News

School Board hits the pause button on plans

In a crowded and sometimes raucous meeting, the St. Landry Parish School Board tabled the discussion of plans to close and consolidate schools. The Board voted 7-5 to regroup on plans to save the district money and reverse an ongoing academic failure in its Opelousas schools.

Legislation to put guns in schools failing

The Senate Education Committee on Thursday refused to approve a bill that would have allowed schools officials to possess firearms in a decision that marked a second defeat for efforts to arm teachers.

Maurice man sentenced to 36 months in prison for fraudulently obtaining more than $1.2 million from Abbeville bank

U.S. Attorney David C. Joseph announced that a man from Maurice was sentenced Tuesday to three years in prison for submitting false receipts in order to draw more than $1.2 million from a bank line of credit. Richard J. Viator Jr., 53, of Maurice, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Dee D.

Hurricane season forecast blows hot, cold

In our world of polarized government and polarized media, where everything is just a matter of somebody’s opinion, we can at least count on the annual hurricane forecasts, can’t we? Maybe not. The predictions are blowing hot and cold.

Task force to study officer-involved shootings

The sponsor of controversial legislation that would require criminal grand juries to review all officer-involved shootings resulting in injury or death deferred her own bill after agreeing to seek creation of a task force to study it. Rep.

To opioid hell and back​

I’m feeling human again, thanks. After three weeks of living in opioid hell - of constantly being sick to my stomach, of throwing up, of having the shakes and feeling depressed and crying - my body and brain are back to normal. I’m no longer high and messed up on pain killers.

Downside of casinos in Louisiana

Several quick financial fixes are being discussed in the current session of the Legislature involving the expansion of gambling. Here’s an interesting thought.

LuLu was cultural ‘marchand de boite’

Worry over the loss of the French culture in south Louisiana is no new thing. Nearly 80 years ago, there was enough concern that 3,000 people came to a big meeting in Abbeville to try to figure out what to do about it.

Bible cited in legislators’ death penalty deliberations

After a Senate panel voted Tuesday to ban the death penalty in Louisiana, a House committee rejected a similar bill 10-8 Wednesday at a tense hearing in which both sides quoted the Bible to make their points. All the Republicans on the committee voted against the bill. An independent, Rep.

Did you know? Always treat a firearm as if it is loaded

Last week there was a disturbing video circulating social media where a female was handling a firearm inside a car and accidently shot and killed a male subject. The negligent killing was caught on Facebook live and viewed by thousands.