After a roughshod search, the Guillory administration appointed LUS Fiber’s first-ever independent director, moving forward with a hire against the advice of its expert consultant.
Leslie Turk
A founding editor of both The Independent and ABiz and senior editor at The Times of Acadiana in the 1990s, Leslie Turk has worked in the newspaper business in Lafayette for almost three decades. Her work has also appeared in The New York Times, The Acadiana Advocate, Baton Rouge Business Report and Gambit. Email her at [email protected]
No confidence: Lafayette police union resists new chief
In the short time since he took over the department, Glover has made waves. Chiefs often find themselves in conflict with unions. But the relationship between Glover and the Police Association of Lafayette, so far, is combustible.
18 min read
Despite PSC decision, Guillory administration seeks reimbursement from LUS Fiber
Months after the Louisiana Public Service Commission decided to “close the door” on allegations of overpayments from LUS to LUS Fiber, the Guillory administration insists Fiber owes the utility system a refund.
5 min read
Following Carencro’s Amazon announcement, major PPE manufacturing heads to Broussard
The gist: Personal protective equipment manufacturing is coming to Broussard, a project one economic development professional says may be “bigger than Amazon,” a reference to the fulfillment center the mega e-commerce retailer has under construction in Carencro.
5 min read
In last-minute revision, Lafayette docs abandon direct support for local mask mandate
The day of the vote itself, the mandate lost official support from a group of physicians affiliated with both of Lafayette’s hospital systems.
10 min read
Lafayette City Council support for local mask mandate unraveling
The gist: A local emergency mask ordinance that last week seemed headed toward passage is stumbling.
5 min read
Lafayette City Council members make second push for local mask mandate
Still failing to see enforcement of the governor’s mask mandate, City Council members are taking a second shot at passing a local one in an emergency meeting. The same council members previously backed off an effort to push forward on an emergency mask ordinance in July after Mayor-President Josh Guillory assured them the state order would be sufficiently enforced.
9 min read
Lafayette mayor quarantines after direct exposure to KLFY anchor he says should have been in quarantine himself
The mayor-president is in quarantine after a direct exposure to KLFY anchor Dalfred Jones, who tested positive for the coronavirus Friday, the day he emceed the swearing in of Lafayette City Marshal Reggie Thomas at the Heymann Center.
6 min read
Covid kills Mardi Gras, MLK Jr. celebrations in Lafayette
The gist: A different kind of war has canceled Mardi Gras parades and festivities this year.
3 min read
Private contractor tapped by Guillory lacks license to install security cameras in Lafayette
The gist: Crime Fighters of Louisiana, the private entity contracted to provide security cameras for Lafayette, was issued a cease-and-desist letter from Louisiana’s fire marshal for failing to secure a license required by state law. What this means: The company, owned by Lafayette businessman and law enforcement booster Brooks Bernard, can’t immediately execute on a cooperative endeavor agreement it quietly […]
7 min read
State regulators shut down further scrutiny of LUS/LUS Fiber transactions
The PSC, which has limited oversight of LUS Fiber, shut down any further scrutiny of a pending self-report from December 2019.
4 min read
Lafayette City Council members still in the dark over security camera contract with local businessman
City Council members are questioning the mayor-president’s justification for signing a controversial security camera contract with a private company without their knowledge or approval but remain unsure how they might use the various remedies at their disposal.
6 min read