News

Abortion limits, bans clear committees

Legislation that would limit or ban abortion in Louisiana easily cleared House and Senate committees on Wednesday, echoing a surge of similar bills in Republican-controlled legislatures in the South. Pro-choice advocates protested the bills inside the state Capitol.

Lt. Gov. Nungesser may face a challenge

After taking to Facebook to publicly acknowledge that he is considering a bid for lieutenant governor this fall, former Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Reynolds told LaPolitics that he should have a clear resolution on the race soon.

St. Landry Parish graduation rate increases

The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) released the Cohort Graduation Rate for all the state’s high schools and St. Landry Parish School District is saw an increase of 6.9 percent points from 2015-2016, bringing St. Landry Parish School District up to a 73.

Rural America on the wrong side of the digital divide

Take a drive through Hamilton County, Kansas, population 2,500, and you know you are in the heart of rural America. Hamilton County has an abundance of many things — wheat, sorghum and dairy, for starters — but broadband isn’t one of them.

Cable hosts get the memo

Bill O’Reilly, once the most powerful voice on cable-TV, has been largely absent from public view for two years following revelations that he paid some $50 million to settle sexual harassment lawsuits.

Church Point to pay out $20k in employee comp time

The Church Point Town Council approved paying about $20,000 of employee comp time at its regular meeting on May 6. Church Point Mayor Ryan “Spanky” Meche said, “This is a business nightmare.” Meche said past town administrations used a comp time system instead of paying town employees overtime.

Senate panel rejects limit on lawsuits

A Senate committee rejected a bill on Tuesday that would reduce auto insurance premiums by curbing civil lawsuits. The panel also advanced a proposal to raise Louisiana’s minimum age for marriage to 18. The insurance bill was sponsored by Rep.

Eunice High garners a top ranking in annual report

When the 137 Eunice High students graduate this Friday they are doing so at a school ranked 63rd out of 311 high schools in the state, according to U.S. News & World Report’s rankings. The top-ranked school in St. Landry Parish is the Magnet Academy for Cultural Arts.

News notes

LSUE Testing Center offers HiSET exam The newly opened Testing Center on the LSU Eunice campus has expanded its offerings after being named a HiSET (GED) testing site. The HiSET exam is a test used to measure high school equivalency skills.

John E. Ortego Jr.

EUNICE-It is with heavy hearts that the family of John E. Ortego, Jr. announces his passing on Tuesday, May 14, 2019 at his home surrounded by family at the age of 84. A Mass of Christian Burial will be Celebrated at 1:00 pm on Saturday, May 18, 2019 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in Elton.