February 2020

La. health department targeting disparities

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In a poverty-ridden state plagued with dismal health outcomes, Louisiana’s health department has set a big goal to improve citizens’ health, trying to help people access services no matter their racial, economic or geographic backgrounds.

The agency last year created a health equity office, hired a deputy director to find ways to combat disparities, held listening tours around the state and recently completed a plan aimed at identifying and targeting inequities.

Next comes the hard part, executing the vision in day-to-day programs and service delivery.

Comedy fundraiser to aid handicap ballpark

For three years now, the special needs students of the Friend2Friend group have been at the mercy of summer weather for their “Bulldog Buddy Ball Program.” If Dr. Scott Blanchard’s plan comes together, that will be coming to an end.

'We're Americans and We Count'

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As a guest speaker for the Jeff Davis Republican Women, Elector Kay Katz explained the purpose of the Electoral College and why it is important to voters across the nation.

In the United States, people do not vote directly for the President and Vice President. The Electoral College is a system that allows voters to vote for electors, who then cast their vote for candidates, she said.

“Our forefathers established our Constitution that has guided this country for all of these centuries,” Katz said.

Artwork of La. native on display at ZAM

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The Zigler Art Museum recently held a reception welcoming Louisiana artist Margaret “Maggie” Ellerman. The exhibit will be on display now until March.

“For me, it is such an honor to have my works displayed at the Zigler Art Museum (ZAM),” said Ellerman. “I enjoyed meeting the museum directors and welcoming the guests.”

She said those in attendance thought her paintings were beautiful and colorful and it made her feel good to know her work was appreciated.

SOWELA to offer informational session

The Morgan Smith Campus of SOWELA Community College will open its doors to share information regarding the three healthcare programs offered there. The Health Care Career Informational Session will be held from 2:30-3:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 20. The event is free and open to those who may be interested in a future career in health care.

“This is an opportunity for anyone who is interested in a healthcare career but unsure about the available programs,” said Coordinator of Instructional Site Kylie Roussell. “Attendees can come to meet the instructors and discuss their options.”

Water districts show healthy finances

The Jeff Davis Central Waterworks District in Welsh and Water District No. 4 both showed healthy finances with minimal instances of noncompliance found in their financial statements.

The Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office recently released the results of their annual audits for the year ending June 30, 2019.

The 42-page report on the Central Waterworks District was completed by certified public accountants Gragson, Casiday & Guillory, LLP.

Dogs, Lady Dogs drop pair of league games to St. Louis

The Jennings Bulldogs dropped a heartbreaking defeat at the hands of the mighty St. Louis Saints Friday night by a final of 67-64. In the early contest, the scrappy Lady Dogs dropped their second meeting of the season to a talented Lady Saints side that is 21-3 on the season by a final of 65-45.

Saints: 67, Bulldogs: 64

NFL 101: What's ahead as next century of pro football begins

MIAMI (AP) — The NFL’s centennial season concluded with a championship a half-century in the making.

Now that the Kansas City Chiefs have ended that 50-year drought and own their second NFL championship, the focus will turn mostly elsewhere in what could be a very busy offseason.

The NFL really never goes away, so even as their fans will chant and do the Tomahawk Chop when the Chiefs have their celebratory parade, questions will arise on all fronts.

Here are some things to contemplate:

QB CAROUSEL

SPORTS BRIEFS

Grambling State tops Mississippi Valley State 90-65

ITTA BENA, Miss. (AP) — Travon Bunch scored a career-high 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Grambling State led wire-to-wire in beating Mississippi Valley State 90-65 on Monday night.

Ivy Smith Jr. added 19 points with 10 rebounds, seven assists and four steals for the Tigers (2-19, 2-7 Southwestern Athletic Conference), who opened with a 16-0 run and led by as many as 33 points in the second half.

The Tigers outscored the Delta Devils 50-10 in the paint.

Dems lead some La. House panels, but GOP controls

BATON ROUGE (AP) — Louisiana’s new Republican House speaker rewarded his Democratic supporters with top leadership positions on five subject-matter committees, but kept the key chairmanships on financial and redistricting panels reserved for GOP lawmakers.