News + Notes – Page 7

State Sen. Gerald Boudreaux speaking at Holy Rosary

January 25

Are two members of Congress better than one?

Louisiana’s redrawn congressional map positions Lafayette to have two representatives in Congress, potentially a Republican and a Democrat.

Housing development under construction with dirt covering sidewalks and no trees in sight

January 24

Is Lafayette’s development code working?

Developers and residents alike say Lafayette’s codes let down both groups by causing heartburn for residents and giving false hope to builders.

January 24

theadvocate.com Lafayette city sales tax rededication election deferred

At the request of Mayor-President Monique Boulet, the City Council indefinitely deferred action Tuesday on a resolution that would have called for an April 27 election, the weekend of Festival International, to rededicate two sales taxes in order to pay for lease agreements, including annual software fees.

Source: The Advocate

January 23

theadvocate.com Lafayette DDA board hires Kevin Blanchard as CEO | Business | theadvocate.com

Blanchard, currently the executive director of the Lafayette Public Financing Trust Authority, was hired after the board’s unanimous vote during a Monday morning meeting to fill the position vacated by Anita Begnaud, who resigned in December.

Source: The Advocate

January 23

UL system subpoenas reporter’s communications in Title IX lawsuit

The subpoenas are related to a case in which a former Louisiana Tech student sued the UL System, LSU and Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government.

January 22

nola.com Louisiana’s latest special session: What to know

The Legislature’s new maps create a second majority-Black district, a major win for civil rights advocates who have called for a map that more accurately represents Louisiana’s current demographics. More than one-third of Louisiana’s population is Black.

Lawmakers also approved a plan to move to a closed party primary system for Louisiana’s congressional, state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, Public Service Commission and state Supreme Court elections.

Source: nola.com

A man speaks into a microphone in a room filled with people.

January 22

Amid freeze, farmers convene in Acadiana to confront climate change

Farmers, organizers and advocates who convened at Chicot State Park this week to discuss the impacts of climate change on agriculture.

January 22

Council Preview: Election may be called to fix city sales tax issue

Voters in the city of Lafayette may be asked at an election this spring to fix an issue with how Lafayette Consolidated Government is allowed to spend sales tax revenue.

January 19

theadvocate.com Lafayette sales tax rededication election eyed for April 27

The propositions ask voters to allow a 1% city sales tax first approved in 1961 and another 1% city sales tax first approved in 1985 to be used, in addition to current uses, to pay for software subscriptions and leases.

Source: The Advocate

January 17

Closed party primary bill moves rapidly in special session

The bill would switch Louisiana to a closed system in which candidates of the same party face off in their own partisan primary election.

Icicles hang from the letters of a sign.

January 16

As Lafayette freezes, St. Joseph Diner loses heating unit

Space heaters are now being used to warm the diner to the extent possible, and Catholic Charities says repairing the unit could take four to six weeks.

Health

A Black woman in a pink jacket speaks and gestures with her hands.

January 16

Black women share stories of breast cancer survival, urge others to monitor early and often

Expanded health insurance access has been shown to reduce the racial mortality gap in other states. But in Louisiana the disparity persists.