News

USDA officials visit LSU AgCenter

BATON ROUGE — Several U.S. Department of Agriculture officials toured an LSU AgCenter research station and met with Louisiana agriculture leaders, researchers and farmers on Aug. 23

The group heard about ways the AgCenter and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry work together to help farmers keep invasive pests at bay and avoid spreading them. They also visited the Louis Dreyfus Company grain elevator at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge, where Louisiana commodities such as soybeans are loaded onto ships for international sales.

Anger at migrant crime, politicians simmers in German city

CHEMNITZ, Germany (AP) — Anger over the suspected killing of a man by two refugees has sparked days of protests in this eastern German city, raising fresh concerns about the anti-migrant sentiment that has shaken up the country’s political system and seen the rise of a far-right party for the first time in decades.

On Thursday, as hundreds of people protested nearby, the region’s governor tried to reassure a tense town hall meeting that the fatal stabbing of the 35-year-old German citizen wouldn’t go unpunished.

Harrowing account of tortured teen sparks outcry in Morocco

(AP) — The mother of a 17-year-old Moroccan girl who told police she was gang-raped, forcibly tattooed and held against her will for two months recalled how her daughter was dumped at the family’s home by two men, the scars of horror stamped on her body, “her honor lost.”

The harrowing case in a nation where violence against women is widespread but largely ignored has sparked a public outcry, with people taking to social media to demand justice and a petition campaign invoking the teenager’s name: “We are all Khadija.”

All-star funeral for Franklin begins with prayers, songs

DETROIT (AP) — Aretha Franklin’s funeral began Friday with prayers and songs, as pink Cadillacs filled the street outside a Detroit church where the guests included former President Bill Clinton, former first lady Hillary Clinton, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Ariana Grande.

Youth serving: 3 true freshmen win Big Ten starting QB jobs

In an earlier time, a true freshman starting quarterback wasn’t necessarily unthinkable. It certainly was an outlier.

Not so much anymore, not in this age of what Rutgers offensive coordinator John McNulty calls the “bred quarterback,” those players who immerse themselves in football year-round, get individual coaching from quarterback gurus and arrive on campus ready and expecting to play right away.

Three of the Big Ten’s six new starters were in high school a year ago. Now consider the Big Ten had only five true freshman quarterbacks start openers from 2003-17.

Patrols stepped up for Labor Day

With Labor Day weekend upon us, local officials say they are preparing for the long weekend by assigning extra patrolmen on roadways who will be on the lookout for impaired drivers.

Jennings Police Department (JPD) and the Jeff Davis Parish Sheriff’s Office (JDSO) urge residents to have a plan before consuming alcohol and assign a designated driver.

SOWELA to host ribbon cutting

SOWELA Technical Community College will cut the ribbon on the new Morgan Smith campus in Jennings at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 13, and the public is invited to attend

Honoring Their Sacrifice

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World War II veterans were honored Thursday at a commemorative ceremony at the Southwest Louisiana Veterans Home. Three veterans were also awarded the Louisiana Veterans Honor Medal for their service in WWII (from left) including staff member and U.S. Army Private Second Class Michael Matthis, U.S. Army Fifth Class Technician Jesse Harrington and U.S. Navy Third Class Seaman Lawrence Touchet.

Mayor details city parks projects

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The city has set aside $2.5 million to modernize and repair Jennings parks.

Mayor Henry Guinn said the work on Cutting Park on Shankland Avenue should be coming to an end within the next two to three months.

He said the upgrades included installing a new fence around the park and at the tennis court as well as refinishing the courts, adding new LED lights, as well as additional parking and landscaping. The fencing was replaced with an ornamental style.

JDSO arrests two for abuse, trespassing

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A Jennings man is facing a domestic abuse charge.

Jeff Davis Sheriff’s Office deputies discovered a female with a bloody face at a home on Touchet Road Wednesday. Chief Deputy Chris Ivey said deputies arrested the victim’s husband, John James Dubose, 38, for domestic abuse battery. Dubose was transported to the parish jail and booked with no bond.

In a separate investigation, dep uties received a complaint in early August from a landowner that two individuals were living in an aban doned home on the property with out permission.