News + Notes – Page 5

A woman holds up a needle used to apply products underneath the skin.

February 20

Stretch marks to survivor stories: Lafayette medical tattooist raises confidence and awareness

Tassnique Prudhomme performs a variety of specialized tattoo services, from scar and stretch mark cover-ups to areola tattoos.

February 19

Council Preview: Land for new library and LUS rate hikes

Lafayette’s City and Parish councils will look this week at plans to buy land for a new library and to raise LUS rates for a new gas-powered plant.

February 16

nola.com Jeff Landry suspends law to allow sheriffs to hire, hike pay

Gov. Jeff Landry has declared a state of emergency that allows sheriffs to immediately hire more deputies and staff and dole out pay raises, in a bid to highlight what the Sheriffs Association calls a deputy shortage across the state.

Source: The Advocate

February 15

Ticking clock on STRs could spawn rezoning boom

Lafayette’s new short-term rental rules leave many owners with two options: get rezoned or get out of the business. That could cause problems for the City Council.

February 14

LUS Fiber is key to M-P Boulet’s vision for Lafayette, but finding its next leader may be messy

LUS Fiber was a key part of Mayor-President Monique Blanco Boulet’s ascension, but she may face a messy path to finding it a new leader.

February 14

nola.com Blue Cross of Louisiana again withdraws plan to sell

It’s the second time in less than a year that the Baton Rouge-based nonprofit has tabled its plan to sell itself to the for-profit Elevance, one of the nation’s largest insurers, amid steep opposition from doctors, hospitals, some policyholders and state lawmakers.

Source: The Advocate

February 9

lailluminator.com Gov. Landry sets wide agenda for special legislative session on crime – Louisiana Illuminator

The items include expanding methods for administering the death penalty and harsher penalties for carjacking. The governor is also seeking stricter treatment of juvenile offenders and tighter provisions for granting parole.

He is also proposing placement of the state’s indigent defender system under the governor’s office.

Source: LA Illuminator

February 8

theadvocate.com Former Lafayette Mayor Dud Lastrapes has passed away

William Dudley Lastrapes Jr. served as mayor of the city of Lafayette from 1980-1992, prior to implementation of the consolidated form of government that exists today.

He was the first Republican to serve as mayor of the city after Reconstruction, elected at a time when Democrats outnumbered Republicans in the city and parish. That would change over the years, with registered Republicans outnumbering Democrats today.

Source: The Advocate

Health

February 7

Acadiana Cares to open Northside primary care and mental health clinic this summer

The clinic is expected to open in July and will provide primary care and mental health services.

Icicles hang from the guardrails of a set of steps.

February 7

Freezes are common in Lafayette. Why don’t we prepare like it?

January’s hard freeze caught Lafayette off guard. But experts say we shouldn’t be surprised because hard freezes are a regular part of life here.

February 6

wwno.org Conversation with Lafayette’s new mayor-president | WWNO

For more on her historic win and what she hopes to accomplish in office, Andrew Capps, local government reporter for Lafayette’s nonprofit newsroom The Current, sat down with the mayor-president.

Source: WWNO

February 6

theadvocate.com LDWF, DA’s office bribery case gets familiar lead prosecutor

Federal Magistrate Judge Carol Whitehurst on Jan. 31 approved the replacement of Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel McCoy with John Luke Walker in the federal felony case of Dusty Guidry.

McCoy acted as lead attorney in court appearances in December and January by two others involved in the bribery schemes, both of whom pleaded guilty and, like Guidry, are awaiting sentencing.

Source: The Advocate