News

Think safety first when caring for Christmas trees

As the holiday season gets into full swing, safety should be on top of your list when putting up the tree. AgCenter forestry specialist Niels De Hoop reminds consumers that one of their greatest concerns should be providing enough water for the tree when it’s brought into the house.

Groundbreaking UL Lafayette alum shares motivational message

Dr. James Jackson received a C in geography, but history put him on the map. Jackson was the first African-American to earn a graduate degree from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette.

Christmas gifts for bosses: Let the stress begin!

Does your workplace have a tradition of employees giving a Christmas gift (er, holiday gift … um, scrupulously secular seasonal transfer of goods) to the boss?

Priest prayed at Indian encounter

Just 15 years before the Civil War, much of southwest Louisiana was still a sparsely settled and semi-wild place.

Should the Feds make Louisiana a protectorate?

Have you heard the cries that Louisiana is unable to take care of its problems, and should be treated differently than other states? Some even say, OK, then — make it a protectorate of the federal government.  And you know what?  Maybe that isn’t too bad of an idea.

Francis announces high-speed internet expansion

Almost 37,000 rural homes and businesses in Central and Southwest Louisiana will gain access to high-speed internet service thanks to $22 million in federal funding, according to a news release from Public Service Commissioner Mike Francis.

Path-breaking folklorist’s work finds new home at UL Lafayette

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette is the new home to a half-century of recordings made by a pioneering south Louisiana folklorist. Catherine Brookshire Blanchet developed one of the first substantial audio collections of folk songs from south Louisiana.

Journey of a lifetime: Brain injury survivor on daring expedition

Especially around Thanksgiving, but every day, too, Tyler Wood is thankful to be alive. He isn’t stopping there. The 27-year-old began the kayak portion of a monumental adventure Oct. 9 in his hometown of West Lafayette, Indiana, and plans to finish the 1,700-mile segment Dec. 1-3 in Houston.

Many parish public schools show performance gap by race

A report on subgroup performance in St. Landry Parish public schools shows four schools in the parish where there is a two grade level difference in performance between white and black students. The disparity was highlighted by Board members Candace Gerace and Mary Ellen Donatto.

School Board panel talks racial disparity in scores

Sometimes St. Landry Parish School Board members sound like friends sitting a table around discussing education. That was the case at a meeting Wednesday of the Board’s Executive Committee.