February 2021

Vaccine advisory group meets behind closed doors

BATON ROUGE (AP) — As demand for the coronavirus vaccine continues to dwarf Louisiana’s available supply, a little-known group meeting out of public sight is advising Gov. John Bel Edwards and state officials in their decisions of who is eligible for the immunizations and who may be next in line.

Biden, at prayer breakfast, calls out ‘political extremism’

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday called for a confrontation of the “political extremism” that inspired the U.S. Capitol riot and appealed for collective strength during such turbulent times in remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast, a Washington tradition that asks political combatants to set aside their differences for one morning.

US rushes to catch up in the race to detect mutant viruses

NEW YORK (AP) — Despite its world-class medical system and its vaunted Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. fell behind in the race to detect dangerous coronavirus mutations. And it’s only now beginning to catch up.

Takeaways: AP investigation of Catholic Church and US aid

(AP) - When the coronavirus pandemic sent the U.S. economy into freefall last year, the federal government hastily knit a safety net for small businesses called the Paycheck Protection Program. The idea was to keep Main Street alive and workers paid — even as the public health emergency shuttered shops and offices.

Alice Elizabeth Stackhouse

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Alice Elizabeth Stackhouse, born Sept. 21, 1930, passed away Friday, Jan. 29, 2021, at the age of 90.

She was a Jennings native, the daughter of Claude Earl Stackhouse and Ama Lee Fears Stackhouse. She was a graduate and valedictorian of Jennings High School and graduated from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge with a bachelor of music degree in piano performance and later earned the master of music degree in piano performance, with majors in theory and music history, as well.

Ex-US Air Force officer sentenced for sexual abuse of minor

SHREVEPORT, La. (AP) — A former airman has been sentenced to prison for the sexual abuse of a minor.

U.S. District Judge S. Maurice Hicks Jr. sentenced Julio M. Gomez, 53, of Blanchard, Oklahoma, on Monday to three years and a day in prison and five years of supervised release for the crime, Acting U.S. Attorney Alexander C. Van Hook said in a news release. Gomez also was ordered to pay $29,900 in restitution to the victim and a $10,000 fine, Hook said.

Gomez pleaded guilty in the case on Oct. 3, 2019.

16 guilty pleas in licensing scam at Coast Guard center

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Sixteen people have pleaded guilty in connection with a mariner’s license test scorefixing scheme at a United States Coast Guard exam center, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Orleans said Tuesday.

They were among more than 30 people indicted in November in the scheme.

U.S. Attorney Peter Strasser’s news release says those whose pleas were announced Tuesday admitted they fraudulently obtained various mariners’ licenses by paying for phony exam scores.

City poll to run through February

Jennings Daily News is holding a poll on our website to help the city garner community input on upcoming projects.

The poll will run through Feb. 28. So far, 33 percent of voters have chosen economic development and 24 percent chose citywide beautification.

In January, Mayor Henry Guinn said thatwith healthy reserves in place, he and council members would like to know what Jennings residents want to see for the future of the city.

A Way of Life

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For one local volunteer, giving back has become more than just a hobby, but a way of life.

For the last 15 years, Robert LeBon has made it his mission to help those in need.

LeBon is a volunteer firefighter and National Guard reservist from Judice who travels 84 miles round-trip several times a week to volunteer here in Jennings.

“I volunteer because it makes me feel good,” he said while working the busy intake station at God’s Pantry. “You are not only helping others, but also helping yourself. I get blessed in many ways from serving others.”

Kennedy co-sponsors Keystone bill

Sen. John Kennedy has co-sponsored a bill, the Keystone XL Pipeline Construction and Jobs Preservation Act, which authorizes the continued construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline.