News

Sheriff explains mask mandate

St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s deputies will only become involved in enforcing the state’s masking requirement if management requests them, Sheriff Bobby Guidroz said in a statement. Gov.

Council keeps police dog that the chief doesn’t want

Eunice alderman decided to keep a police dog that Police Chief Randy Fontenot says is no longer needed. Fontenot said he has ended the three-year K9 program because he found it ineffective. But the Board tabled his agenda item to have the dog, Robin, declared surplus at its Tuesday meeting.

St. Landry schools to open with online instruction

The St. Landry Parish School Board decided public schools will open Aug. 20 with online instruction in an attempt to shield students and employees from the coronavirus pandemic. The Board voted 12-0 in a meeting conducted using Zoom with at least 100 online participants on Wednesday.

Acadia School Board sets $88.8M budget

The Acadia Parish School Board adopted an $88.8 million operating budget for the 2020-2021 year. The budget was approved during the July meeting in advance of the beginning of the fiscal year July 1.

St. Edmund to begin school Aug. 5

The first day of school for St. Edmund students is Aug. 5. Students will report a half day. Dismissal will be at noon. Students will report to school from 7:55 a.m. until 2:55 p.m. Monday through Friday.

State’s jobless rate decreases to 9.7% in June

Preliminary data for June 2020 released Friday by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) shows that Louisiana’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased to 9.7%; down 4.5 percentage points from May 2020’s revised seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 14.2%.

If COVID isn’t a national tragedy, what is?

“My fellow Americans, I am today ordering that Monday, August 3, shall be a national day of mourning. All of us should take time on that day to honor the memories of more than 134,000 souls taken by COVID-19. Flags will be lowered to half staff.” — Donald J. Trump, President.

Do you have a favorite heat wave story?

Much of the nation is experiencing a prolonged heat wave, so of course your humble columnist counterintuitively conjures up WARM MEMORIES to comfort himself.

Eunice hotel visit turns into an extended stay

A Texan visit at the Best Western in Eunice turned into an extended stay in St. Landry Parish after he was busted for drugs by Eunice Police. Eunice Police Lt. Ryan Young said a call was received from Texas stating a female friend of his was being held against her will at a local hotel.

Platform helps find addiction treatment

Beginning Tuesday, Louisianans can seek high-quality, appropriate alcohol or drug addiction treatment with the assistance of ATLAS: the Addiction Treatment Locator, Assessment and Standards online platform launching with the assistance of the Louisiana Department of Health’s Office of Behavioral...