January 2020

GOP leaders tapped for La. Senate’s budget, tax panels

BATON ROUGE (AP) — The Louisiana Senate’s new Republican president will continue a tradition for bipartisan leadership across the majority-GOP chamber’s subjectmatter committees, but Republicans will take charge of the key financial and redistricting panels.

Senate President Page Cortez, a Lafayette Republican unanimously elected to the top job, released the membership breakdown of the Senate’s 17 standing committees Friday. He named Republican as leaders of 12 panels and gave Democrats — including the head of the state Democratic Party — the chairmanships of five panels.

Cheers to sitting out this dance

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Jeers to Anyone Sitting out on Flirty Dancing

Fox’s new dance/dating series, which pairs strangers for a choreographed first date, is a sweet, romantic surprise with a heart as big as some of the lifts these folks pull off. Why deny yourselves that joy?

Jeers to Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector

The final rose

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Down the Rabbit hole

Ilove to hatewatch “The Bachelor.” I know, I know. It’s all nonsense and staged and mostly a sham. I don’t care. My eyes cannot look away from the weekly train wreck that is this “reality” show.

One can learn some valuable lessons from the contestants. Always practice your ugly cry before attempting to date – and ultimately be dumped – on national television. Love can only bloom when a date ends in fireworks or a private concert. Dressing as a dolphin on night one will only get you through episode two. Clearly valuable and crucial life advice.

Area schools announce honor students

Welsh High School

Welsh High School recently announced Honor Roll and Principal’s List for the second nine weeks. The following students are included in that list:

Principal’s List

Ninth grade – Jordan Batiste, Taylor Burrell, Gabriel Gillett, Carson Hall, Chaz Hogan, Ethan Pope, Jack Roberie and Caleb Roy

Lewis speaks to Welsh Rotary Club

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The Rotary Club of Welsh held its first meeting of the New Year on Jan. 9. The guest speaker was Arthur Lewis (right), funeral director for Semien-Lewis Mortuary in Jennings.

Lewis briefed the members on benefits of pre-planning for funerals to ease the burdens on the family, avoiding confusion and disagreements and ensuring that the family know what a person’s wishes are for the funeral.

Fifth graders (at left) Bevante Castille, Nicholas Gillett and Colton Hayes led the club in the pledge.

Fall 2019 graduates announced

SOWELA graduates for fall 2019 include the following:

Basile

Business Administration: Maci A. Stroderd

Elton

Business Administration: Trestan Chance Pate

Iota

Practical Nursing: Seani Andrepont

Iowa

END OF AN ERA?

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(AP) - The LSU Tigers are National Champions, beating Clemson in the New Orleans Superdome to cap off a 15-0 season while making a case as one of the best college football teams of all time.

Now, the attention shifts to what the roster will look like in 2020 as players weigh their options ahead of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Starbucks, home of the $4 latte, is moving into poor areas

DETROIT (AP) — Starbucks has a point to prove: There’s more to the company than selling $4 lattes to rich people.

The Seattle-based coffee giant that has cultivated a reputation for being socially responsible said Thursday it is expanding its effort to put more coffee shops — and create more jobs — in poor neighborhoods.

Lizzo, The Who, Foo Fighters among 2020 Jazz Fest top acts

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Who, Stevie Nicks and Foo Fighters will join Lizzo, Lionel Richie, Lenny Kravitz, The Avett Brothers and Elvis Costello at the 2020 New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, organizers announced Thursday.

‘Days of God’: A look at Iran’s mounting crises

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran’s supreme leader says his nation is living through “days of God.”

The Islamic Republic has been reeling from one crisis to another, from the targeted killing by the United States of its top general to the Revolutionary Guard’s accidental shootdown of a passenger plane carrying scores of young people, most of them Iranians. U.S. sanctions have crippled its economy as tensions with America have soared.