News + Notes – Page 80

April 22, 2020

thenewsstar.com Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards likely to lift stay-at-home order May 1

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards said Tuesday he will likely lift some restrictions currently mandated by his stay-at-home order when it expires April 30, but warned life still won’t be as it was before the coronavirus crisis.

“I don’t bet very often, but if you made me bet $1 I would bet on May 1 we’d be under a different order than we’re under now,” Edwards said. “But that really does depend on what happens over the next week or so because we have to make sure we have those 14 days where our trajectory is where we want it as it relates to cases and as it relates to hospital capacity and then an overall downward trajectory of (symptoms).

Source: Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards likely to lift stay-at-home order May 1

April 21, 2020

African Americans make up a disproportionate share of Acadiana’s coronavirus deaths

African Americans account for 39% of coronavirus deaths in the state’s seven-parish health region but only 27% of the population.

April 21, 2020

Some local retailers are not ready to ‘Safe Shop’

Despite a surge of re-openings under the local “Safe Shop” policy, some Lafayette retailers are opting to keep their doors closed for now

April 21, 2020

COLUMN: Don’t rededicate CREATE to restricted uses. We need that money in the general fund.

At a time of incredible economic and financial uncertainty, the parish council can’t afford to rededicate CREATE’s millage to any other dedicated fund. Instead what’s needed is flexibility to navigate an uncertain future, which is why this millage should be redirected to the parish general fund.

April 20, 2020

Council Preview: Rededicating CREATE, refinancing bonds, re-litigating taxing districts, reorganizing boards and more

Lafayette’s city and parish councils are back in session Tuesday with jam-packed agendas that include refinancing hundreds of millions in bonds, reorganizing more than a dozen boards and commissions, rededicating the CREATE millage, and more.

April 17, 2020

Lafayette says ‘shop safe’ but stay home — coronavirus is still a threat

New clarity to state guidelines that had shuttered hundreds of Lafayette businesses for weeks has already sprung open local shops, in effect beginning the first local thaw on commerce. But officials remain stark in their warnings to heed state orders to stay home and stay safe, sending a mixed message about the state of urgency.

April 16, 2020

Lafayette reopens some ‘nonessential’ businesses conditionally, before the state’s lockdown ends

Calling it his “safe shop policy,” Guillory said the guidance is needed to address the deluge of unemployment claims filed in recent weeks.

April 16, 2020

theadvertiser.com Gov. Edwards: ‘We have flattened the curve,’ but must remain cautious

Louisiana is flattening the curve of the coronavirus, Gov. John Bel Edwards said Wednesday, based on decreased hospitalizations and ventilator use.

Source: Gov. Edwards: ‘We have flattened the curve,’ but must remain cautious

Arts + Culture

April 16, 2020

Freetown’s freelancers cope with pandemic porch life

Populated with so many of Lafayette’s musicians, artists, cooks, bartenders and gig workers inexorably tied to the local cultural economy, routine life in Lafayette’s Freetown neighborhood is upended.

April 16, 2020

Gov. Edwards creates commission to examine coronavirus impact on state’s economy

Gov. John Bel Edwards announced the creation of Resilient Louisiana, a state commission charged with examining Louisiana’s economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic and making recommendations for more resilient business-related activities and commerce in the coming months.

April 15, 2020

Lafayette is bracing for the budget impact of coronavirus

Citing “unprecedented fiscal challenges,” Lafayette’s mayor-president is setting expectations for deep cuts.

April 15, 2020

More victims, more severe cases, of domestic abuse during coronavirus lockdown

Acadiana women are turning to shelters for help in higher numbers and, in many cases, showing up with more serious injuries, counselors and shelter operators say.