LCG legal fees spike 40% under Guillory, among problems dogging Boulet’s start
City-Parish Attorney Greg Logan was the biggest taker in Guillory’s final year, bringing in $700,000; followed by Becker & Hebert, $498,000; Gibson Law Partners, $400,000; Oats & Marino, $395,000; Neuner Pate, $362,000; and Paul Escott, $338,000.
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In her first 100 days in office, Lafayette Mayor-President Monique Boulet was focused on building an experienced administrative team to stabilize government and cleaning up problems inherited from her predecessor,
Source: The Advocate
The reports and audit are for the fiscal year that ended in October 2023, meaning they look at LCG business while former Mayor-President Josh Guillory was in office. Current Mayor-President Monique Boulet took office in January 2024.
CC Adcock, Keith Frank and more punch up an unexpected Road House
The remake, featuring a South Louisiana-heavy soundtrack, has hit 50 million streams.
What is (and isn’t) in LCG’s latest audit
Auditors painted an ugly picture of LUS Fiber and dug deeper into problems found under former M-P Josh Guillory’s administration in LCG’s annual audit.
BRIEF: Bill would let small papers be official journals
State and local government official notices have traditionally been an important source of revenue for newspapers, and in recent years have become more critical as newspaper advertising revenue has migrated to newer technologies.
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The bill repeals Louisiana’s unique three-year rule, which prohibits insurance companies from raising deductibles and canceling or not renewing homeowner policies in effect for more than three years.
Source: Louisiana Illuminator
Ryan Martin, who has been with LPSS for 21 years, was named as the new principal. He has served as the acting principal since January after Byron Lyons, who was named as principal in the fall, moved to Northside High School as an assistant principal.
Source: The Advocate
But before you head to get your festival on, here’s a few things you should know about what to pack, where to park and more.
Source: The Advocate
Its sponsor, Rep. Beau Beaullieu, R-New Iberia, brushed off concerns from colleagues who question the Legislature’s ability to proceed with their ongoing lawmaking session and simultaneously handle constitutional revisions.
“I would argue that the timing is perfect and the timing is absolute if we’re going to make bold changes in Louisiana,” Beaullieu told the committee.
Source: LA Illuminator
Controversial library director bill passes House
A bill that would change the qualifications to become a library director passed the House of Representatives Tuesday afternoon.
Food as medicine? Acadiana doctors to start prescribing fruit and veggies
Through a new program, 600 families will receive debit cards loaded with $40 each month, for six months, which they can use to purchase fruits and vegetables.
Indigenous farmer seeds a traditional food system for Acadiana
At Raccoon Oak Farm, Ida Aronson is experimenting with indigenous methods of growing native southeastern fruit and nut trees and bushes to promote native biodiversity.
‘It’s what made us’: Paul Breaux has long been the center of Lafayette’s integration struggle
Paul Breaux educated generations of Black students. It was also the primary venue for Lafayette’s integration story.
Most of the pending lawsuits are in state court in the 15th Judicial district. Several challenge land use disagreements over platting and zoning. City-Parish Attorney Pat Ottinger said he does not believe the number is excessive, though he is working to dismiss unnecessary suits filed by LCG.
Source: The Advocate
The change was spearheaded by board member Robert Judge who, at his second meeting in 2021, failed to convince the board to change the mission statement by removing recreation and cultural enrichment. Over three years later, he succeeded in making that change and more.
Source: The Advocate
Proposed legislation would bar the state Department of Children and Family Services from requesting waivers for work requirements attached to federal food aid.
Source: The Lens
The biggest outages in Acadiana are Acadia and St. Landry Parish, according to SLEMCO and Entergy outage maps. Over 57% of St. Landry Parish residents are without power as of noon with the major outages in Opelousas and the city’s surroundings, SLEMCO maps show. That number was nearly 70% earlier in the day.
Source: The Advocate
Boulet aims to finish costly flood project to recoup state money
The state’s current problem with reimbursement is that the more than 2-year-old detention project still isn’t functioning.
Lafayette PD suspends mental health initiative
Police officials cited a lack of staff to man regular patrol while several officers are out on administrative leave following officer-involved shootings.
A program to keep Lafayette kids out of jail is in the works — here’s what it could look like
A Calcasieu Parish program connects young offenders to services that can help them and their families get back on track. State officials are developing something similar for Lafayette.
Lafayette label embraces cassette tape’s unexpected comeback
Citronel Sounds, a new Lafayette company, is empowering artists to embrace the DIY spirit through the humble cassette tape. Citronel operates not only as cassette producers, but also as an accessible record label working to record and promote new artists.
Rep. Julie Emerson, R-Carencro, filed legislation this week to allow lawmakers to withdraw up to $400 million from Louisiana’s Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund before July 1, 2025. Juvenile justice campuses would be prioritized if they tap into the money, said House Speaker Phillip DeVillier, R-Eunice, and state Rep. Jack McFarland, R-Jonesboro.
Source: LA Illuminator
The district will be able to buy property, build facilities, issue revenue bonds, incur debt and levy taxes without a vote of the public, according to the legislation, to develop public improvement projects for the university directly or through private foundations or nonprofit organizations affiliated with the university.
Source: The Advocate
If it passes, the plan calls for 171 delegates, made up of 144 state lawmakers and 27 other people Landry would select, to run the constitution-writing process.
Source: Louisiana Illuminator
The super park idea has been scaled back to include only four tournament-quality baseball and softball fields, new LED lighting, a new concession building, new bleachers, canopies and new batting cages.
Source: The Advocate