The governor wants to pare down the state’s foundational governing document, which was adopted through a public vote in 1974 but has been amended more than 200 times in the past 50 years.
Source: LA Illuminator
News + Notes
Budget, lack of attendance cited in Paul Breaux’s possible closure
Moving gifted instruction and the French immersion program to other schools in the district are among the options expected to come before the Lafayette Parish School Board.
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COLUMN: Lafayette’s economic performance went from best to worst. Why?
Lafayette used to be a high flier on the Milken Institute’s Best Performing Cities report. Now we’re the fourth worst performing city in America.
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Council Preview: Library land, Brown Park funds and LUS’s $400M gas power plant
Lafayette’s councils will cast big votes on land for a new library, funding for Brown Park and LUS’s $400 million gas plant in a pair of busy meetings Tuesday.
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A pair of bills filed for the Legislature’s regular session would apply the state’s obscenity laws to public libraries, which are currently exempt. Rep. Josh Carlson, a freshman representative from Lafayette, is carrying the legislation in the house. Carlson, a former Lafayette Parish councilman, has also filed a bill removing the requirement that library directors carry a master of library science.
Source: The Advocate
The drought in 2023 was one of the most severe droughts in the history of Louisiana and caused significant damage to the sustainability of the crawfish industry. Lack of water and, in some cases, saltwater intrusion decimated the seed stock and has limited the ability to catch crawfish.
Source: The Advertiser
Accessory dwellings? Not quite in Lafayette backyards
A silver bullet for housing crunches in other cities, accessory dwelling units aren’t catching on in Lafayette, despite local laws that allow them.
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Families, food assistance providers brace for rough summer without Summer EBT
The Landry administration decided not to participate in the program, which last year brought $66.5 million in federal funds to Louisiana to feed poor children.
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Lafayette’s jail is booked up
Staffing shortages have led to long booking delays at Lafayette’s jail, underscoring a clogged criminal justice system.
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Plans will be presented to demolish, remove and replace the Louis “Doc” Bonin Generating Station with a more modern, energy-efficient plant and operations center.
Source: KATC
Firefighters entered the NICU and discovered the smoke coming from the ceiling space. It was quickly determined a small section on the roof was burning. Emergency crews extinguished the fire within minutes. First responders set up ventilation fans to exhaust the light smoke and smell.
Source: The Advertiser
Council approves first short-term rental rezoning
Lafayette’s City Council approved the first rezoning to accommodate an existing short-term rental Tuesday but others may face a more fraught path to continue operating.
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