Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed an executive order on Feb. 21 removing school boards’ veto power over corporate property tax breaks that take money away from schools. It also did away with a requirement that projects granted the tax breaks create jobs and retain jobs.Now, companies that apply for Louisiana’s Industrial Tax Exemption Program, which can grant property tax breaks …

The precipitous loss of residents that Louisiana has seen over the last three years has been spread across nearly every parish, with urban and rural areas alike seeing large decreases, according to a new U.S. Census Bureau estimate of local population changes that offers another stark sign of the challenge facing state leaders.Some of the steepest declines were in areas …

From news service and staff reportsLouisiana politics have been dominated this year by new Republican Gov. Jeff Landry’s special legislative sessions to address crime and adopt new congressional maps. On Saturday, the focus will shift to the state’s presidential primaries.There’s little doubt who will win.Democratic President Joe Biden and Republican Donald Trump, the former president, unofficially sewed up their parties’ …

Easter eventsthis weekendA number of Easter Egg Hunts are scheduled for this weekend.Union Parish Egg HuntThe Farmerville Recreation Department and Union Parish will host the annual Union Parish Easter Egg Hunt from 10 a.m. to noon on March 29 at the Willie Davis Recreation Center, 116 Cox Ferry Road in Farmerville.Bring your baskets. There will be door prizes, music, a …

State, parish and community leaders, forced inside due to rain, held a groundbreaking ceremony at the Willie Davis Jr. Recreation Center Friday to mark the beginning of construction on a tournament quality Mega Boat Ramp on Lake D’Arbonne. The ramp is being constructed on Highway 33 across from D’Arbonne Lake Motel. (At right) During the ceremony, Farmerville Mayor John Crow …

By Luke BrittEditorThe Lake D’Arbonne Watershed Commission intends to stock the lake with 40,000 Tiger Bass later this year, an investment that commissioners said should result in a steady increase over the years in the average size of largemouth bass pulled from the lake.Tiger bass are a hybrid cross between a strain of aggressive Northern largemouth and a “pure strain” …

The following was written by Jon McKinney, President of the Union Parish Chamber of Commerce, who has traced his family’s Irish heritage back 600 years. Sunday is St. Patrick’s Day.St. Patrick’s Day originated as a religious feast day honoring the patron saint of Ireland. He died on March 17 in the year 461. Today he is honored not only as …

Dana Estes’s meticulous collage took Best of Show at the 12th Annual Union Arts Council’s Competitive Art Exhibition Saturday.Estes was one of dozens of local artists who submitted work in one or more of seven categories, including amateur and professional photo, professional and amateur painting , professional drawing, professional two-dimensional fine art and amateur three-dimensional fine art. A separate category …

A Civil War reenactor felled from mock rifle fire held his death pose for nearly an hour without moving during the Battle of D’Arbonne Landing held at D’Arbonne State Park Saturday and Sunday. The reenactment portrayed the Battle of Chicksaw Bayou that took place during the finals days of 1862. About 200 reenactors gathered in two camps – one blue, …

Gov. Jeff Landry opened the regular session of the state Legislature by challenging lawmakers to do “great things” for Louisiana. BATON ROUGE — Under new Republican leadership, Louisiana’s GOP-dominated Legislature gathered at the Capitol Monday to convene their three-month regular session, pushing conservative priorities that could reshape education policies, toughen certain criminal penalties, reduce regulations on the property insurance industry …