July 2019

Administration pauses enforcement of abortion restriction

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is giving taxpayer-funded family planning clinics more time to comply with its new rule that says they no longer can refer women for abortions.

But the clinics reacted warily to the administration’s enforcement pause, and the widening rift could eventually affect basic health services for many lowincome women.

Equifax to pay up to $700M in data breach settlement

WASHINGTON (AP) — Equifax will pay up to $700 million to settle with the U.S. and states over a 2017 data breach that exposed Social Security numbers and other private information of nearly 150 million people.

The settlement with the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission, as well as 48 states and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, would provide up to $425 million in monetary relief to consumers, a $100 million civil money penalty, and other relief.

NYC mayor calls for probe as many wait for power in the heat

NEW YORK (AP) — Mayor Bill de Blasio called for an investigation Monday of power outages that came at the end of this weekend’s oppressive heat, saying he no longer trusts utility Con Edison after it decided to turn off power to thousands of customers.

Around 30,000 customers in Brooklyn were taken off power Sunday, so the utility could make repairs and prevent a bigger outage, de Blasio had said earlier.

On Monday, he offered a blistering assessment of that decision.

China lashes out at Hong Kong protest targeting its office

HONG KONG (AP) — China on Monday harshly criticized a weekend demonstration in which eggs were thrown at its office in Hong Kong, accusing the demonstrators of violence without mentioning a violent attack against protesters and civilians the same night.

A group of protesters targeted China’s Liaison Office on Sunday night after more than 100,000 people marched through the city to demand democracy and an investigation into the use of force by police to disperse crowds at earlier protests.

India launches moon mission a week after it was aborted

NEW DELHI (AP) — India successfully launched an unmanned spacecraft to the far side of the moon on Monday, a week after aborting the mission due to a technical problem.

Scientists at the mission control center burst into applause as the rocket lifted off in clear weather as scheduled at 2:43 p.m. from Sriharikota in southern India. K. Sivan, head of India’s space agency, said the rocket successfully injected the spacecraft into orbit.

MILLERS MAKING STATEMENT IN NOLA

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NEW ORLEANS – For the past three seasons, the Crowley Millers American Legion Baseball Team has qualified for the state tournament held at Kirsch-Rooney Stadium on the campus of Delgado Community College. However, in those past three trips, there was one thing that eluded them – a win.

Drainage districts see minimal findings on audit

Audits of two parish drainage districts showed healthy financial statements for the 2018 fiscal year.

This week the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office released reports for the Gravity Drainage District No. 6 in Iowa, as well as the Jennings Consolidated Gravity Drainage District No. 1 for the fiscal year ending Dec. 31, 2018.

The 28-page report on for District No. 6 was completed by certified public accountants Gragson, Casiday & Guillory, of Lake Charles.

In Stitches

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The Jeff Davis Parish 4-H Office sponsored a sewing class for area girls to learn the basics of sewing. The students worked on three projects: pin cushions, pillows and aprons.

Clockwise from top right: Hannah Trahan and Noelle Dorr uses a pattern to cut material that will be used to make their aprons; Claire Mouton works on her pink polkadot pillow; and Camille Sonnier, Victoria Whitehouse and Avi Coleman put the finishing touches on their pillows.

Parish prepares for 2020 Census

The parish is preparing for the U.S. Census for 2020 with plans to start the process sometime in April.

U.S. Census Bureau Partnership Specialist Jeffery Duhe said his office wants to make the public aware of the process to ensure everyone is counted. “Last year Louisiana lost one seat in Congress, but the census is more than just apportionment of congress,” Duhe said. “The census determines a lot even down to the city level.”

The process will begin in April and end by Dec. 31, 2020, Duhe said.

Families spend freely to gain edge in travel sports

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — For Dale and Amy Uttecht, guiding two sons through the competitive world of youth travel sports meant sacrificing a few things along the way.

Football, basketball or baseball trips with various teams to Minneapolis, Omaha or Kansas City became a way of life, with the extra costs that came along with it.