As Francine shifts away from Lake Charles, critics say the region was underprepared
For a few days, it looked like soon-to-be hurricane Francine may hit Lake Charles. Local activists say the city would have been unprepared.
Read More
Alena Maschke
Alena covers health in Acadiana for The Current and The Acadiana Advocate. She came to Lafayette after reporting on the recovery from hurricanes Laura and Delta in southwest Louisiana. A native of Germany, Alena first came to the U.S. as an international student at Columbia University’s School of Journalism in 2016 and has since worked as a reporter in New York, Florida, California and Louisiana.
Soaring insurance costs threaten Louisiana’s disaster resilience
In Lake Charles, Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple spoke on insurance’s role in building resilience — and what’s being done to fix the current crisis.
Read More
Access to infertility treatment is limited in Louisiana — a Lafayette clinic’s grant helps couples trying to conceive
Access to fertility treatment Louisiana is limited — the clinic is the only one providing IVF services in Lafayette. Restrictions on reproductive rights make it more difficult to recruit to the state.
Read More
Four years after Hurricane Laura, Lake Charles has recovered — but many are left behind
Leaders tout the city’s success in rebuilding after a slew of disasters. For others, recovery remains slow and painful.
Read More
Mold is unsafe, but Louisiana’s low-income tenants lack protection
Exposure to mold inside the home can lead to respiratory issues and make asthma worse. But in Louisiana, there are few protections for renters exposed to it.
Read More
Sepsis kills. A new tool at Lourdes catches it early.
Sepsis is the leading cause of hospital deaths. A new diagnostic tool can detect it in minutes.
Read More
LPD holds off on enforcing gun-free zone Downtown
Precinct Capt. David Leblanc, whose precinct covers the Downtown area, sent an email Tuesday telling officers not to enforce the rule due to legal concerns.
Read More
Growing North Lafayette’s growers
Fightinville Fresh wants to motivate residents to grow their own food, by providing materials and technical assistance to cultivate personal gardens.
Read More
Residents facing eviction from extended stay hotel have few alternatives
There are some of furnished rooms and apartments available, but many are at a price point higher than these families could afford.
Read More
Acadiana sees ‘low surge’ of COVID cases, respiratory illness
Both main hospital groups in Acadiana report an increase in cases of COVID and other respiratory illnesses.
Read More
Breaking the cycle: Pilot program aims to keep rural Acadiana residents out of prison
Beacon Community Connections, a nonprofit addressing social determinants of health, is working on a program to break the cycle of re-incarceration.
Read More
Catholic Charities scrambles to fund homeless shelter after Landry cut funding
Catholic Charities of Acadiana is scrambling to fund its emergency shelter after a recent decision by Gov. Jeff Landry to cut $1M in state funds to operate it.
Read More