPA says US falls short in shrinking dead zone

Speaking in Minneapolis on Tuesday, Environmental Protection Agency officials said states in the river's watershed need to accelerate efforts to cut pollution from farm field runoff and discharges...

New flood insurance rates spark anxiety in Gulf

The rate hikes, which go into effect on Oct. 1, are due to the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2012, which removed federal subsidies from properties in flood zones. TREASURE ISLAND, Fla....

This week in ‘I will shoot you in the rear end'

State Rep. Jeff Thompson, R-Shoot-em-up, likes him some guns-n-ammo and the right to bear arms, and today he hosted a "Guns and Coffee" event to protest Starbucks' asking customers last week...

Louisiana school voucher dispute may be ending

In a letter to House Speaker John Boehner, the department said the state has agreed to provide information to the federal government on the program. The Obama administration says the voucher...

Jindal asked to seek $45M in education funding

Jindal's office says the governor is leaving the decision to the Department of Education. And education department spokeswoman Anna Gatlin said Tuesday that Superintendent of Education John White...

Lawmaker to Jindal: Keep La. out of Common Core

A Jefferson Parish lawmaker urged Gov. Bobby Jindal to stop the state from using a set of uniform national standards for public school testing, called the Common Core. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A...

Donelon: Fewer customers have Citizens insurance

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says the Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. has 105,000 policies, representing about 3 percent of the property insurance market in the state. BATON ROUGE,...

Coastal groups seek volunteers for beach project

Project organizers say volunteers will plant more than 12,000 plugs of dune grass which helps stabilize the beach along Grand Isle, the state's only inhabited barrier island. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -...

Downtown bar under fire

Troy Hebert, the commissioner of the state Alcohol & Tobacco Control agency, presided over a three-plus hour hearing Monday morning in the City-Parish Council auditorium at City Hall concerning...

La. touting its beers on new Craft Brewery Trail

Hoist a mug in celebration of Louisiana's brews. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Hoist a mug in celebration of Louisiana's brews. That's the latest tourist attraction that Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne is...

Environmentalists win dead zone round against EPA

Environmental advocates in states along the Mississippi River have won a round toward a long-term goal of having federal standards created to regulate farmland runoff and other pollution blamed for...

Tax amnesty program accepting applications

Louisiana's tax amnesty program is up and running for delinquent taxpayers seeking a reprieve from penalties in paying their back-owed taxes. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's tax amnesty program is...

Here comes ‘The Governor's Wife'

View the trailer for the new reality show on A&E, "The Governor's Wife," which features former Gov. Edwin Edwards and his wife, Trina. This clip on Vimeo isa promo for the new reality...

Chris Williams' day in court is coming

The fight between former City-Parish Councilman Chris Williams and the Lafayette Housing Authority will finally come to a close early next year as a date was set last week by 15th Judicial District...

State's rights in clinic plan under negotiation

Leaders of Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration say they are still negotiating the contract that will have the state spending $15 million to build clinics for two private hospitals taking over services...

Team selected for Horse Farm design

And the winner is ... Design Workshop. Lafayette Central Park Inc. announced Friday morning that a team of designers, architects, ecologists and engineers comprising firms and independent contractors...

Broussard mayor displeased with LPSB's charter vote

The Lafayette Parish School Board's lopsided decision to deny the opening of two Type 1 charter schools drew a stern rebuke Thursday from Broussard Mayor Charlie Langlinais. The Lafayette Parish...

LCP announcing Horse Farm master planner Friday

Citing an effort to protect the integrity of the process, Lafayette Central Park keeps a lid on finalists. On Wednesday several reps of Lafayette Central Park Inc. clarified to The IND why the...

Local MPO committee doesn't have to disclose income

Members of the Citizens Advisory Committee for the Lafayette Metropolitan Planning Organization will not have to file personal financial disclosure statements with the state Board of Ethics. Members...

Abbeville atty to seek 15th JDC seat

Former Assistant Attorney General Burton Guidry announced Thursday he will be a candidate for the Division G seat on the 15th Judicial District Court next year. Former Assistant Attorney General...

Addressing the 'elephant in the room'

Eyebrows could be raised by the Faith and Character Task Force - a component of Superintendent Dr. Pat Cooper's Turnaround Plan for the Lafayette Parish School System. Eyebrows could be raised by the...

Saints aim to fix red-zone woes

Drew Brees sees no reason why the offense he leads shouldn't approach the 40-point plateau on a regular basis. Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) congratulates tight end Jimmy Graham during the team's...

Census: No sign of economic rebound for many in US

Even as the economy shows signs of improvement and poverty levels off, new U.S. census data suggests the gains are halting and uneven. Depending on education, race, income and even marriage, not all...

La. governor demands feds drop suit against state

In an appearance blocks from the Justice Department that was just as much about politics as policy, Jindal said President Barack Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder would not send their children to...

Duplessis to head pro-voucher group

Former state Sen. Ann Duplessis has been named president of the Louisiana Federation for Children, the state arm of a national group that supports private school tuition vouchers. NEW ORLEANS (AP) -...

Hoax article fools some in small Louisiana city

An article on a satire website got folks in DeQuincy calling to ask whether the government had really banned the hip-thrusting dance called twerking. DEQUINCY, La. (AP) - An article on a satire...

Saints CB Robinson out for season with knee injury

Robinson, a 2010 first-round draft choice, injured his patella tendon during the third quarter of New Orleans' 16-14 victory at Tampa Bay last Sunday. METAIRIE, La. (AP) - Saints coach Sean Payton...

Judge orders new trial in Katrina bridge killings

"Grotesque prosecutorial misconduct" forces new trial for five former NO PD officers, judge says, noting at least three government attorneys posted anonymous comments on nola.com, creating a...

Lafayette among 32 parishes under burn ban

Until it is rescinded, permission from the local fire department or local government is needed for any private burning. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Half of Louisiana's parishes are too dry to allow...

EWE & Larry King event draws lackluster crowd

Expectations of a sold-out crowd for the live Sept. 8 interview between former CNN talk show host Larry King and Louisiana's favorite former governor, Edwin Edwards, were dashed recently when more...

House Republicans: End La. voucher challenge

House Speaker John Boehner and other Republican congressional leaders urged the Justice Department on Tuesday to end efforts that could block Louisiana from issuing new private school tuition vouchers...

Presidential search records turned over to judge

The LSU Board of Supervisors has given its presidential search records to a Baton Rouge judge, who will keep them hidden during an appeal of her ruling that the documents are public records. BATON...

Concerns raised about navigating health exchange

State lawmakers said Tuesday they are concerned about a shortage of people helping Louisiana residents sign up for new insurance options available under the federal health care law. BATON ROUGE, La....

Colomb questions Kennedy motives

Sterling Colomb, the founder of the local Colomb Foundation and one of three dozen Louisiana non-governmental organizations in the cross hairs of state Treasurer John Kennedy, is pushing back against...

LSU, newspapers reach deal over search records

LSU's governing board and two Louisiana newspapers have reached a temporary agreement about the records involved in the board's presidential search. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - LSU's governing board...

Sal's been sprung

Salvador Perez, the Lafayette street artist arrested last week for a guerrilla-style art exhibit using the downtown 9/11 memorial, was bonded from jail early this morning following a blitzkrieg...

Two Horse Farm design team finalists chosen

We now know local talent was well represented among six master planning teams interviewed for the job Friday, but the names of the two finalists remain a secret. [Update: LCP board member Pharr tells...

9/11 ‘vandal' still in jail; cavalry mounts

The Lafayette man accused of defacing the 9/11 memorial downtown remains behind bars as a movement to spring him from the Lafayette Parish Correctional Center builds steam. Salvador Perez [Update: The...

LHA responds to Williams' lawsuit

A response was submitted Monday by the Lafayette Housing Authority's legal counsel denying all allegations made in a recently refiled back pay lawsuit by former City-Parish Councilman Chris...

It's on: Robideaux fundraiser set for NOLA

If there was any doubt that state Rep. Joel Robideaux wants to replace the term-limited Joey Durel as the next city-parish president, put it to pasture. State Rep. Joel Robideaux If there was any...

Cops make arrest in memorial 'vandalism'

A spokesman for the Lafayette Police Department says officers have arrested 35-year-old Salvador Perez of Lafayette in connection with the creative "truther" art installation/vandalism...

Update: Mouton gets home detention, probation

A Justice Department prosecutor recommended a four-year prison sentence for Henry Mouton, who took nearly $464,000 in bribes in exchange for trying to help eliminate business competition for the...

LPTFA approves $60k for PACE

The Lafayette Public Trust Financing Authority approved a $60,000 funding allocation on Tuesday to help the Acadiana Center for the Arts in its push to keep the PACE program alive in the Lafayette...

Judge lifts stay in CNSI lawsuit against state

A Maryland company can move forward with its wrongful termination lawsuit against Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration for canceling the firm's $200 million Medicaid contract with the state, a judge...

Ex-wildlife official to be sentenced for payoffs

Henry Mouton of Lafayette faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison when he is sentenced by U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A former Louisiana wildlife official is...

This week in whackadoo: Truthers strike 9/11 memorial

Conspiracy theorists who believe the United States government orchestrated the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon marked the 12th anniversary of the event by festooning the...

Fiscal analysts: LSU hospital deals $39M short

Gov. Bobby Jindal's privatization of the LSU-run public hospital network is bringing in $39 million less in lease payments for the facilities than expected this year, according to a report from the...

Rae Trahan's 1st challenger: Jeremy Hidalgo

The discontent with Rae Trahan's poor representation of District 9 on the Lafayette Parish School Board just keeps growing, and was underscored Wednesday with the announcement that a challenger has...

Kopplin sues DOE, Supt. White

The lawsuit alleges a litany of tactics the department employed to block him from obtaining public documents. A college student who has waged a years-long campaign to repeal the Louisiana Intelligent...

AcA continues fight to keep P.A.C.E.

Officials with the Acadiana Center for the Arts will pitch a funding proposal Tuesday to the Lafayette Public Trust Financing Authority in an effort to keep an endangered arts program for K-3rd...

Judge orders EBR sheriff to confiscate LSU records

District Judge Janice Clark tells the sheriff to enforce her April 30 order and make public the records about the president's search from the LSU Board of Supervisors. The Advocate reports Tuesday...

'Berry' woman sentenced in FEMA fraud case

A 49-year-old New Iberia woman will spend the next 18 months in federal prison for submitting fraudulent damage claims to federal officials after hurricanes in 2005 and 2008 and receiving more than...

Boustany says he'll vote against Syria strike

"The use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime is deplorable. However, the proposed use of military action alone in Syria, in the absence of a broader diplomatic strategy, will fail to achieve...

Notices of La. tax amnesty program on their way

Notices of Louisiana's amnesty program begin going out this week to 443,000 people who owe a total of $1.4 billion in unpaid taxes and interest. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Notices of Louisiana's amnesty...

Honore backs lawsuit against oil companies

The Army general who won acclaim for helping restore order in New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina supports a flood control board's lawsuit against oil and gas companies. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The...

DOJ lawsuit gives Jindal new attention

By filing a lawsuit against Gov. Bobby Jindal's school voucher program, the Justice Department has handed Louisiana's Republican governor a national, yet local issue to boost his political...

Gachassin gets his hands on ethics board's evidence

Hiring the best attorney money can buy has its advantages. Lafayette developer Greg Gachassin, represented in his battle with the Louisiana Board of Ethics by its former longtime administrator, won a...

Magical Arnaudville

The roots of a budding cultural renaissance are beginning to run deep in Arnaudville, yielding a sort of magical aura that has put the spotlight on the small predominately French-speaking town. The...

Arrest in death of woman found in New Iberia home

Iberia Parish sheriff's deputies have arrested a teenager accused in the death of a woman whose body was discovered inside a home in New Iberia. NEW IBERIA, La. (AP) - Iberia Parish sheriff's deputies...

DDA intros new design director

Geoff Dyers' hire is the most recent gale in a whirlwind year for DDA, which announced the hire of Executive Director Nathan Norris in January. Photo by Kari Walker Geoff Dyer, left, and Nathan...

Louisiana officials revisiting REAL ID law

Louisiana's refusal to comply with a national identification law has state officials grappling with whether that decision could make it more difficult for state residents to fly without a passport or...

Glenn Stewart drops lawsuit

The lawyers representing Lafayette real estate developer Glenn Stewart - perhaps swayed by his recent conviction for simple battery - filed a motion last week calling for a dismissal of their client's civil lawsuit against Lafayette Consolidated Government.

Libraries or levees?

Some of Iberia Parish's elected officials are trying to use a back-door funding approach -  by dipping into the coffers of the public library system -  for a herculean levee project that voters...

Vitter to vote no on US military action in Syria

Sen. David Vitter says he will vote against a U.S. military strike in Syria, becoming the second member of Louisiana's congressional delegation to register opposition to President Barack Obama's...

La. National Guard won't process same-sex benefits

The Louisiana National Guard won't process requests from same-sex couples seeking benefits, joining Texas in the refusal because of the states' bans on gay marriage. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The...

New task force reviewing school funding formula

The new task force opened its discussions Wednesday about the $3.5 billion spending plan. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A group of Louisiana education leaders, lawmakers and others is looking at ways to...

Civil Service panel OKs LSU hospital privatization

Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration won approval Wednesday from the Civil Service Commission for the privatization of the LSU hospitals in Shreveport and Monroe, which will remove nearly 3,300 people...

Appeals court spurns Lavergne

The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal has declined to hear confessed and convicted murderer-rapist Brandon Scott Lavergne's argument that his guilty pleas should be vacated. The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal...

This week in shockers: La. most corrupt

We were also surprised to learn this week that fall follows summer and winter follows fall. Man! Over the weekend a New York Times writer referred to Florida as a "hothouse of corruption"...

New task force to review school funding formula

A group of Louisiana education leaders, lawmakers and others are looking at ways to tweak Louisiana's multibillion-dollar public school funding formula. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A group of Louisiana...

Most teachers pass new evaluations in first year

Most public school classroom teachers were graded effective in the first statewide year of Louisiana's new teacher evaluation system. [Editor's Note: The Lafayette Parish School System Tuesday...

BIA's Hebert granted trial delay

The felony trial for Busted in Acadiana's Christopher Hebert was postponed Tuesday morning thanks to a last-minute motion filed by his legal team - a duo dubbed the "Lawyers of Last Resort"...

The House that LPTFA Built?

Despite good works, the public trust's decision that put one of its own in business could more than taint its reputation for years to come. Despite good works, the public trust's decision that put one...

Add 1 more to LPSB's list of questionable decisions

When public bodies award services contracts, typically the job goes to the lowest bidder offering the most bang for the buck. When public bodies award services contracts, typically the job goes to the...

Local Colomb Foundation ensnared in probe

Baton Rouge media are reporting that The Colomb Foundation along with Serenity 67, which have connections to state Sen. Yvonne Dorsey-Colomb, have been given until Wednesday of next week to show how...

D.A.'s office leaving courthouse during renovation

15th Judicial District Attorney's offices will move to the fifth floor of the Whitney building on Lee Avenue Sept. 6-8 and could be there for up to two years. While the Lafayette Parish Courthouse is...

UL down plays incidents at primate center

In the face of calls by an animal rights group for the stiffest penalties allowed by law, the director of the New Iberia Research Center says he does not expect the facility or UL Lafayette to be...

La. chimp wins 1st prize in art contest

Brent, a retired laboratory animal, was the top vote-getter in an online chimp art contest organized by the Humane Society of the United States, which announced the results Thursday. He won $10,000...

Hell yeah, Joey!

City-Parish Prez calls "consolidated" government "un-American." We couldn't agree more. There's still hope for supporters lobbying to form a new charter commission and, hopefully,...

Broussard Council throws its hat in pro-Cooper ring

The Broussard City Council has joined the city of Youngsville in throwing its support behind Lafayette Parish Schools Superintendent Dr. Pat Cooper and his Turnaround Plan. The Broussard City Council...

8 years after Katrina, New Orleans on the rebound

It's safe to call it the Big Easy again. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Eight years after Hurricane Katrina, the Ferris wheel at the former Six Flags amusement park in New Orleans sits idle. "Closed for...

Obama offers new gun control steps

Striving to take action where Congress would not, the Obama administration announced new steps Thursday on gun control, curbing the import of military surplus weapons and proposing to close a...

Car culture is on the curb

Driving in America has stalled, leading researchers to ask: Is the national love affair with the automobile over? WASHINGTON (AP) - Driving in America has stalled, leading researchers to ask: Is the...

Beware unclaimed property scam

Louisiana's unclaimed property program is free and state Treasurer John Kennedy says residents should beware of an email scam that directs recipients to pay a fee in order to make a claim. BATON...

Charter commish ordinance postponed

Supporters of the ordinance hope its passage will ultimately lead to the city of Lafayette having greater autonomy. An introductory ordinance that if approved would clear the way for the appointment...

Keith Stutes taking on Harson

He's not talking until his official announcement on Sept. 5, but the former ADA is challenging his old boss in next year's election. Keith Stutes, the respected former assistant district attorney who...

A renewed call to place breach sites on register

An advocacy group is renewing an effort to have a site where a levee failed during Hurricane Katrina placed on the National Register of Historic Places. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - An advocacy group is...

Group says Justice move on vouchers unwarranted

A pro-voucher group dominated by African-Americans on Monday called on the Justice Department to end efforts to have a federal judge put the state's taxpayer-funded program for private school tuition...

CPC to revisit charter commish

The City-Parish Council will again vote on an introductory ordinance Tuesday that if approved would establish another charter commission to study the Lafayette Home Rule Charter and make...

Wingnuttery's gravity pulls in Cassidy

Just days after saying he wouldn't support a government shutdown unless Obamacare is defunded, Senate hopeful U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy is now for it. Headlines in next year's Senate race pitting...

Justice Dept. sues Louisiana over school vouchers

The U.S. Justice Department is trying to stop the state from distributing school vouchers in any district that remains under a desegregation court order. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The U.S. Justice Department...

La. backs off health care act-funded program

Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration has withdrawn an application to participate in a home-health care program for low-income people that would have been funded through President Barack Obama's...

Alexander to back Riser's US House bid

The development likely will add fuel to critics who've alleged that Alexander and Jindal unfairly tried to orchestrate the timeline to help elect Riser in the Oct. 19 special election. U.S. Rep....

Free dental care for music professionals

A free Dental Day will be offered to Louisiana's professional musicians in Lafayette on Wednesday. Everything from dental exams to X-Rays to extractions, fillings and teeth cleaning will be offered...

Get ready, the charters are coming

Charter schools are coming to Lafayette Parish, regardless of the school board's wishes. Charter schools are coming to Lafayette Parish, regardless of the school board's wishes. The school board's...

This week in PSA: yard waste done right

Yard waste, done improperly, is problematic, especially as we move into the peak of hurricane season. Yard waste is big business in Lafayette. Fifteen thousand to 20,000 tons of yard waste ends up at...

Holy Crab! Check out this sinkhole video!

That sinkhole in Assumption Parish devoured some more land (and trees) recently, and the eerie episode was caught on video. That sinkhole in the Assumption Parish town of Bayou Corne that has...

Cassidy won't support shutdown over Obamacare

U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy split with some hard-line members of the GOP on Wednesday, saying he wouldn't support a federal government shutdown as a way to defund President Barack Obama's health care law...

14 including Holloway join fray in 5th

Clyde Holloway, who served three terms in the U.S. House two decades ago, registered for the election on Wednesday. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - More than a dozen candidates have signed up for the October...

Lafayette's ACT scores slightly above state average

LPSS says it had the highest increase in the number of students scoring 18 or above on the college readiness test. For the first time, all seniors graduating from Louisiana's high schools were...

La. GOP: hazy on history

More Republicans in Louisiana blame President Obama for Uncle Sam's poor response to Katrina than they do President Bush. In August of 2005 - eight years ago - there was a storm what went up the Pearl...

St. Landry school board member convicted

A federal jury has found St. Landry Parish School Board member Quincy Richard Sr. guilty of taking bribes for his vote in favor of a candidate seeking the parish schools' superintendent's...

ACT scores lower, but more students college-ready

The average composite score for Louisiana students taking the ACT college readiness test dropped from 20.3 in 2012 to 19.5 for 2013, but the number of students who scored well enough to attend college...

Federal jury finds Quincy Richard Sr. guilty

St. Landry Parish School Board member Quincy Richard Sr. was found guilty Tuesday by a jury in federal court on various bribery charges. Quincy Richard Sr. St. Landry Parish School Board member Quincy...

Record-breaking pace continues for retail sales

Year-to-date retail sales in Lafayette Parish are up almost 4 percent over last year. Is another record year in the making? Chart by LEDA/Source: Lafayette Parish School System - Sales Tax...

Shocker: La. tied for ‘fattest' U.S. state

In other news we didn't see coming, the sun rose today in the east and is on pace to set in the west. Cracklins! The Bayou State is tied with Mississippi as the most obese in the nation according to a...

Three Dems join 5th District race

Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo, a Democrat, became the fourth candidate to sign up for the Oct. 19 election, when he filed his registration paperwork Tuesday. He joins Republican state Sen. Neil Riser and...

Speck of hope remains for teen lost at sea

Eighteen-year-old Danielle Wright of Lafayette was one of six Americans and a Briton aboard the Nina when it vanished in stormy weather on June 4. Danielle Wright Australian media reported Sunday that...

Landrieu, Cassidy in statistical dead heat

U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu's vulnerability as a Democrat in a Southern red state is being underscored by a new poll showing her and her chief Republican opponent, U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy of Baton Rouge in...

Audit: Mental health privatization increased costs

A new audit says Gov. Bobby Jindal's privatization of behavioral health and addictive disorder treatment programs has created confusion and added costs for the local human services districts that...

Chimp sanctuary expansion under way

The national sanctuary for retired federal research chimpanzees is expanding to bring in the 60 federally owned chimps remaining at a New Iberia laboratory. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The national sanctuary...

Louisiana nursing homes get failing grade

State joins Texas and Indiana at bottom of first-ever nursing home report card. Louisiana "hit rock bottom" on a first-of-its-kind report on nursing homes, receiving an "F" in five...

Vitter won't endorse in 5th District race

The U.S. senator says he often doesn't get involved in races that have "two or more significant Republicans." BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - U.S. Sen. David Vitter says he won't be endorsing a...

Cow Island gets $5 million in cattle dip case

The first chapter in a nearly decade-long fight against one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies came to a close Thursday when a Vermilion Parish jury issued a verdict awarding $5.1 million...

Vitter still supporting U.S. government shutdown

That's right, no more Social Security checks, Medicare reimbursements or payments on the national debt. All in the name of fighting Obamacare. The Associated Press reports that U.S. Sen. David Vitter...

Chris Williams V. LHA still on hold

Former Lafayette City-Parish Councilman Chris Williams' attempt to bring his backpay lawsuit against the Lafayette Housing Authority to trial was denied Monday, pending a response from LHA's...

Lafayette's first iMag

A first-of-its-kind tourism gizmo was unveiled Wednesday by the Lafayette Convention & Visitors Commission and Firefly Digital in the form of a quarterly interactive magazine for iPads. A...

Easing the transition from SLCC to UL

UL Lafayette and South Louisiana Community College will roll out a new program this year designed to bridge the gap between the two institutions. UL Lafayette and South Louisiana Community College...

Morris: 5th District race 'fixed'

Rep. Jay Morris says he thinks Gov. Bobby Jindal and Congressman Rodney Alexander tried to orchestrate Alexander's resignation to benefit GOP state Sen. Neil Riser. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A...

Cooper & Wuestemann are cool now

Lafayette Parish Schools Superintendent Dr. Pat Cooper and Acadiana Center for the Arts Executive Director Dr. Gerd Wuestemann have found common ground after a contentious battle between the two last...

Treasury returns $101,473 in unclaimed property

The average unclaimed property claim is usually around $200 to $400, but officials say this year there were several claims that totaled more than $1,000. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The state Department...

House speaker seeks new ideas for college funding

House Speaker Chuck Kleckley urged higher education leaders Monday to offer lawmakers new ideas for financing Louisiana's public college campuses after six years of budget cuts. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)...

Judge visits death row as part of heat lawsuit

A federal judge visited Louisiana's death row as he weighs a lawsuit that challenges the heat conditions as unsafe for three condemned inmates with health conditions. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A federal...

La. Dems: Alexander seat is 'winnable'

"I think this is certainly a winnable district for the right Democrat, even in this short time frame." (Associated Press) - Louisiana Democrats say they won't concede the congressional seat...

GOP center V. Tea Party: It's on

Moderate Republican conservatives are beginning to foment a revolt of their own - a backlash to anti-spending tea party shrillness. WASHINGTON (AP) - Midway between the 2012 and 2014 election...

DHH trying to shrink disabled services wait

More than 10,000 people are seeking a spot in a state program that provides at-home services to the developmentally disabled. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - More than 10,000 people are seeking a spot in a...

Senate control hinges on fate of Southern Dems

Republicans are counting on some Southern comfort to win Senate control next year. U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La. WASHINGTON (AP) - Republicans are counting on some Southern comfort to win Senate...

Study: La. charter schools ahead of nation

Researchers at Stanford University say Louisiana charter school students often learn more in a year than their counterparts in district schools. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Researchers at Stanford University...

Congressmen endorse Sen. Riser for 5th District

State Sen. Neil Riser has picked up the support of Republican U.S. Reps. Charles Boustany of Lafayette and John Fleming of Minden in the race to replace the outgoing Rodney Alexander. BATON ROUGE, La....

NOAA trims forecast for busy hurricane season

This Atlantic hurricane season may not be quite as busy as federal forecasters once thought, but they still warn of an unusually active and potentially dangerous few months to come. WASHINGTON (AP) -...

It's on: charter commish ordinance resubmitted

Supporters of reconvening the Lafayette Charter Commission aren't going down without a fight. Bertrand [Editor's Note: Councilman Don Bertrand contacted The Ind Friday morning to say he asked that the...

BP ordered to pay settlement administrator

A federal judge has upheld a magistrate's ruling that BP must pay more than $130 million in fees to the court-supervised administrator of a multibillion-dollar settlement over the company's 2010 Gulf...

Remaining derailment evacuees going home Thursday

A mandatory evacuation order for the remaining 150 residents near a Union Pacific train derailment in St. Landry Parish will be lifted and they will be allowed to return home Thursday. LAWTELL, La....

Flood insurance chief visits La.

The man who oversees the National Flood Insurance Program is visiting Louisiana for a tour of the state's flood protection infrastructure as members of the congressional delegation fight the...

PAR wins national ‘sunshine' award

The Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana won a national award for its "Sunshine Headquarters" from the Governmental Research Association. The nonprofit Public Affairs Research...

Wuestemann called out for strong-arming

Dr. Gerd Wuestemann, executive director of the Acadiana Center for the Arts, may have acted too soon by sending out Tuesday's letter lambasting Lafayette Parish School System officials over the lack...

Cain says he 'messed up' on death row cooling

The warden of the Louisiana State Penitentiary apologized to a federal judge Tuesday, acknowledging he tried to cool death row cells while court-ordered temperature monitoring was going on to...

The damn thing couldn't even get out of intro!

That's right, unwilling to countenance an honest dialogue and with an apparent animus toward the city of the Lafayette, i.e., the economic engine of the freakin' parish, a cabal on the City-Parish...

Evacuation lifted for some near La. derailment

Fewer than 100 people will still remain out of their homes, but may be able to go home as soon as Thursday. LAWTELL, La. (AP) - About 100 people evacuated from their homes Sunday after chemicals...

LPSS cuts long-time arts program

Funding has been pulled from PACE - a learning-focused arts program designed to spark creativity among the elementary students in the Lafayette Parish School System - according to a letter sent...

Boudreaux keeps pressure on LPTFA board

"The all white board gets a free ride while the three black board members [of the LHA] got hoodwinked. Tell me specifically: What is the difference between the LHA and the LPTFA?" -...

All eyes on Naquin

Will the District 6 councilman supply the critical vote clearing the way for a new charter commission? Photo Illustration Will he or won't he? According to several sources - we tried unsuccessfully to...

Crews work to clear derailed train in Louisiana

Crews began replacing about 1,800 feet of track on Monday around the site of a derailed train that leaked a corrosive chemical and forced the evacuation of about 100 south Louisiana homes. LAWTELL,...

LPSS: Boucher, Faulk parents can apply for transfer

Alice Boucher earned a school performance score of 49.2 following the 2012-13 term; JW Faulk came in with a dismal 34.4. Alice Boucher and JW Faulk elementary schools could see an exodus of students...

White says he'll offer diploma ideas in September

State Superintendent of Education John White says a diploma should signal whether students are ready to enter college or to work in a specific industry. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - State Superintendent of...

Louisiana black bear: new population stats

Two new studies indicate that Louisiana black bears are gradually becoming more numerous, with the three main populations totaling about 500. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Two new studies indicate that Louisiana...

Governor declares emergency around derailed train

The Union Pacific train derailed Sunday afternoon near Lawtell, forcing the evacuation of about 100 homes. LAWTELL, La. (AP) - Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has declared a state of emergency around the...

Lafayette, Broussard look to settle water war

The city of Lafayette and its municipally owned water system are set to settle a long-running battle with the city of Broussard over a more than $825,000 bill Lafayette slapped Broussard with after...

Former FIL chief lands at Townsquare Media

Dana Baker, whose sudden departure in June as executive director of Festival International de Louisiana after a 12-year run had a lot of jaws dropping in Lafayette, has been hired as the live events...

Cleanup under way at derailment site in Louisiana

About 100 homes remained evacuated Monday as officials worked to clean up the site of a 26-car train derailment near the small community of Lawtell. LAWTELL, La. (AP) - About 100 homes remained...

White House prospects mix at governor's meeting

Health care, budgets and education topped the official agenda for governors at their annual summer summit. But the 2016 presidential race was never far from view or conversation. MILWAUKEE (AP) -...

‘Suspect Device' cartoonist Greg Peters dies

Better known locally as the original cartoonist for The IND in its early years, having created the award-winning "Snake Oil" series, Greg Peters died this morning following emergency surgery...

LPSB: Stop playing dumb!

It's no secret some Lafayette Parish School Board members have a penchant for playing dumb - especially when it comes to the changes in Act 1 of the 2012 legislative session. But this letter from...

Gobstoppers V. Crimestoppers

How one petty Lafayette criminal, a man born poor who struggled with drug addiction and homelessness, became another victim of Louisiana's outdated judicial system. It wasn't murder, rape or domestic...

Death knell ringing for LPTFA board

The City-Parish Council will vote Tuesday on whether to reconstitute the Lafayette Public Trust Financing Authority board. Following a legislative auditor's examination that found numerous...

Simon says he's out

Attorney James Simon, the assistant district attorney appointed by the 15th JDC to provide free-of-charge legal counsel to the Lafayette Parish School Board, has announced his retirement from the DA's...

Foster Campbell: historic suit overdue

Public Service Commission member and former gubernatorial candidate Foster Campbell believes the suit brought by a New Orleans levee board against scores of energy companies seeking to force them to...

A New Orleans-style goodbye set for Lindy Boggs

Friends, family and admirers of Lindy Boggs are gathering at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans for the former congresswoman's funeral. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Friends, family and admirers of Lindy Boggs...

Aug. 1 brings changes to state's safe haven law

Beginning Thursday, a parent can use the state's safe haven law to relinquish a baby up until they're two months old. Previously, the age limit was set at 30 days. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Beginning...

It's a boy: Trina Edwards gives birth

Edwin Edwards served four terms, ending in 1996. He married Trina shortly after his release from federal prison for his role in a bribery and extortion scheme. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Former Louisiana...

Lawmakers to consider property sales Thursday

The House and Senate natural resources committees are meeting in Grand Isle on Thursday to consider whether to let Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration sell state property in Iberville Parish and in...

LA Swift bus service shut down

The last Baton Rouge-to-New Orleans trips were made Wednesday. It's unclear whether the closure will be temporary or permanent. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The LA Swift commuter bus service between Baton...

Facebook ban while driving is among La.'s new laws

Tweeting while driving can get you a ticket, posting the names of people who apply for concealed handgun permits can land you in jail and selling cakes and cookies you bake at home face looser...

What will AG do with "Stutes Report"?

AG Buddy Caldwell's office says it's "close to finishing our review of the evidence" contained in an independent report former ADA Keith Stutes compiled after a federal investigation into...

Are you vitting me? Vitter threatens gov shutdown

Even GOP colleagues are calling Sen. David Vitter and Co.'s new gambit against Obamacare stupid and reckless. And they're right. Photo Illustration, d'uh Sen. David Vitter is a co-signer along with 11...

Even botanists are laughing at us

The misleadingly named Louisiana Science Education Act has scientists worldwide chucking at the Bayou State's expense. Mention the Louisiana Science Education Act around actual scientists and you're...

Gulf 'dead zone' above average but not near record

This summer's "dead zone" at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico, where there's so little oxygen that starfish suffocate, is bigger than average but doesn't approach record size as scientists...

Flags at half-staff to remember Boggs

Gov. Bobby Jindal issued the executive order Monday, requiring the action until sunset Friday. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Flags at all of Louisiana's state buildings will be flown at half-staff in honor...

Treasurer says he might run for governor in 2015

John Kennedy says he's "very seriously considering" running for governor in 2015. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Treasurer John Kennedy says he's "very seriously considering" running for...

Treasurer to refer nonprofits for debt collection

John Kennedy said he has a list of 36 nonprofits that received $4.5 million in tax money from lawmakers but haven't complied with state financial reporting requirements. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -...

Pope says he won't judge gay priests

"If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?" ABOARD THE PAPAL AIRCRAFT (AP) - Pope Francis reached out to gays on Monday, saying he wouldn't judge...

Former U.S. Rep. Lindy Boggs dies at 97

The plantation-born Louisianan who used her soft-spoken grace to fight for civil rights during nearly 18 years in Congress after succeeding her late husband in the House died Saturday. She was...

UL offers algebra-free math class

Yipee! No more algebra for non-science majors. Yipee! No more algebra for non-science majors. UL Lafayette has added a new math course, Math 102, for freshmen majoring in non-science areas. Beginning...

Sales tax rebound buttresses LCG budget

Healthy retail sales will likely lead to a pay hike for city-parish employees as well as a small break in property taxes for residents and business owners. City-Parish President Joey Durel Healthy...

Lafayette woman faces trafficking, rape charges

The case remains under investigation. Additional arrests are possible. Lorrie Anderson A Lafayette woman is in custody, facing charges of aggravated rape as well as child sex trafficking following a...

Group: Stop Medicaid payment to Planned Parenthood

Because poor women don't need no stinkin' mammograms! BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Anti-abortion group Louisiana Right to Life is calling on Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration to stop paying Planned...

City removes Bourbon St nighttime preaching ban

The New Orleans City Council on Thursday ended its ban on preaching after dark on Bourbon Street, but an attorney says that won't end a lawsuit brought by a street preacher who was arrested for doing...

Top 50: Sky's the Limit

With the outlook for the local economy as bright as it's ever been, the Top 50 rides a wave of optimism. Lafayette's economy has been on the upswing for the past three years, with the Top 50...

Chamber condemns Cooper probe

The Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce has expressed dissatisfaction with the school board vote to "investigate" vague "allegations" against Dr. Pat Cooper. Saying "a...

Justice Dept to challenge states on voting rights

Attorney General Eric Holder announced Thursday that the Justice Department is opening a new front in the battle for voter protections. WASHINGTON (AP) - Attorney General Eric Holder announced...

Jindal spends this week in Colorado with GOP

Jindal's office said the GOP governor left for Aspen on Tuesday to attend Republican Governors' Association events. Jindal is chairman of the association. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov. Bobby Jindal is...

RNC helping state GOP on Senate race

The RNC has paid to hire a state director for the Republican Party of Louisiana, as part of its ongoing work to defeat Landrieu, a Democrat seeking a fourth term in office, in the 2014 Senate...

Buttering his bread

A law firm run by Gov. Bobby Jindal's former executive counsel has received more than $1.1 million in no-bid contract work from Jindal appointees and state agencies. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A law firm...

Lockett pleads guilty to staging auto accidents

Lafayette resident Oliver Lockett, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Richard T. Haik to staging auto accidents in order to defraud insurance companies. Lafayette resident Oliver...

Boffy baffled by LPSB witch hunt

The Lafayette Parish School Board is spending less money on education-related matters but now wants to hire special legal counsel for an investigation into Superintendent Dr. Pat Cooper, a move BESE...

Richard 'Throw 'em under the Bus'well

By coming clean to the feds about his two shady business ventures, Richard Buswell, the former owner of Curious Goods smoke shop and Bowman Investment Group, now faces several decades in prison after...

Gas well in the Gulf continues to burn

An out-of-control natural gas well off the Louisiana coast continued to burn Wednesday after it caught fire following a blowout that prompted the evacuation of 44 workers, authorities said. NEW...

State police crime lab wipes out case backlog

The Louisiana State Police crime lab has eliminated its backlog of cases and is processing fingerprints, DNA and toxicology samples in "real time," rather than keeping evidence on the shelf...

Tax amnesty dates set

The state Department of Revenue announced Tuesday that the first year of the tax amnesty program created by lawmakers will run from Sept. 23 through Nov. 22. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Delinquent...

Simone Champagne eyeing LPSB?

The speculation is partly true: State Rep. Simone Champagne did purchase a home in Youngsville and won't seek re-election for her District 49 seat in 2015, but whether she'll be throwing her name in...

FLOTUS to address Latino group

First lady Michelle Obama is spending Tuesday in New Orleans, where she is scheduled to address the nation's largest Latino advocacy and civil rights organization. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - First lady...

Landrieu, Cassidy compete on flood insurance

U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu and her Senate race challenger, U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy, are jockeying for credit and prominence on a high-profile problem for many Louisiana residents: the skyrocketing cost of...

LABI chief: Jindal tax commission reversed reforms

Gov. Bobby Jindal has backpedaled on changes his predecessor made in the oversight of local assessors who decide property taxes, the head of a powerful state business organization said Friday. BATON...

Guilty plea in oil spill claim by phony 'caterer'

The claim resulted in a $27,000 check being mailed to the New Orleans man. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The U.S. Attorney's Office in New Orleans says a 27-year-old man has pleaded guilty in connection with a...

LSU loses appeal in public records lawsuit

A panel of the 1st Circuit Court of Appeal in Baton Rouge has upheld a judge's ruling that requires the LSU university system to turn over names of three dozen candidates considered during its...

3,800 state workers laid off in last budget year

That includes more than 1,900 employees of four LSU hospitals and their outpatient clinics that were privatized in the final days of the fiscal year that ended June 30. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The...

Those awful embalmers

The Supreme Court shouldn't let monks sell caskets because protecting funeral directors' pocketbooks is a legitimate state interest, Louisiana's board of funeral directors says. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The...

GOP plans statewide tour

The Republican Party of Louisiana is hitting the road next month, planning a statewide tour as part of efforts to defeat Democratic U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu next year. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The...

Auditors: Risk management privatization saved $10M

Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration hired Mandeville-based F.A. Richard and Associates Inc., or FARA, in June 2010 under a five-year contract to take over much of the Office of Risk Management's...

LPTFA in crosshairs?

On the heels of a state audit critical of its operations, the Lafayette Public Trust Financing Authority will be discussed at Tuesday's City-Parish Council meeting. On the heels of a state audit...

Veto override group lauds solons, vows to fight on

Advocates for the disabled and parents of disabled children created the group after Jindal stripped $6 million for disabled services from this year's budget. But they were unable to persuade lawmakers...

Cruise spending up 42 percent in 2012

A new report shows an increase in cruise passengers at the Port of New Orleans in 2012 has resulted in huge gains in spending, too. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A new report shows an increase in cruise...

Dr. Cooper scores a 'good'

The Lafayette Parish School Board unsealed its evaluation Wednesday of Superintendent Dr. Pat Cooper, and despite ongoing contentions with some board members, his cumulative average came out alright....

The 'witch hunt' is on

The Lafayette Parish School Board's investigation into Superintendent Dr. Pat Cooper should be viewed with skepticism, as those supporting the measure won't say what the allegations are or how much...

Dr. Cooper scores a "good"

The Lafayette Parish School Board unsealed its evaluation Wednesday of Superintendent Dr. Pat Cooper, and despite ongoing contentions with some board members, his cumulative average came out...

LPSB's malfeasance

Certain members of the Lafayette Parish School Board continue over-stepping their bounds, according to a letter sent to the board this week by Superintendent Dr. Pat Cooper. Certain members of the...

LCG atty: flag policy unnecessary

The attorney for consolidated government, questioned at Tuesday night's council meeting, told council members that there currently "is no set policy about the flying of flags, but that's not to...

This week in ‘It's about damn time'

Council approves plan to clamp down on property tax cheats. Cheating may be too strong a word, but upwards of $1.4 million dollars in property taxes in Lafayette Parish are not being collected because...

Feds seek prison term for ex-DWF official Mouton

Henry Mouton of Lafayette faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison, but prosecutors said in a court filing Tuesday that he deserves some leniency when U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman...

State worker layoffs reach 1,900 in fiscal year

About 1,900 state employees received pink slips in the just-ended budget year, nearly as many workers as were laid off during the four prior years of Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration. BATON ROUGE,...

Vermilion teacher named LAE chief

Deborah Meaux, who completed 38 years in the classroom last May at Kaplan High, is the new president of the Louisiana Association of Educators. A recently retired French teacher from Vermilion Parish...

Study: Gulf sheens likely came from rig wreckage

A team of researchers has concluded that pockets of oil trapped in the wreckage of the sunken Deepwater Horizon are the likely source of oil sheens that have been spotted in the Gulf of Mexico near...

School chiefs gather in Lafayette

Tuesday's agenda at the Cajundome in Lafayette includes an address from state Superintendent of Education John White, along with discussions on best practices led by representatives from 17 districts...

Registration full for new Course Choice program

About 2,000 students are signed up for a $2 million program to expand online and nontraditional high school course offerings to public school students, with several hundred other students on a waiting...

Hauser joins UL hoops staff

The hiring was announced by head coach Bob Marlin and is pending approval by the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors. LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - Gus Hauser, who has 11 years coaching...

Behind the scenes with the anti-Cooper crowd

With the Lafayette Parish School Board set to make public the results of its evaluation of Superintendent Dr. Pat Cooper on Wednesday, some members have been jockeying behind-the-scenes for his...

Audit: Panel isn't verifying property tax bills

A new audit says the Louisiana Tax Commission has regularly approved changes that parish tax assessors made to homeowners' tax bills without checking the accuracy of those changes. BATON ROUGE, La....

Here's a disturbing map of New Orleans

Live long by the lake, or, as the foundation points out, "The average life expectancy for babies born to mothers in New Orleans can vary by as much as 25 years across neighborhoods just a few...

2014 elections: abortion moves to forefront

Republicans around the country are increasingly pushing legislation to restrict the procedure, and Democrats say they'll make the GOP pay in coming elections. ATLANTA (AP) - With no immediate hope of...

Company seals leak at gas well off Louisiana coast

More work must be done to permanently secure the well, federal officials said. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A gas well that started leaking several days ago in the Gulf of Mexico off the Louisiana coast was...

La. near bottom in biz ranking

Despite Gov. Bobby Jindal's frequent trumpeting of the state's gains, Louisiana ranks near the bottom in CNBC's latest ranking of America's Top States for Business. Despite Gov. Bobby Jindal's...

Senators vote against holding veto session

Lawmakers won't be returning to Baton Rouge to reconsider Gov. Bobby Jindal's budget cuts and bill rejections. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Lawmakers won't be returning to Baton Rouge to reconsider Gov....

Unclaimed property program has record return year

Treasurer John Kennedy says the program gave back $31 million to more than 25,000 people in the fiscal year that ended June 30. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Treasurer John Kennedy says Louisiana's...

Plan to seal leaking well off La. gets federal OK

The process, which began after federal officials gave their approval, involves pumping drilling fluid into the well. PORT FOURCHON, La. (AP) - State officials on Thursday began sealing a gas well that...

Landrieu targets religion-based fund cuts

In other words, she's tacking right for political purposes. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu has introduced a bill to forbid the federal government from withholding money from programs...

Pro-Vitter PAC draws in more than $750,000

The Fund for Louisiana's Future says the pro-Vitter political action committee will report its fundraising to federal elections officials on Friday. The money, raised since the PAC's creation in...

Boustany crawfishes

The Lafayette Republican backtracks on comments many on both sides of the political aisle interpreted as an endorsement of Medicaid expansion in Louisiana. Lafayette Congressman Charles Boustany is...

LCG eyes urban blight

The City-Parish Council on Tuesday will vote on an introductory ordinance that, if approved, would pave the way for a partnership with the Southern University Law Center with a goal of addressing...

Blue Cross describes health law impact on premiums

Louisiana's largest private health insurer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, estimated Wednesday that two-thirds of its customers who buy their own policies will pay the same premiums or less...

Crews working to seal leaking well off La. coast

The well is one of three on a platform in water 144 feet deep. Production from the other two wells has been shut down. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Crews worked Wednesday to seal an old oil and gas well off the...

Jindal administration raiding elderly trust fund

"I was surprised and disappointed to learn that this trust fund had been depleted to its current level," says Secretary of State Tom Schedler, a Republican who sponsored the legislation...

Wrong Naquin - wrong number

A vacationing City-Parish Councilman Kevin Naquin is getting slammed by angry calls and emails over the gay flag controversy with which he has nothing to do. Photo Illustration Councilman Kevin Naquin...

LCG budget process ramps up

The council's Finance Liaison Committee will meet with LCG reps to receive fund balance projections for both the city and the parish. The City-Parish Council will begin to get an idea of where...

LPSB's Rae Trahan: Out of town, out of touch

Speaking Tuesday before a packed-house meeting of the Youngsville Chamber of Commerce, Lafayette Parish Schools Superintendent Dr. Pat Cooper shared his optimism for achieving unity between his...

Crews working to seal leaking well off La. coast

The well and production platform, in the Gulf of Mexico about 75 miles southwest of the oil depot at Port Fourchon, are owned by a subsidiary of Houston-based Talos Energy LLC. The company said the...

DEQ issues hurricane response manual to parishes

The guide has information designed to help local officials follow environmental regulations without slowing down storm recovery needs. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Department of Environmental Quality...

Study urges spending on coastal restoration

Wildlife tourism, from hunting and fishing to bird and dolphin watching, is a $19 billion-a-year business along the Gulf of Mexico, and states spending their settlement money from the 2010 BP oil...

Vitter won't delay Senate vote on EPA pick

The top Republican on the Senate environment panel, has been one of the biggest obstacles to Gina McCarthy's nomination. In May, he led a GOP boycott that delayed a critical vote to advance her...

Landrieu, Cassidy report latest fundraising numbers

But both candidates raised more than $1 million in the fundraising period from April through June 30, according to information released Tuesday by their campaigns. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Democratic...

Smokers' break? Glitch may limit penalties

Some smokers trying to get coverage next year under President Barack Obama's health care law may get a break from tobacco-use penalties that could have made their premiums unaffordable. WASHINGTON...

White House projects shrinking deficit

The new figures reflect additional revenues generated by the improving economy and take into account automatic, across-the-board spending cuts that the White House had hoped to avert. AWASHINGTON (AP)...

Arrest warrant issued for BIA's Chris Hebert

An arrest warrant was issued for Busted in Acadiana mastermind Chris Hebert, who was a no-show for his criminal trial Monday morning. The IND has since learned that he was hospitalized over the...

Jindal: 'emphatically no' on Senate bid

Despite consistent speculation about his interest, Gov. Bobby Jindal said he has no plans to run against Democratic U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu next year. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Despite consistent...

This week in just not getting it: Ray Green

Semi-professional curmudgeon and full-time angry old man Ray Green got his camo boxers in a wad when he saw a photograph of a gay pride flag wafting in the breeze at Girard Park. Two thumbs up for...

Whatever happened to Bobby Jindal?

New Republic thinks it knows. David Vitter is what happened to Bobby Jindal. A July 8 analysis of the Vitter-Jindal feud in New Republic concludes that the U.S. senator is winning in popularity and...

Former NP Moss Principal gets nada

The civil lawsuit filed by the disgruntled former N.P. Moss Middle School Principal Ken Douet has finally come to an end, with a decision rendered last week in the 15th Judicial District Court siding...

Appeals court to hear dispute over BP settlement

A three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is scheduled to hear arguments Monday by attorneys for the London-based oil giant and for Gulf Coast businesses that say the nation's worst...

CNSI: State losing millions by canceling contract

The claims from Client Network Services Inc., or CNSI, are the latest salvo in ongoing legal disputes between the company and the state. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A Medicaid contractor whose work was...

'I told ya so'

The state has refinanced Louisiana's tobacco settlement bonds, getting nearly $60 million less than anticipated - par for the course, says state Treasurer John Kennedy. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov....

The suit makes the ex-con

Louisiana's corrections department is looking for professional clothing to give to men and women leaving prison who need something to wear for job interviews. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Got a suit buried...

Artist sues Ducks Unlimited over poster

A New Orleans artist is suing Ducks Unlimited, saying the conservation group broke an agreement to use a poster he designed to raise money for restoration of a coastal island following the 2010 BP oil...

House speaker announces opposition to veto session

House Speaker Chuck Kleckley, R-Lake Charles, an ally of the governor, released a statement announcing his opposition to the session - though he said he doesn't agree with the governor's vetoes. BATON...

End-of-course exam scores: proficiency up 4 points

The tests, which replaced the old Graduate Exit Exam, cover algebra I, geometry, English II, English III and biology, with U.S. history added this year. Students can earn a grade of excellent, good,...

Jordanian pleads guilty to marriage ruse

A Jordanian man living in Lafayette pleaded guilty in federal court Tuesday to entering into two fraudulent marriages within two years, both in an attempt to skirt U.S. immigration laws. A Jordanian...

Parental control or Trojan horse?

Trigger laws, which allow parents to intervene in a struggling school, are a lot more complicated and controversial than they appear. [Editor's Note: Stateline is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news service...

Ooh la la: Baldwin gets bounced

The state Department of Education has finally turned away the Ruston school run by the litigious former UL head football coach Jerry Baldwin. DOE finally pulls the trigger on NLWM The state...

CPC to consider Redflex contract change

The change to the contract with Redflex comes as an amnesty period for motorists with unpaid citations winds down and the city ramps up collections of fines/late fees exceeding $125 by contracting...

La. flags at half staff for Ariz. hotshots

Louisiana's fire marshal and agriculture commissioner plan a memorial service to honor the 19 Arizona wildland firefighters who died battling a lightning-sparked blaze northwest of Phoenix. Flags...

Council, UL eyeing bike lanes

The Lafayette City-Parish Council is considering a proposal to convert half of St. Mary Boulevard into bike lanes for about four-fifths of a mile through UL Lafayette's campus. The Lafayette...

Jeanerette Mayor Timothy S. de'Clouet dies

De'Clouet took office in 2011, succeeding long-time mayor Arthur Verret, who died in September of that year at age 78. JEANERETTE, La. (AP) - Funerals services are pending for Jeanerette Mayor Timothy...

More troopers on the highways over the 4th

Troopers will be targeting aggressive drivers, impaired drivers, those that choose not to wear their seatbelts, and those that choose not to secure their children in child restraints. BATON ROUGE, La....

Juvenile detention facilities face new licensing

Louisiana's social services department said Monday that all juvenile detention facilities in the state are now licensed and inspected by its agency. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's social services...

Strain won't run for governor

Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says he'll seek re-election to his current position in 2015, rather than running for governor. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain says...

The Lawyers of Last Resort

Two slick Baton Rouge attorneys have made a name for themselves over the last year in the Hub City, filing a number of high-profile lawsuits under the guise of fighting the man. At first glance...

Floodgates opening on housing authority indictments?

A bill of information filed in federal court Thursday over bid-fixing at the Opelousas Housing Authority is only the beginning of what's to come in this nearly three-year investigation, a source close...

Dem leader pushing for veto session

If held, it would be the first veto override session in more than four decades. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's House Democrats are urging their colleagues to return to the Capitol for a veto...

Judge: Determining size of BP spill no 'easy task'

The federal judge presiding over a trial arising from the nation's worst offshore oil spill said Thursday that it could be difficult to determine how much crude spewed into the Gulf of Mexico from...

Perrin eyed for ambassadorship

Lafayette attorney Warren Perrin, the longtime president of the Council for the Development of French in Louisiana and staunch defender and conservator of Cajun culture through his work with the...

Gov. Jindal keeps construction budget intact

Gov. Bobby Jindal has signed next year's construction budget without stripping any projects with his line-item veto. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov. Bobby Jindal has signed next year's construction...

Energy efficiency program stalled for adjustments

The state's utility regulatory agency Wednesday revived a planned statewide energy efficiency program - but delayed implementation to work on program modifications. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The state's...

Savings estimates drop for tobacco bond refinance

Gov. Bobby Jindal's plan to refinance Louisiana's tobacco settlement bonds has run into snags because changing financial market conditions have sharply reduced the estimates of how much money...

For LPSB, election day can't come soon enough

The obstructionist sentiment among some members of the Lafayette Parish School Board has reached new heights, most recently in the form of resistance to a Turnaround Plan program that would benefit...

Louisiana reacts to gay marriage rulings

One person's "judicial activism" is another's "wisdom." NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Supreme Court decisions wiping out part of a federal anti-gay marriage law and clearing the way for...

NIH to retire most chimps from medical research

The National Institutes of Health said Wednesday that it will retire about 310 chimps from medical research over the next few years, saying humans' closest relatives "deserve special...

State police: 11 involved in crash scheme

State police alleged that three accidents were staged from September 2011 through May 2012. Six children, ranging in age from 1 to 13 years old were among occupants of the vehicles...

High court ruling removes La. from preclearance

Changes to Louisiana's voting laws, election districts and precinct locations no longer need federal approval before taking effect, under a U.S. Supreme Court ruling Tuesday that stopped enforcement...

States promise quick action on election laws

Across the South, Republicans are working to take advantage of a new political landscape after a divided U.S. Supreme Court freed all or part of 15 states, many of them in the old Confederacy, from...

Jindal defends disabled services program veto

The Republican governor has faced criticism for line-item vetoes that struck out that funding for a program called the New Opportunity Waiver, or NOW, and other dollars slated for disabled...

BP mounts offensive in spill settlement dispute

With an ad blitz and a tersely worded letter, BP is mounting an increasingly aggressive campaign to challenge what could be billions of dollars in settlement payouts to businesses following its 2010...

Nearly 6,000 homeowners to get mortgage aid

Borrowers who submitted foreclosure-related claims to the National Mortgage Settlement should be receiving checks in the mail soon. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Borrowers who submitted foreclosure-related...

Alexander begins job as LSU System president

LSU's new system president and main campus chancellor, F. King Alexander, has started work in Baton Rouge. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - LSU's new system president and main campus chancellor, F. King...

Ooh la la: young? broke? no problem!

This is an interesting post on moneyunder30.com about the places to be if you're young, single and broke. Of the top 10 cities in the US so named, two are in Louisiana. Louisiana a good place to be...

Hooray for the gays!

A day after angering the civil rights community, the U.S. Supreme Court delivers a victory to supporters of marriage equality. WASHINGTON (AP) - In a major victory for gay rights, the Supreme Court...

Oh, the misery!

Continuing our long tradition of being at the bottom of good lists and the top of bad lists, Louisiana is ranked the most miserable state in the latest Bloomberg Best (and Worst) list. Continuing our...

Lafayette woman accused of human trafficking

Troopers say detectives received information that Katherine Vidrin had allegedly used a child under the age of 12 to engage in sexual acts for monetary gain. LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - State police have...

High court voids key part of Voting Rights Act

The Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a key provision of the landmark Voting Rights Act cannot be enforced unless Congress comes up with an up-to-date formula for deciding which states and localities...

Dozens at sinkhole accept settlements

As of Monday's 5:30 p.m. deadline, company spokesman Sonny Cranch said 44 of 92 offers delivered to property owners around the sinkhole at Bayou Corne have accepted out-of-court...

Jindal issues budget cuts for 2013-14 fiscal year

Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration has laid out plans to strip $46 million in state funds from next year's budget, largely from higher education and health services, to finish balancing the spending...

Ooo la la: 'po-po' behaving poorly

What happens when two police officers from the same department butt heads outside their jurisdiction? This ... Video record of being a jerk JUNE 25 Here's a video of a controversial stop that happened...

Legislative Auditor lambasts LPTFA

The Louisiana Legislative Auditor delved into the books and operations of the Lafayette Public Trust Financing Authority, turning up an entity that is flying by the seat of its pants.

SCOTUS declines to hear landmark Katrina case

The Supreme Court didn't offer any reasons for Monday's decision. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to review the dismissal of a landmark ruling that the Army Corps of Engineers...

Sans hotel, Youngsville eyes hotel tax

News that the city of Youngsville will ask voters to pass a 4 cent hotel/motel tax is only superficially silly. News that the city of Youngsville will ask voters to pass a 4 cent hotel/motel tax is...

Jindal strips items from next year's $25B budget

Gov. Bobby Jindal removed $4 million slated to expand a program that provides at-home services to the developmentally disabled from next year's $25.4 billion budget, as part of dozens of line-item...

Bus supporters scramble to save commuter service

Twelve thousand riders a month who use LA Swift, which started shortly after Hurricane Katrina and will end its eight-year run within a month unless supporters can find the cash to keep it...

Ooh la la: Drew Brees is fine!

Saints Quarterback Drew Brees was not in a car accident and he didn't break both his legs. Both Brees' legs are fine JUNE 24 Here's a story from WDSU in NOLA about the fake story that went around the...

La La: Has Bobby gone mad?

La La Land brings us this column by The Daily Beast's Michelle Cottle attempting - almost futilly - to make sense of Gov. Bobby Jindal's head scratcher in Politico. Has Bobby gone mad? JUNE 21 The...

Lafayette, Broussard bury hatchet ...

...in a shallow, easily accessible hole off Ambassador South. The cities of Broussard and Lafayette have signed off on a consent judgement settling the intra-municipal enmity that has characterized...

Sentencing reset for ex-La. wildlife official

The hearing now set for July 24 had been postponed indefinitely while Henry Mouton's defense attorney pushed for an inquiry into allegations of prosecutorial misconduct. Henry Mouton NEW ORLEANS (AP)...

High school diploma revamp to focus on careers

The diploma should signal that students are either "credentialed" to work in a specific industry or fully prepared to earn a college degree. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's three-tier...

Lawmakers want more details on LSU hospital deals

Lawmakers scrutinizing plans to privatize LSU's hospitals said Thursday they have not been given the complete financial terms, and they questioned the public's access to hospital records and the...

BP calls for independent probe of claims lawyer

The accused lawyer, Lionel H. Sutton III, acknowledges he was suspended following an "anonymous allegation" against him. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - BP is calling for an independent probe of...

Pact curbs seismic surveys in Gulf

Oil and gas companies working in the Gulf of Mexico have agreed not to use seismic surveys for the next 2 ½ years in three areas considered critical to whales and along the coast during the peak...

NASA officials debut a new machine in New Orleans

NASA officials are holding a ribbon cutting ceremony for a major new component in the construction of heavy-lift rockets for the nation's space program NEW ORLEANS (AP) - NASA officials are holding a...

Commuter bus service LA Swift extended until July

Plans had been to shut down LA Swift on June 30 because federal money for the bus service is shrinking. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - LA Swift, the commuter bus service between Baton Rouge and New Orleans,...

BESE to review student data storage and sharing

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education agreed Wednesday to create a task force looking at the issue after concerns were raised about a state data-sharing agreement with an outside...

Jindal signs bill criminalizing release of permits

Despite criticism it would violate the First Amendment, Gov. Bobby Jindal on Wednesday signed into law a bill that makes it a crime for journalists or anyone else to publicly identify concealed...

Jindal signs equal pay bill for state workers

Gov. Bobby Jindal has agreed that state agencies should be banned from paying unequal wages to employees of different genders for the same job. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov. Bobby Jindal has agreed...

6 arrested in La. in explosives investigation

The president and at least two other executives of a Louisiana explosives recycling company were among six people arrested Tuesday in the investigation of how the material was stored. The president...

Ex-BP employees face new indictments over spill

Justice Department prosecutors secured new indictments Wednesday against a former BP engineer and a former BP executive charged separately with obstructing probes of the company's 2010 oil spill in...

House votes due on crop subsidies, food stamps

The House is expected to vote Thursday on cuts to government farm subsidies and food stamps as lawmakers move toward passage of a five-year, half trillion-dollar farm bill. WASHINGTON (AP) - The House...

Texas auction house to sell John Brown leg irons

John Boling of Buhl, Idaho, whose family has long owned them, said his family hopes that whoever buys the shackles will display them publicly. MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) - The leg irons that restrained...

Video: Ride for the Future stops in Lafayette

We're not sure which takes more conviction and drive: bicycling from New Orleans to Houston - the Gulf Coast energy corridor - to raise awareness about the fossil fuel industry's effect on the climate...

Tax rebate repeal fails

After several local business owners and the president of the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce voiced their opposition, an introductory ordinance that would have repealed the 2 percent rebate...

Lafayette turns over Horse Farm to nonprofit

The City-Parish Council on Tuesday voted unanimously in favor of resolution that will allow a private nonprofit organization to lease the 100-acre Horse Farm property from the city in order to raise...

Seafood board oversight shifted to lt. governor

Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne has received new responsibilities from state lawmakers, giving him oversight of a board that promotes Louisiana seafood. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne has...

Jindal signs bill allowing donations of fish, game

There shouldn't be any hang-ups if hunters and fishermen want to donate their catch to nonprofits that feed the hungry. SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) - There shouldn't be any hang-ups if hunters and fishermen...

LSU, Southern boards must list scholarship awards

The list will have to include the name of each recipient, the board member who gave the scholarship and the annual dollar value of the award. Refusal to submit the information would suspend board...

Jindal supports $1M allocation for deaf services

The legislation, signed Tuesday, will steer a slice of state sales tax to the Telecommunications Fund for the Deaf. It was a compromise reached after Jindal opposed a proposal to charge a new, 2-cent...

Major Gulf dead zone anticipated

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the Gulf zone prediction is 7,286 to 8,561 square miles - anywhere from the top 10 to the largest ever. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Scientists in...

Gov. Jindal begins Louisiana statewide tour

Gov. Bobby Jindal says he plans to visit all 64 Louisiana parishes in the coming months. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov. Bobby Jindal says he plans to visit all 64 Louisiana parishes in the coming...

Constitutional limits on oil spill money fails

Attempts to limit Gulf Coast oil spill penalty money to coastal restoration in the Louisiana Constitution failed to gain legislative passage for a second year, while disagreements continue over just...

BESE to consider funds for 'Course Choice' program

The state education board is being asked to allocate $2 million for a pilot program to expand online high school course offerings to public school students. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The state education...

'Parent trigger' bill for RSD signed by Jindal

Parents will soon be able to try to get poor-performing schools in the Recovery School District returned to local control. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Parents will soon be able to try to get...

LPSB to determine fate of bus driver Kenny Mire

Potential executive sessions are scheduled Wednesday during a special meeting of the Lafayette Parish School Board to start the administrative hearing processes for two bus drivers, one being Kenny...

Council to re-re-visit sales tax rebate

After yet another delay, the Lafayette City-Parish Council will consider on Tuesday an ordinance that would repeal a 50-year-old law giving retailers in the city and unincorporated parish a slice of...

Landrieu, Senate Dems embrace Obamacare

Obama's signature legislative achievement is all but certain to be central in the 2014 midterm campaign. ATLANTA (AP) - Far from reversing course, Senate Democrats who backed President Barack Obama's...

End of BP cleaning crews leaves questions on Gulf

Environmental advocates and casual visitors alike are questioning the Coast Guard decision to quit sending out BP-funded crews that have looked for oil deposits on northern Gulf Coast beaches on a...

Analysis: More talk, but no action on TOPS changes

Louisiana's free college tuition program called TOPS carries a hefty price tag in a state budget that has been throttled with cuts. An AP News Analysis BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's free college...

Edwards among 7 picked for La. Justice Hall of Fame

Seven people including Lafayette District Court Judge Jules Edwards will be inducted July 12 into the Louisiana Justice Hall of Fame. Edwards BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Seven people, including West Baton...

OSHA probing deadly blast at La. chemical plant

Department spokesman Juan Rodriguez said the cause of Thursday's blast at the plant in an industrial area of Geismar hasn't been determined yet. GEISMAR, La. (AP) - The Labor Department's Occupational...

Sen. Landrieu's son faces drunk driving charge

The 21-year-old son of U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu is facing charges of driving while intoxicated, hit-and-run driving and driving the wrong way on a one-way street. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The 21-year-old son...

Glenn Stewart convicted

In rendering his ruling, District Judge John Trahan all but called the real estate developer a liar for inconsistencies in his accounts of punching a school teacher unconscious.

Dana Baker resigns from Festival International

Executive director's 11-year run came to an abrupt end Wednesday. [UPDATE: FIL's board and Baker jointly announced her resignation in an email sent out at 6 p.m. Thursday. The release follows this...

Glenn Stewart on trial for Mardi Gras punch

Former radiation oncologist Glenn Stewart, the 55-year-old real estate investor who was indicted last September on a count of simple battery by a Lafayette grand jury, is facing a misdemeanor trial...

DC circuit reviewing judge's alleged misconduct

A council of federal judges in Washington will look into a misconduct complaint against a conservative, New Orleans-based judge who's alleged to have made racially discriminatory comments. WASHINGTON...

Southern Baptists officially oppose gay Scout rule

The Southern Baptist Convention approved a resolution Wednesday expressing its opposition to the Boy Scouts of America's new policy allowing gay Scouts, though it doesn't explicitly call for churches...

Hundreds to be stricken from La. sex registry

Hundreds of people who were convicted of soliciting oral or anal sex for money under Louisiana's "crime against nature by solicitation" law will have their names removed from the state's sex...

Shelvin loses cool, fails to disclose conflict

City-Parish Council Chairman Brandon Shelvin heaped steady doses of condescending ire on an insurance exec while failing to reveal his financial ties to a rival. City-Parish Council Chairman Brandon...

Former state lawmaker, UL exec dies

Carl Bauer, who served terms in the state House and Senate from 1968 to 1976 and more recently worked until 2010 as the head of UL Lafayette's Governmental Relations Department where he lobbied state...

NOLA.com snags Business Report vet

JR Ball, the executive vice president of Louisiana Business Inc., the publisher of Business Report and other Baton Rouge-based publications, will be leaving his post in July to become the Red Stick...

Jindal backs limits on alternative fuel tax credit

Baton Rouge Sen. Dan Claitor submitted the bill, addressing concerns that the program could be interpreted in a way that would balloon its costs. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov. Bobby Jindal has signed...

Jindal signs Medicaid transparency bill

Lawmakers will get more oversight of health care programs privatized by Gov. Bobby Jindal, after a three-year struggle for the information. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Lawmakers will get more oversight of...

New state office to target La. debt collection

Lawmakers who overwhelmingly agreed to set up the Office of Debt Recovery are hoping to drum up new dollars for the treasury in a state struggling through six years of budget woes. BATON ROUGE, La....

Uh-oh

"What better person to be a yes-man for [the Senate establishment] than someone who has been a yes-man for House leadership? Their latest recruit is Congressman Bill Cassidy." U.S. Rep. Bill...

4K, including at UMC, facing pink slips

Workers can reapply for their jobs with the new managers, though it's unclear how many will be rehired and whether they will take pay and benefits cuts under privatization. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The...

Cleanup work after BP oil spill end in 3 states

The London-based oil giant said the Coast Guard has concluded "active cleanup operations" in Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, but the work continues along 84 miles of Louisiana's...

Federal lawsuit claims inmates endure extreme heat

A New Orleans-based advocacy group filed a federal lawsuit Monday alleging that hot temperatures create inhumane conditions for death row inmates at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. BATON...

La. colleges hit roadblocks in session

Louisiana's higher education leaders and advocates had big goals for the just-ended legislative session, asking lawmakers to give up their authority over tuition, to tweak the free college tuition...

Audit: Unreliable data used for tuition hikes

Nearly 79 percent of community and technical colleges using a program that lets them raise student tuition didn't provide reliable data to gain that permission, according to a new audit released...

Gator hunting permit deadlines approaching

Louisiana and Mississippi residents who want to go after alligators this fall have deadlines coming up. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Louisiana and Mississippi residents who want to go after alligators this fall...

Jindal seeks regulatory change, after bill fails

Gov. Bobby Jindal's attempt to restructure early childhood education hit a roadblock in the Louisiana Legislature. Now, the Jindal administration is looking to make regulatory changes to address some...

PAR picks good, bad, ugly from 2013 session

Some problems were fixed, some were made worse, and some were left to fester. [The Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana is a non-partisan, good-government group based in Baton Rouge.] The 2013...

DuBos: Da winnas & da loozas

The 2013 session was unusual in many respects. It produced some of the oddest political bedfellows in memory. With few exceptions, this year's session also lacked big ideas. Emerson once wrote of a...

Landry, Pierre playing the blame game

The defeat of House Bill 420, say Reps. Vincent Pierre and Terry Landry, is the result of the propaganda spread by an unnamed media outlet and a former state rep. Referring to Holy Rosary Institute as...

Robideaux's influence peaks as session ends

There are a lot of hurt feelings and maybe even a touch of regret this morning among the Legislature's 144 members, part of their shared post-session hangover. Photo by Robin May Lafayette Republican...

Lawmakers spend surplus, pass construction budget

In a flurry of last-minute approvals, Louisiana lawmakers signed off Thursday on spending deals that will finance state construction work next year, address a recent Supreme Court ruling and direct a...

Lawmakers pass bill protecting ID of gun owners

Journalists, bloggers or anyone else will be prohibited from publicly identifying applicants for concealed handgun permits in Louisiana. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Journalists, bloggers or anyone else...

Rep. Pierre's Holy Rosary bill gets a new look

Lafayette Rep. Vincent Pierre's House Bill 420 should go before the House of Representatives today for a final vote, albeit in a vastly different form: There is no mention of Holy Rosary Institute,...

Budget deal up for vote in session's final hours

Lawmakers who have negotiated a tentative budget deal are hoping to persuade their colleagues in the final hours of the legislative session. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Lawmakers who have negotiated a...

Lawmakers change rules for passing school formula

Louisiana's lawmakers have agreed to change the process for handling the public school financing formula, to comply with a recent Louisiana Supreme Court ruling. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's...

Lawmakers haggling over money as session nears end

Eleventh-hour negotiations between the House and Senate over next year's $25 billion state operating budget continued Wednesday, with lawmakers still hoping to strike a deal before the session must...

Bills regulating salt domes clear La. Legislature

Three bills crafted in response to a 15-acre sinkhole in Assumption Parish and an on-going evacuation order for 350 residents are headed to Gov. Bobby Jindal's desk. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Three...

NOAA: 28-day red snapper season in Gulf

The uniform season means 11 more days to catch the popular game fish off Texas, four more off Louisiana, two more off Florida, and six fewer days for Mississippi and Alabama anglers. NEW ORLEANS (AP)...

Program launched to use oyster shells on coast

The coalition on Tuesday announced that Shell Oil Co. has provided $1 million for the program, which will collect the shells and return them to coastal waters. They will be used to revitalize public...

Bills preempting federal gun laws stall in Senate

Two far-reaching House-approved bills that sought to prohibit federal oversight of gun laws in Louisiana have stalled in the state Senate and apparently won't become law this session. BATON ROUGE, La....

$25B budget sent to committee for negotiation

In a procedural move, the House unanimously rejected the Senate's version of the spending plans and sent a package of bills to a legislative conference committee to work out a final deal for the...

Judge: Feds must redo red snapper seasons

A judge has ruled that federal regulators used a false claim of emergency to cut the federal season for red snapper off of Texas and Louisiana, and did so to punish those states for setting seasons...

Senate gives final nod to equal pay bill

State agencies will be prohibited from paying unequal wages based on gender to their employees for the same job, under a bill that received final passage Tuesday from the Louisiana Senate. BATON...

Federal judge accused of racial comments

Judge Edith Jones of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals based in New Orleans is accused of saying that certain "racial groups like African-Americans and Hispanics are predisposed to...

Sales tax rebate repeal shelved again

The ordinance - No. 117 - has been pushed back until June 18 due to the unexpected death of Councilman Kevin Naquin's grandfather. An ordinance that repeal a rebate given to local merchants for...

LPSS 'Asleep at The Wheel' ... still

Although it claimed to have learned valuable lessons from the drunk driving arrest of school bus driver Kenny Mire in 2009, the school system has yet to adopt a new policy for hiring school bus...

$25B budget sent to committee for negotiation

The Louisiana House has rejected Senate changes to next year's budget. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Louisiana House has rejected Senate changes to next year's budget. The procedural action Tuesday...

Budget negotiations continue as session end nears

Devising the budget in the Louisiana Legislature is often an elaborate game of chicken, with the House and Senate challenging each other to see who will relent to avoid an end-of-session meltdown....

Senate backs spending plan for state surplus

The Louisiana Senate on Monday backed a plan to use a $113 million state surplus to fill a gap in this year's Medicaid program, rather than repay the state's "rainy day" fund. BATON ROUGE,...

Top political appointees use secret email accounts

Some of President Barack Obama's political appointees, including the secretary for Health and Human Services, are using secret government email accounts they say are necessary to prevent their inboxes...

Keeping P.A.C.E.?

A homegrown education initiative that pairs local artists with elementary school students is on the verge of extinction. Money is tight for the Lafayette Parish School System, and as the school board...

Guillory seals fate, goes back to GOP

State Sen. Elbert Guillory of Opelousas switched back to the Republican Party today, making the announcement at a conference for black conservatives in Baton Rouge. Photo by Robin May State Sen....

Limit on alternative fuel credit heads to Jindal

Lawmakers have revamped the state's alternative fuel vehicle tax credit program, after concerns the law was too broadly written and could be too expensive. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Lawmakers have...

Senate panel rejects delay for teacher evaluations

Senators killed House-backed education bills that sought delays in the disciplinary effects of a new teacher evaluation system and the use of ACT scores in calculating high school performance...

Ban on so-called 'telemedicine abortions' approved

Supporters said nine other states have passed similar restrictions and FDA guidelines for the abortion pill recommend having a physician in attendance. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Doctors will be banned...

Jindal approves ban on tweeting while driving

Gov. Bobby Jindal has agreed that Louisiana's drivers should skip the Facebook and Twitter updates while on the road. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov. Bobby Jindal has agreed that Louisiana's drivers...

Fiscal hawk budget bills hit roadblocks in Senate

Senators had a mixed reaction Thursday to proposals sought by conservative House lawmakers to rewrite the laws for how Louisiana estimates and spends its money and how the state's annual operating...

Rep. Pierre changes tune, spurns CODOFIL

When CODOFIL's budget was severely cut by Gov. Bobby Jindal during last year's session, Lafayette's legislators, including state Rep. Vincent Pierre, raised hell. When the Council for the Development...

Council to reconsider tax rebate repeal

The Lafayette City-Parish Council will revisit on Tuesday an ordinance that would repeal a 50-year-old law giving retailers in the city and unincorporated parish a cut of the sales tax action. The...

Feds: Bloomberg ricin letters postmarked in La.

The anonymous letters were opened in New York on Friday at the city's mail facility in Manhattan and in Washington on Sunday at an office used by Mayors Against Illegal Guns, the nonprofit started by...

Jindal signs 'I'm Cajun' driver's license bill

Gov. Bobby Jindal signed into law Wednesday the bill that allows Louisiana motorists to add the words to their licenses for a $15 annual fee. It takes effect Jan. 1, 2014. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Are...

Commerce: importers must offset shrimp subsidies

Shrimp subsidies in five nations appear to be undercutting U.S. prices and importers must pay bonds up to nearly 63 percent to offset the subsidies, the U.S. Department of Commerce said Wednesday. NEW...

House OKs bill to lessen some marijuana sentences

Under current law, someone convicted of possession of marijuana for a second time can face up to five years in jail. Third and subsequent convictions can land someone in jail for up to 20 years. BATON...

Bid to coordinate juvenile services goes to Jindal

A bill aimed at coordinating state services for youths at risk of being jailed or put under state care received final passage Wednesday with unanimous backing from the House. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A...

Revamped seafood board heads to House

Legislation that would splinter the funding of the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board and transfer its oversight to the lieutenant governor was forwarded Wednesday by the House and...

Senators rework $25B budget, reverse House cuts

The Senate's budget-writing committee has taken its turn at next year's $25 billion spending plan, adding $350 million in state dollars to reverse many cuts sought by the House. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)...

Lawmakers agree to refinance La.'s tobacco bonds

Unanimous backing from the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget came despite criticism from Treasurer John Kennedy over the structure of the deal. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's tobacco...

US vs. European hurricane model: Which is better?

"Let me be blunt: the state of operational U.S. numerical weather prediction is an embarrassment to the nation and it does not have to be this way." ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - When...

DOE gadfly Kopplin seeks voucher records

"The citizens of Louisiana deserve to know whether the State Department of Education is involved with promoting creationism and whether they are attempting to protect Louisiana's science...

New FM notification system established

Louisiana has completed implementation of the ALERT FM and GSSNet systems across the state, improving the way the state delivers voice and text emergency notifications to the public. BATON ROUGE, La....

Bid to raise judges' pay advancing

Louisiana's judges and sheriffs are edging closer to five years of annual pay raises. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's judges and sheriffs are edging closer to five years of annual pay raises. A...

LSU privatization deals approved for 4 hospitals

The LSU Board of Supervisors approved contracts Tuesday to privatize four more of the university system's public hospitals, even though the agreements were missing key financing details pertaining to...

Senate backs protection for hospital funding

The Louisiana Senate on Tuesday overwhelmingly backed proposals that would make it more difficult to reduce dollars paid to private hospitals and nursing homes for taking care of Medicaid...

House rejects change in concealed permit ID bill

Legislation that would make it a crime for journalists, bloggers or anyone else to publicly identify applicants for concealed handgun permits in Louisiana has been sent to a legislative compromise...

LSU board votes to appeal public records ruling

The LSU Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to appeal a judge's ruling that requires the university system to turn over names of three dozen candidates considered during its presidential search. BATON...

Session notes: Eateries face increased fees

Restaurants and other establishments that sell food would pay increased permitting fees to the state to cover improved food inspection services from the Office of Public Health, under a bill that...

The more (guns) the merrier?

Louisiana has the highest rate of gun violence in the nation and the weakest gun safety laws, and state lawmakers are moving to expand the already permissive statutes. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -...

Boy Scouts approve plan to accept openly gay boys

After lengthy and wrenching debate, local leaders of the Boy Scouts of America have voted to open their ranks to openly gay boys for the first time, but heated reactions from the left and right made...

Hurricane center: Beware of the storm surge

During a hurricane, storm surge is one of the greatest threats to life and land, yet many people don't understand the dire warnings from forecasters to get out of its way. MIAMI (AP) - During a...

Senate panel approves 2 cent tax on cellphones

A new 2 cent monthly tax on cellphones aimed at helping provide services for people with hearing impairment won the support Thursday of the Senate Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee. BATON ROUGE,...

Gulf anglers get longer red snapper season

A week before opening, regulators announced that the recreational season in federal waters for the popular game fish will be 17 to 34 days instead of nine to 28. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Gulf of Mexico...

March Against Monsanto

Lafayette will march Saturday in protest of Monsanto, our nation's biggest dealer of genetically modified organisms, and demand GMO labeling on all food products. Lafayette will march Saturday in...

Grand jury empaneled to review Medicaid contract

The Louisiana attorney general's office says a special grand jury has been selected to look into possible criminal activity involving the award of a $200 million Medicaid contract by Gov. Bobby...

Robichaux named head of Youngsville Parks & Rec

With a state-of-the-art Sports Complex set for completion by the end of this year, the city of Youngsville has named Tim Robichaux director of its parks and recreation department. Tim Robichaux With a...

We're No. 1!

Though we all knew it, now the nation does too, as the Hub City has topped Area Development magazine's lists for Leading Locations, best mid-sized cities and best Southern cities. Not bad,...

Landrieu seeks to delay flood insurance increases

Sen. Mary Landrieu filed legislation this week to delay flood insurance increases for many residents and businesses in southern Louisiana that officials fear could begin skyrocketing at the end of the...

Senate to have say on Common Core standards

A tea party-backed attempt to keep Louisiana from using a set of uniform national standards for public school testing will be considered by the state Senate. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A tea party-backed...

Bill to regulate surrogacy nearing final passage

A proposal to create the regulatory framework for surrogacy births in Louisiana edged to within one step of final legislative passage Wednesday, winning overwhelming support from the House. BATON...

Senate approves revamped equal pay for women bill

A week after rejecting a bill that would have prohibited employers from paying unequal wages for the same job based on gender, the Louisiana Senate reworked the proposal Wednesday to apply only to...

Jindal-backed retirement change delayed by a year

Lawmakers have delayed the start date of Gov. Bobby Jindal's signature retirement achievement from last year, a law that would shift future rank-and-file state workers to a 401(k)-style retirement...

Online account privacy bill dies in committee

A proposal to ban employers and schools from demanding access to personal online accounts has been scrapped. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A proposal to ban employers and schools from demanding access to...

College tuition hike bill scrapped for session

Attempts to raise tuition at Louisiana's public colleges appear dead for the session, despite concerns about repeated rounds of budget cuts to schools. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Attempts to raise...

Test results up overall; voucher schools flat

A state Education Department analysis of the latest standardized test results for public school students in grades three through eight shows the state continues to make incremental overall improvement...

Council green lights Redflex amnesty

The City-Parish Council on Tuesday voted 7-2 in favor of granting motorists with outstanding SafeLight/SafeSpeed and parking tickets an amnesty period during which they can pony up for the cost of the...

Our 'shameful' Senate

There's no understanding the Louisiana Senate's stance against SB 200 - a bill proposed by Sen. Fred Mills, R-Parks, calling for a delay of the plans by AGL Resources to expand its natural gas storage...

Legislation targets new Planned Parenthood clinic

Lawmakers are looking for ways to create roadblocks for Planned Parenthood's construction of a new facility in New Orleans that would provide abortions in addition to other health care services for...

House overwhelmingly refuses to expand Medicaid

Only 37 lawmakers out of the 105-member chamber supported the Medicaid expansion proposal, while 59 lawmakers voted against it. A day earlier, the Senate budget committee jettisoned a similar...

La. drivers can't tweet or post to Facebook

A bill prohibiting posting to social media sites while driving gained final approval with a 34-1 Senate vote Tuesday. It now heads to Gov. Bobby Jindal's desk. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Motorists in...

PSC to revisit energy efficiency program debate

The Louisiana Public Service Commission will reconsider a decision to shelve a planned statewide energy efficiency program, after a lawsuit challenged the commission's previous handling of the...

Authorities push seatbelt safety

Between now and June 2, officers from 132 agencies will participate in the state's largest-ever concentrated effort to increase the use of seatbelts. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Between now and June 2,...

Kennedy: ‘easy fix' jeopardizes TOPS

State treasurer John Kennedy says lawmakers are sacrificing long-term gains for a short-term fix in their handling of the tobacco settlement trust fund. In 2001, Louisiana wisely sold a portion of its...

Senators reject new school funding formula

The Senate Education Committee voted Tuesday to reject the formula, because of concerns about proposed changes to special education and gifted student payments to schools. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -...

Deborah ‘Big Red' Cotton: an appreciation

The tireless chronicler of the New Orleans brass band and second-line community and a Gambit contributor, Cotton was among the 19 people shot on Mother's Day in New Orleans. She continues to recover...

UL primate center pays $38K fine

UL Lafayette's primate center has paid the fine for the deaths of three rhesus monkeys in May 2011 and an injury last year to a chimpanzee. NEW IBERIA, La. (AP) - UL Lafayette's primate center has...

Senate budget committee stalls Medicaid expansion

State senators rejected a proposal on Monday for Louisiana to offer government-subsidized health insurance to the working poor through the federal health overhaul law known as the Affordable Care...

Proposals would limit cuts in Medicaid program

Overwhelming support from lawmakers comes despite concerns the constitutional amendments would further limit budget areas available to cut when Louisiana has financial woes - and leave public colleges...

Session notes: Judges set for raises

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A bid to give judges five years of annual pay raises easily received the backing Monday of the Senate's budget committee - after it was changed to require money for the salary...

Judge tosses ex-BP executive's obstruction charge

A federal judge has dismissed a charge that is the backbone of the case against a former BP executive accused of concealing information from Congress about the amount of oil spewing in 2010 from the...

N.I. woman going to prison for scheming IRS

A New Iberia woman was sentenced in federal court Friday to 26 months in prison for an IRS tax scheme in which she was paid more than $77,000 in illegitimate refund checks. According to a press...

Remembering Ricky Rees

The veteran police officer remembered by friends for his large and small acts of kindness will be laid to rest Wednesday. Lt. Ricky Rees of the Lafayette Police Department will be laid to rest at 10...

This week in foresight: Don Bertrand

What better time to ensure that Ambassador South within the city limits of Lafayette doesn't become an eyesore like Johnston Street? Here's to thinking ahead: Traffic is coursing along the new(ish)...

Audit: DOE skipped steps in monitoring charters

The audit says the Department of Education didn't verify that school-reported data used to calculate performance was reliable. It says the department couldn't prove that it comprehensively reviewed...

Flood insurance info available on hotline

Policyholders with questions about their claims can speak with flood insurance program specialists. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The National Flood Insurance Program has set up a hotline to provide information...

New Orleans says gunfire won't end 'second lines'

Second-line parades have been around for generations as part of Mardi Gras and other holiday celebrations, and are perhaps best known as a feature of the city's famed jazz funerals. NEW ORLEANS (AP) -...

Ethics bd. green lights Tramel consulting

The Louisiana Board of Ethics has cleared former Director of Traffic and Transportation Tony Tramel to conduct private traffic-engineering consulting work, including with Lafayette Consolidated...

AUSA Walker honored for child protection work

The longtime assistant U.S. attorney received the Child Protection Award at the annual National Missing Children's Day commemoration held in Washington, D.C., this week. U.S. Attorney Stephanie A....

Tough decisions ahead for LPSB

Faced with a student population that threatens to outgrow existing facilities, a shrinking budget and no guarantee parish voters are ready to support new taxes following the last failed election in...

Saints' Payton settles tax credit lawsuit

The case is tied to the 2008 payment of $1.9 million by present and past members of the team to Louisiana Film Studios LLC. But the studio's chief, Wayne Read, never applied for the credits and never...

Jindal's state salary provides main income in 2012

Gov. Bobby Jindal's latest financial disclosure report, released Thursday, shows his $127,592-a-year state salary provided the main source of income for him and his wife in 2012. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)...

House backs ban on drivers using social media

A ban on posting to social media sites like Facebook and Twitter while driving appears likely to hit Louisiana's law books. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A ban on posting to social media sites like Facebook...

Toughened school safety bill wins final passage

Public schools, already required to have written crisis management plans, will now have to coordinate those plans with local law enforcement and emergency preparedness officials - and hold annual...

Brothers arrested in Mother's Day parade shooting

Two brothers with a history of drug arrests and suspected ties to a neighborhood gang each face 20 counts of attempted second-degree murder in a shooting spree that brought a sudden bloody end to a...

Questions raised about House budget proposal

Senators are expressing skepticism about some assumptions House lawmakers used to balance next year's budget. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Senators are expressing skepticism about some assumptions House...

Senate panel approves bill to create national ID

Louisiana driver's licenses would be used to comply with federal law requiring each state to create a national identification card for air travel, including domestic flights, under a proposal inserted...

Local schools owed $30M because of court ruling

The state owes local school districts $30 million because the Louisiana Supreme Court threw out this year's public school funding formula, Superintendent of Education John White said Wednesday. BATON...

Tax break for gun manufacturers stalls in House

The proposal by St. Bernard Parish Rep. Ray Garofalo stalled on a 47-47 vote Wednesday. Garofalo, a Republican, can try again if he can pick up the six votes needed for passage. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)...

State health department hires inspector general

The hiring of William Root, announced Wednesday, comes after Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration canceled a nearly $200 million Medicaid contract whose award is being investigated by state and federal...

State may alter some Road Home requirements

Louisiana residents faced with having to pay back hurricane aid money because they failed to meet certain government requirements could get a break under changes the state outlined Wednesday. NEW...

Appeals court dismisses greenhouse gases lawsuit

A federal appeals panel has upheld the dismissal of a lawsuit filed by a group of Mississippi Gulf Coast residents and landowners who alleged that emissions by energy companies contributed to global...

La. Senate rejects equal pay bill for women

Because the ladies just need to pull themselves up by their boot straps. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Louisiana Senate narrowly rejected a bill Wednesday that would have prohibited employers with at...

Income forecasting panel boosts its estimates

Louisiana's income forecast has gotten brighter, giving lawmakers more money to spend in the budget. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's income forecast has gotten brighter, giving lawmakers more...

Gulf of Mexico states fight feds over fisheries

Red snapper, one of the most popular fish in the Gulf of Mexico, are the biggest and most plentiful in years, but the red snapper season in federal waters keeps getting shorter. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Red...

Ex-BP engineer claims feds withheld evidence

A former BP engineer charged with deleting text messages about the company's response to its 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico urged a federal judge Tuesday to sanction Justice Department...

House lawmakers shelve Citizens rate review bill

Lawmakers in the House rejected a proposal Tuesday that sought legislative review of large rate increases for customers of Louisiana's property insurer of last resort. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -...

Greg Awbrey's 'questionable questionnaire'

Lafayette Parish School Board member Greg Awbrey believes he is charged with the noble cause of saving our teachers from the evils of our school system - hence his continued push to distribute a...

Child porn nets deMahy 2 years in prison

Philip deMahy Sr., a once respected New Iberia ad exec, was sentenced May 2 to spend the next two years (he faced up to 100 years) in a state penitentiary after state and federal investigators found...

Landrieu picks up new challenger in Senate race

A retired Air Force colonel from Madisonville says he plans to run for the U.S. Senate next year, seeking to oust Democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A retired Air Force...

Dalai Lama visiting New Orleans

An entourage of Tibetan monks Tuesday will create an elaborate sand mandala to commemorate the Dalai Lama's visit. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The Dalai Lama is visiting New Orleans less than a week after...

Senate rejects attempt to kill La. Science Act

The Louisiana Senate overwhelmingly rejected an attempt Monday to repeal a 2008 law that permits public school science teachers to use material outside of the adopted textbook in the classroom -...

Senate backs limits on alternative fuel tax credit

The Louisiana Senate has agreed to rewrite the state's alternative fuel vehicle tax credit program, after concerns the law had been too broadly written and cost too much. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The...

$25B budget debate shifts to Louisiana Senate

Action on crafting Louisiana's nearly $25 billion budget shifts to the Senate this week, after lawmakers in the House wrapped up work on a bipartisan compromise for how to pay for state programs and...

Deadline to file La. taxes is Wednesday

The state Department of Revenue says filing can be made electronically and more information is available at the department's website. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The deadline for filing 2012 Louisiana...

DA won't prosecute 'Cop Watcher'

Alex Lege, aka "The Cop Watcher," will not face prosecution for his arrest by the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office on the night of April 11, when he was booked on charges of interfering...

Jindal parodied on YouTube

Watch it while you can, because although this Buddha & The Pests music video is presented as comprising public-use, fair domain and original images/footage, we can't imagine it won't be yanked off...

Audit: $42M in costs for LSU privatization

A new audit says Gov. Bobby Jindal's push to privatize all but one of the LSU-run hospitals across south Louisiana would cost the state $42 million for layoff costs. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A new...

Squabble over NOLA eatery goes to court

Brennan's, a New Orleans restaurant that famously invented the Bananas Foster dessert six decades ago, is more recently known for a long-running family clash over ownership of the French Quarter...

Proposed rules could affect pecan growers

LSU AgCenter Associate Vice Chancellor Rogers Leonard says the new rules likely will increase producers' costs for production. SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) - Proposed federal regulations under the Food Safety...

2016 looms: Paul, Jindal visit early voting states

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, became the first potential 2016 presidential candidate this year to visit New Hampshire unofficially kicking off the state's presidential primary season roughly 2½ years...

Records in LSU presidential search not released

Two Louisiana news organizations are asking a judge to punish LSU's Board of Supervisors for not releasing documents related the university's presidential search. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Two Louisiana...

House backs $25 billion budget compromise

After days of closed-door negotiations, the Louisiana House backed a nearly $25 billion budget Friday that deeply diverges from spending plans recommended by Gov. Bobby Jindal. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -...

Jindal travels to New Hampshire for GOP fundraiser

The governor's office announced that Jindal, considered a potential 2016 White House contender, traveled to the important presidential primary state Friday to raise dollars for the New Hampshire...

Lake Peigneur gets snubbed by Senate ... again

Our state legislators have once again shown little concern for the plight of the thousands of people living near Lake Peigneur, siding once again with the interests of AGL Resources, an out-of-state...

Imagine Lafayette

The third and final round of public forums on the Lafayette Comprehensive Plan is upon us. The third and final round of public forums on the Lafayette Comprehensive Plan will be held next week -...

This week in graphics that say it all

Exactly what this one says we'll leave up to you. We loves us some football here at IND Monthly as much as the next person, but this map might be - MIGHT - something of an indictment of our priorities...

House to take up budget compromise Friday

After days of closed-door negotiations, Louisiana House leaders are supporting a $24.7 billion compromise budget, rather than the proposal submitted by Gov. Bobby Jindal. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - After...

Rare coins worth millions displayed in New Orleans

Coin enthusiasts are getting a glimpse of more than $100 million worth of rare money, including some of the crown jewels of money collecting at the National Money Show in New Orleans. NEW ORLEANS (AP)...

Saints sign Vaccaro and 3 other draft picks

New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis says first-round pick Kenny Vaccaro and three other draft choices have signed four-year contracts on the eve of the first rookie camp...

Reworked budget taking shape in La. House

The Louisiana House coalesced Thursday behind a rewritten, bipartisan budget compromise that dumps many financing plans sought by Gov. Bobby Jindal in favor of cuts to tax breaks and dollars expected...

Reworked budget compromise taking shape in House

The Louisiana House is considering substantial tweaks to an alternative proposal to Gov. Bobby Jindal's budget for next year. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Louisiana House is considering substantial...

LSU fee bill advances, other tuition bills linger

Saying a majority of Louisiana's colleges and universities won't reach the graduation rates of the Southern regional average by 2016, the House Education Committee chairman angrily killed his own...

La. levee plan concerns Mississippi leaders

Mississippi Republican Sen. Thad Cochran has proposed amendments to a federal water resources bill to protect coastal areas from flooding or storm surge threats that might result from a new flood...

Harson leaves easy $s uncollected

Though the money is there for the taking, DA Mike Harson has apparently neglected another of his responsibilities: collecting bond forfeitures, funds that benefit not only his office but several other...

House committee approves fee increase bill for LSU

That fee could top out at $300 a year by the fall of 2017. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - LSU students could see a $60 a year fee increase this fall, if lawmakers agree to a bill approved by the House...

Council approves SafeLight violations ordinance

The City-Parish Council on Tuesday approved an introductory ordinance that, if approved as a final ordinance in two weeks, will allow the city-parish attorney to subcontract with lawyers to file suit...

Revised Medicaid expansion proposed to House panel

The House Health and Welfare Committee already rejected a bill that would have expanded Louisiana's Medicaid program as allowed under the federal Affordable Care Act. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Lawmakers...

Senators back bill blocking federal gun regulation

It took a Senate panel less than five minutes to approve a bill prohibiting the enforcement of federal laws in Louisiana regarding ownership of semi-automatic weapons. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - It took...

Jindal, White unfazed by SCOLA voucher ruling

In the wake of the Supreme Court of Louisiana ruling that the funding method for the state's school voucher program is unconstitutional, the voucher program's biggest boosters - Gov. Bobby Jindal and...

Republicans clash over House budget compromise

House Republicans are at odds over a bipartisan budget proposal that contains $329 million in cuts to tax break programs that largely benefit businesses, a compromise that has GOP lawmakers clashing...

Budget compromise taking shape, without Jindal

House lawmakers moved ahead Monday with the outlines of a bipartisan budget compromise while sidelining Gov. Bobby Jindal, who opposes the negotiation framework because it would raise new dollars for...

House OKs shielding some guns from feds

The House backed a proposal Monday that would allow gun buyers and sellers to circumvent any federal firearms ban if the gun was manufactured in the state, though no manufacturer now exists in...

Medicaid expansion bill headed for budget review

A proposal for Louisiana to tap into the federal health overhaul money available for expanding Medicaid has been steered to the Senate budget committee for review. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A proposal...

SCOLA: voucher funding unconstitutional

The Supreme Court of Louisiana ruled Tuesday that the way Gov. Bobby Jindal's controversial school voucher program is funded is unconstitutional, backing a district court decision. The Supreme Court...

Alex Lege: 'The Cop Watcher'

Is it a crime for citizens to photograph, video, or take notes of a police officer in the line of duty, or a right protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution? Locally, such activity, as...

Alex Lege: 'The Cop Watcher'

Is it a crime for citizens to photograph, video, or take notes of a police officer in the line of duty? Photo by Caroline Balchunas / KLYF Alexander Lege Alexander Lege - a lanky, baby-faced teenager...

Food stamp audit finds overpayment, possible fraud

An audit of Louisiana's food stamp program for low-income families says weak oversight has allowed for duplicate benefits, overpayments and more than $1 million paid to ineligible residents, some of...

Medicaid contractor sues Jindal administration

A Maryland-based company whose nearly $200 million Medicaid contract was canceled amid an ongoing federal investigation has sued Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration for terminating the deal. BATON...

Budget compromise taking shape, without Jindal

Gov. Bobby Jindal has blasted bipartisan House budget negotiations as a secretive, back-door attempt to raise taxes on Louisiana businesses and residents. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov. Bobby Jindal has...

Audit: TOPS canceled for nearly half of recipients

A state audit shows that more than 44 percent of the Louisiana students who received scholarships from the state's TOPS program over a seven-year period had their awards canceled for one reason or...

Today in awesome: ESA's Caffery wins fellowship

Episcopal School of Acadiana's Dr. Joshua Caffery, chair of the school's English Department, is headed to Washington, D.C., and the Library of Congress as the latest winner of the Alan Lomax...

‘Favorably received'

A recently unveiled plan for the Davidson property near Girard Park may settle a long-running dispute and help LGMC meet its growth potential. After years of squabbling and legal battles with...

Sculptures, to mark evac points, arrive in NOLA

They are to be unloaded Monday and later installed at 17 pickup points for New Orleans residents who need transportation out of town when a hurricane evacuation is ordered. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - More...

Video poker interests get organized

Organization president Stan Guidroz said video poker operators want to be sure legislators don't raise taxes on them but not on riverboats and other casinos. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Video poker...

Manda meat products returning to shelves

The Baton Rouge meat packing company said in a news release that it expects distribution to be near normal within a few weeks. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Manda Fine Meats' deli and specialty meat...

Bomb threat copycats

Two nearly identical bomb threats disrupted Lafayette Parish School System campuses this week; fortunately, no one was harmed in either incident, officials report. Two nearly identical bomb threats...

Lawsuit over canceled Medicaid contract looms

Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration is facing a likely lawsuit from the Maryland-based company whose nearly $200 million Medicaid contract with the state was terminated. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov....

Ex-BP executive seeks trial delay

David Rainey's trial is scheduled to start on Sept. 23. In a court filing Thursday, his attorneys asked U.S. District Judge Kurt Engelhardt to move the start of the trial to Oct. 14 for unspecified...

Session notes: red light cam bill stalls

A repeated attempt by Rep. Jeff Arnold to rework the laws involving automated traffic cameras has again stalled because of opposition from local government officials who rely on the penalty dollars...

La. House members pass bills regulating salt mines

Two bills aimed at regulating salt dome operations were approved unanimously by the Louisiana House on Thursday, a day after some Bayou Corne residents were told an evacuation order will remain in...

10 La programs for homeless get HUD grants

The money will continue work at programs in Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Mandeville, New Orleans, and Shreveport. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary...

House speaker changes course on budget negotiation

House Speaker Chuck Kleckley reversed course Thursday and threw his support to bipartisan budget negotiations in the House between Democratic leaders and a group of conservative Republicans. BATON...

Senate panel rejects election of education chief

A bid to make Louisiana's education superintendent an elected position failed to gain traction Wednesday in the state Senate, but only after showcasing the deep divide between state and local...

La. Science 'Education' Act survives

Because evolution is just a theory. Like gravity. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A Louisiana law that allows public school science teachers to use supplemental materials in their classrooms will remain on...

Jindal-backed voucher program grows by 3,000

Now more Louisiana children than ever will learn that it's Adam and Eve, not atoms and amino acids. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Nearly 8,000 students have been approved for state-funded tuition to private...

Judge dismisses Republicans' budget lawsuit

Republican lawmakers seeking to stop the use of patchwork financing in next year's budget lost a legal battle Wednesday in their bid to keep the Legislature from plugging that money into operating...

Session notes: term limits fail

The bill would have applied to the lieutenant governor, attorney general, agriculture commissioner, insurance commissioner, secretary of state and treasurer. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A bid to give...

House committee rejects gay discrimination ban

The 6-3 vote shelves the proposal by Rep. Austin Badon, D-New Orleans, for the legislative session. He's unsuccessfully pushed similar measures in previous years, always running into strong opposition...

Advocate's new owner to beef up NOLA edition

New Orleans businessman John Georges held a news conference in Baton Rouge on Wednesday, a day after The Times-Picayune announced a return to seven-day-a-week publishing with a tabloid edition. BATON...

Rep. Pierre's Holy Rosary bill stalls

Despite breezing through the House of Representatives, HB 420 - a local bill calling for the restoration of Holy Rosary Institute by taking revenue from the Cajundome - will likely stay stuck in the...

The Day Primeaux Died

Now we know why the former pedophile priest committed suicide late last year, and the story behind it is more riveting than his death. Now we know why the former pedophile priest committed suicide...

Where it all started: The Chassion/Cooper divide

The embattled relationship between Lafayette Parish Schools Superintendent Dr. Pat Cooper and board member Tehmi Chassion was not always so. The embattled relationship between Lafayette Parish Schools...

Saved by The Bel?

While state Rep. John Bel Edwards' campaign for governor is a long shot, it could redefine Louisiana Democrats in the post-Bobby Jindal era. While state Rep. John Bel Edwards' campaign for governor is...

Session notes: shielding social media

The House voted 87-0 Monday for a measure seeking to prohibit employers from demanding that their workers or job applicants provide access to their personal online accounts such as Facebook pages or...

Review: Google Now useful as a supplement to Siri

Google Now is often compared with the Siri voice assistant on Apple's mobile devices, but its power lies in giving you information you need to know before you have to ask. It works best as a...

House committee strips $500M from budget

The Louisiana House budget-writing committee Monday advanced a $24 billion spending plan for next year that could force steep cuts on colleges and health services, but few lawmakers expect it to...

Committee backs phase-in of property tax payments

Property owners whose annual tax assessments increase by 15 percent or more in one year would be allowed to pay that increase over a three-year period, under a measure approved Monday by the House...

CPC-LPSB meeting postponed

A joint meeting between the City-Parish Council and the Lafayette Parish School Board set for Tuesday evening has been postponed. No new date has been set. A joint meeting between the City-Parish...

Get Smart Thursday

On Thursday, May 2, Hearts of Hope will present "An Evening with Elizabeth Smart" at Our Savior's Church in Lafayette. Elizabeth Smart's story - the June 2002 abduction from her Utah home...

House committee working on 2013-14 budget

Lawmakers are making their first changes to Gov. Bobby Jindal's $24.7 billion budget proposal for next year in the House Appropriations Committee. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Lawmakers are making their...

Justices dismiss La. case over trial delays

A sharply divided Supreme Court has dismissed an appeal from a Louisiana man who claimed that most of a seven-year delay between his arrest and murder trial was the result of a breakdown in the...

Vaccinate horses, La. official says

State Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain is advising horse owners to vaccinate their animals for eastern equine encephalitis and west Nile virus as mosquito season kicks in. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -...

Leleux-Thubron complaint filed with feds

In a letter distributed Wednesday to the Iberia Parish Council, attorney Gary McGoffin argues that the damages claim of Holly Leleux-Thubron will not likely hold weight in court; her attorney...

Gifted and Talented: The forgotten $tudent$

It's typical, says Lafayette Parish Schools Superintendent Dr. Pat Cooper, for gifted and talented students to get the short end of the stick. Case in point: Senate Committee Resolution 23. It's...

La appeal court: Truck stop tiger permit invalid

A permit to keep a tiger named Tony at a truck stop outside Baton Rouge was invalid because the truck stop's owner wasn't the animal's legal owner, the state 1st Circuit Court of Appeal ruled...

Judge: Names of LSU candidates are public record

The Advocate has succeeded in its legal effort to get the names of the candidates who applied for the top post. Chalk one up for The Advocate. In a breaking news story posted online Thursday...

Northside juniors on the job

Here a photo recap showing several of the Northside High Schoolers who participated Tuesday in the705's job shadowing project. Here a photo recap showing several of the Northside High Schoolers who...

Kleckley says Medicaid expansion a no-go this year

House speaker says he doesn't believe any proposal to tap into the federal Medicaid expansion money will win passage in the Louisiana Legislature this year. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - House Speaker Chuck...

Notes from the Legislature's regular session

Handguns, education, salt domes, equal pay for women and more. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana residents should be able to get lifetime concealed handgun permits, rather than have to reapply for the...

House health committee rebuffs Medicaid expansion

At attempt to cover more uninsured people in the state's Medicaid program, as allowed under the federal Affordable Care Act, was rejected Wednesday by a House committee. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - At...

Lawmakers delay teacher evaluation penalties

Under a proposal backed Wednesday by the House Education Committee, the disciplinary effects of a new statewide teacher evaluation system would be delayed for a year to give schools time to work out...

Cooper opening dialogue with teachers

In an effort to generate dialogue between teachers and the administration, Lafayette Parish Schools Superintendent Dr. Pat Cooper  announced a series of faculty forums slated to begin next week. In an...

Lawmakers to vote on Medicaid expansion Wednesday

Lawmakers are taking their first votes on whether they want to cover more uninsured people in the state's Medicaid program, as allowed under the federal Affordable Care Act. [Editor's Note: This story...

Texas, La. sue federal government in fishing fight

Texas and Louisiana have sued to block federal fishery officials from regulating the length of the red snapper recreational fishing season in federal waters off their coasts. BROWNSVILLE, Texas (AP) -...

Cigarette tax hike rejected by House tax committee

A proposal to raise Louisiana's cigarette tax was rejected by lawmakers on the House tax committee Tuesday, a vote that appeared likely to end efforts to boost the tax this legislative session. BATON...

La. House backs ban on enforcing federal gun law

The Louisiana House voted Tuesday to ban enforcement of any federal restrictions on owning semi-automatic weapons, over the objections of critics who said the measure couldn't withstand a court...

La. House committee retains letter grade formula

House Education Committee members have backed a proposal requiring the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education to delay using new methods for calculating school performance letter...

LPSS Teachers of the Year announced

The 2012-2013 Teachers of the Year are Sarah Malagarie at SJ Montgomery Elementary, Heather Olson of Edgar Martin Middle and Rosey Kyle of Thibodaux STEM Academy. Superintendent Dr. Pat Cooper and his...

Business spill claims can be paid while BP appeals

A court-appointed claims administrator can continue making payments to businesses affected by the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico while BP appeals a judge's decision in a dispute over the...

Senate supports ban on 'telemedicine abortion'

The Louisiana Senate has overwhelmingly agreed to a new abortion restriction that would require doctors to be present when the abortion pill is administered. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Louisiana...

Lawsuit filed against PSC over energy efficiency

Supporters of a statewide energy efficiency program on Monday sued the Louisiana Public Service Commission over its handling of a decision to shelve the program. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Supporters of...

Session notes: GOP insurrection under way

The bills pushed by the mainly Republican group nicknamed the "fiscal hawks" would limit what dollars lawmakers and the governor could use to pay for ongoing programs and services - striking...

Cigarette tax hike goes up in smoke

A bid to raise cigarette taxes to the rates charged in neighboring Texas stalled in the House tax committee Monday, as lawmakers continue to show resistance to raising any of Louisiana's current tax...

Online accounts would be off-limits to employers

The measure by Rep. Ted James, D-Baton Rouge, would prohibit retribution against those who refuse a request for access to their email, Facebook pages and other personal online sites. BATON ROUGE, La....

Lafayette Central Park retains Urban Land Institute

Lafayette nonprofit organization charged with turning the Horse Farm property into a public park announced Monday that it has entered into an agreement with the Urban Land Institute to develop an...

Northside High Schoolers shadow 705ers

Northside High School and the705, Young Leaders for a Better Acadiana, are teaming up Tuesday for a job shadowing project. Northside High School and the705, Young Leaders for a Better Acadiana, are...

Haliburton seeking settlement over Gulf oil spill

The Houston-based company says it hopes to resolve a substantial portion of private claims spawned after the explosion of the rig Deepwater Horizon. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - BP's cement contractor on the...

Miss. River still closed after barges hit bridge

The Mississippi River remains closed at Vicksburg on Monday as authorities worked to determine whether a sunken barge was a navigation hazard. VICKSBURG, Miss. (AP) - The Mississippi River remains...

Medicaid expansion set for a vote Wednesday

Nearly a year after Gov. Bobby Jindal declared that Louisiana wouldn't tap into billions of federal dollars to expand Louisiana's Medicaid program, lawmakers will take their first vote on whether to...

Flash mob breaks out at INDesign Awards

DDA's Nathan Norris was in the final minutes of his Smart Growth presentation at Friday's luncheon when he was interrupted by a slow drumbeat coming from behind an adjacent sliding door. Lafayette...

Boston police: Bombing suspect is in custody

A 19-year-old college student wanted in the Boston Marathon bombings was taken into custody Friday evening after a manhunt that left the city virtually paralyzed and his older brother and alleged...

'Be A Heart Starter!' May 4 at Cajundome

You never know when you might be called on to save a life. The 13th annual "Be a Heart Starter!" training day, which has proven to save lives in Acadiana, will be held May 4 at the...

Threat to Cajundome grows as House OKs HB 420

It appears the Cajundome really is in jeopardy of losing $200,000 in state revenues following Thursday's near unanimous vote by the House of Representatives. It appears the Cajundome really is in...

Scouts propose lifting ban on gay youth

Scouts would continue to exclude adult leaders. NEW YORK -- Under pressure over its longstanding ban on gays, the Boys Scouts of America is proposing to lift the ban for youth members but continue to...

Elnora Washington: Congratulations!

Four four decades the veteran educator of the Lafayette Parish School System has focused on improving the lives of the children; that, and her view that teaching is a path and not a paycheck, is among...

Jindal says he'd veto cigarette tax without offset

Jindal reiterated Thursday that he will oppose anything he considers a net increase in state tax revenue. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov. Bobby Jindal says he'll veto any cigarette tax increase that wins...

3 years later: oil spill cleanup, study carries on

Underneath the surface, environmentalists and scientists fear there may be trouble, from tiny organisms to dolphins. Yet the long-term environmental impact from the spill is still not fully known and...

Poll: Public pessimism on economy is increasing

For the third year in a row, the nation's economic recovery has hit a springtime soft spot. Reflecting that weakness, only 1 in 4 Americans now expects his or her own financial situation to improve...

Jindal won't seek legislative backing on LSU deals

Jindal said Thursday that he believes the legislative resolutions that have received support in the House and Senate requiring budget committee backing of the lease agreements don't carry the force of...

Public education: It's about the students, right?

It's a basic concept, a philosophy that should be upheld by all school system officials, whether elected or not: All students, even those deemed disruptive, have the ability for academic...

La. Senate backs ban on tweeting while driving

The bill would expand an existing prohibition on texting while driving to include accessing, reading and posting to sites like Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's...

Gun control backers: Senate defeat won't stop us

One day after the demise of gun control legislation, Senate supporters of the measure vowed to try again, while a leading opponent accused President Barack Obama of taking the "low road"...

Pro-gun bills approved by La. House committee

Or, this week in overkill ... BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana lawmakers are advancing a batch of bills they say are aimed at pre-empting any stricter gun laws that could make it out of Congress. In...

Ex-BP executive testifies at Gulf oil spill trial

Patrick O'Bryan, BP's vice president of drilling and completions in the Gulf of Mexico at the time of the company's April 2010 well blowout, said he never heard any concerns that the rig crew felt...

Bill would ban so-called 'telemedicine abortions'

Anti-abortion advocates are seeking new restrictions on the procedure in Louisiana to ban doctors from remotely administering the abortion pill via a video hookup, a process criticized as...

Tehmi's reaction backfires

Chassion's release of an audio recording he claimed included explosive revelations about misconduct on the part of school administrators is further evidence he is on a mission to discredit the...

Why HB 420's attempt to save Holy Rosary is flawed

HB 420 will not only take away revenue crucial to the Cajundome, but by putting that money into the hands of a private, nonprofit to use in the redevelopment of Holy Rosary Institute, the proposed...

Mark Allen Babineaux: the philosopher

Though it clearly defies state law and the Louisiana Teacher Bill of Rights, Lafayette Parish School Board member Mark Allen Babineaux is calling for the adoption of a new disciplinary...

House GOP supports shelving of income tax repeal

Alexandria Rep. Lance Harris, the delegation chairman, issued a statement saying Republicans support the move by their colleague, Ways and Means Chairman Joel Robideaux, to jettison discussion of the...

No brotherly love for Lohse

U.S. marshals in Philadelphia have caught a 43-year-old Louisiana man who walked away from his trial on charges including vehicular homicide. LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - U.S. marshals in Philadelphia have...

Bill would require crates for dog in pickup truck

If you're driving on Louisiana's interstates, the days of letting your pooch have free range in the bed of a pickup truck might be nearing an end. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - If you're driving on...

15th Grand Isle Migratory Bird Celebration Fri-Sun

Activities Friday, Saturday and Sunday include watching state biologists catch and band songbirds and boat tours to the pelican rookery on nearby Queen Bess Island. GRAND ISLE, La. (AP) - The 15th...

Unclaimed Powerball prize to expire mid-May

Louisiana Lottery officials said Tuesday that no one has claimed a $10,000 Powerball prize won in the Nov. 17 drawing. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Check those Powerball tickets collecting dust in a drawer...

Deadline looms for Isaac flood insurance claims

The Federal Emergency Management Agency says most policyholders with the National Flood Insurance Program have until April 22 to complete their proof-of-loss claims. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A deadline...

SafeLight amnesty back before council

If the council approves the ordinance the amnesty period will lead to the city subcontracting with private attorneys to take motorists with outstanding fines to court to collect the...

Audit says La. may owe feds for misspent storm aid

ouisiana may owe the federal government more than $115 million for disaster relief aid that was misspent or awarded to ineligible recipients after hurricanes Katrina and Rita, a state audit said...

Condoleezza Rice to appear at BR education forum

Gov. Bobby Jindal, state Superintendent of Education John White, House Education Committee Chairman Steve Carter, R-Baton Rouge, and Senate Education Committee Chairman Conrad Appel, R-Metairie, are...

At least 25 La. marathoners safe

A runner from Lafayette was about a block away when two bombs exploded near the Boston Marathon's finish line. Two runners from Opelousas crossed the line about two minutes before the explosions. They...

This week in intolerant: Alan Seabaugh

State Rep. Alan Seabaugh, R-City on a Hill, wants to make sure them gays don't get all uppity when they're discriminated against. After all, they're gay and what not. State Rep. Alan Seabaugh, R-City...

Jindal tax plan all but dead

On Monday, state Rep. Joel Robideaux, R-Lafayette, announced that Jindal's fantasy will probably not rise to the level of reality. The Legislature is poised to once and for all wash it hands of Gov....

Bank robber at-large; Alice Boucher on lockdown

Alice Boucher Elementary School was placed on lockdown at about 11 a.m. this morning due to a suspect from a nearby bank robbery being on the loose. Alice Boucher Elementary School was placed on...

Parrot thought dead in wreck returned to zoo

Senny the Senegal parrot is back at the Zoo of Acadiana. LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - Senny the Senegal parrot is back at the Zoo of Acadiana. Authorities assumed the parrot was dead after a man stole it and...

BP manager testifies at trial over Gulf oil spill

A trial designed to assign fault to the companies involved in the deadly Deepwater Horizon disaster has resumed with testimony of a BP manager who supervised two rig managers indicted on manslaughter...

Risky Business

Tehmi Chassion's failure to recuse himself in the school board's selection of a group health benefits provider raises serious questions' on whether he violated state ethics law. Written by Heather...

Ermagerd! Snake in da courthouse!

Forget the photos of water intrusion, sagging ceiling tiles and files piled high for lack of storage, nothing says "we need to upgrade our parish courthouse facilities" like a...

Facing oppo, Landry abandons special ed bill

Amid a push-back from special-education advocates, State Rep. Nancy Landry has scuttled a bill that would have established special-ed schools in eight regions around the state. Amid a push-back from...

Jindal says no 'barriers' on tax repeal debate

Gov. Bobby Jindal said Thursday he's not putting any limits on what lawmakers should consider when debating a repeal of the state income tax, including requirements that they offset all or part of the...

Jindal opposed to caps on TOPS awards

But Jindal said Thursday he'd be willing to discuss with lawmakers proposals to toughen academic standards to be eligible for the free tuition. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov. Bobby Jindal remains...

CNSI official defends Medicaid contract award

A top official with the Maryland company whose nearly $200 million Medicaid contract with the state has been cancelled said the firm has never been contacted as part of an ongoing federal probe into...

Shrimp season opens in some waters Tuesday

The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says the season opens Tuesday at 6 a.m. in a portion of territorial waters between Caillou Boca and the Atchafalaya River Ship Channel. BATON ROUGE, La....

House GOP is in revolt

There's hardly any other way to interpret a press release issued Thursday in which the House Republican Delegation announces its endorsement of a handful of bills that are clearly aimed at countering...

Downtown dreams on display at AcA

Creative Actio is all about the Next Big Thing. In this case, it's the future of downtown Lafayette via the Imagine Downtown ideas competition. Creative Action, in partnership with the Urban Land...

Bill would ban social media posts while driving

Hold that Twitter thought. If you are driving, a proposed state law would make it illegal for you to post status updates or anything else to social media websites. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Hold that...

La. meat company recalls deli meat

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service said Wednesday that Manda Packing Co., based in Baker, is recalling the meat that may be contaminated with Listeria...

French Quarter becomes a stage for music fest

French Quarter Festival, which turns 30 this year, runs through Sunday and showcases Louisiana food and music on stages strung throughout the historic neighborhood, including Jackson Square, the...

Post office retreats on eliminating Saturday mail

The financially beleaguered Postal Service backpedaled on its plan to end Saturday mail delivery, conceding Wednesday that its gamble to compel congressional approval had failed. WASHINGTON (AP) - The...

Jeff Landry: the GOP's worst nightmare

Be afraid, mainstream Republicans - even you Goldwater Republicans - be very afraid. Former U.S. Rep. Jeff Landry ain't going away. Be afraid, mainstream Republicans - even you Goldwater Republicans -...

Dem, GOP senators reach background check deal

Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania planned to announce their pact Wednesday. WASHINGTON (AP) - A Senate aide and a lobbyist say two senators...

Obama sends Congress $3.8 trillion spending plan

The president's proposal being unveiled Wednesday includes an additional $1.8 trillion in deficit reduction over the next decade, bringing total deficit savings to $4.3 trillion, based on the...

Will typing follow cursive out of the classroom?

The time-honored skill of typing is still helpful, but it's becoming less necessary. And that raises the question: Does typing have a future? DALLAS (AP) - The time-honored skill of typing is still...

Jindal won't seek to follow Arkansas on Medicaid

Arkansas has asked federal officials to let it use the Medicaid money to buy private insurance policies, and the Obama administration is working with the state on that idea. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -...

Public gets turn to talk about Louisiana budget

People whose programs and services are slated to get cut in Gov. Bobby Jindal's budget have come to the state capitol to ask lawmakers to reconsider the reductions. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - People...

PAR urges caution post ‘swap'

PAR's caveat to state lawmakers is based on Jindal's continued fixation with burnishing his national creden, er, his insistence that the income taxes be repealed and that lawmakers nonetheless figure...

Jindal ditches tax swap proposal, so now what?

That's the question lawmakers are considering as they get down to work in the first week of the two-month legislative session. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov. Bobby Jindal abandoned his tax swap plan,...

We told you so: Jindal scraps tax plan

On the opening day of the legislative session, Gov. Bobby Jindal officially shelved his plan to eliminate income taxes and raise sales taxes. Gov. Bobby Jindal told lawmakers Monday that he's shelving...

Suspect killed, deputy wounded in Crowley shooting

State police are investigating a shooting near Crowley that left one man dead and an Acadia Parish sheriff's deputy wounded. State police are investigating a shooting near Crowley that left one man...

Babineaux in hot seat over LPSS taxing 'pickle'

Gasp. Could Mark Allen Babineaux - an attorney - have broken board policy to the tune of $17 million? Questions need to be answered by Mark Allen Babineaux of the Lafayette Parish School Board and...

Cold case arrest prompts cross-country probe

As 72-year-old Samuel Little, a former boxer and transient, awaits trial in Los Angeles for the alleged sexually motivated strangulation deaths of two women, authorities in numerous jurisdictions in...

Jindal pushing tax rewrite at regular session open

Skeptical lawmakers get a direct pitch Monday from Gov. Bobby Jindal for his proposal to revamp Louisiana's tax system, as the annual regular legislative session begins. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -...

Landrieu in shrinking company

There are now only four Democrats in the Senate who have not expressed support for gay marriage: Sens. Mark Pryor, of Arkansas, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, Tim Johnson of South Dakota, and Joe...

Jindal consultants criticize tax idea

The consulting firm hired by Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration for economic analysis of the governor's tax plan says states should not enact a key plank of Jindal's proposal. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -...

Kershaw lights it up at home

Country singer Sammy Kershaw inadvertently set a fire Thursday in his home that, as a result, sustained "heavy smoke damage, but no structural damage." LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - Country singer...

Insurance settlement money arrives for La. budget

Louisiana has received $95 million in legal settlements with insurance companies, ending questions about whether the money would roll in for this year's budget or leave lawmakers scrambling to fill a...

Rep. Fleming won't run for Senate against Landrieu

Republican U.S. Rep. John Fleming said Thursday that he won't enter the U.S. Senate race against Democratic incumbent Mary Landrieu because he doesn't want to divide GOP support. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)...

Higher education chief troubled by Jindal budget

Gov. Bobby Jindal's budget proposal would leave colleges with shaky and uncertain financing next year and create cash flow problems at the schools, Louisiana's higher education commissioner said...

Tehmi Chassion's desperate measure

To keep certain skeletons - a felony arrest for example - safely hidden from the public eye, some politicians will take desperate measures. School board member Tehmi Chassion gets advice from his...

Jindal and Bryant raise funds for GOP

Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal expressed nothing but praise for each other Wednesday just before Jindal gave the keynote speech at a fundraiser for the Mississippi...

House speaker seeks analysis of Jindal tax plan

House Speaker Chuck Kleckley said Wednesday that lawmakers won't vote on Gov. Bobby Jindal's tax plan until they get their own financial analysis of the bills, a review that will slow any efforts to...

No new plan for dealing with Citizens' budget gap

The governing board for Louisiana's property insurer of last resort didn't choose an alternate approach Wednesday to balance the company's books after a $100 million borrowing plan stalled at the...

Cameron dismissed from trial over Gulf oil spill

A federal judge on Wednesday dismissed all remaining claims against the company that made a key safety device for the drilling rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010, killing 11 workers and...

Audit says Katrina aid may have been misspent

Federal investigators said Wednesday that as much as $700 million in federal aid intended to help some 24,000 Louisiana families elevate their homes after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005 may have...

House speaker talks of capping TOPS program

House Speaker Chuck Kleckley says colleges need to be able to raise their tuition rates, but he says the state can't afford to continue increasing TOPS program costs, which are estimated to reach $204...

INNOV8 Lafayette 2013

Friday, April 19 - Friday, April 26 INNOV8 Lafayette: The Big Picture Friday, April 19, through Friday, April 26 By Chris Allain, Vidox Motion Imagery CEO, co-founder and co-chair of INNOV8 Lafayette...

No surprise: weak gun laws = high gun violence

As sensible firearm legislation withers on the vine in Congress and the gun nuts at the NRA gin up fear and paranoia, a newly released report trumpets what we've intuitively known since musket days:...

Message to LPSB: Play with fire, you may get burned

Lafayette Parish School Board members Greg Awbrey and Tehmi Chassion may be playing with fire as far as Thad Welch is concerned, as the so-called "issue" over Superintendent Dr. Pat Cooper's...

Objections raised to school funding formula change

The House budget committee chairman is unhappy that next year's proposed public school funding formula strips a requirement for how much money must be spent in the classroom.  Photo by Robin May BATON...

Group: Dolphin, turtle deaths a sign of sick Gulf

Continuing deaths of dolphins and sea turtles are a sign that the Gulf of Mexico is still feeling effects from the 2010 spill that spewed 200 million gallons of oil from a well a mile below the...

Medicaid contractor objects to cancellation

The company whose nearly $200 million Medicaid contract with the state has been cancelled says it didn't do anything improper to get the work, despite an ongoing federal investigation into the...

Jindal tax swap 86'd?

Sources are telling The Ind that Gov. Bobby Jindal's controversial proposal to eliminate the state's corporate and individual income taxes and replace the lost revenue with a sharp spike and expansion...

Cassidy running for U.S. Senate in 2014

Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy is running for the Senate next year, seeking to keep Democratic U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu from a fourth term. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy...

The emperor is nekid!

Gov. Bobby Jindal's approval rating among voters remains at an all-time low. Heck, it's even lower than President Barack Hussein Obama's. Cuts to higher education and health care, along with his...

Lawmaker: Jindal tax plan faces hurdles to passage

The lawmaker sponsoring Gov. Bobby Jindal's tax rewrite proposal said Monday that while the plan faces strong opposition, it's not doomed to failure as the legislative session begins next week. BATON...

Lawmakers seek injunction against Jindal budget

Republican Reps. Kirk Talbot and Cameron Henry filed an amended petition to their original lawsuit that asked for the current 2012-13 budget to be declared unconstitutional because it uses one-time...

Halliburton worker testifies at Gulf spill trial

A man who worked for BP's cement contractor on the drilling rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 says he didn't believe the oil giant's employees were risking workers' safety when they...

Student newspaper editor sues LSU governing board

The editor of LSU's student newspaper filed a lawsuit Monday against the university system's Board of Supervisors for refusing to provide information about the candidates considered to be LSU's next...

Audit says $2.7M in RSD property is missing

The Louisiana Legislative Auditor's Office released the findings Monday, saying more than 1,600 items have been missing for four years. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A new audit says the state-run Recovery...

Claims administrator seeks dismissal of BP lawsuit

The court-appointed claims administrator for a multibillion-dollar settlement between BP PLC and a team of private plaintiffs' attorneys asked a federal judge Monday to throw out the company's lawsuit...

League of Women Voters gears up for Session 2013

The League of Women Voters of Lafayette, in preparation for the 2013 session of the Louisiana Legislature, will host a workshop Tuesday featuring state Sen. Fred Mills, R-Parks, and state Rep. Terry...

Durel-Langlinais animus leads to brawl

The Ind has learned through sources close to Lafayette Consolidated Government that City-Parish President Joey Durel was cited but not arrested by sheriff's deputies after allegedly striking Broussard...

Jindal health secretary resigns amid investigation

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal's health secretary and close ally, Bruce Greenstein, is resigning amid ongoing state and federal investigations into the awarding of a Medicaid contract to a company where...

Durel, Langlinais bury hatchet

Durel wanted to bury it in Langlinais' head, but ... The cities of Lafayette and Broussard have come to "an agreement in principle" to end the fracas that has had the cities at each others'...

Uh-oh: LABI opposes Jindal tax plan

Louisiana's largest business lobbying group on Wednesday declared its opposition to Gov. Bobby Jindal's tax system rewrite because the plan would shift new tax costs to businesses. BATON ROUGE, La....

DHH: La. could save on Medicaid expansion

Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration quietly released a new financial analysis that estimates the state could save as much as $368 million over 10 years. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov. Bobby Jindal's...

GOP ponders long list of names, policies, for 2016

Republicans' search for a way back to presidential success is drawing a striking array of personalities and policy options, creating a wide-open self-reassessment of the party. WASHINGTON (AP) -...

Applications for tuition vouchers increase

Louisiana's Department of Education has received 11,800 applications for state-funded private school tuition, with interest in the voucher program growing larger, Superintendent of Education John...

Trial over Gulf oil spill set to resume Tuesday

BP's cement contractor on the drilling rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 will continue presenting its defense next week at a trial over the deadly catastrophe. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - BP's...

2013 INDesign Awards Gold Winner: Event House

Now in their 9th year, IND Monthly's INDesign Awards continue to recognize excellence in architecture, interior design and historic preservation/restoration throughout Acadiana. This year our judges...

Tell us what you think: take our reader survey

In order to provide you with the most useful, relevant articles and information, we need to know about you, your reading interests and your lifestyle. As publishers of IND Monthly, we need your help...

Policy, schmolicy!

"I just want to make sure we're following policy," said Lafayette Parish School Board member Tehmi Chassion while calling for a vote last week that, well, broke policy. [Editor's Note: This...

High court hears case on federal benefits for gays

In the second of back-to-back gay marriage cases, the Supreme Court is turning to a constitutional challenge to the law that prevents legally married gay Americans from collecting federal benefits...

Lawmakers seek more review of Medicaid expansion

Lawmakers urged Gov. Bobby Jindal's health department Tuesday to look at alternative program models to tap into the Medicaid expansion money available under the federal health care. BATON ROUGE, La....

Jindal plan estimated to boost business tax costs

Gov. Bobby Jindal's tax restructuring plan would shift $500 million in tax costs from individuals to businesses, the governor's leader on the effort said Tuesday. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov. Bobby...

Lafayette Police Dept. wins national accreditation

Police Chief Jim Craft says adhering to national policing standards could improve the work of officers and help the agency avoid lawsuits. LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - The Lafayette Police Department has...

LSU board to vote on Alexander's hiring Wednesday

The search process has been lambasted by the Faculty Senate as too secretive, and faculty leaders have questioned whether Alexander has the background to lead a research-based university system. BATON...

Lawmakers say Jindal trying to oust Regents head

Commissioner of Higher Education Jim Purcell has been at odds with the GOP governor over the depth of budget cuts to public colleges and what that slashing means to higher education. BATON ROUGE, La....

Louisiana Capitol offers free Wi-Fi service

The free Wi-Fi service began Monday, allowing anyone in the building to access the public network with their computers, tablets and smartphones. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Louisiana State Capitol is...

State tax extensions must be electronically filed

The Louisiana Department of Revenue implemented the requirement beginning with returns due in 2013. Filing extension requests must be submitted no later than the tax filing deadline. BATON ROUGE, La....

Hurricanes offer lessons for builders

A federal engineer examining the lessons from Hurricane Sandy says findings after the October storm closely track the disaster of Hurricane Katrina seven years earlier. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A federal...

CABL recommends phase-in for Jindal tax plan

Gov. Bobby Jindal's tax plan should include a margin of error so the state doesn't end up facing new budget shortfalls, the leader of a government watchdog group said Monday. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -...

Public school exams undergoing sweeping changes

A test that fourth- and eighth-graders have to pass for promotion is on the way out. It's part of a series of changes unfolding in how Louisiana measures what public students know. BATON ROUGE, La....

Accolades pouring in for Richard

To help celebrate the release of his 20th record, Zachary Richard is being honored by both the Lafayette City-Parish Council and UL's Center for Louisiana Studies. Zachary Richard's awesome...

Gay marriage, meet SCOTUS

On Tuesday the high court will hear arguments in California's Prop 8 case, followed a day later by consideration of the federal Defense of Marriage Act. Kris Perry, left, and Sandy Stier BERKELEY,...

Rove sees potential support for gay marriage

GOP strategist Karl Rove says he can imagine a Republican candidate in the next presidential campaign supporting gay marriage. WASHINGTON (AP) - GOP strategist Karl Rove says he can imagine a...

Federal defenders face deep cuts

The lawyers who defend the nation's poor in federal courts across the country are grappling with budget cuts they say will decimate their offices. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The lawyers who defend the...

Mayor group touts big gun control push

Louisiana is one of a baker's dozen states in which the ad campaign will appear. NEW YORK (AP) - A new $12 million television ad campaign from Mayors Against Illegal Guns will push senators in key...

State names sinkhole study group as tremors recur

The head of Louisiana's Department of Natural Resources has named 13 scientists and other experts to serve on a commission to determine the long-term stability of the area around northern Assumption...

Attorney general investigating Medicaid contract

The attorney general's public corruption unit says that the office has an ongoing investigation into the awarding of the contract to CNSI, which was supposed to take over Medicaid claims processing...

State budget gaps remain for current year

About $88 million expected for this year's state budget hasn't been received yet by the treasurer's office for spending, lawmakers were told Friday. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - About $88 million expected...

More clergy come out against Jindal tax plan

"We call on Gov. Jindal to withdraw and publicly disavow this analysis so that citizens and elected officials can begin to have a reasonable debate based on facts, not distortion and...

Company to dispute Medicaid contract cancellation

Maryland-based CNSI, which once employed Jindal health secretary Bruce Greenstein, was supposed to take over Medicaid claims processing next year. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A company whose Medicaid...

Jindal cancels contract under review by grand jury

Within hours of The Advocate breaking the story of a federal investigation into the state's awarding of a lucrative Medicaid contract to CNSI in 2011, the Jindal administration cancels the contract....

Epic rant gets student teacher booted

Derrick Comeaux believes the move was in retaliation for comments he made to the school board the night before in which he detailed discipline problems he encounters on a daily basis. A UL Lafayette...

Bill would create election for state super

A bill pre-filed in the Legislature would, pending legislative and voter approval, amend the state constitution and make the job of state superintendent an elected position. A bill pre-filed in the...

BP seeks sanctions over missing cement samples

BP asked a federal judge Thursday to sanction its cement contractor on the ill-fated Deepwater Horizon drilling project, accusing the company of withholding critical evidence that could have been used...

Langlinais cries ‘uncle'

Faced with the loss of fire-dispatch services, Broussard Mayor Charles Langlinais says he's dropping a lawsuit filed against the city of Lafayette. Durel, left, and Langlinais Faced most recently...

Where does Henry Mouton go from here?

In early March, the U.S. Attorney in New Orleans abruptly dropped the investigation of landfill moguls Fred Heebe and Jim Ward, leaving a big question mark on the fate of Lafayette's Henry Mouton, who...

PAR: Jindal plan $650M short of 'revenue neutral'

A nonpartisan watchdog group says Gov. Bobby Jindal's tax code restructuring plan could cost the state as much as $650 million in lost revenue as currently proposed. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A...

LSU hospital bonds are taxable under privatization

Plans to privatize most of LSU's public hospitals means borrowing for repairs and construction of the health facilities will be taxable. That borrowing will cost the state more. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)...

Budget doesn't plan for new state trooper training

Louisiana won't train new state troopers for a fifth year under the budget proposal being considered by lawmakers. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana won't train new state troopers for a fifth year...

Alexander visits with LSU students, staff Thursday

LSU students and staff are getting their first look at the man expected to be the university system's next president, F. King Alexander. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - LSU students and staff are getting...

LSU Faculty Senate votes 'no confidence' in board

LSU professors are questioning the credentials of the contender to be university system president, and delivered notice Wednesday of a stinging vote of no confidence in the governing board. BATON...

Claims against BP contractors dismissed at trial

A federal judge conducting a trial to assign fault for the nation's worst offshore oil spill dismissed claims Wednesday against a BP contractor and the company that made a key safety device on the...

Ex-BP engineer accused of deleting voicemails

A superseding indictment handed up Wednesday by a federal grand jury in New Orleans accuses Kurt Mix of deleting about 40 voicemails from a supervisor and roughly 15 voicemails from a BP...

Landreth fan robs bank, at large

The guitar master has conspicuously declined to release a statement disavowing the Sonny Landreth fan who is a stealer. Perhaps giving credence to the claim that listening to masterful, blisteringly...

2013 INDesign Awards Photo Gallery

The INDesign Awards were created to emphasize that good design contributes to the quality of life in a community and to spotlight the architects and interior designers who produce projects of note...

Council delays Redflex amnesty vote

The council delayed the vote while city-parish attorney Mike Hebert researches how revenue generated through city-initiated lawsuits - attorneys contracted by the city to pursue the suits would likely...

Higher education leader seeks new tuition increase

Louisiana's top higher education official said Tuesday that the state's investment in public colleges has sunk to its lowest level in more than 50 years when compared to income levels, and he's...

Lawmakers delve into specifics of Jindal tax plan

Lawmakers digging into the details of Gov. Bobby Jindal's plan to restructure Louisiana's tax code said Tuesday that his administration needs to do a better job selling the tax plan to the...

Donelon opposes $100M Citizens borrowing plan

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon said it's premature for the state property insurer of last resort to borrow $100 million to help close a budget gap. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Insurance Commissioner...

Jindal finally gets that sinking feeling

Gov. Bobby Jindal is meeting for the first time with the families displaced since August by a massive sinkhole in Assumption Parish. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov. Bobby Jindal is meeting for the first...

Pope Francis urges protection of nature, weak

Pope Francis laid out the priorities of his pontificate during his installation Mass on Tuesday, urging the princes, presidents, sheiks and thousands of ordinary people attending to protect the...

Top Jindal bills before La. Supreme Court

The Louisiana Supreme Court was to hear back-to-back arguments Tuesday afternoon about the expanded school voucher program and the plan to shift future rank-and-file state workers to a 401(k)-style...

Calif. university leader suggested for LSU job

An 11-member search committee chose F. King Alexander, president of California State University Long Beach, as the sole finalist for the LSU president's job. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A California...

Horse Farm receives 100 live oaks

A local ecological restoration company donated 100 live oak trees that will be planted at the park-to-be Tuesday afternoon. In the first of what is sure to become a series of beautification projects,...

Clergy call Jindal tax plan unfair to poor

More than 250 Louisiana clergy members have signed a letter to Gov. Bobby Jindal opposing his tax swap proposal. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - More than 250 Louisiana clergy members have signed a letter to...

Politico names Jindal a CPAC ‘loser'

The governor joins GOP Machiavelli Karl Rove, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and austerity auteur Paul Ryan on the list. Citing his recycled speeches and retreaded jokes during his speech this past...

Defense starts for companies in Gulf spill trial

Transocean Ltd. called its first witness Monday on the 13th day of the trial. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The owner of the drilling rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 has started to present its...

La. black bears active early

For some reason bears in coastal areas couldn't fatten up enough for denning, so they're awake, active and hungry. PATTERSON, La. (AP) - Though they'd normally still be in winter dens, Louisiana black...

SUV carrying Jindal involved in crash; gov OK

Jindal spokesman Sean Lansing said the governor had been on his way home from his son's soccer game. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A large rental truck sideswiped a sport utility vehicle carrying Gov. Bobby...

Game on: pols audition for 2016

Republican leaders have danced around questions about their White House aspirations, but the die-hard conservatives are already picking favorites. OXON HILL, Md. (AP) - The auditions have begun. Just...

The Advocate signs intent to sell

The Advocate newspaper in Baton Rouge is reporting that its publisher has signed a letter of intent to sell the paper to New Orleans businessman John Georges. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Advocate...

Critics slam Jindal tax proposal

Opponents were quick to criticize Gov. Bobby Jindal's proposal to eliminate Louisiana's personal and corporate income tax and replace the roughly $3 billion in lost revenue by hiking the state's sales...

Dardenne says parks maintenance fund drained

Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration and lawmakers have shifted so much money from a repair fund into park system general operations that he cannot afford to take care of the cabins and amenities that...

US clergy sex victims want change from new pope

The election of a new pope could help heal the wounds left by a Roman Catholic sex abuse crisis that has savaged the church's reputation worldwide. LOS ANGELES (AP) - The election of a new pope could...

New style of papacy: Pope Francis pays hotel bill

On his first day as shepherd of the world's 1.2 billion Catholics, Pope Francis picked up his luggage at a Vatican hotel, personally thanked each member of the staff and even paid his own...

Census shows record 1 in 3 US counties are dying

New 2012 census estimates released Thursday highlight the population shifts as the U.S. encounters its most sluggish growth levels since the Great Depression. WASHINGTON (AP) - A record number of U.S....

Applications for US jobless aid reach 5-year low

Applications for unemployment aid are a proxy for layoffs, and their steady decline signals that companies are laying off fewer and fewer workers. WASHINGTON (AP) - Fewer Americans sought unemployment...

Software glitch delays 660,000 tax refunds

The delay affects people claiming education tax credits who filed returns between Feb. 14 and Feb. 22. WASHINGTON (AP) - The Internal Revenue Service says 660,000 taxpayers will have their refunds...

Broussard bites back

Hell hath no fury like a small town scorned. Proving itself a master of rhetoric, the south Lafayette Parish municipality answers City-Parish President Joey Durel's announcement Thursday morning on...

Monday deadline for Maginnis tickets

One of the state's most respected political journalists will lecture in Lafayette Wednesday, March 20. Noon Monday, March 18, is the deadline to buy tickets to hear respected political journalist John...

Jindal plan would remove income, raise sales taxes

Jindal wants to boost state sales taxes from 4 percent to 5.88 percent; increase cigarette taxes from 36 cents per pack to $1.41; and assess sales taxes on a wide range of services not currently...

Laffy upping pressure in fracas with Broussard

City-Parish President Joey Durel unveiled another arrow in Lafayette's quiver: cutting off fire dispatch services. The city of Lafayette is ratcheting up the pressure on the Broussard to drop its...

High on Pope: Joy from Amite to Zachary

Catholic church bells pealed long and joyously across Louisiana after Argentine Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio became Pope Francis. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Catholic church bells pealed long and joyously across...

Pay raises draw ire of lawmakers in budget hearing

Treasurer John Kennedy, Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon, Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain and Attorney General Buddy Caldwell have given salary bumps to various employees in their offices in...

Jindal to reveal tax code revamp proposal Thursday

Jindal wants to eliminate state income taxes and replace them with other tax hikes. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - After months of behind-the-scenes discussion, Gov. Bobby Jindal is unveiling the details of...

Jindal says Texas Brine to begin sinkhole buyouts

"They caused the situation. They've got to make this right," Jindal said after a closed-door meeting with company leaders. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Texas Brine will offer buyouts to...

Plaintiffs' lawyer resigns amid BP oil spill trial

U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier's order Wednesday did not say why Mikal Watts, who was in court only for the trial's first day, resigned from the Plaintiffs' Steering Committee. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A...

EBR casinos allowed to serve alcohol all night

The East Baton Rouge Parish Metro Council voted, 7-4, with one abstention, in favor of creating a special license for casinos that will allow them to sell alcohol past 2 a.m. - unlike other Baton...

Argentine Jorge Bergoglio elected pope

Argentine Jorge Bergoglio has been elected pope, the first ever from the Americas and the first from outside Europe in more than a millennium. He chose the name Pope Francis. VATICAN CITY (AP) -...

Catholic church has new pope; white smoke rises

Cardinals in a papal conclave have elected a new leader for the world's 1.2 billion Catholics. VATICAN CITY (AP) - The Catholic church has chosen a new pope. White smoke is billowing from the chimney...

Cardinals split over who should be pope

Cardinals remained divided over who should be pope on Wednesday after three rounds of voting, an indication that disagreements remain about the direction of the Catholic Church following the upheaval...

Worker: Rig was bustling before BP well blowout

A worker says a flurry of activity on the Deepwater Horizon hindered his ability to monitor BP's well for signs of trouble before the April 2010 blowout that caused the drilling rig to explode. NEW...

Reefer madness: Lawsuit against Jindal considered

At issue is Jindal's diversions of millions of dollars donated by oil companies to turn old rigs into artificial reefs to instead pay for other items in the budget. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov. Bobby...

Lawmakers hold hearing on federal health care law

State lawmakers are slated to discuss the pros and cons of expanding Louisiana's Medicaid program to cover more uninsured adults. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - State lawmakers are slated to discuss the pros...

La. getting $8.2M to house 200 homeless statewide

The money's from a program run by the federal departments of Housing and Urban Development and of Health and Human Services. LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - As the Louisiana Conference on Homelessness and...

2012 tourism in New Orleans: A record $6 billion

Tourists no longer think of New Orleans as only the French Quarter and food, and they're returning to spend more time in places they've already visited. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Tourists no longer think of...

Senate panel OKs Dems gun background check bill

A divided Senate Judiciary Committee approved a Democratic bill Tuesday expanding required federal background checks to nearly all gun purchases, giving President Barack Obama an early victory on...

Black smoke from chapel chimney: No pope yet

The cardinals held the first day of the conclave Tuesday deeply divided over the problems of the church and who best among them could fix them. VATICAN CITY (AP) - Black smoke has poured from the...

O'Malley, the 'cappuccino priest,' a hit in Rome

The archbishop of Boston, dressed more often in the humble brown robe of his religious order than a cardinal's regalia, has emerged as an unlikely star amid the drama unfolding in Rome. VATICAN CITY...

House lawmakers begin La. budget hearings

The House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday begins weeks of planned hearings to comb through the details of Gov. Bobby Jindal's 2013-14 budget proposal for the new fiscal year that begins July...

Luke on the loose

When 27th Judicial District Attorney Earl Taylor decided to dismiss the second-offense OWI charge against Luke Edwards - a former ADA and public defender in the 15th JDC - he did so with knowledge of...

La. joins savings-bonds bonanza

State Treasurer John Kennedy says the feds are withholding $16.5 billion in bonds that are no longer earning interest, and he argues purchasers of those bonds or their descendents should be allowed to...

PAR: Study Medicaid expansion

The good-government advocacy nonprofit has produced a report delineating some of the demographic and health-care-delivery issues the state will be facing, and it urges Gov. Bobby Jindal to explain his...

Lafayette teachers enlist social media

A group of Lafayette teachers calling themselves the "Fearless Foursome" launched a Facebook page to spark continued discussion about education issues. LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - A group of...

Lawmaker wants term limits for statewide officials

Republican Rep. Simone Champagne has filed the proposal to limit statewide elected officials to three consecutive four-year terms. Lawmakers will consider the measure in the legislative session that...

Sen. Landrieu introduces adoption documentary

The Louisiana Democrat is the mother of two adopted children and the wife of a man adopted from overseas. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu is promoting a documentary about international...

Jindal planning to see the sinkhole for himself

Seven months after a sinkhole forced the evacuation of 150 homes in swampy Assumption Parish, Gov. Bobby Jindal said Monday that he'll visit the site where nine acres of land have disintegrated into...

Halliburton exec testifies at Gulf spill trial

An executive from the company that was BP's cement contractor on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig testified Monday that he learned of some "irregularities" in tests that the contractor's...

Sign-up opens for outside school courses

Louisiana public school students can start registering for free online classes taught by 42 organizations, including universities, according to the state education department. NEW ORLEANS (AP) -...

Rome braces for conclave crowd control challenge

Planning for the moment when the next pope is proclaimed to the world, and for the installation ceremony a few days later, is a big-time guessing game. And that adds up to an ungodly logistical...

Before the conclave, horse-trading has begun

Can the fractious Italians rally behind a single candidate? Can the Americans live up to their surprise billing as a power broker? VATICAN CITY (AP) - The Vatican insists that the cardinals...

Cardinals count down to conclave with final talks

On the eve of their conclave to select a new pope, cardinals held their final debate Monday over whether the Catholic Church needs a manager to clean up the Vatican or a pastor to inspire the faithful...

Maintenance closes Kisatchie's Little Creek Trail

It closed Monday and will remain closed until Friday, April 12 for all public uses - off-road vehicles, horseback riding, bicycles and walking. PINEVILLE, La. (AP) - The Kisatchie National Forest's...

Woodley named to regional education board

University of Louisiana System President Sandra Woodley has been appointed to the Southern Regional Education Board. ATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - University of Louisiana System President Sandra Woodley has...

US adds 236K jobs, unemployment falls to 7.7 pct.

The unemployment rate is at its lowest level in four years. WASHINGTON (AP) - A burst of hiring last month added 236,000 U.S. jobs and reduced the unemployment rate to 7.7 percent from 7.9 percent in...

Cardinals set Tuesday as start date for conclave

The conclave date was set on Friday afternoon during a vote by the College of Cardinals. Tuesday will begin with a Mass in the morning in St. Peter's Basilica, followed by the first balloting in the...

BP warns of rising costs from spill settlement

BP is cautioning investors that the price tag will be higher than initially estimated for its multibillion-dollar settlement with businesses and residents who claim the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of...

Lou King Patin dies

The wife of City-Parish Councilman Keith Patin died last night of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. [Editor's Note: This story has been updated with information on funeral arrangements.] The...

Lynne Durel released from Lourdes

City-Parish President Joey Durel's wife, who suffered 11 broken ribs, several with multiple fractures, in a head-on collision March 1, is now recovering at home. Now that his wife has been released...

City prosecutor's employee on 'vacation' since May

Laura Boudreaux, senior paralegal aide/supervisor for the city prosecutor's office, has been on administrative leave - collecting about $3,200 a month - since May. Laura Boudreaux has been paid to do...

Study: More gun laws = fewer deaths

But the research leaves many questions unanswered and won't settle the debate over how policymakers should respond to recent high-profile acts of gun violence. CHICAGO (AP) - States with the most gun...

Jindal sidesteps questions about sinkhole visit

Residents displaced since August have criticized the governor for having never traveled to see the sinkhole or speak with the families. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov. Bobby Jindal has dodged questions...

Environmental groups sue Coast Guard

Six environmental groups are suing the U.S. Coast Guard, challenging a denial of two Freedom of Information Act requests about the response to an oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico. Six environmental...

Man pleads guilty to stealing brother's identity

U.S. Attorney Stephanie A. Finley said Wednesday that Nasar Latif Raja of St. Martinville entered the plea Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge C. Michael Hill. LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - A 41-year-old St....

Downtown biz owners briefed

The newly minted executive director of Downtown Lafayette Unlimited addressed about 40 downtown business owners Tuesday evening at Bolt nightclub to offer an overview of his vision for the district -...

Gov. Jindal to release tax plan by March 15

Lawmakers will debate the proposal in the legislative session that begins April 8, but they'll have only two months to make a decision before the session ends in June. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov....

Paper check refunds are back this tax season

If a taxpayer doesn't specifically choose the check or electronic deposit on tax forms, the refund will come on a pre-loaded debit card. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's revenue department is...

Ex-BP rig supervisor testifies at Gulf spill trial

A retired BP employee who supervised drilling operations on the rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico says he never felt pressure to sacrifice safety to save money, even though the project was...

High school leaders at odds over football playoffs

A decision by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association will separate traditional public school football playoffs from those held by private, magnet and charter schools. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -...

Scofflaws beware: LCG getting tough

Pending council approval, of course. And they're offering an amnesty period during which late fees will be waived. The City-Parish Council will consider on Tuesday night an ordinance that offers an...

Ag officials warn horse owners of potential virus

The state Department of Agriculture and Forestry says on Feb. 21 a horse was diagnosed with a wild strain of the virus and six days later, several more horses were diagnosed. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -...

Calling all troops

The fate of the former St. Luke's Hospital in Arnaudville now rests in the hands of the St. Martin Parish Council, and those pushing to use the vacant facility for the site of a French Immersion...

WaPo: Boustany won't challenge Landrieu

The Washington Post confirmed Monday and other media have now widely reported that Lafayette Republican Congressman Charles Boustany will not run for U.S. Senate in 2014 against incumbent Democratic...

Treasurer slams Jindal's budget as unbalanced

John Kennedy said in a column released Monday that the state will face another round of midyear budget slashing if lawmakers approve the governor's spending plans for the 2013-14 fiscal year. BATON...

Lynne Durel, friend Mazie out of ICU

City-Parish President Joey Durel says his wife may be released from Our Lady of Lourdes as early as Tuesday. [Update, 4 p.m. Monday: Lafayette Police spokesman Cpl. Paul Mouton says while the...

Trouble brewing for LHSAA

Eight employees of the LHSAA including its current executive director are enrolled in the Teachers' Retirement System of Louisiana. Private employees in a public retirement plan. The Louisiana High...

BP executive defends report on Gulf oil spill

A lawyer for rig owner Transocean on Monday pressed BP executive Mark Bly to explain why the report doesn't mention a call from BP rig supervisor Donald Vidrine to an onshore engineer, Mark Hafle,...

Judge throws out Jindal's teacher tenure revamp

Jimmy Faircloth, lawyer for the Jindal administration and the state Department of Education, says he will appeal the ruling. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A Baton Rouge judge has thrown out Gov. Bobby...

Underworld saint rising in US

A follower in New Orleans built a public shrine in her honor. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - A follower in New Orleans built a public shrine in her honor. An actor in Albuquerque credits her with helping...

Rig owner cites BP's low flow estimates

The owner of the oil rig that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010 says BP hampered efforts to stop the resulting gusher of oil by misleading government officials about how many barrels of oil were...

With spring comes training for storm spotters

National Weather Service meteorologists are out on the road, training storm spotters to understand what they see in clouds and on the ground - and to call it in. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - With spring...

Maginnis speaking in Lafayette on state politics

IND Monthly's Lecture Series brings respected veteran independent journalist John Maginnis to Lafayette March 20 to preview the upcoming legislative session, Louisiana's fall U.S. Senate race and Gov....

P.I. Williamson finally indicted

After months of keeping hush on the identity of co-conspirator No. 1, the feds Thursday pegged Robert Williamson as the mastermind behind the D.A. bribery scheme. U.S. Attorney Stephanie Finley's...

Parlez Vous?

Change. It can be a frightening notion, especially in a small community like Arnaudville, where for decades change has been slow in coming. Change. It can be a frightening notion, especially in a...

$700,000 bail set for Seth Fontenot

The 18-year-old UL student will soon see daylight following a decision Thursday by 15th Judicial District Judge Kristian Earles to set bail. Seth Fontenot will soon see daylight following a decision...

Energy group slams PSC reversal

The Alliance for Affordable Energy, a nonprofit consumer advocacy group, is tearing into the Public Service Commission over its vote to reverse a statewide energy conservation program the PSC had...

State plans end run around voucher hurdle

State Superintendent John White is ready to run with a plan to fund Louisiana's voucher program that he believes sidesteps a state district court judge's ruling that using Minimum Foundation Program...

State lawmaker asks AG about LSU hospital plan

Rep. Jared Brossett said he believes that because the hospitals are public assets, turning them over to private managers should require legislative backing. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A New Orleans...

PSC scraps statewide energy efficiency program

The commission voted 3-2 to abandon the previously approved program plans, without allowing any public testimony before the vote. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's utility regulators Wednesday...

BP exec back on the stand in oil spill trial

Mark Bly, who led the investigation and has served as BP's global head of safety, said his team didn't have enough information to conduct a "systemic evaluation" of what caused the...

Man accused of attacking dad with cookie cake

OK, this ain't local. But a cookie cake? HAUGHTON, La. (AP) - A 44-year-old Haughton man is facing charges after deputies say he hit his father with a cookie cake. Bossier Parish sheriff's spokesman...

Controlled burns close 2 federal wilderness areas

Meteorologists are predicting the right wind speed and direction and relative humidity for a safe burn, and the right "mixing height" to disperse the smoke. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Two very...

Carnival signs 3-year extension with Orleans port

The extension means there will be two Carnival cruise ships sailing year round from New Orleans through at least Feb. 12, 2016. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Carnival Cruise Lines has signed a three-year...

How budget cuts could affect you

Government agencies are already taking steps to comply with automatic spending cuts scheduled to take effect Friday. WASHINGTON (AP) - Government agencies are already taking steps to comply with...

34: It's the magic number

Thad Welch, take heart. Since 2009 the Lafayette Parish School Board and system have hired 34 others who did not fully meet the education requirements of their job description. Thad Welch, take heart....

Judge watches video of ex-BP CEO's testimony

Tony Hayward was head of the London-based oil giant in 2010 when there was an explosion on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The judge in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill trial has...

Eagle event Sunday at Kisatchie

Eagles are back at a lake bordering part of the Kisatchie National Forest, and forest officials are hosting a bald eagle speech and hike this weekend. PINEVILLE, La. (AP) - Eagles are back at a lake...

LPSB's absence issue: not an issue?

In our ongoing look into the four Lafayette Parish School Board members who have a penchant for missed meetings, The IND has discovered disparities between LPSB attendance records obtained through two...

Jindal proposes $47M in property sales in budget

Lawmakers question whether the deals will be done in time and if it's appropriate to budget dollars that aren't yet in hand. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov. Bobby Jindal's budget relies on selling six...

Landrieu: Jindal an obstructionist on Medicaid

U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu heightened her criticism Tuesday of Gov. Bobby Jindal's refusal to expand Louisiana's Medicaid program, accusing the governor of putting his presidential ambitions ahead of his...

This week in couillon: the three amigos

Councilmen Jared Bellard, William Theriot and Andy Naquin really don't get it. Or they're just pandering to their base. Councilmen Jared Bellard, Andy Naquin and William Theriot There's not getting...

Tisk tisk Tehmi

Tehmi Chassion's recent antics make him seem less like someone elected to fight for education and more like the hot-headed Bobby Knight of Indiana Hoosiers fame.   Tehmi Chassion is a member of the...

1st witness testifies in Gulf oil spill trial

BP failed to implement a new safety plan on the ill-fated Deepwater Horizon drilling rig even though the company realized a blowout in the Gulf of Mexico was its greatest danger, an expert witness for...

Hearth trouble: Jindal faces difficulty at home

Gov. Bobby Jindal faces deepening crises in his home state even as he dishes out advice on how the divided GOP can regroup. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov. Bobby Jindal faces deepening troubles in his...

USDA deputy secretary in NO for urban farm

U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan and chef Paul Prudhomme are visiting a farm in New Orleans. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - U.S. Department of Agriculture Deputy Secretary...

Funeral Wed. for US District Judge Frank Polozola

Polozola worked for the court for four decades, starting as a law clerk. He was nominated to the bench by President Jimmy Carter in 1980 and served as chief judge from 1998 to 2005. BATON ROUGE, La....

Police: 10M pounds of explosives improperly stored

Authorities have raised their estimate of the amount of dangerous material improperly stored at an explosives recycling company in Louisiana. Authorities have raised their estimate of the amount of...

Feds' loan changes hamper black college enrollment

The Education Department said the changes were made as part of an effort to more closely align government lending programs with industry standards and decrease default rates. ATLANTA (AP) - Ariadne...

Bribery schemers dropping like flies

Sandra Degeyter admitted in federal court late Monday afternoon to receiving more than $5,000 for her role in the bribery scheme that continues to haunt the 15th Judicial District, making her the...

Fifth guilty plea coming in DA bribery case

Former Acadiana Outreach Center case manager Sandra Degeyter is expected to plead guilty Monday at 4 p.m. to conspiracy to commit bribery. Monday at 4 p.m. Sandra Degeyter is scheduled to become the...

UK Cardinal skips conclave amid accusations

Cardinal Keith O'Brien, Britain's highest-ranking Catholic leader, said Monday he wouldn't take part in the conclave to elect the next pope after being accused of improper conduct with priests - an...

Audit outlines trouble with $75M hurricane program

Louisiana's "Katrina cottages" program took years longer than expected to build homes for hurricane-displaced residents and paid significantly more per house than similar nonprofit...

High-stakes trial begins for 2010 Gulf oil spill

U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier said he would hear several hours of opening statements Monday and the first witness would take the stand Tuesday. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A high-stakes trial started Monday...

5 La. airport towers could close in federal cuts

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood warned of the closing of 100 airport towers at airports that have 150,000 flights or fewer each year if automatic spending cuts go into effect March 1. LAKE...

In La., sequester pain spread wide

The impact of the cuts would be felt everywhere from funding for Head Start and education to environmental protection and military readiness. The White House has released a state-by-state impact of...

Join The IND on FB tonight for Oscar contests

Win great prizes just by picking the winners. It's Oscar night, people. Join The IND later Sunday afternoon and enter your picks in key categories for a chance to win great prizes, like $50 gift cards...

Jindal's $24.7B budget proposal unveiled

Gov. Bobby Jindal's $24.7 billion budget proposal for next year plugs hundreds of millions in patchwork funding into public colleges and assumes hefty savings from the privatization of LSU hospitals...

La.'s per capita debt rises

A report to the state Bond Commission on Thursday showed Louisiana carried a debt load of $1,336 for every man, woman and child in the state as the books were closed for 2012. That's an increase of...

Obama signs disaster declaration for La. parishes

The funds will pay for emergency response work and repairs to facilities damaged between Jan. 8 and Jan. 17 in the parishes of Acadia, Catahoula, Concordia, East Carroll, Evangeline, Franklin,...

State promotes Citizens rebates

Louisiana taxpayers are leaving tens of millions of property insurance rebates unclaimed each year. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana taxpayers are leaving tens of millions of property insurance...

Deadline extended for Isaac claims

Louisiana property owners with flood insurance policies whose homes or other structures were damaged during Hurricane Isaac have an additional 60 days to file claims for their flood-related...

La. House leader says budget glimpse encouraging

One of Louisiana's chief budget-writers said Thursday he feels better about coping with the state's more than $1 billion shortfall after getting a sneak peek at Gov. Bobby Jindal's spending...

Road work scaled back amid debt worries

Louisiana will borrow $100 million to repair and improve rural roads around Louisiana, in a plan scaled back Thursday by state officials grappling with a shortage of construction funds and trying to...

Seth Fontenot indicted for first-degree murder

The UL student was indicted Thursday for first-degree murder in the shooting death of 15-year-old Austin Rivault. Seth Fontenot, an 18-year-old UL Lafayette student, was indicted by a Lafayette Parish...

Simon Says ... nothing

James E. Simon is a public servant, working both as an assistant district attorney in the 15th Judicial District and as legal counsel for the Lafayette Parish School Board, but he says that doesn't...

Gun bills locked and loaded at Legis

Lawmakers in the Legislature have begun pre-filing bills aimed at heading off possible gun restrictions that might come down from Washington. Lawmakers in the Legislature have begun pre-filing bills...

N.P. Moss gunman never existed

Reports of an armed man spotted walking the grounds of the N.P. Moss campus earlier this month are bogus, says Lafayette Parish School System Superintendent Dr. Pat Cooper. [Editor's Note: This...

BP civil settlement remains elusive

The U.S. Justice Department and the five Gulf coast states affected by a massive oil spill nearly three years ago have indicated they would like to settle their environmental and economic claims with...

Lafayette man gets prison for defacing churches

U.S. District Judge Richard Haik also on Wednesday ordered 35-year-old Brian Toriano Crimiel to pay a total of nearly $4,000 in restitution to the St. James Baptist Church and to the insurance company...

Landrieu announces $6M in FEMA grants

The senator says the funds are provided through the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Public Assistance Program. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - U.S. Sen. Mary L. Landrieu says $6 million in disaster recovery...

State supt. outlines 2013-14 priorities

Louisiana Education Superintendent John White says improving the graduation rate among students with disabilities and enabling high school students to earn technical college associate degrees are...

Nagin pleads not guilty to bribery

Ex New Orleans mayor says he's not guilty of bribery, wire fraud and filing false tax returns. U.S. Magistrate Sally Shushan set Nagin's bond at $100,000 and a preliminary trial date of April 29. NEW...

Lawmaker: Red-light cams for locals only

We encourage Rep. Paul Hollis to file a bill making sales taxes applicable only to residents who live within the jurisdictions levying them. A Republican state representative from St. Tammany Parish...

Dem frontman running for governor

The Democratic leader in the Louisiana House, Rep. John Bel Edwards, says he's running for governor in 2015. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Democratic leader in the Louisiana House, Rep. John Bel...

#Damn: Boodaying on the bayou

Louisiana - according to some high-falutin' elitists who sip espresso, wear Birkenstocks with socks and are not real Americans - is the most unhappy state in the union. If the frequency of negative...

Federal research chimps savor retirement

The proposal to retire all but about 50 federally owned chimpanzees is the latest step in a gradual shift away from using chimps as test subjects, owing to technological advances and growing ethical...

Lawmaker looking for suggestions on school safety

Covington Rep. John Schroder has set up a special email address to solicit comments. He's asking people to send their ideas to schoolsafetycomments(at)legis.la.gov. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A state...

Feds, BP agree oil captured not part of penalties

BP and the federal government have agreed that 34 million gallons of oil captured during the massive 2010 spill in the Gulf of Mexico can't count toward civil penalties the oil giant faces. NEW...

KLFY does the ‘Harlem Shake'

Local TV station jumps on the viral video bandwagon. KLFY does its version of the "Harlem Shake." (But where's Gary Arnold going?) Or view the video here. Any other media game? If so, send...

High court reject's rapper C-Murder's appeal

The court on Tuesday rejected the appeal of the rapper known as C-Murder, who is serving a life sentence for killing a 16-year-old fan in Louisiana. A jury voted 10-2 to convict the rapper, whose real...

Younger vets struggle as economy improves

Although veterans as a whole have a lower unemployment rate than average, those who served following 9-11 are having a much harder time finding work. WASHINGTON (AP) - Two months after completing his...

Bid discrepancies preceded La. town evacuation

The explosives recycling company blamed for the evacuation of a Louisiana town in December misstated its storage capacity for dangerous materials when it sought a multimillion dollar Army contract in...

You spend some, you lose some

While Gov. Bobby Jindal crisscrossed the country stumping for Mitt Romney, Louisiana taxpayers picked up the tab for the governor's security detail. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - While Gov. Bobby Jindal...

Leaders to discuss taxes Monday

City-Parish President will call for the formation of a "blue ribbon committee" of local residents tasked with making recommendations on how to more effectively and equitably levy property...

Grosse Tete tiger case appeal heard

Michael Sandlin, the owner of an Iberville Parish truck stop at the center of a fight over his ownership - and public display of - a 550-pound Siberian-Bengal tiger, is before an state appeals court...

Jindal set to reveal budget

The legislative session doesn't begin until April, but the state's annual budget debate kicks off this week as Gov. Bobby Jindal unveils his multibillion-dollar spending proposals for next year. The...

Sentencing set in church vandalism case

Brian Toriano Crimiel of Lafayette pleaded guilty to defacing two churches with predominantly black congregations in February 2011 in an attempt to frame his ex-girlfriend, who is white. LAFAYETTE,...

PAR annual conference planned in BR

Keynote speaker for a luncheon that follows will be television commentator and Louisiana native Campbell Brown. BATION ROUGE, La. (AP) - The annual conference of the Public Affairs Research Council...

Hummingbirds migrating earlier in spring

Ruby-throated hummingbirds are migrating to North America weeks earlier than in decades past, and research indicates that higher temperatures in their winter habitat may be the reason. CHARLESTON,...

Today in freeloading: Randy Courville

Couillon, er, Courville pleaded guilty in federal court to collecting nearly $325,000 in Social Security disability payments for 17 years - from 1995 to 2012 - even though he wasn't disabled. The U.S....

National Journal floats ‘Boustany V. Landrieu'

Camp Boustany isn't exactly quashing the speculation. U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, D-Lafayette Inside-the-Beltway weekly newspaper National Journal has given some ink to the prospect of Lafayette...

Passengers slog home after 'horrible' Gulf cruise

The vacation ship carrying some 4,200 people docked late Thursday in Mobile to raucous cheers from passengers weary of overflowing toilets, food shortages and foul odors. MOBILE, Ala. (AP) -...

Jindal says he won't reconsider Medicaid expansion

Jindal is being urged by health care organizations, advocacy groups and Democratic lawmakers to reverse his opposition to the Medicaid expansion and to take the available federal funding to offer...

Jindal admin weighs debt refinancing

Gov. Bobby Jindal's top budget adviser said Thursday the administration is looking at ways to restructure Louisiana's debt to keep dollars flowing for state construction projects, even as the state...

USDA bolsters Mississippi River Basin project

The U.S. Department of Agriculture says it's spending another $59 million this year on an initiative that works with farmers and other landowners to reduce pollution in the Mississippi River...

LDWF seeks volunteers for crab trap cleanup

Officials say removing the traps helps improve waterway safety and navigation. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is seeking volunteers to help with its crab...

Prescribed burns planned at Sabine wildlife refuge

Prescribed burning is a commonly used habitat management tool used to reduce the potential for catastrophic wildfires, control invasive species, and restore and revitalize ecosystems. BATON ROUGE, La....

2 La. community newspapers to fold

St. Tammany News, which publishes The News Banner and the Slidell Sentry News, said Thursday it will print the last editions Feb. 27. COVINGTON, La. (AP) - Two community newspapers that have been...

Tramel: traffic cams working - still

LCG's traffic and transporation director says the SafeLight/SafeSpeed program continues to show a sharp reduction in collisions. Tony Tramel Traffic and Transportation Director Tony Tramel, in a memo...

Coast Guard: Cruise ship adrift after towline snaps

What began as a four-day voyage in the Gulf of Mexico has turned into a vacation nightmare, not at all what the luxury cruise touts in brochures. MOBILE, Ala. (AP) - The crippled Carnival cruise...

That sinking feeling: Jindal's poor polling

The approval rating of Gov. Bobby Jindal has spun 180 degrees over the last two years. The approval rating of Gov. Bobby Jindal - our Intelligent Design-loving, voucher-championing, tax-swapping chief...

Taxes the topic Monday

Taxing authorities in Lafayette Parish are invited to attend a Monday meeting called by City-Parish Council Chairman Brandon Shelvin in an effort to review the various property and sales taxes levied....

Schools line up for vouchers

More schools are seeking to join Louisiana's voucher program next year, a sign that the number of students using public dollars for private schools will grow. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - More schools are...

Music marks new tourism push

Jazz, zydeco, swamp pop and brass bands are featured in the series of 30-second TV commercials, print ads and online spots unveiled Wednesday. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's newest campaign to...

Tulane hires ex-US Attorney Jim Letten

Tulane said Thursday that Letten will join the law school as an assistant dean for "experiential learning," a newly created position. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Tulane University Law School has...

Whole Foods coming - for real this time

Natural and organic foods grocery chain opening at corner of Ambassador Caffery and Settlers Trace in 2014. It's about time: After years of scouting locations, rampant speculation about where it would...

La.'s sales tax burden earns bronze

Pelican State consumers pay an average 8.87 percent, ranking behind Tennessee and Arizona and ahead of Washington and Oklahoma in the top five. The right-leaning Tax Foundation's annual breakdown of...

Absentee senator responds: 'my chocolate muffins'

State Sen. Elbert Guillory takes offense to The IND's "AWOL senator knows a good recipe for lemonade" blog posted last week. State Sen. Elbert Guillory, D-Opelousas, says he takes offense to...

Full UL bike path on the horizon

The long-awaited UL Lafayette Bike Path is gaining ground. The completion of the long-awaited UL Lafayette Bike Path is gaining ground, but students wary of the cumbersome UL bus routes are going to...

DOT awards $24M grant to fix La roads

The grant is funded through the Federal Highway Administration Emergency Relief program and will be used to fund emergency repair work to help restore roads and highways to their original...

Disabled cruise ship had prior mechanical trouble

The ship is currently being towed to Mobile, Ala., with some 4,000 people aboard. HOUSTON (AP) - The disabled cruise ship in the Gulf of Mexico had mechanical problems last month that delayed its...

Beloved Hub City atty dies

Lafayette attorney and Monroe native John Bernhardt died this morning at M. D. Anderson Hospital in Houston after a lengthy and recurring battle with cancer. He was 60 years old. Lafayette attorney...

Jindal's approval ratings dropping

A new poll released Friday by Voter/Consumer Research in Washington, D.C., shows that Jindal's approval rating fell to 49 percent, down from 51 percent in September. Only U.S. Sens. Mary Landrieu, 59...

Hacker gains access to Bush family emails, photos

The Smoking Gun website said the hacker, who went by the online moniker "Guccifer," gained access to emails, photos, private telephone numbers and addresses of Bush family members and...

Judge approves settlements in Chinese drywall case

The product was used in the construction of 12,000 to 20,000 homes and businesses, mainly in the South, after a series of destructive hurricanes in 2005 and before the housing bubble burst. The...

Gopher frog habitat designation called 'land grab'

The Pacific Legal Foundation sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Thursday over the dusky gopher frog. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A property rights nonprofit claims federal wildlife officials made an...

Jindal, McDonnell to talk about education reform

A week after enlisting former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush in his campaign for education reform, Gov. Bob McDonnell is calling on another prominent fellow Republican. RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - A week after...

Acadiana High thwarts ‘incident'

The Lafayette Parish School System announced late Thursday afternoon that two students ages 14 and 17 were taken into police custody after allegedly making threats to bring a gun to campus Friday. The...

Federal judge delays Louisiana execution

Louisiana cannot execute a DeSoto Parish man next week because the state has provided too little information about the drug that will be used in the lethal injection and the execution methods, a...

Judge ends EWE's court supervision

A federal judge has agreed to cut short former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards' court supervision following his release from prison. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A federal judge has agreed to cut short former...

2012: Anomaly or sign of rising crime?

Twenty-twelve was a year that will stay etched in the collective memory of Lafayette for years to come. For Police Chief Jim Craft, it'll hopefully be one of those years you can look back on a decade...

Jindal seeking to expand sales tax to more items

Paying a lawn service to mow your yard? Storing your boat at a marina? Contracting with someone to repair your roof? Getting cable or satellite TV piped into your house? BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Paying...

State hires accounting firm for tax analysis

The Department of Revenue has chosen Ernst & Young to analyze calculations used to design Jindal's tax proposal. Jindal is proposing to get rid of state income taxes, in exchange for higher sales...

'America's Got Talent' auditions in N.O.

The Big Easy is one of more than a dozen cities where the show's nationwide search for its next big act will be held. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - An audition call for the NBC talent show "America's Got...

Jindal to headline Mo. GOP event again

The Missouri Republican Party says Jindal is to speak Feb. 16 at a banquet for its annual Lincoln Days conference in St. Louis. Jindal also was a keynote speaker during the Missouri Lincoln Days event...

AWOL senator knows a good recipe for lemonade

State Sen. Elbert Guillory, D-Opelousas, must be a busy man; that would explain why he was a no-show at a recent meeting in Alexandria, where 36 educators from around the state gathered to hear his...

Durel: ‘We have so very much going for us'

City-Parish President Joey Durel spoke for about 45 minutes to a packed Cajundome Convention Center for his annual State of the Parish address, getting in a good-natured poke at newly elected...

Heavy hitters dominate Lafayette Central Park Inc.

The IND has obtained the names of the board members of the nonprofit Lafayette Central Park Inc., the entity that will help drive the process for turning the Johnston Street Horse Farm property into a...

Council delays rebate vote

The Lafayette City-Parish Council on Tuesday night voted unanimously to table an ordinance that would have repealed a 50-year-old law giving retailers in the city and unincorporated parish a cut of...

Lawmakers seek to limit Jindal's records exemption

Two lawmakers want to open more of the Louisiana governor's office to scrutiny, proposing a bill that would limit the expansive public records exemption used by Gov. Bobby Jindal to hide nearly all...

Jindal rebuffs call from bishops to stop execution

The Catholic governor was asked by the Louisiana Conference of Catholic Bishops to stop the execution, which will be held on the Christian holy day of Ash Wednesday. Christopher Sepulvado [Editor's...

Mayor defends New Orleans after Super Bowl outage

Mayor Mitch Landrieu sought to put an upbeat spin on the matter at a news conference Tuesday, saying the city's performance as host was near flawless despite the lights-out episode. NEW ORLEANS (AP) -...

Jindal tax plan expected to include cigarette tax

Two years after unsuccessfully attempting to prevent a renewal of a 4-cent-per-pack cigarette tax, Gov. Bobby Jindal may recommend his own larger proposal to raise tobacco taxes. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)...

Superdome officials worried about a power outage

As authorities investigate the cause of the 34-minute Super Bowl blackout, documents show Superdome officials were worried in the fall about losing power at the big game. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - As...

ATC's Troy Hebert fires back

The internal strife that has taken hold of the Louisiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission in recent months, according to commissioner Troy Hebert, all stems from policies that require workers to do what...

Council to decide merchant tax rebate

The Lafayette City-Parish Council will vote Tuesday on an ordinance for final adoption that, if approved, would repeal a 2 percent rebate businesses within the city of Lafayette and unincorporated...

Advocate: ‘Hike taxes on smokes'

Writing Sunday that the "resurrection of the idea of a cigarette tax increase owes more to mathematics than public health," the editors at The Advocate called on Gov. Bobby Jindal and the...

Mayor: Super Bowl outage won't hurt 2018 chances

Mayor Mitch Landrieu says he doesn't think the 34-minute power failure during the Super Bowl will hurt New Orleans' chances of getting the NFL's championship game in 2018. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Mayor...

Gatlin named La. DOE communications director

Anna Gatlin began work at the Department of Education last month after serving as a domestic policy adviser to Mitt Romney's presidential campaign. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana Superintendent of...

Dr. Cooper responds to Pooyie!

After a seemingly off-colored comment regarding the arrest of two N.P. Moss students on rape charges landed him in this month's PAS BON section of IND Monthly's POOYIE!, Lafayette schools...

Today in sweet, sweet porn: Times of Acadiana

Cue some slow-grind, funky music here, kids, 'cause The Times of Acadiana is goin' down on our eyeballs. O, yeah! Cue some slow-grind, funky music here, kids, 'cause The Times of Acadiana is goin'...

Brandon Scott Lavergne is at it again; surprised?

The confessed killer of Mickey Shunick and Lisa Pate, in his most recent hand-written court filings - submitted into the record Thursday - is requesting names of the grand jury witnesses who testified...

La. running out of money for construction

The state's pool of money to pay for ongoing construction projects is running dry, and Louisiana is teetering so close to its debt ceiling that there's little room to borrow more to replenish the...

Kimball retires after 20 years at Supreme Court

Kitty Kimball became the first woman on the Supreme Court when she was elected in 1992 from the Fifth District. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - After 20 years of service on the Louisiana Supreme Court, Chief...

Lens: Texas, Fla. poor models for Jindal tax plan

Gov. Bobby Jindal has held up Texas and Florida, states that do not levy income taxes, as models for luring investment and new businesses as he's made his preliminary case for abolishing Louisiana's...

A brand new gay

Faced with changing demographics and dwindling attendance, evangelical churches refine their message on LGBT issues. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The Rev. Robert Jeffress has changed the way he talks about...

Sandy Hook chorus to sing "America the Beautiful"

The chorus features 26 children from Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., where 20 first-graders and six adults were killed in a Dec. 14 shooting rampage. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The chorus from Sandy...

In defense of Judge Rubin Part 2

"The American system of criminal justice demands that judges not only uphold the constitution and laws of this country but also remain un-swayed by fear of public criticism. Your recent public...

Council nixes rec elex

If approved, the 7-mill property tax would have generated about $6.5 million annually in additional revenue for a beleaguered Parks/Rec Department that currently relies on an almost $4 million subsidy...

Casino program nets $806K in back child support

The department says collections from 18 participating casinos range from a high of $106,771 to a low of $12,218. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The state Department of Children and Family Services has...

Next in BP saga: civil trial worth billions

Now that a $4 billion plea deal has resolved BP's criminal liability for the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill nearly three years ago, the company will turn its focus to a trial that could potentially...

New Orleans' challenge: policing 2 huge parties

New Orleans police are in the middle of an unprecedented security challenge with an estimated 150,000 Super Bowl fans packing the city during the raucous annual buildup to Mardi Gras, when thousands...

Miss. expresses concern about new levee

Mississippi officials are asking the federal government to thoroughly study the potential effects of any proposed new levee construction in southeast Louisiana. BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi...

Tulane establishing Confucius Institute

Tulane said in a news release that the center will promote the study of Chinese culture and language. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Tulane University has signed an agreement with the Confucius Institute...

Lawmakers propose restructuring La. budget process

Conservative House lawmakers who have been at odds with Gov. Bobby Jindal over budgeting tactics proposed Tuesday to rewrite the laws governing how the state estimates and spends its money and how the...

La. DOE: Teacher loss rate steady

The overall rate at which teachers are leaving public schools has been steady in recent years, despite a recent sharp increase in retirements. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The overall rate at which teachers are...

Judge to rule on BP's plea deal over Gulf spill

A federal judge will decide whether to approve an agreement for BP PLC to plead guilty to manslaughter and other charges and pay a record $4 billion in criminal penalties for the company's role in the...

Super PAC could help Vitter in gubernatorial bid

A Washington fundraising heavyweight set up federal and state super PACs on Monday to support U.S. Sen. David Vitter, a move that heightens speculation that Vitter is eyeing a bid for governor. BATON...

Katrina's scars harder to see as Super Bowl looms

New Orleans has celebrated plenty of milestones on its slow road to recovery from Hurricane Katrina, but arguably none is bigger than hosting its first Super Bowl since the 2005 storm left the city in...

NORAD jets practice for Super Bowl security

NORAD said Monday the fighters plan a one-hour drill over New Orleans on Tuesday. PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AP) - North American Aerospace Defense Command fighter jets are preparing their...

ACLU's suit over Super Bowl 'clean zone' settled

The agreement, which must be approved by a federal judge, would allow the city to enforce some limits on commercial activity in the French Quarter and surrounding neighborhoods. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - An...

Royal flush

Private landowners are reaping billions in royalties from the natural gas drilling boom even as the windfall provides only a modest boost to the broader economy. PITTSBURGH (AP) - Private landowners...

Marine biologists look at hatcheries

Marine biologists are trying to learn whether they can increase populations of two of the Gulf of Mexico's most popular sport and food fish - and perhaps further relax quotas on one of them - by...

New clues to sinking of Confederate sub

Scientists say a pole on the front of the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley designed to plant explosives on enemy ships may hold a key clue to its sinking during the Civil War. NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C....

View a preview of Dateline's Shunick story here

The newsmagazine's special report, "A Sister's Search," airs Tuesday at 9 p.m. NBC's Dateline has a special report on the heartbreaking case of murdered UL student Mickey Shunick Tuesday at...

Ad exec deMahy pleads guilty to possessing child porn

New Iberia ad exec Philip deMahy Sr. pleaded guilty Friday, but questions linger on the handling of the investigation and over his connections to the 16th Judicial District. [Editor's Note: This story...

Jindal: GOP must stop being 'stupid party'

In the keynote address at the RNC's winter meeting, Jindal said the GOP doesn't need to change its values but "might need to change just about everything else we are doing." CHARLOTTE, N.C....

New Orleans told to narrow "clean zone"

The city of New Orleans must scale back its plans for a "clean zone" where the use of banners, signs and flags would be restricted during Super Bowl week, a federal judge said Thursday. NEW...

Will smart machines create a world without work?

Automated cars could be on their way to a freeway near you. [Editor's Note: This is the last in a three-part series on the loss of middle-class jobs in the wake of the Great Recession, and the role of...

NASA testing vintage engine from Apollo 11 rocket

Like vinyl records and skinny ties, good things eventually come back around. At NASA, that means looking to the Apollo program for ideas on how to develop the next generation of rockets for future...

This week in 'ew': head cheese recall

A Thursday statement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture says Stallings Head Cheese Co. is recalling 4,700 pounds of the cold cuts shipped to a distribution center for retail distribution in...

Cochon calling it quits, Ruffino's moving in

Despite the upscale Cajun restaurant's runaway success in New Orleans, Cajun Country did not embrace the concept. [Editor's Note: This story has been updated with new information and comments from...

Judge rules state retirement plan unconstitutional

The Retired State Employees Association of Louisiana claimed the law is unconstitutional because it didn't get a two-thirds vote in the state House of Representatives. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A Baton...

ALCU sues to block Super Bowl "clean zone" in N.O.

The ACLU claims the city adopted the new policies at the behest of the NFL. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana is suing to block the city of New Orleans from...

Attorney White replaces Williams in traffic court

The assistant district attorney who pleaded guilty to accepting gifts and $500 from a local private eye for helping his clients get favorable treatment in court has been replaced by Lafayette attorney...

Practically human: Can smart machines do your job?

Meter reader Art Liscano knows he's an endangered species: His department employed 50 full-timers just six years ago. Now, it has six. [Editor's Note: This is the second in a three-part series on the...

Hospice gets a reprieve

The state will continue to provide end-of-life care to people on their death beds who can't afford private insurance. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration scrapped plans...

Trial set in lawsuit against state retirement plan

A Baton Rouge judge is hearing arguments in a lawsuit challenging Gov. Bobby Jindal's 401(k)-style retirement plan for future rank-and-file state workers. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A Baton Rouge judge...

Chimp change

Chimpanzees who have spent their lives in U.S. research labs may be headed for retirement where they can climb trees and socialize at will. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Chimpanzees who have spent their lives in...

UL assistant softball coach quits

Louisiana-Lafayette softball assistant coach Joy Webre-LeBlanc has resigned. LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - Louisiana-Lafayette softball assistant coach Joy Webre-LeBlanc has resigned. Webre-LeBlanc, in a...

DOTD: No lane closures during 'Super Gras'

Because of the magnitude of special events surrounding Super Bowl and a full slate of parades associated with New Orleans' carnival season, state transportation officials say they are suspending lane...

US govt scientists say retire most research chimps

The proposal from a National Institutes of Health committee also said all of the chimps should have plenty of room to play and climb. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Government scientists have agreed that all but...

Conservative House group seeks changes to budget

Conservative House lawmakers said Tuesday they will push a package of proposals that aim to expand the areas of the state budget that can be cut during shortfalls and to limit the use of patchwork...

Vigil planned to protest Medicaid hospice cut

Families of the terminally ill and health care workers planned a candlelight vigil Wednesday to protest Gov. Bobby Jindal's plan to shutter the state's Medicaid hospice program in February. BATON...

Edwards to court: end supervised release early

Louisiana's flamboyant former Gov. Edwin Edwards says he's done his time, paid $2 million in fines and forfeitures and done everything required for his supervised release, and wants the supervision to...

Deadline extended for Isaac claims

Louisiana property owners with flood insurance policies whose homes or other structures were damaged during Hurricane Isaac have another 30 days to file claims for their flood losses. BATON ROUGE, La....

EWE reality show seeking tax credits

The production company behind the forthcoming reality television show featuring former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards and his wife, Trina, has applied for tax credits with the state's motion picture...

Council could nix sales tax rebate

The C-P Council will vote Tuesday night on an introductory ordinance that eliminates a 2 percent rebate, which for 2011 cost city-parish coffers more than $1.5 million. [Editor's Note: The council on...

Cooper: with Welch hire we ‘have hit the nerve'

"It is inevitable when one is restructuring a school system a nerve will be hit, business as usual will be disrupted, and the good ol' boys will be annoyed." Lafayette Superintendent Dr. Pat...

In defense of Judge Rubin

Lafayette attorneys Alfred Boustany II and Thomas Guilbeau weigh in on The IND's online story last week, "Judge Ed Rubin was go-to guy in tainted OWI cases." [Editor's Note: In separate...

Conference focuses on Gulf oil spill

Retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, who was in charge of cleaning up BP's 2010 oil spill, will be the keynote speaker at an international scientific conference about the Gulf of Mexico. NEW ORLEANS...

New streetcar line is just about ready to roll

After months of construction, road closures and flying dust, New Orleans is about ready to open its new streetcar line near the Superdome - just in time for the Super Bowl. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - After...

Nagin indictment: Oh, happy day

Now, finally, that clueless, narcissistic poseur will be called to account for some of his many sins against New Orleans. [Editor's Note: Clancy DuBos is publisher of New Orleans' Gambit.] We're not...

Nagin indicted on corruption charges

Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has been indicted on 21 corruption charges including wire fraud, bribery and money laundering. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has been...

Couillon on DA Loose: Mike Harson

You are not going to believe this. District Attorney Mike Harson allowed Assistant District Attorney Greg Williams and his secretary, Denease Curry, to remain on the job despite having full knowledge...

C'est What? Jindal eyeing cig tax hike?

This does not compute. Or does it? This does not compute. Or does it? Gov. Bobby Jindal, who in 2012 vetoed the renewal of a 4-cent tobacco tax, is considering getting Louisiana's tax on cigarettes in...

GOP eyes new election laws

After back-to-back presidential losses, Republicans in key states want to change the rules to make it easier for them to win. BOSTON (AP) - After back-to-back presidential losses, Republicans in key...

Tax break recommendations expected in March

The 14-member panel has spent months combing through more than 460 tax exemptions, credits and rebates, looking at how and if they are tracked for performance. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The chairman of...

Forum For Equality calling for hate crime charges

Forum For Equality is calling for the charges against Joseph Menard Jr. to be upgraded to hate crime status, following his alleged assault on four gay Lafayette men Sunday at the Grand 16. Forum For...

A threat from within

Citing the threat of terrorism, the Army Corps of Engineers declined an Associated Press request for specifics on the integrity of levees across America. Photo by Janice Person/A Colorful...

BESE agrees to do away with some mandates

Louisiana's state school board agreed Wednesday to shrink the number of mandates required of local districts, despite concerns the move would let schools eliminate counselors and librarians to cut...

Lawmakers reviewing school security practices

The House Homeland Security Committee was hearing Thursday from education leaders and law enforcement officials about what crisis prevention and response plans already exist - and was taking...

Rig victims' relatives weigh in on BP plea deal

They are sharing their stories with a federal judge as she prepares to decide whether to accept the oil giant's plea agreement. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Shelley Anderson, whose husband was one of 11 workers...

Super Bowl + Mardi Gras = Super Gras

New Orleans is bracing for record crowds as the biggest sporting event of the year, the NFL Super Bowl, collides with Mardi Gras season in what many locals are calling "Super Gras." NEW...

La. to pay $108M to end Superdome bond deal

The State Bond Commission received the final details Thursday of the debt refinancing for the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District that includes the termination payment to end the previous...

Homo-neurotic?

South Louisiana is by no means known for spreading the love to the LGBT community, but could Lafayette be a diamond in the rough? As news of the story of an attack on two gay men at the Grand 16...

Wanted: Green Room art thieves

A Facebook search is under way to find four art thieves responsible for jacking a painting early Saturday morning from a wall inside the Green Room. Though the stolen painting is still on the loose,...

Attorney: Barna Haynes cooperating for months

If Mike Harson's former office administrator/secretary had anything to give up on her boss, it's likely she'd have done it by now. Barna Haynes, who worked for Mike Harson for three decades, even...

Jindal tax plan would keep incentive programs

Many of the programs overseen by the Department of Economic Development give credits or exemptions to income taxes, so they would need to be modified since Jindal is proposing to eliminate state...

Tweaks planned for teacher evaluation system

Louisiana's Board of Elementary and Secondary Education was expected to approve modest changes to the state's method for evaluating public school teachers, after a board committee Tuesday backed the...

Freezing rain closes schools, cancels flights

Freezing rain and sleet closed Grambling State University early, canceled flights, sent drivers skidding and broke power lines in north Louisiana. SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) - Freezing rain and sleet closed...

Shrimp season to close in some La. inside waters

Louisiana's Department of Wildlife and Fisheries has announced that fall shrimp season will close Friday in all state inside waters east of the Mississippi River - except for the open waters of Breton...

Homophobe's attack isn't a hate crime, say police

"Oh great ... f*@$ing faggots," Joseph Menard Jr. allegedly said in disgust as a group of four openly gay Lafayette men took their seats inside the Grand Theater for a Sunday matinee of the...

Feds trailed Haynes, Williamson, wiretapped phones

The feds were conducting extensive surveillance on DA Mike Harson's secretary and her co-conspirator, including listening in on their conversations, at least as far back as December 2011. In a Monday...

Trouble in paradise: GOP solons sue state

State Attorney General Buddy Caldwell and Treasurer John Kennedy are named in their official capacities as defendants. Reps. Kirk Talbot, left, and Cameron Henry A pair of Republican state...

PAR offers measured approach to tax reform

In broad strokes, PAR recommends that taxes "should be broad-based with low rates and few exemptions so that the weight of responsibility for revenue is widely spread and reasonably allocated...

Harson's ex-secretary facing up to 5 years

Barna Haynes pleaded guilty Monday in federal court for accepting bribes from an unnamed co-conspirator believed to be PI Robert Williamson. U.S. Attorney Stephanie Finley announced at an 11 a.m....

Word is UL found its man for defensive coordinator

UL's Ragin' Cajuns, according to speculation circulating online, may have found a new defensive coordinator to replace Greg Stewart. [Editor's Note: This story has been updated to reflect Willis' 2011...

White House to La.: 'Um, no.'

The White House has finally responded - with a gentle but firm no - to Louisiana's secession petition. The White House has finally responded - with a gentle but firm no - to Louisiana's petition...

State spent $668M on roads, bridges

Department of Transportation and Development Secretary Sherri LeBas says the money went to 372 improvement projects on more than 1,000 miles of roadways and 71 bridges in Louisiana. BATON ROUGE, La....

Haynes to plead guilty Monday a.m.

Barna Haynes, former office administrator and secretary to District Attorney Mike Harson, has pleaded guilty to federal charges related to the FBI investigation involving Harson's office's handling of...

Marion Edwards, brother of Edwin, dead at 84

The amiable, wisecracking political operative and businessman who shared numerous triumphant political campaigns as well as a courtroom defense table with his older brother died Saturday at his home...

Two N.P. Moss students arrested on rape charges

Two male N.P. Moss students were arrested Wednesday for allegedly raping a female student, authorities confirmed to The IND Friday. Two male N.P. Moss students were arrested Wednesday for allegedly...

After reprieve, more rain

Louisiana may have a day or two of sun after the storms that swamped the state, but more rain is expected over the weekend. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Louisiana may have a day or two of sun after the storms...

Jindal declares emergency because of storms

The declaration lets Louisiana use state money to help local governments recover from storm damage. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Gov. Bobby Jindal declared a statewide emergency Thursday after storms rolled...

La. income tax filing begins Jan. 30

Louisiana tax officials recommend filing electronically. The department says the average electronic refund processing time is 10 business days compared to 12 to 16 weeks when filed on paper. BATON...

FEMA official named to oversee La., 4 other states

A veteran FEMA employee has been named the agency's regional administrator for Louisiana and four other states. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A veteran FEMA employee has been named the agency's regional...

Bunkers needed for explosives after evacuation

Authorities say they have run out of bunker space at a Louisiana military base for some of the millions of pounds explosives that caused a town's evacuation after the material was found haphazardly...

Budget Project pans Jindal tax idea

'Any true tax reform' should fix Louisiana's chronic revenue shortage, which has resulted in the elimination of hospice care for the terminally ill, battered women being turned away from shelters and...

Jindal proposes getting rid of income taxes

Gov. Bobby Jindal is proposing to eliminate Louisiana's personal and business income taxes, in exchange for higher state sales taxes and the removal of some tax breaks. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov....

Another guilty plea postponed in D.A. investigation

Sources with knowledge of the federal bribery investigation into DA Mike Harson's office tell IND Monthly that this week's scheduled guilty plea of another secretary in the office, Denease Curry, was...

BP oil spill settlement payments exceed $1B mark

Businesses and individuals who claim BP's oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico cost them money have been paid more than $1 billion through the company's class-action settlement with a team of private...

Kisatchie waives fees for MLK holiday weekend

In recognition of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, the U.S. Forest Service is waiving all fees, with the exception of camping, at recreational sites in Kisatchie National Forest on Caney Lakes on...

Lafayette schools closed Thursday

The Lafayette Parish School System announced Wednesday evening that public schools in the parish will be closed Thursday due to the threat of flooding from heavy rains. The Lafayette Parish School...

Almost all La under flash flood watch

Heavy rain was expected to continue into Thursday, with 3 to 4 inches possible in some locations. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - St. Mary and St. Helena parish schools are closed and governments in several...

Acadian gets its pound of flesh

The City-Parish Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution granting Acadian Ambulance significant rate hikes in Lafayette Parish for emergency and non-emergency transports. The City-Parish...

La. to get more Isaac recovery funds

The Federal Emergency Management Agency is sending $7.4 million to Louisiana in Hurricane Isaac recovery funds to help impacted families with additional household and education needs and more. NEW...

Transocean spill settlement heads to court

Transocean has agreed to pay $400 million in criminal penalties and plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of violating the Clean Water Act. The Switzerland-based company also agreed to pay $1 billion...

Ermahgerd! Trina's preggo!

It's an embryo! A source close to former Gov. Edwin Edwards and his new bride, Trina Scott Edwards, tells IND Monthly that the 34-year-old bride is pregnant. The couple acknowledged the pregnancy...

Winners, losers emerge in LCG external funding

The City-Parish Council on Tuesday will vote on a resolution that if approved would dole out more than $253,000 to external groups - roughly $204,000 to social service agencies and about $49,000 to...

Reid: I 'simply misspoke'

It came out garbled due to his foot still being in his mouth. WASHINGTON (AP) - Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Monday that he misspoke when he suggested in a Senate speech that damage from...

Will 'the finger' linger?

The holidays may be over, but a Louisiana woman wants to keep a light display on her roof extending a middle finger to her neighbors. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The holidays may be over, but a Louisiana...

Today in couillon: drunk bus driver

State police stopped a speeding and weaving, empty school bus Monday in Calcasieu Parish, and determined that the driver was intoxicated. Matthew Richard DeQUINCY, La. (AP) - State police stopped a...

La. buys wetlands with oil spill settlement funds

The state has acquired more than 11,000 acres of wetlands in Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes as part of a conservation project funded by a settlement over the Deepwater Horizon disaster. BATON...

Brandon Lavergne won't serve quietly

In hand-written filings from Angola State Penitentiary, convicted killer Brandon Scott Lavergne lays out his case for vacating his guilty pleas in the murders of Lisa Pate and Mickey Shunick,...

Pleas coming in D.A. bribery case?

Sources tell IND Monthly several guilty pleas are expected soon, possibly this week, in the federal government's investigation of DA Mike Harson's office's handling of OWI cases. Sources with...

Out-of-the-loop school board reps

Too many missed meetings may be the best explanation for why a months-old proposal to expand Lafayette Parish's Language Immersion Program was able to slip under the radar of several school board...

Gopher frog nominated for La. endangered list

The Mississippi gopher frog would join Louisiana's endangered list under proposed changes to regulations covering reptiles and amphibians. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Mississippi gopher frog would...

Jindal forms think tank to tackle school violence

Gov. Jindal signed an executive order today that will assemble several state agencies into a group that will analyze and improve the state's current plan to provide safety in schools. In response to...

Imagine Downtown Lafayette

Design competition spurs a creative vision of the future. Creative Action has announced an extension in the Imagine Downtown registration deadline. Applicants may now have until Jan. 8 to register to...

Vitter top Republican on environment committee

Now deputy Senate whip, Vitter takes over as top ranking Republican on committee that oversees levees, the Army Corps of Engineers, the EPA, and two major bills coming up this year: the highway bill...

Gov. Edwards' clan lands a show on A&E

A new reality showing premiering on A&E in February documents Trina Edwards' transition to high-society governor's wife. Does the country's fascination with all things Louisiana have no end? The...

La. cemeteries sinking, washing away

At least two dozen cemeteries across the southeast Louisiana coast are rapidly sinking or washing away because of erosion and subsidence accelerated by the tropical punch of storms such as Katrina,...

All Eyes on Acadian

A district court's decision could turn health care billing across the state on its head - if it's upheld. A district court's decision could turn health care billing across the state on its head - if...

2013 INDesign Awards call for entries

This year's residential winners will be featured in IND Monthly and commercial winners in ABiz. The deadline to enter projects for the 2013 INDesign Awards is Tuesday, Feb. 26. 2012 INDesign...

Only in Louisiana

According to this online "Guide to Silly LA Laws," posted by WAFB Channel 9, it is illegal to shoot a water pistol at a teller during a bank robbery, and biting someone using false teeth is...

Louisiana delegation divided on fiscal cliff vote

While Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu and Republican Sen. David Vitter supported the legislation, most of the state's U.S. House delegation opposed it. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's congressional...

Deal reached for stopping spike in milk prices

The top leaders in both parties on the House and Senate Agriculture committees have agreed to a one-year extension of the 2008 farm bill that expired in October. WASHINGTON (AP) - The top leaders in...

GOP governors walk balance beam on health law

Republican governors who oppose Obamacare are feeling quiet pressure from hospitals and other providers. Florida Gov. Rick Scott, who made a fortune as a health care executive, long opposed President...

Retailer Harold Abdalla dies at 70

Harold Abdalla, a member of the family most synonymous with clothing retail in Lafayette, died Saturday after a short battle with cancer. Harold Charles Abdalla died Saturday night in the ICU at...

112th Congress: the real ‘Do-Nothings'

With just days to go before closing the book on its 112th iteration, the U.S. Congress is poised to earn the title Least Productive Congress in the History of Congress Ever. With just days to go...

This week in pickled: better embalmers in 2013!

Act 176 establishes a continuing education system for embalmers and funeral directors and goes into effect Jan. 1. Thank God Almighty, the likelihood of being properly embalmed in Louisiana skyrockets...

BRBR: More state cuts possible

More state budgets cuts - on the heels of nearly $166 million in mid-year cuts announced in mid-December affecting mainly the poor and elderly - could happen if contingencies built into Gov. Bobby...

LSU patients notified of possible ID theft

The LSU hospital system has notified 416 patients that their checking account numbers and other personal information on checks paid to hospitals has been stolen. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The LSU...

Workers finish Atchafalaya Basin dredging project

DNR says the $184,000 project will improve water quality off the east bank of the Atchafalaya River near Grand Lake. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Workers have completed a dredging project designed to...

Tall cotton: La. yields set records

Louisiana's harvests this year include record yields for at least five crops and sugarcane, still being harvested, could be close to a record. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Louisiana's harvests this year include...

Researchers focus on safer dispersant

LSU AgCenter scientists are partnering with researchers at Columbia and Iowa State universities on development of an environmentally friendly substance. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - LSU AgCenter scientists...

Obama could reshape 5th Circuit

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans is widely viewed as one of the nation's most conservative federal appellate courts, but President Barack Obama could get a chance to change that...

Undersecretary named in LDR

Natalie Howell has been named undersecretary in the Louisiana Department of Revenue. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Natalie Howell has been named undersecretary in the Louisiana Department of Revenue. She...

Air travel passport requirements delayed

Louisiana, like many other states, has yet to comply with the requirements of the REAL ID Act, but thanks to a decision announced Thursday by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, residents won't...

Plot thickens in Curious Goods conspiracy

Federal prosecutors may soon charge a former narcotics officer and a medical doctor for their alleged ties to a nationwide drug-trafficking and money-laundering scheme involving Lafayette's Curious...

Judge: La. woman can flip finger in holiday lights

A Louisiana woman ran afoul of police when she gave her neighbors an unusual holiday greeting, hanging Christmas lights in the shape of a middle finger. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A Louisiana woman ran afoul...

Patel serving fraud sentence

U.S. Attorney Stephanie Finley says former Lafayette cardiologist Mehmood Patel has begun serving his maximum 10-year sentence for Medicaid fraud. LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) - U.S. Attorney Stephanie Finley...

Group: Feds need plan to rescue endangered frog

A conservation group says the federal government hasn't done enough to save endangered burrowing frogs because it has yet to write up a rescue plan. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A conservation group says the...

Exclusive: Downtown Elf interviewed

Few knew much about the enigmatic, happy little fellow named Downtown Elf. Until now. He's been spotted virtually everywhere in downtown Lafayette over the last few weeks, and even on Facebook. But...

Northside High School principal rescinds resignation

After unexpectedly resigning her post Wednesday, Northside High Principal Melinda Voorhies has changed her mind, according to a release sent today by the Lafayette Parish School System. Northside High...

A curious compact

An ordinance transferring $200,000 from a northside project to a southside development may not break any laws, but it stinks to high heaven.

Reward offered for beaver's capture

A reward is being offered for the successful extrication of a "rogue" beaver believed to be responsible for threatening the very existence of Tom's Fiddle and Bow shop. Photo by Eddie...

New vehicle tax break regulations take effect

Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration is moving ahead with new regulations that spell out limits for the state's alternative fuel vehicle tax credit. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov. Bobby Jindal's...

Port Barre woman booked on Medicaid fraud charges

Hilda Demouchet, a personal care attendant, is accused of submitting false timesheets to her employer. She allegedly claimed she provided services to a Medicaid patient when that person actually was...

'Ancient Aliens' host throws NOLA apocalypse party

Giorgio A. Tsoukalos, producer and host of the History Channel's "Ancient Aliens" program, plans to descend onstage at the peak of the party in a mock spaceship created by a Mardi Gras...

Storms giving way to colder weather

Utility companies reported thousands of power outages scattered around Louisiana as a cold front brought morning storms and colder temperatures to the state. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Utility companies...

Endangered whooping cranes now in SW La wild

The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says 14 youngsters brought to Gueydan (GAY-danh) on Nov. 29 were released Monday. They join 14 adults - two released in early 2011 and 12 released late...

Former pol rails against partisan politics

"We have got to regain control of our government so that the people who are in Washington making these decisions for us really represent the people." Former Congressman Mickey Edwards,...

Permit to dredge Lake Peigneur up for review

Jefferson Island Storage & Hub has applied to dredge deep below Lake Peigneur in Iberia Parish, and that application went under review Tuesday, giving the public less than a month to weigh in on...

Chimp Haven getting 113 chimps from south La. lab

The U.S. sanctuary for retired federal research chimpanzees is about to nearly double its population when it receives 113 new primates from a New Iberia lab that no longer has a National Institutes of...

Judge delays manslaughter trial for 2 BP employees

Two BP rig supervisors charged with manslaughter in the death of 11 workers on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig will go on trial in 2014. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Two BP rig supervisors charged with...

Persistent Gulf sheen remains a mystery

Underwater inspections at the site of BP's Deepwater Horizon rig disaster have failed to identify the source of a persistent sheen on the surface of the Gulf of Mexico. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Underwater...

Cigarette makers reach deal with states

Three U.S. cigarette makers say they have reached a settlement with 17 states, Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico to resolve a dispute over payments required under a 1998 anti-smoking agreement. Three...

Split ruling issued in teacher tenure lawsuit

A judge threw out part of an education revamp pushed by Gov. Bobby Jindal as unconstitutional, but upheld the centerpiece provisions. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A judge Tuesday threw out part of an...

Harris hanging up his IFB

KATC evening anchor Hoyt Harris will deliver his final newscast Sunday night after more than three decades in the television news broadcasting business. KATC evening anchor Hoyt Harris will deliver...

Calling out Lafayette's council

There may be a potential snag in the Lafayette Consolidated Government's plan to invest $140 million in the Rodemacher II coal plant. Rodemacher's ownership is split in three, and while LCG has a...

Ruling expected in Louisiana teacher tenure suit

A Baton Rouge district court judge said he'll announce his decision Tuesday on whether Gov. Bobby Jindal's revamp of teacher tenure and salary laws was passed in violation of the state...

Report: Few states have bulk of executions

The 43 executions in 2012 equal the total in 2011 and were roughly half as many as in 2000. Ninety-eight prisoners were put to death in 1998, the busiest year for U.S. death chambers since...

La insurance dept offers online rate comparisons

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon says his department's new online system will make it easier for Louisiana residents to shop for the best insurance rates in their cities. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -...

Save Lake Peigneur; stop AGL

A resolution calling for an "all-out" stop to the Jefferson Island Storage & Hub expansion project by AGL Resources is up for a vote by the Iberia Parish Council this Wednesday, and if...

Judge to discuss trial delay for BP rig employees

U.S. District Judge Stanwood Duval Jr. didn't immediately rule on a request for a trial delay by attorneys for BP well site leaders Robert Kaluza and Donald Vidrine. Instead, Duval is scheduled to...

Goudeau leads broadcast board

Chris Goudeau of Opelousas has been elected chairman of the Louisiana Educational Television Authority Board. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Chris Goudeau of Opelousas has been elected chairman of the Louisiana...

LBP rips Jindal cuts

The Louisiana Budget Project is taking a hard line against Gov. Bobby Jindal's latest salve for the state's lingering budget wound. The Louisiana Budget Project, a Baton Rouge-based nonprofit that...

Did aliens abduct Bobby Jindal...

...and replace him with a Republican politician with reasonable, fact-based opinions? It's the first explanation that pops to mind: Someone has kidnapped our governor, who has publicly said he thinks...

Jindal administration to announce cuts Friday

Gov. Bobby Jindal's top budget architect is unveiling how the administration plans to rebalance this year's budget and close a $129 million midyear deficit. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov. Bobby Jindal's...

Privatization plans for LSU hospitals up for vote

The LSU Board of Supervisors is deciding whether to turn over operations of its public hospitals in New Orleans, Houma and Lafayette to nonprofit corporations that run private hospitals in the...

La. man accused in Afghan kickback scheme

A Slidell businessman recently released from prison in South Sudan has been arrested on charges of receiving more than $73,000 in illegal kickbacks in Afghanistan. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A Slidell...

TB scare spreads

Two more Lafayette Parish schools have been added to the Louisiana Office of Public Health's tuberculosis investigation, which was prompted by the discovery of a "possible case" at Lafayette...

Son literally goes samurai on his ole' man

Under guarded supervision at a local hospital and pending medical clearance is 32-year-old Albert Brice Prejean of Carencro who is expected to be charged for allegedly attempting to murder his own...

Alumni revolt against Fletcher Hall design

"I am ashamed and horrified by this design. Start Over! Please!" The diaspora of UL Lafayette's School of Architecture & Design and Department of Visual Arts is finding common cause in...

Brees lawsuit claims his charity was cheated

Saints quarterback Drew Brees and his foundation are suing one of the former organizers of his celebrity golf tournament in southern California, saying the organizer cheated benefactors of the...

Phone calls to cost less at La. prisons

The price tag for inmates to call home from Louisiana's prisons and local jails will drop over the next couple of years, under a proposal approved Wednesday by the Public Service Commission after...

TB scare at LHS

Some students, faculty and staff at Lafayette High School may have been exposed to tuberculosis, according to an e-mail sent Tuesday evening notifying parents of an investigation being launched by the...

Jan. date to rule on BP $4.5B plea deal over spill

A federal judge will decide next month whether to accept a plea deal that calls for BP PLC to pay a record $4.5 billion in penalties for its role in a deadly 2010 rig explosion and the massive oil...

Panel plans to split BP settlement

The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council has announced plans to split civil penalties from BP's upcoming federal court trial. MOBILE, Ala. (AP) - The Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council has...

Prof gets grant for meth ingredient study

A Tulane University faculty member has received a grant to study the possible effects of placing more severe restrictions on an ingredient found in cold and sinus medications. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A...

Halfway there: re-storing of explosives continues

State police say that just over 3 million pounds of explosive propellant has been moved at the northwestern Louisiana industrial site where it was found to be improperly stored a couple of weeks...

3 school board reps face fines for being M.I.A.

Lafayette Parish School Board president Shelton Cobb says he will uphold LPSB policy against three fellow board members for missing too many meetings. Three Lafayette Parish School Board members could...

Deadline near for a 2008 tax rebate

Time is running out for those who want to claim a state tax rebate for a special assessment charged on property insurance bills in Louisiana in2008. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Time is running out for...

Civil rights activist George Eames dies at age 79

George Washington Eames Jr., a plaintiff in a 1956 lawsuit that led to the desegregation of schools in Baton Rouge, La., has died. He was 79. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - George Washington Eames Jr., a...

10 things to know today

Here's your daily look at late-breaking national and international news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about on Monday, Dec. 10, 2012. 1. THE WILD CARD IN THE FISCAL CLIFF'...

Mr. Fix-It

Former Congressman Mickey Edwards has some common-sense solutions to ending gridlock in Washington and getting politicians back to work for us instead of their parties. Saturday's runoff election for...

Tommy takes the title

School board rep. Tommy Angelle takes over as the Lafayette Parish School Board member with the most absences this year. Rae Trahan is no longer the Lafayette Parish School Board member with the worst...

A future fueled by coal; really?

It appears coal will continue to be the primary source of Lafayette's electricity going into the 21st century, despite a push by a group of residents to consider an alternative energy future, which...

Jindal skewered after Politico op-ed

"... next year it will be the fiscal mountain, after that the fiscal black hole, and after that fiscal Armageddon." - Gov. Bobby Jindal "Today it's the fiscal cliff, but that surely...

Local pols facing ethics charges, fines

A pair of Acadiana politicians including a current member of the Lafayette Parish School Board are facing charges and likely fines from the Louisiana Board of Ethics. A pair of Acadiana politicians...

Accreditation complaint filed in LSU job merger

The president of LSU's Faculty Senate filed a complaint with the university's accrediting agency about plans to reorganize the system's leadership, saying Thursday that decision-making has been too...

Louisiana highway deaths down

State officials say highway deaths in Louisiana fell for the fourth consecutive time last year. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - State officials say highway deaths in Louisiana fell for the fourth consecutive...

Tulane group to monitor child labor in 2 countries

Tulane University says its Payson Center for International Development has been awarded a three-year, $1.5 million grant by the U.S. Department of Labor. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Tulane University says its...

Ex-BP executive seeks trial delay in spill case

A former BP executive is asking a federal judge to postpone his trial on charges he concealed information from Congress about the amount of oil that was spewing from the company's blown-out well in...

US names investigator in Danziger case

The Justice Department has appointed a veteran prosecutor to investigate allegations that the U.S. attorney's office conducted a smear campaign and leaked information to news organizations during the...

10 things to know today

Here's your daily look at late-breaking national and international news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about on Friday, Dec. 7, 2012. 1. FACTORY LOST FIRE SAFETY CERTIFICATION A...

This explains everything: $1,381 per day

Let us wonder no more why members of Congress are so feverish about keeping their jobs or why the Boustany-Landry runoff has been such a muddy affair. Let us wonder no more why members of Congress are...

Amid scandal, U.S. Attorney Letten resigns

His stellar reputation tarnished by two assistants who posted anonymous comments on the Times-Picayune's website about cases the office is handling, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District...

SCOLA trumps 3rd Circuit in canais cash case

The Supreme Court of Louisiana has dealt a blow to a North Carolina woman who scored a major victory last February when the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal ruled she was entitled to the return of more...

New judge assigned to case against BP supervisors

A new judge was assigned Wednesday to the case against two BP supervisors charged in the deaths of 11 workers aboard the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in 2010, after the previous judge disclosed his...

BESE agrees to pilot program for pre-K grading

The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is moving ahead with plans to grade publicly funded prekindergarten and early childhood education programs. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The state...

Report: Bobby begs in Vegas

The Times-Picayune is reporting that Gov. Bobby Jindal waved a tin cup last month before billionaire casino magnate Sheldon Adelson. Photo Illustration It's not as if Las Vegas doesn't have enough...

Landry's last gasp: link Boustany to Obama

Flyers as well as robocalls are attempting to link U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, to conservatives' ultimate bogyman: President Barack Obama. Flyers mailed to voters in Southwest Louisiana...

Patel heads to jail Dec. 17

The former cardiologist, who has been free since his 2008 conviction on 51 of 91 counts of health care fraud, will begin serving his 10-year sentence Dec. 17. In August the 5th Circuit U.S. Court of...

AG refuses to enter debate over budget tactics

Attorney General Buddy Caldwell's office isn't lodging an opinion about whether Gov. Bobby Jindal's budgeting tactics are in line with the state constitution. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Attorney General...

Feds funnel millions into Gulf Coast

Days before a newly formed council focuses on long-term Gulf of Mexico cleanup, a report released to The Associated Press shows that one federal agency has committed more than a half-billion dollars...

Decision on school mandates pushed back to January

The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has delayed a decision on shrinking the number of mandates required of local school districts. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Board of Elementary and...

Judge tosses spill claims against dispersant maker

A federal judge presiding over litigation spawned by the massive Gulf of Mexico oil spill has dismissed all claims against the manufacturer of a chemical dispersant that was used to break up crude...

Simulated Terrorism

About 500 people were hospitalized after terrorists unleashed an unknown gas at Cajun Field early this morning, but fortunately, the whole incident was just a simulated training exercise for the...

La. watches weather as crews move explosives

Authorities are keeping a close eye on the weather and watching for lightning as they work to secure 6 million pounds of explosives at a former ammunition plant in northwest Louisiana. DOYLINE, La....

Audit: College failed to give waivers

A state audit finds Acadiana Technical College, which has campuses in Lafayette, New Iberia, Opelousas and other Acadiana cities, failed to issue hardship waivers to students who cannot afford certain...

Ad exec deMahy's child porn arrest stays under radar

Ad executive Philip deMahy, brother of a district judge, gets busted for allegedly possessing child porn, but somehow the arrest escapes the local media's attention. [Editor's Note: This story has...

Council to mull dog catchers for Broussard

The Lafayette City-Parish Council will vote on an introductory ordinance at Tuesday's meeting that would restore animal-control services within the city limits of Broussard. The Lafayette City-Parish...

The high cost of higher ed cuts

The $425 million the Jindal administration has cut from higher education could set Louisiana back decades. This Advocate story spells out just how devastating those cuts are to the future of higher ed...

States play chicken with Medicaid expansion

It's health care brinksmanship, with hundreds of billions of dollars and the well-being of millions of people at stake. WASHINGTON (AP) - It's health care brinksmanship, with hundreds of billions of...

Company fined over sinkhole says it's trying

Owners of a failed brine storage cavern are doing their best to comply with a state order to quickly resolve problems created by an eight-acre sinkhole in Assumption Parish, spokesman Sonny Cranch...

10 things to know today

Here's your daily look at late-breaking national and international news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about on Monday, Dec. 3, 2012. 1. THE RISKS OF TROOP WITHDRAWAL FROM...

BR judge: vouchers unconstitutional

Judge Tim Kelley ruled that Gov. Jindal's signature legislative initiative improperly diverts money allocated through the state's public school funding formula to private schools. BATON ROUGE (AP)...

A pending plea in Curious Goods case?

Based on an email from one of the nine alleged Curious Goods co-conspirators, which was shared with IND Monthly this morning, the tally of plea bargains brokered with the feds may soon rise from four...

2012 hurricane season another for the record books

Even without a so-called major storm reaching the U.S. there was plenty of damage. MIAMI (AP) - The 2012 hurricane season has come to an end, and it's another one for the record books, above and...

Voucher suit decision coming Friday

Two statewide education unions and 43 school boards are seeking to shut down the vouchers and other changes that would funnel more money away from traditional public schools. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A...

10 Things to Know Today

Your daily look at late-breaking national and internation news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about today, Nov. 30, 2012: Your daily look at late-breaking national and international...

Lucie Arnaz to Go Red in 2013

At a press conference this morning, the LHC Group announced Arnaz will be the keynote speaker for the 2013 Go Red Luncheon, held annually to raise awareness about the threat heart disease poses for...

Judge dismisses most allegations in police lawsuit

Ten of the 13 defendants in a lawsuit against Lafayette police and city-parish officials were dismissed during a hearing Wednesday in federal court. A federal court judge cleared all but three of the...

Uptown Lofts' price tag $10 million too much?

Taxpayer-funded Uptown Lofts, which should be complete by January, will cost about $18 million - an amount one businessman who conducted price comparisons claims is way out of whack with similar...

Voucher ruling expected this week

Baton Rouge Judge Tim Kelley says he'll likely rule this week on the lawsuit filed by teacher unions and school boards to block Gov. Bobby Jindal's expansive voucher program. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A...

10 Things to Know Today

Your daily look at late-breaking national and international news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about today, Nov. 29, 2012: **1. WHAT PALESTINIANS ARE POISED TO GAIN FROM THE...

Sources: Harson won't be charged in D.A. probe

Here is what we know: Neither District Attorney Mike Harson nor City Prosecutor Gary Haynes will likely be charged. Sources close to the federal probe into 15th Judicial District Attorney Mike...

Voucher fight heads to court

Lawyers challenging Gov. Bobby Jindal's statewide voucher program are making their pitch to a judge that the program should be shut down. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Lawyers for unions and school boards...

Judge declares St. Landry school case complex

A federal judge has declared as complex the case involving two St. Landry Parish School Board members charged with conspiracy to extort money in exchange for votes for a new school...

Officials trying to identify body pulled from Gulf

The coroner's office is trying to determine whether the decomposed body of a man recovered from the Gulf of Mexico is a worker missing since a fire erupted on an offshore oil platform on Nov. 16. NEW...

Turtle protection device plans shelved by NOAA

New regulations that would have forced shrimpers in the bays and marshes of the Gulf of Mexico to install devices on their nets to save endangered sea turtles were scrapped Tuesday by federal...

10 things to know today

Here's your daily look at late-breaking national and international news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about on Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. 1. WHY THE WHITE HOUSE IS STICKING WITH...

Landry running on fumes

U.S. Rep. Jeff Landry, R-New Iberia, is entering the final stretch in his runoff campaign against fellow Republican Rep. Charles Boustany of Lafayette with dwindling cash reserves. U.S. Rep. Jeff...

Big bill for levee upkeep comes to New Orleans

In the busy and under-staffed offices of New Orleans' flood-control leaders, there's an uneasy feeling about what lies ahead. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - In the busy and under-staffed offices of New Orleans'...

Judge halts vouchers, cites conflict with deseg

A New Orleans-based federal judge halted Gov. Bobby Jindal's voucher program in Tangipahoa Parish on Monday, saying it conflicts with a decades-old desegregation case. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A New...

10 things to know today

Here's your daily look at late-breaking national and international news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about on Tuesday, Nov. 27, 2012. 1. EGYPT'S PRESIDENT DEFENDS HIS SEIZURE OF...

Gachassin's ethical dilemma discussions Tuesday

Lafayette developer Greg Gachassin is charged with violating the state's Code of Governmental Ethics while he was a member of the LPTFA's board of trustees. Board of Ethics Deputy General Counsel...

Inmate held on arson charges sets fire at LPCC

Officials say an inmate being held on charges of arson from a Thanksgiving eve fire in Broussard started a fire in his first floor cell at the Lafayette Parish Jail Monday morning. The inmate who...

Gap widens between La.'s richest and poorest

Louisiana, according to a recent report by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, is among the states with the widest income gap between rich and poor. The state-by-state analysis, released Nov....

High court rejects appeal of ex-La. congressman

The Supreme Court is leaving in place the corruption conviction of former Louisiana Congressman William Jefferson, who hid money from bribes in his freezer. WASHINGTON (AP) - The Supreme Court is...

Whoop, there it is

Whooping cranes introduced to the wild in Southwestern Louisiana are the focus of intense research. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Whooping cranes introduced to the wild in Southwestern Louisiana are the focus of...

'The Future of Electric Power in Lafayette'

The public is invited to a Dec. 6 community forum focused on the future of Lafayette's electric grid and the expected role alternative energies will play going forward. Electric power and its future...

Library of Congress shows diaries from Civil War

Letters and diaries from those who lived through the Civil War offer a new glimpse at the arguments that split the nation 150 years ago and some of the festering debates that survive today. WASHINGTON...

10 things to know today

Here's your daily look at late-breaking national and international news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about on Monday, Nov. 26, 2012. 1. WHY EGYPT'S PRESIDENT HAS POLARIZED THE...

10 things to know today

Your daily look at late-breaking national and international news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about today, Black Friday, Nov. 23, 2012: 1. WHY BLACK FRIDAY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN...

Cajuns headed back to NO Bowl? Looks that way

It's all but official. UL's football team will continue its association with the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl for a second straight year - if they win their home finale Saturday - and the official...

City to decide rec tax

Lafayette voters will decide next April whether to substantially increase the property tax devoted to the Parks & Recreation Department. The City-Parish Council on Tuesday passed a resolution...

La.'s jobless rate keeps dropping

For October, Louisiana's unemployment rate ranked among the nation's best, with the Lafayette metropolitan area reporting the lowest jobless rate in the state. Louisiana's unemployment rate continued...

La.'s revenue shell game

Louisiana's lawmakers have spent months combing through $6.8 billion in tax breaks on the state's books, but state leaders are at odds over what to do with any possible revenue. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)...

'Lafayette Education Survey': public or private?

A survey commissioned by an anonymous group went out to thousands of Lafayette Parish residents this week asking their thoughts on the state of the local school system and whether they'd be interested...

Twin parties to mark end of hurricane season

Simultaneous parties in New Orleans and New York are scheduled to mark the end of hurricane season - and to raise money for storm recovery. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Simultaneous parties in New Orleans and...

Search for missing oil platform worker ends

Black Elk Energy has halted the search for a worker missing since Friday's fire aboard the company's oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Black Elk Energy has halted the search for a...

10 things to know today

Here's your daily look at late-breaking national and international news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about on Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012. 1. CLINTON, DIPLOMATS PRESS ON WITH MIDEAST...

Ouch! La. ranked 17th in pinch felt at gas pump

The financial pinch felt by Louisiana drivers actually wasn't as painful in 2011 as in past years, but it still hurts a little, according to an annual state-by-state ranking released by David Gardiner...

Dardenne gets territorial over tourism dollars

Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne, head of Louisiana's tourism department, speaks out against dipping into his budget to fund major sporting events like the Super Bowl. For Louisiana, playing host to the 2013...

Jindal won't endorse in 3rd District race

Gov. Bobby Jindal isn't getting involved in the Republican battle in Louisiana's 3rd District congressional race. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov. Bobby Jindal isn't getting involved in the Republican...

Dolphin deaths a mystery for scientists

Over the past several months, dolphins have washed ashore along the northern Gulf Coast with bullet wounds, missing jaws and hacked off fins. ALONG THE GULF COAST (AP) - Over the past several months,...

LSU president names 10-member advisory group

LSU System President William Jenkins announced the panel Monday, saying the system's Board of Supervisors will give the advisory group instructions at its Dec. 7 meeting. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - LSU...

10 things to know today

Here's your daily look at late-breaking national and international news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012. 1. HILLARY CLINTON HEADS TO THE MIDDLE...

Is Jeff Landry toast?

Well, that depends on who's answering the question, but a poll commissioned by Camp Boustany shows Landry far behind heading to the Dec. 8 runoff. Perhaps hoping to deliver a symbolic coup de grace...

19 reps eschew plum committee assignments

Not exactly, but Gov. Bobby Jindal's infamous eagerness to punish state lawmakers who don't toe the party line looms ominously in the backdrop. A gaggle of state representatives, all of them...

Tragedy hits Cooper family

Lafayette superintendent's younger sister killed in motorcycle accident in Monroe. Lafayette Parish Schools Superintendent Pat Cooper's younger sister, Corinne Adele Henry of West Monroe, was killed...

What a guy: Brees donating $1 million to Sandy relief

Donation will come from the Super Bowl winner's Dream Foundation. Drew Brees, who'll never forget the pain and anguish he saw after Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005, wants to help in...

AOC broadcasts Lecture Series

For those unable to attend the IND Monthly/IberiaBank lecture series last week featuring Dr. Pat Cooper, superintendent of the Lafayette Parish School System, rest assured and make sure to tune in for...

Jindal: Liking people is key to expanding GOP tent

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal says the Republican Party needs to go back to basics to attract the broad coalition of voters. WASHINGTON (AP) - Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal says the Republican Party needs...

Co. looks for worker after oil rig fire in Gulf

The owner of an oil platform that caught fire after an explosion in the Gulf of Mexico last week said Sunday that it has expanded its search for a missing worker, and doctors said one of four men...

Dalai Lama headed to N.O. in 2013

The Dalai Lama and an entourage of Tibetan monks are heading to New Orleans in May 2013 in a rally of support for communities still recovering from Hurricane Katrina. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The Dalai Lama...

10 things to know today

Here's your daily look at late-breaking national and international news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about on Monday, Nov. 19, 2012. 1. NO LETUP IN VIOLENCE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND...

Gulp: Next year's budget gap pegged at $963 million

The first snapshot of next year's state budget shortfall has been unveiled to lawmakers, and it's grim. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The first snapshot of next year's state budget shortfall has been...

Gulf rig fire leaves 11 hurt, 2 missing; no leak

Update: The Associated Press is now reporting that 11 people have been hospitalized, two remain missing and the fire has been extinguished aboard the stricken rig. [Update: The Associated Press is now...

BP moving beyond Gulf spill disaster

BP's $4.5 billion settlement of federal criminal charges announced Thursday is a record amount, and a significant sum of money. BP's $4.5 billion settlement of federal criminal charges announced...

BP defense lawyers say rig workers are scapegoats

While BP has resolved a sweeping criminal probe of its role in the massive 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, two company employees charged in the deaths of 11 rig workers claim the Justice...

LSU hospital executive leaving for Arkansas

Roxane Townsend told The Advocate on Thursday that concerns about the direction of health care delivery under Gov. Bobby Jindal influenced her decision. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A former LSU health...

Jindal, GOP leaders jockeying for 2016

Louisiana's Bobby Jindal is urging the Republican Party to rethink its pitch to voters. Not to scale: Gov. Bobby Jindal is actually much smaller in real life LAS VEGAS (AP) - Louisiana's Bobby Jindal...

Serial killer Lee's latest bid nixed

The judge presiding over serial killer Derrick Todd Lee's latest appeal refuses to have evidence presented at Lee's 2004 capital murder trial sent to a private lab for examination. Derrick Todd...

10 things to know today

Here's your daily look at late-breaking national and international news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about on Friday, Nov. 16, 2012. 1. AN OFFER TO HOLD FIRE IN GAZA Israel agrees...

Alleged co-conspirators turn on Stanford

What attorney Daniel Stanford says doesn't quite jibe with what two of his alleged co-conspirators are telling the feds. Late Wednesday afternoon, hours after IND Monthly broke the story about two...

La. tells HHS it won't run insurance exchange

Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration sent formal notification Wednesday to federal officials that Louisiana won't create its own health insurance market as provided by the national health care...

Study: Income inequality continues to grow in La.

A new study says the gap between Louisiana's rich and poor has grown wider over the last three decades, with the poverty-ridden state having among the highest rates of income inequality in the...

BP gets record fine in Gulf oil spill

Oil giant BP has agreed to pay the largest criminal penalty in U.S. history, totaling billions of dollars, for the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Oil giant BP has agreed to...

10 things to know today

Here's your daily look at late-breaking national and international news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012. 1. AIRSTRIKE ONSLAUGHT ON GAZA STRIP Israel's...

Council to consider rec tax election

The Lafayette City-Parish Council will consider on Tuesday a resolution that if approved would clear the way for a special election next April. The Lafayette City-Parish Council will consider on...

Want to support Lafayette's public schools?

Your tax-deductible donation can be directed to a specific initiative or project in the Lafayette Parish School System. The Advocate reported Wednesday that community members and businesses might soon...

Recall organizers face ethics fines

A staff attorney for the Louisiana Board of Ethics is recommending that the board decline to waive $1,000 fines levied against a pair of Louisiana teachers who spearheaded separate recall efforts...

'Dominos starting to fall' in Curious Goods case

The two Georgia men responsible for the manufacture and distribution of  'Mr. Miyagi'  pleaded guilty Tuesday in federal court. The U.S. Attorney's Office secured two more plea agreements in its case...

Center wins Vermilion immigrant detention records

A state judge in Crowley has ordered the Vermilion Parish sheriff to provide records to a nonprofit group of immigrants detained since 2009. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A state judge in Crowley has ordered the...

Charter school enrollment on the rise

Enrollment in charter schools increased by 200,000 students last year and now tops 2 million, according to a report being released Wednesday. WASHINGTON (AP) - Enrollment in charter schools increased...

Judge urged to approve Chinese drywall settlements

Attorneys for thousands of Gulf Coast property owners urged a federal judge to give his final approval to a proposed class-action settlement that calls for a Chinese drywall manufacturer to pay...

10 things to know today

Here's your daily look at late-breaking national and international news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2012. 1. WHAT OBAMA HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE PETRAEUS...

Petition Impossible

We're not sure about deporting the secessionists, but Duncan Trussell might make a serviceable Emperor of the World. This is Duncan Trussell. If given the blessing of President Barack Obama (and...

LPSS joins 'green' bus trend

Come this spring, students in the Lafayette Parish School System will be ferried to and from school in any one of eight new propane-fueled school buses. Come this spring, students in the Lafayette...

High time to legalize?

Marijuana's legalization is getting some hype here, but in a socially conservative state like Louisiana, change may be slow. Written by Patrick Flanagan Louisiana's Libertarians are saying its high...

Boustany gains bipartisan support

U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, continues to collect endorsements from both sides of the political aisle in his bid to win a fifth term in Congress. U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette,...

Steps ordered to hold down sinkhole risk

The state has ordered new steps to minimize risk of exposure to natural gas under property where a large sinkhole formed in August in Assumption Parish. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The state has ordered...

10 things to know today

Here's your daily look at late-breaking national and international news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about on Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2012. 1. WHY THE FBI DIDN'T TELL THE WHITE HOUSE...

Comp plan forums resume

The second set of community forums for the Lafayette Comprehensive Plan will take place this week at locations across the parish as residents help shape the growth of Lafayette over the next couple of...

Dec. 21, 2012: Doomsday, or business as usual?

The Mayan Calendar expires in about six weeks, and according to the Baton Rouge Advocate, one psychic is predicting significant change,' but fortunately, not the world's demise. Twenty-twelve Doomsday...

New Orleans streetcar line to get Super Bowl debut

With the Super Bowl less than three months away, New Orleans is rushing to lay streetcar tracks through one of its busiest corridors to connect by trolley the Louisiana Superdome and the French...

New LSD-like drug banned

Lafayette Police don't expect a big problem from 25-I, the newest designer street drug added to Louisiana's list of Schedule I substances. Louisiana health officials did not delay in reacting to the...

10 things to know today

Here's your daily look at late-breaking national and international news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about on Monday, Nov. 12, 2012. 1. THE SECOND WOMAN IN THE PETRAEUS CASE A U.S....

Maginnis: Bernhard eyed for energy secretary

Louisiana politics columnist John Maginnis, citing sources, is reporting that Jim Bernhard, who recently sold his mega construction company the Shaw Group, is awaiting a call from Vice President Joe...

Today in sour grapes: La. secession petition

Oh, boo hoo! We couldn't try on the Mittens so let's secede from the United States! Written by Walter Pierce A Slidell man identified merely as "Michael E" has submitted a petition to the...

PAR picks pre-Session advisory panel

Jerry Luke LeBlanc, UL Lafayette's vice-president of administration and finance, is among the 15 members selected by the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana to advise and help fashion the...

Vote planned on Jindal health outsourcing contract

After a shake-up on the House budget committee, Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration is returning to lawmakers to ask permission to outsource a state employee health insurance plan. BATON ROUGE, La....

‘Mr. Miyagi' victim comes forward

Man shares story of his fight to bring down the synthetic drug trade, starting with the Curious Goods conspirators, whom he believes responsible for his 14-year-old son's death. Lance Dyer is ready...

Citizens united (in debt)

Louisiana's state-run property insurer of last resort is $56 million in the red. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana's state-run property insurer of last resort is $56 million in the red, after it...

Federal judge urged to approve BP settlement

BP and attorneys for businesses and people who lost money in the Gulf oil spill urged a federal judge Thursday to give his final approval to a class-action settlement. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - BP and...

Va. company chosen for debt collection

Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration has chosen a private company to help devise a strategy for improving collection of millions of dollars in unpaid debts owed to state agencies. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)...

10 things to know today

Here's your daily look at late-breaking national and international news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about on Friday, Nov. 9, 2012. 1. WHY OBAMA IS IN A BIND He has to stand his...

C'est What? Shoe-do has a foul mouth

"I am looking forward to working with Hilda Rose Daigre Curry for fiscal responsibility. Other than that, she can kiss my a--." You could say newly elected (though certainly not new to the...

Dem rep: Privatizing OGB wasteful

"It is not sound fiscal policy to pay more for services while laying off 177 individuals. These documents prove that we are not saving the state any money." The chief opponent of Gov. Bobby...

Lafayette Tourism gets a slice of BP pie

The Lafayette Parish Convention and Visitors Commission, and a number of Acadiana tourist-related organizations, will get a share of the $16 million included in the first round of funding from BP's...

Judge to hold fairness hearing on BP settlement

BP estimates it will pay $7.8 billion to resolve claims through the uncapped settlement. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A federal judge in New Orleans is set to preside over a fairness hearing for a proposed...

Jindal pitches outsourcing to school board members

Gov. Bobby Jindal is seeking to rally support from local school boards in his push to outsource a public employee health insurance plan. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov. Bobby Jindal is seeking to rally...

Term limits win resounding victory

Proposals to enact term limits on the boards passed overwhelmingly, winning easily in all 67 school districts where they were on the ballot. [Editor's Note: Voters in Lafayette Parish approved term...

10 things to know today

Here's your daily look at late-breaking national and international news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2012. 1. AFTER ELECTION, OBAMA AND GOP LAY DOWN...

The advantages of running Dem. in La.

For Forest Wright, being the lone Democrat in a race filled with Republicans did have its perks, like more votes; just not enough to win. As expected, no runoff will be needed for Scott Angelle to...

Ugly lives to fight another day

Thanks to the eastern part of the new 3rd, Boustany and Landry are in a runoff. If you thought the primary campaign was nasty, just wait. Written by Walter Pierce Voters in U.S. Rep. Jeff Landry's...

Loomis returns to unsettled times

Now that New Orleans general manager Mickey Loomis has returned to work, the Saints need his crisis-management skills to be sharp. METAIRIE, La. (AP) - Now that New Orleans general manager Mickey...

10 things to know today

Here's your daily look at late-breaking national and international news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about on Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2012. 1. OBAMA WINS RE-ELECTION DESPITE WEAK...

Scott Angelle gearing up to be governor?

Louisiana Voice blogger Tom Aswell, in a recent critique of former DNR Secretary Scott Angelle, questions whether the Public Service Commission District 2 candidate is actually just jockeying to run...

La. voters lament toxic tone

Whether they chose President Barack Obama or Republican nominee Mitt Romney, many Louisiana voters say more political cooperation is needed but unlikely. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Whether they chose...

Foreign predator found in Gulf

Scientists say the discovery of a lionfish swimming about 40 miles off the coast of Texas could mean bad things for marine life in the Gulf of Mexico. The Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico...

10 Things to Know Today

Your daily look at late-breaking national and international news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about on Election Day, Nov. 6, 2012: 1. FOCUS SHIFTS TO VOTERS ON ELECTION DAY Obama...

LSU, the Democrats thank you

According to history, the outcome of tonight's presidential election will be like adding insult to injury for LSU football fans, at least the Republican ones. That's right, the results are in - i.e.,...

Louisiana has nation's 31st strongest 'Vote Power'

Louisiana's  "Vote Power" ranking, according to Slate,com, may not be too high, but hopefully that won't stop you from casting a ballot Tuesday. With only nine Electoral College votes,...

Fighting the feds Part II

Why attorney Daniel Stanford believes he has become a target in what he calls a "new front" in the federal government's War on Drugs. [Editor's Note: In the second installment of this...

Lafayette Top 20 finalist in Bloomberg challenge

The city's idea was selected from 300 submissions to compete for the New York City mayor's philanthropic organization's $5 million grand prize. City-Parish President Joey Durel announced Monday that...

CPC looking at three dozen roundabouts

The City-Parish Council will be asked Tuesday to pump about $96,000 into the Traffic & Transportation Department's budget to provide matching funds for federal grants to study 36 intersections in...

Better off four years later? A mixed bag of answers

It's a staple of every presidential election, a single question that puts the incumbent's record on trial and asks American voters to be the jurors. [EDITOR'S NOTE: This is another story in the...

10 things to know today

Your daily look at national and international late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about on Monday, Nov. 5, 2012. 1. OHIO IS FOCUS OF CAMPAIGN IN FINAL LAP At the end of...

Election 2012: Our Views

On Nov. 6, voters across the state will be asked to decide nine proposed amendments to the Louisiana Constitution. On Nov. 6, voters across the state will be asked to decide nine proposed amendments...

10 things to know today

Your daily look at late-breaking national and international news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about on Friday, Nov. 2, 2012. 1. HOW THE U.S. JOB MARKET IS DOING Employment inches...

C'est What? Boustany touts big debate ‘win'

Camp Boustany says he won among listeners 63-37. Listeners are saying different. Camp Boustany's campaign manager today released a statement from U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, touting the...

The lone Dem vying for 3rd

Ron Richard may not have a chance in hell, but at least one Democrat's name will be listed on next week's ballot for the 3rd Congressional District election. Driving around Lafayette, you may or may...

Hear Super Cooper's ‘progress report' Nov. 14

Lafayette Parish Superintendent of Schools Pat Cooper joins IND Monthly's Lecture Series Wednesday, Nov. 14, to discuss the progress of his turnaround plan. Lafayette Parish Superintendent of Schools...

Troy Hebert's at it again

The monkeyshines of ATC commissioner Troy Hebert are back, but according to a report by Louisiana Free Press, this latest round of hijinks could mean bad things for the former state senator from...

Boustany, Landry slam each other in debate

Louisiana's dueling Republican congressmen squared off Wednesday in their only debate before next week's election, calling each other liars and trying to stake out differences. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) -...

10 things to know today

Here's your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about on Thursday, Nov. 1, 2012. 1. NEW YORK CITY'S SUBWAYS GET BACK ON TRACK Limited subway service...

LBP: Extend tax credit for working poor

A new report from the Louisiana Budget Project concludes that Louisiana should extend - and double - the state's earned income tax credit for low-income working residents. A new report from the...

Blanco, Durel read to Alice Boucher students

Alice Boucher's World Languages Academy students got a little special attention from community leaders Tuesday morning. The annual Literacy Day event at Alice Boucher Elementary School's World...

Fourteen vie for UL System prez

A baker's dozen plus one have applied to lead the University of Louisiana System - the state's largest university system that includes UL Lafayette under its umbrella. A baker's dozen plus one have...

Election day gets hyped

Louisiana's early voting totals are in, and state officials are now saying they anticipate the biggest election day turnout in years come Nov. 6. A record number of Louisianans voted early this year,...

Differing takes on why session failed

Understanding why the push to convene a special 15-day Legislative Session in November failed depends on who you ask. Political columnist John Maginnis, in a recent post on Nola.com, gives his take on...

10 things to know today (2)

Here's your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012. Happy Halloween! 1. SAFETY TOPS LIST OF CONCERNS IN DARKENED NEW...

10 things to know today

Here's your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about on Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2012. Happy Halloween! 1. SAFETY TOPS LIST OF CONCERNS IN DARKENED NEW...

BP's spill: A death knell for shrimping industry?

With the deadline quickly approaching, Louisiana's shrimpers are under the gun to make a decision on whether to accept BP's settlement offer. Louisiana's shrimpers have until Thursday of next week to...

Amendment 2 a slippery slope to one area legislator

The intentions of the lawmakers responsible for Amendment 2 are frightening, says District 96 Rep. Terry Landry, D-Lafayette. For state Rep. Terry Landry, voting for Amendment 2 is like opening...

Assumption Parish sinkhole costs DNR $2M so far

A massive sinkhole that has swallowed more than 5 acres of land in Assumption Parish and contaminated an aquifer has cost the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources more than $2 million for...

West Nile cases soar; threat continues

The West Nile virus continues to infect and kill people in the worst year for the disease in Louisiana since 2002. NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The West Nile virus continues to infect and kill people in the...

Ten things to know today

Here's your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about on Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2012. Here's your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the...

Colonial La. records shed new light on US history

A marathon project is under way to digitize thousands of 18th-century French and Spanish legal papers that give the first historical accounts of slaves and free blacks in North America. NEW ORLEANS...

FBI: Crime reported to police fell last year

The number of violent crimes reported to police decreased 3.8 percent last year to 1.2 million, the fifth straight year of declines, the FBI announced Monday. WASHINGTON (AP) - The number of violent...

AP: Ten things to know today

The Associated Press' daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and stories that will be talked about on Monday, Oct. 29, 2012. [Editor's Note: 10 Things is a daily Associated Press feature...

Bastardizing Louisiana's Constitution

In its more than 40 years of existence, the Louisiana Constitution has undergone 150 changes, and more are expected following next week's election day. Louisiana's constitution is cluttered, and come...

Advertiser endorses Boustany

"It's more about which candidate can best represent the interests of a diverse constituency that holds a variety of political views. And we believe Boustany is that candidate." Citing many...

Oh, it's on: Boustany, Landry set for radio debate

After fits, starts and cancellations, voters in Lafayette will finally get the opportunity to hear - although not to see - rival GOP Congressmen Charles Boustany of Lafayette and Jeff Landry of New...

SLPSB members indicted on bribery charges

A pair of elected members of the St. Landry Parish School Board are facing lengthy prison sentences and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines for allegedly offering their votes in favor of a...

J'accuse, Landry: Boustany throws down gauntlet

U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany ain't no fraidie cat. U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany ain't no fraidie cat. Seeking to shake suspicions that he's dodging his main rival, U.S. Rep. Jeff Landry, in a debate...

Did BP's oil spill kill this whale?

A series of photographs taken by NOAA researchers of a dead sperm whale floating in the Gulf of Mexico near the site of the BP oil spill were released Wednesday by Greenpeace. While the sight of the...

DOE vetting 72 ‘Course Choice' providers

State Superintendent John White announced Wednesday afternoon that 72 entities hoping to offer college prep and career-training courses to students statewide will be further evaluated before BESE...

Hadley Castille has died

The 80-year-old was an ambassador for Cajun culture, performing the world over for more than three decades. The Advertiser is reporting that Cajun fiddler Hadley Castille has died following a battle...

Geologist: La. sinkhole is a global anomaly

A geologist for Shaw Environmental Group says the Bayou Corne sinkhole is a disaster that no one has ever dealt with' anywhere in the world. Now the size of five football fields, the Bayou Corne...

Louisiana's sobering HIV/AIDS stats

Recent statistics show Baton Rouge and New Orleans are ranked among the nation's top five for newly diagnosed HIV and AIDS cases; oh, and Lafayette's not far behind. HIV and AIDS continue rearing...

Voucher schools targeted

Zack Kopplin, our favorite pro-science activist and an admirable Mr. Quixote in his quest to dispossess Louisiana of its Luddite academic proclivities - mm-hmm - will appear before the state Board of...

The Queen gets a crown

Gutted by fire in April 2010, Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church celebrated a symbolic rebirth as dozens turned out on a clear morning for a steeple raising. Gutted by fire in April 2010, Our...

American Press: pick Boustany

The Lake Charles American Press newspaper today endorsed U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, in the Nov. 6 election for the 3rd Congressional District, calling the four-term incumbent congressman...

Event highlights Horse Farm

It's all about the Horse Farm, or more particularly what the 100 rolling acres in the heart of Lafayette will be in a few years when it's transformed into a passive park, this Saturday. It's all about...

BIA administrator formally charged in stalking case

Christopher Hebert, the man behind the Busted in Acadiana Facebook page, was formally charged Oct. 17 on one count each of stalking and cyberstalking more than a year after he was arrested and booked into jail on the same charges.

LCG wants your undesirables

LCG's Community Development Department and Allied Waste are teaming up for Neighborhood Clean-up day Saturday when residents can drop off fencing, toilets, swing sets and other hard-to-dispose-of...

U.S. could become "New Middle East"

The Associated Press reports that if the domestic drilling trend continues, the U.S. could eventually produce more oil and natural gas than even the Saudis and Russians. The United States, according...

John White ordered to appear in court over vouchers

A federal judge has ordered state Superintendent of Education John White to appear in federal court in New Orleans Oct. 30 to address claims from the Tangipahoa Parish School Board that the state's...

BESE: the billionaire's playground

An investigation by The Nation follows the money and connects the dots in last year's state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education elections. Photo by Robin May Superintendent John White An...

Downtown Lafayette's future is in your hands

Envision how Lafayette's Downtown could be 10, 20, even 30 years from now, and share those ideas next week at Downtown Summit One: Imagine the Future. If you find yourself in Downtown Lafayette over...

What has Hollywood really done for Louisiana?

For almost two decades, tax credits have been used to entice the film industry to come to Louisiana, but some are calling for changes, arguing the costs outweigh the benefits. [Editor's Note: This...

LPSS upgraded to ‘B' school district

Sources close to the school system say the state Department of Education's 1 p.m. announcement regarding school district letter grades will reveal that Lafayette Parish has been upgraded from a C'...

White: Some teacher evals could be altered

The state superintendent of education is considering changing the highly controversial teacher evaluation process for roughly 40 or 50 teachers whose students are among the highest performing in the...

Angelle rolling in dough

Scott Angelle, the former secretary of the state Department of Natural Resources and St. Martin Parish president, has more money in his campaign coffer heading into the Nov. 6 Public Service...

PAR parses amendments on Nov. 6 ballot

It's an indispensable way to make an informed vote on Nov. 6. Arguably the most-amended state constitution in the republic - 167 times since its adoption in 1974 - is up for further modification when...

Economic brothers from different mothers

An article in The New York Times magazine examines how Gov. Bobby Jindal's handling of Louisiana's economy could be indicative of what's to come if Gov. Mitt Romney is elected president in November;...

Schools, districts getting report cards today

First used last year as a means to simplify performance data for parents, schools and school districts across the state are receiving their annual letter grades and report cards this afternoon. Public...

The Earth is Getting Hotter?

According to a survey released by the Pew Research Center, belief in global warming is up after a four-year slump. For some reason, when the Obama's moved into the White House in 2009, the number of...

Activist says O&G lobbyist distorts truth

A letter published Wednesday by the Shreveport Times is a far-cry from reality, says an advocate for Lake Peigneur. The spin doctors of the oil and gas industry are at it again, says Save Lake...

Jindal's staff shuffle skirts pay freeze

Blogger and former counsel for the Louisiana Legislature C.B. Forgotston points out Jindal's hypocritical staff shuffle that skirts the governor's own pay freeze for executive branch employees. Gov....

Chamber backing airport, school tax renewals

"We must provide the tools and environment for our children to successfully compete in a world economy." The Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce is endorsing the renewal of a pair of...

Louisiana needs stronger gun protections?

If the state's voters approve constitutional amendment No. 2 on Nov. 6, the protections afforded Louisiana's gun owners - which already are among the nation's strongest - will become even...

On the ballot: LPSB millage renewal

Voters heading to the polls Nov. 6 will decide whether to renew a 16.7-mill property tax that equals roughly 11 percent of the school system's overall budget. Among the six tax renewals appearing on...

An ugly campaign gets uglier

Boustany hurls the L word at his main rival. And, no, Jeff Landry is not a lesbian. The offending pamphlet, from a KATC newsreel How did we miss this? At the Gumbo Cookoff last weekend in New Iberia,...

KATC nominated for Emmy

Lafayette ABC affiliate KATC has been nominated for a regional Emmy award for its coverage of the 2011 "Trinity II" saga in the Gulf of Mexico. Lafayette ABC affiliate KATC has been...

Jindal listens to treasurer's advice

The Baton Rouge Advocate reports the governor signed off Wednesday afternoon on a recommendation from state Treasurer John Kennedy to forgo plans to incrementally sell $325 million in rural road...

La. Supreme Court OKs expropriation

The state Supreme Court, on Tuesday, put an end to the ongoing battle between a local land owner and the Lafayette City-Parish Government over property expropriated in 2010 for the extension of...

Saints fans sue Roger "The Dodger" Goodell

The Times-Picayune is reporting that a suburban New Orleans resident has filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of Saints season-ticket holders against National Football League Commissioner Roger...

KATC announces changes

Honey-toned Hoyt Harris is giving up his seat as co-anchor of KATC's late newscast to make way for Jim Hummel, currently the station's weekend anchor. But we'll still get our Hoyt fix at 10 p.m. ABC...

Debt load of American consumers hits a 5-year low

Though American consumers currently owe less on credit cards and home mortgages, economists are still predicting tough times are coming for both the national and international economies. Americans...

Have mercy, Bloomberg!

The business news network ranks Louisiana among the top five most miserable states. Louisiana's ranking on the "Misery Report" - Bloomberg's take on the "misery index" - is, well,...

Lafayette chamber's PAC facing ethics fine

A chamber VP blames a faulty fax machine. A board attorney says, "tough cookie, mister." Empower PAC, the political action committee of the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, is facing a...

Today in couillon: Crimiel pleads guilty

A Lafayette man admitted he vandalized two local churches, pouring gasoline at the front door of one and threatening to set it ablaze, in an effort to frame his estranged girlfriend. A Lafayette man...

Shunick file reveals new details in case

The DA has opened up Brandon Scott Lavergne's case file for media viewing, revealing new details regarding Mickey Shunick's murder and the life of her disturbed killer. By Heather Miller When...

Is Chuck a chicken?

It's the question of the day as U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany declines what appears to be another good-faith effort to get him and his main rival on stage at the same time for a debate. U.S. Rep. Charles...

Don't call it a tax hike!

The Lafayette City-Parish Council on Tuesday will consider a pair of resolutions that would green light a hike in rates for parking meters, towers and other consolidated government-owned parking...

The expiration of four tax breaks for families looms

Though an act of Congress could change everything, renewal of the credits, which aid countless low-income families, will come down to who will be the nation's president going into 2013. The fate of...

OMG, Landry's rich!

Or, have we arrived at a peculiar place wherein one Republican makes a campaign issue out of a fellow Republican's personal wealth? That's a rhetorical question. Of course we have. Photo...

LBP: state tax exemptions benefit the wealthy

The Louisiana Budget Project has just released a study of individual income-tax exemptions granted by the state and finds that the biggest share of exemptions are claimed by the very wealthiest...

Are you ready for La.La. Land?

Wondering how whacky and wild the Louisiana blogosphere can get? Wonder no more with La.La. Land. We can't help but love living in a place as blissfully neurotic and intoxicatingly entertaining as the...

Gulf oil sheen linked to BP oil spill

BP: The gift that keeps on giving. An oil sheen discovered almost a month ago in the Gulf of Mexico has been linked to the 2010 BP oil spill. According to a report from The New York Times, the oil...

The debate that wasn't: here's what went down

Long story short, the Boustany camp was left in the dark during preparations and feels like the Lafayette congressman was set up, begging the question: By whom? [Clarification: It seems what we have...

PACs pad campaign coffers in PSC race

Accepting contributions from PACs has given two of the five candidates running in the PSC District 2 race a sizeable financial advantage going into the Nov. 6 election. As expected, former DNR...

Landry grilled over year-old Gestapo remark

U.S. Rep. Jeff Landry, R-New Iberia, stopped by Temple Shalom in Lafayette this past Friday to press the flesh, field some questions and shore up the Jewish vote. But congregation member Howard Weiss...

UL students approve fee increase

Fifty-four percent of the 2,850 UL students voting in this week's referendum favored increasing fees to help fund campus-wide improvements. Getting more campus improvements was worth a semesterly fee...

Boustany-Landry: evidently it's a "debate"

Yes, kids, we'll finally get to see and hear U.S. Reps. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, and Jeff Landry, R-New Iberia, bare fangs when they square off Monday on the UL Lafayette campus. Yes, kids,...

C'est what? La. likes Vitter for gov

A statewide survey released Monday finds U.S. Sen. David Vitter leading a hypothetical field of six candidates in the 2015 gubernatorial race. A statewide survey released Monday finds U.S. Sen. David...

Ortego: LGMC-UMC deal far from reality

A state lawmaker is accusing the head of the state agency of being less than truthful about the status of a potential public-private partnership between Lafayette General Medical Center and UMC. A...

T. Boone picks Boustany

Energy tycoon T. Boone Pickens voiced his support for U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany in his bid for the 3rd Congressional District during a visit in Lafayette. "Who else is even running?" was...

Group pushing for new charter school in Lafayette

The newly formed Lafayette Charter Foundation is holding an info session Thursday at the Holiday Inn on Evangeline Thruway to discuss its proposal on a new charter school in Lafayette Parish. A former...

Iowa to Jindal: mind your own damn business

Gov. Bobby Jindal's trip to Iowa over the weekend was greeted with no small amount of sniffing and huffing by Iowans perturbed by the Louisiana governor's "temerity" in lecturing the Hawkeye...

Anti Multi-Chem group plans push

The company has already begun construction at the north Vermilion Parish site after clearing the permit phase with the police jury. A group in north Vermilion and south Lafayette parishes is planning...

T. Boone and Boustany in Lafayette today

Congressman will be joined by oil and gas bigwig to discuss future of American energy independence. Oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens is stopping in Lafayette today and will be joined by U.S. Rep. Charles...

T. Boone joins Boustany in Lafayette today

The Lafayette congressman will be at the Apache natural gas fueling station with a well-known oil tycoon to discuss the future of America's energy independence. Oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens is stopping...

Taxing Louisiana's marijuana dealers?

Upholding decades old tax could mean more revenue in state coffers, a state senator says. A state lawmaker is pushing to enforce a tax on pot dealers. The Advocate reports that the tax was created in...

Taxing Louisiana's pot dealers

Upholding a decades old "pot tax" could mean more revenue in state coffers, according to the Advocate. A state lawmaker is pushing to enforce a tax on marijuana dealers, reports the...

Webre to retire as DDA chief

Cathy Webre made the announcement to DDA board members and staff Wednesday and Thursday of last week. The only person to have ever served at the helm of the Downtown Development Authority, Executive...

Rec fees to rise?

Pinched by a budget cut and lagging revenue, the city's Parks & Recreation Department is cash starved. Voters may be asked next year to approve a property tax increase to help close the budget...

Solon petitions for special session

The push for a special session may be characterized as quixotic: leaders in both chambers of the Legislature have expressed opposition to holding one. A Lafourche Parish state representative has filed...

Jindal officials reaffirm resistance to health reform

According to the Shreveport Times, state officials reiterated the governor's stance while in D.C. Thursday. Once again, Louisiana health care officials affirmed Gov. Bobby Jindal's commitment to block...

Update: Deal in works for LGMC to take over UMC

Dr. Frank Opelka, head of the LSU Health Care Services Division that oversees seven charity hospitals in South Louisiana, says the state is working to finalize a plan for LGMC to take over services at...

Jindal's fuzzy math is wrong - again

A recent New York Times report reveals that the governor is spewing flawed rhetoric on his stance against the expansion of Medicaid in Louisiana. Gov. Bobby Jindal's primary argument against expanding...

Landry picks up more endorsements

The tea party favorite and freshman congressman has gotten the endorsements of two-thirds of the parish executive committees in the new 3rd Congressional District. U.S. Rep. Jeff Landry, R-New Iberia,...

Jindal doesn't ‘govern according to polls'

Gov. Bobby Jindal, down about 20 points in the public's esteem from a couple of years ago including a precipitous 10 points since the spring, is dismissing the results of the Southern Media and...

It's official: Nancy Rabalais is a ‘genius'

The marine ecologist who has dedicated her life to the study of "dead zones" gets $500,000 no-strings-attached MacArthur Foundation award to continue her vital work. Dr. Nancy Rabalais, who...

Poll finds Jindal, Dems sagging

Gov. Bobby Jindal is falling in the public's esteem as the crisis for Democrats in state electoral politics continues, although Sen. Mary Landrieu did surprisingly well. A poll commissioned by...

UL students voting on fee hike

The university's Student Government Association is hoping students will approve a small fee increase next week to fund key components of the school's master plan. A number of campus-wide projects...

Cool Town? Lafayette reinvests in coal

The Hub City reaffirms its commitment to the 20th century. The City-Parish Council Tuesday night voted unanimously to make a new, 20-year investment - 19 actually, but we rounded it up - in the...

Ortego to LSU Board: Save our charity hospital system

State Rep. Stephen Ortego, in an open letter he wrote Tuesday to the LSU Board of Supervisors, urges board members to save Louisiana's charity hospital system from the drastic funding cuts proposed by...

LGMC CEO announces more renovations

LGMC President and CEO David Callecod announced plans on Monday to construct a four-story addition to the hospital along with a six-story parking garage. The Lafayette General Medical Center is about...

Landry targeted by pro-Boustany website

The site accuses Landry of a laundry list of falsehoods and extreme positions, among them advocating a "23% Tax on Everything." [Update: LAFactCheck.com contains a disclaimer: "Paid...

Race heats up for Louisiana Public Service Commission

Two of the five candidates running for the District 2 seat admit they are accepting contributions from companies regulated by the PSC. With about a month before election day, the five candidates vying...

Bridging history

Countless old bridges span waterways throughout Louisiana, and an event Wednesday will begin a process to identify those that are potentially "historic." An effort to aid in the preservation...

Texting and Driving? It Can Wait.

You're driving, stopped at a red light, and your text tone goes off. Can you resist a quick reply as the light changes? Or you're in traffic, inching along at the perfect pace to peek at your email....

The Days Dwindle Down at molli

Molly Finnegan is but weeks away from closing her popular Oil Center boutique. The bittersweet retirement sale now under way marks the end of an impressive run for one of Acadiana's great tastemakers,...

'I'm a Viking'

A dramatic change in atmosphere at Northside High School continues as a picture tells a thousand words and local businesses step up to help. A dramatic change in atmosphere at Northside High School...

Industry watches as Times-Pic, Advo fight begins

As The Times-Picayune shifts to digital focus and less publications, The Advocate steps in to try and pull in New Orleans' print news readers. For the first time in more than half a century, a major...

Nature, interrupted: Lake lovers bummed by airboats

A new group is growing like hydrilla on Facebook in the wake of an increasingly noisy presence at scenic and used-to-be quiet Lake Martin. Photo by Kristie Cornell This is what Lake Martin sounds...

Ed. reform fails to address dropout rate

The number of high school dropouts has steadily inched downward in recent years, but Louisiana still has one of the lowest graduation rates in the nation. Louisiana's high school graduation rate...

LUS tinfoil fee: $12.20 per month

Lafayette residents who fear that "smart meters" will render them incapable of living rich, fulfilling, private lives will have to pay a smidgen over $12 per month to keep one foot in the...

Downtown landlord challenging reassessments

A downtown property owner is challenging the revaluation of two commercial buildings on Jefferson Street, where the latest reassessment prompted drastic increases in property values for commercial...

More poor in Louisiana

A new survey released by the U.S. Census Bureau shows poverty is on the rise in Louisiana, excluding the metropolitan area of Lafayette, which experienced the only poverty rate decrease. Louisiana's...

UL's Pearson Cross guest blogs for The Hill

UL Lafayette Political Science Department Head Pearson Cross, in a guest blog for The Hill, discusses the lack of excitement for Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney in a state that's sure to...

Boustany, Landry confirmed for UL forum

This will be the first opportunity for voters in the largest city in what beginning Jan. 1, 2013 will be the new 3rd Congressional District to hear the candidates side-by-side. UL journalism professor...

C'est What? Vitter goes ‘Big Gov' on Entergy

U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-La., the arch conservative GOP stalwart who has cleaved so closely to the party line that it left a crease across his forehead, has joined a growing gaggle of Louisiana...

Shunick memorial Saturday at Parc International

The Acadiana community is invited to celebrate the life of Mickey Shunick beginning at noon Saturday. The family of 21-year-old UL student Mickey Shunick, who was killed in May by Brandon Scott...

DA Phil Haney appearing before disciplinary board

Sixteenth Judicial District Attorney Phil Haney, the first sitting district attorney to ever face charges of ethical misconduct by the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, will appear before the Louisiana...

Lafayette Dem named state exec. director

The Louisiana Democratic Party announced the conclusion of a national search and the appointment of Lafayette resident Stephen Handwerk as the new executive director of the state party. Photo by...

Advo: junked vehicle ordinance cost LCG $70,000

Local government has settled a lawsuit over the constitutionality of its junked vehicle ordinance. The Advocate reported Monday that Lafayette Consolidated Government paid $70,000 to a man who...

Boustany hits Landry on missed votes

"Domestic energy issues appear to not pass Landry's arbitrary litmus test." Camp Boustany is again targeting U.S. Rep. Jeff Landry's empty chair in the House of Representatives, slamming the...

Kopplin keeps heat on Jindal, White et al

"Gov. Jindal is a Brown University biology major; there's no way he doesn't understand evolution." Kopplin Rice University sophomore Zack Kopplin, a 2010 graduate of Baton Rouge Magnet High...

NIH retires all of its New Iberia chimps

The National Institutes of Health is retiring all 110 of its research chimpanzees housed at UL Lafayette's New Iberia Research Center, but several hundred non NIH-owned chimps will remain at the...

Refinancing saves Lafayette Parish $15M

The State Bond Commission approved public debt refinancings Thursday that saved more than $32 million across the state, including $15 million for Lafayette Parish alone. The State Bond Commission...

Horse Farm fundraising kicks off

Oct. 25 gala aims to raise a half million dollars to seed the Community Foundation's fundraising efforts. City-Parish President Joey Durel announced Friday that a gala will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 9...

LDOE hires former Jeb Bush staffer to head PR dept.

After the state Department of Education saw the departure of its communications director Rene Greer in June, state Education Superintendent John White contracted Deirdre Finn, a deputy chief of staff...

By the Numbers: 44,000 pounds

That's the total weight of the tar mats that have been removed so far from Elmer's Island following Hurricane Isaac. 44,000 pounds -That's the total weight of the tar mats that have been removed so...

Arrest made in LSU bomb threat

A 42-year-old man who says he called in Monday's bomb threat has been arrested. The Advocate reported that William Bouvay Jr., 42, 8224 Skysail Ave., admitted to LSU Police that he called in the bomb...

Landry gets local tea support

The Boustany camp, meanwhile, is hitting back at Landry, claiming that special interest group FreedomWorks, which has funded a lot of tea party activity across the nation since 2009, is essentially...

LCG re-ups Cajundome support

The Cajundome will continue to receive half a million dollars in support from Lafayette Consolidated Government after the City-Parish Council Tuesday approved a five-year extension of the contract...

LPSB reviewing long list of school renovations

A proposal on how to spend more than $30 million in bonds the Lafayette Parish School Board sold last month includes big projects at three area high schools and addresses severe overcrowding in...

Woops! CPC ‘inadvertently' omits amendments

The Lafayette City-Parish Council has scheduled a special meeting in addition to Tuesday night's regular meeting so council members can fix an oversight from last week's meeting during which the...

Leyendecker named CD chief

An LCG veteran and longtime Department of Community Development employee has been named the new head of the department. An LCG veteran and longtime Department of Community Development employee has...

Girard Park residents one step closer to victory

District Judge John Trahan ruled Monday that attorney Jimmy Davidson has not shown the court he has sufficient covenant cancellation agreements to allow more commercial intrusion into the Girard Park...

Guillory facing sizable ethics fine

A staff attorney for the board is recommending the board decline to waive the penalty. State Sen. Elbert Guillory, D-Opelousas, has asked the Louisiana Board of Ethics to waive a $2,500 late fee the...

Boustany, Landry no-show for League forum

The two major Republican candidates, who are vying for the new, expanded 3rd CD that resulted from a loss of one of Louisiana's seats in the U.S. House, are likely to end up in runoff, yet there seems...

Sinkhole tremors return

According to a research scientist with the University of Memphis, tremors near a large sinkhole in Assumption Parish began recurring a week ago. The earth tremors felt in the month and hours before...

Calling all bigots: KKK recruiting across Louisiana

A flier distributed in Zachary has led to a KKK member disclosing that the white supremacy group is recruiting members statewide. A Zachary neighborhood was the recent target of a recruitment campaign...

LSU campus evacuated over bomb threat

Officials sent a text alert asking everyone on the BR campus to evacuate calmly and quickly. The Advocate is reporting that LSU students, faculty and staff were ordered via a text alert to evacuate...

La. ranked among the worst states for retirees

High poverty, high crime and low life expectancy place The Bayou State in the bottom 10 on a new list ranking the best states for retirees. A new list compiled by an online financial data gatherer...

Girard Park court battle heats up Monday

Attorney Jimmy Davidson claims to have 77 percent of the support he needs to bring commercial development to Girard Park Drive, but residents say his numbers don't add up. Attorney Jimmy Davidson...

Council approves budget; Durel mulling vetoes

Following a series of amendments added to the $581 million budget submitted in late July and approved Tuesday night by the City-Parish Council, C-P President Joey Durel has 10 days to decide whether...

Couillon: DOE cites unnamed voucher-loving parents

According to the state Department of Education, parents of voucher students enrolled at Northlake Christian School in St. Tammany Parish showed their support for the newly minted choice' program by...

DOE planning audits for voucher schools

We're not going to send a SWAT team of bureaucrats into nonpublic schools. But if there are red flags, that is something we would look at.' -State Superintendent of Education John White State...

KATC: 3 officers suing PD no longer on force

As of this week, officers Scott Poiencot, Greg Cormier and Gabe Thompson are no longer with the Lafayette Police Department, the station reports. Three plaintiffs in the suit against Lafayette...

BP beach cleanup could further erode coastline

BP's "deep cleaning" of the beaches where oil and large mats of tar washed up after Hurricane Isaac could mean even more trouble for the state's fragile coastline. BP's "deep...

RE: Boustany trumpets ‘welfare queen' narrative

"Yet again, we see another example of President Obama overreaching his constitutional authorities for political gain." U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, issued a statement Thursday...

C'est What? NOLA least cultured city?

CEOs for Cities needa check they head. CEOs for Cities needa check they head. We must conclude this after the misty-eyed conclave of smarty pants ranked New Orleans - New Orleans! - dead last in its...

Psych eval. details Lavergne's troubled history

The man convicted of killing UL student Mickey Shunick in May and Lisa Pate in 1999 told a criminal psychologist that he was the victim of chronic childhood physical abuse. A day after Brandon Scott...

Gag order issued in suit against PD

Both parties are prohibited from speaking to the media or using social media or the Internet to discuss the case involving a federal lawsuit former and current officers filed against the Lafayette...

C'est Bon: CODOFIL campaign raises $90K

"I've always known the people of Louisiana believe their culture is important and the best way to have them stand up for it is to try and take it away." Photos by Elizabeth Rose Chris Segura...

Hud: 'still Blaine's football team'

The good, the bad and the ugly: notes and quotes on UL's football squad, which is 2-0 for only the second time in any Ragin' Cajun's lifetime. NO QB CONTROVERSY: Terrance Broadway may have come into...

LBP: Medicaid expansion would help working uninsured

The nonprofit think tank Louisiana Budget Project concludes in a new report that despite common misconceptions, hundreds of thousands of Louisianans lacking health insurance are employed. Hundreds of...

LPSO takes over case of missing Duson teen

LPSO, which has worked on the case of the missing Duson teen Keiosha Felix for months, is now the lead investigator. The Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office has assumed the lead investigative role in...

UL secures grant for area teachers

Twenty teachers from Lafayette, Iberia and Vermilion parishes will be selected to participate in a Louisiana Mathematics Masters in the Middle program to help "unlock hidden' potential in...

Kennedy: ‘Show me the Money'

State Treasurer John Kennedy on Louisiana's pile of uncollected debt In 1998, the City of Walker hired the state DOTD for $1.3 million to relocate some of Walker's utility lines. DOTD didn't send a...

Student gets $2 million in Hargrave sex-abuse case

The Advocate reported Monday that Ascension Episcopal School's insurance company has reached a $2 million settlement with a former student who was sexually abused by her then-school counselor. Citing...

Budget finalized this week

The City-Parish Council will do its final round of amendments and pontificating on ideological issues Thursday evening when it finalizes C-P President Joey Durel's proposed budget for the fiscal year...

Noisemaker: SCOLA Justice Bernette Johnson

We're loath to venture into the racial politics of the battle over the associate justice's bid to become chief justice of the state's high court. But how must this look to outsiders? We're loath to...

Ballyhooed berms dissolved by Isaac

The controversial berms the state constructed during and following the BP spill a couple of years ago along the Chandeleur Islands to capture errant oil were all but destroyed by Hurricane Isaac,...

Lacking funds, Roy withdraws from PSC race

The Republican businessman threw in the towel Friday, the last day to withdraw. Republican businessman Ed Roy of Lafayette, who took off the gloves in the District 2 Public Service Commission race...

IND Monthly unveiled

"Lafayette's growing, and our industry is changing in ways we couldn't envision when we launched nine years ago. The IND's format has evolved, but the mission remains the same, and we look...

Voucher enrollment to be unveiled next week

The state Department of Education says private schools accepting taxpayer dollars through the statewide voucher program have until Sunday to submit their enrollment numbers, after which the state...

Isaac's cost to state: $116M and rising

Gov. Bobby Jindal expects that FEMA will cover 75 percent of Isaac's tab, which leaves the state with a $29 million bill so far. Hurricane Isaac preparations and recovery efforts have cost the state...

Advocate steps into Times-Pic vacuum

"We have earned the trust of Baton Rouge citizens by delivering a quality daily newspaper for more than a hundred years. And we are committed to doing the same in New Orleans." The Baton...

Barna Haynes resigns from DA's office

Mike Harson's longtime office administrator who has been on unpaid leave since March 12 has resigned. Barna Haynes, 15th Judicial District Attorney Mike Harson's office administrator for more than...

Oil, tar balls washing up on Louisiana beaches

[UPDATE:] As expected, tests confirm that the oil found on Louisiana beaches following Hurricane Isaac stems from the BP oil spill. More than 12 miles of Louisiana's coastline have been closed to...

Yes: roundabout

Not the prog rock band; the awesome traffic-control structures. There may some day be as many as 50 more roundabouts scattered around Lafayette Parish. Roundabout-loving Traffic Director Tony Tramel...

LCG looks to increase Cajundome subsidy

The City-Parish Council will vote Tuesday evening on an introductory ordinance inking a new, five-year intergovernmental agreement between Lafayette Consolidated Government and UL Lafayette for...

Memo to SMSH class of '73: it's 2012!

Hallelujah and pass the equality, the St. Martinville Senior High School class of 1973 is finally almost integrated. Hallelujah and pass the equality, the St. Martinville Senior High School class of...

Romney heading to Bayou State

The Republican presidential nominee is joining Gov. Bobby Jindal for a tour of Lafitte, a coastal fishing town hard hit by floodwaters from Isaac. Two days after his best attempt to inject a bit of...

LUS steps up for Broussard

Now can we all just sing "Kumbaya" already? Must we really label this a photo illustration? Think of Terry Huval as Aquaman. The top brass in Lafayette Consolidated Government and Lafayette...

Jindal in his element amid natural disaster threats

Washington Post columnist Kathleen Parker says Gov. Bobby Jindal is the Anderson Cooper of politics.' Skipping a prime-time appearance at the Republican National Convention for the second time in four...

LCG: As you were

Here's the latest from Lafayette Consolidated Government concerning Isaac. Here's the latest from Lafayette Consolidated Government concerning Isaac: Lafayette Parish officials participated in the...

Local agencies join Isaac response

[Update: Local United Ways have established a disaster fund, the Greater Acadiana United Way Disaster Fund, to consolidate resources in an 11-parish area.] [Update: Local United Ways have established...

Baton Rouge in crosshairs of Isaac

Our neighbors to the East are bracing for hurricane force winds, and possibly tornadoes. The Advocate is reporting that Baton Rouge is bracing for tropical storm and hurricane force winds that could...

Officials watch for oil washing ashore with Isaac

A team of 50 experts is being added to hurricane response efforts to look for additional damage from oil that remains in the Gulf following the 2010 massive BP spill. Louisiana Coastal Protection and...

LCG updates Isaac info

Lafayette Parish including all municipalities will be under a curfew beginning at 6 p.m.  Wednesday and until 6 a.m. Thursday. Lafayette Consolidated Government issued the following update on...

After 28 years, ADA Stutes calls it quits

The veteran prosecutor, immensely respected among his peers throughout the justice system, is retiring effective Friday. Keith Stutes, the lead prosecutor in the Mickey Shunick case, confirmed to IND...

Isaac? Eh...

Up to 4 inches of rain, 50-mph wind gusts expected in Lafayette. Emergency officials and elected leaders in Lafayette Parish are keeping an eye on the Gulf but don't expect Lafayette Parish to suffer...

Lawmakers push for special session

Amid crippling budget cuts to the state's charity hospital system, some lawmakers are calling for a special session to address the public hospital crisis. Some state lawmakers, particularly those...

ProPublica database reveals nursing home deficiencies

An online database from the nonprofit ProPublica makes it easy to search nursing home deficiencies across the state. Louisiana is among the highest ranked states in the nation for the number of severe...

A real Ragin' Cajuns burger

Sonic has it, and it may be the first time a burger has been branded with an edible logo. A lot of food items are associated with the Cajun culture in Acadiana, obviously. But now there's one that...

Rural land use ordinance before council

Pending a cancellation of the meeting due to tropical weather, the City-Parish Council on Tuesday will vote to make final a comprehensive land-use ordinance for unincorporated Lafayette...

Governor halts per-diem pay for some state boards

Jindal issued a freeze on per-diem pay for some state boards following a legislative auditor's report that details a 45 percent increase in state-created commissions. The savings? A whopping $50,000....

Keeping tabs on Isaac

We're taking all the fun out of storm uncertainty. Keep track of Isaac's path to the Gulf Coast with this embedded, real-time storm tracker. We're taking all the fun out of storm uncertainty. Keep...

Couillon: Tom Bonnette

Not to be confused with the friendly sounding gentleman who voices the Motel 6 radio commercials. Detail from the cartoon Yes, it's ham-handed in terms of the art of cartooning. Yes, it's rather...

Glenn Stewart's arraignment Sept. 25

Indicted Wednesday for simple battery against Erin May Fitzgerald, former cancer doctor Glenn Stewart will be arraigned Sept. 25 before 15th Judicial District Court Commissioner Thomas Frederick....

Ad nauseum: Jeff Landry

U.S. Rep. Jeff Landry, R-City on a Hill, is nothing if not persistent. He also possesses a myopic view of the role of higher education. U.S. Rep. Jeff Landry, R-City on a Hill, is nothing if not...

Budget hearings close

Under consideration is funding of the Cajundome. The $500,000 subsidy for operations provided annually by Lafayette Consolidated Government has been a frequent target for elimination by some council...

Online CODOFIL campaign enters final week

Support for the state's leading French cultural agency through an online fundraising campaign has swelled to $27,283 as of mid-morning Wednesday, just slightly more than half of the campaign's goal to...

John White speaking at LPSB meeting

State Education Superintendent John White will address the Lafayette Parish School Board tonight during a board workshop that begins at 5:30 p.m. The top education official in the state will be a...

Durel makes case for funding shift

"We have the most un-American form of government in America today." City-Parish President Joey Durel addresses a Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce breakfast crowd Wednesday morning at...

Reason prevails, CPC keeps property tax rates level

JoDu: "The cost of business continues to go up and anybody who thinks that cost of doing business doesn't include government is living under a rock." Depending on your perspective, the...

Council to consider property taxes

Will city folk catch a whiff of the foul odor created by council members who don't live in the city of Lafayette and pay no city of Lafayette property taxes voting on tax rates paid by city residents...

Feds want Patel in jail

Last week a federal appeals court upheld the former cardiologist's conviction and 10-year prison sentence, and now the prosecutors who secured that conviction more than three years ago want him in...

State-created boards reach almost 500

According to a new report from the legislative auditor's office, Louisiana has 492 state-created boards, commissions or other entities, an increase of 45 percent over the past 20 years. Of the 433...

Reassessment a ‘mixed bag' in Lafayette Parish

Lafayette Parish Tax Assessor Conrad Comeaux says taxable property value in Lafayette Parish is $1.73 billion, up from $1.64 billion last year. Residential property reassessment was a "mixed...

WDSU: Nagin to appear before grand jury Friday

New Orleans' WDSU TV reported Monday that former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin was subpoenaed to appear before a federal grand jury on Friday. New Orleans' WDSU TV reports that former New Orleans Mayor...

As tuition rises, is TOPS sustainable?

Advo story explores whether the successful tuition assistance program is sustainable in its current form. In Monday's Advocate Barry Erwin, president of the Council for A Better Louisiana, a...

Gloves removed in PSC bout

Ed Roy: "Scott Angelle has once again demonstrated that his personal political ambitions are more important to him than the lives and property of the people of Louisiana." Seeking name...

Landry chronicles cypress saga in new mini-doc

Singer-songwriter Drew Landry has taken a look at the recent controversy over the St. Martin Parish School Board's aborted deal to sell a tract in the Atchafalaya Basin to a logging...

Guillory honored as ‘Legis-Gator of the Year'

The conservative Dem was honored for his sponsorship of a package of bills, none of which was successful in the 2012 legislative session, to reform state employee retirement systems. State Sen. Elbert...

Evidence details Shunick's fight for her life

Mickey Shunick fought for her life, and the evidence of that struggle was critical in Brandon Scott Lavergne's arrest and prosecution. As The Independent reported last week, the state confirmed Friday...

Revenue secretary's salary doubles

Tim Barfield, the former head of the Louisiana Workforce Commission and one-time executive counsel for Gov. Bobby Jindal, has been tapped as the new state secretary of revenue at an annual salary...

JoDu offers ‘State of the Parish 2.0' Wednesday

Six months removed from his annual Independent-sponsored "State of the Parish" address, City-Parish President Joey Durel will provide an update on the fiscal health and future fortunes of...

Prescription discount cards available through LCG

"This card helps residents who are completely uninsured, as well as residents who have insurance, but have specific medications that are not covered by their insurance. In both scenarios,...

Former LHS dance teacher sues LPSS

Katie Champagne, the Lafayette High School dance teacher arrested in December on six counts of indecent behavior with juveniles but never formally charged with the crimes, claims in a lawsuit that the...

Will Lavergne take the stand Friday?

Prosecutors may have another surprise up their sleeve: putting Brandon Scott Lavergne on the witness stand Friday morning. The state's case against Brandon Scott Lavergne took a strange turn Tuesday...

JoDu guest blogs for HuffPo

City-Parish President Joey Durel talks up Lafayette and the power of local governments in a recent blog published by The Huffington Post online. "I strongly believe that as state and federal...

JoDu guest blogs for HuffPo

City-Parish President Joey Durel talks up Lafayette and the power of local governments in a recent blog published by The Huffington Post online. "I strongly believe that as state and federal...

Contest invites ideas for downtown's future

Creative Action is teaming up with the Urban Land Institute Louisiana for Imagine Downtown, an open ideas' competition focused on six sites in and around downtown Lafayette. Calling all students,...

LPTFA holding downtown charrettes

Gatherings aim to define best use of former Acadiana Outreach Campus downtown and adjoining properties around West Second, Monroe and South Buchanan streets. The Lafayette Public Trust Financing...

Basinkeeper puts Bayou Jack on notice

The Atchafalya Basinkeeper has filed a notice of violation against Bayou Jack Logging after it left behind a partially dismantled man-made dam that now obscures public waterways through Bayou Duquesne.

Patel's conviction, sentence upheld

The Lafayette cardiologist who caused complications and serious harm to his patients by performing unnecessary angiogram, angioplasty and stent procedures will serve out his 10-year sentence. The U.S....

State solons clear to buy film tax credits

Something just seems a bit "off" about the arrangement. But a staff attorney for the Louisiana Ethics Board says otherwise. From our C'est What file this week, the Louisiana Ethics Board is...

Dean-O's narrows it down

[Update: Facebook has spoken. Dean-O's announced that Cajun Violation is the new name of its boudin pizza.] Photo Illustration (obviously) [Update: Facebook has spoken. Dean-O's announced that Cajun...

Tour-readying the Teche

On the heels of the third annual Tour du Teche marathon canoe race and its sister petit' Bayou Teche tour slated for this fall, Cajuns for Bayou Teche needs volunteers with motor boats to help clear...

C'est what? BR eatery lawyers up vs. Dean-O's

The best pizza joint in town is coming up with a new name for its boudin pizza after being slapped with a cease-and-desist letter. The best pizza joint in town - I'm biased by the Cajun Executioner -...

Ind readers: ‘Hell yeah' for Parcs & Rec

We're happy the say that among the hundreds of readers who participated in our poll, an overwhelming majority - 85.2 percent - answered, "Yes. Recreation is an important component of quality of...

Downtown vision begins

Anyone with an interest in the future of downtown Lafayette is encouraged to attend the Downtown Open House from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday at the Acadiana Center for the Arts. A satellite component of...

Hub City's first ‘ideation' set for Wednesday

Got ideas on how to transform Lafayette into a Living Lab for Health Innovation? Join the discussion Wednesday at Joey's on Bertrand from 5:30 to 9 p.m. As Lafayette embarks on its journey to become a...

Parks & Rec funding underscores LCG shortcoming

If you believe "consolidated" government is fine how it is, keep your head in the sand. If you believe "consolidated" government is fine how it is, keep your head in the sand. If...

Press divines new clues in Veepstakes

Reporters are raising a collective eyebrow to adjustments made to the registration information for Gov. Bobby Voucher's website. Treating a niggling detail that arguably has historically had little...

‘Honey Badger' no longer an LSU Tiger

In a hastily called press conference Friday, LSU head coach Les Miles announced that Tyrann Mathieu has been dismissed for undisclosed violations of team and school rules. In a hastily called press...

Noisemaker: The Monroe News-Star

One of the few media outlets in the state to take Gov. Bobby Jindal's voucher program to task, The Monroe-News Star is still fighting for access to records regarding the voucher selection process. The...

LPSS to consider millage increase

A public hearing is set for 4 p.m. Wednesday before the Lafayette Parish School Board votes at 4:30 p.m. on whether to roll forward millage rates and collect an additional $2.5 million in property...

Council mulls steep cuts

The City-Parish Council continues its review of the proposed 2012-2013 budget submitted by C-P President Joey Durel with a review of several departments within Lafayette Consolidated Government that...

Angelle running for PSC

Breaux Bridge native Scott Angelle resigned Wednesday from his post as the head of the Department of Natural Resources to run for a spot on the Public Service Commission. Scott Angelle confirmed...

Deal cut for life sentence in Shunick case?

Sources close to the investigation of Brandon Scott Lavergne in the death of 21-year-old UL Lafayette student Mickey Shunick say Lavergne's attorneys negotiated a plea bargain with the DA's office to...

Family Forum scores!

State lawmakers, that is. Louisiana Family Forum, they of the chastity belts and Old Testament values, has released its annual scorecard rating state lawmakers on their willingness to march lockstep...

Noisemaker: C. Welton Gaddy

"I am incapable of and uninterested in judging your motivations for such a destruction of education in our state." A Baptist preacher - of all people - in the heart of the state's Bible Belt...

Shunick body found

[UPDATE: Sources say Lavergne told officials where to find Shunick's body.] [UPDATE: Independent sources close to the investigation, who asked not to be identified, say Lavergne told authorities where...

Vouchers sending $700k to ‘prophet'

And the voucher snafus just keep on comin' ... In Bobby Voucher's new world of "parental choice," the governor's voucher program is giving kids the option to skip out on public education for...

Silver Zipper, gold digger planning baby?

Former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards, who turned a spry 85 years old today, Aug. 7, tells a New Orleans television station he and his 32-year-old wife Trina Scott Edwards will try to replicate their...

IND Style Award nominations deadline Tuesday

We'll honor six men and women who exhibit Lafayette's unique style in the everyday lives, so get your nominations in before 5 p.m. From elegant Italian designers to Bohemian and vintage threads,...

Council to mull rural land use

In the backdrop: a lawsuit filed against LCG by Waste Facilities of Lafayette over the nixed waste-transfer facility on Sunbeam Lane. The Lafayette City-Parish Council will go into executive session -...

Tropical weather steers clear

Florence lost her flo and the Latin-named Ernesto is headed to Latin America. Florence lost her flo and the Latin-named Ernesto is headed to Latin America. That's the consensus of weather wonks as...

Boustany touts margin over Landry

According to the results of an internal poll, the retired heart surgeon holds a 61-23 percent lead over the Tea Party fave. U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, is trumpeting an apparent wide lead...

Ernesto eyeing Gulf

The storm has 50 mph sustained winds and is expected to strengthen into a hurricane by early next week. Tropical Depression No. 5 now has a name: Ernesto. The system was upgraded to a tropical storm...

Did LPD cover up for one of its own?

The disturbing allegation that the LPD may have covered up an alleged drinking and driving incident involving one its own could bolster officers' claims of corruption within the department. The Daily...

More details emerge in Shunick, Pate cases

Warrants for a tracking device to be installed on 33-year-old Brandon Scott Lavergne's Chevy Silverado and OnStar records for his vehicle; medical records from Jefferson Parish, Opelousas General and...

Advertiser resumes all printing

The Daily Advertiser 's publisher says the Bertrand Drive facility has been fully operational since Thursday. [UPDATE: The Daily Advertiser's publisher says all printing at its Bertrand Drive facility...

Busted: Multi-Chem flack stymies opposition

Residents in north Vermilion and south Lafayette parishes who banded together to fight construction of a Multi-Chem chemical plant in the area are getting a taste of corporate guerilla...

Rae Trahan: ‘A one-girl operation'

Lafayette Parish School Board member Rae Trahan, speaking at the end of Wednesday night's board meeting, spent nearly nine minutes publicly refuting data and analysis The Independent provided in its...

And on the 8th day God created Bobby Voucher

And verily he lived peaceably among the tyrannosaurs and sundry raptors. Gov. Bobby Voucher is making Louisiana the laughing stock of the nation. Wait, we were already the laughing stock of the...

Louisiana: the DINO state

The state's voter rolls still boast 1.4 million registered Democrats, though a Republican presidential candidate still has a 99.7 percent chance of carrying Louisiana come election time. Louisiana is...

Thibodaux lawmaker tracking flow of money to cities

Finally, we may learn just how much state money is funneled to local governments every year. Independent Thibodaux State Rep. Jerome Richard last week filed a formal request with the House Fiscal...

The voucher accountability loophole

75 percent of the 120 private schools accepting state money for voucher students will not be penalized for poor scores on standardized tests. Under the state's newly released accountability plan for...

Budget hearings begin

The City-Parish Council will begin the often arduous and sometimes acrimonious task of picking through and finalizing the 2012-2013 fiscal year budget submitted last week by City-Parish President Joey...

John White's ‘walking quorum'

Are DOE Super John White and BESE board members holding private meetings that violate the law by removing public participation from the policy-making process? It sure looks that way. The Daily...

Lafayette Public Library: There's an app for that

The new mobile app from Lafayette Public Library lets users check out books on the shelf with a quick scan of their phone. Lafayette Public Library is joining the digital age with its new mobile app,...

Chick-Fil-A battle heats up Wednesday

Former Arkansas governor, presidential candidate and current conservative radio host Mike Huckabee is urging the like-minded via Facebook to show their support by patronizing Chick-Fil-As on...

Jindal on Romney short list

And not because of his diminutive physique. Maybe it was merely the Romney campaign's way of diverting attention from his overseas gaffes - questioning the Brits' Olympics readiness, praising Israel's...

Champagne tapped for ‘fiscal hawk' PAC

The newly formed Budget Reform PAC's goal is to wean the state budget off the use of one-time money for recurring expenses. Rep. Simone Champagne, R-Erath, has been selected to serve as treasurer for...

Three Lafayette Parish schools face failing status

As predicted, J.W. Faulk Elemetary, Northside High and Alice Boucher Elementary schools have joined the list of academically unacceptable schools in the state. Three low-performing north Lafayette...

In Memoriam: Wally Toce Sr., 1924-2012

One of Lafayette's pioneering oilmen died peacefully at his home Wednesday. Wally Toce Sr. was 87. Former Lafayette oilman Wally Toce Sr., 87, a lifelong civic and business leader, died peacefully at...

Durel unveils budget, calls for city/parish equity

"When you talk about not being able to hire more policemen, more firemen, things like that, and you look that we may have 32 or so million dollars no longer in the city that maybe potentially...

Morrison joins LPSS as community ‘connector'

Angela Morrison, the Lafayette Parish School System's new director of community collaborations and partnerships, is a familiar face in Lafayette's civic engagement scene, having most recently served...

Where is Keiosha Felix?

Two of the missing Duson teen's family members were arrested Wednesday, but there is still no word on her whereabouts. More information is coming out of law enforcement in the April 30 disappearance...

Be a part of Horse Farm history Saturday morning

After your Cup of Joe Saturday morning, get to the Horse Farm on Johnston Street for a ceremony to commemorate the official transfer of this beautiful acreage to Lafayette Consolidated Government. UL...

Durel to introduce budget

The budget review and finalization process will likely not come without its customary share of acrimony as "fiscal hawks" on the council attempt to eliminate funding for outlays they deem...

This week in awesome: The Kaplan Herald

When is a small-town newspaper more than the sum of its parts? When it quietly moves beyond the antiquated mores of the community it covers. Lauren Holtzman, left, and Chrissy LeMaire When is a...

Noisemaker: AG Buddy Caldwell

Since taking office in 2008, Attorney General Buddy Caldwell has recovered more than $176 million from drug companies that inflated costs through the Medicaid program. And he's not done yet. Wednesday...

Seeking IND Style nominations

Let us know who you think stands out in the crowd and should make our first-ever IND Style list. From elegant Italian designers to Bohemian and vintage threads, Lafayette is a shopping mecca for...

Advocate planning return to New Orleans market

The Advocate, a family-owned Baton Rouge daily newspaper with five bureaus across South Louisiana, including offices in both the state Capitol and Lafayette, is planning to launch a New Orleans...

Tech grad students take on Landry

Congressman Landry speaks for all of the constituents of his district, including the LGBT community, and should be aware of the damaging effects of prejudice and discrimination toward this...

Does La. give away too much in tax breaks?

The Revenue Study Commission, initiated by state Republican state Sen. Jack Donahue of Mandeville, will attempt to answer that question beginning this week. State Rep. Joel Robideaux is one of eight...

Enviro coalition critical of Corps' Basin plan

The Corps' plan is characterized as a failure to "look beyond flood control and develop a plan for the management and preservation of the water and related land resources of the Atchafalaya River...

Surveillance cameras coming to LPSS buses

Security cameras will be installed on 25 Lafayette Parish School System school buses during the upcoming school year at a price of $63,562. The Lafayette Parish School Board has given Angel Trax the...

Advo: Acadia grand jury probed Lavergne in 2008

The Advocate reports that Brandon Scott Lavergne, the 33-year-old convicted sex offender charged this week with the murders of 21-year-old UL student Mickey Shunick and 35-year-old Lisa Pate, has been...

LPSS offering one-stop school registration

The Lafayette Parish School System is for the first time offering a centralized location for parents to register children for school. The Lafayette Parish School System is offering a one-stop shop for...

Alas, charter back in council sights

The chief issue among proponents of amending the charter is Lafayette Utilities System, the city-owned public utility. The City-ParishCouncil on Tuesday will discuss the possibility of reconvening a...

Shunick, Pate. Are there more?

The DA's office secured a surprise indictment against Brandon Scott Lavergne Wednesday, tying him to the 1999 murder of Lisa Pate. The big question now is how many more cases are police trying to link...

Jindal's fuzzy math doesn't add up in Medicaid mess

"When you do the math, there's just no way they'll be able to keep all those hospitals open." -State Rep. Stephen Ortego, D-Carencro, on the devastating cuts coming to public hospitals,...

Voucher arguments slated for October

Legal arguments surrounding the constitutionality of Louisiana's new voucher program that shifts public school dollars to private schools taking in low-income public school students are set to be...

Lavergne indicted on two murder charges

A grand jury has indicted Brandon Scott Lavergne on two counts of first-degree murder, one for the killing of 21-year-old UL student Mickey Shunick, and one for the killing of 35-year-old Lisa Pate,...

PAR to Supt. White: Vouchers need accountability

"The state should consider what happens when a student performs poorly on a state-mandated test or fails to stay at grade level." The Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, a...

Lavergne linked to other crimes against women?

While Lafayette police try to build a kidnapping and murder case against Brandon Scott Lavergne, law enforcement officials in other jurisdictions are looking at possible connections between the...

Boustany outpacing Landry in fundraising

Lafayette Republican Congressman Charles Boustany is doing far better at hauling in the campaign cash than is his GOP colleague and opponent in the November election, U.S. Rep. Jeff Landry, according...

Ethics Board atty: No to 'Cro chief

The Louisiana Board of Ethics will decide Thursday on a recommendation by a staff attorney that Carencro Police Chief Carlos Stout be barred from working private security details at venues and events...

Locals seek relief from ethics fines

The board will consider waiving the fines during its meeting Thursday in Baton Rouge. Three local men who made unsuccessful bids for public office last year are asking the Louisiana Board of Ethics to...

LCG getting tough on Redflex scofflaws?

Motorists who rack up substantial fines for speeding and red-light running via citations issued through the SafeLight/SafeSpeed program could face a tougher, more determined-to-collect Lafayette...

Lafayette's ‘Living Lab' vision unveiled

University officials, along with LCG, LUS and the nonprofit FiberCorps members laying the Living Lab groundwork, revealed Monday morning the role Lafayette plans to play in the US Ignite effort...

Dardenne ‘never' told when Jindal leaves state

The governor, who has spent more than 25 percent of his time out-of-state since May 3, has never notified Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne, the man state law says is supposed to take the reins when Jindal is...

Council to consider tax renewals

The City-Parish Council on Tuesday will vote on a pair of resolutions that would put the renewal of five property taxes before voters on Nov. 6. The City-Parish Council on Tuesday will vote on a pair...

Landry asks Savoie to halt LGBT studies minor

Add this to Rep. Jeff Landry's list of things he'd rather be doing than casting important votes in Congress: Writing letters to UL President Joseph Savoie asking him to halt the university's LGBT...

LPSB moves forward with Youngsville construction

Rae Trahan, the Lafayette Parish School Board member who represents overcrowded students in Youngsville, joined three other board members in voting against a recommendation to address the overcrowding...

Boustany: 'no show, no pay'

U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany isn't asking for a doctor's excuse, but he does think members of Congress who miss votes should explain themselves or have their pay docked. Most members of Congress agree...

Mounds, not graves; search continues for Shunick

St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz says the area searched is in the vicinity of the home of Brandon Scott Lavergne, who was arrested in connection of the disappearance of  21-year-old Mickey...

South parish ‘island' to get LUS water

Residents in several unincorporated areas in north Lafayette Parish and Shenandoah Estates, which is surrounded by the city of Broussard and has been urging Mayor Charlie Langlinais to annex the...

LCG seeks plan input

Lafayette Consolidated Government is urging residents to go online and offer feedback on the recently revealed Comprehensive Plan Vision Statement. Lafayette Consolidated Government is urging...

Noisemaker: UL prez addresses LGBT studies minor

UL Lafayette President Joseph Savoie, in an open letter he posted on his blog, says the university's job is to provide in an impartial manner an opportunity for investigation, analysis and...

Forum vets local, state education concerns

The school systems with the greatest academic achievement in the world have the least privatization.' - Rodolfo Espinoza, Lafayette High School teacher and recent National Education Association...

'Choice' backers join lawsuit

Two leading school choice advocacy groups and two New Orleans mothers have inserted themselves into the litigation surrounding the controversial statewide voucher program, defending Gov. Bobby...

UL system prez throwing in the towel

A month after getting nowhere on his suggestion that the Board of Regents change its policy for distributing money to colleges and universities in light of massive budget cuts to higher ed, UL System...

Bacque calls for charter action

Until the council reconvenes a charter commission or committee, nothing will happen. [Editor's Note: The following submission is by Don Bacque, a Lafayette financial planner and member last year of...

Times-Pic prison series cited as best in nation

"Louisiana Incarcerated" examines the how the Bayou State became the national leader in incarceration rate through the lobbying efforts of private, for-profit prisons, harsh sentencing...

Residents challenge Multi-Chem

Known collectively as Citizens Against Multi-Chem, the group will meet at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday at the Indian Bayou Volunteer Fire Department. Plans by a Halliburton subsidiary to build a chemical plant...

Uh-oh: Nancy Grace takes on Lavergne

If you thought the Corner Pantry's sign Friday - "Brandon Scott Lavergne burn in hell" - was at the very least premature, wait until tonight. If you thought the Corner Pantry's sign Friday -...

Landrieu speaking at Chamber today

U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-New Orleans, will stop in Lafayette at 2:15 p.m. today as part of a five-city coastal tour touting the recent passage of the federal RESTORE Act that dedicates billions in...

Jindal about-faces on drastic Medicaid cuts

The governor's office has had little to say about Congress stripping our state of $859 million in Medicaid funding for the state's poor and uninsured. Gov. Bobby Jindal and his handlers have had...

Campus Chick-Fil-A targeted

A petition drive is afoot that seeks to boot from the UL Lafayette campus Chick-Fil-A, a fast food chain owned by fundamentalist Christians whose charitable foundation donates heavily to rightwing,...

Vitter claims victory, Dems cry foul

As U.S. Sen. David Vitter thumps his chest over passage of the Transportation Bill, the Louisiana Democratic Party is laying deep Medicaid cuts at his feet. U.S. Sen. David Vitter is thumping his...

Source: Lavergne set fire to white truck

A source with information about the Mickey Shunick case says the man accused of kidnapping and killing her burned the truck allegedly used in commission of the crime. [UPDATE: Lafayette PD confirms...

La. gov spending growth near top in nation

The Tax Foundation says Louisiana was second only to Oklahoma in state government spending growth from 2000 to 2010. Although it's likely not greatly influenced by his tenure, a Tax Foundation map...

Jindal on the road in swing states

Louisiana's most traveled governor, who appears to have significant momentum in the race to become Mitt Romney's running mate, is in the swing state of Ohio this week. President Obama's bus tour will...

Tax Assessor's Office plans millage increase

Lafayette Parish Tax Assessor Conrad Comeaux has published what appears to be required legal notices in the daily newspaper announcing his intent to roll forward' the millage rate for his office and...

Local leaders speaking at education forum

A slew of education officials, including Lafayette Parish Superintendent Pat Cooper, ULL President Joe Savoie, BESE's Holly Boffy and more, is gathering July 9 for a local education forum hosted by...

7 years in the making, Horse Farm deal approved

Seven years of perseverance paid off Tuesday, as the City-Parish Council voted 7-2 to transform the 100-acre Horse Farm into a community park. It was almost seven years ago that The Independent broke...

Online campaign raises $7.5K for CODOFIL - so far

FrancoJeunes, a group of young, French-speaking professionals and French culture advocates, has launched an online initiative in hopes of receiving 100,000 donations of at least $1 to restore the...

C'est What? Jindal drops 'Obamney' bomb

Could this be the gaffe that does him in? Gov. Bobby Jindal is making headlines across the country, as much for his veep frontrunner status as his June 29 Freudian slip. To be sure, the gov's stature...

Horse Farm park deal one day away

The community vision of converting 100 acres on Johnston Street into a park - in large part made possible through the leadership of City-Parish President Joey Durel and UL Lafayette President Joe...

Comprehensive Plan vision unveiled

Broken into three facets devoted to population, the community and the economy, the vision statement is an outgrowth of community forums and "meetings in a box" held during the...

Ethics document details Gachassin charges

The Louisiana Board of Ethics has posted the document delineating the charges filed against Lafayette developer Greg Gachassin. For more on the charges go here. For analysis of the LPTFA's complicity...

Emails ‘muddy up' voucher program

[UPDATE: John White, in response to The News-Star publishing an email exchange between White and key Jindal administration staffers, contends that a second round of voucher school scrutiny was planned...

Photo essay: Scenes from a fire

At approximately 4:30 p.m. Thursday, flames crawled about an abandoned house on the corner of Third and Chestnut streets in downtown Lafayette. Dominick Cross Flames take the eerie shape of a fire...

LPTFA attorney, board complicit in ethical dilemma

Now that the Louisiana Board of Ethics has filed charges against development consultant Greg Gachassin, it's time for Lafayette government's leaders to turn their attention to the complicit role of...

Pope John Paul Academy secures campus

Donations pouring in from more than 30 states and 10 countries raised a combined $400,000 for Pope John Paul the Great Academy, helping the Catholic school to secure its campus on the De La Salle...

Downtown complex re-branded

Joie de Vivre, the mixed-use development rising on Congress Street across from the IberiaBank building, is no more - in name anyway. Attendees at Thursday's re-branding event get a closer look at...

St. Martin cypress trees saved?

The St. Martin Parish School Board has decided to rethink its plans to log cypress trees in the Atchafalaya Basin in light of an offer from the Department of Natural Resources.

CRT on hand to help CODOFIL

"We are undaunted in our commitment to make certain that we strengthen CODOFIL and we strengthen what all of you have a tremendous interest in doing that is beneficial to the state of Louisiana...

Obamacare survives challenge

In a decision that shocked most critics - and many supporters as well - the U.S. Supreme Court largely upheld the Affordable Care Act, including the mandate that requires almost all Americans to buy...

Welcome Ambassador Delattre - parlez-vous Anglais?

As you know, we're the French speaking portion of Louisiana where the collective music, food and joie de vivre of Cajuns and Creoles have sustained a unique aspect of American culture and built a...

Eww! Cameron beaches among most polluted

Constance Beach, Gulf Breeze, Little Florida, Long Beach and Rutherford Beach landed on the "Repeat Offenders" list for recurring problems with bacteria and other contaminants, exceeding EPA...

C'est What? End recycling in Lafayette?

That could be the result - a long shot to be sure - if Councilman Brandon Shelvin successfully exacts revenge against IESI. A pending lawsuit against Lafayette Consolidated Government led to a bizarre...

Durel ready to end ties with Broussard?

The short answer is yes, but the city-parish president tells a Lafayette TV station he's willing to give the city of Broussard and its mayor, Charlie Langlinais, time to get their affairs in...

LPSB revisits budget

[Update: The board approved the budget during Tuesday's special meeting.] [Update: The board approved the budget during Tuesday's special meeting. Read more at The Advocate.] A special meeting of the...

George Will settles on Bobby Voucher for VP

The conservative commentariat's boring, bow-tied elder statesman makes a magnanimous attempt to save Louisiana from its governor. The conservative commentariat's boring, bow-tied elder statesman...

Debby does Destin

With fingers crossed and knocking on wood - part of South Louisiana remains in the "cone of uncertainty" - it looks like Tropical Storm Debby will stay on course to continue lashing...

What do you think the Horse Farm should be called?

We don't want to put the cart before the proverbial horse here - as the council hasn't yet approved the deal - but it's time to start thinking about what to call Lafayette's new central park. Should...

Old lawsuit targets state's school funding plan

As Louisiana's top two teacher's unions file lawsuits to block the use of public school dollars on private/parochial school educations, a 2010 lawsuit challenging the state's public school-funding...

NHC: 70 percent chance of tropical cyclone

Air Force reconnaissance aircraft are on stand-by as a low pressure system drifting northward from the Yucatan Peninsula threatens to develop. Air Force reconnaissance aircraft are on stand-by as a...

Landry elected to Women's Caucus

The caucus monitors issues, policies and legislation that impact women in the state. State Rep. Nancy Landry, R-Lafayette, is one of seven lawmakers representing both chambers of the Legislature...

La. Congress members oppose Farm Bill

U.S. Sens. Mary Landrieu and David Vitter voted against the Senate version, and Reps. Charles Boustany, Jeff Landry and others have expressed their concerns. U.S. Sens. Mary Landrieu and David Vitter...

C'est what? Scourge of the Skele-toe!

A trendy line of athletic shoes popular with the youngsters is facing the wrath of old people who just don't get youngsters. A trendy line of athletic shoes popular with the youngsters is facing the...

State reps criticize Jindal's veto

Gov. Bobby Jindal's handiwork came nearly two weeks before French Ambassador François Delattre is scheduled to visit Lafayette. Dominick Cross State representatives (from left) Vincent Pierre,...

Gone pe-cawn: Twilley returns to LSU

Between November 2010 and April of this year the respected coastal researcher wore two hats, also serving as the interim CEO of Louisiana Immersive Technologies Enterprise. Twilley Just a little over...

Free buses could fuel LCG's CNG efforts

Lafayette's small fleet of city-owned buses that run on compressed natural gas could soon expand to 19 CNG green transit machines with the addition of roughly a dozen free used CNG-powered buses. A...

Come together: comp plan vision to be unveiled

And what better place to do it than the horse farm? Lafayette Consolidated Government has chosen the horse farm - those gorgeous, rolling, 90-plus acres in the heart of Lafayette that will one day be...

Capitol goes gay Saturday

Members of Lafayette's LGBT community will head to Baton Rouge this weekend to join gay citizens from across the state for the Equality March. Photo Illustration Members of Lafayette's LGBT community...

LPD responds to KLFY report

The Lafayette Police Department is calling a news report by TV station KLFY "irresponsible" and offering its own take on events depicted in a surveillance video. The Lafayette Police...

Kopplin honored by ‘Hef'

Zack Kopplin, a Baton Rouge native who is now an 18-year-old student at Rice University, was honored for his laudable albeit unsuccessful effort during the last two legislative sessions to repeal the...

LPSB voting on Thib Tech conversion

Superintendent Pat Cooper is recommending that the Lafayette Parish School Board convert David Thibodaux Career and Technical High School into a magnet school with a science, technology, engineering...

Rep. Bishop gets new Legis post

Our political columnist in Baton Rouge is telling us that state Rep. Stuart Bishop, R-Lafayette, has been named vice chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee. Jeremy Alford, our political...

Langlinais responds to Durel ultimatum

Langlinais' parry is just the latest in a long-running dispute with the Durel administration, acrimony that began when Broussard filed a lawsuit seeking to block Lafayette's annexation of a portion of...

State GOP pushes back against recalls

A group called the Louisiana Political Action Committee has been formed to serve as the finance arm of the recall efforts. Seeking to stymie recall efforts against Gov. Bobby Jindal, House Speaker...

Jindal's veto cuts CODOFIL

The governor delivers a potential coup de grâce to the group's Escadrille Louisiane program. When Gov. Bobby Jindal vetoed $2 million in marketing funding Friday for the state's Department of Culture,...

Jindal to Kennedy: Streamline this

With the stroke of his veto pen, Gov. Bobby Jindal strips a half-million dollars from the budget of state Treasurer John Kennedy, an outspoken Jindal critic, and $2 million in marketing money from Lt....

Council eyes Redflex referendum

Because the lead foot lobby is mad as hell and it's not going to take it anymore! (Update: The City-Parish Council voted 6-3 Tuesday against the ordinance putting LCG's electronic traffic enforcement...

Profs blast LSU and two other La. universities

Immediately on the heels of the reports' release Saturday, UL System President Randy Moffett went to bat for his universities, citing $187 million in budget cuts since 2008 with an additional $54...

Forgotston: Kleckley "speaker" in name only

"If one has taken the time to watch Kleckley preside, one might conclude that Kleckley is merely a dummy for which long-time House Clerk Butch Speer is the ventriloquist." Louisiana...

UL System voting on Horse Farm swap Monday

If all goes as planned, the deal to turn the UL Horse Farm into a public park will take another step forward Monday. The Board of Supervisors for the UL System will vote Monday on the exchange of...

UL outstanding alumna among Times-Pic casualties

Times-Picayune metro layout editor Jennifer Brown, a 1996 UL Lafayette (then USL) graduate and the most recent recipient of the UL Mass Communication Department's annual Outstanding Alumna award, is...

Pay wall = smoke screen

Stick a fork in us: It's the end of newspapers. The dirty little secret of the pay wall, that new model many newspaper websites are using in which readers get a limited number of free stories within a...

French Ambassador Delattre coming to Lafayette

When French Ambassador François Delattre lands in Lafayette - and only Lafayette - during his second visit to the U.S. later this month, he will present the Legion of Honor, France's highest...

Times-Pic's Amoss: 'adapt, or fade away'

'Readers no longer want today's news tomorrow. They want it now. And they want a voice in how stories are told.' A Wednesday column published by Times-Picayune Editor Jim Amoss offers a lengthy...

Islamic school drops out of voucher program

Breathe easy, folks: No Sharia ... for now. Amid the grousing of state lawmakers who love the idea of giving religious schools public tax dollars so long as the schools are Christian, an Islamic...

Lafayette ignites 'Living Lab' for health care

The Hub City is one 25 U.S. cities selected as a test bed' for software-defined innovation through the White House's US Ignite program, a feat that could not have come without the city's extensive...

So much for comity: Durel gives Broussard ultimatum

On the same week he donned his good cop hat and offered a "show of good faith" by releasing $20,000 to the city of Broussard to aid its fire department, City-Parish President Joey Durel has...

JindalCo boots another unloyalist

Rep. Jim Morris, a Republican from Oil City in northwest Louisiana, evidently didn't get the memo. Photo Illustration Rep. Jim Morris, a Republican from Oil City in northwest Louisiana, evidently...

Durel shows "good faith," releases $20K to Broussard

In the words of the mortal Rodney King, why can't we all just get along? City-Parish President Joey Durel has agreed to let Lafayette Consolidated Government sign off on a $20,000 contract for rural...

NOLA traffic cams win appellate case

Or, this one's for you, Tony Tramel. A federal district court panel of judges has ruled in favor of the City of New Orleans' electronic traffic enforcement system, affirming a lower court ruling and...

Durel seeking outside LPD investigation

The city-parish president tells KATC he's calling for an outside investigation of the city police department in response to a federal lawsuit filed against LCG and LPD by nine current and former city...

AG clears Ethics on consent opinions

The board sought Caldwell's advice amid concerns that the Ethics Adjudicatory Board, a seven-member panel of administrative law judges created by Gov. Bobby Jindal's ethics reforms, has the...

Libraries brace for cuts

Because all that book learnin' never did nobody no good anyway. Nearly $900,000 in state funding to help libraries buy new books, maintain and upgrade technology and pay for Internet service was...

Search for KRVS GM continues

After two postings for the position of general manager of KRVS, the last of which expired June 10, UL's director of auxiliary operations says he'll begin reviewing resumes today. "A search...

Jindal signs two-year vehicle inspection bill

Beginning Sept. 1, you can pay an extra 10 bucks to extend your vehicle inspection to two years. Gov. Bobby Jindal has signed into law Senate Bill 601 by Sen. Sherri Buffington, R-Shreveport, which...

Jindal vetoes tax rebates for public edu

Is there any question Bobby Voucher is hostile to public education? Gov. Bobby Jindal once and for all settled rumors that he might have a sympathetic bone in his body for public education - he does...

Smoke-free bars to be aired

Councilman Kenneth Boudreaux will host a town hall meeting Tuesday to allow residents to hear both sides of the debate over prohibiting smoking in bars in Lafayette Parish. Councilman Kenneth...

Greer leaving state education department

State Department of Education Public Affairs Director Rene Greer is leaving her post as the state education department's top spokeswoman. Rene Greer, the state Department of Education's director of...

Dem rep: Jindal victories illusory

Gov. Jindal can claim victory in the just completed legislative session but - thank goodness - the facts prove otherwise. [Editor's Note: The following letter to the editor was submitted by Rep. John...

PAR cautiously optimistic about school reforms

The nonpartisan Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana is urging state lawmakers and Department of Education officials to practice due diligence in the rollout of the Louisiana Scholarship...

Suits filed against vouchers, tenure revamp

A consortium of public-school educators led by the Louisiana Federation of Teachers has filed a pair of state lawsuits challenging two key provisions of Gov. Bobby Jindal's sweeping overhaul of public...

Deconstructing JindalCo's voucher defense

"I debated whether to give this blog post the title you see or to call it State Commissioner of Education John White Acknowledges That He Doesn't Know How to Improve Schools.'" Diane...

Scott Angelle for PSC?

With the "legacy lawsuit" issue behind him - he helped broker a compromise between landowners and oil companies - DNR Secretary Scott Angelle appears to be setting his sights on the District...

Rental-car tax bill could impact Lafayette

A bill that cleared the Legislature Monday and awaits Gov. Bobby Jindal's signature would allow Lafayette and five other parishes to levy a 3 percent tax on car rentals, with the revenue generated by...

Fire fight: Broussard blinks

Broussard Mayor Charlie Langlinais isn't exactly saying "pretty please," but he has sent a letter to City-Parish President Joey Durel accusing Durel of jeopardizing life and property by...

La.'s pro-life reputation advances

Two bills that would further regulate and restrict abortions in Louisiana are headed to Gov. Bobby Jindal's desk. Women seeking an abortion in Louisiana will have a 24-hour waiting period between a...

Short-sighted solons gut arts funding

Because arts and culture aren't things we do particularly well here in Louisiana; the tourists, after all, come for the pristine roads and corporate tax credits. Unable to see the tax revenue for the...

Rallying for The Times-Pic

Times-Picayune supporters are tailgating in the parking lot of the Rock-N-Bowl in Mid-City New Orleans this afternoon in an effort to save the daily paper from shrinking to a three-day-a-week print...

Local Nascar driver joins Shunick search

Acadiana Nascar driver Buster Graham plans to have Shunick's picture on the hood of his car during the ARCA Racing Series this Saturday at Pocono Raceway in Pennsylvania. Acadiana Nascar driver Buster...

N.O., B.R. make ‘Highways from Hell' list

A five-mile stretch of I-10 westbound in New Orleans and a 5.8-mile portion of I-12 eastbound in Baton Rouge are among the worst' corridors in the country. If you're traveling west on I-10 in New...

Louisiana's road to global economic irrelevance

Regardless of whatever stats, rankings or carefully shaded reports the Jindal administration puts out regarding job creation or the state of the state's economy, please know that, in truth, Louisiana...

PSC Commissioner Field changes mind, will retire

Just last month Jimmy Field was definitely running for re-election after 16 years on the PSC. But he's since had a change of heart: Friday morning he announced his retirement at the end of the year....

This week in crazy: Acadiana Patriots

They make the Tea Party look like bleeding hearts as they save us from the collectivists, statists, liberals, Boxcar Willie, secularists, humanists, Johnny Cash, socialists, the United Nations, homo...

Roemer puts kibosh on bid

Former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer has ended his long-shot bid for the White House, announcing Friday he'll forgo seeking the nomination of any other third parties. Former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer...

LUS makes case for Fiber

Today, tit. Tuesday, tat. Today, tit. Tuesday, tat. Hoping to take the wind out of Councilman William Theriot's sails ahead of Tuesday's council meeting, officials from Lafayette Utilities System...

Amendment turns coastal money into slush fund

"Louisiana's message to Congress needs to be clear and specific that Clean Water Act penalty money will be spent on coastal restoration and on nothing else." Coastal restoration advocates...

LPD canvasses St. Landry to Coliseum Road

Five officers were on foot walking toward Coliseum Road via St. Landry and St. Landry Extended while another remained in his unit, lights flashing, to alert approaching drivers of the search in...

La. scores NCLB waiver

Louisiana was one of eight states granted waivers this week from the onerous federal No Child Left Behind education law, paving the way for more freedom on how to spend federal money and more autonomy...

Car, truck ruled out in Shunick probe

Police are still seeking the driver of a white Chevrolet Z-71 pickup also spotted in the surveillance footage shot from a City Hall security camera at the corner of St. Landry Street and University...

LPD: Shunick's bike damaged

Lafayette Police Department's Cpl. Paul Mouton says the bike and other evidence at the site was given priority status by the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab where it will be examined and processed by...

LPD: Shunick, Indiana cases unrelated

This latest twist in the case comes about 48 hours after the discovery of Shunicks black Schwinn bicycle near the Whiskey Bay exit on Interstate 10 in the Atchafalaya Basin. Lafayette Police don't...

Ethics Board suing River Birch

The state Ethics Board claims in a lawsuit that Gov. Bobby Jindal, former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin and several other high-profile politicos received illegal campaign contributions from shell...

Durel puts squeeze on Langlinais

Lafayette Consolidated Government appears ready to follow through with City-Parish President Joey Durel's desire to sever relationships with the city of Broussard. Lafayette Consolidated Government...

Times-Pic cutbacks stripping N.O. of a daily paper

Much to the surprise of most employees and even some management, The Times-Picayune will publish three days per week starting this fall and shift much of its news focus to the Nola.com website....

John Paul Academy in 'dire straits'

John Paul the Great Academy, a 5-year-old Catholic school that agreed this week to take in 64 voucher students from public schools, will be booted from its north Lafayette campus by June 30 if it...

GIVERS in benefit concert for Mickey

Gates at Parc International in downtown Lafayette open at 5 p.m. and the music is scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. There's a suggested donation of $15/per person, but any amount will be...

Giglios suing State Police, child services agency

Barry and Marla Giglio, the Ville Platte business owners arrested for - but never charged with - raping three young girls in rural Church Point, have filed a lawsuit against State Police, the state...

Bring Mickey home

Members of the clergy offered solace and prayer, and volunteers came forward to talk about Mickey Shunick, their voices at times choked with emotion. Those on hand Tuesday at Parc Sans Souci learned...

Vigil planned for Shunick

A community desperate for answers into the disappearance of Mickey Shunick will gather at Parc Sans Souci in downtown Lafayette Tuesday night for a candlelight vigil for the missing woman, a day after...

Five Lafayette schools taking voucher students

According to a list of private schools participating in the statewide voucher program next year, only nine schools in the eight-parish region of Acadiana have opted to take voucher students. The state...

Community ‘vision' to be unveiled in June

Lafayette will get a first glimpse of what parish residents envision for their future growth on June 30 when a second critical step in the comprehensive planning process will take place. Lafayette...

Update: Senate approves prison reform bill

[UPDATE: The Senate, a day after it rejected a measure to increase parole options for some prison lifers, about-faced Tuesday and approved House Bill 543 with a 23-12 vote. Among the four lawmakers...

Voucher participation list pending

The full list of private schools that submitted applications to participate in Gov. Bobby Jindal's statewide voucher program is expected to be released early this week. State Superintendent John...

No clues yet in Shunick disappearance

UL Lafayette student Mickey Shunick disappeared this weekend after a late-night bike ride home and family and friends are asking the community to help find her. UL Lafayette student Mickey Shunick...

Cajun softball bound for Super Regionals

UL's softball team rolled past Stanford for a second straight day, staking its claim to one of the NCAA's final 16 spots and moving within one round of the Women's College World Series. (Updated 10...

Lady Cajuns softball: Stanford 1, Baylor 0

The opening game of the Lafayette Regional at UL's Lamson Park was a throwback to the way softball was played a couple of decades ago low-scoring and pitcher-dominated. The opening game of the...

Roemer, Americans Elect = toast

Former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer's long-shot bid for the White House came to an ignominious end Thursday night when Americans Elect announced it was throwing in the proverbial towel. Former...

Rayne paper's miscue going viral

The waiting is the hardest part. [Update: The Rayne Independent has confirmed via email that the "error" did appear in print.] [Correction: An earlier version of this story reported that the...

C'est What? Youngsville mayor strong-arms LPSS

Youngsville Mayor Wilson Viator says the city will attempt to part ways with the Lafayette Parish School System if the school system doesn't get off their can and start building some schools in...

Senate panel hints at saving IG's office

State Sen. Eric Lafleur, a Ville Platte Democrat, told state Inspector General Stephen Street not to fret over the House's decision to eliminate funding for the IG's office. The state Inspector...

Jindal-Kennedy feud escalates

The dome on the Republican Party in Louisiana is showing a fissure as the tit-for-tat over budget priorities between Gov. Bobby Jindal and state Treasurer John Kennedy gains momentum. The dome on the...

Leges move anti-abortion bills

House and Senate committees Wednesday advanced bills designed to further restrict abortions in Louisiana. House and Senate committees Wednesday advanced bills designed to further restrict abortions in...

Redflex survives with changes

An ordinance to end Lafayette Consolidated Government's contract with red-light camera/speed van operator Redflex was shot down by a 6-3 vote Tuesday night. Photo Illustration An ordinance to end...

Durel: Sever ties with Broussard

If Lafayette is successful in cutting off the LUS water supply to Broussard it could have a disastrous economic impact on the city of Broussard and stymie its future growth. Joey Durel, left, and...

Leges, admin spar over contracts

Louisiana faces a $211 million budget shortfall for the current fiscal year (which ends June 30). One strategy being floated by House Appropriations Committee Chairman Jim Fannin, D-Jonesboro,...

Feds: La.'s teacher evaluation system lacking

The feedback provided to the state Department of Education regarding Louisiana's No Child Left Behind waiver application outlines several deficiencies in the state's teacher evaluation system. Among...

Bonuses belie congressmen's frugality

A pair of Louisiana congressmen, both Republicans, are near the top of the heap among members of the U.S. House of Representatives for dispensing year-end bonuses to staff. A pair of Louisiana...

Atchafalaya Basinkeeper and friends file suit

The Atchafalaya Basinkeeper organization and several other concerned citizens groups are making good on their promise to deliver swift legal action against the St. Martin Parish School Board and Good Hope Inc. for plans to log several acres of cypress-tupelo trees in the Atchafalaya Basin.

Ethics eyes fines against locals

An attorney for the Louisiana Board of Ethics is recommending the agency decline to waive fines levied against a pair of local candidates in last fall's elections who failed to file campaign finance reports on time.

Feds grant another $10m for La. struggling schools

The Times-Picayune reported Tuesday morning that the U.S. Department of Education is handing the state another $10.1 million to help turn around its worst performing schools. The Times-Picayune...

Landry announces bid for new 3rd v. Boustany

U.S. Rep. Jeff Landry, R-New Iberia, announced Monday evening that he intends to challenge Lafayette Republican Charles Boustany to represent the new 3rd Congressional District this fall. U.S. Rep....

Cooper wants staff reorganization at Northside

Lafayette Parish Schools Superintendent is asking the school board to approve a reconstitution of the district's lowest performing high school that's expected to move into the state's academically...

Landry's self-promotion draws more scrutiny

A non-partisan congressional watchdog group is calling out U.S. Rep. Jeff Landry, R-New Iberia, for another apparent abuse of his federal franking privilege - a month after this newspaper published an...

Council to decide fate of red light cameras Tuesday

The Lafayette City-Parish Council will vote on an ordinance for final adoption at Tuesday's meeting that seeks to end the SafeLight/SafeSpeed traffic enforcement program on city of Lafayette streets....

Louisiana prisons: The bottom line

The Times-Picayune's two in-depth reports on the state of Louisiana's prisons offer a troubling explanation of how the state became the prison capital of the world - and why Louisiana has maintained...

Atchafalaya Basin bout

A legal brawl may be brewing over the decision the St. Martin Parish School Board made at its May 2 meeting to log 450 acres of cypress-tupelo trees on a patch of swamp it owns in the Atchafalaya Basin.

Senate panel quashes LGBT protections

Known as the Public Employment Non-Discrimination Act, the bill was diverted to the dust bin of enlightened ideas following an attempt to gut it of any language delineating sexual orientation/gender...

Pot pep rally set for Saturday

Supporters of the legalization of marijuana use for both medicinal and recreational purposes will hold rallies across Louisiana this weekend. Supporters of the legalization of marijuana use for both...

Three from Acadiana ascend Dem ladder

Stephen Handwerk of Lafayette has been named executive director while Mike Stagg, also a Lafayette resident, will share communications duties with Johnny Anderson, a Eunice native. Three men from...

Daily's new subscription rates clear as mud

We know a little more about The Daily Advertiser's new paywall, which goes up June 1, but we still don't know how much it will cost to get the print edition and access stories online. The Daily...

Louisiana: Land of the 99%

A new Pew study on economic mobility of the states finds that despite Louisiana's business-friendly reputation, residents here are less likely to find the American dream.' Louisiana has made its way...

LCG to tighten belt

The mini austerity measures come as LCG looks for ways to avoid further tapping into its reserve fund. Lafayette Consolidated Government department heads are being asked by the Durel administration to...

After setback, Sandlin foes prevail

An animal rights group pressing to have a tiger relocated to a sanctuary from the road-side enclosure where it has lived most of its life was granted permission to be party to the lawsuit filed...

Turnaround Plan forum slated for Wednesday

District 5 Lafayette Parish School Board member Kermit Bouillion is hosting a public forum at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Scott Middle School gym, giving stakeholders yet another chance to hear...

LDOE releasing feds' NCLB waiver feedback Monday

[UPDATE: A little after 1 p.m. Monday, LDOE sent the document in question to The Independent. Read the federal letter (peer review notes are not included) to LDOE here, and check back with The Ind's...

Miller sweeps Investigative Reporting category

Independent staff writer Heather Miller took home the Louisiana Press Association's first, second and third place honors in investigative reporting at the trade association's 132nd Annual Convention in Marksville over the weekend.

Cravins cited by Ethics Board

Opelousas Mayor Don Cravins is facing a fine by the Louisiana Board of Ethics, which accuses the pol of failing to disclose income received by the Louisiana Teachers' Retirement System. Mayor Don...

‘Trayvon' bill before House

The state House of Representatives this week will consider a bill that would alter Louisiana's so-called "Stand Your Ground" law concerning the use of deadly violence. The state House of...

Berthelot selected by unanimous vote

LCG Director of Community Development Ben Berthelot is the new head of LCVC. Board members of the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission voted unanimously Friday afternoon to name Ben Berthelot...

New LCVC head likely named today

Ben Berthelot was interviewed privately by the LCVC board Friday morning, and Renee Areng will take questions at 2 p.m. The committee in charge of finding a replacement for Gerald Breaux at the...

Moreno buys interest in KY Derby fave Bodemeister

We're not sure if he'll be sipping mint juleps Saturday, but we'd be willing to bet businessman Mike Moreno will be at Churchill Downs in Louisville to see Arkansas Derby winner Bodemeister, the...

Noise Maker: BESE's Lottie Beebe

Don't let the sweet Cajun accent fool you: District 3 BESE Representative Lottie Beebe is a feisty grandmother - and she's no stranger to fighting the state education powers that be. Don't let the...

Red-light camera bills pulled

Citing a compromise reached with the cities - Baton Rouge, Lafayette and New Orleans - Sen. Danny Martiny, R-Kenner, withdrew three bills and says he will hold a news conference next week to outline...

St. Martin cypress swipe

The St. Martin Parish School Board voted Wednesday night in favor of selling and logging 450 acres of a cypress-tupelo swamp it owns in the Atchafalaya Basin.

LHS dance teacher won't face charges

A grand jury returned no true bills Wednesday in the case involving LHS dance teacher Katie Champagne, who was arrested by city police in December for alleged indecent behavior with students. The...

Animal group keeps pressure on Tiger Truck Stop

An animal rights group is again in court pressing the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries to remove a Siberian-Bengal tiger from an enclosure at a Grosse Tete truck stop where the animal...

Senate panel to mull non-discrimination bill

The state Senate Labor & Industrial Relations Committee is set to consider on Thursday a bill that would protect lesbian and gay state employees from being fired due to their sexual...

House panel guts La. inspector general's office

The fate of the state Inspector General's Office, established in 1988 by former Gov. Buddy Roemer to investigate fraud and corruption within government, is now in the hands of state legislators, a...

Traditional music course expected at UL

And come fall, it's anticipated that there will be a degree for it and for the business side as well as a bachelor of arts degree in music, with concentrations in music business and traditional music...

UPDATE: LDOE foot dragging tramples transparency

UPDATE: State Superintendent of Education John White and state Department of Education spokeswoman Rene Greer are playing hardball - and they're likely breaking state law every step of the...

Audit details Outreach Center's downfall

An independent audit published Monday reveals that the local nonprofit's financial woes are attributed not only to the fall of its Three Graces Recovery Center and the theft and sex scandals that...

U.S. CTO on Lafayette's 'innovation mojo'

U.S. Chief Technology Officer Todd Park posted these two tweets, among others, about his INNOV8 experience in Lafayette last week: "Silicon Bayou - aka Lafayette, Louisiana - is the best kept...

Local Bike Month activities a dozen strong

BikeLafayette and T.R.A.I.L have teamed up with JoDu, LCG and the Lafayette Metropolitan Planning Organization to offer almost a dozen local bicycling activities throughout the month of May as part of...

Ouch! $26.7 m per mile to bury Johnston power lines

Let's just say this is one eyesore that's not going away any time soon. For all of us who have waited far too long to see our fair city's biggest eyesore cleaned up, the news is disappointing. A study...

Lombardi getting the boot Friday afternoon

In a breaking news story posted about 9 a.m. today, The Times-Picayune reports that LSU System President John Lombardi will be fired early this afternoon by his board. In a breaking news story posted...

Get the flip format of The Ind's Fest Guide now

Scan the QR code and access The Ind's 2012 Festival International Guide on your smartphone. Expert banner hangers Cherry Fisher May and Odie Terry have made it easy for you to get the flipping format...

Jim Donelon: the traveling man

Ind contributer and Political Desk lead writer Jeremy Alford questions state Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon's extensive travels over the past year, among them trips to Nicaragua, Key West and...

ADA Stutes' internal probe leads to subpoenas

Just days after District Attorney Mike Harson told The Advocate he had appointed an ADA to look into whether some people cited for OWI had actually performed their community service work, sources tell...

Panel defeats gay adoption bill

No surprise here: The House Committee on Civil Law and Procedure voted 9-2 to shelve a bill that would have allowed unmarried couples to legally adopt children. A measure that would have allowed...

‘War on Women' rally set for Saturday

The protest/rally is being conducted by a group known as Unite Women and targets a laundry list of legislative initiatives that include defunding Planned Parenthood, obstacles to obtaining abortion...

Groan: La. last on ‘Peace Index'

This year marks the 11th (consecutive) that Louisiana has come in 50th on the index. The Pelican State is the absolute bottom dweller on the United States Peace Index, an annual ranking by the...

Get creative at CE.2

Creative Action's second annual creative economy symposium, CE.2: The Power of Creativity, will be held from 1-6 p.m. Wednesday at the Acadiana Center for the Arts downtown. That's a lot of...

ESPN: Saints' Loomis listened in on other teams?

Just when we thought it could not get any worse for our beloved New Orleans Saints ... Quoting anonymous sources, ESPN's Out of Bounds program is today reporting that Saints General Manager Mickey...

Fracking disclosure before House

The Louisiana House of Representatives is scheduled to debate on Monday a bill that would require companies that conduct hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, to disclose the chemicals used in the...

CPC to get red-light camera rebuttal

On Tuesday the Lafayette City Parish Council will hear a presentation in opposition to electronic traffic enforcement from the program director of the Transportation Research Institute, Inc. On...

No surprise: anti-LSEA bill fails

A bid to repeal the Louisiana Science Education Act has failed for the second consecutive year in a Senate committee in Baton Rouge. A bid to repeal the Louisiana Science Education Act has failed for...

Jindal ‘inspires' lukewarm NY GOP audience

The New York Republicans who watched Gov. Bobby Jindal's keynote address in the Big Apple Thursday night were treated to a free copy of his book, Leadership and Crisis,' while Jindal again waved off...

Bold changes ahead for LPSS

A 5-3 vote by the Lafayette Parish School Board sets the wheels in motion for Superintendent Pat Cooper to begin implementation of his visionary, six-year turnaround plan for the school district. The...

LPSS spokeswoman Simoneaux resigns

LPSS Superintendent Dr. Pat Cooper confirmed Wednesday night that spokeswoman Angie Simoneaux had resigned earlier in the day. Lafayette Parish School System Superintendent Dr. Pat Cooper confirmed...

As expected, anti-bullying bill dies in House

In the face of testimony from aggrieved parents who lost gay children to suicide, the Louisiana Family Forum and its knuckle-dragging minions on the House Education Committee successfully stood up for...

LUS cited in ALEC exposé

Lafayette Utilities System's ultimately successful bid to create LUS Fiber is used an example of municipalities triumphing over powerful corporate tele-communications companies working through the...

Areng, Berthelot LCVC finalists

The head of the committee charged with finding Gerald Breaux's replacement at LCVC would not confirm the names of the two finalists, but sources close to the selection process say Renee Areng and Ben...

AcA packed for plan

A full house of Lafayette residents turned out for the comprehensive plan's "Aspirations" forum in the James Moncus Theater at the Acadiana Center for the Arts Wednesday afternoon. A full...

Drug kingpin, ‘snitch' witness sentenced

Eric Alexander, the leader of a lucrative drug ring whose false court testimony almost put an innocent Lafayette business owner behind bars, was sentenced Friday to 19 years in federal prison. A local...

Trouble continues for former prosecutor

Lafayette attorney Marcus Allen has entered into a two-year probation program with the state Office of Disciplinary Counsel, which oversees attorney conduct in Louisiana. Marcus Allen Lafayette...

Aw jeez, Agenda 21 is back

Someone alert LUS: There's something in the water on the south side of Lafayette and it's causing widespread paranoia. Someone alert LUS: There's something in the water on the south side of Lafayette...

INNOV8's CajunCodeFest to award 25 grand

Ramesh Kolluru, director of UL's Center for Business and Information Technologies, says while Louisiana is unique in its cuisine, music and culture, it's what it has in common with the rest of the...

Nathan Stansbury: 1934 - 2012

Ad exec Larry Sides remembers the once-powerful political figure's "commitment to truth and justice." On Saturday, April 14, Lafayette lost a man who for two decades was one its most...

Boustany-Landry feud heats up

A war of words between fellow Louisiana congressmen Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, and Jeff Landry, R-New Iberia, has percolated up to the national level. A war of words between fellow Louisiana...

War on Women, Louisiana-style

The state House of Representatives will debate Monday a Ouachita Parish lawmaker's resolution calling on the federal government to defund Planned Parenthood, a move the national GOP abandoned as the...

State arts community rallies against cuts

The annual attack on state arts funding is under way at the Capitol. The annual attack on state arts funding is under way at the Capitol and arts supporters are urging residents to let elected...

INNOV8 don't miss event: LAUNCH HOUR

Hear from Tom Cox on how golfballs.com got started and from Kenny Nguyen of BR-based Big Fish Presentations. INNOV8 Lafayette, the eight-day project that's on a mission to brand Lafayette's creative...

Get ready to INNOV8!

Lafayette has stepped up its game with INNOV8, an eight-day series of more than 40 diverse events that leads up to and overlaps with Festival International, melding the best music festival in the...

Durel seeks RedFlex referendum

City-Parish President Joey Durel will put the City-Parish Council on the spot Tuesday with a vote on a resolution that would authorize Durel to begin renegotiating consolidated government's contract...

State won't appeal overturn of ‘Facebook' ban

Gov. Bobby Jindal wants to tweak the law in such a way that it passes legal muster. The judge threw out the law largely on the grounds that it is too broad. The Associated Press is reporting that the...

South College extension on the move

A long-awaited extension of South College Road running southeast from Pinhook Road to Kaliste Saloom Road with a new bridge over the Vermilion River will be before the Lafayette City-Parish Council...

Jindal unlikely for VP nod

There's been some speculation that Gov. Bobby Jindal may be considered a running mate on the Romney ticket this fall against President Barack Obama, but it's unlikely say some prominent Louisiana...

Another ‘RedFlex' bill bites the dust

A state House committee has put the kibosh on another bill aimed at curbing or otherwise limiting local governments' use of red-light cameras to enforce traffic laws. A state House committee has put...

Education stakeholders group adds new members

The Lafayette Parish Public Education Stakeholders Council, a coalition of independent civic organizations and government agencies working together to improve public education in Lafayette Parish,...

Cooper pitches parishwide property reassessment

Lafayette Parish School System superintendent Pat Cooper is proposing a blue ribbon' commission charged with reassessing every property in Lafayette Parish as a way to solve the school system's money...

Meetings on comprehensive plan set

The public is encouraged to attend so their vision for managing Lafayette's future growth can be discussed. Lafayette Consolidated Government's comprehensive master plan will be discussed at a series...

Boustany: Landry peddling lies

Did the Boustany camp just call the Honorable Jeff Landry a liar? In another sign that U.S. Rep. Jeff Landry, R-New Iberia, is the presumptive opponent for Congressman Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette,...

Row, row, row your boat

Or, today in probably unnecessary legislation in Baton Rouge Photo Illustration Rep. Charles Chaney Among the many bills on the state House of Representatives' order of the day Monday is House Bill...

Prison sale on leges agenda

A House committee is slated to discuss the privatization of Avoyelles Correctional Center Tuesday. Gov. Bobby Jindal is trying for the second year in a row to fill holes in next year's budget by...

New suit filed in Tiger Truck Stop case

Michael Sandlin's permit to keep the animal expired at the end of last year. The Animal Legal Defense Fund, nemesis to Grosse Tete tiger warden Michael Sandlin, filed suit late last week to force the...

McKinnon: ‘keep an eye on Bobby' in veep stakes

Republican strategist Mark McKinnon calls Gov. Bobby Jindal an "outside pick" who might just make it onto the ticket. Speaking on NPR over the weekend, Republican strategist Mark McKinnon,...

St. Landry schools get ‘racino' money back

According to state Treasurer John Kennedy and Democratic state Rep. Ledricka Thierry of Opelousas, $800,000 has been restored to a St. Landry schools funding stream that the governor tried to raid. A...

Ed Roy challenging Field for PSC seat

Lafayette businessman Ed Roy is seeking the District 2 Public Service Commission seat currently held by Jimmy Field. Lafayette businessman Ed Roy is seeking the District 2 Louisiana Public Service...

LUS seeks to void water contract with Broussard

LUS has answered Broussard's lawsuit challenging an $825,000 water bill. After discovering what it claims is a number of instances where Broussard was receiving water and not paying for it, the...

Lege: Collection agencies OK for fine collection

A Senate committee on Monday rejected a bill along party lines that would have prevented cities like Lafayette that use electronic traffic enforcement from resorting to hiring collection agencies to...

School board term limits on tap

The state House of Representatives will debate a bill Wednesday that, if approved, would require school districts across the state to hold a local-option election this fall and let voters decide...

Bang for our buck?

Or, this week in probably unnecessary legislation in Baton Rouge Late Danish veterinarian Dr. Bernhard Bang is rightfully rolling in his grave. The good doctor, who died in 1932, is set to be divorced...

School Board set to hear turnaround plan

[Editor's Note: This story has been updated to correct the time of Pat Cooper's turnaround plan presentation. The School Board will first hear Cooper's plan at a 4 p.m. workshop Wednesday. The Ind...

Good things come in 8s

Our Cool Town's international music festival is voted the best in the world, a group of innovative community leaders launches INNOV8 Lafayette to coincide with said best fest, and over the weekend...

Cool: Attakapas Ishak Trail set to expand

The Attakapas Ishak Multi-Use Trail will eventually extend to St. Martin Parish. It was initially funded through a $100,000 grant in 2009. The Lafayette City-Parish Council will consider an...

State slashes early college credit funding

State funding for the dual enrollment program, which allows students to earn early college credit hours while still enrolled in high school, will stop under Gov. Bobby Jindal's budget proposal,...

C'est what? Coon = Coonass

In the latest dispatch from the frontier of apologetics, a close friend of the shooter in Florida's Trayvon Martin killing is defending his BFF's apparent use of the racial slur "coon"...

Stats crown La. ‘most corrupt'

Louisiana's sad-sack rule of inverses - bottom of the good lists, top of the bad ones - remains ascendent. Louisiana's sad-sack rule of inverses - bottom of the good lists, top of the bad ones -...

Term limits clear House committee

The House & Governmental Affairs committee moved forward a pair of bills that would place term limits on school boards and statewide elected officials. The House & Governmental Affairs...

Ex-EPA agent gets prison time for lying under oath

The most egregious conduct of [former EPA Agent Keith Phillips] is his repeated disregard of the oath he took, on multiple occasions, to tell the truth.' The former federal EPA agent who lied under...

Councilman defends his hood(ie)

Channeling his inner preacher, City-Parish Councilman Kenneth Boudreaux, adorned during the start of Tuesday's council meeting in a hooded sweatshirt in recognition of the Trayvon Martin shooting case...

John White's letter to The Advocate

State Superintendent John White responds to numerous teachers who attacked Gov. Bobby Jindal's education reform plan through letters to the editor published in The Advocate. The Advocate has recently...

SOS Tom Schedler: Couillon on da loose

A new couillon is born every day. He looks a little like The Donald. And now he sounds like him too. Tired of fielding what he says are "many inquiries concerning President Barack Obama's...

Public invited to talk RedFlex

Strong feelings about electronic enforcement of traffic laws in Lafayette? Tuesday night is an opportunity to chime in. The Lafayette City-Parish Council has scheduled public discussion over the...

Massage therapists in knots over bill

Licensed massage therapists see Senate Bill 191 as a power grab by the state's physical therapy lobby. Licensed massage therapists in Louisiana are sore over a bill by state Sen. Dan Claitor, R-Baton...

PAR issues ethics recommendations

The report, titled "Toward Stronger Ethics," looks at both existing laws as well as legislation that will be considered during the current legislative session in Baton Rouge. The Public...

NOAA links dolphin illnesses to BP spill

National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration scientists studied 32 dolphins living in Barataria Bay in the summer 2011 and found that many are suffering from various illnesses. Some, they...

Louisiana's 'mix' with global warming

Rolling Stone's Jared Bernstein takes Louisiana to task in its 'demand' for federal assistance in elevating Highway 1. Louisiana's eroding coastline is nothing newsworthy for South Louisiana residents...

Shelvin: Waste Facilities claims $17M in damages

City-Parish Councilman Brandon Shelvin told The Advocate that Waste Facilities of Lafayette and the company it contracted with made demands for $17 million in damages, an amount the council member...

NWF tour finds oil-polluted La. marshes

The tour "made depressingly clear that while national attention has moved on and Congress still hasn't passed legislation to restore the Gulf, much BP oil remains, it's easy to find, and it's...

Perry Sanders, longtime Lafayette pastor, dies

Sanders led his flock through the tribulation of fire - literally - after First Baptist Church was gutted by a blaze in 1999. The Rev. Dr. Perry Sanders, pastor of First Baptist Church in Lafayette...

La. lacks authority on health insurance hikes

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has deemed proposed health insurance rate hikes from two insurance companies ‘unreasonable,' but Louisiana has no power to stop it. Louisiana is one of...

La. primary in play after all

The hemming and hawing by Louisiana Republicans over the Bayou State's irrelevance in the presidential candidate selection process during the last few election cycles is being replaced with some...

Burning midnight oil, House approves school reforms

After approving the controversial voucher bill and continuing debate all day Thursday on more education reforms, the Louisiana House adjourned before midnight and immediately reconvened to approve a...

Environmental groups thank Gulf senators

Select Gulf Coast newspapers' bottom line is getting a boost in the form of full-page color ads purchased by a group of environmental groups in a "thank you" campaign underwritten by more...

The messy state of Medicaid

A report from Gambit highlights some of the countless problems health care providers are facing amid the rollout of the state's privatized Medicaid system. As the state continues to phase in its new...

Oil spill fines on hold

The Restore Act - which would send 80 percent of fines from the Clean Water Act from the 2010 BP oil spill to Gulf Coast states affected by the spill - is part of the $109 billion Senate...

Landrieu to Jindal: Slow down

U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, while supportive of Gov. Bobby Jindal's education reform package, sends a letter to state legislators asking that 12 critical are answered before the legislation is approved....

CFA spearheading flood donations

The Community Foundation of Acadiana has partnered with the Acadian Companies in a drive to raise funds to help victims of recent flooding in the greater Lafayette area. The Community Foundation of...

Ouch dat! Payton gets one-year suspension

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton will sit out the 2012 season - without pay - for his role in an illegal bounty program operated from 2009 to 2011 by some of the team's defensive players and...

Newt Gingrich making campaign stop in Hub City

The Republican presidential hopeful and his third wife, Callista, will be in Lafayette from 4-5 p.m. Wednesday for a meet and greet.' Republican presidential candidate and former House Speaker Newt...

Good riddance: Prosecutor Perricone resigns

It seemed only a matter of time. The disgraced New Orleans federal prosecutor who just could not keep his fingers off his keyboard when he went to The Times-Picayune's website has resigned. It seemed...

This week in awful: Rev. Dennis Terry

Welcome to Louisiana, senator. We don't give no quarter to gay Muslims. Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum, the Roman Catholic and former Pennsylvania senator who has been courting...

SCOTUS balks at La. census suit

AG Caldwell: "We are extremely disappointed that our Supreme Court has refused to address and protect one of our most important rights as American citizens - the right to be properly represented...

Saving the coast

State funding that has put recycled Christmas trees on the front line of coastal defense has been expired for a couple of years now, but Rob Moreau, the manager of SLU's Turtle Cove Environmental...

Report: La. earns a ‘C-' for corruption risk

Louisiana ranks 16th in a report that declares no winners' for the country's 50 states when it comes to measuring state integrity and risk of corruption. A first of its kind look at how all 50 states...

La. gets C- for public integrity

The Bayou State is upper middle of the pack in a ranking of states with the most measures in place to prevent corruption and ensure transparent operation of state government, coming it at 15th out of...

Daily names new publisher, editor

Karen Lincoln will take over as president and publisher of The Daily Advertiser and The Daily World, while Karen Lincoln Michel, the current assistant managing editor for the Green Bay Press-Gazette,...

RedFlex ordinance targeted

An introductory ordinance before the Lafayette City-Parish Council Tuesday has been pulled from the batch of intro ordinances and will be discussed and voted on separately, setting up a likely debate...

Six degrees of (Haynes) separation

Additional court documents linked to private investigator Robert Williamson reveal that City Prosecutor Gary Haynes, husband of Barna Haynes, represented Williamson's 2004 appeal in his wife's...

Six degrees of (Haynes) separation

Barna Haynes and Robert Williamson, the two people named by Independent sources as the targets of a federal investigation into 15th Judicial District Attorney Mike Harson's office, share a key connection in the FBI's probe of how Harson's office is handling OWI prosecutions.

Edu reform measures clear Senate committee

On Retired Teacher Day. Gov. Bobby Jindal declared Thursday, March 15 as "Retired Teachers Day" in Louisiana - a day to recognize the contributions teachers make. The irony likely wasn't...

Flood relief drop-off sites set

"We really feel for the people of Carencro and the outlying areas that got floodwaters in their homes," says April Kleinpeter, general sales manager at Courtesy. "Acadiana has a huge...

SafeSpeed/SafeLight targeted

The Tea Party backed members of the Lafayette City-Parish Council are co-sponsoring an ordinance that effectively ends electronic enforcement of traffic laws by letting consolidated government's...

Jindal's ed. reform scores first-round win

A 16-hour House committee hearing that ended early Thursday morning in a victory for Gov. Bobby Jindal's education reform package was deemed democracy at work' by his chief of staff, while U.S. Sen....

Donate to flood victims

Laura St. Blanc, of the American Red Cross, Acadiana Area Chapter says fundraising is the first priority and donations can be made by going to www.acadianaredcross.org [click on give],  or by calling...

Cooper to teachers: Don't diminish your integrity

"We are trying to rebuild trust and support within our community." Lafayette Parish Schools Superintendent Dr. Pat Cooper sent a message to public school teachers Tuesday afternoon giving...

Lafayette second-most optimistic community

Nearly 76 percent of Hub City residents say Lafayette is getting better as a place to live. The Hub City is a hopeful city. Lafayette ranks second behind Provo, Utah, among the most optimistic metro...

Teachers to descend on Capitol

Hundreds and perhaps thousands of Louisiana public school teachers plan to rally at the state Capitol this week to protest education reforms proposed by Gov. Bobby Jindal. Hundreds and perhaps...

Cobb, Landry seek Ethics fine waivers

Each was issued a fine by the board for filing personal financial disclosures late. Lafayette Parish School Board member Shelton Cobb and freshman state Rep. Terry Landry are expected to have fines...

Landfill owner sues online news commenter

Fred Heebe, the landfill giant whose indictment on federal corruption charges is imminent,' filed a defamation suit this week against Assistant U.S. Attorney Sal Perricone, claiming that the federal...

Buddy and Bobby

From education reform to presidential politics, Bobby Jindal's playbook owes a lot to Buddy Roemer. From education reform to presidential politics, Bobby Jindal's playbook owes a lot to Buddy...

Scenes from a flood

A Monday morning commute from Grand Coteau to Lafayette was literally a wash as the normal route into town was, well, anything but normal and closer to surreal. A Monday morning commute from Grand...

Legislative session under way

State lawmakers are gathered in Baton Rouge for the start of a 2012 session that will likely be dominated by two of Gov. Bobby Jindal's legislative imperatives: education reform and changes to the...

Boustany seeks answers from VA

U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, has requested a meeting with Eric Shinseki, secretary of the federal Department of Veterans Affairs over the delay in the opening of the VA Community Based...

Santorum heads to Lafayette Tuesday

The former Pennsylvania senator is bringing his presidential campaign to the Lafayette Hilton Tuesday for a 6-9 p.m. rally and fundraiser. The Lafayette Hilton on Pinhook Road will be the site for a...

Lake Charles hospital cuts ties with Glenn Stewart

A major, well-respected Catholic health care group announced Friday it is dissolving its relationship with the Lafayette developer in an upscale assisted-living retirement community set to open...

LCG wants in on ‘prominent' downtown property

With LCG having dibs on the old Greyhound bus station, the Lafayette Public Trust Financing Authority is set to vote today on whether to purchase the downtown site for about $157,000. Lafayette...

Ortego files local ed reform bill

State Rep. Stephen Ortego announces bold legislation to bring a school wellness program to Lafayette Parish public schools. Freshman state Rep. Stephen Ortego is teaming up with Lafayette Parish...

Forgotston: Manuel firing ‘chilling'

"The failure to address this type of action by the governor will result in testimony before the lege committee that is not to be believed or merely a regurgitation of the governor's...

Voucher program prepped for session

A statewide program that would open up public education to private schools and online education companies on the taxpayers' dime is expected to pass at least in limited form when the Legislature...

Kopplin wins "Friend of Darwin" award

The Friend of Darwin award is presented annually to a select few whose efforts to support NCSE and advance its goal of defending the teaching of evolution in the public schools have been truly...

Don't speak ill of the head: Jindal cans director

Consider Martha Manuel an example for everyone working under Gov. Bobby Jindal. Consider Martha Manuel an example for everyone working under Gov. Bobby Jindal. Manuel was fired Wednesday from her job...

Stanford guilty on 13 counts in Ponzi scheme

Sir Allen Stanford's champagne wishes and caviar dreams are truly over. A federal jury in Houston convicted the former head of Stanford Financial Group on all but one of the 14 counts against him....

Transfer station damages ‘in the millions'

The City-Parish Council's politically motivated decision to revoke a permit for a waste transfer station will come back to bite it tonight. At its Tuesday meeting, the Lafayette City-Parish council...

Audit: State tax credits aid few, drain budget

Such credits extended as an incentive to lure corporations and industries into the state result in a major reduction in overall revenue collection, moreover it's difficult to determine the economic...

LSEA repeal bill filed

For the second consecutive session a bill has been filed that would repeal the Louisiana Science Education Act, a 2008 law that purports to encourage critical thinking among students in public-school...

Lawmaker seeks to limit Gov.'s impact on BESE

House Bill 165 cuts the number of seats on the board from the current 11 down to nine by slashing the governor's appointments from three to one. A Central Louisiana state representative has pre-filed...

FBI searches D.A.'s office

District Attorney Mike Harson has so far been mum on the employee targeted by the search, saying only that he was asked to voluntarily provide access to the office and that he is cooperating fully...

Perrin targets Bergeron tune

The former CODOFIL president's hackles were raised by a popular song extolling the virtues of "coonass" culture. Lafayette attorney Warren Perrin, the former president of CODOFIL and a...

John White: The choice is simple

State Superintendent of Education John White on education reform and the future of Louisiana's children. Consider this: Nearly 80 percent of Louisianans were born and raised in Louisiana; in Florida,...

Solon targets Jindal's records. Again.

Yet another attempt will be made to legally compel the office of Gov. Bobby Jindal to open up more of its records to public and legislative scrutiny, something the administration has successfully...

Reform critic speaking in Hub City today

Diane Ravitch, a one-time assistant secretary for the U.S. Department of Education under former President George Bush and nationally acclaimed author, is addressing the Louisiana School Boards...

Ind delayed by I-10 accident

If a fresh issue of The Independent wasn't in the rack at your preferred restaurant, bank or supermarket today, it will be by day's end. The truck that delivers our weekly newspaper to our downtown...

DA Phil Haney responds to ethics charges

Phil Haney, district attorney for Iberia, St. Martin and St. Mary parishes, took the witness stand in the Lafayette Parish Courthouse Tuesday in response to ethics charges filed against him by the...

Fitzgerald issues apology for Mardi Gras incident

"I want to put this entire episode and the sad and hurtful series of events that preceded it behind me - behind all of us." Erin May Fitzgerald, the 41-year-old mom and schoolteacher who was...

Sales tax resolution likely dead in water

Councilman Jay Castille, who sponsored the resolution when it was originally brought before the council in late January, tells The Ind the council no longer has time to undertake the steps necessary...

Kennedy: Solons should sub teach

State Treasurer John Kennedy argues that state lawmakers undertaking public-education reforms should get a first-hand look at teaching - from the trenches. Governor Jindal has made the improvement of...

LASERS chief: Is it reform?

The executive director of the Louisiana State Employees' Retirement System addresses reforms proposed by Gov. Bobby Jindal. There seems to be a rush to judgment relative to the administration's...

Education forum slated for Sunday

District 3 Board of Elementary and Secondary Education member Lottie Beebe invites educators and stakeholders to Cecilia High School Sunday to discuss a wide array of education issues lawmakers will...

LPSS official: NCLB waiver could increase dropouts

Tom Spencer, a federal programs specialist for the Lafayette Parish School System, shares his thoughts on the Louisiana Department of Education's waiver application for the federal No Child Left...

Acadian's ‘customary rate' plan falling apart

It's highly unlikely Acadian Ambulance will get the massive increases it is seeking in renewal of its contract as Lafayette Parish's sole provider. City-Parish Councilman Kevin Naquin won't disclose...

Smart meter opt-out on Council agenda

One councilman tells us the ordinance will pass, mainly because the council doesn't feel like fighting a few paranoid people. The Lafayette City-Parish Council will consider for final adoption Tuesday...

Federal PAC endorses Landry

U.S. Rep. Jeff Landry, R-New Iberia, has received another endorsement in his as-yet undeclared challenge against Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette. U.S. Rep. Jeff Landry, R-New Iberia, has received...

Roesgen won't be daily's new publisher after all

Citing "personal matters," Daily Advertiser Publisher Ali Zoibi now says Richard Roesgen will not replace him. Zoibi, who is retiring, announced last week that Roesgen would take...

Bill targets traffic cameras statewide

If passed by the Louisiana Legislature, Senate Bill 85 would force Lafayette Consolidated Government to place traffic cameras on the ballot for voters to approve. The ever controversial...

Moss Street postal facility facing 200 layoffs

The U.S. Postal Service said Thursday it plans to scale back operations at its Moss Street facility as part of a consolidation of its South Louisiana mail-processing operations. The Advocate reported...

Andy Cornett, local musician, dies

Andy Cornett was known for his honking blues harmonica playing with Henry Gray and the Cats - a group he also managed and produced - as well as his skill on the bass. He would also sit in with many...

Vermilion krewe reacts to Fitzgerald attack

The president of Kaplan's Chic-A-La-Pie Krewe says the group plans to formalize rules about Mardi Gras float themes to ensure that floats like the one Dr. Glenn Stewart entered in Lafayette's...

LWV to host Lafayette forum

The League of Women Voters of Lafayette will take a look at the Hub City's near future "Envisioning Lafayette in Five Years: Be Concrete!" on March 14. The League of Women Voters of...

The punch heard 'round the state

Media outlets across the state are reporting more details of the Mardi Gras incident that put Ind publisher's daughter in hospital and has doc-turned-developer Glenn Stewart facing a felony battery...

Sales tax back before CPC

The Lafayette City-Parish Council on Tuesday will once again vote on a resolution that would pave the way for an April 21 half-cent sales tax proposition for city of Lafayette voters to decide. The...

Roemer drops R, seeks independent bid

After months of being marginalized by the GOP establishment, former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer is parting ways with the Republican Party. After months of being marginalized by the GOP establishment,...

Advertiser soon charging for online content

Daily paper's parent company, the largest newspaper publisher in the country, announced Wednesday that it will build paywalls around all of its community papers except for flagship USA Today. So much...

Children's Parade rescheduled for Monday

The Daily Advertiser is reporting that the Greater Southwest Louisiana Mardi Gras Association is now saying it will host the Children's Parade Monday evening. The Daily Advertiser is reporting that...

Le Festival postponed until 4 p.m. Saturday

The headliner Saturday night is Lafayette's own Marc Broussard. Due to inclement weather, Le Festival de Mardi Gras at Cajun Field will resume at 4 p.m. Saturday. The site, which includes a carnival...

Children's Parade nixed, Bonaparte on schedule

The Children's Parade, scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Saturday, has been canceled. Bonaparte, however, is scheduled to start on time, 6:30 p.m. Bad weather led officials to cancel the much-anticipated...

Judge tosses new La. law on social media

A federal judge in Baton Rouge has sided with two convicted sex offenders who sued the state in an effort to overturn a new law that bars such convicts from using social media sites like Facebook. The...

La. earns high marks ... for corruption

With a federal probe into former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin as a handy backdrop, a new study ranks Louisiana high on the list of the most politically corrupt states based on federal convictions. With...

Cooper: LPSS needs to shed social club status

The Lafayette Parish School Board voted 6-3 Wednesday night to fulfill Lafayette Parish School System Superintendent Pat Cooper's request for a new assistant to oversee facilities and maintenance...

Durel: Pay now or pay later

"If we don't do something to continue to maintain our efforts, there will be higher costs later." Photo by Robin May In an annual State of the Parish address Wednesday at the Cajundome...

CFA aids spill communities

The Community Foundation is one of five regional partners in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida selected by Rockerfeller Philanthropy Advisors to distribute millions in grants. The Community...

Catholic schools limited in voucher capacity

Louisiana's Catholic schools, which comprise two thirds of all private schools in the state, can take in roughly 1,000 students, or less than 1 percent, of the children who would be eligible for...

CPCAC, planners get ball rolling

The Comprehensive Plan Citizens Advisory Committee met with planning consultants from the Philadelphia firm contracted to produce Lafayette's comprehensive master plan on Monday as members of the Tea...

State Supreme Court disbars Floyd Johnson

Former prosecutor, who in December 2010 was temporarily suspended from practicing law, has been disbarred by Louisiana Supreme Court. The Louisiana Supreme Court has disbarred J. Floyd Johnson, a...

PAR gives cautious thumbs-up to ethics tweak

"These proposals could be a productive step forward by adding clarity and better administration to the process of handling cases." The Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana says it...

UL journalists win awards

Journalism students from UL Lafayette gathered 14 awards over the weekend at the Southeast Journalism Conference including a first-place award for "Louisiana Focus," the student-produced...

T-P: feds investigating Nagin

The Times-Picayune reported late Thursday night that former two-term New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin is the subject of a federal corruption probe. Citing sources close to the probe, The Times-Picayune's...

CPCAC ready to roll

Members of the Comprehensive Plan Citizens Advisory Committee will meet Monday with planners from the Philadelphia firm Wallace, Roberts & Todd, who will be in town to tour Lafayette Parish by bus...

Lawmakers question Jindal budget

Among the concerns are what are being characterized as "what-ifs" in the budget - that is, budgetary items that hinge on contingencies elsewhere. A handful of mostly Democratic state...

C'est What? Jindal strong-arms higher ed

In exchange for this good treatment, the administration would appreciate ... all units of higher education respond[ing] in the same generally positive and supportive way to the Administration's...

Advertiser offering early-retirement buyouts?

Gannett Blog, which is not affiliated with the newspaper giant, is reporting that eight Daily Advertiser employees, who are at least 56 with 20 years of service, have been offered buyouts. Gannett...

White outlines school evaluation overhaul

State Superintendent John White is asking the federal government for a waiver on some of the No Child Left Behind provisions, including the removal of attendance and drop out rates as part of the...

Audit paints partial picture of voucher program

Of the more than 1,600 students enrolled in New Orleans private schools last year through the state's voucher program, only four were children with special needs. Seven New Orleans private schools...

N.O. state rep hopes to abolish pardon board

It's a longshot and direct result of former Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour's now infamous raft of pardons, but if New Orleans Democratic state Rep. Austin Badon has his way, ex-state Rep. Rickey Hardy...

Jindal unveils budget

Gov. Bobby Jindal on Thursday proposed a slightly leaner budget than the current $25.6 billion the state is operating on. Gov. Bobby Jindal on Thursday proposed a $25.5 billion state budget Thursday -...

Today in traffic: Carnival barricades, I-10 overlay

Prepare for increased travel time in the center of Lafayette for the next couple of weeks. Parish workers install barricades along Jefferson Street downtown. Prepare for increased travel time in the...

Deadline for State of the Parish tickets today

Ticket orders for City-Parish President Joey Durel's State of the Parish address must be received by 4 p.m. today. City-Parish President Joey Durel will present his vision and action plan for 2012...

Fleming: Facebook in mouth

There are several issues at play here with the news that Louisiana Republican Congressman John Fleming fell for a faux story in the satirical publication The Onion. According to a host of political...

Three UMC clinics dodge closure

The orthopedics, ophthalmology and ear, nose and throat clinics that were on the chopping block at UMC amid dire mid-year budget cuts will remain open. Three of the five "indispensable"...

LSEA repeal in the works - again

Gov. Bobby Jindal may get a chance to further burnish those education-reform credentials if a successful attempt at repealing the Louisiana Science Education Act makes it to his desk. "The...

Feed & Seed seeks special permit

The newest addition to downtown Lafayette's cultural landscape is hoping for a little wiggle room in the Hub City's liquor-license moratorium. The newest addition to downtown Lafayette's cultural...

LUS Fiber centerpiece of USA Today story

Lafayette Utilities System's Fiber to the Home initiative takes front and center in a lengthy article in USA Today examining the history of municipal broadband projects and the push-back from...

Smart meter ‘opt-out' back on council agenda

Citing an array of concerns over the meters - from possible health issues to fears of loss of privacy and the violation of constitutional rights - the Tea Party of Lafayette has been spearheading the...

Northside community: What do you need from us?

A large gathering of support for Northside High's academic turnaround project culminated in the school's cafeteria Thursday night as the new administration laid out its plans for improving the ongoing...

Hub City crime rate falls

Lafayette Police are attributing a second consecutive annual drop in the city's crime rate to community involvement, law enforcement adaptability and new technology. Lafayette Police are attributing a...

Lafayette smokes country in median income growth

No other metro even comes to close to Lafayette's 12.2 percent increase in median household income from 2007 to 2010. From 2007 to 2010, the median household income in Lafayette went from $42,067 to...

Community urged to rally around UMC cuts

A rally scheduled for 5 p.m. Thursday at the University Medical Center sign aims to save Lafayette's charity hospital from devastating budget cuts that threaten the quality of health care for...

LPSB gives unified support for Northside turnaround

The Lafayette Parish School Board on Wednesday voted almost unanimously in favor of a drastic academic overhaul for Northside High School, marking a unity that's been absent from the board for the...

Comprehensive plan process under way

The Comprehensive Plan Citizens Advisory Committee took it's first steps Wednesday, holding an inaugural luncheon-meeting and setting the general agenda. Committee members broke up into small groups...

3rd Circuit: State must return seized cash

"The State has failed to show the existence of probable cause for forfeiture of the money." The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal has reversed a lower-court ruling and ordered the state to return...

Hardy appointed to pardon board

Former state legislator will earn $36,000 per year, plus meals and travel. Ex-state Rep. Rickey Hardy's unemployment was short-lived. Hardy, defeated in November for the District 44 seat by Vincent...

Jindal: Voucher schools don't need letter grades

The governor implied Monday that he does not support a school letter grade accountability system for private schools receiving public funds through his proposed statewide expansion of the Recovery...

Cortez files tweaks to teacher retirement

State Sen. Page Cortez, R-Lafayette, has pre-filed a pair of bills for the upcoming session that would make minor adjustments to tougher new rules regarding educators who retire and are then rehired,...

Struggling La. Dems kick off statewide tour

Louisiana Democratic Party officials will be in Lafayette Wednesday as part of the state party's Getting Back to Basics Tour. The Louisiana Democratic Party is launching a 35-city statewide tour in...

C'est What? DTL art for sale online

Convicted serial killer Derrick Todd Lee is on Death Row at Angola State Penitentiary and is evidently earning a little extra money producing art. Derrick Todd Lee Convicted serial killer Derrick...

EWE recovering from pneumonia

The 84-year-old was taken to Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center Saturday by ambulance. For Gov. Edwin W. Edwards is recovering in a Baton Rouge hospital after being admitted over the weekend...

Sen. Elbert Guillory: king of the pre-filers

Much of Guillory's legislation deals with aspects of retirement benefits paid to state employees, which figures along with education reform to be among the most discussed and legislated topics in the...

This week in awesome: an alternative to RedFlex

Should the City-Parish Council, in its weird new dis-equilibrium, move to banish the revenue-generating Big Brother from Lafayette's streets, French humorist Remi Gaillard has a solution. Lafayette...

Boustany reports robust 4Q funds

U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, is reporting healthy 4th Quarter 2011 fundraising, announcing Thursday his campaign took in more than $220,000 from October to December, raising his total cash...

Roemer eyeing 3rd-party route

Former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer met last weekend with Americans Elect, an organization that has vowed to get a bi-partisan ticket onto the ballots in all 50 U.S. states in November. Former...

Acadiana mom using Facebook to fight for UMC

The mother of a 5-year-old boy, the new Facebook page's administrator tells the social networking world that her son is receiving treatments at UMC for "severe speech and sensory issues ... and...

Tramel: Camera enforcement makes streets safer

Lafayette Consolidated Government's traffic director is making a case for the efficacy of the SafeLight and SafeSpeed programs in the Hub City. Tramel Lafayette Consolidated Government's traffic...

Cycling the divide

University officials are holding a press conference at 2 p.m. Tuesday to unveil its new bike path along Johnston Street and Cajundome Boulevard, the second phase of a $1.2 million project designed to...

State budget cuts could gut UMC programs

According to a 2009 economic impact study from the Lafayette Economic Development Authority, the local charity hospital sees more than 200,000 patients a year and provides medical education, including...

Council eyeing April sales-tax vote

[Update: The City-Parish Council on Tuesday voted 5-4 against the resolution calling for city-wide vote on a half-cent sales tax to replace the 5-mills property tax that expires this year. It's...

MPO asked to sign off on Verot delay

The Metropolitan Planning Organization will consider an amendment to the 2011-2014 Transportation Improvement Plan that affects four traffic projects in the area including the $27.7 million...

C'est What? Robideaux backs Ron Paul

In hitching his wagon to Paul, is Robideaux taking on the taint of racism, whack-job conspiracy theories and anti-scientific ding-battery that have long plagued Rep. Ron Paul? Robideaux State Rep....

Another conflict for Gachassin?

Yet again, a trail of paperwork appears to support that development consultant Greg Gachassin was laying the foundation for a million bucks in fees while he served as chairman of a public...

Shocker: La. among worst states to raise a child

A first of its kind report from the Foundation for Child Development ranks Louisiana as having the third worst overall child well-being index. A new report from a national philanthropy organization...

Landry mum on Tea Party draft

Political columnist John Maginnis is reporting that the Baton Rouge-based Tea Party of Louisiana has drafted freshman U.S. Rep. Jeff Landry to run against fellow Republican Charles Boustany in this...

Former solon Alexander eulogized, buried

The 78-year-old former city-parish councilman, state representative, broadcaster and educator died Tuesday at his home after battling throat cancer. Former city-parish councilman, state...

Bama fan in NOPD custody

Brian Downing is accused of whipping out his crimson pride and placing it in proximity to the passed-out Tiger fan's noggin. Brian Downing is escorted to Central Lockup Thursday night in New...

Step one: Northside High School

Lafayette Parish School System Superintendent Pat Cooper hopes to launch a three-tier pilot program for academic turnaround and facility renovations at Northside High, one of the school district's...

Bar appeals deferred. What now?

As it stands now, six bars on Jefferson Street have stopped paying their share of the enforcement levy, which is calculated by a bar's occupancy. Lafayette city taxpayers are evidently swallowing the...

Maginnis: Jindal could soften as term winds on

"The more Jindal looks to extend his career beyond Baton Rouge, the more he will want things to go smoothly at the State Capitol, and the more he may concede to keep the peace." Louisiana...

This week in awesome: Buckman bites back

A UL journalism professor in a long-running spat with Lafayette Consolidated Government continues to one-up city fathers in their bid to collect on a speeding ticket issued via a RedFlex speed...

Jindal aims high on education overhaul

Gov. Bobby Jindal could sure use a "Gang of Five" of his own as he marches toward the trenches of reform for Louisiana's poor-performing public education system. The feathers of opposition...

La.'s privatized Medicaid off to a rough start

Only 12 percent of eligible Medicaid patients have signed on with one of the state's five chosen private health care providers, which serves as a friendly reminder to heed the advice of the Public...

Ethics to weigh in on Boffy query

The Louisiana Ethics Administration will decide Thursday whether Holly Boffy, a Lafayette resident and recently elected District 7 representative on the state Board of Elementary and Secondary...

La. GOP sets April caucus

Louisiana Republican Party Chairman Roger Villere announced Monday that the state GOP will hold its presidential caucus in late April, fueling speculation that the delay is designed to aid former...

NGOs get first test of 2012

Up for final adoption, Ordinance 009 would lead to the execution of a public service agreement between Lafayette Consolidated Government and Lafayette Mardi Gras Festival Inc. - and $7,500 in taxpayer...

Couillon alert: Neighbor states mark Lee/King Day

In what may be characterized as civic schizophrenia, our fellow Deep Southerners have designated the third Monday in January as Lee/King Day, piggybacking a state holiday honoring Confederate General...

Running with the Jedi

According to a report from Gannett's Mike Hasten, the state's 2.86 million registered voters belong to more than 200 political parties, including the Jedi, Honest, In Between and Private parties. It...

School vouchers top education reform talks

Louisiana is one of only four states to offer publicly funded tuition to private and parochial schools. When the Louisiana Legislature convenes in March, school vouchers, or diverting public funds to...

La. caucus delay flummoxing some conservatives

There's growing chatter among Republicans in the state that the delayed GOP presidential caucus, originally scheduled for Feb. 25, may be part of some plot. There's growing chatter among Republicans...

This Week in Crazy: regulating PJs

First it was saggy pants. Now it's pajama pants. Louisiana will be back in the national news. Want to wear your new Valentine's Day PJs to Walmart and bring baby Johnny along in his Lighting MQueen...

Is Louisiana's coast worth saving?

Gov. Bobby Jindal's 50 year, $50 billion plan to address land loss in Louisiana has drawn both praise and criticism from the science community. BP fines, offshore drilling royalties and...

White gets super nod

Gov. Bobby Jindal's pick to oversee public education in Louisiana has been approved as state superintendent by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. John White, Gov. Bobby Jindal's pick to...

New education report ranks La. No. 23 nationwide

The state's improved national education rankings could help Gov. Bobby Jindal in his second-term push for statewide education reform. Despite a failing grade for overall student achievement, a new...

Cajun crawfish invading Africa

The species popular in boiling pots and etouffées in south Louisiana is wreaking havoc. National Geographic is reporting that the species of crawfish popular in boiling pots and etouffées in south...

CPC hearing downtown bar appeals Tuesday

The Special Law Enforcement Levy was created in 2009 to help with the cost of additional police officers on Jefferson Street's most crowded nights. But a handful of bars stopped paying the levy...

Po-po: Maladroit miscreant foils self in robbery

Lesson No. 3 in The Armed Robber's Manual: Don't lock the keys in the getaway car. Clearly this is a photo illustration A Maurice man is behind bars on an armed robbery charge after police say he...

LAE: Widen state super search

The group says in a press release it is opposed to Gov. Bobby Jindal's choice to succeed interim Superintendent Ollie Tyler, who recently left the state Department of Education. The Louisiana...

Bertrand appoints Doise to CAC

"He's very level-headed, respectful and thoughtful." Jared Doise Recent City-Parish Council candidate Jared Doise has been appointed to the Citizens Action Committee, a component of the...

Roemer's last stand?

The end is likely nigh for former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer in his bid to capture the Republican presidential nomination. The end is likely nigh for former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer in his bid to...

BP: Buying its own reality

... images of clean water, sparkling beaches, bustling shops and nets bursting with seafood over upbeat music - a portrait many locals say runs counter to the reality they're still experiencing. As...

Gov: No changes to TOPS

Gov. Bobby Jindal to Governance Commission: If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Gov. Bobby Jindal has signaled his opposition to a recommendation by the Governance Commission on Higher Education that the...

Jindal fundraising for Nungesser's personal debt

There's a lot of talk about people going to Washington.' Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser spent $1.3 million of his own money in his mud-filled and unsuccessful bid to unseat Lt. Gov. Jay...

Education summits slated for Hub and Capital cities

A Jan. 30 statewide education summit in Baton Rouge will feature former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and News Corporation's Joel Klein, while a smaller regional education summit in Lafayette on Feb. 28 will...

Cooper: Children are waiting

Lafayette Parish School System Superintendent Pat Cooper doesn't start full-time until Feb. 1, but he's wasting no time in his plans for analyzing the district's data and poising our schools for the...

Outreach's downtown assets going for $1.13 million?

[Update: LPTFA voted Thursday to purchase AOC's assets and assume control of Joie de Vivre.] In a special meeting today at 1:30 p.m., the Lafayette Public Trust Financing Authority's board will decide...

Cobb, Beasley chosen to lead School Board

A unanimous vote by the Lafayette Parish School Board Wednesday night naming Shelton Cobb as board president by acclimation offered a rare moment of unity for a governing body that's been notably...

Robideaux appointed Ways & Means chairman

The Lafayette pol is certified public accountant by trade. Ind contributing writer Jeremy Alford, writing for The Political Desk and citing sources, is reporting today that Rep. Joel Robideaux,...

Council ‘sworn in,' leaders elected

City-Parish President Joey Durel and re-elected and newly elected members of the Lafayette City-Parish Council were actually sworn in at noon on Monday of this week, but they reaffirmed their vows...

Cajun family's battle with big oil featured in NYT

The New York Times details Lafayette attorney Warren Perrin and his family's years-long feud with a Chevron subsidiary over land contamination in Erath along the Henry Hub, a saga that in more recent...

New council takes reins Tuesday

Things should get interesting later at the first regular council meeting for the new panel, during which the president and vice president for both the council and the Lafayette Public Utilities...

Number crunch redux: WaPo doesn't jibe

We were alerted to the discrepancy by Doug Sachtleben, communications director for Rep. John Fleming, R-Shreveport. We referenced on the blog Monday a story posted by The Political Desk in which the...

Wyble out as COO of Heart Hospital

A month and a half after Heart Hospital of Lafayette was named one of the nation's Top 50 Cardiovascular Hospitals by Thomson Reuters, its COO was terminated. Karen Wyble is no longer the chief...

‘Fracking' waste blamed for rare earthquakes

The controversial process used to extract natural gas from deep underground rock formations has come under even more scrutiny after Youngstown, Ohio was shaken Saturday by a 4.0 magnitude earthquake,...

Number crunch: $10,519 for missed votes

A Louisiana politics watchdog website has determined that Louisiana Reps. Rodney Alexander, R-Quitman, and Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, were paid $10,519 each in salary for 100 votes they missed...

SoLa ‘cub' reporters pounce on Iowa

Caucus voters in Iowa are hopefully getting accustomed to pronouncing names like Caillier, Guidry and Richard because they're getting a dose of South Louisiana this week. Caucus voters in Iowa are...

In Memoriam: Leta Gilmer Fisher, 1930-2011

Mother to Ind Co-Publisher Cherry Fisher May and mother-in-law to Co-Publisher Steve May and Business Manager Brenda Fisher, Leta Gilmer Fisher died peacefully on Christmas Day. The joy most of us...

Broussard sues LCG over water bill

The Advertiser reports that the city of Broussard has sued Lafayette for a refund and bad faith damages' related to the $825,000 water bill Broussard paid LUS last week. A week after the city of...

This week in crazy: Oller sues UL

Professor John Oller, a champion of creationism and its lab coat-clad cousin, Intelligent Design, has filed suit against UL alleging that fellow members of the Communicative Disorders Department have...

Gambit's top 10 political stories of 2011

Our friends at Gambit look back on the political stories of 2011: Political corruption. The GOP capturing both houses of the Louisiana Legislature. Gov. Bobby Jindal coasting to re-election while...

United Way planting early learning seeds

The United Way of Acadiana's two new early learning centers slated to open early next year are perfectly aligned with the learning philosophies of incoming Lafayette Parish School System...

Third Circuit orders Rubin to allow Durel's appeal

City-Parish President Joey Durel's appeal of Fifteenth Judicial District Judge Ed Rubin's contempt ruling will go forward. Fifteenth Judicial District Judge Ed Rubin ruled Oct. 31 that City-Parish...

LCG signs comprehensive plan contract

Work on a $1.2 million plan on how to address Lafayette Parish's future growth is expected to begin early next year and take 18 months to complete. A comprehensive plan almost two decades in the...

La. nabs small piece of Race to the Top pie

The third time's a charm for Louisiana, one of seven states splitting a third (and much smaller) round of federal Race to the Top education grant money. The state Department of Education is getting a...

Census: La. population growing

New data released this week by the U.S. Census Bureau shows that more people are moving into Louisiana than are moving out, reversing a decades-long trend. New data released this week by the U.S....

As Perry dims, Jindal shines

Jindal stumped in Iowa with Perry this week, and where Perry committed his usual gaffes, Jindal came off as smart and in command of information. The Times-Picayune's Stephanie Grace offered the best...

HUD: ex-commissioners can't meet at agency's offices

The attorney for three former (or is it current?) LHA board members told members of the media Monday that the trio will resume meeting at the housing authority's offices. Not so, says HUD spokeswoman...

The Perry Effect

The Times Picayune's Stephanie Grace explores Gov. Bobby Jindal's loyalty to Texas Gov. Rick Perry's tumbling presidential campaign. With Texas Gov. Rick Perry now trailing far behind his opponents in...

Bars re-file federal suit vs. LCG

The suit seeks to recover what the bars have paid to LCG since the levy was established in 2009, which, if successful, could potentially put Lafayette taxpayers on the hook for well over $1...

Roemer headed to Americans Elect?

Squeezed out by a lack of finances and ignored by the Republican establishment in the race to secure the GOP presidential nomination, Buddy Roemer may turn to an non-partisan, online...

La. sues Interior over Gulf boundaries

Vitter: "Interior's action will cause loss of revenue to the state of Louisiana inconsistent with federal law. Louisiana should not be the victim of unilateral agency action." Louisiana...

Opt-out, levy repeal shot down

The Lafayette City-Parish Council sided with efficiency, modernization and, yes, reason, on Tuesday night. The Lafayette City-Parish Council sided with efficiency, modernization and, yes, reason, on...

Bar levy repeal up for vote

Some bar owners have long argued that they already pay sales taxes and the levy is an unfair, additional tax by local government. The Lafayette City-Parish Council will vote Tuesday on an ordinance...

Smart meter opt-out on council agenda

The smart meters are being partially funded by an $11.6 million federal grant and will allow customers to better monitor their utility usage. The Lafayette City-Parish Council will vote Tuesday on an...

Bowman's Buswell in jail pending Oct. fraud trial

U.S. Attorney Stephanie Finley says the former owner of Lafayette-based Bowman Investment Group, accused of causing approximately 100 area investors to lose more than $8 million, will sit in jail...

N.O. Bowl Wrapup - Who would've thunk it ...

Saturday's pulsating 32-30 Cajun win in the New Orleans Bowl fit into the storybook tale that was UL's 2011 football season. New Orleans Bowl Update: Sunday, 12/18, 4 p.m. NEW ORLEANS -- Down by a...

N.O. Bowl Final: Cajuns 32, San Diego State 30

Brett Baer's 50-yard field goal on the final play gives the Cajuns an improbable win in the New Orleans Bowl. NEW ORLEANS The Cinderella season got its storybook ending, thanks to Brett Baer. And...

Game update: Cajuns 26, Aztecs 17

Gautier-to-Lawson once again gives Cajuns nine-point fourth-quarter lead in New Orleans Bowl. Game Update: Cajuns 26, Aztecs 17 NEW ORLEANS UL quarterback Blaine Gautier and wide receiver Javone...

Game update: Cajuns 19, Aztecs 17, end 3rd quarter

The Cajuns take a two-point lead into the fourth quarter of the New Orleans Bowl, in front of a bowl record crowd. Game Update: Cajuns 19, Aztecs 17 NEW ORLEANS San Diego State cut into UL's margin...

Game update: Cajuns 19, Aztecs 10

The Cajuns still hold a nine-point lead midway through the third quarter of the New Orleans Bowl. Game Update: Cajuns 19, Aztecs 10 NEW ORLEANS UL's football team missed out on a scoring opportunity...

Game update: Cajuns 19, Aztecs 10

Both UL and San Diego State score in the first 2:06 of the first half at the New Orleans Bowl, but the Cajuns still lead early in the third quarter. Game Update: Cajuns 19, Aztecs 10 NEW ORLEANS Like...

Game update: Cajuns 13, Aztecs 3, halftime

The Cajuns controlled play in most areas of the first half of the New Orleans Bowl, and one big play helped them forge a 13-3 halftime lead. Game Update: Cajuns 13, Aztecs 3, halftime NEW ORLEANS UL...

Game update: Cajuns 13, Aztecs 3

Number 87 goes 87 yards as Darryl Surgent's punt return TD gives the Cajuns a 13-3 lead. Game Update: Cajuns 13, Aztecs 3 NEW ORLEANS Sophomore Darryl Surgent returned a punt 87 yards for a touchdown...

Game update: Cajuns 6, Aztecs 3

Blaine Gautier hit Javone Lawson for the New Orleans Bowl's first touchdown as UL took a 6-3 lead after one period. Game Update: Cajuns 6, Aztecs 3, end 1st quarter NEW ORLEANS After a couple of...

Game update: Aztecs 3, Cajuns 0

San Diego State draws first blood, but the Cajuns have some solid defensive stops early. .N.O. Bowl Update Saturday, 12/17,8:30 p.m. NEW ORLEANS Not the smoothest start for the Ragin' Cajuns, even...

Game update: Aztecs 3, Cajuns 0

N.O. Bowl Update Saturday, 12/17, 8:25 p.m. NEW ORLEANS Not the smoothest start for the Ragin' Cajuns, even though they stopped San Diego State running back Ronnie Hillman for negative yards on three...

N.O. Bowl Update - Focus shifts to the field

The Cajuns are on the Superdome turf, and the Aztecs should be shortly as the crowd begins to flow its way into the building 45 minutes before kickoff. [Editor's Note: Visit theind.com throughout the...

N.O. Bowl Update - The party that never ends ...

The tailgating activities around and inside the Superdome were unprecedented for the New Orleans Bowl. [Editor's Note: Visit theind.com throughout the day for Dan's updates.] N.O. Bowl Update...

N.O. Bowl Update - Taking it to the streets

It's a sea of red on the streets of the Downtown District as the Ragin' Cajun faithful slowly make their way to the Superdome for tonight's New Orleans Bowl. [Editor's Note: Visit theind.com...

N.O. Bowl Update - Almost tailgating time

The Cajun Nation is eight hours from kickoff of the New Orleans Bowl, and the pre-game activities are about to commence. [Editor's Note: Visit theind.com throughout the day for Dan's updates.] N.O....

Roemer gaining ground in NH?

Former Louisiana congressman and Gov. Buddy Roemer has jumped ahead of sagging, silly Texas Gov. Rick Perry in a new poll in New Hampshire. Former Louisiana congressman and Gov. Buddy Roemer has...

Will education ties in Legis hamper Jindal agenda?

A new rundown of ties to public education by members of Legislature call into question whether Gov. Bobby Jindal will have the sweeping support he needs for widespread systemic reform of public...

Mid-year cuts looming at Capitol

The state's revenue estimators missed the mark again, leaving the governor's office 30 days to make almost $200 million more in budget cuts halfway through the fiscal year. The state's revenue...

Board bids farewell to Lemoine

The Lafayette Parish School Board honored retiring schools Superintendent Burnell Lemoine's 20 years of employment in the Lafayette Parish School System with a plaque given at Lemoine's final board...

Big shoes to fill at LCVC

After three decades as the top tourism official in the parish, Gerald Breaux is stepping down. The news came as a surprise to us and apparently everyone in the Lafayette Convention and Visitors...

Pastor acquitted on domestic violence charge

Bishop Jarvis Harmon, pastor of True Vine Ministries, was found not guilty Wednesday following an eight-hour bench trial. A Lafayette cleric arrested in September 2010 following a physical altercation...

Cooper is our super

Effective Feb. 1, Dr. Pat Cooper will be the next superintendent of Lafayette Parish public schools. [Editor's note: This story has been updated to include more information from the Lafayette Parish...

Robideaux halts speaker run

House Speaker Pro Tem Joel Robideaux confirmed Tuesday that he is ending his campaign for speaker of the House. House Speaker Pro Tem Joel Robideaux confirmed Tuesday that he is ending his campaign...

Porsha Evans takes her back-pay claim to court

Like three fired case managers before her, the political activist and radio personality claims she is owed back pay from the Lafayette Housing Authority. Beatrice Wilson is now the fourth terminated...

Wanted: Oversight

Gambit's Clancy DuBos takes Jindal to task on transparency and a privatized Medicaid management system in serious need of oversight. A new report from an independent government watchdog warns that...

EPA decries La.'s lax enforcement

A DEQ spokesman, understandably, takes issue with the report. A new report by the Environmental Protection Agency's inspector general characterizes Louisiana as one of the worst states at enforcing...

Family takes on Chevron in fight to save land

Sabine Pipe Line, a Chevron subsidiary, is trying to expropriate property along Vermilion Parish's Henry Hub, a move landowners claim is an attempt by the big oil company to skirt paying an estimated...

LEAP testing on the chopping block

The test fourth- and eighth-graders must pass to move to fifth and ninth grades is being eliminated in the state. The Advocate reported this week that the Louisiana Educational Assessment Program,...

Gr-r-reat! Judge nixes Sandlin motion

In November Tiger Truck Stop owner Michael Sandlin was ordered to move the tiger, named Tony, from the truck stop after an animal-right's groups successfully sued the state Department of Wildlife and...

Fight looms over foreign-worker wage

A showdown in Congress is on the horizon as labor unions and seasonal employers stake out turf over a federal rule set to take effect Jan. 1 that would raise the pay by 50 percent of migrant...

Feds link fracking to water contamination

"The contaminants had most likely seeped up from gas wells and contained at least 10 compounds known to be used in frack fluids." For the first time, federal scientists have concluded in a...

Eco-friendly living minutes from downtown

With the financial backing of the LPTFA, a UL architecture prof and his students aim to steer Lafayette to energy efficiency while reinvigorating a downtown neighborhood. Eco-friendly real estate may...

Busted in Acadiana returns

A new, small-scale version of the former Acadiana mug shot mecca claims to have no association with Christopher Hebert. A Dec. 3 message appearing on a new Busted! in Acadiana Facebook page says it...

La. among worst-run states

The top five states on the list in descending order are Wyoming, Nebraska, North Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa. The website 24/7 Wall Street.com, an investor guide, has ranked Louisiana 42nd on its list...

LPSS super search winding down

A forum will be held at the LITE Center Dec. 13 to introduce the three remaining superintendent candidates to the public, followed by a special Lafayette Parish School Board meeting Dec. 14 for the...

BP fines could equal big jobs along the Gulf Coast

A study from Duke University outlines 140 businesses in 37 states that could create jobs if hired to do coastal restoration work funded by BP oil spill fines. The billions in fines BP is expected to...

Tea Party losing its luster

Fewer Americans are drinking the tea. While more than half of those surveyed by the Pew Research Center Nov. 9-14 still won't say whether they support the Tea Party movement, more have a negative...

Women's caucus down to 16 members

[Sixteen] women out of 2,314,080 women in Louisiana will help to enact laws in the 2012-2016 term of the Louisiana Legislature.' Three Acadiana women state lawmakers belong to a shrinking group of...

Downtown levy up for debate, repeal

The levy, which is based on each bar's capacity and ranges from $186 per month for Frankie's Bar & Grill to Karma's $4,870 monthly fee, has been a point of contention between some bar owners and...

C'est what redux: Jindal parroting new party line?

What we only alluded to, and what deserves a little more scrutiny, is the timing of Jindal's comments. Photo Illustration (d'uh) We reported Thursday on Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal's apparent...

Grand 16: We're bed-bug free

The Grand 16 on Johnston Street held a press conference Wednesday morning to showcase its bed-bug free facility. Photo by Robin May Jim Latimer and Deuce inspect for bed bugs at The Grand 16 on...

Study a mixed bag for La.

It's not all bad, but a new study by the liberal advocacy group Center for American Progress Action Fund underscores the widespread perception that Louisiana is a lagging, flagging banana...

C'est What? Jindal defends Occupy movement

They're articulating a genuine frustration from hardworking Americans.' Gov. Bobby Jindal says he identifies with the spirit of Occupy Wall Street. I repeat: Bobby Jindal has publicly sympathized with...

Party on, Wayne

Our hearts are heavy to report that Wayne Ditch, a fixture on Lafayette's art scene, has passed away. Wayne Ditch Our hearts are heavy to report that Wayne Ditch, a fixture and tremendous force on...

LCG resumes fighting its junk vehicle ordinance

A civil lawsuit questioning the constitutionality of an almost 15-year-old junked vehicle ordinance' enacted in 1997 is returning to court after a five-year hiatus. An LCG ordinance that declares...

Stelly - again - defends eponymous tax plan

"I'm proud of myself, and my family's proud of me, so I don't regret it. Ten years later, for good or bad, my name is still mentioned." With the regularity of the election cycle, former...

All in the family: Jindal beefs up staff

Gov. Bobby Jindal has appointed to key administration positions the brother and brother-in-law of his former chief of staff. Gov. Bobby Jindal has appointed to key administration positions the brother...

Another one LITEs the dust

Yet another top official has departed LITE. The Daily Advertiser reported Monday that Monica Laverne, the Louisiana Immersive Technologies Enterprise's chief operating officer since April 2009, has...

Are voters 'fatigued'?

Secretary of State Tom Schedler points to too many elections in Louisiana - and at great public expense - for the low numbers. Secretary of State Tom Schedler, Louisiana's chief election official,...

Aguillard withdraws from LPSS super search

A week after the Lafayette Parish School Board approved the list of its top three candidates for superintendent, one of the finalists has withdrawn his application. St. Mary Parish Superintendent of...

BESE stacked in Jindal's favor

Baton Rouge businessman Lane Grigsby's PAC, Alliance for Better Classrooms, enjoyed big wins in Saturday's BESE elections. Baton Rouge businessman Lane Grigsby's Political Action Committee, Alliance...

Big win: Stephen Ortego upsets Don Menard

[Editor's Note: This blog has been updated to correct inaccurate poll numbers from Ortego's 2007 bid for District 39 state rep., as well as to omit the word 'Cajun' from Ortego's platform of French...

Acadiana Democrats: Stayin' Alive?

Hold off on the obituary.' Acadiana lawmakers have been steadily flocking to the Republican Party as part of a statewide push for a supermajority, but this year's legislative race circuit has shown a...

Thumbs up for parks in Broussard, Youngsville

A majority of voters in two Lafayette Parish cities believe parks are a good financial investment in their communities. The pervasive anti-tax sentiment in our community apparently does not apply when...

La. appeals court: citizen arrest for DUI OK

The case stems from an incident on New Year's Eve 2006 in which a police detective who was off duty and out of his jurisdiction at the time pulled over a man whose pickup was swerving on the...

Did Broussard steal water from LUS?

The small Lafayette Parish town is about to get a "substantial" bill from the utility company. The small Lafayette Parish town is about to get a "substantial" bill from the utility...

Out of Line: Did Broussard steal water from LUS?

The Lafayette Parish city is about to get a "substantial" bill from Lafayette Utilities System, and its wholesale contract with LUS could be in jeopardy. The Lafayette Parish city is about...

A note to our readers

The Independent's email system will be down for maintenance from late Friday until early Monday. Because the edit staff manually moderates and approves - and in some cases blocks - comments posted by...

Superintendent selection delayed

The Lafayette Parish School Board will hold a special meeting Dec. 14 to select the district's new superintendent, just one week later than the original date outlined in the tentative superintendent...

‘Occupy' movement pops up in Lafayette

On a crisp, clear afternoon in downtown Lafayette Thursday, fewer than a dozen residents gathered at the edge of Parc Putnam on Lafayette Street across from the federal courthouse to show their...

Iberia Parish election reliving politics of yore

[Editor's Note: This blog has been altered to reflect a phone call made to The Ind by Shane Romero, who denies any involvement in the anonymous email circulated in reference to Iberia CAO Sally...

Guest Editorial: Crime Doesn't Pay

'We know that crime and illiteracy correlate, so why don't we do something about it?  Other states have.' Most people don't think of education when they think of prison.  They think of punishment,...

Where is Vince Pierre employed?

The House District 44 candidate's campaign has repeatedly said that Vince Pierre is co-owner of a dry cleaning business, though a manager for Dry Clean Super Center says Pierre is not an owner or...

Group targets La. income tax on poor

The policy "runs counter to decades of efforts by policymakers across the political spectrum to help families work their way out of poverty." In a report released this week, the nonpartisan...

Pierre and Hardy share jabs

Pierre bobs and weaves The Ind, just as Hardy finally sets foot into the debate ring. In a strange, body-switching turn of events, businessman Vincent Pierre dodged questions from a media outlet -...

Top three super candidates selected tonight

The Lafayette Parish School Board is holding a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday to narrow down the superintendent applicants from 10 to three. Two Lafayette civic groups have spoken on their top...

Clara Baudoin endorses Ortego

Former longtime state Rep. Clara Baudoin, who held the District 39 seat for 12 years, is making a first-time endorsement and throwing her support behind state rep. candidate Stephen Ortego. Former...

Robideaux endorses Naquin

"Andy is the fair-minded, thoughtful and fiscally conservative leader we need on the council. I look forward to working closely with Andy for the next four years." State Rep. Joel Robideaux,...

Caldwell challenges La. lot in U.S. House

"Louisiana's complaint simply asks the Court to require the federal government to recalculate the 2010 apportionment of U.S. House of Representative seats based on legal residents - just as the...

Pierre threatens to nix debate

"Every time he's in the paper it's negative in relation to someone that is quote-unquote a negative figure in the community." District 44 House of Representatives candidate Vince Pierre on...

Roemer mulling third-party bid?

Roemer has made campaign finance reform a centerpiece of his candidacy, railing about the corrupting influence of corporate money on the American electoral process. Barred from Republican primary...

Developer interest spurs Ambassador takeover

The transfer will provide for LCG control relative to approval and/or permitting of development activities. The Lafayette City-Parish Council will vote Tuesday on an ordinance for final adoption that...

Hardy, Pierre set for debate

Hardy garnered 43 percent of the vote to Pierre's 40 percent in the three-person primary Oct. 22. The candidates in the Nov. 19 runoff for the state House of Representatives District 44 seat will...

FoodNet drives awareness

Lafayette's Junior League will be helping to educate the public on child food insecurity as well as collecting non-perishable food donations Nov. 13. Lafayette's Junior League will be helping to...

Yippee! Ayreshire Drive bridge is open

Five loooooong months of detours are over. Finally, I can resume my after-work stops at Little Veron's. The bridge that runs alongside the grocery store on Ayreshire Drive has reopened after five...

Friday is deadline for tickets to hear coach Hud

You need to secure your spot before 3 p.m. Friday. UL's turnaround coach Mark Hudspeth makes his Independent Lecture Series debut Tuesday, Nov. 15, three days after what will hopefully be a victory on...

Yikes! Bed bugs at The Grand 16?

The movie theater company's chief operating officer didn't explicitly confirm bed bugs at The Grand Theatre on Johnston Street, but he didn't deny them either. An executive with Southern Theatres...

$80 million federal broadband grant is history

Newspaper headlines across the state indicate that Gov. Bobby Jindal's only shot at saving an $80 million federal broadband grant for rural areas might be a personal "hat in his hand" visit...

Bar owners to appeal liquor suspensions

The failure to pay the monthly levy, which helps defray the cost of additional police details downtown on busy weekends, is apparently intentional by the bars in an effort to force the issue into...

State cuts have LEH tightening belt

"The impact of these funding cuts does not fall solely on the LEH, but more importantly on the 605 organizations we have partnered with over the last 40 years, threatening the partnerships that...

Sparks flying in District 24 Senate race

The animosity between incumbent state Sen. Elbert Guillory and Opelousas Mayor Don Cravins is old news, but which candidate will etch out a win Nov. 19 with voter turnout estimated at 10...

Doré endorses Doise

The Nov. 19 runoff has over the last several days revealed a rift in Republican politics in Lafayette Parish. District 6 CPC hopeful Jared Doise, left, receives the backing of incumbent Sam Doré, who...

Comeaux joins Durel in backing Doise

Comeaux cites Doise's business savvy for the endorsement. Assessor Conrad Comeaux Support from mainstream Republican elected officials in Lafayette Parish for City-Parish Council District 6 candidate...

EPA's ‘Watch List' made public

Almost 30 companies or facilities in Louisiana appear on the EPA's Watch List that details facilities throughout the country that are chronic or serious violators' of the Clean Air Act. A joint...

Early voting starts Saturday

Runoffs, tax props and another Constitutional amendment are all on the early voting ballot for the Nov. 19 election, depending on where you live. Early voting for the Nov. 19 election begins Saturday,...

Durel backs Doise in CPC 6

"If you are a supporter of mine and voted for me in this past election, please don't send me another person that is simply 'against.' " In an email to supporters on Friday, City-Parish...

Grosse Tete cat clink nixed - again

For the second time this year a district court judge in Baton Rouge has put the kabosh on Tiger Truck Stop owner Michael Sandlin's bid to keep a 550-pound Bengal-Siberian tiger in captivity as a...

Appeals court sides with educator over school board

"While the LPSB may have discretion ... that discretion simply does not extend to allow it to offer a contract for a term of less than two years." The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal has...

Jones accuses KJCB, Pierre of slander

[Editor's Note: This story was updated at 5:25 p.m. Tuesday after Vincent Pierre issued a statement.] Roshell Jones has asked KJCB radio and District 44 state rep challenger Vincent Pierre to...

Rubin: Durel in contempt

District Judge Ed Rubin ordered the city-parish president to pay a $258 fine and perform eight hours of community service. Fifteenth Judicial District Judge Ed Rubin ruled Monday that City-Parish...

Is Lafayette really a 'Cool Town'?

Nov. 9 summit at LITE aims to answer that question. In 2003 Southern Business & Development magazine named Lafayette one of the 10 "Coolest Cities in the South." In 2006, Entrepreneur...

Jones endorses Hardy

UPDATE:  Roshell Jones, a Lafayette lawyer who received a respectable 17 percent at the polls in her bid for District 44 state rep., announced at a press conference Friday she's endorsing incumbent...

Waste station ordinance heads for law books

Next stop - court. Without City-Parish President Joey Durel's signature, the controversial City-Parish Council ordinance blocking construction of a waste facility on Sunbeam Lane will go into effect...

La. judges building their case for pay raise

A new review of how judges' pay in Louisiana stacks up with others should be released in January and could build a case for asking leges for a raise. The Advocate reported that the Legislature could...

Board games tainting LPSS super search

'If you're going to make it fair and gain the trust of the community, if we want to one day see taxes passed to rebuild the facilities, we've got to get the simple things right when it comes to a...

Lafayette's middle class 6th fastest-growing in U.S.

A USA Today analysis shows Lafayette's middle income group, those making $20,700 to $99,900 a year, grew 4.1 percent from 2006 to 2010. Using Census date, USA Today ranked Lafayette's middle income...

Report: Jindal backing Alario for Senate prez

Lafayette's Robideaux to meet with Jindal today regarding House speaker post. The Times-Picayune is reporting that Sen. John Alario, R-Westwego, has won the backing of Gov. Bobby Jindal in his bid to...

Tucker yet to concede sec. of state race

Louisiana's term-limited House speaker tells a New Orleans TV station that he'll wait until the voting machines are opened and tabulated by local election officials before acknowledging...

Amid Jindal staff changes, Michot remains mum

Months of speculation that term-limited Lafayette state Sen. Mike Michot may be headed to the Jindal administration is heating up, but Michot isn't talking. Months of speculation that term-limited...

Post decon vote, Boudreaux ready to move on charter

"I'm hoping that the PAC that was created and raised all that money to oppose this, I hope they put their money behind it to fix it." After an overwhelming rejection of deconsolidation at...

District 24's Scott says he won't endorse

Kelly J. Scott, who ran third in the hotly contested Senate District 24 race between incumbent Elbert Guillory and challenger Donald Cravins, told The Daily Advertiser he will not endorse either...

Across the board, Boffy crushes Bayard

Louisiana Teacher of the Year Holly Boffy handily defeated incumbent BESE member Dale Bayard, securing every single Lafayette Parish precinct in Saturday's primary. Lafayette's Holly Boffy,...

KATC reporter linked to Jindal's campaign coffers

Gov. Bobby Jindal's campaign finance reports detail almost $2,000 in payments made by Jindal's 2011 campaign to KATC reporter Chris Welty. KATC Reporter Chris Welty has been moonlighting as a campaign...

Youngsville annexation suit settled

"We're very pleased with it," Youngsville Mayor Wilson Viator says of the settlement. "This is going to help us move forward." The city of Youngsville has resolved a more than...

Top prop-tax payers facing huge increases

The companies that pay the most in property tax will shell out a combined $3.6 million more each year should the proposed increase pass Saturday. Should the property tax increase pass Saturday,...

Laf. delegation goes whole hog for Dardenne

Five Lafayette Republican legislators and one Democratic state rep endorsed Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne's re-election bid Thursday. As Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser's campaign struggles...

Nungesser still touting faux endorsements

Despite that area mayors have asked him set the record straight, by this morning Billy Nungesser had yet to pull down a post from his facebook page with inaccurate information concerning area mayoral...

Polls gauge community opinion of LPSS

The public has spoken, and it's ready for more accountability, better allocation of resources and a "shared vision" between the Lafayette Parish School Board, education officials and...

Hebert: CPC vote could cost LCG millions

City-Parish attorney Mike Hebert has advised the City-Parish Council that a vote in favor of an ordinance to block the construction of a waste transfer station in an unincorporated section of...

Local mayors: We did not endorse Nungesser

Update 2: It's now up to four mayors the Billy Nungesser campaign claims endorsed him who say they did no such thing. Update: Tuesday at 12:14 p.m. The Independent received an email from Billy...

Boffy distances herself from anti-Bayard ad

Meanwhile, the BESE District 7 race could figure into Lafayette Rep. Joel Robideaux's bid for speaker of the House. Lafayette Republican and former Louisiana Teacher of the Year Holly Boffy has urged...

So little says so much about District 9 councilman

A year later, William Theriot remains a couillon on da loose. Surely it's a mistake we thought at first, awaiting a clarification of some sort in today's Daily Advertiser. But none came. District 9...

Conservative group targets candidates

The Taxpayers Union of Louisiana is targeting members of the Legislature who voted in 2008 to double their pay. The Taxpayers Union of Louisiana, an offshoot of the conservative National Taxpayers...

Theall leads in new poll

Division M district judge candidate Susan Theall leads among three candidates heading into the Oct. 22 election, but the largest block of likely voters in the poll remain undecided. [Editor's Note:...

Billy Nungesser: Running hard. For something

Nungesser was nonplussed by questions from Jay Dardenne about the very office he's been campaigning for. Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne and his hard-charging opponent, Plaquemines Parish President Billy...

District 39 race rumbling

The Democratic State Central Committee has entered the fray in the increasingly contentious House District 39 race, taking aim at the lone Republican in the contest. The Democratic State Central...

Dumber Crunch

9.6: Percent of District 9 voters who sent William Theriot to the City-Parish Council in November 2007. 9.6 Percent of District 9 voters who sent William Theriot to the City-Parish Council in November...

This Week in Crazy: BIA's ‘bail fund'

A website designed to accept donations on behalf of Busted in Acadiana administrator Christopher Hebert launched Oct. 6 while Hebert was still behind bars on charges of stalking and...

Ethics Board clears Latiolais

District 5 hopeful Britt Latiolais requested an opinion from the board because his employer has a contract with Lafayette Consolidated Government. Britt Latiolais, the challenger against incumbent...

La. woman sues Facebook

Claiming that Facebook policies run afoul of federal and state statutes, an East Baton Rouge Parish woman has filed a federal lawsuit against the social networking website seeking unspecified...

Roemer to join OWS

Breaking from the anti-Occupy Wall Street narrative largely embraced by the GOP field for president, former Louisiana congressman and Gov. Buddy Roemer announced on Twitter that he plans to join the...

LAE endorses Hollis

The Louisiana Association of Educators' political action committee has endorsed north Louisiana special-education teacher Tara Hollis' David-v-Goliath bid for Louisiana governor. Tara Hollis The...

LPSS readies for districtwide open house

Less than two weeks before voters decide whether to invest in unprecedented school repairs and new construction, the Lafayette Parish School System is opening all schools in the district from 6 to 8...

Early voting begins Saturday

Voters wanting to beat the lines at the polls on Oct. 22 can take advantage of an early voting period that begins Saturday and runs through Saturday, Oct. 15. Voters wanting to beat the lines at the...

Jindal snubs gubernatorial debate

If Jindal debates in a forest and no one hears, did the debate really take place? Not according to Jindal's argument. Gov. Bobby Jindal will not participate in a gubernatorial candidate debate with...

Gachassins supporting Hardy's opponent

About 60 percent of District 44 challenger Vince Pierre's political contributions come from the family of development consultant Greg Gachassin, the subject of state Rep. Rickey Hardy's ethics...

ACLU takes on Ville Platte curfew

The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana and Lafayette attorney William Goode are suing the Evangeline Parish town over a "walking curfew" that the ACLU claims singles out residents...

‘Occupy' movement flares in NOLA

The Occupy Wall Street movement has spread to at least 80 other cities. A screen shot from live streaming video shows what appears to be Occupy New Orleans protesters in front of City Hall. The...

Busted in Acadiana is busted - literally

It was only a matter of time. Christopher Hebert, the immoral mastermind behind the Facebook mug shot fan page Busted in Acadiana, was booked into the Lafayette Parish Jail Wednesday afternoon on one...

Stelly Plan haunting statewide races

Even though the Stelly Plan was voter-approved, the Legislature also approved the plan, and two former state senators who are now the incumbent secretary of state and lieutenant governor are being...

Poll shows lt. gov., sec. of state races close

As numbers for both races indicate, there remains a high percentage of undecided voters. A poll conducted Sept. 29-Oct. 1 by JMC Enterprises on behalf of The Hayride, a conservative Louisiana...

Blueprint releases reform agenda

Blueprint Louisiana's reform agenda for the next legislative session includes a wide range of proposals, from reforming public-school teacher tenure to making nonviolent offenders eligible for early...

Chamber issues endorsements, passes on some races

The Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce's political action committee, Empower PAC, has issued endorsements in races that will appear on ballots in Lafayette Parish on Oct. 22, throwing its weight...

Michot signs on with anti charter repeal effort

"I am pleased to be working with Don Bacque and True PAC to keep consolidated government and oppose deconsolidation." State Sen. Mike Michot State Sen. Mike Michot, R-Lafayette, has joined...

March for munchies set for Friday

The grassroots, nonpartisan group that has been agitating for the legalization of marijuana will stage an awareness march this afternoon. Legalize Louisiana, the grassroots, nonpartisan group that has...

Shelvin's contributors: Here's the list

District 3 City-Parish Councilman Brandon Shelvin's list of campaign contributors includes a controversial developer of low-income housing, a major cable television corporation, a member of the...

Theriot submits RedFlex ordinance

The measure is not retroactive - it only applies to the RedFlex contract and if approved would be triggered next year when the end of the one-year extension approaches. The Lafayette City-Parish...

Former Acadiana High teacher Hurst gets 27 years

Stephen Hurst's sick mind has put him behind bars for almost three decades. Saying the guidelines were not harsh enough, U.S. District Judge Richard Haik Wednesday sentenced former Acadiana High...

Campaign finances reported

Diving into the data, there's some interesting information, notably the fundraising disparity between the candidates in City-Parish Council District 3. The state Ethics Administration has posted...

LPTFA taking over Joie de Vivre?

The troubled Acadiana Outreach Center hopes the Lafayette Public Trust Financing Authority will keep its Joie de Vivre project alive. Still reeling from gross mismanagement at its Abbeville treatment...

C'est what? Cajuns No. 23 in one BCS ranking

First, hell yeah! Now, the head scratching. First, hell yeah! Now, the head scratching. One of the six computer polls used in the complicated and often exasperating Bowl Championship Series formula...

Dardenne-Nungesser getting chippy

Both men are Republicans and evidently unaware of Ronald Reagan's "11th Commandment." With less than a month remaining before the Oct. 22 election, the race between Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne and...

NJ Gov. Christie coming to La.

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who isn't running for president, will join Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, who isn't running for vice president, at a fundraiser Thursday in Baton Rouge... New Jersey Gov....

Boffy trumping Bayard in campaign contributions

Calling it "perhaps the most-watched race" for a spot on the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, The Times-Picayune reports District 7 BESE candidate and retired teacher Holly Boffy...

CPC to finalize budget Tuesday

Tuesday's budget finalization could bring some discord to the council chamber, both via District 9 Councilman William Theriot... The Lafayette City-Parish Council will finalize City-Parish President...

C'est what? Nursing supplies tax-free Oct. 1

If you're abreast of the myriad tax breaks offered by the state of Louisiana, you know that beginning Oct. 1 Louisiana will stop levying its four-cent sales tax on breast-feeding supplies. If you're...

Huval defends LUS Fiber loan

"For some time now, LUS Fiber has been bringing in more revenues than its costs to provide services." An interesting thing happened at the end of the on-line version of The Daily...

SOS: Would-be voters beware

The Louisiana Secretary of State's Elections Compliance Unit is warning state residents about what it's characterizing as a fraudulent voter-registration website. The Louisiana Secretary of State's...

LHA fighting Williams' suit?

A closed meeting involving HUD officials and LHA's new COO appears to indicate former City-Parish Councilman Chris Williams may actually have to prove his case for backpay. [Editor's Note: This story...

Hardy-Pierre match getting ugly?

As predicted, the state House District 44 race is becoming heated a month out from the Oct. 22 election. As predicted, the state House District 44 race is becoming heated a month out from the Oct. 22...

EWE coming to Hub City

Former Gov. Edwin Edwards will be in Lafayette on Thursday, Sept. 29 for a book signing at Trynd. Former Gov. Edwin Edwards will be in Lafayette on Thursday, Sept. 29 for a book signing at...

Best, brightest leaving state

More people with advanced graduate degrees are leaving Louisiana. The Advocate reported Thursday that while the state is gaining more population than it loses, Louisiana lost 1,990 more people with...

Parking, schmarking. UL plans bike-leasing program

The Cajun bike will offer an alternative to fighting the mad traffic and parking issues on and around campus. A weather-resistant, smooth pedaling bicycle will be an added transit option for UL...

Supreme Court sends LHA board saga back to Rubin

The state Supreme Court followed the Third Circuit in dealing another blow to City-Parish President Joey Durel and the C-P council on their decision to remove Lafayette Housing Authority board...

Advocacy for LPSS prop under way

Pproponents of the plan argue that putting off these repairs, upgrades and school replacements will cost  more the longer the parish waits. A political action committe formed in mid-August in support...

C'est what? Fleming laments $600K take-home pay

"By the time I feed my family, I have maybe $400,000 left over." U.S. Rep. John Fleming, R-Disconnected, has one hungry family. The north Louisiana congressman and physician, who also owns...

Gauthier: RedFlex extension invalid

Former assistant Lafayette city attorney Lester Gauthier, in an opinion issued Saturday, says he believes the one-year extension of Lafayette Consolidated Government's contract with RedFlex was...

Black chamber debate slated for Wednesday

Candidates for House District 44 and Senate District 24 will square off Wednesday night, but at least one incumbent says he won't be attending. Lafayette's Black Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring a...

Stagg campaigns on YouTube

"Joey Durel says he's conservative, but he's liberal with your money." Democrat Mike Stagg, who is vying to unseat City-Parish President Joey Durel on Oct. 22, has taken his campaign to the...

AOC's Bowie: Get informed, participate

The free flow and exchange of information is as important to our democracy as water is to our health. [Editor's Note: The following was submitted by Ed Bowie, executive director of Acadiana Open...

'Hardly' targeted by Black Action Network

"Hi, I am Rickey Hardly, and I came her to kick some butt..." State Rep. Rickey Hardy - or Hardly, as he's referred to in some circles - is the subject of an animated parody video posted...

‘Acadiana Debates' rebroadcast next week

The debates included candidates in state House districts 39, 42, 44 and 96; Senate District 24 and City-Parish Council districts 1 and 3. Acadiana Open Channel will re-air the series of debates that...

Rochon in, Shelvin unconfirmed for debate

Lloyd Rochon says he's looking forward to tonight's discussion about how to improve his district. But will he be the only District 3 candidate doing the talking? Lloyd Rochon, Carencro's city manager...

Chamber: Don't repeal charter

"The business community feels that those problems can be solved without a formal separation of the two governments." The Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce's board of directors has voted...

Jindal weighs in on Oct. 22 election

While none of the endorsements was particularly surprising, Jindal's decision not to issue an endorsement in several races, including legislative races that will be voted on in Lafayette Parish, is...

Up Against - Himself

Stephen Handwerk, executive producer of Acadiana Debates, takes issue with Walter Pierce's one-sided editorial. [Stephen Handwerk serves in many roles that intersect with this project. He serves on...

W. furniture saga stretches to Baton Rouge

For the dozens of Lafayette residents still waiting for their prepaid furniture and décor to arrive from the now defunct W. Home Furnishings in River Ranch, a group of Baton Rouge shoppers is looking...

BP back at La. beach after TS Lee

Ninety workers and more than a dozen technicians will work seven days per week until the cleanup is finished. The Times-Picayune is reporting Tuesday that BP is dispatching cleanup crews to Fourchon...

Jindal backs Perry

Is Gov. Bobby Jindal positioning himself as the vice presidential candidate on the 2012 Republican ticket? Hard to say - but worth the speculation. Is Gov. Bobby Jindal positioning himself as the vice...

CPC to wrap up budget hearings

The nine-member panel began combing through the budget in early August; final adoption is scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 27. The Lafayette City-Parish Council is scheduled to conclude discussion...

Dr. Pat Cooper applies for LPSS superintendent

A former teacher and state Department of Education supervisor, Cooper is widely known for his nontraditional education reform that has produced astounding turnarounds on high school graduation...

Progressive group, Dems host candidate forums

The forums will focus on House/Senate districts and CPC 1. A series of political forums featuring candidates for several races on the Oct. 22 ballot in Lafayette Parish will begin Tuesday night and...

PAR offers amendments primer

In the state with probably the most amended constitution in the union, Louisiana voters will be asked again to alter our state charter six more times on Oct. 22. In the state with probably the most...

Field set for Oct. 22 election

Qualifying ended at 5 p.m. Thursday. There were few late surprises. Qualifying ended at 5 p.m. Thursday; the field is now determined for the upcoming election. There were few late surprises. There are...

The Oct. 22 ballot for Lafayette Parish

Know thy candidates. Voters in Lafayette Parish, depending on which state House, Senate and City-Parish Council districts they reside in, will encounter the following ballot on Oct. 22. (This list is...

Lloyd Rochon challenging Shelvin

District 3 City-Parish Councilman Brandon Shelvin has a formidable opponent. Carencro City Manager Lloyd Rochon, who vied for the District 3 City-Parish Council seat four years ago and has long vowed...

Stagg challenges Durel

"He needs to be held accountable to the voters, and if nobody else will step up, well then obviously I needed to." Lafayette Democrat Mike Stagg qualified Thursday morning to take on...

CPC field widens

The Oct. 22 ballot for seats on the Lafayette City-Parish Council is growing. The Oct. 22 ballot for seats on the Lafayette City-Parish Council is growing. A third candidate, Republican Jared Doise,...

Awbrey questions citizen appointments

LPSB superintendent search may have hit a new snag. A request by Lafayette Parish School Board member Greg Awbrey seeking an attorney general's opinion on the legality of two citizen appointments to...

Candidates lining up for Oct. 22 election

State Reps. Page Cortez and Rickey Hardy, Assessor Conrad Comeaux, House District 44 contender Vince Pierre - each popped into the Lafayette Clerk of Court's office Tuesday morning to file their...

Apartment complex, bar owners appeal to CPC

The former wants its property tax burden lowered; the latter wants a liquor license. A Lafayette apartment complex that caters to UL students is appealing its assessed value before the City-Parish...

This Week in Crazy: Ernie trash talks Robideaux

"Former state Rep. Ernie Alexander, who spoke on behalf of the Lafayette Parish Republican Executive Committee, said though having another Republican in the Legislature is beneficial, Robideaux...

Agave 'back in business' today at 5

Your margarita is waiting. Nidal Balbeisi might have broken a record. Two weeks after a fire destroyed much of Agave Mexican Grill and Cantina's kitchen, downtown's most aggressive restaurateur is...

Source: Shelvin will have an opponent

"I'm certainly not going to allow him to go into office unopposed, because he's not qualified to hold that office." District 3 City-Parish Councilman Brandon Shelvin, plagued during his...

FBers rally for Edwards pardon

A movement is afoot on Facebook urging President Barack Obama to pardon Louisiana's favorite ex-con. Count 'em: an unemployment rate hovering around 9 percent, military entanglements in the Middle...

Downtown post office not closing after all

"Our financial condition does not allow this kind of expenditure at this time." The United States Postal Service issued a press release Thursday morning indicating that the brand new post...

It's Robideaux with a capital R

"After meeting privately today with Go. Jindal and discussing the matter with him, I have decided to become a member of the Republican Party." Rep. Joel Robideaux, R-Lafayette Lafayette...

La. calls foul, sues FEMA

Louisiana claims in a lawsuit against FEMA that it's owed upwards of $2 million in reimbursements for election delays. The cash-strapped federal agency says otherwise. Louisiana Secretary of State Tom...

BESE bends the rules for LEAP cheaters

A recent decision by the state's top school board lends a big helping hand to school performance scores in Calcasieu Parish, but at what cost to statewide accountability? Prompted by a few highly...

Grrrr! Tiger Truck Stop wins appeal

A Baton Rouge appeals court on Monday tossed a district court judge's earlier ruling prohibiting the state from issuing any more permits for Michael Sandlin to maintain a live tiger display at his...

LCG carrying water for Bayou Vermilion

The overriding message is simple: Don't dump anything into the watershed you wouldn't want to drink or swim in. Lafayette Consolidated Government has embarked on a new campaign to make residents more...

Tea Party to fête candidates

The candidates being supported at the fundraiser are Jared Bellard, William Theriot, Craig Spikes and Andy Naquin. It appears the tea party movement will be a player in the upcoming elections for...

La. GOP growth has lagged behind electoral gains

Although the Louisiana Democratic Party has been hemorrhaging white voters over the last decade, the loss has largely not translated into proportional gains for state Republicans. Although the...

Poll: Americans want feds to restore wetlands

Think there is public fatigue on the issue of coastal restoration? Think again. A new national poll reveals that 91 percent of Americans believe the federal government should help restore the Gulf...

Jefferson charged, suspended indefinitely

LSU QB Jordan Jefferson and linebacker Josh Johns were charged with felony second-degree battery Friday. Visions of Ryan Perrilloux must be dancing in Les Miles' head. The Tigers' starting...

Beebe announces BESE bid

St. Martin school administrator seeks state school board job. Lottie Beebe, the current director of human resources for the St. Martin Parish School System and a longtime Acadiana teacher and school...

Incensed, Roemer camp cries ‘bulls*&t'

"It's a sad day in our country when a former Congressman, Governor, and current successful businessman is not invited to be on-stage to discuss the corrupting influences of money in politics and...

Feds floating a macabre study

It's called the "Carcass Drift Study" and it's exactly what it sounds like. It's called the "Carcass Drift Study" and it's exactly what it sounds like: Federal researchers are in...

Vitter endorses Tucker in secretary of state bid

"Jim has been a champion of Louisiana taxpayers by pushing fiscal accountability." Louisiana House Speaker Jim Tucker is touting an endorsement from U.S. Sen. David Vitter in his campaign...

Krantz takes over science museum

"It's a whole new chapter for the museum." Kevin Krantz, the exhibits curator at the Lafayette Science Museum for the last three years, has taken over the operation as the new administrator....

Chargois challenging Neustrom for sheriff

Richard A. "Rick" Chargois, a 25-year veteran of the Louisiana State Police, is challenging incumbent Lafayette Parish Sheriff Mike Neustrom Oct. 22. Richard A. "Rick" Chargois, a...

Creditors lining up to garnish Shelvin's C-P wages

It's been nearly 1.5 years since The Independent first reported on the financial troubles of City-Parish Councilman Brandon Shelvin, and although he found $1,900 earlier this month to pay off an...

C'est what? Hardy refusing campaign cash

"I have enough in my campaign war chest that I'm fine." In a sign of either supreme confidence or an epic political miscalculation, state Rep. Rickey Hardy, D-Lafayette, is refusing to...

Roll Call: Landry-Vitter forums raise eyebrows

Louisiana pollster Bernie Pinsonat characterizes the incursions into Rep. Charles Boustany's district as "exceedingly unusual." Photo by Daniel Landry U.S. Rep. Jeff Landry, left, speaks...

Dardenne campaign fined by ethics board

Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne's campaign treasurer has agreed to pay a $2,500 fine for accepting seven contributions above the legal limit. Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne's campaign will pay a $2,500 fine after...

Perry leads La. GOP

Former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer was not included in the poll. A recent poll by Washington, D.C.-based Wilson Perkins Allen Opinion Research finds Texas Gov. Rick Perry with an almost double-digit...

CPC returns to budget Monday

On tap are reviews of Public Works and Capital Improvements. The Lafayette City-Parish Council's budget hearing process continues Monday with reviews of City-Parish President Joey Durel's proposed...

Cajun Little Leaguers pitching with the best

Going into the Little League World Series, it was no secret that the Lafayette team could swing the bats with anyone in the 16-team field. Going into the Little League World Series, it was no secret...

Hardy announces re-election bid

State Rep. Rickey Hardy, who defeated former Lafayette City-Parish Councilman Chris Williams for the District 44 seat in 2007, is seeking re-election. State Rep. Rickey Hardy, who defeated former...

Indicted EPA agent appears in court

Ex-EPA Agent Keith Phillips is accused of lying under oath to conceal an extra-marital affair that led to the wrongful prosecution of Hubert Vidrine. The EPA agent fired and indicted recently on...

Downtown's Agave shuttered by evening fire

UPDATE: Agave tables and chairs have been moved to Trynd, its sister restaurant and next-door neighbor. Agave's drink and food menu will be served at Trynd until the Mexican grill is...

This Week in Crazy: LHA pays 2 DHAP workers 40 grand

"Ridiculous." That's what longtime Lafayette Housing Authority attorney Daniel Stanford says of HUD's decision to settle two former contractors' backpay lawsuits. "Ridiculous."...

Comeaux seeking re-election

Assessor Conrad Comeaux was first elected assessor in 1999 and ran unopposed in 2003 and 2007. Lafayette Parish Assessor Conrad Comeaux is seeking a fourth term in office. The chief tax official in...

Stakeholders get a much-needed say in super search

A representative from The 100 Black Men of Greater Lafayette and the Lafayette Parish Public Education Stakeholders Council will join the school board in narrowing down the superintendent search to 10...

Bendel roundabout pulled

"It is now a dead issue, to be dealt with by others in the future." There will be no roundabout at the intersection of South College and Bendel roads adjacent to the Oil Center - at least...

Fayard claims head-to-head lead over Tucker

"Unlike most recent statewide races in Louisiana - where Democrats faced nearly insurmountable circumstances - the 2011 secretary of state's race is quite winnable ..." Democrat Caroline...

Budget hearings resume Wednesday

On tap are the departments of Parks & Recreation, Community Development, Administrative Services and Information Services. The Lafayette City-Parish Council will meet Wednesday in the council...

C'est what? Williams sues LHA

Former Lafayette City-Parish Councilman Chris Williams has filed suit against the Lafayette Housing Authority seeking back wages, penalties and attorney's fees. Chris Williams Former Lafayette...

La. Dems: From super majority to minority

The number of voters registered as Democrats has fallen below 50 percent for the first time since the state began tracking the numbers. For the first time in modern Louisiana history, voters...

Neustrom seeking fourth term

A Democrat and former criminology professor at UL Lafayette, Mike Neustrom was first elected in a runoff in 1999. Lafayette Parish Sheriff Mike Neustrom has announced his bid for re-election. A...

Animal rights group takes new tack versus Sandlin

The California-based Animal Legal Defense Fund is seeking to enlist a new partner in its effort to keep up the pressure on Michael Sandlin, owner of the Tiger Truck Stop in Grosse Tete: Louisiana...

BP going to trial

More than 100,000 people and 549 cases will be consolidated into a massive three-phase trial starting next year for BP and other companies involved in the Macondo well blowout that caused the Gulf oil...

LPSB narrowing in on super search

Each of the applicants will be asked to present a powerpoint presentation to the local board, and board members have decided to visit the school districts of the top three applicants. UL's College of...

La. Voice: Jindal ‘bundling' big bucks

"Not only was bundling done on a wholesale basis on Jindal's behalf, but identical contributions by individuals and committees, many on the same dates totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars,...

From on high, LFF issues scorecard

The Louisiana Family Forum, our arbiter of piety, has released its Legislative Scorecard for the 2011 session. The Louisiana Family Forum, our arbiter of piety and righteousness, has released its...

Local election field settling in

Two more candidates who were expected to run in the Oct. 22 election are making it official. Two more candidates who were expected to run in the Oct. 22 election are making it official: First-time...

Home health companies accused of Medicaid fraud

State says 41 home health care providers owe the state more than $4 million in overbilling and fines. A recent audit reveals that 41 home health care companies owe the state more than $4 million in...

Former Jindal staffer joins Picard

Gov. Bobby Jindal's former director of intergovernmental affairs has joined Lafayette/Washington, D.C.-based The Picard Group. Gov. Bobby Jindal's former director of intergovernmental affairs has...

'Protesters' picket The Ind office

The blessings of American democracy were bestowed upon The Independent around mid-day Tuesday as about two dozen protesters marched in front of our downtown office. The blessings of American democracy...

Doré seeking re-election

The first-term Republican has been in office for a little over two years after winning a special election in the spring of 2009 to fill the remainder of the term of his predecessor, Bruce...

Cortez makes it official: vying for Senate 23

So far, no other candidates have announced an intention to seek the seat. Hoping to replace term-limited friend Mike Michot in the Louisiana Senate, state Rep. Page Cortez made official Tuesday...

Boustany hosting town hall meeting Thursday

U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany will be hearing from residents from 4 to 5 p.m. Thursday at the Fontana Center on Kaliste Saloom Road. Got questions about the debt ceiling madness going down on the Hill?...

EatSafe website bringing public inspections online

The state Department of Health and Hospitals' website launching this week follows a lengthy investigation by The Daily Advertiser on the not-so-open state of restaurant inspections. The state Office...

Bertrand enlists heavy hitters

District 7 City-Parish Councilman Don Bertrand will make his re-election bid official on Wednesday. District 7 City-Parish Councilman Don Bertrand will make his re-election bid official on Wednesday...

Term-limited Tucker seeking secretary of state

The Terrytown Republican is winding down his final year as a state representative. Speaker of the House Jim Tucker has announced his bid for Louisiana secretary of state. The Terrytown (suburban New...

Martin named CLS director

UL Lafayette's Center for Louisiana Studies has a new boss. UL Lafayette's Center for Louisiana Studies has a new boss: The university announced Monday that UL associate professor of history Dr....

Verm SB backs off on Bayard

The Vermilion Parish School Board has rescinded its July vote to endorse the incumbent in the Board of Elementary & Secondary Education District 7 election in October. The Vermilion Parish School...

New positions created for low-scoring schools

An academic/behavior coordinator is now available to schools that aren't making the grade. Three low-performing Lafayette Parish schools have expressed interest in hiring a designated...

Save Lake Peigneur fight still bubbling

Thursday night, more than a dozen state lawmakers who serve on the Senate Environmental Quality or House Natural Resources and Environment committees will convene at the Sliman Theater in downtown New...

Ortego seeking House 39

The seat is being vacated by Rep. Bobby Badon, who announced Tuesday he will not seek re-election. Home builder/designer Stephen Ortego announced Wednesday he'll seek the District 39 state House seat...

Badon: One and done

"My decision not to run is bittersweet." State Rep. Bobby Badon, D-Carencro, announced Tuesday he will not seek re-election in October for a second term as the District 39 representative....

Budget hearings commence Wednesday

Following a cursory review of City-Parish President Joey Durel's proposed 2011-2012 budget for Lafayette Consolidated Government Wednesday afternoon, the City-Parish Council will roll up its sleeves...

Deadbeats' kids get BP funds first

In another savvy move, the state of Louisiana is ensuring deadbeats pay their back child support before they get a dime of BP disaster money. In another savvy move, the state is ensuring deadbeats pay...

Source: Roemer to appear on ‘Daily Show'

Buddy Roemer made a good impression on host Stephen Colbert and his left-leaning audience last week as the dark horse candidate railed against the corrupting influence of special-interest money in...

EPA Agent fired, indicted for lying under oath

Agent targeted in a civil lawsuit for a wrongful and malicious investigation has been formally charged with obstruction of justice and perjury. An EPA agent accused of heading a years-long malicious...

Durel unveils lean '11-'12 budget

The City-Parish Council will begin digging through the budget beginning at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 3 as budget hearings commence. City-Parish President Joey Durel on Thursday unveiled his proposed...

Roemer rolls with Colbert

"President Buddy - that has a nice ring to it ..." "My guest tonight is a former Democratic governor of Louisiana who is now a Republican candidate for president. I better get to the...

Ethics: Board subject to disclosure rule

Members of the all-volunteer Lafayette Workforce Investment Board must disclose their personal finances beginning in May of next year, according to an advisory opinion issued by the Louisiana Ethics...

Decon debate set for Thursday

Bruce Conque and Don Bacque will make their respective cases for why the Lafayette Home Rule Charter should/should not be repealed. Debate may be too strong a word, but a prominent proponent of...

Kennedy: amid U.S. debt debacle, La. bonds safe

Regardless of whether the federal government defaults on its debt, Louisiana bonds are safe, according to state Treasurer John Kennedy. Thanks to the state's Bond Security and Redemption Fund,...

DOJ pre-clears CPC redistricting plan

Although Lafayette Consolidated Government including members of the City-Parish Council have yet to receive official notification via a letter, The Ind has learned that the redistricting plan...

AP: Jindal sitting on $8.8 million kitty

Note to anyone looking to make Gov. Bobby Jindal a one-termer: Be prepared to spend. Big. Note to anyone looking to make Gov. Bobby Jindal a one-termer: Be prepared to spend. Big. The Associated Press...

‘Zipper' getting hitched

EWE consort Trina Grimes Scott, the 32-year-old beauty who began visiting Edwards during his stint serving a federal prison sentence in Oakdale, told The Advocate Monday that she and her octogenarian...

Wilson challenging Shelvin? Say it's so

Former challenger Shawn Wilson is reportedly eyeing the race. Surely there isn't a single soul (except Shelvin himself) in District 3 who thinks the man representing them on the Lafayette City-Parish...

Joie de Vivre opponents fight back

Update: The City-Parish Council denied the appeal and upheld the waivers granted to Joie de Vivre by PZC. [Update: The City-Parish Council denied the appeal and upheld the waivers granted to Joie de...

House 96 race crowding with candidates

So far, six people are vying for the newly created majority-minority district, which includes most municipalities of St. Martin Parish as well as small portions of Lafayette and Iberia...

Angelle eyeing sec./state?

A growing field of candidates in the fall election for Louisiana secretary of state now includes a speculative, high-profile pol from Acadiana: state Department of Natural Resources Secretary Scott...

Boudreaux: Y'all come

The District 4 councilman, who also serves as chairman of the council's Finance Committee, is inviting taxpayers to attend budget hearings beginning Thursday, July 28. Lafayette City-Parish Council...

Roemer launches '12 bid

His campaign slogan, "Free to Lead," underscores his long-standing pledge not to accept campaign contributions larger than $100, a position he claims will inoculate him from the corrupting...

Lafayette wins Best Small Town for Food

Our city has won Rand McNally's competition for the best place to eat in America. The winner was announced today in New Orleans. Lafayette was one of six finalists for the title. Five two-member teams...

Shelvin seeking re-election

We're not on his mailing list, so it's news to us. We're not on his mailing list, so it's news to us: District 3 Councilman Brandon Shelvin is seeking re-election this fall to a second term on the...

Appeals court ups award to beaten bar patrons

In its opinion released Wednesday, the 3rd Circuit characterized the award for Richard Le as "abusively low." This October 2006 photo shows plaintiff Richard Le in a Lafayette hospital...

When the EPA Swat Team comes a knockin' ...

A federal raid at the Canal Refinery in Church Point almost 15 years ago unraveled into a faulty indictment thanks to the story of a cocaine addict and two federal agents who were engaged in an...

Gulf Coasters turn to Colbert

Somewhere far below the debt ceiling, the end of the shuttle program, the Casey Anthony trial, the FIFA Women's World Cup and Rupert Murdoch's British imbroglio is the long-forgotten Gulf Oil Spill,...

Oysters from western side of corridor coming

The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is in the process of developing a system to determine which commercial fishermen will be allowed to harvest oysters from one of Louisiana's last...

Firm selected for possible OGB privatization

Memphis-based Morgan Keegan & Co. has been selected to advise the Jindal administration on privatizing a major health insurance plan for state employees and their dependents. Memphis-based Morgan...

Boffy: terminate teacher tenure

"We need to get rid of it as soon as we possibly can." A candidate for the District 7 seat on the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education is calling for end of the tenure system...

Last of session bills signed by Jindal

That final piece of legislation, House Bill 12, codifies the prohibition on the sale of so-called bath salts - a chemical cocktail once sold in convenience stores and head shops under names such as...

A black heart of revenge

It thumps in Glenn Stewart's chest, but it won't silence investigative journalism in our fair city.

About those billboards

Far from running from a Lafayette commercial developer's ugly, personal attack on Independent co-publisher Cherry Fisher May, we're running at it. Far from running from a Lafayette commercial...

Ethics Board taking up Gachassin complaints today

The Louisiana Board of Ethics is scheduled to hear at least two related complaints against former LPTFA board Chairman Greg Gachassin Thursday. The Louisiana Board of Ethics is scheduled to hear at...

Landry, Martin to square off in new House 96

The race for the newly created state House of Representatives District 96 seat is shaping up. The race for the newly created state House of Representatives District 96 seat is shaping up. On Wednesday...

Marionneaux mulling run for gov

State Sen. Rob Marionneaux, D-Livonia, tells a West Baton Rouge Parish news website he's being encouraged to challenge Gov. Bobby Jindal in the October election. State Sen. Rob Marionneaux, D-Livonia,...

Progressive group kicks off campaign

"We've come together to support one another and Democratic ideals, and to basically educate and advocate." An informal group calling itself Acadiana Progressive will host a "Kickoff for...

AG to Becker: If it walks like a duck ...

State Attorney General Buddy Caldwell Monday issued a definitive opinion that Cypress Trails Limited Partnership, created specifically to develop the publicly funded $10 million Cypress Trails...

Fed ruling favors ex-LSU prof

A federal court judge in New Orleans has ruled that Ivor van Heerden, an outspoken former LSU hurricane researcher canned by the university in 2009, can proceed with his case against Louisiana's...

‘Two Dads' case heads to SCOTUS

A lawsuit against a Louisiana official filed by a gay couple who want both of their names on their adopted child's birth certificate may be heard by the United States Supreme Court. A lawsuit against...

Cravins' foes go for jugular

Reggie Tatum wasted no time retaliating against the person he thinks was responsible for removing him as mayor pro tem of Opelousas. Reggie Tatum wasted no time retaliating against the person he...

Roemer heads to NH in bid for WH

Former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer hasn't made his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination official yet, although it's clear to everyone that he's a candidate. Former Louisiana Gov. Buddy...

‘Caylee' bill vowed for La.

A state senator incensed over the verdict in the Casey Anthony trial in Florida is vowing to prefile legislation that would make it a felony to fail to report the death of a child. A state senator...

Trudeau skewers LSEA

Cartoonist Garry Trudeau is making fun of Louisiana and, frankly, we darn well deserve it. Cartoonist Garry Trudeau is making fun of Louisiana and, frankly, we darn well deserve it. In Sunday's...

Pierre addresses allegations

Faced with a fusillade of incriminations, Vincent Pierre has addressed, point-by-point, charges leveled against him. Faced with a fusillade of incriminations, presumably from supporters of state Rep....

Caffery contributes to nat'l journalism project

"The result will be an unparalleled collection of visual and textual narratives accessible through an innovative online platform." Debbie Fleming Caffery's 1999 photo of burning cane fields...

Again, La. nears top of U.S. obesity list

In America's inexorable march toward becoming a nation of overweight, over-stimulated, inactive, sallow-skinned diabetics, Louisiana continues to be a pace setter. In America's inexorable march toward...

WL&F Commission trying to sue its boss - the state

The WL&F Commission believes the Jindal administration may have violated the state's Constitution when it stripped $26.4 million from an artificial reef program. Two state Department of Wildlife...

Jindal forging ahead with OGB privatization

Three firms are the finalists for securing a state contract to advise Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration on the feasibility of privatizing the state-administered Office of Group Benefits. The Advocate...

Jindal's bizarro fiscal philosophy displayed in veto

To remind us great unwashed that his anti-tax fervor is merely a dog and pony show designed to buttress his national ambitions, Jindal recently displayed a dollop of fiscal sanity. The need for proof...

C'est what? Duke thinking White House?

Grand Pinched-Sphincter High Mukety-Muck of the Ku Klux Klan David Duke has dipped a pure, white Aryan toe into the political waters to gauge the temperature for a possible run at the Republican...

CPC eyeing annexations

The annexations are proposed off Butcher Switch Road near Carencro, off West Willow Street in north Lafayette, along Ambassador Caffery Parkway near its confluence with Bertrand Drive and off La...

Tea Party TIF talks still going strong

The Tea Party of Lafayette's fight against Tax Increment Financing (TIF districts) was magnified Thursday night after a sold-out crowd heard a comical case against TIFs, those highly controversial...

C'est what? Jindal, Hollis to meet?

More bizarre still: The governor was aware of the $5K donation to Hollis' classroom. Gubernatorial candidate Tara Hollis, a north Louisiana public school teacher, says via a press release that Gov....

Is Jindal eyeing ‘recess sale' of OGB?

Lawmakers balked at the governor's privatization plan during the session. State Sen. Butch Gautreaux, D-Morgan City, is sounding the alarm about Gov. Bobby Jindal trying again to privatize the Office...

Brown rails against Patriot Act via July 4 prism

"...we have no choice but to let our own government compromise these same freedoms that we have sacrificed so much to maintain and protect." Former insurance commissioner and state lawmaker...

Pierre announces bid for state House 44

"I have often been interested in working as a public servant, working for people in the Lafayette area." Vince Pierre Lafayette businessman Vince Pierre has announced his intention to make...

File under odd: Jindal group donates to Hollis

"I don't have any idea what caused you to single out my middle school special needs classroom out of all the needy classrooms in the state for your great generosity, but I want you to know that I...

Top 50 privately held companies deadline July 3

The deadline to nominate a company for a spot on ABiz's list of the Top 50 Privately Held Companies in Acadiana has been extended to Wednesday, July 3. The deadline to nominate a company for a spot on...

Against all odds, LPSB voting on tax props

After months of discussion and public outcry, the Lafayette Parish School Board is finally set to decide Wednesday whether to place two separate tax proposals on the ballot for voters this fall. After...

Robideaux's speaker competition heats up

Baton Rouge Republican state Rep. Hunter Greene is the latest lawmaker to confirm he's in the race for speaker of the House, a field that includes Lafayette's Joel Robideaux, an independent who is...

Lafayette's anti-social meet social media

They don't call it Facebook for nothing. They don't call it Facebook for nothing. New to the social media mega site is "Busted in Acadiana," a page begun recently out of Lafayette devoted to...

EWE: From prison to reality TV?

According to a post on his Facebook page, the 84-year-old former four-term Louisiana governor says he is "negotiating with a producer who is interested in doing a reality show dealing with my...

Lourdes move goes off without a hitch

It took only six well-coordinated hours Saturday to relocate 67 patients from the old Lourdes hospital on St. Landry Street to the new facility on Ambassador Caffery Parkway. After almost two years of...

Financial woes piling up in historic Washington

Washington, the small-town speed trap in St. Landry Parish that owes the state $200,000 for speeding fines it pocketed also has failed to repay FEMA for undocumented emergency Katrina funding. The...

Bordelon to head Entertainment Initiative

"Lafayette has so much to offer a production - friendly people, beautiful locations and landscape - it should be right up there with New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport when it comes to...

CABL, PAR weigh in on session

"...a lot of big things were proposed, but not a lot of big things happened." Louisiana's two most prominent non-partisan good-government groups - the Council for a Better Louisiana and the...

Fishy textbook bill left floating

Survival of the fittest: If the Louisiana Family Forum-backed House Bill 580 by West Monroe Republican Rep. Frank Hoffman isn't called for a vote by the end of business today it's dead. A...

Gannett axing employees - again

The Daily Advertiser was spared from the chopping block this round, but with more furloughs in store and reports of millions in bonuses for Gannett execs, it's another blow for newspaper folks in the...

Montgomery to vie for family court seat

"My legal knowledge, work experience, and family values enable me to bring fairness and compassion to the bench." Lafayette attorney Marshall Montgomery announced Wednesday evening that he...

Review: Ray Nagin's Katrina's Secrets

Former mayor Ray Nagin releases the first volume of his memoir, Katrina's Secrets, Wednesday afternoon at a press conference in New Orleans, and it's a most interesting read. Former mayor Ray Nagin...

Pas bon, Badon

State Rep. Bobby Badon's off the hook on a technicality, but the public relations nightmare over his DWI continues. The video of state Rep. Bobby Badon's OWI arrest in January 2010 has gone viral,...

Nungesser ain't playin'

A day after announcing his intention to seek the lieutenant governor's seat this fall, Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser is already touring state and pressing the flesh with a big, honkin',...

This week in awesome: Rep. Harold Ritchie

In a legislative gambit House Speaker Jim Tucker referred to as "brilliant," state Rep. Harold Ritchie, D-Bogalusa, revived his 4-cent cigarette tax renewal Monday by tacking it onto a...

‘Pay to play' bill headed to gov

A bill that would require candidates seeking office in Louisiana to clear any outstanding fines with the state Ethics Board awaits Gov. Bobby Jindal's signature. A bill that would require candidates...

Speed Trap mayor talks ticket $$ at the Capitol

Washington Mayor Joseph Pitre met with a legislative committee to discuss the more than $200,000 in speeding fines his town kept that should have been turned over to the state. Washington Mayor Joseph...

Nungesser enters lieutenant gov.'s race

Plaquemines Parish President Billy Nungesser, often the face of struggling and frustrated Louisianans in the aftermath of last year's BP disaster, has tapped Lafayette PR specialist Amy Jones to help...

Senate passes budget; Mills shows learning curve

The state Senate on Sunday passed House Bill 1, Louisiana's $25 billion budget for the 2011-2012 fiscal year, restoring some cuts made in the House including $5.5 million for nonpublic early childhood...

Michele Bachmann on intelligent design

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachman, always quick to note that she has her own list of "Nobel Prize-winning scientists" who believe in intelligent design, just will not name those scientists. In the...

Veto override fails in House

Congratulations smokers: Thanks to Louisiana being the only state in the union to lower its tax on cigarettes, you'll being paying 4 cents less per pack next year. Congratulations smokers: Thanks to...

Book it, Bobby

In celebration of Gov. Bobby Jindal's recent birthday, Gambit's Clancy DuBos offers a Cliffs Notes version of a book dedicated to our state's chief executive. Friday, June 10, was Bobby Jindal's 40th...

School Board now eyeing two new taxes

Voters could be asked to head to the polls in the fall and pony up the approval of two new property taxes. The Lafayette Parish School Board hasn't quite decided yet how to ask voters to approve a new...

PAR: Tax repeal ‘poorly conceived'

"Those especially who support lower taxes and less government spending should insist on knowing the full story." The non-profit, non-partisan Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana is...

Hardy's housing sunshine bill heads to Jindal

The state Senate voted 34-1 Tuesday for Rep. Rickey Hardy's bill to make affiliates of housing authorities subject to the state's public records law. The only dissenting vote came from Sen. Karen...

It's on! Theriot announces reelection bid

"The fundamental roll of government should be Roads, Drainage, Traffic, Infrastructure and Safety." City-Parish Councilman William Theriot announced via a press release Tuesday morning that...

Veto showdown looms over cig tax

Now we'll see if Jindal can marshal his formidable power of persuasion (read, threaten to block public works projects) with some within the overwhelming majority of Republican lawmakers in both the...

Jindal transparency bill falls

Acadiana-area Sens. Mike Michot, Elbert Guillory and Fred Mills voted with the majority in defeating the bill. A bill that would have opened the governor's office to public-records requirements...

Robideaux withdraws controversial bill

"After consultation with legislative staff attorneys and local constituents, there are unanswered concerns regarding whether the legislation would achieve its stated objectives." State Rep....

Tax renewal veto expected this week

Some lawmakers who voted for the renewal fear retribution from Gov. Bobby Jindal if they stick with their principles and participate in a veto-override session. Gov. Bobby Jindal is expected early...

Now 40, Gov. Bobby Jindal has worst week ever

It's gotta be difficult to celebrate a 40th birthday when you are battling lawmakers at every turn. In a video posted today, Times-Picayune political columnist Stephanie Grace and Managing Editor...

Office-seeking workshop set for Monday

Special points of interest will be races this fall in Lafayette Parish as well as elections for the state House and Senate. Calling all political candidates: The Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce,...

CABL's Erwin: ‘Put the brakes' on tax repeal

"What we're seeing is a dangerous game of political chicken, with citizens stuck in the middle." Barry Erwin The Council for a Better Louisiana, a Baton Rouge-based, non-partisan,...

Profs slam UL system

"Faculty nationwide should be advised that the UL System has effectively nullified its tenure procedures; and students in the UL System, and their parents, should be advised that maintaining the...

Lafayette groups lose tax-exempt status

The Internal Revenue Service on Thursday released a list of roughly 275,000 organizations that have automatically lost their tax-exempt status for failing to file annual reports for three consecutive...

In rare move, Senate panel issues subpoena

Fed up with Gov. Bobby Jindal and his lack of transparency, a state Senate panel voted Wednesday to subpoena information from the Jindal administration concerning proposed privatization of a state...

Gautreaux seeks judge seat

Kay Karré Gautreaux is the daughter of former prosecutor and Lafayette City Attorney Albert Karré. Attorney Kay Karré Gautreaux announced Thursday she is a candidate for the Division M district judge...

Former Gov. Blanco diagnosed with cancer

A press release issued Wednesday afternoon identifies the cancer as choroidal melanoma. According to her publicist, former Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco has been diagnosed with a rare form of eye...

Update: ‘No tax ordinance' nixed

As expected, an ordinance that would have established a policy prohibiting the Lafayette City-Parish Council from considering the establishment of taxing districts without a vote by residents was...

CPC to set decon elex

The Lafayette City-Parish Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday on a resolution that would set Oct. 22 as the day voters in the parish decide whether our 15-year-old consolidated government should...

Senate approves housing consolidation

Not much is going Gov. Jindal's way in the current legislative session lately, but it does appear he'll get his way on the consolidation of housing assistance programs across the state. In March Gov....

FEMA's balancing act

The federal emergency assistance agency has no shortage of new disasters for which it has to shell out billions - and a queue of big-money projects stemming from catastrophes of old like...

CPC to vote on crumpets and cucumber sandwiches

Many political observers in Lafayette Parish see the ordinance as little more than an election-year play to TEA party voters. The Lafayette City-Parish Council will vote Tuesday on an ordinance for...

Federal debt goes before state House

A resolution that would put Louisiana at the vanguard of establishing a constitutional convention to ratify an amendment to the United States Constitution regarding the federal debt will be considered...

La. congressional plan goes to DOJ

Because Louisiana and other formerly segregated Southern states are subject to the federal Voting Rights Act, the plan must be pre-approved by the Department of Justice before the districts can be...

School letter grades still coming this fall

Senate Education Committee defeats a measure by state Sen. Jonathan Perry, R-Abbeville, to delay letter grades for measuring school performance. Louisiana's 1,300 public schools will still be...

Former top teacher eyeing BESE

The 2010 Louisiana Teacher of the Year says she is seriously considering a run for the state Board of Elementary & Secondary Education. Holly Boffy The 2010 Louisiana Teacher of the Year says she...

Senate votes down smoking ban

By a vote of 22-15, the state Senate rejected a bill by state Sen. Rob Marionneaux Jr., D-Livonia, to end smoking in bars. The third time wasn't a charm for proponents of legislation that would have...

Lafayette a 'best affordable' community

When it comes to proximity to work and quality of life at an affordable cost, Lafayette Parish ranks among the country's best. Lafayette may not necessarily be among the most affordable communities in...

Melancon leaving lobbying post

Politico reports that the former U.S. rep. is returning to Louisiana to pursue other business interests. Former U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville, is leaving his job as a lobbyist for the...

Henry Mouton: 'I am guilty'

Lafayette resident and ex-state Wildlife and Fisheries commissioner pleads guilty to conspiracy to receive bribes and illegal payoffs. [Editor's Note: This story has been updated to include...

Ex-ADA Johnson gets 1.5 years in slammer

Former Assistant District Attorney J. Floyd Johnson was sentenced Wednesday in federal court to 18 months in prison after pleading guilty late last year to a single count of tax evasion. Former...

Ex-ADA Johnson's sentencing Wednesday

Disgraced former ADA J. Floyd Johnson will be sentenced for tax evasion by U.S. District Judge Richard Haik Wednesday morning. U.S. District Judge Richard Haik will sentence former Assistant District...

Henry Mouton headed to court again

Details on Mouton's plea deal are expected to come out at his second arraignment in New Orleans. New details on Henry Mouton's federal corruption charges could surface Wednesday when the Lafayette...

LSEA repeal DOA in committee

A bill designed to repeal the misnamed Louisiana Science Education Act went the way of the dodo Thursday in the Senate Education Committee. A bill designed to repeal the misnamed Louisiana Science...

‘Amazon' tax bill pending in House

Louisiana is joining a slew of other states in trying to come up with a way to collect sales taxes from the online giants by tying them to their in-state "affiliates." As lawmakers continue...

Ex-N.O. tech vendor St. Pierre guilty on all counts

New Orleans tech vendor Mark St. Pierre, once also awarded a no-bid LCG contract by then-Lafayette tech officer Keith Thibodeaux, was convicted by a federal jury early Thursday afternoon. A federal...

Hardy's housing bill clears another hurdle

State Rep. Rickey Hardy's bill to let the sun shine on housing developments heads to the full Senate. State Rep. Rickey Hardy's bill to make affiliates of housing authorities subject to the state's...

Corps shuttering Morganza

The Mississippi River control structure that was opened on May 14 - the first such opening in nearly 40 years - to alleviate the flood threat to Baton Rouge and New Orleans is being closed as the...

Income tax repeal diverted to committee

Senate Bill 259 would phase out the income taxes on personal and corporate income over several years, costing the state treasury an estimated $1.7 billion in revenue over five years. State Senators...

8 DI teams hit with postseason play bans

Are you concerned, Gov. Jindal, about this week's NCAA release of the Academic Progress Rate report for the nation's collegiate athletic programs? Are you concerned, Gov. Jindal, about this week's...

HB 531 oppo galvanizes odd bedfellows

A section of the bill granting the redevelopment authority - an appointed commission - the power to levy taxes and "call for any tax or other election" has generated opposition from both...

Another tax bill bites the dust

A House committee killed legislation that would have taxed natural gas flowing through the state and generated $3 billion a year in new revenue. In yet another indication that taxes of any kind to...

Michot bill stirs local media

The concern is that the bill would create a state electronic public records portal through a private company, which could in turn charge unreasonable fees to access the records and circumvent state...

Thibodaux Tech taking shape

The only one of its kind in the Lafayette Parish School System, Thibodaux Tech will include four career themes, advanced manufacturing, health and applied sciences, business information systems and...

Lady Cajuns: déjà vu all over again

You think the NCAA Division I softball committee may learn after this one? You think the NCAA Division I softball committee may learn after this one? With all due respect, considering that UL interim...

So long, Ind friends

It has been a pleasure informing and inflaming you for nearly eight years. As we count down to Armageddon, The Independent Weekly would like to wish a warm adieu to its pious readers, who, as the...

UNO headed to UL System?

In the wake of the failed SUNO/UNO merger, it appears the University of New Orleans could be leaving the LSU System for the UL System. In the wake of the failed SUNO/UNO merger, it appears the...

Bully bill demise stirs discord among Dems

The fact that several Dems voted for the John Bel Edwards amendment, which supporters of the bill decried as an attack on the main purpose of the legislation - to protect gay, lesbian and transgender...

Smoke-free bill squeezes through committee

The bill marks at least the third time that this type of legislation has made it out of committee, but it has always died later in the legislative process. A move toward smoke-free bars and casinos...

Search begins for a new superintendent

For Board Member Tommy Angelle, a search committee isn't needed thanks to a new "caucus" of board members conspiring against him. The Lafayette Parish School Board took its first action...

LAE incensed by U.S. education secretary

LAE President Joyce Haynes characterized Arne Duncan's phone calls to BESE members as "another example of political bullying." U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, according to outraged...

C'est what? State income tax repeals advance

If they become law, the bills would go into effect next year and would drain the state budget of a projected $14.8 billion over the first five years of implementation. The House Ways and Means...

Testimony: donated devices sold to LCG for $22,000

Lafayette CAO Dee Stanley testified in a federal bribery trial in New Orleans Monday that LCG paid more than 22 grand for four wireless radio devices. Testimony from an official with a California...

Cig tax snuffed; renewal advances

Louisiana smokers can breathe easy. Louisiana smokers can breathe easy: A state lawmaker has dropped his bid - for now - to hike the state tax on cigarettes by 70 cents per pack, according to the...

Fair Share?

Property tax dodgers exposed - again. This 8-acre property on Alleman Drive off of Johnston Street near Park Place Apartments comes equipped with a one-bedroom "shed," carport with two...

Hardy's housing bill sails through House 97-0

The state House of Representatives wants the sun to shine on deals designed to offer low-income housing to the poor. State Rep. Rickey Hardy's bill to make affiliates of housing authorities subject to...

‘The Experiment' screens Monday at AcA

Ben Lemoine's documentary follows five inner-city New Orleans children through the 2009-2010 school year as they and their families struggle to find educational opportunities in a city whose public...

Wildlife fleeing as floodwaters head south

A virtual arc of Louisiana wildlife is being displaced in the wake of the Morganza Spillway's opening on Saturday. Residents living along and near the Atchafalaya Basin should expect an increased...

Student-athlete GPA bill headed to House

The bill would require student athletes to maintain a C average in order to participate in interscholastic sports. Lafayette Democratic Rep. Rickey Hardy's annual bid to up the requirement for student...

Jindal's choice for Pastorek replacement disputed

Four BESE members are said to be opposed to newly appointed RSD chief John White taking over as interim state superintendent of education, which could prompt the vote on White to fail. Some members of...

LSEA repeal gaining support (outside Legis)

A bill to repeal the controversial Louisiana Science Education Act is collecting more supporters outside the Capitol. A bill to repeal the controversial Louisiana Science Education Act is collecting...

Whole Foods: no deal on old Kmart site

I know this will get so many Ind readers all riled up, but there is no deal to bring Whole Foods Market to the old Kmart site. The announcement was at least "premature" and at worst dead...

Dirk Powell to lead Crossroads

The Acadiana Center for the Arts, which owns and hosts the widely respected, decade-old concert franchise, is expected to announce Powell's appointment at a press conference next week. Dirk...

Piss poor proposal propelled

A bill that would require 20 percent of state welfare recipients who receive cash benefits to submit to drug testing has cleared a House committee and is now before the full House. A bill that would...

Pastorek praise hits op-ed pages across the state

His plans to leave the state's top education post for a private sector attorney job in Washington has brought his achievements and controversial four years to the forefront. In the days following...

Whole Foods, Burlington Coat slated for old Kmart

A planned Whole Foods and Burlington Coat Factory will breathe new life into the long vacant Kmart site on Ambassador Caffery Parkway. [UPDATE: Announcement of the deal to bring Whole Foods and...

WTH? Pastorek calling it quits

A lawyer by training, Paul Pastorek has been a polarizing figure during his tenure as superintendent of Louisiana's public schools, pushing for aggressive reforms that have raised the hackles of...

Karen Hail suing MidSouth

The former MidSouth exec claims the bank engaged in sex discrimination and violated the Family Medical Leave Act. Former MidSouth Bank exec Karen Hail is suing MidSouth for what she claims is gender...

Hardy files ethics complaint against Gachassin

Development consultant Greg Gachassin's potential ethics dilemma won't end with The Independent Weekly's April 20 cover story, "How Gachassin Games the System." And it shouldn't. Development...

Daigle-ing in the wind

A longtime writer for local Gannett papers The Times of Acadiana and The Daily Advertiser, Cody Daigle is now a pen-for-hire. A longtime writer for local Gannett papers The Times of Acadiana and The...

Controversial UL bill pulled

At the request of UL Lafayette officials, state Rep. Joel Robideaux, no party-Lafayette, on Friday pulled a bill that would have established a special taxing district on UL property. At the request of...

Girouard parks: UL/LSU softball legend retires

Attention to detail has always defined Yvette Girouard, who in all likelihood coached her final home game on Sunday when LSU's squad run-ruled South Carolina 8-0. LSU Sports.net Yvette Girouard is...

First UL Student Film Premier

Students who attend UL with hopes of learning to become accomplished filmmakers now have an outlet with which they can share their artistic labors with the Acadiana community and anyone who appreciates the often overlooked medium of local films.

Analysis: American tax burden lowest since 1958

An analysis released Friday reveals that it's been five decades since Americans paid such a small percentage of their income in taxes. USA Today's analysis shows that tax cuts and a weak economy have...

Durel's "sucker tax" hits YouTube

"City-Parish President Joey Durel negotiated this deal that has resulted in millions of dollars going to Allied Waste that are wasted dollars. How do we know this? Because the City of Broussard...

Grosse Tete tiger heads to court

The battle over an Iberville Parish truckstop owner keeping a 550-pound Bengal-Siberian tiger in a 700-square-foot enclosure is in court in Baton Rouge Thursday. The battle over an Iberville Parish...

LPSB gives go ahead on tax prop

The move comes after Superintendent of Schools Burnell Lemoine announced Wednesday he will not extend his contract beyond its Dec. 31 expiration, leaving the School Board with eight months to find a...

Robideaux's UL bill under fire

The bill would create what amounts to a tax increment finance district for UL and allow the university, through a board that comprises university brass and boosters, to levy additional...

Lemoine chooses retirement

Lafayette Parish Schools Superintendent Burnell Lemoine says he will retire in December, as planned, rather than accept another short-term extension from the board. Lafayette Parish Schools...

Lemoine's contract up in the air

The contract extension, if approved, would mark the third time the Lafayette Parish School Board has granted a longer contract for Lafayette Schools Superintendent Burnell Lemoine. The Lafayette...

Roundabout eyed for S. College/Bendel

Tony Tramel: "It appears a proposed roundabout at the subject location would be safer, more efficient, and more convenient than the existing conditions." The Lafayette City-Parish Council...

Former U.S. atty joins PAR

Donald Washington, the former U.S. attorney for the Western District of Louisiana, has been elected to a three-year term on the board of directors of the Public Affairs Research Council of...

Ind sweeps LPA's investigative reporting awards

The Independent Weekly took first, second and third place in investigative reporting at the Louisiana Press Association's annual convention and awards luncheon in Marksville. Independent Weekly...

Kopplin lobbies an empty Legislature

That Zach Kopplin has the backing of the dean of the College of Science at LSU - the state's flagship university - and 42 Nobel Laureates speaks volumes to his cause. Too bad no one's listening. Baton...

Local Boy Scout troop missing in Arkansas

[UPDATE: The Daily Advertiser is reporting that the Boy Scouts have been located and are safe.] [UPDATE: (May 3, 9:50 a.m.) The Daily Advertiser is reporting that the stranded Boy Scouts and their...

AG solves email mystery

Sharon Kleinpeter, a spokeswoman for Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell, says her office has solved the Richard Becker/LPTFA email mystery. Sharon Kleinpeter, a spokeswoman for Louisiana...

9/11 memorial tonight at Parc Sans Souci

Within 24 hours, with the announcement of one death, Parc San Souci goes from the place of food, fun and Festival International to a place of somber remembrance. Last night while the revelry of...

City's natural gas initiative delayed

Lafayette's plan to convert city buses to natural gas is still trucking on, but it'll be a little longer than expected before the shift takes place. Lafayette's plan to convert city buses to natural...

AG: Becker's request is in

The AG's office received via email Wednesday attorney Richard Becker's request for an opinion on whether documents on the partnership formed to develop Cypress Trails Apartments are a matter of public...

Lafayette unemployment remains 6.3%

The Lafayette metro maintained a 6.3 percent unemployment rate from February to March. The Lafayette metro, which includes St. Martin Parish, maintained a 6.3 percent unemployment rate from February...

Mike Huval sworn in at Capitol

Huval's oath of office leaves one open seat in the House Longtime former St. Martin Parish Councilman Mike Huval was sworn in Monday afternoon as the newest member of the state House of...

Leg. auditor slams Opelousas' housing authority

The new executive director of the Housing Authority of the City of Opelousas says it could take years to clean up the mess former ED Walter Guillory and his board left behind. The new executive...

Ils sont partis: session under way

Louisiana lawmakers convened the two-month regular session at noon Monday and will consider hundreds of bills, none more pressing than HB1, the state's roughly $25 billion budget. Louisiana lawmakers...

CPC to vote on final redistricting plan

The plan is an amended version of redistricting plan No. 5, which the council adopted during an introductory vote two weeks ago. The Lafayette City-Parish Council will decide during a special meeting...

Anti-creationism rally targets Legis

Proponents of a bill to repeal the Louisiana Science Education Act will gather at the state Capitol Thursday. Proponents of a bill to repeal the Louisiana Science Education Act will gather at the...

A celebration of Shipley's life

There were stories to be told, and some of them were - on Good Friday when friends, family and former players gathered to celebrate Beryl Shipley's life rather than mourn his passing. There were...

PAR: Redistricting process needs fixing

PAR makes a strong case for taking the redistricting process away from lawmakers and handing it over to a commission - in effect taking the politics out of the process. The Public Affairs Research...

Council faces alterations to redistricting plan

Members of the Lafayette City-Parish Council were informed this week by demographers hired to redraw council districts in accordance with 2010 census figures that the redistricting plan adopted by the...

AG: did not get Becker's opinion request

Attorney Richard Becker penned a letter March 14 to the state attorney general for an opinion on whether records for the partnership formed to develop Cypress Trails Apartments are a matter of public...

LPA questions public records exemption

More government emails could be shielded from state public records laws. A Louisiana attorney general opinion and recent court ruling that exempts certain government emails from the state's public...

Nobel laureates: Repeal LSEA

More than 40 Nobel Prize-winning scientists have signed onto an open letter to the Louisiana Legislature urging lawmakers to repeal the Louisiana Science Education Act. More than 40 Nobel...

Beryl Shipley, 1926-2011

"We got a lot more than basketball from him. Everyone who played for him knew what kind of man he was." There were many joyous moments in Lafayette three months ago when SLI/USL/UL...

4/20 rally results in one arrest

The turnout for Legalize Louisiana Statewide 4/20 Rally held downtown didn't reach as large a number of people that the previous rally did but this didn't stop those present from conveying their message that it is time for Louisiana to take marijuana legalization seriously.

Campbell announces for CPC 9

Lafayette real estate executive Walter Campbell announced Wednesday afternoon his intention to seek the District 9 City-Parish Council seat this fall. [Editor's Note: This story was updated Thursday...

Comments about cannabis

Three Lafayette citizens stood up and spoke to the City-Parish Council again Tuesday about the decriminalization of marijuana on the eve of yet another public assembly downtown for the legalization of marijuana by the advocacy group Legalize Louisiana, which held a rally just last month at the Lafayette Parish Courthouse.

100 Black Men to LPSB: Defer the tax prop

The Lafayette civic group is urging the school board to hold off on putting a property-tax proposition before voters until a long-term choice for superintendent is in place and the school system...

TIF tiffs go beyond Lafayette

The debate over TIFs and how the public gauges its support for them has become a hot-button issue across the state. Tax Increment Financing districts have become a blazing topic in Lafayette in recent...

Doobie brothers (and sisters) march for Mary Jane

Whether you're a straight edger, a hippy, a glaucoma sufferer or just think that taxing the heck out of a plant is a good idea, lots of folks are meeting up for Legalize Louisiana Statewide 4/20 Rally...

La. 'creationist' law in crosshairs

The Louisiana Science Education Act, signed into law in 2008 by biology major Gov. Bobby Jindal and derided by supports of mainstream biology education as a Trojan Horse for creationists, is being...

Fayard fires back

Former lieutenant governor candidate Caroline Fayard loves you, and she's willing to give you a sticker stating as much. Former lieutenant governor candidate Caroline Fayard loves you, and she's...

Mouton nabs deal with feds

Henry Mouton initially pleaded not guilty to charges of bribery, conspiracy and lying to federal investigators, but is expected to plead guilty at his second arraignment, when the details of a plea...

Henry Mouton: Let's Make a Deal

A potential plea agreement could confirm what many reports have speculated since Mouton's indictment was announced Feb. 25: Mouton was a mere casualty of the widespread investigation into Jefferson...

Shocker: La. most violent state

With the highest homicide rate and one of the highest rates of handgun accessibility, Louisiana ranks dead last on the Institute for Economics and Peace's latest U.S. Peace Index. With the highest...

C'est what o‘ the day for 4.15.11

Ready, aim, couplets! you suck hind teat, and there you'll stay you rant and rave and then you bray your brain seems drug-mixed fully cooked you constantly bitch, you're so mistook your logic is...

Sections of I-49 now 75 mph

DOTD is raising the speed limit on rural portions of I-49 in Avoyelles, Natchitoches and Rapides parishes from 70 mph to 75 mph. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development is raising...

BP ‘Spillionaires' story stirs ire

A ProPublica/Washington Post investigation accuses local government administrators of BP money abuse and price gouging following the spill. Nonprofit ProPublica teamed up with The Washington Post to...

40 years of Acadiana delegation honored Friday

Leadership for Louisiana PAC's Friday fundraiser at the AcA will double as a celebration of the birth of the Acadiana delegation. Leadership for Louisiana PAC's Friday fundraiser at the AcA will...

C'est What o' the day

Thou shalt not liken thine Glock to thine Bible. "When they outlaw having a Bible, are we going to take a stand then? When they outlaw having a gun, are we going to take a stand then?" -...

Eric Cloutier suing Karma owners

The former hockey standout and downtown bar owner claims Karma's ownership group owes him more than $330,000. Eric Cloutier, the former Icegator and downtown bar owner who pleaded no contest in 2009...

CPC selects redistricting plan

The vote came following some squabbling among councilmen over the competing plans. The Advertiser is reporting today that the City-Parish Council, choosing among six redistricting plans, selecting...

Group targets infamous cat clink

Could Michael Sandlin, the imperious Grosse Tete diesel purveyor and tiger jail warden, finally be caught on a technicality? Photo by Robin May Tiger Truck Stop owner Michael Sandlin, with his ward,...

CPC to settle on new districts Monday

The Lafayette City-Parish Council will consider six competing redistricting plans for the council and school board during a special meeting Monday. The Lafayette City-Parish Council will consider six...

Messy session headed toward cacophonous close

Underscoring why good-government groups have long called for using an appointed, non-political committee to undertake the state's redistricting, the Legislature remains knotted in turf battles and...

Cleaning Louisiana's coast: one year later

Officials are still complaining about cleanup efforts; local governments are spending BP money frivolously. The workforce that began the cleanup efforts of the BP oil spill in the Gulf included some...

COC: double up on property tax

The Lafayette Parish School System's Citizens' Oversight Committee is recommending that the school board pursue not one but two property taxes to fund the facilities master plan as well as ongoing...

WaPo: La. redistricting an ugly affair

Much of the acrimony in the Legislature centers around competing plans for north Louisiana, which at this point, in spite of stagnant to negative growth over the last decade, will apparently maintain...

Cajun/Zydeco Grammy killed

It's back to duking it out with the polka guys. It's back to duking it out with the polka guys. The National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences - the folks behind the Grammy Awards - announced...

Mouton negotiating plea deal with feds

The Associated Press reports that Henry Mouton, 54, of Lafayette, is talking with federal prosecutors about a possible plea deal in connection with charges of receiving illegal payoffs and lying to...

CPC to consider TIF ordinance

In what could be considered of symbolic significance only, the Lafayette City-Parish Council Tuesday will vote on an introductory ordinance that would bar the council from future votes on establishing...

Cortez critical of Jindal's prison sale proposal

The sale of state prisons in Avoyelles, Winn and Allen parishes would generate more than $85 million, money Jindal and his aides say is crucial to paying Medicaid providers throughout the state. But...

Lafayette to decide deconsolidation

The Lafayette Charter Commission voted 6-3 Monday in favor of putting before parish voters a proposition that, if approved, would repeal the home rule charter governing Lafayette Consolidated...

Charter commish could wrap Monday

The commission is likely to conclude its nine-month task Monday evening with what is expected to be a 6-3 vote in favor of presenting parish voters with an up-or-down proposition on repealing the home...

Jerry Luke not running for Michot's seat

On Thursday the INDsider reported on UL administrator Jerry Luke LeBlanc's hopes to get back into politics, but LeBlanc confirms via email today that he will not seek term-limited state Sen. Mike...

New web service tracks bills

Keeping tabs on legislation in the upcoming fiscal session beginning April 25 promises to be easier with the advent of a bill-tracking service that provides email alerts when there's new action on a...

Castille announces re-election bid

City-Parish Councilman Jay Castille wants four more years on the job. City-Parish Councilman Jay Castille wants four more years on the job. The District 2 rep has announced that he will seek...

Durel resigns, takes LHA post

In a stunning turn of events mid-day Friday, Durel announced that he is resigning his position as chief executive of Lafayette Consolidated Government effective immediately and has appointed himself...

Powerful voice of black community silenced

Long the most influential voice of Lafayette's black community, KJCB AM is off the air. And it's unclear whether it will return. Long the most influential voice of Lafayette's black community, KJCB is...

Perry elected delegation chair

Newly minted state Sen. Jonathan Perry has been elected the 2011-2012 chairman of the Acadiana Legislative Delegation. Newly minted state Sen. Jonathan Perry, who won the District 26 seat in a...

EWE fête set

In what will likely be one of his first public appearances since being sprung from a federal detention center early this year, former Gov. Edwin Edwards will be the subject of a roast on Sept. 10 in...

LeBlanc eyeing Michot's Senate seat

Sources tell the INDsider former state Rep. Jerry Luke LeBlanc plans to run for term-limited state Sen. Mike Michot's District 23 seat this fall, setting up what could be a tough race against state...

Save sustainability

A motivated group of environmental science graduates, current students, activists and conscientious folks of various backgroungs are banding together in a letter writing campaign to save UL's...

Theall to seek family court seat

Lafayette attorney Susan Theall will announce her candidacy for the 15th Judicial District's Division M family court judge seat on April 13. Lafayette attorney Susan Theall will announce her candidacy...

Better late than never: HUD takes over

In a letter dated March 28, HUD made official its plans to take over the troubled Lafayette Housing Authority. In a letter dated March 28, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development made...

Virtual charter school pushes statewide enrollment

Louisiana Connections Academy, an online charter school in which students statewide who enroll will take traditional school courses through home computers, web conferencing, e-mail and other tools,...

BP may face manslaughter charges

BP shares fell 2 percent Tuesday after news of the possible charges made international headlines. Bloomberg and other news agencies are reporting Tuesday that federal prosecutors are considering...

Voters could get deconsolidation ballot

The Lafayette Charter Commission voted Monday to put before voters a single proposition asking whether the city and parish should return to separate charters. In yet another dramatic - albeit...

Patin to host town hall

This meeting promises to be more harmonious than Patin's last tilt with his constituents. City-Parish Councilman Keith Patin will host a town hall meeting from 6:30-8 p.m. Thursday at the Southside...

Email suggests swing in favor of separate charters

For those hoping the commission would find its way toward letting voters decide whether the city of Lafayette should have a separate, autonomous government complete with its own council and mayor, the...

So it's not silt after all

Anglo Suisse Offshore Partners is taking responsibility for the March 20 oil spill in Gulf of Mexico. So it's not silt after all. In the tangled matrix of damage control, disinformation and...

New congressional districts taking shape

So far it appears likely that U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, will get his wish that Lafayette and Lake Charles remain in the same district. Although the special redistricting session...

Silence of the dolphins

Scientists investigating dolphin deaths in the Gulf of Mexico have been gagged. This comes as no surprise to anyone who has been paying attention over the last year: Wildlife biologists, contracted by...

Charter commish poised for frenetic finale

In all likelihood there will be no small measure of final-furlong jockeying by the city commissioners to secure as much autonomy for the city of Lafayette as possible. The Lafayette Charter Commission...

A note to our readers

A malware infection in an ad dispatched to member papers by the Louisiana Press Association prompted Google to block dozens of LPA member sites including ours until it can be determined that those...

AG defends opinion pace

Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell's office is defending itself against criticism that it has been slow to respond to requests for opinions submitted by Lafayette Consolidated Government's...

Moon Griffon moving to his targets' turf

Statewide conservative talk radio host Moon Griffon is adding another broadcast to his line-up, this time filling the airwaves of Baton Rouge with his emphatic rants on Louisiana politics. Louisiana...

Lafayette Science Museum director resigns

LCG Community Development Director Ben Berthelot confirms in an e-mail that Henderson announced her resignation recently. Mary Henderson, director of the Lafayette Science Museum, is leaving her post...

Jindal: No new taxes on tobacco

Louisiana's state cigarette tax - at 36 cents per pack - is the 49th lowest in the country; only Virginia, with a state tax of 30 cents, was lower. For last week's cover story, "Smoke...

New photos of mystery 'substance' in the Gulf

Debate continues as to whether or not the substance leaked into the Gulf of Mexico on March 20 is oil, silt, sheen or remants of a corporate America's lost soul. Damage control, continuing propaganda...

Charter commish: And around they go

Like swooning youngsters on the Mad Tea Party ride at Disney World, members of the Lafayette Charter Commission continue to spin wildly as the clock ticks down to their mid-April deadline. Like...

Langlinais: unrepentant and unarmed

A pardon request by former Iberia Parish President Will Langlinais, who resigned in disgrace four years ago following a no-contest plea to felony malfeasance charges, was unanimously denied...

Let the drawing games begin

As the three-week special redistricting session heats up in Baton Rouge, lawmakers are quickly showing the state that the protection of their own political futures is a top priority - second only to...

Let ‘em have it! Commish to hear from John Q.

Pleased with the progress of the Lafayette Charter Commission? Frustrated that the city of Lafayette evidently will not be given a choice to repeal the Home Rule Charter? Monday's meeting will offer...

New oil slick or 'substance' reported in the Gulf

The Coast Guard is investigating reports of a potentially large oil slick in the Gulf of Mexico not far from the Deepwater Horizon site. Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water to...

First ever Holi Fest Saturday in Girard Park

Girard Park will be the place to "literally color up each other" Saturday when the Acadiana Indian Association hosts its first ever Holi Festival. Girard Park will be the place to...

Update: Special session under way

The session is a required response to the 2010 census, and the New Orleans area will undoubtedly lose clout in Baton Rouge due to severe population declines resulting from Hurricane Katrina. [Update:...

State rep hopeful borrows from opponent

A candidate for the state House of Representatives District 47 seat found herself in an awkward position Wednesday morning when she had to borrow $200 from her competitor. A candidate for the state...

Stick a fork in it: scant evidence v Mire

Two critical pieces of evidence in the drunk driving trial of a Lafayette school bus driver have been tossed. A typographical error by a former state trooper who incorrectly logged the serial number...

NP Moss students rezoned

Education officials, including state Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek, have speculated that LPSS chose the NP Moss site for the new technical high school in an attempt to block a state...

Marijuana movement faces City-Parish Council

"What we aim for is bringing safe access to the cannabis plant in our community and in our state, and right now a state law is standing in the way of that and is causing a lot of unnecessary suffering, disenfranchisement and injustice right here in our community," says Dave Lucito, head of the recently announced Legalize Louisiana movement.

Charter commish takes another turn

What a long, strange trip it's been. The Lafayette Charter Commission did another one-80 Monday evening, voting to place a multiple-choice ballot before voters next fall that could give the city of...

C'est what? La. to pay $7M to Hornets

Louisiana taxpayers will cut a check for $7 million to help the Crescent City's NBA franchise meet its revenue benchmark for the season. Louisiana taxpayers will cut a check for $7 million to help the...

Poll: buyer's remorse over Stelly repeal

Almost 60 percent of residents in a recent statewide poll have buyer's remorse over the  Stelly Plan repeal, saying it was a bad idea that contributed to the state's budget shortfall. Almost 60...

Mouton appearing in federal court Thursday

Henry Mouton's notorious defense attorney says he will enter a plea of not guilty. Henry Mouton, the 54-year-old Lafayette resident accused of accepting almost a half a million dollars in bribes from...

Caldwell sticking it to Lafayette

The office of state Attorney General Buddy Caldwell is short-changing Lafayette through its failure to render a timely opinion on what the Lafayette Charter Commission may recommend in a parishwide...

Jackson in La. against UNO-SUNO merger

The Rev. Jesse Jackson will be the featured speaker at a rally today on the Southern University - New Orleans campus to oppose a proposed merger between SUNO and the University of New Orleans. The...

Mouton's web of falsehoods continues

Star Service Inc. owner says Henry Mouton's claim that he owned shares of an air conditioning and heating company is a lie. The owner of Star Service Inc., an air conditioning and heating company...

Monsignor Harry E. Benefiel, 1920-2011

Jackie Lyle reflects on the life of the late priest, a close friend to her and many others in Acadiana. Monsignor Harry Benefiel passed away in the wee hours of March 13, 2011. He lived a very robust...

Stewart's TIF proposal dies

Developer Glenn Stewart's TIF has been pulled from consideration before the council. Government officials announced Saturday morning that the developer for Parc Lafayette and the executive director of...

TPL targets TIF in new PSA

Although we've yet to hear it on the radio, the Tea Party of Lafayette - a well-known opponent of the Parc Lafayette development on Kaliste Saloom Road - has produced a slick public service...

TDA, Advo offer dueling headlines

You might get confused if you walked past a news stand and saw the business sections of the The Daily Advertiser and The Advocate side by side. You might get confused if you walked past a news stand...

Know thy gov: LWV dissects LCG

Ever wonder how bonds work or where the tax increment financing districts are in Lafayette Parish? Ever wonder how bonds work or where the tax increment financing districts are in Lafayette Parish?...

Missing man found dead in river

The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced Thursday that the body of 39-year-old Mitch Jackson was recovered in the Vermilion River mid-morning. The state Department of Wildlife and...

TJR: More on Mouton's Heebie Jeebies

The Jefferson Report takes a closer look at some of the personal communications that link former Wildlife and Fisheries Commissioner Henry Mouton to what it calls "Louisiana's stinkiest landfill...

All eyes on Jindal's Friday budget proposal

Lawmakers are anxiously awaiting Gov. Bobby Jindal 's plan to address the state's $1.6 billion shortfall in next year's operating budget. Lawmakers are anxiously awaiting Gov. Bobby Jindal 's plan to...

LABI talks state budget, Obama's energy plan

State business lobby's annual issues breakfast weighs in on factors that could impact Louisiana's economy. Despite Gov. Bobby Jindal's pledge to not raise taxes and no revenue-raising agendas for...

Boustany takes principled stand (against Taco Bell)

The fast food chain recently began marketing tacos and burritos featuring "Pacific shrimp," and it's not sitting well with the good doctor. Beating press release-happy freshman Congressman...

NYT spill account to become a movie

A trio of film production companies has purchased the rights to "Deepwater Horizon's Final Hour," The New York Times' exhaustive account of the BP explosion and spill in the Gulf of Mexico....

Group tries again for charter school in St. Landry

After denial by Lafayette Parish School Board and the state, local nonprofit seeks the approval of St. Landry's school board to open charter school in Opelousas. The same nonprofit that tried to open...

Vitter mum on whistleblower hold

The Government Accountability Project has identified Sen. David Vitter as one of five United States senators who is refusing to say whether he placed a secret hold on the Whistleblower Protection...

Picard, Koepp talk redistricting

While Lafayette is unlikely to gain a state House seat all its own, the parish's robust growth over the last decade should increase our clout in the Legislature. Tyron Picard, president of The Picard...

Get off my pot!

Approximately 300 protesters marched through Downtown Lafayette to raise awarness for decriminalizing marijuana.

BR fifth ‘most toxic city' in U.S.

When driving to New Orleans, hold your breath halfway there. When driving to New Orleans, hold your breath halfway there. Baton Rouge has landed at No. 5 on Forbes Magazine's list of the 10 most toxic...

IRS: 20K Louisianans could get cash

Nearly 20,000 Louisiana taxpayers who failed to file a 2007 tax return could be eligible for a tax refund averaging $663. Nearly 20,000 Louisiana taxpayers who failed to file a 2007 tax return could...

Abita bullies bar benefactor

Louisiana pilsner purveyor Abita Brewing Company fired off a cease-and-desist letter to a charity organizer who had been using the term "pub crawl" to promote his events. Louisiana pilsner...

The road less traveled

This web-exclusive comparison is tied to The Independent Weekly's news story on City-Parish Councilman Brandon Shelvin, who used his LCG-issued credit card to fund a three-night stay in New Orleans...

Charter commish crawfishes, pinches city autonomy

Backtracking on the path toward separate governments for the city and the parish, the Lafayette Charter Commission Monday night voted to keep Lafayette Consolidated Government intact. Backtracking on...

La. doctors endorse tobacco tax increase

Pediatric group says cigarette tax would deter smoking and help fund health care services. The state's leading pediatric organization says raising cigarette taxes to the national average could...

Deepwater Gulf of Mexico back in business

Federal regulators Monday issued the first deepwater drilling permit in the Gulf since the April moratorium, and more are promised this week. Federal regulators Monday issued the first deepwater...

Crimiel also charged in Surrey Street vandalism

Two days after arresting 33-year-old Brian Crimiel for vandalizing St. James Baptist Church on Plum Street Feb. 13, the Lafayette Police Department also charged him in the defacement of Immaculate...

Charter debate continues

The charter commission will again consider a proposal Monday evening by demographer Mike Hefner that would require far fewer changes to the Home Rule Charter. With an April 20 deadline approaching to...

Cajuns clinch share of SBC West title

On Saturday the Cajun basketball team turned a 3-14 start into an 11-game winning streak, clinching a share of the West Division Sun Belt Conference title. Ragin' Cajun basketball players and fans got...

Former fisheries official Mouton indicted

Henry Mouton, a Lafayette resident and former commissioner for the state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, has been indicted by a federal grand jury in New Orleans on bribery charges. Henry...

INDesign Awards deadline now March 4

Originally set for Tuesday, March 1, the deadline for this year's INDesign Awards has been extended until Friday, March 4. Originally set for Tuesday, March 1, the deadline for this year's INDesign...

Perry gets committee assignments

State Sen.-elect Jonathan Perry, R-Kaplan, got his marching orders from Senate President Joel Chaisson. State Sen.-elect Jonathan Perry, R-Kaplan, got his marching orders from Senate President Joel...

One for the birds

The third installment of the GulfWatch radio series details the moving story of one wildlife-rehab volunteer and the 200 pelicans that changed his life. The GulfWatch radio series for KRVS-FM and...

Pa. firm gets master plan

Wallace Roberts & Todd, a Philadelphia, Pa.-based planning firm, is chosen by an LCG advisory committee to produce a comprehensive master plan for Lafayette Consolidated Government. After a series...

Developer, Tea Party spar over TIFs

Additional site-specific sales and occupancy taxes to fund a four-star hotel and convention center for Lafayette have local Tea Party members in an uproar. Parc Lafayette Developer Glenn Stewart...

LCG streaming planning firm pitches

The four firms selected as finalists to produce a comprehensive master plan for Lafayette Consolidated Government are making their pitches until. 4 p.m. Thursday at the Acadiana Center for the...

Update: Regents select Purcell

Purcell was recommended to lead the state's colleges and universities through what a regents press release is calling a "a transformational period in the history of postsecondary...

Fuselier resigns from LHA board

Attorney Donald Fuselier, the only LHA board member retained by City-Parish President Joey Durel in the wake of a blistering audit of the agency, has resigned. Attorney Donald Fuselier, the only...

Patin hosts town hall-style meeting on TIF proposal

District 8 City-Parish Councilman Keith Patin has been taking a beating from the Tea Party of Lafayette for having an open mind on the creation of two proposed economic development, or TIF, districts...

Redistricting on plate Tuesday at AcA

Members of the governmental affairs committees of both chambers of the Legislature, along with representatives from Lafayette's legislative delegation, will outline the redistricting process at a...

Jindal announces three new bills at UL

Gov. Bobby Jindal spoke on Monday, Feb. 21, at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette along with a slew of congressional delegates, educational leaders and medical representatives to unveil three bills he will introduce at the upcoming state legislative session to abate budget reductions to the constitutionally unprotected areas of health care and higher education.

Regents to interview commissioner finalist

An Alabama native with a doctorate in higher education administration, Dr. Jim Purcell served for a time in the mid to late '90s as the director of planning and assessment at Our Lady of Lake College...

Bishop eyeing Cortez seat

Married with two children, Stuart Bishop says he wants to help forward Louisiana's increasingly business-friendly policies in Baton Rouge. Lafayette businessman Stuart Bishop will likely announce a...

PAR weighs in on redistricting

The Public Affairs Research Council has compiled a report on the 2011 redistricting process in Louisiana, making several key recommendations on how to raise transparency and "advance its...

Lemoine tapped for Joie de Vivre

Scheduled to begin construction in September, the project has drawn the ire of some residents of the neighborhood who say the design and scale of the project are incongruent with the existing...

Chamber getting the business

Granger firm outraged by chamber PAC's endorsement of Perry in Senate 26 race. More heat is being applied to the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce following an endorsement by the chamber's...

In Senate 26 race, Perry is ‘empowered'

Republican Jonathan Perry has won the endorsement of Empower PAC, the political action committee of the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. Republican Jonathan Perry has won the endorsement of...

This week in awesome: Zach Kopplin

(Or is it "This week in quixotic?") A Baton Rouge Magnet High School senior is leading a grassroots effort to repeal the Louisiana Science Education Act. A high school student in the state...

Prominent business lobby discusses budget reform

Members of Blueprint Louisiana, a political lobbying organization founded by three well-known Lafayette businessmen, spoke to the Baton Rouge Press Club this week to offer their direction on how to...

Fox's Bret Baier speaking in Lafayette

Bret Baier's talk on "the Obama Administration, Congress and a look at politics in America" is the drawing card of the fourth annual fundraiser for Pope John Paul II Academy. Fox News anchor...

Durel gives 'State of the Parish' address Wednesday

City-Parish President Joey Durel delivers his eighth annual "State of the Union" style address at the Cajundome Wednesday, Feb. 16. City-Parish President Joey Durel will present his vision...

Taxing districts on CPC plate

Ordinances would pave the way for additional sales and hotel taxes at the planned "outdoor lifestyle center." The Lafayette City-Parish Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday on introductory...

Dude! Pro-cannabis march planned

A group known as Legalize Louisiana is hosting the event in an effort to "demonstrate the urgent need for change in our criminal justice system ... in order to create safe access to cannabis in...

Dist. 26 race neck and neck

Granger picks up LAE endorsement with election on tap Saturday. With the election for the vacant state Senate District 26 seat just four days away, a private poll commissioned recently by a Republican...

Charter commish narrowing options

Commissioners will consider, among other things, how many members should serve on separate city and parish councils, and whether the city of Lafayette should have its own mayor and, likewise, whether...

Spring brings rise in clothing prices

You're going to have to dig a little deeper into your Levi jeans pockets in the coming months. The Associated Press is reporting that a decade of falling clothing prices has come to an end. According...

Perry, Granger: Separated at birth?

While each candidate belongs to an opposing political party, Nathan Granger and Jonathan Perry seemed to agree with the other on many of the topics raised by the panelists in their first and quite...

Cortez eyeing Michot's seat

Certainly no surprise here: First-term state Rep. Page Cortez has his sights set on term-limited District 23 state Sen. Mike Michot's seat. Certainly no surprise here: First-term state Rep. Page...

Bertrand to rep LUS on national council

District 7 City-Parish Councilman Don Bertrand has been selected to serve a three-year term as the committee vice-chair of the American Public Power Association's Policy Maker Council. District 7...

This week in awesome: Ginger Rabalais

The Youngsville resident offers use of her property to save the city's majestic live oak. The Youngsville City Council voted Thursday to allow the so-called Heritage Oak - a 250-year-old live oak in...

Harson: Paula Scott way behind on restitution

DA Mike Harson says Paula Scott, who claims she worked for Chris Williams on a controversial hurricane assistance program, has fallen way behind on the $46,000 in restitution she promised to make for...

Granger, Perry to attend UL forum Thursday

The forum is open to the public, but seating is limited. In what is apparently the only opportunity for voters in state Senate District 26 to hear both candidates at the same time, Vermilion Parish...

Rep outraged by bus driver controversy

Rep. Rickey Hardy: "So much for the new direction of the LPSS." State Rep. Rickey Hardy, D-Lafayette, a former member of the Lafayette Parish School Board, is coming out swinging against the...

Murders up in Hub City

Overall crime is down 5 percent, and in fairness, a dozen homicides is average for Lafayette; 2009 was an aberration. The Lafayette Police Department Wednesday released uniform crime report statistics...

Perry camp counters Granger poll

State Rep. Jonathan Perry says his poll, commissioned by his campaign and conducted among 300 likely voters by Teddlie Media, shows him with a lead over Nathan Granger. State Rep. Jonathan...

Special election for Mills' House seat April 2

An April 2 special election has been called for State Sen. Fred Mills' former St. Martin Parish House seat. Louisiana House Speaker Jim Tucker called a special election April 2 to fill Fred Mills'...

AOC to air ‘Superman' panel

The film is widely seen as a damning indictment of teacher unions and "drop-out mills," i.e., inner-city high schools. Panelists (from left) Hunter Beasley, Sarah Walker    and Gary...

Chamber softens position on scorecard

Sen. Mike Michot, in the final furlong of his time in office, is still smarting from the failing grade he was given by the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce on its legislative scorecard. The...

Egyptian UL prof weighs in on revolt

Magdy Bayoumi, Ph.D., director of University of Louisiana at Lafayette's Center for Advanced Computer Studies and an Egyptian citizen, addressed a group of communication students at the Burke-Hawthorne building on Thursday, Feb. 3, about his perspective on the civil unrest currently befalling his home country.

City sales tax collections up 9% in December

December collections for the city of Lafayette's 2-cent sales tax were up about 9 percent compared with December 2009, rising to $5.7 million, The Advocate reported Friday. December collections for...

Census highlights '05 diaspora

Figures released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau suggest the 2005 hurricanes - Rita in southwestern Louisiana and Katrina in the southeast - dramatically shifted the population in Louisiana....

Granger leads in Sen. 26 race

The Louisiana Democratic Party is evidently greeting this bit of good news in an otherwise dreary political season with a muted trumpet. Political columnist John Maginnis issued a correction Thursday...

Rodrigue oak on display

George Rodrigue is a man on a mission. George Rodrigue is a man on a mission. In an attempt to save the tree now named the Youngsville Heritage Oak, he has turned a painting around in three days....

Stunner: Melancon now a lobbyist

The former congressman has signed on with the International Franchise Association, where he will serve as vice president of government relations and public policy. The headline is sarcastic, of...

AG Caldwell seeing red

With Buddy Caldwell's defection to the GOP, U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu is the only statewide-elected Democrat left in Louisiana. After weeks of rumor, state Attorney General Buddy Caldwell has made it...

Harson subpoenas 3 in LHA open-meetings case

DA Mike Harson has subpoenaed three witnesses in the lawsuit he filed against former Lafayette Housing Authority board members believed to have violated the state's open meetings law. Fifteenth...

Donation bins back before CPC

The rewording accomplishes what the original ordinance sought - it prevents for-profit companies from collecting unwanted clothing while shielding non-profits. An ordinance that would prohibit...

George Rodrigue joins effort to save oak

Tolkien would have been proud. He who penned the giant land-walking guardians of the trees, The Ents, is the literary progenitor of the newly formed group Guardian of the Oaks. The group has rallied...

Judge deals another blow to Obamacare

A federal judge in Florida struck another blow to the Obama administration's health care overhaul. A federal judge in Florida struck another blow to the Obama administration's health care overhaul,...

New LCG atty on tap Tuesday

Mike Hebert formerly served as city attorney before the city and parish of Lafayette consolidated in 1996, and he is considered an expert on annexations and other governmental issues. The Lafayette...

Charter commish wants more time

The commission began its work last August and currently has until April 21 to produce a recommendation. The Lafayette Charter Commission voted Monday to seek an extension of its nine-month time line...

Broussard cuts ties with chamber

Mayor Charlie Langlinais is mad as hell and he's not going to take it anymore. Incensed over the F given to state Sen. Mike Michot by the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce on the legislative...

Lafayette native safe after Cairo evacuation

A group from West Point, including Lafayette native Matthew McGoffin, arrived in Cairo on Monday, Jan. 17, eight days before tens of thousands of angry, disaffected Cairenes took to the street in...

Ex-ADA Johnson wants extension on sentencing

Lafayette attorney Valerie Garrett has asked U.S. District Court Judge Richard Haik for more time to file objections in the sentencing of former state prosecutor J. Floyd Johnson. Lafayette attorney...

Edwin Edwards slated for birthday roast

Happy birthday Edwin. Well, it's not really his birthday until Aug. 7, but former Gov. Edwin Edwards' brother Marion and a growing coterie of friends and well wishers are already planning the bash....

Angelle back in DC on permit issue

DNR Secretary Scott Angelle is again meeting with BOEM Director Michael Bromwich in Washington, D.C, in hopes of getting Gulf permits flowing. Department of Natural Resources Secretary Scott Angelle...

Harson stepping up

The Lafayette Housing Authority audit delivered to 15th Judicial District Attorney Mike Harson in mid-January could be in front of a grand jury next month. The Lafayette Housing Authority audit...

Regents: 450+ programs should be eliminated

The state Board of Regents Wednesday said it has identified as low-performing and subject to termination more than 450 academic programs within the state's university systems, and nearly half of the...

St. Martin officials eye District 46 race

While a special election for the District 46 state House seat hasn't even been scheduled yet, already several potential candidates are sizing up their chances. While a special election for the...

Commish may seek extension

The nine-member panel has until April 20 to make a recommendation on future governance in Lafayette Parish. Talk of requesting a postponement of its deadline emerged Monday evening at the meeting of...

Mills takes it in the first

The election of state Rep. Fred Mills to the state Senate Saturday was significant on multiple fronts - some apparent, and some not so apparent. The election of state Rep. Fred Mills to the state...

Commish preparing separate city and parish charters

Since the fall the commission has gravitated toward the creation of a separate council and mayor for the city of Lafayette, although LCG attorney Pat Ottinger says separate charters for the city and...

Out of sight, but not out of mind

It ain't over till it's over. And from the looks of things along the Gulf Coast, concern over the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill maybe out of sight, but not out of mind. It ain't over till it's over....

Hardy shining light on public-private housing deals

Lafayette state Rep. Rickey Hardy, who helped blow the whistle on the LHA by requesting a state legislative audit of its operations, is now seeking to shine a light on several deals supposedly...

Mills touts Shaquille O'Neal endorsement

Fred Mills is getting support from an unlikely celebrity source in his bid to become the next state Senator for District 22, which covers Iberia and St. Martin parishes. Fred Mills is getting support...

‘Superman' initiates public dialogue (video)

The Wednesday, Jan. 12 screening of the acclaimed documentary Waiting for Superman - the first event in the 2010 Independent Weekly Lecture Series sponsored by IberiaBank - was hopefully the start of...

LHS's Badeaux blows Idol judges away

Jacee Badeaux is sittin' pretty on the dock of the bay. Lafayette has good reason to watch the new season of American Idol. Last night Jacee Badeaux, a sophomore in Lafayette High's Performing Arts...

LHA saga sinks to new low

Rarely known for his PC, City-Parish President Joey Durel now has a role in pushing the Lafayette Housing Authority saga to a new low, referring to former Lafayette City-Parish Councilman Chris...

Jindal fares well versus Kennedy, Landrieu

Amazingly, 1 percent of the poll's respondents didn't know who the governor of Louisiana is. In a new poll of 600 Louisiana voters conducted by Market Research Insight for a consortium of business...

Angelle seeks reduced ethics fine

The Louisiana Ethics Board is expected to reduce the $360 fine assessed against Lafayette Parish School Board member Tommy Angelle for filing a campaign finance disclosure form late in connection with...

LPD books three in McKinley murder

Police at this time are declining to cite a motive in the attack that left one UL student dead and a second critically injured. Ian Trahan Wayland Guillory Cody Moore Lafayette Police announced...

Baton Rouge rapper pays tribute to Edwin Edwards

Fresh out of a federal detention center, former Louisiana Gov. Edwin Edwards now has a new job, with longtime friend Buddy Leach, and a new rap video, courtesy of Baton Rouge artist Young Kidd...

CPC to address non scourge of donation bins

The Lafayette City-Parish Council will vote Tuesday on an introductory ordinance that would prohibit for-profit companies from using donation bins to collect second-hand clothing and other...

C'est what? La. among most tolerant states

Louisiana scored particularly well in hate crime incidents - 0.5 per 100,000 residents - earning the sixth best rank among states. Louisiana earns 16th place in a new ranking of the nation's most...

Leg. auditor releases LHA findings

The Louisiana Legislative Auditor Monday released its findings and recommendations for the Lafayette Housing Authority, and now it's up to District Attorney Mike Harson to decide whether anyone will...

David Vitter robocalling for Simone Champagne

U.S. Sen. David Vitter has recorded robocall messages on behalf of state Rep. Simone Champagne's campaign for District 22 state Senate. U.S. Sen. David Vitter has recorded robocall messages on behalf...

L.A. Times on the ‘Cajun Prince'

The Los Angeles Times traveled to Crowley to get locals' take on former Gov. Edwin Edwards' freedom after eight years - and his plans for the future. The Los Angeles Times traveled to Crowley to get...

Commissioners await AG opinion

The Lafayette Charter Commission, through City-Parish Attorney Pat Ottinger, requested an opinion from the AG's office a few months ago on whether a sitting council's job description can be modified...

Charter commish to hear 'demographic solutions'

Using 2000 census numbers, demographer Mike Hefner believes the parish districts can be redrawn to address city of Lafayette autonomy. The Lafayette Charter Commission will get a presentation...

Williams mounts defense on KJCB Monday

Former Lafayette City-Parish Councilman Chris Williams is expected to be a guest on KJCB radio, 770 AM, Monday morning to address the state's Compliance Audit of the Lafayette Housing...

Youngsville oak slated to fall for new roundabout

Alas for the ancient trees of Acadiana. The latest oak under fire is an approximately 150-year-old live oak in the way of a new roundabout in Youngsville. While several groups, including Trees...

Hundreds turn out for ‘Waiting for Superman'

Roughly 600 Acadiana residents including area political leaders, educators and UL officials attended two screenings of the acclaimed 2010 documentary. Roughly 600 Acadiana residents including area...

Cleco wind turbine spins into action

An agreement between power company Cleco Corp.and the town of Mandeville, inked in August, has resulted in a wind turbine pilot project, which goes on line today. An agreement between power company...

Halfway home: EWE released

Former Gov. Edwin Edwards was released from the federal detention center in Oakdale in the dark hours Thursday morning and driven two hours east to a Baton Rouge halfway house where he will spend the...

Ex-lawyer Mercier misused client funds

Kent Mercier, a former Lafayette lawyer, pleaded guilty to misusing about $77,000 in trust funds from the accounts of several former clients, The Advocate reported Tuesday. Kent Mercier, a former...

Free Press: Miles not going to Michigan

The newspaper closes its brief report with, "It is unclear whether [Athletic Director Dave] Brandon offered the job to Miles or they could not work out an agreement." Citing an unnamed...

Trash on green mountain

Since a May 2010 fire at The Recycling Foundation, recycled trash has been piling up at the Lafayette facility. You've heard the calls to go green, to recycle and to re-use, but what happens when the...

Qualifying for Senate 26 opens Wednesday

Two candidates have already announced their intention to seek the seat. Candidates for the vacant state Senate District 26 seat will begin qualifying Wednesday for the Feb. 19 primary. Qualifying last...

Mills has fundraising edge in District 22

With a short election schedule, state Rep Fred Mills holds a significant fundraising lead over his competitors in the District 22 state Senate race. With a short election schedule, state Rep Fred...

Ottinger to stay on an extra week

The City-Parish Council was originally scheduled to consider a resolution naming Ottinger's replacement - longtime assistant city-parish attorney Mike Hebert - on Jan. 25. City-parish attorney Pat...

Michigan, Miles meeting Tuesday?

The Detroit Free Press and other media reported Monday that Michigan is expected to speak with LSU coach Les Miles on Tuesday about its vacant football coaching job. The Detroit Free Press and other...

Sorry, wackadoos, mass die-offs are common

The sun will not turn black as sackcloth nor the moon red as blood. Pouring a little cold water on the conspiratorial fire recently doused with the fuel of a few thousand dead birds and fish, the...

ADA, Judge Edwards duped in ‘Thug Law' video

Two local officials featured in a controversial reality-style "Thug Law" video, which made it on to YouTube last week and had almost 1,700 hits before noon Friday, told The Advocate they...

Another La. governor running for president?

In news that has already been picked up by the D.C. newspaper Politico (with the blog headline Buddy Roemer?!), John Maginnis reports that former Louisiana Governor Buddy Roemer is looking to get back...

Bird mystery widens

More bird and fish die-offs from around the world. The mystery of the birds continues as more dead birds have been found in Kentucky and Sweden. This follows the initial reports of 5,000 dead birds...

JoDu nominates Hebert for C-P atty

City-Parish President Joey Durel Wednesday appointed Michael Hebert to serve as the next city-parish attorney, pending approval by the City-Parish Council. City-Parish President Joey Durel Wednesday...

Not so happy new year at Daily Advertiser

Happy New Year? Not at The Daily Advertiser, where employees will again be forced to take a week off without pay in the first quarter of 2011. Happy New Year? Not at The Daily Advertiser. An...

Dupont replaces Allen as assistant city prosecutor

Attorney Thomas Michael Dupont is now serving as assistant city prosecutor, replacing Marcus Allen, who was fired from the post in August. Attorney Thomas Michael Dupont is now serving as assistant...

CPC to elect new leadership

Barring a departure from form, current Vice Chair Keith Patin is expected to ascend to the chairmanship; the council has traditionally elevated the vice chair to chairman. The Lafayette City-Parish...

Dead birds discovered in Louisiana

Approximately 500 dead blackbirds and starlings have been found in Pointe Coupee Parish. Like some Hitchcock movie with no score, the mystery of the dead birds has now hit Louisiana. Just a few days...

Councilman Shelvin in default - again

District 3 Lafayette City-Parish Councilman Brandon Shelvin has not put his legal troubles behind him: IberiaBank, which holds the second mortgage on his home at 301 Monarch Drive, filed suit against...

UL prof 'refudiates' Ind in Gazette story

A linguistics professor at UL who routinely lobbies the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education on behalf of Louisiana Family Forum insists his views have been misinterpreted. A UL professor...

Council to appoint Morrison's replacement Tuesday

The City Parish Council's first order of business at its meeting Tuesday, Jan. 4, will be to appoint a replacement for recently departed District 1 Councilman Purvis Morrison. The City Parish...

Tennis star's River Ranch home destroyed by fire

An apparent bolt of lighting during Wednesday night's thunderstorms destroyed the massive River Ranch home of retired tennis pro Chanda Rubin. An apparent bolt of lighting during Wednesday night's...

Jindal tops list of popular governors

Gov. Bobby Jindal may be no longer enjoying the lofty state approval ratings he experienced in 2008, but a year away from re-election, he is still among the most popular sitting governors in the...

Mills' conservative bona fides attacked

Suspicion of Mills' motive in switching parties was already foreshadowed in the comment section at theind.com, and it's a sentiment that could gain traction in what will be a short campaign. State...

Congress sends food safety bill to Obama

Supported by both Louisiana senators, Ag Commissioner Mike Strain and the Southern Shrimp Alliance, the bill gives the FDA, among other things, broad new powers to police foreign seafood. President...

LUS Fiber completes buildout

LUS Fiber has completed its citywide buildout and is now available to almost all businesses and residents in the city. LUS Fiber has completed its citywide buildout and is now available to almost all...

BP finally coughs up for lost revenue

Negotiations between BP and the state have given way to a  $2.56 million agreement that will cover losses associated with the sale of recreational fishing licenses and oyster tags. Just a few days...

Ottinger calling it quits

City-Parish President Joey Durel, who praised Ottinger for bringing "a level of integrity, respect and a work ethic that I felt was important to this position," will appoint Ottinger's...

Mills announces for Senate 22

The Thursday-evening announcement by Fred Mills was widely anticipated; formerly a Democrat, he switched his party affiliation earlier this month. State Rep. Fred Mills, R-Parks, declared his...

Special elex for Senate seat set for Feb. 19

Qualifying for the race will be held Jan. 12-19. Senate President Joel  Chaisson has designated Feb. 19 as the primary date for a special election to fill the seat of soon-to-resign District 26 Sen....

Gautreaux resigns, Perry to seek seat

State Sen. Nick Gautreaux has resigned his District 26 seat to take a post with the Department of Motor Vehicles. Gautreaux's counterpart in the House, Rep. Jonathan Perry, says he plans to run for...

Council approves LCG pay raise

The raise will cost LCG about $2 million dollars - money to be drawn from the city's general fund, from a utilities and communications fund, and from grants. Over the objections of the Tea Party of...

First live oak felled on UL campus Tuesday

The tree sat at the edge of the Denbo Hall dormitory parking lot, and was one of the trees that the administration had hoped to save. Photos by Hope Rurik Despite the diligence of concerned students,...

Harson weighs in on open meetings violation

Fifteenth Judicial District Attorney Mike Harson on Monday filed suit against three former Lafayette Housing Authority board members, claiming the trio violated several provisions of the state's open...

Council to decide LCG pay raise Tuesday

The Lafayette City-Parish Council will vote on an ordinance for final adoption Tuesday that would grant a 2 percent pay raise to employees of Lafayette Consolidated Government. The Lafayette...

Landry secures new committee assignments

Fitting almost perfectly with his top campaign issues from the past year, U.S. Rep.-elect Jeff Landry, R-New Iberia, has been tapped to serve on both the Transportation and Natural Resources...

2010 census data to be released Tuesday

Update: It's official now, Louisiana will drop to 6 Congressional seats, according to the new Census data. Update: It's official now, Louisiana will drop to 6 Congressional seats, according to the new...

Commish working toward trio of charters

The commission is currently working on three separate charters: a city of Lafayette charter that would grant the city its own mayor and council; a charter for Lafayette Parish that would create a...

Legislative auditor reveals LHA findings Monday

It may be a while before the rest of us know what the Louisiana Legislative Auditor found when it looked through the Lafayette Housing Authority's finances, but two board members and the state...

State explains protocol for new flag, deal design

The state's new flag and seal are basically the same image of a brown pelican feeding its young with droplets of blood; just now it's three drops, plus a few other minor enhancements. So just how much...

TP: Democrats searching for Jindal's next opponent

Wanted: Louisiana registered Democrat with statewide name recognition and a personal fortune they don't mind putting on the line for a shot at the state's top office. Wanted: Louisiana registered...

Report slams costly La. sand berm project

A new report from the National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling has some harsh criticism of the sand berms constructed off Louisiana's coast to block oil from...

Oyster industry looks to the future

Of all the fisheries impacted by the BP oil spill, the ones hardest hit are the state's oyster reefs. Of all the fisheries impacted by the BP oil spill, the ones hardest hit are the state's oyster...

Gulf Coast AGs: Proceed with caution

Attorneys general representing Gulf Coast states are urging residents considering filing claims with BP for losses related to the Deepwater Horizon explosion and spill to be careful what they sign....

Master plan down to final four

The winning firm will be hired to produce a comprehensive master plan for Lafayette Parish. Lafayette Consolidated Government late Tuesday announced that four firms have been selected as finalists to...

Ex-prosecutor Johnson suspended from practice of law

Former prosecutor J. Floyd Johnson, who pleaded guilty to one count of tax evasion Nov. 10, has been suspended from the practice of law - for now, just on a temporary basis. Former prosecutor J. Floyd...

Publisher Leslie Hurst leaving Daily Advertiser

Leslie Hurst, president and publisher of The Daily Advertiser and The Daily World, is leaving Lafayette to become publisher of another Gannett-owned newspaper, The Clarion Ledger in Jackson,...

Fred Mills switches to Republican Party

Just two months ago, state Rep. Fred Mills was emceeing the annual Lafayette Parish Democratic Party Lifetime Achievement Awards banquet. Just two months ago, state Rep. Fred Mills was emceeing the...

La. lawmaker rips Jindal in NY Daily News

State Rep. Damon Baldone, a Houma Democrat, tore into Gov. Bobby Jindal in a letter to the editor published Friday. State Rep. Damon Baldone, a Houma Democrat, tore into Gov. Bobby Jindal in a letter...

Higginbotham taking over as PASA director Jan. 3

Business and media consultant Shanna Higginbotham will assume the Performing Arts Society of Acadiana reins from longtime Executive Director Jackie Lyle on Jan. 3. Business and media consultant Shanna...

Budget issues weigh on LITE CEO search

The search for the next CEO of Louisiana Immersive Technologies Enterprise will begin in earnest in January, according to UL Vice President of Research Robert Twilley, who is also serving as interim...

Unclaimed property = Christmas cash

Louisianians who need a little extra cash this Christmas - and who doesn't? - could have an unexpected surprise waiting for them at the state treasury. Louisianians who need a little extra cash this...

UL prof, students featured in Discovery series

Professor Chris Carroll and his students have prominent roles in the series as they construct models of various structures in Egypt and Rome, testing such things as pulleys for hoisting multi-ton...

Future of UL oaks still uncertain

During the past two weeks, UL Lafayette President Joseph Savoie has held meetings with students in order to clarify the situation that threatens six live oak trees on UL's campus, all of which have...

Picard leaving Acadian in January

A top official at Acadian Ambulance since 1998, Tyron Picard announced he will leave the Lafayette-based company in January, though he was not specific about his future plans, saying only he will...

Congress moves on to next challenge: food safety

Now that the president and Beltway Republicans have settled on the tax rate debate - hopefully - lawmakers can begin focusing on what to do about that pesky food safety legislation. It appears that...

The politics of hate

Labeling the Family Research Council as "anti-gay," The Southern Poverty Law Center is adding the D.C. powerhouse to its 2011 list of hate groups. The Southern Poverty Law Center, a...

Gulf spill documentary released

New BP Gulf Spill short film examines the ongoing search for justice by the victims of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Narrated by Ed Begley, Jr., Crude Justice highlights the difficulties ordinary...

BESE approves science books, school grading system

The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Thursday voted in favor of purchasing several science textbooks, despite opposition from creationists who argue the books teach evolution too...

LHA job apps pour in

Heading a beleaguered agency whose every move from the past few years is being investigated by state and federal officials has broad appeal, as more than 100 people have applied of the executive...

LHFA approves Joie De Vivre

The Louisiana Housing Finance Agency's Board of Commissioners awarded a total of $15 million in tax credits to Acadiana Outreach Center's planned Joie De Vivre affordable housing complex. The...

Dee Stanley switches to Republican Party

Lafayette Consolidated Government's chief administrative officer is among a recent wave of public officials to convert from the Democratic Party to the GOP. Scott Angelle, John Alario, John Smith and...

Landrieu slammed for tax cut hypocrisy

It's hard to understand how Senator Mary Landrieu has become so adamantly opposed to tax cuts for Americans making more than $250,000, given that she was one of the few Democratic Senators to vote for...

Darwin wins: BESE committee approves textbooks

By a 6-1 voice vote Tuesday, a committee of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education approved several science textbooks for Louisiana public high schools - books that had come under fire...

Bayou Teche Museum seeking donations for expansion

There's nothing like success to cause problems. That's certainly the case for New Iberia's Bayou Teche Museum, which finally opened its doors this year, after nearly two decades of planning. There's...

TGFM: La. second unhealthiest state

Once again it's thank God for Mississippi, which comes in 50th to Louisiana's 49th on a ranking of the healthiest states. Once again it's thank God for Mississippi, which comes in 50th to Louisiana's...

Sales taxes up; LCG pay raise proposed

The Lafayette City-Parish Council will hold a special meeting Tuesday night to vote on an introductory ordinance that would grant a 2 percent pay raise for Lafayette Consolidated Government...

New study rips La. higher ed

Louisiana higher education is not making the grade. So says a new study from the Pelican Institute, a non-profit research and education institution that examines Louisiana public policy. Louisiana...

BP oil spill tops Yahoo 2010 Year in Review list

BP oil spill tops Yahoo's list of most popular subjects at the website. The Gulf lost, but real news won over celebrity clap-trap in Yahoo's 2010 Year in Review. The list culls the most popular...

Lawmakers, students make demands of Regents

With the state facing down a budget shortfall that could potentially reach $2 billion, legislators and a new advocacy group brought a wide array of gripes and requests Thursday to the Board of...

Advertiser backtracks on STM-only special section

The Daily Advertiser's plan to publish an exclusive special section, "In the event that STM wins Friday night," came to a screeching halt Thursday when readers and other local team boosters...

Students banding together for German program

UL students concerned about the future of the German-language degree program are circulating a petition on campus and have established an on-line petition urging the administration not to discontinue...

Mills, Champagne to duel for senate seat?

State Rep. Fred Mills tells the Abbeville Meridional he is planning to run for the District 22 state Senate seat recently vacated by Troy Hebert. State Rep. Fred Mills tells the Abbeville Meridional...

School board revoting on N.P. Moss issue

After the Lafayette Parish School Board stunned many in attendance at its special meeting on Monday, Nov. 15, voting to shutter N.P. Moss Middle and turn it into the new Thibodaux Career and Technical...

Public souring on Jindal?

A new poll suggests that even as Gov. Bobby Jindal is literally flying high - in a jet - crisscrossing the country to promote his new book and raise cash, his approval rating among Louisiana voters is...

Dee Stanley robocalls for LUS Fiber referral program

LUS Fiber is kickstarting a new and improved Refer-A-Friend program just in time for the holidays and with a little help from one of its more well-known local customers. LUS Fiber is kickstarting a...

Scenes from the Gulf Rally for Truth

Here are some select videos from the Nov. 20 Rally for Truth. Here are some videos from the Gulf Rally for Truth held in Grand Isle on Nov....

Pastorek chairing reform group on urgent mission

Louisiana Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek has been selected to chair Chiefs for Change, a newly formed bipartisan group committed to bold Pre-K 12 public education reforms. Louisiana...

Porsche rolling out ‘Cajun' SUV

German automaker Porsche confirms it is indeed planning to slot a smaller SUV below its successful Cayenne, but that's not the best part. We just didn't believe the speculation. First there was the...

Cloud looms over German degree program at UL

Faculty members at UL plan a show of solidarity with a colleague whose curriculum may be in jeopardy due to anticipated budget cuts. Faculty members at UL plan a show of solidarity with a colleague...

Morrison wants wife to fill remaining term

City Parish Councilman Purvis Morrison has requested that his wife be allowed to fill out the remainder of his council term. Update: Council Clerk Norma Dugas sent out a press release this morning...

BP round up

Quick holiday roundup of BP and Gulf oil spill related news. ** Anyone receiving compensation from BP will be refused the right to later sue** It comes as no surprise that anyone receiving...

Former DHAP worker sues for $10,800+ in back pay

Linda Jefferson, who was terminated Aug. 13 as a Lafayette Housing Authority Disaster Housing Assistance Program case manager along with four other workers, filed suit Nov. 17 for $10,800 in back pay...

UL alumnus serving as temp secretary of state

A 1971 graduate of UL with a B.S. in marketing, Tom Schedler was appointed first assistant secretary of state three years ago to serve as Jay Dardenne's second in command. Dardenne has moved on to...

UL may save two oaks

Since Independent intern and University of Louisiana Lafayette journalism student Hope Rurik broke the story two weeks ago (Paving Paradise) that six mature live oaks will be felled on campus in order...

Bustle era officially ends at noon

Rickey Bustle's nine-year tenure as UL's head football coach ended during a noon press conference Monday. Rickey Bustle's nine-year tenure as UL's head football coach ended during a noon press...

3rd Circuit backs defunct work-release facility

A state appeals court has denied the state Department of Corrections' bid to recoup nearly $250,000 from a Lafayette non-profit work-release program the state shuttered in 2008. A state appeals court...

LUS Fiber wins NCTC lawsuit, FCC yet to rule

LUS Fiber got some welcome news yesterday in its ongoing membership dispute with the National Cable Television Cooperative. LUS Fiber got some welcome news yesterday in its ongoing membership dispute...

BP claims process streamlined

State Attorney General Buddy Caldwell says he has received concessions from Kenneth Feinberg, administrator of the Gulf Coast Claims Facility entrusted with managing the claims process for victims of...

Wetlands center gets new chief

United States Geological Survey veteran Phil Turnipseed has been named the director of the National Wetlands Research Center on Cajundome Boulevard in Lafayette. United States Geological Survey...

Tale of the tape

The tape that would purportedly support City-Parish President Joey Durel's position that three Lafayette Housing Authority board members violated the state's open meetings law, which he cited in a...

NOLA, BR among top 20 ‘Most Dangerous Cities'

Louisiana's four largest cities, including Lafayette, have been pegged by independent publisher CQ Press as among the most dangerous in the United States. Louisiana's four largest cities, including...

Garbage collection changes for Thanksgiving week

Neither Allied Waste nor The Recycling Foundation will run its regular collection routes on Thanksgiving day. Neither Allied Waste nor The Recycling Foundation will run its regular collection routes...

Former hospital chief, civic leader dies at 68

Lafayette has lost one of its civic leaders. Retired hospital administrator John J. Burdin Jr. died Sunday, Nov. 21, at Lafayette General Medical Center. Burdin, who was recently diagnosed with...

Durel appoints CIO search committee

City Parish President Joey Durel has appointed a committee to help spearhead a search for the city's next Chief Information Officer. City Parish President Joey Durel has appointed a committee to help...

LHA trio dismissed again

In a letter dated Nov. 19, City-Parish President Joey Durel again notified three Lafayette Housing Authority board members of their dismissal - this time for violating the state's open meetings...

Po-po versus fun: Let's call it a draw

The Lafayette Police Department cast its gaze on the city's nightlife over the weekend, arresting nine people during two traffic checkpoints and issuing 11 summonses during a crackdown on underage...

LCG, LPD unveil new crime mapping site

How safe is your neighborhood? Where are the most crimes in Lafayette occurring and with what frequency? Government and law enforcement officials in Lafayette have unveiled a new Crimeview system to...

Bustle house on the market

Rumors about a coaching change are beginning to swirl as news spreads that UL's head football coach is selling his home. One blogger on TigerDroppings.com, an LSU fan site, referred to it as "a...

Landrieu drops hold on White House appointment

President Obama has his new budget director confirmed and Sen. Mary Landrieu has a renewed commitment from the Obama administration that they will be more expedient in issuing offshore drilling...

Forces gathering for UL oaks

In response to the UL administration's plans to remove six live oak trees from campus to make way for new construction and renovations to existing buildings, a campus environmental group has started...

WSJ: Jindal v. Obamacare

Opinion Journal, the new videos being produced by The Wall Street Journal's Editorial department, has a segment up on Gov. Bobby Jindal discussing the state's stance on so-called...

Doctor sounds the alarm in the Gulf

Florida doctor predicts huge surge in cancer rates among Gulf residents due to the BP oil spill. In the wake of the capping of BP's Deepwater Horizon well, there has been an overwhelming silence or go...

Brown: Jindal one of South's many national wannabes

Just last year, before the president's State of the Union address, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal was the fair haired boy of the national Republican Party. Political writer Jim Brown points out how...

Thibodaux Tech heading to N.P. Moss?

A five-hour marathon workshop Monday followed by a special meeting, in which many thought the Lafayette Parish School Board would vote on purchasing the abandoned Super Kmart on Ambassador Caffery for...

VA seeks bids for expanded Lafayette clinic

The Department of Veteran Affairs is seeking bids for a larger Community Based Outpatient Clinic in Lafayette. The Department of Veteran Affairs is seeking bids for a larger Community Based Outpatient...

Charter commish taking dual track

The Lafayette Charter Commission will move toward its April 2011 conclusion with the goal of formulating two options for governance in Lafayette Parish that will go before voters in a parishwide...

Ind urges LPSB to slow down career/tech process

Thibodaux Career & Technical High School is a good idea. Purchasing property and moving forward with the project only weeks before a new school board is sworn in is not. The Lafayette Parish...

Study hard and pay more

Rep. Dee Richard of Thibodaux, who has no party affiliation, is among those who believe the Louisiana Legislature could come to the rescue of colleges and universities facing unprecendented budget...

Jindal on your Kindle

Gov. Bobby Jindal's memoir, Leadership and Crisis, will be released Nov. 15, but The Washington Post's Stephen Lowman got an early copy of the book, which was originally set to be released in July...

Durel pulls ‘TIF' ordinance

City-Parish President Joey Durel has removed from next Tuesday's City-Parish Council agenda an ordinance up for final adoption that could have paved the way for the creation of tax increment financing...

Robert Twilley named interim CEO at LITE

UL Vice President for Research Robert Twilley is the new interim CEO of Louisiana Immersive Technologies Enterprise. UL Vice President for Research Robert Twilley is the new interim CEO of Louisiana...

Neustrom to take post at PAR

Lafayette native Alison Neustrom has been named research director of the nonprofit Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana, a Baton Rouge-based private, non-partisan public policy research...

Former Lafayette ADA pleads guilty to tax evasion

A federal investigation involving former Assistant District Attorney J. Floyd Johnson, first reported by The Independent Weekly in February, came to a conclusion in U.S. District Court Wednesday with...

LHA backpay controversy grows

When the Lafayette Housing Authority's board of commissioners voted Oct. 28 to give former Executive Director Walter Guillory and Deputy Director Jonathan Carmouche 30 days of pay, they were led to...

La. biology curriculum again under review

Like cicadas on a seven-year life cycle, social conservatives are once again challenging the content of high school biology books for the state's public schools. Like cicadas on a seven-year life...

Charter commish grinding along

The commission will hear Monday from Pearson Cross, a political science professor at UL. The Lafayette Charter Commission holds the 12th meeting of its nine-month schedule Monday in the City-Parish...

Advocate: spending cuts not only option

Monday's Advocate makes the case for why Gov. Bobby Jindal needs to reconsider his opposition two years ago to an increase in so-called sin taxes. Monday's Advocate makes the case for why Gov. Bobby...

More pink slips at Daily Advertiser

Just when The Daily Advertiser's employees thought it was safe to poke their heads out of the trenches after surviving several rounds of layoffs in the past four years - heck, it's been what six...

Southern white Dems an endangered species

The GOP's Southern Strategy is a fait accompli - white Democrats in Dixie are becoming as rare as the Louisiana black bear and the Gulf sturgeon. The GOP's Southern Strategy is a fait accompli - white...

Vitter enjoyed strong support among women

Louisiana's junior senator got more support from white women than he did from their husbands despite a concerted effort by the Melancon camp to woo female voters. Congressman Charlie Melancon's...

New photos show lingering effects from BP spill

The BP oil spill is more than six months behind us, the national media have long since broken tent and moved on to other stories, but new photos, some taken as recently as last Friday, reveal the...

3 arrested for Medicaid fraud

Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit this week arrested three personal care attendants on charges that include Medicaid fraud and false claims for providing medical...

Police to ease into go cup enforcement

Lafayette City-Parish President Joey Durel says he anticipates receiving the ordinance banning open alcohol containers from the city's three nightlife areas on Thursday for his signature, which...

Jeff Landry Acadiana's new congressman

After months of contentious campaigning, more than $2 million in expenditures and unprecedented primary elections, voters in the 3rd Congressional District overwhelmingly selected Republican Jeff...

Go cup ban passes; Lafayette is saved!

After about three hours of passionate and sometimes pointless pontificating by both the public and the politicians, the Lafayette City-Parish Council Tuesday voted in favor of an ordinance that...

CPC to decide ‘go cup' issue

The Lafayette City-Parish Council will vote on an ordinance for final adoption Tuesday night that would prohibit open alcohol containers downtown and at the McKinley and Simcoe strips. The Lafayette...

Judicial committee weighs in on complaints

Candidates for Third Circuit Court of Appeal accuse each other of false advertising. [Editor's Note: This story has been modified since its publication following the receipt of additional information....

Oysters versus coastal restoration

What is good for oysters, salinity, is bad for wetlands. What is good for oysters, salinity, is bad for wetlands. That's the juggling act currently going in Baton Rouge under the auspices of the newly...

NOAA: chemical tests show Gulf seafood safe

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, has developed a test they are now using to detect trace levels of chemicals - from dispersants...

PAR breaks down constitutional amendments

Perhaps the most amended state constitution in the United States faces more revisions when voters head to the polls Tuesday. Perhaps the most amended state constitution in the United States faces more...

Redistricting proposition on Tuesday ballot

In addition to U.S. senator, lieutenant governor and 10 constitutional amendments, voters in Lafayette Parish will decide Tuesday on a proposition that, if approved, would amend the Lafayette Home...

UL adding cinematic major

The Lafayette Entertainment Initiative has worked to bring movie productions like Secretariat to the Acadiana area. Now, UL Lafayette is taking some initiative of its own. The Lafayette Entertainment...

Lights, couillons, action!

Here's what happens when alcohol and testosterone mix. Unfortunately, it happened on Jefferson Street. Apropos of nothing (natch), the video below was posted recently to YouTube showing what purports...

Maginnis: Cravins in fight for political life

Could the Cravins dynasty in Acadiana politics be coming to a close? We'll find out Tuesday night following Opelousas Mayor Don Cravins' runoff election. Could the Cravins dynasty in Acadiana politics...

UL student killed, roommate in critical condition

An apparent brutal attack in a downtown neighborhood populated by university students left one UL student dead and another unidentified young man in critical condition Thursday. An apparent brutal...

Esquire: Vitter one of Congress' worst

It will likely be of little consequence to his opponent, Democrat Charlie Melancon, but Sen. David Vitter has landed with a thud on Esquire magazine's list of the "10 Worst Members of...

Feds ‘rope off' BP disaster site

The U.S. Justice Department announced this week it has established a security zone around the wreckage and debris field of the Deepwater Horizon. The U.S. Justice Department announced this week it has...

NYT: Halliburton, BP knew cement was unstable

The presidential commission investigating the April 20 Deepwater Horizon rig explosion that killed 11 workers and set off a months-long, uninterrupted spill of oil into the Gulf of Mexico said...

Harson: no charges against Dartez

Retired Lafayette Police Maj. Glen Dartez is off the hook. District Attorney Mike Harson says he will not file charges against Dartez, who earlier this year failed to render help to a woman who later...

Anti-bullying campaign launches Thursday

A campaign to prevent bullying kicks off Thursday with a series of public services announcements on local airwaves as well as the launch of an anti-bullying hotline and website. A campaign to prevent...

KLFY to air only locally broadcast Senate debate

Local CBS affiliate, KLFY TV-10 will air the only debate between U.S. Senate candidates to be broadcast statewide tonight, Thursday, Oct. 28, at 6 p.m. Local CBS affiliate, KLFY TV-10 will air the...

LHA's Simmons getting the ax - again

City-Parish President Joey Durel is asking Lafayette Housing Authority board member Leon Simmons to step down after learning of Simmons' aggressive action toward local media at the LHA office Monday...

GOP getting organized

With just one week to go until the general elections, the Louisiana Republican Party will host a star-studded event Tuesday that looks suspiciously like a conservative pep rally. With just one week to...

Dardenne and Fayard fire off

The Louisiana League of Women Voters of Baton Rouge hosted one hell of a debate for the lieutenant governor's race. Secretary of State Jay Dardenne, the hometown favorite and Republican contender,...

CampFiber for HealthCare Monday at LITE

The future of health care and how high-powered broadband networks promise to revolutionize the industry will be the topic of discussion for the first in a series of forums being sponsored by...

LHA's Guillory, Carmouche resign Monday

Lafayette Housing Authority Executive Director Walter Guillory and Deputy Director Jonathan Carmouche both resigned Monday morning, The Independent Weekly has learned. Lafayette Housing Authority...

Florsheim leaving LITE

After just more than 15 months on the job, LITE CEO Henry Florsheim is leaving the technology hub for a position in Arkansas. After just more than 15 months on the job, LITE CEO Henry Florsheim is...

Fired DHAP workers want their money

The Lafayette Housing Authority's attorney says he was notified by the LHA that the Disaster Housing Assistance Program case managers fired in August say they were improperly discharged, in that they...

Vitter, Melancon spar over polls

Sen. David Vitter all but declared victory this week in his  re-election bid against Congressman Charlie Melancon. Sen. David Vitter all but declared victory this week in his re-election bid against...

Good news from the depths: Gulf coral appears OK

In another case of "so far, so good," marine scientists checking in on recently discovered coral formations in the northern Gulf of Mexico about 20 miles from the site of the BP oil spill...

LHA auditor: ‘you failed the test'

Three of the ousted Lafayette Housing Authority board members finally had their chance to formally review the blistering audit that led to their removal, and the news was anything but pleasant. Three...

Zachary Richard on mend following stroke

Award-winning Cajun singer-songwriter Zachary Richard is recovering following a minor stroke earlier this week that affected the left side of his body. Award-winning Cajun singer-songwriter Zachary...

Nevers: Bring 'Stelly Plan' back

Sen. Ben Nevers, D-Bogalusa, who heads the Senate Education Committee, believes the Stelly Plan should be temporarily reinstated for two to three years to restore education funding. Sen. Ben Nevers,...

LUS Fiber raises cable rates

LUS Fiber has announced rate increases for much of its cable TV service, bringing its standard rates more in line with those of its chief competitor, Cox Communications. This blog has been updated....

McGoffin honored with 2010 Lafayette Civic Cup

Attorney Gary McGoffin will be recognized for his years of community involvement and activism on Nov. 4 at the Petroleum Club. The 2010 Lafayette Civic Cup will be presented to attorney Gary McGoffin...

Charter commish mulls options

The Lafayette Charter Commission on Monday engaged in an often lively discussion of possible changes to consolidated government in Lafayette Parish. The Lafayette Charter Commission on Monday engaged...

HUD inspector general descends on LHA

On the heels of a phone conversation City-Parish President Joey Durel had with the top official at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development last week, to discuss problems with the...

Jindal book set for Nov. release

Bobby Jindal's debut book is now scheduled for a Nov. 15 release and titled 'Leadership and Crisis.' Bobby Jindal's debut book is now scheduled for a Nov. 15 release and titled Leadership and Crisis....

Commish emails portend panel's direction

A series of electronic messages circulated among members of the Lafayette Charter Commission offer insight into where the panel's deliberations may lead in the coming months. A series of electronic...

Organizers pull plug on UL Senate debate

UL political science professor Ryan Teten says that a proposed U.S. Senate debate between Democrat Charlie Melancon and incumbent Republican David Vitter is officially off. Update: The Oct. 26 debate...

Rubin reinstates LHA board members

State District Judge Ed Rubin Friday reinstated dismissed Lafayette Housing Authority board commissioners Joe Dennis, John Freeman and Leon Simmons. While City-Parish President Joey Durel had the...

Retail icon Herbert Abdalla dead at 92

Herbert Abdalla, one of two brothers who developed Abdalla's Department Store into one of Louisiana's premier retailers, has died. Abdalla died in his sleep Thursday night, according to his son,...

Sangisetty gets good government nod

The Alliance for Good Government announced Wednesday that it will support Democrat Ravi Sangisetty of Houma in the contest to capture the 3rd Congressional District. The Alliance for Good Government...

Amendment means more parish loot

The second proposed constitutional amendment on the Nov. 2 ballot will ask voters whether the state should triple the amount of money each parish receives for producing oil and natural gas. The second...

Still no chemical test for Corexit in seafood

Is Gulf seafood safe to eat? So the oil is supposedly all gone or just forced to the sea floor with the aid of Corexit   out of sight and out of mind the clean up crews are gone, and fisherman are...

Jindal steps up national campaigning

With midterm elections nearing, the odometer on Gov. Bobby Jindal's perpetual "I'm not really running for president" campaign is soaring. With midterm elections nearing, the odometer on Gov....

For Evans' sake! No evidence the Porsha worked

UPDATE: Porsha Evans explains why no DHAP information was on her computer. [After this story was posted, Porsha Evans called The Independent Weekly to explain why the laptop had no information on it...

Pelican population bouncing back

There's really good news from the National Audubon Society about the health of Louisiana's brown pelican population. There's really good news from the National Audubon Society about the health of...

Lafayette Dems announce lifetime achievement honorees

Lafayette's first city-parish president, its first African American member of the City Council and the Louisiana Legislature and the state's first First Gentleman are among the recipients of the 2010...

Bad company: Landrieu, Vitter hammered by CREW

Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a non-partisan good-government group, released Wednesday its annual list of what it deems the most corrupt members of Congress. Citizens for...

Louisiana among most ‘hypocritical' states

The rankings are based on two opposing criteria: federal expenditures per capita and identification with the tea party movement. Louisiana comes in second in The Daily Beast's new list of the most...

Rubin backs down from contempt threat

[UPDATE: In court Tuesday, City-Parish President Joey Durel, through attorney Pat Ottinger, agreed not to seat new Lafayette Housing Authority board members until Judge Ed Rubin decides whether three...

NYT: Obama lifting drilling moratorium

The New York Times is reporting that the Obama administration will today announce plans to resume deepwater drilling. The New York Times is reporting that the Obama administration will today announce...

Conque: City deserves autonomy

The Lafayette Charter Commission on Monday began discussion of what many residents in the city of Lafayette believe is the process' goal: ensuring the city's ultimate self-determination and...

Corporation/franchise taxes plummet 67 percent

Pulled down by a 67 percent drop in corporation and franchise taxes and an 8 percent dip in individual income tax cash receipts, state revenues for the fiscal year to date (July-September) have fallen...

Conque presents alternative consolidation plan

Charter commissioner Bruce Conque will make a presentation Monday evening to his fellow commissioners in which he'll detail a consolidation plan that has been in place in Jacksonville, Fla., for more...

Vitter sharing campaign playbook with Sharron Angle

Louisiana Sen. David Vitter and Nevada Senate candidate Sharron Angle must be using the same campaign advisors and TV ad director. Louisiana Sen. David Vitter and Nevada Senate candidate Sharron Angle...

Viator: Plans on hold due to lawsuit

Youngsville's mayor has big plans for the Ambassador South extension - plans that are tied up by a lawsuit challenging his city's annexation along the corridor. Youngsville Mayor Wilson Viator says...

Durel appoints new LHA board

Amid a legal challenge by three board members who were dismissed in August, City-Parish President Joey Durel has named a new board of commissioners for the troubled Lafayette Housing Authority. Amid a...

Kershaw endorses Dardenne for LG

Local country singer Sammy Kershaw, who finished third in the running of the Oct. 2 election for lieutenant governor, has thrown his support behind first place finisher, Secretary of State Jay...

Third Circuit affirms Marinello murder conviction

The Third Circuit Court of Appeal has backed a lower court's conviction of the former New Orleans broadcaster. The Third Circuit Court of Appeal has backed a lower court's conviction of Vince...

CPC gets an earful from downtown business owners

The introductory ordinance banning open containers from downtown Lafayette and elsewhere passed unanimously Tuesday night at the City-Parish Council meeting. The introductory ordinance banning open...

Langlinais proposes annexation deadline

Broussard Mayor Charlie Langlinais went before the Lafayette Charter Commission last night to float a parishwide annexation plan. Broussard Mayor Charlie Langlinais went before the Lafayette Charter...

Will the 'go cup' ban go?

An introductory ordinance banning open containers from downtown and the McKinley and Simcoe strips goes back before the City-Parish Council Tuesday evening, and a source says it has a better chance of...

Dardenne and Fayard by the numbers

Apparently, it does pay to have better name recognition, as making it to the general election from a field of eight candidates cost Secretary of State Jay Dardenne $1.54 per vote and political...

Council to appoint Morrison's successor

Morrison will take his new office at the start of next year and at the same time, create a vacancy for his District 1 City Parish Council seat. City Parish Councilman Purvis Morrison was elected the...

Flynt renews million $ offer for dirt on Vitter

After a Hustler interview showed up in a campaign spot for U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon in his bid to unseat U.S. Sen. David Vitter, the magazine's controversial publisher renews his million dollar...

Downer, Melancon may stay on sidelines

Jeff Landry came one step closer Saturday to potentially clinching the 3rd Congressional District as he bested Hunt Downer by a practically two-to-one margin in the Republican primary runoff. And at...

Rubin denies TRO in LHA case, sets Oct. 8 hearing

State District Judge Ed Rubin has denied dismissed Lafayette Housing Authority board members' effort to stop City-Parish President Joey Durel from appointing new board members. State District Judge Ed...

Palmetto State Park opens, sort of

After nearly 30 years of delays, Palmetto State Park, just outside of Abbeville, is slated to open in October. For a little while. After nearly 30 years of delays, Palmetto State Park, just outside of...

Horse farm, NGOs big winners in budget finalization

It was a victory for supporters of the horse farm and the Acadiana Center for the Arts Tuesday as the City-Parish Council approved funding for Lafayette Consolidated Government to purchase the...

Go cup ban back on agenda

The Lafayette City-Parish Council will once again consider an introductory ordinance that would prohibit open alcohol containers downtown and on the Simcoe and McKinley strips. The Lafayette...

Go cup ban back on agenda

The Lafayette City-Parish Council will once again consider an introductory ordinance that would prohibit open alcohol containers downtown and on the Simcoe and McKinley strips. The Lafayette...

Landrieu still holding up OMB nominee

U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar today unveiled new offshore drilling safety regulations, but because he would not commit to an early end to the drilling moratorium, U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu is...

Deepwater drilling regs released

New safety and spill-response regulations for offshore oil and gas drilling were issued today by the Interior Department. New safety and spill-response regulations for offshore oil and gas drilling...

Kershaw: 'I'm the only one running for lt. gov.'

Country music singer and lieutenant governor candidate Sammy Kershaw of Lafayette has been touring the state on his "Real People of Louisiana Hayride Tour" in advance of Saturday's election....

Economist Scott delivers local forecast Oct. 12

On Tuesday, Oct. 12, at the Cajundome Convention Center, Dr. Loren Scott will give his annual predictions for how Acadiana's economy is holding up and what's likely to happen here over the next two...

LCG budget faces votes Thursday

New funding models for external agencies along with a proposed purchase of the horse farm could face opposition. City-Parish President Joey Durel's proposed $611 million budget for the fiscal year...

CFA opens grant cycle to nonprofits

Community Foundation of Acadiana has announced the administration of a grant cycle beginning Friday, Oct. 1 through the Pugh Family Fund Community Foundation of Acadiana has announced the...

Dismissed LHA board member calls ‘meeting'

Joe Dennis, who served as board vice chairman of the Lafayette Housing Authority until he was dismissed by City-Parish President Joey Durel Aug. 16 in the wake of a critical audit of the LHA's...

JoDu, Bellard feud could heat up Tuesday

Back up for discussion Tuesday before the Lafayette City-Parish Council is a $150,000 public works project that has become a source of discord between the Durel administration and a councilman, and...

T-P: Saints bringing kicker Carney in Monday

Citing a league source and ESPN, The Times-Picayune is reporting that the Saints are bringing in veteran kicker John Carney for a workout today. Citing a league source and ESPN, The Times-Picayune is...

LUS on commish agenda

LUS is probably the biggest bone of contention regarding the Lafayette Home Rule Charter. The Lafayette Charter Commission will get the 101 on operations of Lafayette Utilities System from Director...

LUS, Cox exploring wireless options

As Lafayette Utilities System wraps up the buildout of its citywide fiber to the home network, there are no immediate plans to advance what many view as the logical next step for LUS: a citywide...

Go cup ban not gone

The ordinance banning open containers on Jefferson Street and the McKinley and Surrey strips that failed on a 5-4 vote Tuesday could wind up back before the City-Parish Council in a couple of...

Landry maintains fundraising lead over Downer

Jeff Landry continues to outpace his Republican rival Hunt Downer in fundraising for the 3rd Congressional District race. Jeff Landry continues to outpace his Republican rival Hunt Downer in...

Former Lafayette rep leaving DOE

Don Trahan, the former District 31 state representative who resigned his seat abruptly a few years ago to take a job with the state Department of Education, is headed toward the unemployment line. Don...

Hurricane Rita, five years later

It was dubbed the forgotten hurricane. Making landfall in the early morning hours of Sept. 24, it was dubbed the forgotten hurricane. And that was five years ago, when Hurricane Rita struck southwest...

Baton Rouge launches 'low pants, no chance' campaign

East Baton Rouge Parish is taking a different tack than some Acadiana municipalities when it comes to the nagging issue of sagging pants. East Baton Rouge Parish is taking a different tack than some...

Ex-Iberia sheriff facing up to a year in prison

Former Iberia Parish Sheriff Sid Hebert faces up to a year in prison for violating the federal Clean Water Act. Former Iberia Parish Sheriff Sid Hebert and his company pleaded guilty Wednesday to the...

Former LHA board members' appeals on Tuesday agenda

They'll have to sit through a joint Lafayette City-Parish Council/Lafayette Public Utilities Authority meeting and a special Lafayette Public Power Authority meeting before their appeals are heard,...

3rd Circuit candidates square off Tuesday at UL

Candidates in the Oct. 2 election to fill an unexpired term and a full term on 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal will gather on the UL campus Tuesday night for debate. Candidates in the Oct. 2 election to...

Update: Go cup ban fails; cruising ordinance pulled

The Lafayette City-Parish Council voted 5-4 Tuesday against an ordinance that would ban open containers downtown and at the McKinley and Surrey Street strips. The Lafayette City-Parish Council voted...

LUS now offering 100 Mbps residential Internet

LUS Fiber has an even faster Internet offering for residential customers. LUS Fiber has an even faster Internet offering for residential customers. The municipal telecom provider will begin taking...

Jeanerette pants saggers get community service

A recent crackdown on sagging pants in Jeanerette has resulted in community service for three men recently cited for low-riding pants with exposed underwear. A recent crackdown on sagging pants in...

All the king's men: the race for lieutenant governor

A recent questionnaire of the candidates includes the question, "What is the best movie filmed in Louisiana?" There are eight candidates running for the office of lieutenant governor this...

Leadership Lafayette seeking 2011 applicants

The Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce is seeking applicants for its 24th Leadership Lafayette class. Deadline for applications is Friday, Oct. 29. The Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce is...

Charlie don't surf...nor dig sand castles.

Oil found beneath the surface along Florida's Gulf Islands National Seashore. In another chapter in the continuing absurdity of the BP Gulf Coast Deepwater Horizon oil spill, beachgoers visiting...

Public safety on Charter Commish agenda

Still more than five weeks from the commencement of deliberations, the Lafayette Charter Commission gets another primer in consolidated government operations Monday. Still more than five weeks from...

Chamber PAC equivocates in LPSB races

The Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce's political action committee, EMPOWER PAC, announced its endorsements in the Oct. 2 election for seats on the Lafayette Parish School Board, inexplicably...

Durel selects local firm for GPS monitoring

Breaking with the recommendation of a review committee, Lafayette City-Parish President Joey Durel has awarded an almost $400,000 contract for GPS monitoring of consolidated government vehicles to...

Seafood watch: fish kills and oiled blue crabs

While the state is pressing BP for $75 million for tourism marketing efforts and seafood promotion and the federal government continues to broadcast that Gulf of Mexico seafood is safe, there is...

Biz site: NOLA ‘dead forever'

The quality of our professional football teams notwithstanding, lumping New Orleans in with Buffalo, Cleveland and Detroit is just plain wrong! Eighty percent of New Orleans' pre-Katrina population...

Oppo to downtown ordinances building on Facebook

Momentum continues to build on the social networking website Facebook opposing a pair of ordinances the Lafayette City-Parish Council will vote on next week addressing. Momentum continues to build on...

Pastorek gets thumbs up from BESE

The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education on Wednesday gave state Superintendent Paul Pastorek a positive job-performance review. The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education on...

Chamber PAC endorsements imminent

Endorsements are expected soon from the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce's newly formed political action committee, EMPOWER PAC. Endorsements are expected soon from the Greater Lafayette Chamber...

Coyote blues at ARA

Better watch out what you ask for. Better watch out what you ask for. The Acadiana Regional Airport in New Iberia has been battling Gordon Doerle for years, claiming that Gordon's Disposal...

Lafayette Senate debate 'all hinges on Vitter'

Organizers of a proposed U.S. Senate debate on the campus of UL Lafayette are hopeful to put the event on next month, but say that right now it's all up to incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. David...

White House: Moratorium's effect minimal

In a report presented Thursday to the Senate Small Business Committee, the Obama administration asserts that the economic effects of the deepwater drilling moratorium have been far less severe than...

Angelle requests additional $75 million from BP

Lt. Gov. Scott Angelle, in a Wednesday letter to BP's general manager of governmental and public affairs, asks the oil giant to allocate additional funds to help the Louisiana tourism industry recover...

AP: Shallow water drilling down 73 percent

Shallow-water oil and gas drilling is down approximately 73 percent from last year, based on an analysis by the Associated Press. Shallow-water oil and gas drilling is down approximately 73 percent...

Locals facing ethics fines

Four Acadiana men including incumbents on the Lafayette City-Parish Council and Lafayette Parish School Board are facing fines from the state Ethics Board for failing to file financial disclosure...

Notes from the 3rd Congressional District

Houma business attorney Ravi Sangisetty, the Democratic nominee in the 3rd Congressional District, said he wants the field of candidates to discuss a wider range of issues before the Nov. 2 general...

Facing criminal probe, Dartez calls it quits

Embroiled in controversy amid allegations he failed to render aid to a woman who later died, allegedly at the hand of her live-in boyfriend, Lafayette Police Department Maj. Glen Dartez called it...

Impeachment trial for NOLA judge begins

A federal judge based in New Orleans is the subject of an impeachment trial set to begin in the U.S. Senate Monday. A federal judge based in New Orleans is the subject of an impeachment trial set to...

Funding for oil spill research tapped out

In the ongoing race with time to document the effects of the BP oil spill on marine life in the Gulf, the loser will be you and me. In the ongoing race with time to document the effects of the BP oil...

Controversial downtown development plans modified

Ceding to the concerns of the neighborhood and to economic reality, Joie de Vivre will be smaller and have a more traditional design. The Lafayette City-Parish Council voted unanimously Tuesday night...

CFA to award $30K

The Community Foundation of Acadiana has announced plans to award $30,000 in discretionary grants to area nonprofits on a competitive basis. The Community Foundation of Acadiana has announced plans to...

Road Home properties headed to auction block

The Louisiana Land Trust, on behalf of six Acadiana parishes, has commissioned a suburban New Orleans company to auction roughly five dozen Road Home properties on Sept. 18. The Louisiana Land Trust,...

School board forums begin Tuesday

This week may be your only chance to see candidates for the Lafayette Parish School Board discuss the issues before the Oct. 2 election. This week may be your only chance to see candidates for the...

Concerns rise over toxicity in the Gulf

Concerns over air and water quality along the Gulf coast continue to rise among residents as they ponder the short and long term effects of oil and dispersants. Concerns over air and water quality...

CLECO fights back on coal ash contamination claim

The coal-fired Rodemacher plant in Boyce, which is half-owned by Lafayette Utilities System, is among several facilities cited for causing toxic groundwater contamination by a report released this...

Oysters killed to keep oil at bay

What is good for coastal restoration is killing the state's oyster beds. What is good for coastal restoration is killing the state's oyster beds.That's the complaint from oystermen, who are asking...

State Republican Party endorses Jeff Landry

The Jeff Landry campaign continues to build momentum in southeast Louisiana's  3rd Congressional District race. The Jeff Landry campaign continues to build momentum in southeast Louisiana's 3rd...

Karma facing three-day suspension; revocation on hold

The Lafayette City-Parish Council, following more than two and a half hours of discussion Tuesday, tabled a vote on whether to impose a two-year liquor license revocation against downtown night club...

Car Mooch: LHA lieutenant driving illegally

The Independent Weekly has just learned that the Lafayette Housing Authority official in charge of the embattled Disaster Housing Assistance Program, Jonathan Carmouche, is breaking the law every time...

CPC, Durel terms will not be extended

The current terms in office of the Lafayette City-Parish Council and City-Parish President Joey Durel will not be extended by one year; a proposal to put a proposition before parish voters doing just...

Alligator season opens with a whimper

The Louisiana alligator industry is about to take another one in the teeth. The Louisiana alligator industry is about to take another one in the teeth. In another hit for the industry, global prices...

Former LHA board members answer allegations, sort of

Former City-Parish Councilman Chris Williams, embroiled in controversy over his former job as a contract case worker for the federal Disaster Housing Assistance Program through the Lafayette Housing...

CPC to hear bar closure appeal

The Lafayette City-Parish Council Tuesday will hear an appeal from a popular downtown Lafayette nightclub facing a revocation of its liquor license - a forfeiture that would effectively shutter the...

Marinello appeal heads to Third Circuit

The Vince Marinello circus is coming back to town. The Vince Marinello circus is coming back to town. Actually it's going to the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal in Lake Charles, where the former sports...

Charter commish to weigh term extensions

The Lafayette Charter Commission will vote Monday on a proposal put forth by Commissioner Bruce Conque that the terms of the Lafayette City-Parish Council as well as that of City-Parish President Joey...

Downer to continue campaign against Landry

Jeff Landry was less than 200 votes shy of winning the Republican primary for Louisiana's 3rd Congressional District outright on Saturday. Jeff Landry was less than 200 votes shy of winning the...

Retired generals hauled into congressional race

In the battle to capture the 3rd Congressional District, the Republican frontrunners have enlisted two retired major generals from the Louisiana National Guard to fortify their campaigns and, in...

Katrina anniversary this weekend

Sunday, August 29 marks the five year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Sunday, August 29 marks the five year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. I recently talked with a friend from New Orleans who...

Voters to decide Congressional primaries Saturday

Louisiana holds its congressional primary election tomorrow, Saturday, August 28, when three hotly contested races will be decided. Louisiana holds its congressional primary election tomorrow,...

Could this weekend be Karma's last?

Popular downtown Lafayette nightclub Karma's registers may ring for the last time this weekend; the bar is facing a revocation of its liquor license, which would effectively shutter the business,...

Corexit found in Orange Beach, Ala.

BP claims it's not using the discontinued dispersant. In this report from WKRG TV (Mobile, Pensacola), an industrious woman decided to hire her own chemist to test the water bordering her Cotton Bayou...

Poll: Vitter will cruise to primary victory

Saturday's Republican primary for U.S. Senate should be an afterthought for the incumbent. Saturday's Republican primary for U.S. Senate should be an afterthought for the incumbent: A new survey from...

Shell game of wells?

Speculation on the shell game of BP wells continues. Speculation ove BP's possible shell game of multiple wells continues. A month ago we had a "A Tale of Two Wells," a theory put forth by...

Poll shows Vitter trouncing Traylor

Touted as a viable intraparty threat to sitting U.S. Sen. David Vitter when he first announced his candidacy just over a month ago, former Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Chet Traylor has proven...

Learning Experience

With clear evidence Chris Williams was instructing students on the business of politics and claiming those same hours on another government-funded contract, it's time he learned his lesson.

Durel cans two more LHA board members

City-Parish President Joey Durel did not appoint Lafayette Housing Authority board members Gertrude Batiste and Gregory Day, but he has received the go-ahead to remove them from the board of the...

La. again passed over for 'R2T'

Louisiana was once again passed over in the U.S. Department of Educations's "Race To The Top" competition. Louisiana was once again passed over in the U.S. Department of Educations's...

Council to hear developer's appeal

The Lafayette City-Parish Council Tuesday will hear an appeal of a Planning Commission vote denying a Lafayette developer permission to build a trailer park in an unincorporated part of the parish...

WWL: Vitter calls challenger's ad 'defamatory'

Sen. David Vitter is threatening a lawsuit if Louisiana radio stations continue to air a commercial by Chet Traylor, his main opponent in the Republican primary. Sen. David Vitter is threatening a...

Feinberg says no-sue clause his, not BP's, idea

Ken Feinberg, who is in charge of administering damage claims from Gulf oil spill victims, says the requirement that anyone who receives a final settlement from the $20 billion BP compensation fund...

More oil discovered along Gulf beaches (video)

Residents in Louisiana, Mississippi and Florida make crude discoveries. Contradicting the government's announcement two weeks ago that "75 percent of oil is gone," oil continues to be...

Council budget hearings winding down

The Lafayette City-Parish Council will look into the operations of the consolidated government's Public Works Department and Capitol Improvements beginning at 4 p.m. today in the council...

No word yet on Williams' fate at UL

Pressure has come down on UL Lafayette to review the work Chris Williams has been doing at the university since he first secured a full-time job as a political science instructor in January 2008,...

Hebert takes aim at immigration

State Senator Troy Hebert is calling for Louisiana to support Arizona's controversial immigration law and to adopt similar legislation. State Senator Troy Hebert is calling for Louisiana to support...

Calling BS on Walter Guillory

Lafayette Housing Authority Executive Director Walter Guillory's claim of a HUD requirement that one of the case managers it hired for the Disaster Housing Assistance Program hold a doctorate, as...

Youngsville appealing annexation challenge

Youngsville argues that a company doesn't have standing to file suit against an annexation. The city of Youngsville is filing an appeal with the Third Circuit Court of Appeal challenging a district...

LaPESC hosting school board candidate forums

The Lafayette Parish Public Education Stakeholders Council is hosting a series of forums for school board candidates from Sept. 7 - 9. The Lafayette Parish Public Education Stakeholders Council is...

New owners bringing IceGators back to Cajundome

Chuck Anselmo Jr. and Chuck Anselmo III are the new owners of the Louisiana IceGators, and the father-son team is bringing the hockey franchise back to the Cajundome. Chuck Anselmo Jr. and Chuck...

Update: CPC approves Saloom widening

The $23-25 million project could commence soon, pending a Tuesday vote by the CPC. [Editor's Note: The City-Parish Council on Tuesday voted to declare the Kaliste Saloom Road widening project a public...

CABL not backing off school boards

The Council for a Better Louisiana, a nonprofit think-tank based in Baton Rouge that has long been an advocate for reforming local school boards, is now hoping to have an inmpact on school board...

To fish or not to fish

With tensions running high and the aftermath of the BP oil spill uncertain, Gulf fisherman are debating whether seafood from the area is indeed safe to eat. With tensions running high and the...

Reality vs. BP publicity machine

Oil continues to wash up along Gulf Shores. In the ongoing battle between BP's publicity (damage control) campaign and the actual reality along the Gulf Coast, the chasm between the two grew a little...

Hundreds of new laws now in effect

Louisiana residents, beginning at the stroke of midnight Sunday, became subject to 660 new laws ranging from a prohibition on texting (and "sexting") while driving, smoking...

Stretch of road in front of City Club closing

On Tuesday the stretch of de Gaulle Square that runs between the City Club at River Ranch and the Town Square will officially close. On Tuesday the stretch of de Gaulle Square that runs between the...

Federal judge blocks part of La.'s new abortion law

A civil suit targeting Louisiana's new abortion laws led a federal judge in Baton Rouge to issue a temporary restraining order that blocks enforcement until an Aug. 24 hearing. A civil suit targeting...

UL ‘preparing for worst, hoping for best'

Reeling from consecutive years of budget cuts and with more severe contractions on the horizon, higher education institutions statewide including UL Lafayette have begun preparing worst case scenarios...

Vitter and Melancon on the attack

David Vitter and Charlie Melancon may still have primary elections ahead of them before their anticipated showdown in the November general election for U.S. Senate, but that isn't stopping them from...

Oil and tar wash up in Gulf Shores

More oil washes up on the beach at Gulf Shores, Alabama. With the major media singing loud choruses, parroting the phrase "the vast majority of oil is gone" and BP scaling back clean up...

Oil-stained marshes coming back to life

There are signs of new life in Louisiana's oiled marshes. There are signs of new life in Louisiana's oiled marshes. Citing the observations of more than a dozen scientists, the Associated Press is...

Timing critical with charter commish

Lafayette residents hoping significant changes to consolidated government stemming from the charter commission can come sooner than later got a dose of reality Wednesday night. Lafayette residents...

Was Matt Simmons right?

Controversial oil man Matt Simmons last theory raises more than a few eyebrows. Controversial oil and energy man Matt Simmons, who died over the weekend, was many things: "peak oil"...

Lafayette 'passive house' featured in USA Today

USA Today has just featured the ultra efficient 1200 square foot abode in its series "This Week's Green House." UL architecture professor Corey Saft's small town home on Whittington Drive...

‘Coach' back in Lafayette; recovering at LGMC

Former UL Vice President of Student Affairs Raymond "Coach" Blanco, injured more than a week ago when he fell down a flight of stairs at a friend's home in New Orleans, was transferred to...

Oil expert Matt Simmons dies

The well-known oil investor-turned-author whose "peak oil" theory on world petroleum supplies, while controversial, helped focus U.S. awareness on its sources of energy, has died. Matt...

Melancon takes Swiss stance in 3CD

?It's not uncommon for an outgoing politician to attempt to influence the selection of his successor, but in the case of Congressman Charlie Melancon, it appears unlikely that he'll get directly...

Surrey span back in business

Detour signs diverting traffic away from the Surrey Street bridge over the Vermilion River near the airport were removed Monday morning. Detour signs diverting traffic away from the Surrey Street...

LUS budget under scrutiny Monday

The largest single area of City-Parish President Joey Durel's proposed budget for 2011 - Lafayette Utilities System - goes before the City-Parish Council Monday evening. The largest single area of...

No d'uh: Louisiana fat; Mississippi fatter

From the "this is absolutely no surprise at all" file: Louisiana is the second-most obese state in the union - 33 percent of us are hauling too much hay in the wagon. From the "this is...

SCOLA analysis lauds Lafayette Drug Court

The 15th Judicial District's Drug Court program is receiving high marks in a new analysis conducted by the Supreme Court of Louisiana. The 15th Judicial District's Drug Court program is receiving high...

BP oil found saturating barrier islands

An interesting report from Fox 8 in New Orleans (video). Here's an interesting report from Fox 8 in New Orleans on the eaze with which you can find spilt BP oil along Louisiana's barrier islands. Over...

Shrimp season opens but buyers wary

Shrimp season opened east of the Mississippi River earlier this week, but few shrimp boats are heading out onto the waters. Shrimp season opened east of the Mississippi River earlier this week, but...

Grading the Gulf

Seventy-five scientists have given the Gulf of Mexico a health test, and the grade, when averaged, comes out to 71, a C- by most standards. Seventy-five scientists have given the Gulf of Mexico a...

Rig workers get some help

During the month of September, rig workers impacted the federal moratorium on deepwater drilling will be able to apply for financial assistance grants ranging from $3,000 to $30,000. During the month...

3rd District pols form teams, strategies

So far, the four candidates fighting it out have spent more than $425,000 on building modern campaigns that encompass everything from polling and consultants to salaried workers and t-shirts. If you...

Vast majority of oil gone?

Is the oil really gone or is this another well-orchestrated PR campaign? Is the oil really gone or is this another well-orchestrated PR campaign meant to passify the public, redirect their attention...

Hospital board flap takes another peculiar turn

Gov. Bobby Jindal's office, which overstepped its authority in replacing Lafayette attorney Elaine Abell as chairman of the governing board for the planned teaching hospital in New Orleans, appears to...

Shearer takes on Corps in new Katrina documentary

Actor, comedian and New Orleans resident Harry Shearer takes aim at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in a documentary that will be screened in select cities nationwide on Aug. 30, the day after the...

LUS Fiber launches ad campaign

LUS FIber is getting more aggressive in promoting its new fiber-to-the-home TV, phone and internet service to Lafayette residents. LUS FIber is getting more aggressive in promoting its new...

Gov.'s office abuses authority in replacing Abell

The LSU Board of Supervisors' decision to replace the newly appointed chairman of the New Orleans University Medical Center Management Corporation Board only days after she was named to the key post...

Gulf spill round-up for Tuesday

A survey reported in The New York Times finds that even with the oil spill likely contained, residents of the Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf Coast are at risk for mental and emotional health problems....

Gulf spill round-up for Tuesday

A survey reported in the New York Times finds that even with the oil spill likely contained, residents of the Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf Coast are at risk for mental and physical health problems....

Jindal renews call for seafood safety plan

A day after some Gulf fishermen went public with concerns regarding methods used to clear Gulf seafood as being oil and chemical - a process that basically amounts to a smell test -  Governor Bobby...

Charter commish gets first taste of issues

The rural-versus-urban tension that is at the genesis of the Lafayette Charter Commission simmered to the surface during the panel's first meeting Monday evening. The rural-versus-urban tension that...

More concerns over Corexit

Concerns continue to grow over the unprecedented use of the dispersant Corexit during the BP oil spill in the Gulf. Concerns continue to grow over the unprecedented use of the dispersant Corexit...

Louisiana's, Lafayette's stress index rising

Lafayette Parish's stress index rose .97 points from May, to 7.57, and Louisiana's was 9.82, up 1.19 points, according to the AP's stress index for June. All but six of the 56 counties or parishes...

Charter commish holds inaugural meeting Monday

The Lafayette Charter Commission will hold its first public meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the council auditorium, beginning a nine-month process that is likely to result in at least changes to the...

What's on the menu? Corexit?

Traces of oil and dispersants found in blue crab larvae in the Gulf of Mexico. Now that the oil flow from the BP Deepwater Horizon well has been capped, attention is turning toward the possible ill...

Seafood testing methods drawing scrutiny

Is the state and federal government doing enough to ensure the safety of seafood being pulled out of recently re-opened Gulf waters? Is the state and federal government doing enough to ensure the...

LCG gassing up

The city of Lafayette will purchase its first natural gas-powered busses this fall, according to a story in this morning's Advocate, and pursue converting other city vehicles to run on compressed...

Ariz. company gets nod for LCG GPS contract

A review committee has recommended City-Parish President Joey Durel award a $390,000 contract to provide GPS monitoring of city vehicles to GPS Insight of Scottsdale, Ariz. A review committee has...

Durel unveils budget, ambitious cultural agenda

Calling it "the most challenging of the seven budgets I have sent to the council for consideration," City-Parish President Joey Durel Thursday unveiled a 2010-2011 budget that totals roughly...

JoDu proposes LCG buy horse farm

Now Joey Durel is putting his money (well, our money) where his mouth is. Since the UL horse farm controversial land-swap deal surfaced nearly six years ago, City-Parish President Joey Durel remained...

CORRECTION: ESA misidentified in ABiz story

A story in the August issue of ABiz, published Wednesday, incorrectly identified the school involved in the high-profile case concerning a school counselor's alleged inappropriate relationship with a...

LCG settles Hundley wiretap suit

A four year-old lawsuit over a secret wiretap placed at the desk of Lafayette Police Department employee Jeanette Luque has been settled out of court. A four year-old lawsuit over a secret wiretap...

Louisiana's crisis: a national opportunity

I'm not so sure the heads of the Environmental Defense Fund, the National Audubon Society and the National Wildlife Federation would appreciate being compared to Machiavelli. I'm not so sure the heads...

CPC to get JoDu budget Thursday

The Lafayette City-Parish Council will receive City-Parish President Joey Durel's proposed budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year during a meeting Thursday evening in the council auditorium. The...

Got the twitch to switch? Act fast!

If you're not a Republican, but you want to vote in the GOP's closed primaries, then you have only two more days to visit your local registrar of voters. If you're not a Republican, but you want to...

BP reveals record loss, new CEO

BP reported a record quarterly net loss of $17 billion today. It was the company's first quarterly loss in 18 years and came despite a 34 percent rise in revenue, up to $75.8 billion. BP reported a...

Study: Spill has affected perceptions

Analysis of a recent poll conducted by the state Office of Tourism finds that the BP Deepwater Horizon explosion and spill have had a negative impact on potential travellers' perceptions of...

LPSS educator named La. Teacher of the Year

For the second year in a row a Lafayette Parish School System teacher has taken the top honor as the state's best educator. For the second year in a row a Lafayette Parish School System teacher has...

Tony Hayward to get life back

It appears BP CEO Tony Hayward will get his wish, and should have more free time in the coming months. It appears BP CEO Tony Hayward will get his wish, and should have more free time in the coming...

Businessweek: Louisianans country's laziest

Using five years of data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Businessweek.com ranks the Bayou State the laziest in the country. Using five years of data (2004 to 2008) from the U.S. Bureau of...

Accelerated revenue sharing gaining momentum

Sen. Mary Landrieu's office is hailing as a "big deal" support by two dozen senators for her accelerated sharing of royalty revenues with producing states. Sen. Mary Landrieu's office is...

Government watchdog investigating moratorium

Top scientists' claims that their opinions were misrepresented to justify a government-imposed six-month moratorium on deepwater drilling has led to a federal investigation of the moratorium itself....

More questions about Corexit

Is Corexit a useful tool or the new Agent Orange? Interesting video from Democracy Now on the unknown effects of the dispersant Corexit and the possible cover-up in the size of the spill. Watch it...

TS Bonnie targets BP spill site, NOLA.

Update: TS Bonnie is expected to have a minimal impact on Acadiana as the storm tacks toward New Orleans. But there is the issue of that oil spill directly in its path. Gov. Bobby Jindal on Thursday...

LDAF urges cattlemen to take precaution

BP crude contaminating pastures is a growing concern as a tropical system moves closer to southwest Louisiana. With Tropical Storm Bonnie in the Caribbean and the National Weather Service predicting...

Weather threatens work on BP well

Even if the tropical depression southeast of Florida doesn't develop into a storm, it could produce seas high enough to set back BP's efforts to permanently plug its blown out Macondo well if it...

Charter commish sworn in, seated

The Lafayette Charter Commission decided to hold its first meeting on Monday, Aug. 2 after being sworn on Wednesday in the City-Parish Council auditorium. The Lafayette Charter Commission decided to...

Thousands rail against moratorium at 'dome rally

Upwards of 11,000 people streamed into the Cajundome Wednesday afternoon to hear a succession of speakers take aim at the federal moratorium. Photos by Robin May Upwards of 11,000 people streamed...

Traylor troubled by tawdry tryst

Just when you thought Louisiana politics couldn't get anymore interesting, The Monroe News-Star reports today that retired Louisiana Supreme Justice Chet Traylor, Sen. David Vitter's main challenger...

Feldman won't step down from moratorium case

The federal judge who nixed the Obama administration's six-month moratorium on deepwater Gulf of Mexico drilling will not recuse himself from the case.  The federal judge who nixed the Obama...

LCG set to move on St. Antoine extension

The City-Parish Council will vote Tuesday on an ordinance for final adoption that would declare the North St. Antoine Street extension project a public necessity, clearing the way for acquiring rights...

Overflow crowd expected at anti-moratorium rally

Organizers of tomorrow's Rally for Economic Survival at the Cajundome are planning for the possibility of an overflow crowd of more than 12,000. Organizers of Wednesday's Rally for Economic Survival...

Forecasters watching low pressure system

According to KATC meteorologist Dave Baker, conditions favor the system gaining strength as it moves through the northern Caribbean near Cuba. One forecast model has the system making a bee line...

Leak detected near capped Horizon well

Less than a week after the country's collective sigh of relief, anxiety in the Gulf returns as the U.S. government identifies a leak near the Horizon well. The country's collective sigh of relief at...

Water testing along the Gulf

Toxcity concerns rise along the Gulf Coast vacation spots. Since the BP oil spill in April, obvious concerns have risen over the water quality along Gulf Coast vacation destinations. From Galveston to...

JoDu appoints Bourgeois to commish

City-Parish President Joey Durel announced Friday afternoon he has named former City-Parish Councilman Dale Bourgeois to the Lafayette Charter Commission. City-Parish President Joey Durel announced...

BP buying scientists' silence

Just when you begin to let yourself believe that BP is doing something right, finally getting the blown out well capped after 85 days of spewing oil into the gulf, you read a story like this. Just...

Poll shows Keaty leading judge's race

Phyllis Keaty enjoys a double digit lead over her three opponents in the race for 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal, according to a poll conducted on behalf of the Keaty campaign by Southern Media &...

AcA, JoDu unveil funding model for arts center

The announcement represents a deeper commitment to the vital role the Acadiana Center for the Arts plays in Lafayette's cultural and economic life. This artist's rendering shows the Acadiana Center...

Times-Pic, et al: BP well is capped

The Times-Picayune and other news outlets are reporting that BP says it has successfully capped the Deepwater Horizon well that has been spewing millions of gallons of crude oil into the Gulf of...

Jindal staying on sidelines in GOP Senate primary

Gov. Bobby Jindal doesn't have the best record picking winning candidates, but his support would undoubtedly represent a welcome boost for either of the candidates in the upcoming U.S. Senate...

Charter commish off to sputtering start

The nine-member Lafayette Charter Commission is short one member. The nine-member Lafayette Charter Commission is short one member after the withdrawal of one panelist named to the commission by...

Prosecutor Johnson faces tax evasion charge

Five months after The Independent Weekly broke the story of the federal investigation of Assistant District Attorney J. Floyd Johnson, the U.S. attorney's office is charging the local prosecutor with...

Update: CPC, JoDu select charter commish

The Lafayette Charter Commission has been named after the City-Parish Council voted in seven members and City-Parish President Joey Durel appointed a pair. [Editor's Note: This in an update to a story...

Oil spill round up for Tuesday, July 13

While we're waiting today to hear if the new cap on the busted well in the Gulf will work to contain the spewing oil, the Washington Post has a good read on why the deep water of the Gulf of Mexico is...

LUS Fiber cuts ribbon at new retail center

LUS Fiber is holding a grand opening ceremony at its new customer service center at 1875 Pinhook Road today, Tuesday, July 13. LUS Fiber is holding a grand opening ceremony at its new customer service...

Keaty, Bouillion post financial edge in judge's race

In the local 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal race, District Judge Phyllis Keaty and City Court Judge Francie Bouillion continue to loom over the competition in the fundraising department. In the local 3rd...

Concerns rise over air quality in Gulf

Concerns ramp up over air quality and toxicity levels along the Gulf. As we enter into day 83 of the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and workers attempt to put a new containment cap over the...

Surrey span closed Monday

The Vermilion River crossing on Surrey Street near the airport is out of service for the next month. The Vermilion River crossing on Surrey Street near Vermilionville and Lafayette Regional Airport...

Field widens for school board

By late morning Friday, the final day for qualifying, six candidates had registered to run in the October election for school board. By late morning Friday, the final day for qualifying, six...

Court says no to drilling ban during appeal

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the government's effort to reinstate the six-month drilling moratorium while the legal battle over U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman's June 22 ruling...

Fiber buildout to be completed in August

LUS' fiber network should reach every resident within the city limits by mid-August. LUS' fiber network should reach every resident within the city limits by mid-August. "I estimate that 98...

BP hopes to cap well by July 27

BP is now saying it hopes to cap its gushing oil well by July 27, the Wall Street Journal first reported Wednesday. BP is now saying it hopes to cap its gushing oil well by July 27, The Wall Street...

Greg Davis qualifies to run for school board

Following weeks of rumors and speculation regarding his interest in joining the school board, Cajundome Director Greg Davis has "taken the plunge," qualifying today to run for the District 2...

Caillier pleads guilty in child porn case

Larry Caillier Jr. pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count of receiving child pornography. Larry Caillier Jr. pleaded guilty Tuesday to a one count Bill of Information that charged him with receiving...

Opinion: David Vitter must go

U.S. Sen. David Vitter ought not qualify for re-election this week. Instead, after serving out his term, he should slink away in shame. U.S. Sen. David Vitter ought not qualify for re-election this...

Moratorium appeal hearing Thursday

On Thursday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in New Orleans will hear the government's appeal of U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman's ruling that overturned the offshore drilling...

Media blackout in the Gulf, pt. 2

The First Amendment takes a hit from National Incident Commander Thad Allen, BP, and the Obama administration. Between rumors of a possible mass evacuation of the Gulf states in the event of a...

Freetown residents sought for commish

Two vacancies created by term expirations are opening up on the Freetown District Commission for one-year, volunteer terms. Two vacancies created by term expirations are opening up on the Freetown...

Cajundome to host Rally for Economic Survival

Opponents to the Obama administration's attempts to put a hold on all deepwater drilling plan to be out in full force July 21 at the Cajundome. Opponents to the Obama administration's attempts to put...

Oil spill roundup for Tuesday, July 6

The raindrops on your windshield this morning come from a small low pressure system in the Gulf which will produce thunderstorms throughout the day. The raindrops on your windshield this morning come...

Ag chief warns ranchers about oil in pastures

Evidence that livestock grazed in contaminated pastures could bar them from the slaughterhouse. As higher than normal tides pushed in by Hurricane Alex begin to subside and an anticipated...

Policy couture and grading scales

Gov. Bobby Jindal signed into law two bills Wednesday from Lafayette lawmakers seeking to influence the policies that guide public school grading scales and dress codes. Gov. Bobby Jindal signed into...

Lake Michigan's Bighead problem

Louisiana's isn't alone in its battle with the Bighead Asian Carp. You may remember back in January that we reported on the challenges Louisiana officials were having with an invasive freshwater fish...

State GOP celebrates with Champagne

New Iberia state Rep. Simone Champagne (District 49) announced she has changed her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican. New Iberia state Rep. Simone Champagne (District 49) announced she has...

Huval honored by APPA

The American Public Power Association has honored Lafayette Utilties System Director Terry Huval with its top honor. The American Public Power Association has honored Lafayette Utilties System...

Appeals court rules against LCG

The Third Circuit Court of Appeal has rejected a summary judgement in favor of Lafayette Consolidated Government, ruling that a Lafayette police officer was evidently duty-bound to attempt to...

CFA launches philanthropy database for Acadiana

Community Foundation of Acadiana hopes the new website will make philanthropy easier and more efficient. Community Foundation of Acadiana has announced a new online nonprofit database now available to...

Rasmussen: Vitter holds steady lead over Melancon

A new survey of Louisiana voters from polling firm Rasmussen Reports shows Louisiana's incumbent Republican Sen. David Vitter holding a steady lead over his Democratic rival Charlie Melancon. A new...

Alaska: a crystal ball into our future

The Times-Picayune traveled to Alaska to see how the town of Cordova is faring two decades after the Exxon Valdez spilled 11 million gallons of oil into Prince William Sound. It's a place where grown...

NASA releases spill time lapse

NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center has stitched together a series of satellite images shot beginning on April 20, the day the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded, to create a time lapse of the...

Commission hopefuls face council

Candidates for the charter commission faced a series of questions - one from each of the nine City-Parish Council members - Monday during the first of four days of interviews. Candidates for the...

National Guard not fully utilized for oil spill

Gulf Coast governors haven't fully utilized a force of 17,500 National Guard troops authorized to assist in combatting the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Gulf Coast governors haven't fully utilized a...

Media blackout in the Gulf?

Evidence of a "media blackout" in regards to the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico keeps piling up. It isn't just rumors anymore. Evidence of a "media blackout" in regards to the...

TS Alex expected to become 'cane, bypass La.

Tropical Storm Alex is churning over the southern Gulf of Mexico and is expected to reach hurricane status by Tuesday morning. Tropical Storm Alex is churning over the southern Gulf of Mexico and is...

Charter commish interviews begin Monday

Thirty-eight Lafayette parish residents who submitted résumés for the charter commission will be interviewed by the City-Parish Council. Thirty-eight Lafayette parish residents who submitted résumés...

Jindal bans public from viewing oil spill records

Gov. Bobby Jindal quietly announced the veto of a highly controversial public records bill around 6:30 p.m. Friday, snuffing the collective hope of lawmakers who wanted to add more transparency in the...

Bereavement institute in works for Lafayette

A research institute for the study and treatment of bereavement is in the works for Lafayette - a first-of-its-kind in the United States. A research institute for the study and treatment of...

Lafayette Parish unemployment up to 5.4%

Despite that the Lafayette MSA (which includes St. Martin Parish) gained 1,000 jobs from April to May, the parish's unemployment rate jumped from 4.7 percent in April to 5.4 percent in May. Despite...

Eyes on Gulf as tropical system edges closer

Meteorologists are watching a thunderstorm system associated with a tropical wave in the western Caribbean - a system that could become the first tropical depression in the Atlantic Basin this...

Clausen replacement search gearing up

The Board of Regents this week approved the creation of a search committee to spearhead the selection of a new commissioner of higher education. The Board of Regents this week approved the creation of...

LCG in race to fix Surrey Street span

Emergency repairs to the Surrey Street bridge over the Vermilion River near Lafayette Regional Airport will force of the closure of the bridge for nearly a month. Emergency repairs to the Surrey...

Federal judge in NO overturns moratorium

U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman in New Orleans Tuesday overturned the Obama administration's six-month drilling moratorium on deepwater projects. The White House says it will appeal the...

Tony Hayward's worst nightmare?

New Iberia chemist and environmental activist Wilma Subra has gone international. New Iberia chemist and environmental activist Wilma Subra has gone international - on BP's home turf. Subra was...

BP: not liable for economic fallout of moratorium

Despite assurances from Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu that BP would pay for workers' losses from the six-month moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf, the energy...

Judge to rule on drilling moratorium by Wednesday

New Orleans federal Judge Martin Feldman will rule no later than Wednesday on a lawsuit from oilfield service companies that seeks to nullify a six month deep sea drilling moratorium imposed on the...

LCG seeks emergency funds for bridge repair

The Lafayette City-Parish Council will vote Tuesday on an emergency ordinance to transfer $350,000 from three project funds to pay for critical repairs to the Surrey Street bridge. The Lafayette...

LCG answers NCTC suit in KC federal court

Lafayette Consolidated Government on Monday filed pleadings in a Kansas City, Kan., federal court seeking dismissal of a suit filed against Lafayette and LUS Fiber by the National Cable Television...

Huval: cable upgrade comes at minimal expense

LUS Director Terry Huval says that LUS Fiber's recently announced upgrade to its digital cable service is coming at a minimal cost to the company. LUS Director Terry Huval says that LUS Fiber's...

Melancon slams Barton; Boustany quiet

Acadiana's members of the U.S. House of Representatives are reflecting party affiliation in their reaction to fellow Congressman Joe Barton's much-talked-about apology to BP CEO Tony...

EatLafayette kicks off

A kickoff celebration was held during Thursday's Business After Hours for the sixth annual EatLafayette campaign, which promotes dining at locally owned eateries. A kickoff celebration was held during...

LUS Fiber upgrades cable service

LUS Fiber has announced a highly-anticipated upgrade to its cable service: a new digital cable operating system developed by Microsoft touted as the answer to the state-of-the-art television features...

At least BP recycles

British Petroleum CEO Tony Hayward, in opening remarks before Congress, leans heavily on the much-ballyhooed ad that has been running on television. British Petroleum CEO Tony Hayward should consider...

Adm. Allen: Relief well ahead of schedule

The relief well considered the best chance at stopping the flow of oil into the Gulf of Mexico is ahead of schedule and could reach its target within a month. The relief well considered the best...

AOC gets new home, new contract

Acadiana Open Channel will be in a new home in the Rosa Parks Transportation Center next year. Acadiana Open Channel will be in a new home in the Rosa Parks Transportation Center next year. On Tuesday...

Uniform grading scale awaits Jindal signature

A bill that will establish a uniform grading system for public schools in Louisiana was adopted 89-3 in a House concurrent vote on Wednesday. A bill that will establish a uniform grading system for...

Tragedy at World Cup: STM alumna killed

Tragedy has struck a Lafayette family vacationing in South Africa to attend the World Cup - STM alumna Nicole Murphy, daughter of Dr. Danny and Charlene Murphy, was struck and killed by a car. Tragedy...

Transocean gets served!

Led by an Acadiana lawmaker, it took a Senate committee only a few minutes late Tuesday afternoon to approve a set of subpoenas for Transocean officials. Led by an Acadiana lawmaker, it took a Senate...

State wants $457 million for seafood safety plan

Gov. Bobby Jindal's latest requests from President Obama and the federal government involve approval of a seafood safety plan developed by his administration. Gov. Bobby Jindal's latest requests from...

LCG pegs Missouri attorneys for NCTC battle

Lafayette Consolidated Government's legal department is recommending that LCG execute a contract with a pair of attorneys practicing at a Kansas City, Mo., firm to challenge the National Cable...

GEST pushes back against drilling moratorium

The Gulf Economic Survival Team, formed by Lt. Gov. Scott Angelle at the request of Gov. Bobby Jindal, is trying to ratchet up pressure on the Obama administration to lift its moratorium on deepsea...

Langlinais begs pardon

Will Langlinais wants to go hunting. Carrying guns is a no-no for convicted felons, and since the former Iberia Parish president pleaded guilty to malfeasance in office in July 2007, he's lost the...

Retire-rehire bill scheduled for Senate debate

Legislation that would limit how and when public school system employees are allowed to retire and then be rehired is pending final passage in the Senate. Legislation that would limit how and when...

NYT: Bobby's berms a waste of time, money

A professor of coastal geology, writing for The New York Times, calls the 45-mile project a "sand trap" that will "monopolize resources that could be used more effectively...

Six-month moratorium 'may' be shortened

Several media outlets are today reporting some potentially encouraging news: the Obama administration "may" allow offshore drilling before the six-month moratorium on Gulf of Mexico...

Hardy seeks racial profiling task force

A bill by Rep. Rickey Hardy, D-Lafayette, that would create a task force to study the feasibility of compelling Louisiana law enforcement agencies to compile data regarding the race of persons stopped...

LUS alleges 'unfair, deceptive' conduct by Cox, NCTC

By being kept out of a national co-op of cable operators, LUS Fiber could potentially lose out on "millions of dollars" in annual savings and revenue, according to a complaint filed by the...

Cell phone bill faces vote in House

A bill that would make it illegal to use a hand-held mobile phone while driving is scheduled to come up before the full House of Representatives for a vote Friday in Baton Rouge. A bill that would...

Fund raising the way to help with oil spill

The Independent's Web site has been inundated with e-mails from people all over the country asking for information about volunteering to help clean up the Gulf oil spill. The Independent's Web site...

The Demodon'ts and the Republican'ts

If one lesson can be learned from both the Gulf Oil spill and theWall Street financial bailout debacle, Jim Brown writes in his column today, it's that oversight by competent regulators is critical to...

N.O.'s P&J Oyster Co. latest oil spill casualty

P&J Oyster Co., the 134 year-old French Quarter oyster distributor, is laying off employees after reaching the end of its Louisiana oyster supply. P&J Oyster Co., the 134 year-old French...

Appeal suggests salacious law office culture

The Third Circuit Court of Appeal has reversed a summary judgment granted to a Lafayette law firm in a civil suit brought by a former receptionist who accused one of the firm's owner/partners of...

AP photog risks health for fish eye perspective

Photographer offers first-person account of SCUBA diving - in the slick - 40 miles off the Louisiana coast. (video) Associated Press photographer Rich Matthews demonstrates the ultimate commitment to...

Salazar's own experts opposed drilling moratorium

[UPDATE: During a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing today, U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu pressed Interior Secretary Ken Salazar on why he went against the recommendation of the majority...

Update: CPC stakes claim in ongoing Ambassador row

In a special Tuesday meeting, the Lafayette City-Parish Council approved an ordinance for final adoption that would annex into the Lafayette city limits approximately 220 acres of land off the...

Amid ‘retirement' flap, Clausen resigns

Deeply criticized for her furtive one-day retirement last August, Commissioner of Higher Education Sally Clausen is stepping down. It was a wise decision. Deeply criticized for her furtive one-day...

BP commits $60 million for sand berms

After a harrowing boat ride, where BP managing director Bob Dudley, in the company of Gov. Bobby Jindal, saw the toll the oil spill is exacting on Louisiana's wildlife, the oil executive immediately...

Expressway bill nears finish line

Legislation that would revamp the Lafayette Metropolitan Expressway Commission is only one step away from final passage and becoming official state law. Legislation that would revamp the Lafayette...

Anderson announces bid for Opelousas mayor

The candidate is an Opelousas native who lived most of her life in California before returning to St. Landry Parish in 2004. Lena Anderson has announced plans to seek the top elected office in...

LCG to change funding mechanism for NGOs

City-Parish President Joey Durel Monday announced a proposed change to the way Lafayette Consolidated Government funds nonprofit agencies in the parish City-Parish President Joey Durel Monday...

Allen: BP hopes to capture 840,000 gallons a day

U.S. Coast Guard Adm. Thad W. Allen said at a White House news briefing today that BP plans to bring in a second ship to increase the oil it is capturing from the Deepwater Horizon spill. U.S. Coast...

Saints to rally support for coast

Already having shown wonders in lifting a city's spirits following the devastation of Katrina, the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints are heading to the coast to show solidarity with...

Model shows oil spreading far and wide

Scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research stress that the computer model offers a scenario, not a prediction. A team of researchers at the National Center for Atmospheric Research,...

Coast conference to take on new urgency

The State of the Coast conference will have a whole new meaning next week as scientists, academics, state politicos and bureaucrats and others gather for three days of  sessions devoted to restoring...

Jindal on Tony Hayward: 'idiotic'

In a press conference yesterday, Louisiana's governor piled on to the most despised man in Louisian: BP CEO Tony Hayward. In a press conference yesterday, Louisiana's governor piled on to the most...

Fishers frustrated with BP over lack of work

When it comes to knowing wind, currents and tides, no one knows Louisiana's coastal marshes better than the men and women who fish those waters. When it comes to knowing wind, currents and tides, no...

AP: feds halt all new Gulf drilling

[UPDATE: The Interior Department denies that it has extended a drilling freeze to shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico, which contradicts an e-mail written earlier Thursday by MMS supervisor of field...

City wants to move AOC to Rosa Parks center

The Durel administration is negotiating to move Acadiana Open Channel from its current location at 704 Lee Ave. into a new office complex at the Rosa Parks Transportations Center, located at the...

School board OKs master plan

Though there is no funding mechanism in place, the Lafayette Parish School Board Wednesday unanimously approved Baton Rouge-based CSRS' $1.1 billion master plan for improving the parish's school...

Bus driver tenure goes before House

The bill, by Lafayette Democrat Rickey Hardy, is inspired by the infamous case of LPSS driver Kenny Mire. A bill that would end tenure for Lafayette Parish School System bus drivers will be debated...

Probe: Fat cats hogging BP contracts

An investigation finds that in some areas along the Gulf Coast owners of pleasure boats are getting a majority of contracts for British Petroleum's Vessels of Opportunity program at the expense of...

State to build sand berms along barrier islands

Whether forced or willingly, BP will pay for six sand berms along Louisiana's barrier islands. Whether forced or willingly, BP will pay for six sand berms along Louisiana's barrier islands. The...

Melancon calls for BP CEO's removal

Appearing on Good Morning America this morning, Congressman Charlie Melancon directed his frustration at the man quickly becoming the poster child for oil industry irresponsibility, BP CEO Tony...

CPC tightens noose on downtown bars

The Lafayette City-Parish Council voted Tuesday to adopt tough new measures to deal with downtown bars that fail to pay their monthly law enforcement levy in a timely fashion. The Lafayette...

Annexation chess match continues

For the second week running, the Lafayette City-Parish Council went into executive session to discuss its next move in an ongoing war of wits with the city of Broussard. For the second week running,...

La. AG making case for contingency contracts

Today AG Buddy Caldwell got $5 million for legal expenses related to the oil spill, but now he needs legislative authority to hire, on a contingency basis, the best and brightest legal strategists to...

The delusional world of Tony Hayward

The oil spill is bad enough. What we don't need on top of the catastrophic destruction of Louisiana's estuaries and the marine life it harbors is the boneheaded remarks of BP chief executive Tony...

SoLaf land battles heat up

The race to gobble up unincorporated parts of south Lafayette Parish along the recently opened Ambassador Caffery South extension continues Tuesday. The race to gobble up unincorporated parts of south...

School board interference bill heads to Senate floor

A much-needed bill that would end school board interference in day-to-day school operations of school systems is headed to the Senate floor. A much-needed bill that would end school board interference...

Rep. Charlie Melancon breaks down

An emotional Charlie Melancon, who represents the south Louisiana coastal parishes impacted by the oil spill, addressed the U.S. House's Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment yesterday during...

Blanco slams oil spill response

Saying that the lessons of Katrina are going unheeded, former Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Blanco is speaking out about the state's response to the ongoing oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Saying that the...

NOAA predicts 'active' hurricane season

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is predicting an "active to extremely active" hurricane season for the Atlantic Basin this year. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric...

Vermilion tar balls traced to BP

Does the arrival this far west signal an assault by the oil slick? Unsettling results of tests on tar balls discovered by beach combers on Marsh Island and at Chenier au Tigre confirm the balls are...

Lurking threat: New giant plume discovered in Gulf

Marine scientists have discovered a massive new plume of what they believe to be oil deep beneath the Gulf of Mexico, stretching 22 miles from the leaking wellhead northeast toward Mobile Bay, Ala....

UPDATE: Senate confirms Finley as U.S. attorney

UPDATE: The INDsider has just been informed that Assistant U.S. Attorney Stephanie Finley has been confirmed as U.S. attorney by the full Senate. [UPDATE: The INDsider has just been informed that...

Reports: MMS director fired

In the wake of two Interior Department reports of widespread corruption and mismanagement within the Minerals Management Service, the Obama administration has fired MMS Director Elizabeth Birnbaum,...

AP photog captures poignant spill images

New Orleans-based Associated Press photographer Gerald Herbert has been on the ground and in the air since the Deepwater Horizon explosion and spill, chronicling the impact of the disaster. New...

Obama to extend deepwater drilling moratorium

President Obama is set to announce a six-month extension of a moratorium on new deepwater drilling projects, CBS News is reporting. President Obama is set to announce a six-month extension of a...

LA Times: 'top kill' has stopped flow of oil

Citing word from the federal government's top oil-spill commander, U.S. Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, The Los Angeles Times is today reporting that engineers have stopped the flow of oil into the Gulf...

LINC committee submits land-use recommendations

Liaisons from the Lafayette City-Parish Council are being briefed Tuesday on land-use recommendations presented Monday evening to the Planning Commission from a Lafayette IN a Century citizen...

IG monitoring state's emergency expenditures

At the direction of Gov. Bobby Jindal, Louisiana Inspector General Stephen Street Monday announced that he is monitoring the state's emergency expenditures related to the Gulf oil spill response. At...

Sand bar barrier stops oil at Elmer's Island

For graphic proof that the idea of rebuilding Louisiana's barrier islands as a long sand bar to block the flow of oil into the state's marshes can work, check out this photo. The photo depicts a rock...

LSU professor to appear on 'Letterman'

Ed Overton, Professor Emeritus of Environmental Science at Louisiana State University, will appear on the Monday, May 24 episode of Late Show with David Letterman to discuss the Gulf oil spill. Ed...

WWL: Jeff Parish officials commandeer BP boats

WWLTV reported Saturday that Jefferson Parish Emergency managers had commandeered all of BP's hired boats in Grand Isle. Frustrated by the slow response to oil moving into Grand Isle, Jefferson Parish...

Cousteau to discuss spill effects on KVOL Monday

French environmentalist, explorer and filmmaker Jean-Michel Cousteau will talk about his observations from a recent visit to the Louisiana coast with radio host Lou Rom during the 4 o'clock hour...

Downer enters 3rd Congressional District race

As expected, Hunt Downer has jumped into the race to replace Charlie Melancon in the 3rd Congressional District, shaking up an already fluid field of candidates. As expected, Hunt Downer has jumped...

Boustany working to lift shallow-water drilling ban

Congressman Charles Boustany is spearheading an effort in Congress to convince the Obama administration to lift a Gulf drilling moratorium for shallow water operations. Congressman Charles Boustany is...

Low spill estimate could save BP millions in court

If the story of the Exxon Valdez is the model for the endgame of an oil spill, the legal battles facing the state and its residents will be going on decades after BP's Deepwater Horizon well is...

Hunting and fishing oversight could change

At least one chamber of the Legislature believes that lawmakers, and not the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission, should have the ultimate oversight over the rule-making process that establishes hunting...

Another win for Tulane Enviornmental Law Clinic

A bill attacking the work the Tulane Environmental Law Clinic takes on in support of the state's indigent population was shut down by the Senate Commerce Committee Wednesday. A bill attacking the work...

Congressman to post live video feed of BP oil spill

British Petroleum says it will publicly release a live feed of the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico following demands from Congressman Edward Markey (D-Mass.), chairman of the Select Committee on Energy...

Toxic dispersant banned in Gulf

The Environmental Protection Agency informed BP officials late yesterday, reports The Washington Post, that the company has 24 hours to choose a less toxic form of chemical dispersants to break up its...

Council of govs to discuss annexation

As new roadways open up unincorporated Lafayette to future commercial development, the parish's mayors are expected to begin discussions on how to divvy up the treasure. The Lafayette Council of...

A+PEL endorses teacher evaluation bill

The Associated Professional Educators of Louisiana on Wednesday announced its endorsement of House Bill 1033, a controversial proposal to tie teacher evaluations to student performance. The Associated...

Council upholds license suspensions

Bulldog loses its appeal after lenghty parsing of ordinance lingo. The Lafayette City-Parish Council Tuesday upheld five suspensions of liquor licenses against two bars and three convenience stores...

Update: Council votes in favor of annexation

A threatened lawsuit by the city of Broussard forces the CPC to vote to undo, then redo, a major annexation in south Lafayette Parish. [Editor's Note: This story was updated at 8:45 p.m....

Washington Post profiles Jindal after the oil spill

Today's Washington Post profiles Gov. Bobby Jindal and his active response to the Gulf oil spill crisis. Today's Washington Post profiles Gov. Bobby Jindal and his active response to the Gulf oil...

Tar balls hit Key West, hurricane season approaching

Yesterday, scientists were voicing their fears that the Gulf oil spill would get into the Loop Current, which flows east, through the Florida Keys, around the tip of Florida and then up the U.S. East...

Update: 28 submit charter commish résumés

By late Monday afternoon, City-Parish Council Clerk Norma Dugas said 28 résumés had been submitted in the roughly two weeks since the council started accepting applicants - a less than enthusiastic...

Liquor appeals before council Tuesday

The Lafayette City-Parish Council will hear appeals of liquor license suspensions from two Lafayette bars and three other merchants on Tuesday. The Lafayette City-Parish Council will hear appeals of...

Monday's oil spill updates

There's good news and bad news this morning about the oil spill in the Gulf. There's good news and bad news this morning about the oil spill in the Gulf. The good news is that BP has succeeded in...

Keaty announces appeals court bid

On the heels of her opponents' formal announcements, Phyllis Keaty is officially making her foray into the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal race today. On the heels of her opponents' formal announcements,...

Bouillon to formally announce bid for appeals court

City Court Judge Francie Bouillon will formally announce her candidacy for the Third Circuit Court of Appeal during a press conference at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 22. City Court Judge Francie Bouillon...

CPC to hold special annexation meeting

The Lafayette City-Parish Council Chairman Jay Castille will hold a special May 18 meeting to essentially re-annex Les Vieux Chenes Golf Course and Fabacher Field. The Lafayette City-Parish Council...

Expressway bill on the fast track

Legislation that would reshape and reorganize the Lafayette Metropolitan Expressway Commission has made it through the House and is now pending initial action on the Senate side. Legislation that...

PASA seeking new leader

Longtime Executive Director Jackie Lyle will become creative director. The Performing Arts Society of Acadiana has posted a job opening for a new executive director. Longtime Executive Director Jackie...

Basin plan lunges forward

The state's annual plan for the Atchafalaya Basin was endorsed by the Senate Natural Resources Committee Thursday and is now only one step away from official adoption. The state's annual plan for the...

LPA targets open meetings bill

The Louisiana Press Association is crying foul over a bill working its way through the Legislature that many see as an erosion of the state's sunshine laws. The Louisiana Press Association is crying...

Feds may seek criminal charges in Gulf oil spill

Civil liability is not the only concern of BP, Transocean and Haliburton, the three companies involved in a Gulf drilling accident that has to date spilled some 4 million gallons of oil into the Gulf...

Valdez spill subject of LITE screening

Documentary traces the lasting effects of the 1989 catastrophe. A special screening of the 2009 documentary, Black Wave: The Legacy of the Exxon Valdez, will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 13 at...

Landry retiring from UL in December

After more than three decades at UL Lafayette, Dr. Steve Landry announced Tuesday that he will retire in December. Dr. Steve Landry, UL Lafayette's provost and vice president of academic affairs,...

Oil-eating mats may protect marsh

Today's New York Times posts an article titled "New Ways to Drill, Old Methods for Cleanup." Robert Bea, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, who studies offshore drilling,...

Commish résumés trickling in

Interest so far in serving on the charter commish appears to be tepid among Lafayette Parish residents. Interest so far in serving on the charter commish appears to be tepid among Lafayette Parish...

Google Earth puts Gulf oil spill in perspective

Google Earth has found a unique way to make the 2,500 square mile black mass hit home. We've all seen that computer-generated, Rorschach test-like inkblot - depicting the size of the oil slick -...

City, LUS to begin marketing campaign

The Professional Services Committee approved Lafayette Consolidated Government initiating a $50,000 contract with a public relations firm. As more of unincorporated Lafayette Parish opens up to...

Angelle gets unanimous nod as interim Lt. Gov.

The former St. Martin Parish president takes over an office Gov. Bobby Jindal wants to eliminate. Scott Angelle was unanimously confirmed by the House and Senate Wednesday to serve as interim...

Latest on the Gulf oil spill

The ship carrying a containment box, designed to siphon up the majority of a Gulf oil well leak, has arrived at the well site. The ship carrying a containment box, designed to siphon up the majority...

Caldwell signs on to Deepwater letters

Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell has joined the other four attorneys general in states along the Gulf Coast in sending letters to the principal parties involved in the Deepwater Horizon well...

Sammy Kershaw launches another bid for Lt. Gov.

Lafayette's own country music star and Hub City Ford spokesman Sammy Kershaw is once again running for Lt. Governor of Louisiana. Lafayette's own country music star and Hub City Ford spokesman Sammy...

BP drilling relief well, building containment domes

BP announced Tuesday that it began drilling a relief well to intercept the oil well that is spilling oil in the Gulf of Mexico; in the meantime, the company is constructing containment domes to divert...

Bye bye Nagin, Landrieu sworn in

Amid great expectations, Mitch Landrieu was sworn in today as New Orleans' 70th mayor. Ray Nagin's disastrous tenure has come to an end. Amid great expectations for a faster recovery of Louisiana's...

The oil spill in the news

Here are today's updates on the oil spill from news sources: Here are today's updates on the oil spill from news sources: The Advocate: BP says it will pay for cleanup The Times Picayune: Chemicals at...

Ex-Acadiana High teacher Hurst indicted

Former Lafayette Parish school teacher Stephen McKay Hurst, 37, was indicted for production, attempted production, and possession of child pornography, acting U.S. Attorney William J. Flanagan...

Volunteer for oil spill clean up

For people who would like to help with clean up of the oil spill, British Petroleum's Houston office has just activated a volunteer hot line. For people who would like to help with clean up of the oil...

Youngsville, Broussard could return to table

The mayors of Lafayette Parish's southern cities may sit down next week to seek a tranquilizer for their annexation anxiety. The mayors of Lafayette Parish's southern cities may sit down next week to...

Another bill targets expressway commission

After last year's unsuccessful attempt by the Lafayette delegation to create the Energy Corridor Commission as a revamped version of the Metropolitan Expressway Commission, Rep. Jack Montoucet,...

Angelle's unfinished business at DNR

Scott Angelle's expected move up the political ranks is bittersweet for the Breaux Bridge native. Scott Angelle's expected move up the political ranks is bittersweet for the Breaux Bridge native. On...

Military joins massive oil cleanup effort

Potentially "catastrophic" for Louisiana's Gulf Coast. That's the sentiment being expressed across the country about last week's oil rig explosion in the Gulf of Mexico that is now far worse...

Annexation still on Council of Gov agenda

The Lafayette Parish Council of Governments is still hoping to address the red hot issue of annexation, but first it has to succeed in getting all parties to the table. The Lafayette Parish Council of...

UL hires music scholar to fill Comeaux endowed chair

Mark DeWitt has been hired to start a scholarly study and degree program in traditional music at UL Lafayette. Nearly 14 years after the tragic, untimely death of Lafayette musician and pathologist...

Coast Guard to burn oil spill

The United States Coast Guard says it will drop a match onto the massive oil slick drifting toward the Louisiana coast. The United States Coast Guard says it will drop a match onto a portion of the...

Buzz Durio announces run for 3rd Circuit

Attorney Stephen "Buzz" Durio officially announced his candidacy for the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal at a press conference this morning. Attorney Stephen "Buzz" Durio officially...

Cleco exploring solar power

With an oil slick from the Deepwater Horizon rig, which exploded on April 20, covering nearly 2,000 square miles in the Gulf of Mexico and threatening the Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida...

Higher ed's Clausen slashes her own pay in half

Dr. Sally Clausen, Louisiana's higher education commissioner, has voluntarily reduced her own salary from $377,000 to $199,000, effective when the new fiscal year begins July 1. Dr. Sally Clausen,...

Ex-priest Gilbert Gauthe released from jail

Gilbert Gauthe, the former Acadiana priest who shook the Catholic Church with its first modern sex abuse scandal, is back out of prison. Gilbert Gauthe, the former Acadiana priest who shook the...

So-Laf ‘Sooner' rush under way

Competing priorities between the cities of Youngsville and Broussard will likely come into sharp focus this week. Competing priorities between the cities of Youngsville and Broussard will likely come...

Angelle named interim lieutenant governor

Gov. Bobby Jindal today nominated Department of Natural Resources Secretary Scott Angelle to serve as interim lieutenant governor after Mitch Landrieu becomes mayor of New Orleans May 3. Gov. Bobby...

LCG annexes golf course during special meeting

In a rare Monday morning meeting of the Lafayette City-Parish Council, members voted unanimously to annex 271 acres in south Lafayette Parish. In a rare Monday morning meeting of the Lafayette...

Jindal among ‘worst governors' in the country

Gov. Bobby Jindal, who promised a gold standard for ethics reform, has delivered anything but - and as a consequence landed a spot on the list of worst governors in the country. Gov. Bobby Jindal, who...

Google rep touts benefits of fiber

Fiber connectivity lays the foundation for development of the next generation of online applications and services, Google Product Manager Minnie Ingersoll said during a presentation yesterday at the...

Chamber to address comprehensive plan

The Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce will explore the implications of Lafayette adopting a comprehensive master plan at its next "Eggs N' Issues" breakfast. The Greater Lafayette...

4 UL football players arrested for growing marijuana

The Daily Advertiser's Joshua Parrott appears to have been the first reporter to break the story (on of all days, April 20, National Pot Smokers Day) on the Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office's arrest...

Broussard blocks Lafayette annexation

The city of Broussard has headed off Lafayette at the pass in its bid to annex Les Vieux Chenes Golf Course. The city of Broussard has headed off Lafayette at the pass in its bid to annex Les Vieux...

Lafayette ‘city sovereignty' on CPC agenda

An ordinance up for final adoption Tuesday before the Lafayette City-Parish Council could be the opening salvo in a battle by the city of Lafayette to regain its sovereignty from consolidated...

Spears to announce Senate bid

Lafayette entrepreneur Mike Spears is throwing his hat in the ring for this fall's U.S. Senate election, becoming the latest potential spoiler for what has been shaping up as a two-man race between...

Annexation on table at Tuesday CPC meeting

In a testament to just how unconsolidated Lafayette Consolidated Government is, the City-Parish Council will vote Tuesday on an ordinance for final adoption that would annex Les Vieux Chenes Golf...

SEC aware of Stanford Ponzi scheme since 1997

The Inspector General for the SEC issued a blistering 159-page report concluding that the agency's Fort Worth office knew Texas businessman Robert Allen Stanford was operating a Ponzi scheme in...

T-P: Flouride bill is ‘dumb'

The Times-Picayune is holding up state Sen. Dan Claitor's legislation making flouridation of municipal water systems in Louisiana impractical if not impossible as the "dumb bill of the week"...

Former C-P President Comeaux, 72, dies

Former Lafayette City-Parish President Walter Comeaux Jr. died Saturday, April 17, at his residence. He was 72. Former Lafayette City-Parish President Walter Comeaux Jr. died Saturday, April 17, at...

LUS hopes to lure Google Fiber with fiber

The mayor of Duluth, Minn., jumped into icy Lake Superior. Lafayette, Ind., is touting free snacks, among other community assets, and at least someone in Baton Rouge thought the city should seriously...

House oks school board term limits bill

By an overwhelming margin of 78-20 The Louisiana House of Representatives approved a bill by Rep. Steve Carter of Baton Rouge that would bring the issue of school board term limits to a vote in each...

LUS employee gets 15 years in child sex case

Former Lafayette Utilities System employee Kevin Ray was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison this week for attempting to entice a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity and attempted...

Update: Hardy defends drug offender ID bill on Fox

The Lafayette Democrat's bill to require additional identification for felony drug offenders goes national. Rep. Rickey Hardy, D-Lafayette, was up early Tuesday to appear via satellite on the Fox News...

Louisiana tops 'worst roads in America' list

Reader's Digest has just published a survey titled 'The 7 Worst Roads in America' that shows Louisiana running away from the field. Reader's Digest has just published a survey titled 'The 7 Worst...

Penultimate decon meeting Monday evening

The second-to-last town hall meeting concerning Lafayette's consolidate charter - and the prospect of repealing that charter and returning to dual city and parish forms of government - will be held at...

Acadiana lawmakers advance natural gas agenda

A set of bills that promote natural gas as an alternative fuel and urge more drilling was adopted by lawmakers last week, building off of momentum that has sprouted up during the last two regular...

Hundreds turn out to remember Hutslar

Nearly 300 people attended a memorial service Sunday afternoon to celebrate the life of the popular photographer. Nearly 300 people - musicians, artists, admirers, friends and family - attended a...

Two more editors leaving The Daily Advertiser

On the heels of Executive Editor Denise Richter's departure, two more top editors at The Daily Advertiser are leaving the paper. On the heels of Executive Editor Denise Richter's departure, two more...

Maginnis: Cain could play spoiler role

Earlier this week Bayoubuzz and The Louisiana Weekly newspaper broke the story that former state Sen. James David Cain is seriously considering a run for the U.S. Senate, and today longtime political...

Hardy's term limits bill squashed in committee

A bill by Rep. Rickey Hardy to impose term limits on judges, district attorneys and sheriffs was beaten back Wednesday in the House & Governmental Affairs Committee. A bill by Rep. Rickey Hardy to...

Bill watch: expanding the force

In a story published in February ("Street Cred"), we updated readers on the growth and expansion of powers in the state Office of the Inspector General. In a story published in February...

‘City' council members attack charter commish

Gentlemanly fireworks flew at Tuesday's Lafayette City-Parish Council meeting. Gentlemanly fireworks flew at Tuesday's Lafayette City-Parish Council meeting as some members of the body representing...

Evangeline Downs 2010 season starts Wednesday

The 2010 thoroughbred horse racing season gets under way Wednesday at Evangeline Downs Racetrack & Casino in Opelousas with a 10-race card. The 2010 thoroughbred horse racing season gets under way...

Judge Keaty raises $53K in 5 weeks

Fifteenth Judicial District Judge Phyllis Keaty, who is running for the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeal, is leading in fundraising. Fifteenth Judicial District Judge Phyllis Keaty, who is running for the...

Charter commission ordinance before council

The Lafayette City-Parish Council will vote Tuesday evening on an introductory ordinance that if approved on a final vote in two weeks would clear the way for the creation of a charter commission. The...

PETA plans circus protest in Lafayette Tuesday

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals will stage a protest against Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus at an elementary school in Lafayette. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals...

Durel back on road for decon town hall

Th city-parish president will be in Scott Monday evening to host a town hall meeting about the City-Parish Home Rule Charter. City-Parish President Joey Durel will be in Scott Monday evening to host a...

Council of Govs to hash out annexation

The Lafayette Parish Council of Governments is expected to meet in April to discuss a topic that has long been a source of tension among the towns. The Lafayette Parish Council of Governments, an...

NGOs face Capitol threat

Directors of non-governmental agencies statewide are sounding the alarm over a bill currently in the House Appropriations Committee that could have long-term ramifications for their funding. Directors...

Landry rewarded for supporting Robideaux

If you supported Lafayette state Rep. Joel Robideaux for speaker pro tem last week, you're sitting pretty. Take first-term state Rep. Nancy Landry, for instance. If you supported Lafayette state Rep....

Memorial set for Hutslar

A gathering for photographer Kent Hutslar will be held at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 11 at the Acadiana Center for the Arts. A memorial gathering for photographer Kent Hutslar will be held at 3:30 p.m....

Update: Council reverses PZC vote

Residents who live adjacent to the planned Evangeline Acres subdivision convinced the council to block the development. [Editor's Note: The CPC Tuesday voted 4-2 in favor of residents living near the...

Robideaux elected speaker pro tempore

Lafayette independent lawmaker Joel Robideaux today became Louisiana's first speaker pro tempore who is not affiliated with a party. Lafayette independent lawmaker Joel Robideaux today became...

Photographer Hutslar dies at 59

An integral part of the local arts community and a founding member of the Artists Alliance, Kent Hutslar died early Saturday morning at University Medical Center. Lafayette photographer Kent Hutslar...

La. fails to make Race to the Top cut

All of the buzz about Louisiana's chances for a piece of the U.S. Department of Education's $4.35 billion Race to the Top funding has fizzled - at least for now. All of the buzz about Louisiana's...

Feds investigating BR police

The Advocate reported today that the U.S. Justice Department confirmed Thursday that it is investigating allegations the Baton Rouge Police Department routinely harassed black people in the aftermath...

Tax renewal on ballot Saturday

Voters in Iberia, Lafayette, St. Martin and Vermilion parishes will head to the polls Saturday asked to renew a 10-year, 1.5 mills property tax that supports the Tech-Vermilion Fresh Water District....

Quiet Cajun history maker, Roach, dies

The mechanical engineer sued his former employer in federal court three decades ago and in so doing won Cajuns federal discrimination protection. Calvin J. Roach, a hero of the Cajun pride movement...

JoDu, Hub City get props at Google's DC gathering

Lafayette joined a select group for a one-day congress on Internet connectivity. Lafayette was the toast of the town(s) Wednesday in Washington, D.C., as officials representing the Hub City joined a...

State to challenge health care reform

State Attorney General Buddy Caldwell says he will pursue a legal challenge a federal health care overhaul passed Sunday night by Congress State Attorney General Buddy Caldwell says he will pursue a...

Humane Society urges NIRC to retire chimps

The Humane Society of the United States is ramping up the pressure on UL's New Iberia Research Center to release nine research chimpanzees to a sanctuary. The Humane Society of the United States is...

Ethics board delays action on late fees

Hearings to be reset for CPC member Bertrand and former District 40 candidate Soileau. The Louisiana Ethics Administration has delayed action on obtaining orders for payment of late fees against...

Durel begins Consolidated Charter town halls

Lafayette City Parish President Joey Durel kicks off a series of six town hall meetings tonight with the theme, "Lafayette Consolidated Charter: Is it working for you?" Lafayette City Parish...

Vicki Kennedy on ‘John King, USA' tonight

Crowley native Victoria Reggie Kennedy, wife of the late Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, sat down for an exclusive interview with CNN's John King for tonight's premiere edition of his new...

Senate president offers up health care fix

Senate President Joel Chaisson filed legislation that could create a new revenue source for the state's health care budget, and Gov. Bobby Jindal announced last week that he is backing the...

Jury awards bar patrons $30K

A civil jury in Lafayette has awarded two men, one of whom was severely beaten by bouncers outside a downtown night club, more than $30,000 in damages. A civil jury in Lafayette has awarded two men,...

Appeals court rules against school board - again

The Lafayette Parish School Board has suffered another legal setback at the hands of the Third Circuit Court of Appeal. The Lafayette Parish School Board has suffered another legal setback at the...

Greg Davis resigns as LaPESC chairman

Greg Davis has resigned as chairman of the Lafayette Parish Public Education Stakeholders Council. Greg Davis has resigned as chairman of the Lafayette Parish Public Education Stakeholders Council....

LPSS' technical high school opening at LTC

The Lafayette Parish School System will open a new career and technical high school in August, but it will not be housed at N.P. Moss Middle School. The Lafayette Parish School System will open a new...

Weighted vote eyed for council

Some day in the not-too-distant future, votes by the Lafayette City-Parish Council on matters pertaining to Lafayette Utilities System and other city-only issues could be weighted based on...

For now, Lloyd's must pay Stanford's defense

A federal appeals court in New Orleans ruled Monday that Lloyd's of London underwriters must, at least for now, pay lawyers defending indicted Texas financier R. Allen Stanford and three other former...

Advertiser IDs state rep as 'bag head'

Someone really fell asleep at the production desk. Either that or The Daily Advertiser has suddenly taken its editorializing on public officials to a whole new level. Update: The Advertiser has posted...

Provocative 'LPSB' signs crop up before Moss vote

Small yard signs exclaiming "The LPSB Hates Black Children!" are inflaming racial tensions the week the Lafayette Parish School Board is scheduled to vote on a controversial proposal to...

Advocate: UL prof double-dipping?

Dr. Ali Ghalambor, who stepped down as head of UL Lafayette's petroleum engineering department on Feb. 22 but remains a faculty member, for years may have been double billing the university and...

Castille maintains faith in current charter

LCG's legal department is drafting an ordinance that would create a charter commission; deconsolidation is taking a back seat to improving the existing charter. Lafayette City-Parish Council Chair Jay...

Number of bills in session trending above average

Despite Louisiana's looming fiscal crisis, lawmakers are filing literally hundreds of bills for the upcoming regular session. Despite Louisiana's looming fiscal crisis, lawmakers are filing literally...

Brown weighs in on La.'s sky-high insurance

A small deep Southern state like Louisiana should not have the highest insurance rates in the country, former Insurance Commissioner Jim Brown writes in his weekly column. A small deep southern state...

Poles along the Teche

There's good news and bad news when it comes to the ginormous utility poles erected in New Iberia's historic district. The good news is that New Iberia mayor Hilda Curry met with utility company CLECO...

Town halls likely as decon sits on shelf

A series of public meetings as well as the appointment of a committee to devise a time line and figure out exactly what issues might be on the ballot are likely over the next 90 days. Lafayette Parish...

LaPESC hopes to continue dialogue with LPSS

The Lafayette Parish Public Education Stakeholders Council (LaPESC) lost one of its key stakeholders this week when the Lafayette Parish School System backed out of the organization. The Lafayette...

Larry Caillier II indicted in child porn case

Larry Caillier II, son of former Opelousas Police Chief Larry Caillier, was indicted for production and possession of child pornography and attempt to coerce a minor to engage in criminal sexual...

CPC defers decon ordinance

An ordinance allowing parish voters to decide on repealing the charter and undoing consolidation is on hold for 90 days; a committee will be appointed to develop a feasible timeline. Lafayette Parish...

Jeff Landry announces run for Congress

After intimating his intentions for months, Jeff Landry has officially entered the race to succeed Charlie Melancon as congressman in Louisiana'a 3rd District. After intimating his intentions for...

Council to address deconsolidation Tuesday

If approved - and it probably will not be - the ordinance would let parish voters decide in November whether to repeal the charter and abolish Lafayette City-Parish Government. In all likelihood, an...

Gannett ending wage freeze April 1

It's no joke: The Daily Advertiser's parent company is ending the wage freeze at its newspapers April 1. Gannett Co. is ending the wage freeze at its newspapers, U.S Community Publishing President Bob...

When the levee breaks

What story are we telling today: "Chicken Little," "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" or "The Little Dutch Boy?" The news is high water in the Atchafalaya Basin and the potential...

State arts agencies gearing up for budget battle

Arts agencies across the state including Lafayette are marshaling their forces for the annual fight over public funding of the arts. Arts agencies across the state including Lafayette are marshaling...

Laborde running for 3rd Circuit

Lafayette attorney Jeanne Laborde is running for the Third Circuit Court of Appeal, District 5a, which includes the majority of Lafayette Parish. Lafayette attorney Jeanne Laborde is running for the...

C-P Councilman Shelvin pays off another debt

Stacie Durham was heading to the Lafayette Police Department yesterday when she got a call from Lafayette City-Parish Councilman Brandon Shelvin. Shelvin was ready to pay up. Stacie Durham was heading...

Huval: LUS Fiber 'well above' target

After its first year of operation, Lafayette Utilities System Director Terry Huval says LUS' fiber-to-the-premise telecommunications business is above its break-even target and ahead of its projected...

Update: Supremes disqualify Abbeville candidate

The Louisiana Supreme Court has overturned a Third Circuit Court of Appeal ruling and disqualified a candidate for Abbeville City Council. The Louisiana Supreme Court has overturned a Third Circuit...

Domengeaux won't seek appellate seat

Local attorney Jimmy Domengeaux, who was eyeing the Third Circuit Court of Appeal seat, has decided not to run. In the Feb. 17 issue of The Independent Weekly, Peep Goat, the INDsider's insider,...

Warrant issued for C-P Councilman Shelvin's arrest

When City-Parish Councilman Brandon Shelvin was a no-show in court this morning, 15th Judicial District Judge Glenn Everett issued a warrant for his arrest. When City-Parish Councilman Brandon Shelvin...

Warrant issued for C-P Councilman Shelvin's arrest

When City-Parish Councilman Brandon Shelvin was a no-show in court this morning, 15th Judicial District Judge Glenn Everett issued a warrant for his arrest. When City-Parish Councilman Brandon Shelvin...

Bossier Parish getting "Apocalypto"

Bossier City cops prepare for end-of-the-world type scenario. According at an article in the Shreveport Times, the Bossier Parish Sheriff's Office is "launching a program called "Operation...

Durel names new assistant

Lafayette City-Parish President Joey Durel has named Carlee Alm-LaBar as his new assistant. Lafayette City-Parish President Joey Durel has named Carlee Alm-LaBar as his new assistant. Alm-LaBar...

‘Seats' still available for chamber Webinar

Slots are still available for anyone interested in viewing a Web-based seminar on deconsolidation being hosted Tuesday by the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce. Slots are still available for...

Mossville eyed as Superfund site

Residents of Mossville, La., say they have been sickened for decades by the emissions from chemical plants. Located on the western edge of Lake Charles, 14 chemical plants belch plumes into the air...

3 indicted in counterfeit Clementine Hunter scheme

A federal grand jury indicted three people for selling counterfeit Clementine Hunter paintings. A federal grand jury indicted three people for selling counterfeit Clementine Hunter paintings. William...

Chamber urges council to table decon ordinance

The Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce Wednesday urged the Lafayette City-Parish Council to table an ordinance that, if approved on March 9, would allow parish voters to decide in November whether...

Jefferson Street Market calling it quits

The INDsider has just learned that Jefferson Street Market will shut its doors for good in a few weeks. After more than 13 years as a retail anchor and a symbol of renewal for downtown Lafayette, the...

Wrongful death suit filed against Bulldog

Mom accuses the Bulldog of negligence in the roadway death of her intoxicated, under-age son last September. The Lafayette lawyer for a Pennsylvania woman whose son was killed last September on U.S....

Landry fundraising cleared by ethics board

State Rep. Nancy Landry, R-Lafayette, has been given a green light by the Louisiana Ethics Administration to conduct fundraising activities on behalf of political office seekers and fellow legislators...

DWI task force seeks more jail time

Gov. Bobby Jindal's DWI task force wants major increases in minimum jail time for third- and fourth-offense drunken drivers. Gov. Bobby Jindal's DWI task force wants major increases in minimum jail...

Real cops on hunt for fake cops

Lafayette Police are trying to ascertain the identities of four men they say impersonated narcotics officers last week. Lafayette Police are trying to ascertain the identities of four men they say...

Jindal plan grants more autonomy for higher ed

Days after sparing state colleges from any further cuts in his newly proposed budget, Gov. Bobby Jindal today offered another olive branch of sorts to Higher Ed. Days after sparing state colleges from...

Appeals court: Jury award was ‘abusively low'

The Third Circuit Court of Appeal has increased a car-accident victim's award in three areas by almost four-fold. Decrying a Lafayette Parish civil jury's February 2009 decision in a personal injury...

Sources: Feds investigating ADA J. Floyd Johnson

"I have no comment at all," Assistant District Attorney J. Floyd Johnson told the INDsider this morning when asked whether he is under investigation by federal officials. "I have no...

Louisiana Libertarian candidate launches Web site

Louisiana Libertarian and senatorial candidate Anthony Gentile launces new Web site this week. Tired of the left/right dynamic of modern politics? How about some third party action? Feeling as though...

PAR to PERC: Don't abolish regents board

The Public Affairs Research Council is opposing a recent recommendation by the Post-Secondary Education Review Commission. The Public Affairs Research Council is opposing a recent recommendation by...

Jindal bio available for presale

Gov. Bobby Jindal's autobiography, titled On Solid Ground: Returning to America's Core Values, will be released in hardcover on July 12 Gov. Bobby Jindal's autobiography, titled On Solid Ground:...

Jindal gets a penny (actually two) for his thoughts

More than 500 individuals and businesses contributed the maximum to Gov. Bobby Jindal in 2009; two men gave the minimum. Gov. Bobby Jindal filed his annual campaign finance report with the state...

Consolidation, bar fees before council

CPC to decide on advancing deconsolidation ordinance, repeal of fees charged to downtown bars for police security. The Lafayette City-Parish Council will decide Wednesday evening about advancing an...

BR State Rep. Avon Honey dies

Though no details are known at this time, The Advocate is reporting that state Rep. Avon Honey, D-Baton Rouge, has died. Though no details are known at this time, The Advocate is reporting that...

Robideaux leads pack for speaker pro tem

Sources predict Lafayette Independent Joel Robideaux will be the next speaker pro tem in the state House. Sources predict Lafayette Independent Joel Robideaux will be the next speaker pro tem in the...

Berthelot looks to hit ground running

Ben Berthelot won't be wasting any time in preparing to take over as head of Lafayette Consolidated Government's Community Development department. Ben Berthelot won't be wasting any time in preparing...

Environmental group pushes back against HGS

The Louisiana Environmental Action Network has submitted a letter to the state Department of Environmental Quality opposing Henry Gas Storage's proposal to discharge salt brine into Louisiana...

‘Who Dat' plate proposed

Two state legislators are proposing bills that would authorize the production of license plates commemorating the New Orleans Saints' Super Bowl championship. Two state legislators are proposing bills...

Charter hopefuls await LPSB, state

A group denied a charter application by the Lafayette Parish School Board in December of last year has challenged the board's review process and awaits redress from state education officials,...

LCG's Melanie Lewis Edwards resigns

The INDsider has just learned that Melanie Lewis Edwards, director of Lafayette Consolidated Government's Community Development Department, announced her resignation, in French and English, to a group...

Boustany urges new direction on health care

In an op-ed for the D.C. newspaper Politico, Congressman Charles Boustany argues Democrats need to scrap the current House and Senate health care reform bills and start anew. Boustany points to the...

LHSAA to consider raising GPA standards

Amid mounting pressure from a Lafayette lawmaker, the Louisiana High School Athletic Association says it will consider a proposal at its convention next week to incrementally raise the required grade...

Finley nominated for U.S. attorney

President Barack Obama has nominated Stephanie Finley of Lafayette to be the next U.S. attorney for Louisiana's Western District. Finley's appointment is pending confirmation by the U.S. Senate. If...

LUS rate hike clears hurdle

By a 7-2 vote the Lafayette City-Parish Council Tuesday approved an introductory ordinance granting Lafayette Utilities System a rate increase. If approved for final adoption at the Feb. 2 council...

Run For Coverage

The state has approved insurance measures that help and hamper policyholders, leaving many to wonder when real assistance will arrive. Only during this period of Louisiana's long history would Al...


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