While outbreaks at crawfish production facilities and nursing homes are the primary drivers of new cases in the Acadiana region, spontaneous community spread remains a risk.
Consultant again waves warning flag about lack of permanent leadership at LUS
Going on two years without permanent directors and headed for uncertainty, LUS and LUS Fiber could risk their financial health without permanent and steady leadership, the systems’ consulting engineer warns in an annual report issued last month. The engineer has raised flags about vacancies atop the city-owned enterprises since late last year with no movement by the previous administration or Mayor-President Josh Guillory.
LCG will lay off 101 employees in cultural positions
Mayor-President Josh Guillory announced late Friday afternoon that 101 LCG employees were notified today that they will be laid off June 5 due to financial straits caused by coronavirus.
Will Lafayette’s bike spike stick around after coronavirus?
Lafayette’s bike community is cautiously optimistic a recent surge in riders could lead to a more permanent growth in bike culture.
Lafayette metro projected to lead state in job losses
The gist: A new economic forecast projects that the Lafayette metro area will lead the state in jobs lost from the first quarter of this year to the second. Modeling by economist Gary Wagner of UL Lafayette’s B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration shows the area recovering less than 10% of those jobs over the next 18 months.
Housing and unemployment ‘a serious crisis, regardless’ as Lafayette commits all HUD coronavirus relief to small business grants
The decision previews potentially tragic choices to come as local and state governments dig their way out of a worsening economic fallout from the coronavirus: Governments have more problems than they can fix.
COLUMN: How Guillory’s business grant program is bad policymaking
Regardless of the merit’s of Mayor-President Josh Guillory small business forgivable loan program, the process he’s used doesn’t lead to good policymaking while ignoring our community’s looming housing crisis.
Louisiana cities are doing what they can to both save small businesses and keep people in their homes
Strapped for cash, some Louisiana cities are working to balance the needs of businesses and housing in how they use federal coronavirus relief.
‘Very slow’ reopening of parish courthouse starts Monday
The gist: There won’t be any civil or criminal jury trials in the 15th Judicial District until at least July 1, but the Lafayette Parish Courthouse will reopen Monday in line with the state’s Phase 1 guidelines.
Guillory proposes using HUD coronavirus relief for small business grant programs, not housing assistance
Housing advocates say the money is better used to help stabilize growing housing insecurity in the region. The proposal will go before the council next week for approval.
With haircuts coming back, Lafayette’s salons are getting some bold styling requests
It’s hard to imagine Jacob Vincent ever questioned his calling. Standing behind the chair back at The Loft salon in November, he made quick work of my lank after-thought of a haircut, manipulating his shears with practiced confidence. When I saw my smart-looking finished cut in the mirror — an inverted bob, one of Vincent’s favorite styles — I assumed the person who gave it to me had been doing hair for a very long time.
LGH, Lourdes systems bring in almost $50 million in relief as losses mount
The gist: Hospitals within Lafayette’s two major health systems got federal relief from the CARES Act that will only cushion the blow from COVID-19 losses, mainly attributable to postponed elective procedures.