August 2021

Jules Mayo LaCour

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Funeral services for Mr. Jules Mayo LaCour, 76, of Lafayette will be held Friday, Aug. 13, 2021, at 10 a.m. in Our Lady of the Lake Church, with Rev. Jay Alexius officiating.

Rosemary Webster Stagg

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Mrs. Rosemary Webster Stagg, 99, of Jennings passed away peacefully in her residence surrounded by her loving family on Aug. 7, 2021.

Nora Franklin Gallier

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Ms. Nora Franklin Gallier, 89, of Jennings passed away Aug. 10, 2021, peacefully in her home surrounded by her loving family.

Christ Bridge Academy Holds Ribbon Cutting

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Staff and students gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday morning for the new Christ Bridge Academy private school. Founder and Principal Scott Blanchard was on hand to cut the ribbon for the grand opening. Photo courtesy of Reed Through the Lens Photography

EHS teacher arrested for indecent conduct with child

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ELTON — An Elton High School teacher was charged Friday for inappropriate activity with a student.

On Friday, Aug. 6, Brendan O’Neal Laughlin, 23, of Elton, was arrested and charged with prohibited sexual conduct between an educator and a student. Bond was set at $10,000.

According to Jeff Davis Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Chris Ivey, deputies received a complaint in June about an incident that allegedly took place in March with a student at a residence in Elton.

District Judge Pro-Tempore Judge William Knight signed the arrest warrant, according to Ivey.

Edwards emphasizes mask mandate for K-12 students

(The Center Square) – Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards addressed Louisiana’s COVID-19 situation Friday and tried to dispel any notion his recent indoor mask mandate is without good cause – a reference to the state attorney general.

Edwards voiced a somber tone as he recounted new information from the Louisiana Department of Health.

“We have no reason to believe in our data that we’ve reached the peak or that we’re coming down,” Edwards said. “If anything, things are worse today than they were on Monday.”

Bipartisan infrastructure bill set for final Senate passage

WASHINGTON (AP) — After weeks of fits, starts and delays, the Senate is on track to give final approval to the $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure plan, with a growing coalition of Democrats and Republicans prepared to lift the first phase of President Joe Biden’s rebuilding agenda to passage.

Final Senate votes are expected around 11 a.m. EDT Tuesday, and the bill would then go to the House.

COVID vaccines to be required for military under new US plan

WASHINGTON (AP) — Members of the U.S. military will be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine beginning next month under a plan laid out by the Pentagon and endorsed by President Joe Biden. In memos distributed to all troops, top Pentagon leaders said the vaccine is a necessary step to maintain military readiness.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the mid-September deadline could be accelerated if the vaccine receives final FDA approval or infection rates continue to rise.

Groups make own drugs to fight high drug prices, shortages

(AP) — Impatient with years of inaction in Washington on prescription drug costs, U.S. hospital groups, startups and nonprofits have started making their own medicines in a bid to combat stubbornly high prices and persistent shortages of drugs with little competition.

The efforts are at varying stages, but some have already made and shipped millions of doses. Nearly half of U.S. hospitals have gotten some drugs from the projects and more medicines should be in retail pharmacies within the next year as the work accelerates.

Heat wave brings dangerous temps to southern states

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Dangerous heat is invading parts of several southern states, forecasters said.

The National Weather Service issued heat advisories Tuesday covering large of parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama.

In Louisiana, a heat advisory covered the northern part of the state, where temperatures were expected to hit 97 degrees (36.1 Celsius) in Shreveport.