LAFAYETTE — The Lafayette City-Parish Council on Tuesday approved an agreement that calls for a nonprofit group to take over fundraising, development and management of a planned central park at the 100-acre “Horse Farm” on Johnston Street. City-parish government bought the large, undeveloped tract last year from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — A group of interfaith churches and faith-based organizations met Tuesday to organize a plan to volunteer in Lafayette Parish public schools as mentors and tutors in support of the district’s turnaround plan. The goal is to help “every child have a fighting chance at success,” said Carlos Harvin, … Continue reading →

PORT BARRE — An 11-year-old girl has died from injuries she received in a traffic crash on Saturday in St. Landry Parish, State Police said Tuesday. Anna Trahan, 11, of Leonville, was a passenger in a vehicle that was rear-ended as the driver slowed in preparation to make a left turn about 8:22 p.m. Saturday … Continue reading →

ABBEVILLE — A 44-year-old Abbeville man died early Tuesday from injuries he received when his car ran off the road and into a ditch Monday evening, State Police said. Darren Mouton was driving a Chevrolet Corvette south on La. 82 near Marlin Road about 6:51 p.m. when, for unknown reasons, he ran … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — Two years ago, the Lafayette Parish school system’s effort to win voter support for facilities improvements failed because the district lacked a “champion” to fight for it, two consultants who developed the plan said Monday. The $900,000 facilities master plan included a school-by-school snapshot of facility improvement needs and … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — DNA analysis of human fluids from 3-year-old Julian Madera’s body strongly suggests a 21-year-old man charged with his murder also had sexual contact with him, according to evidence prosecutors have filed in court. The report by Acadiana Criminalistics Laboratory stated, “it can be concluded that to a reasonable degree of scientific certainty Landon Broussard is … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — Festering litigation between Lafayette and Broussard over annexations along Ambassador Caffery in southern Lafayette Parish has been tentatively settled, an attorney in the case said. The settlement, if finalized, calls on Lafayette to void its annexation of one tract and for Broussard to agree to restrictions on future annexations along … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE Earl “Nickey” Picard was on his way to work Thursday morning when the lines popped into his head. “Me and God, we talk every day. “We pause a while, take time to pray.” Lafayette’s city marshal pulled off … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — Registration for summer openings begins Tuesday for the United Way of Acadiana’s Early Head Start Early Learning centers in Vermilion Parish and Lafayette. The centers provide free early childhood education programs for qualifying families with infants and toddlers up to 3 years old. The program also offers prenatal services to pregnant … Continue reading →

The Lafayette Young Lawyers Association will offer a series of free legal seminars from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Lafayette Bar Association’s office on Johnston Street in Lafayette. Topics include estate planning, divorce, child custody and child support, protective orders, small claims, city court lawsuits and criminal defense. Space is limited. To … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — A 3-year-old boy who wandered outside his grandparent’s home Saturday night fell into a swimming pool and drowned, the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office said. Efforts to revive Cullen Guilbeaux were unsuccessful after the boy was pulled from the pool shortly before 9 p.m. Sheriff’s spokesman Capt. Kip Judice said deputies arrived at … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — A teenager was killed and another injured after their four-wheeler was struck by a truck on La. 757 in Evangeline Parish early Sunday, State Police said. Matthew Neal, a 15-year-old from Basile, died at a hospital before 1 p.m. Sunday, State Police Troop I said in a news release. Neither … Continue reading →

PLAISANCE - Members of Kountry Bunnies, an organization whose Memorial Day weekend trail-riding event was halted for fear of violence, on Friday prepared to host hundreds of people for a three-day party expected to include up to 400 horse riders Sunday on a five-mile jaunt. Law enforcement officers working security at what's now billed as a Father's Day event also prepared … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — A fresh start offered to Acadian Middle School is off to a slow one this summer. In April, the Lafayette Parish School Board approved Principal Linda Nance’s request to reconstitute or restaff the school, allowing her to hand-pick faculty and support workers as part of a turnaround plan. Though … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — City-Parish President Joey Durel’s plan for a “blue ribbon” committee to research solutions to Lafayette city-parish financial problems appears to have been shelved. Durel announced the proposed committee in front of a large crowd of business and community leaders during his annual State of the Parish speech in February, … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — The Lafayette Parish school system will offer one-stop registration services for parents and guardians beginning June 26 at the former Lerosen Elementary School. Centralized registration is scheduled from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the following dates: June 26-27, July 17-18 and Aug. 7-8 at the school, 516 E. Pinhook Road. Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — City-parish government employees could be in line for a raise in next year’s budget — their first pay adjustment in two years. The city-parish administration has not made a definite decision but is considering some form of employee raise in the proposed budget to be sent to council members later … Continue reading →

YOUNGSVILLE — The City Council voted unanimously Thursday to allow the Cypress Gardens development to continue despite its inability to comply with an ordinance mandating 60-foot lots. The action was taken in accordance with several conditions brought forth by Youngsville city engineer Dax Douet. The council found itself in an unusual position because developer … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — A new specialty team at Women’s & Children’s Hospital has begun operating on infants and toddlers who need surgery to correct the premature closure of their soft spots that could lead to developmental delays or even blindness. The condition is called craniosynostosis, and though it’s rare, the hospital has performed 11 … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — Teachers charged with training colleagues on how to implement new and more rigorous curriculum standards have another audience for their outreach — parents. More nonfiction reading and more of an analytical focus on English and math homework will be sent home in students’ backpacks, Laurie Carlton, curriculum coordinator in Plaquemines Parish, … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — One Lake Charles resident was arrested this week and another is being sought on counts of fraud tied a November vehicle fire in Acadiana Park on East Alexander Street that investigators said was intentionally set. Ashley John, who reported her vehicle stolen after the … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — An oil and gas producer with a poor safety record, including a deadly platform fire in 2012, gathered its vendors Wednesday for a conference on how to provide a safer environment in the Gulf of Mexico, where workers face a fatality rate seven times higher than in other industrial workplaces. “Today is about … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — The future of charity hospital care in Acadiana is the focus of the Acadiana Press Club’s “June Newsmaker Forum” scheduled at 11:45 a.m. Monday at South Louisiana Community College, Ardoin Building Cafeteria, 1101 Bertrand Drive. New University Hospital and Clinics CEO Jared Stark, … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — A program for teen moms and their young children will start in the fall despite the School Board’s recent decision to take back $200,000 earmarked for the renovation of portable classroom buildings for it. Renovations to the portable buildings for the Family and Child Development Center planned for the … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — As soon as July, University Medical Center patients will have access to orthopedic services, and over the next year, an expansion of clinical services as Lafayette General Medical Center takes over operations of the public hospital, said LGMC’s President and Chief Executive Officer David Callecod. Many of the clinical services that had … Continue reading →

OPELOUSAS — A state district judge on Tuesday ordered that St. Landry Parish School Board member Quincy Richard Sr. be removed from office immediately. The ruling by Judge James Doherty Jr. came a day after he listened to arguments from Richard’s attorney and an assistant prosecutor from the St. Landry Parish District Attorney’s Office, … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — Construction is scheduled to begin next spring on an extension of the University Common bike path that now runs along Johnston Street and Cajundome Boulevard, city-parish planners and university officials said Tuesday. The new construction will add 1.25 miles of bike paths, extending the existing 2-mile path through Youth Park and into … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — A superintendent working on a piece of equipment at Cargill Salt in Breaux Bridge died in an industrial accident Saturday evening, a Cargill official said. Cargill spokesman Mark Klein said Tuesday that Steve Rodrigue, a longtime employee, was found about 6:30 p.m. Saturday. The St. Martin Parish Coroner’s Office, in … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — A Lafayette motorcyclist who crashed into another motorcycle south of Duson over the weekend died Monday from his injuries, State Police said. James Feazell, 32, was transported to a local hospital in critical condition Saturday after the accident at 3:45 p.m. on La. 720 west of La. 343, State Police Troop I … Continue reading →

NEW IBERIA — A nonprofit group known for its work in rural community development is stepping into the private housing market in a big way. The Southern Mutual Help Association, of New Iberia, broke ground Monday on a 600-home River Ranch-style development planned for nearly 100 acres on the edge of New Iberia. Continue reading →

OPELOUSAS — A state district judge is expected to issue a ruling sometime later this week on whether a St. Landry Parish School Board member should be removed from office. Lawyers squared off Monday during a hearing before state District Judge James Doherty over whether Quincy Richard Sr. should lose his position on … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — As the state moves to streamline high school diploma options to strengthen a career-training diploma track, it shouldn’t remove college as an option. That was the message South Louisiana Community College Chancellor Natalie Harder delivered to state Superintendent of Education John White during a Monday forum. “No matter the diploma you … Continue reading →

Cajun and Creole guitarists will demonstrate techniques and discuss their roles in bands playing South Louisiana music from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Vermillionville Performance Center. Christine Balfa, Randy Vidrine and Lil Buck Sinegal will be among the guitarists demonstrating their skills. They also will discuss the history of the guitar in the … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — The Diocese of Lafayette’s Bishop Michael Jarrell ordained six priests during a Mass on Saturday at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. The priests celebrated their first Mass in their home parishes over the weekend and will begin their appointments as associate pastors July 1. Ordained priests, … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — A Carencro man has been charged with raping a 5-year-old boy and possibly giving the child AIDS, according to records with the Lafayette Parish District Attorney’s Office. Conwell Cormier, 29, was indicted by a Lafayette Parish grand jury this past week on one count of aggravated rape and one … Continue reading →

OPELOUSAS — St. Landry Parish school officials are considering hiring a consultant to develop a comprehensive plan for repairing the school system’s aging structures. The School Board on Thursday authorized Superintendent Edward Brown to engage in preliminary discussions with Poche Prouet Associates Ltd. The consulting firm’s representatives presented a proposal for an initial physical … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — Family and friends of Crystal Dupuis Grebinger will hold a candlelight vigil for the missing mother of four at 7 p.m. Saturday at Girard Park. Grebinger’s aunt Jeanne Savoy, of Baton Rouge, said there is a $10,000 reward for information that leads to finding the woman who was last seen leaving a … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — Two state representatives who sponsored legislation this session for $200,000 a year in state funds for the redevelopment of the historic Holy Rosary Institute said Friday that the bill was “hijacked” and amended beyond recognition by their senate counterparts in the Acadiana delegation. State Reps. Terry Landry, D-New Iberia, and … Continue reading →

OPELOUSAS — The St. Landry Parish School Board on Thursday approved a contract with new school Superintendent Edward Brown after a failed attempt to delay action on it. Board member Randy Wagley said it would be “more prudent” to wait until a state district court judge rules on a petition filed in April by … Continue reading →

SCOTT — The City Council voted unanimously Thursday to adopt the right of way to begin the extension of Apollo Road to Rue de Belier. Scott Mayor Purvis Morrison said the city acquired a right-of-way agreement from the Lafayette City-Parish Consolidated Government for the project. The agreement was needed because Apollo Road runs through … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — The Lafayette Parish school district’s new alternative site for students in grades five through 12 who are suspended or expelled from school may make room for younger students in the coming school year. At least 45 spots for students in grades kindergarten through 4 will be added to the N.P. Moss Preparatory … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — The Lafayette Parish School Board recognized the parish’s fifth-, eighth- and 12th-grade students of the year during its board meeting Wednesday. Selected as district winners were: Fiorella Contreras, fifth-grader at Prairie Elementary; Sarah Cagle, eighth-grader at Edgar Martin Middle; and Gina Biddick, a senior at Comeaux High School. Cagle was also selected … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — A woman whose April crash on U.S. 90 in Calumet killed her passenger was arrested Thursday on one count of driving under the influence of narcotics, State Police said. Tasha Boudreaux, 31, was arrested at her Patterson home on a warrant accusing her of careless operation of a vehicle, marijuana possession, vehicular … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — The Lafayette Parish School Board on Wednesday reviewed a committee’s recommendations for architects to design renovation projects planned for L.J. Alleman and Youngsville middle schools. The board sold $30 million in bonds to fund the two projects, along with four more, for an expansion at Youngsville Middle and major renovations … Continue reading →

LAFAYETTE — A Lafayette man who faces the death penalty in the prolonged beating death of a 3-year-old child in 2012 was indicted Wednesday on a charge of raping the child. According to the Lafayette Parish District Attorney’s Office, a grand jury charged Landon C. Broussard with one count in the aggravated rape of … Continue reading →