News

Louisiana state finances ranked 7th most transparent

While Louisiana has a website ranked among the nation’s best in providing access to spending data, Republican lawmakers said on Tuesday that they would like to improve it as part of negotiations to solve the state’s impending budget shortfall.

UL Lafayette biology major to reign over New Orleans’ largest Mardi Gras parade

University of Louisiana at Lafayette student Hannah Autin wanted yellow flowers, and yellow flowers she got. Wishes, after all, do come true for the Queen of Endymion. Presiding over New Orleans’ largest Mardi Gras parade brings duties beyond riding alone in her own float.

Trump the unifier? Don’t buy it

President Donald Trump, who’s never been shy about hammering his rivals and skewering his opponents, used his first State of the Union speech Tuesday night to call for unity as the nation attacks some of its biggest challenges.

‘Dreamers’ and demons

Xinran Ji, 24, had big dreams. But demons demolished them. The bright hopes of young Xinran Ji, a University of Southern California engineering student from Inner Mongolia, died in 2014 at the hands of a then-19-year-old “Dreamer” and his thug pals.

Of an old tree and drunken robins

Last week we took down the big chinaball tree that has shaded our back courtyard for many, many years. It was way past its prime and diseased, was dropping branches regularly, and had spread thick but brittle limbs threateningly over the roof of our house and a neighbor’s garage.

Acadian Cultural Center features Lawtell artist during African-American History Month

The Acadian Cultural Center in Lafayette will host the work of area artist Theon Guillory during February for African American History Month. Guillory’s work will be on display through Feb. 28. The center is open Tuesday-Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturday 8:30 a.m. to noon.

Senator proposes linking TOPS to performance

Sen.Dan Morrish received criticism at Wednesday’s TOPS Task Force meeting over his proposals to reduce awards to lower-performing students and increasing stipends for higher-performing ones.

Medicaid copays debated

Republican legislators are expressing concern about their party’s proposal to require Medicaid recipients to a pay a portion of their medical costs since federal rules prohibit Medicaid recipients from being denied treatment due to lack of payment.

Task force weighs changes to TOPS

While a legislative task force is considering a proposal to reduce funding for some TOPS scholarships, it also is being asked to expand the program in other ways. One task force member, Sen. Mack “Bodi” White Jr.

St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office arrests

The following are arrests reported by the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office. Feb. 2 Laudarren Roosevelt Jones, 28, 200 block of Briscoe Road, Opelousas. Probation/parole violation; two counts of distribution of schedule II drugs; possession and distribution of schedule I drugs.