November 2019

Trump turns campaign focus to Louisiana governor’s race

BATON ROUGE (AP) — With voting complete in Mississippi and Kentucky, President Donald Trump is turning attention to the last gubernatorial contest of the year, bidding to drive out Louisiana’s Democratic governor in a display of political influence ahead of the 2020 elections.

The president is to travel Wednesday to the northeastern Louisiana city of Monroe hoping to muster votes for Republican businessman Eddie Rispone and keep Democrat John Bel Edwards from a second term in a crimson state Trump won by 20 percentage points. Early voting ends Saturday in the Nov. 16 election.

Judge rejects moral-objection rule for abortion providers

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday struck down a new rule, not yet in effect, that allowed health care clinicians to refuse participation in abortions and other services on moral or religious grounds.

U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer in New York said he was tossing out the rule in its entirety.

The decision came after 19 states, the District of Columbia, three local governments, health organizations and others sued the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

After deadly Mexico ambush, stories of bravery and horror

GALEANA, Mexico (AP) — The eight children, some mere infants, who survived the ambush in northern Mexico not only escaped the drug cartel gunmen who killed their mothers but managed to hide in the brush, with some walking miles to get help despite grisly bullet wounds.

In a testament to a mother’s devotion, one woman reportedly stashed her baby on the floor of her Suburban and got out of the vehicle, waving her arms to show the gunmen she wasn’t a threat. Her bulletriddled body was found about 15 yards (meters) away.

US stocks edge lower on potential delay to trade deal

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks pulled back from record highs in early afternoon trading Wednesday following a report that a U.S.-China trade deal may not get signed until next month.

The potential delay reported by Reuters would mean cutting a deal closer to the Dec. 15 date when new tariffs are supposed to go into effect, right in the middle of the holiday shopping season.

Energy and technology stocks led the market lower. Exxon Mobil fell 2.1 percent and chipmaker Nvidia fell 1.6 percent.

Democrats promise swift action after win in Virginia

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Gov. Ralph Northam laid out his vision Wednesday for a changing Virginia a day after Democrats seized control of the General Assembly for the first time in more than two decades.

Northam, speaking at a Cabinet meeting, promised swift action on a host of liberal policy proposals, with a particular emphasis on gun control measures.

Lunch, anyone?

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Although my commute to work is only seven minutes, I sometimes skip the trip back home for lunch and, thus, I land in the prayer garden at my church, with a salad and a glass of sweet tea.

It’s funny how people interpret that, for I’ve invited others to join me.

“Lunch in the prayer garden?” they repeat.

“No, I’m good,” they say, declining the invitation.

“No, I don’t want to interrupt,” another has admitted, as if I might chant or groan.

Bulldogs Visit Vets

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The Jennings High School Bulldogs football team took the time Oct. 29 to visit veterans at the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Home. They even got the chance to do a little fishing with Navy Veteran Wallace Berwick (below), who is the oldest veteran at the facility at 100 years old.

Rezoning request for Welsh clinic nixed

WELSH – Property owners here told aldermen not to “worry about” further consideration of a rezoning request.

Welsh’s zoning board previously approved a request from Monica Zeno and Noah Zeno to have a block of Polk Street rezoned from mixed residential to business. Bayou Comprehensive Health Center is interested in buying the property for a clinic that would provide an array of health care services in the town.

Pursuit leads to drug arrest

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WELSH - A Lake Charles man was arrested for the 36th time after leading authorities on a pursuit that ended in Welsh.

On Monday evening, Jeff Davis Sheriff’s Office (JDSO) deputies attempted to stop a vehicle for

speeding that was traveling along La. 99 near Bryan Road.

According to JDSO Chief Deputy Chris Ivey, deputies chased the vehicle in a pursuit until it crashed near the Valero gas station in Welsh. The driver fled on foot and was apprehended near the intersection of North Polk Street and Rowson Street.

EARLY VOTING

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Robert F. and Marjorie Broussard cast their votes during the early voting period for the Nov. 16 General Election at the Jeff Davis Registrar of Voters office Wednesday morning.