State

Nonprofits clean up ‘dirty little secret’ of oil and gas industry: abandoned wells

The following story was first published by Floodlight, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates the powerful interests stalling climate action. Curtis Shuck stumbled upon what he calls one of the oil and gas industry’s “dirty little secrets” while visiting Montana for a work-related trip in 2019.

John Kennedy for Senate

John Kennedy was raised in Zachary, and graduated from Zachary High School. He graduated magna cum laude in political science, philosophy and economics from Vanderbilt University and was president of his senior class.

Should Louisiana ditch the sales tax?

With no personal income tax and booming economies, Texas, Florida and Tennessee are once again drawing attention from Louisiana lawmakers who are wondering if eliminating income tax could create the same boom in their state.

Jobless rates are at record low

Unemployment rates in the state and in the Tri-Parish area are at record lows, according to data for September released Friday by the Louisiana Workforce Commission. St. Landry Parish’s September unemployment rate was 4.4%, down from 5.5% in September 2021 and down from August’s 4.8% rate.

Stop stickerweed before it’s too late

Nothing spoils a nice barefooted walk through the lawn more than stickerweed. Also known as spurweed, stickers or burweed, seeds germinate in the fall and winter months in lawns, particularly where the turf is thin or patchy. When lawns go dormant in the winter, weed problems become evident.

Pete, six or seven ghosts, and me

Here is why I believe there may be something to at least some of the ghost stories that we hear at this time of year. In 1998, photographer Pete Piazza and I spent weeks driving all across south Louisiana, gathering material and taking photographs for the book Our Acadiana.

Louisiana’s voter registration numbers steadily increasing

More than 3 million people in Louisiana are registered to vote for the November election.

Louisiana’s unemployment rate continues to fall

Data released Friday by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that Louisiana’s September 2022 seasonally adjusted unemployment rate is 3.4 percent. This is the lowest rate in the state’s history and the fourth consecutive month with a new record.

Annual Acadiana Food & Wine Soiree includes raffle for 52 weeks of dining

The Louisiana Restaurant Association’s (LRA) Acadiana Chapter and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s (ULL) Department of Hospitality Management will be holding the 4th annual Food & Wine Soiree from 6 to 9 p.m. at the ULL Alumni Center,600 E St Mary Blvd, Lafayette.

Cheer up with the swamp sunflower

Bright and cheery yellow sunflowers are popping up everywhere — in ditches along roadways, in open fields, along fence lines and from woodlands to swampy areas. Spread among other native species such as goldenrod (Solidago spp.