News

From news serivces reportsState officials are continuing discussions of a possible $2.5 billion sale of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, a non-profit health insurer used by nearly half of the state’s residents, to a much larger for-profit insurer based in Indiana.A legislative committee held a nearly eight-hour meeting Monday to consider the proposed sale of Blue Cross and …

Tombstones in Farmerville’s historic cemetery that were damaged last year when high winds felled a large oak tree are being restored thanks to the efforts of Kilpatrick Funeral Homes. Mayor John Crow said he reached out to Kilpatrick’s for advice on how to restore the damaged markers, some of which are 150 years old, and the funeral home’s Jerry Roark …

By Luke BrittEditorThe Union Parish Police Jury fired Public Works Director Tommy Durrett during its regular monthly meeting Tuesday.The vote to remove Durret came after a meeting of the jury’s personnel committee earlier in the day produced a recommendation that the director be terminated for “poor performance.” The jury did not disclose a specific reason for Durret’s firing during the …

The 43rd broadcast of North Louisiana’s St. Jude Radiothon is set for Feb. 8-9 from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. on Ruston station Z107.5. At that time donations can be made by calling 1-800-787-5288 or by donating online via the station’s Facebook (Z107.5) or Instagram (Z1075fm) pages. In-person donations will be taken in related side events at the Ruston Walmart Supercenter and …

The Union Parish Library is hosting a unique opportunity for teens who are budding singer-songwriters called SPARK: Songwriter Studio Series sponsored by Origin Bank for students in Union Parish. Stephanie Herrmann, Director, comments, “We wanted to offer something we never have hosted here in Union Parish. A lot of our students have guitars, write songs, but they’ve just never had …

Farmerville Mayor John Crow gives a thumbs up to the 2024 Krewe of D’Arbonne Mardi Gras King and Queen, Kenny and Marci Kavanaugh, during the 17th Annual Farmerville Mardi Gras Parade Saturday. The parade and the Mardi Gras Ball held Friday were coordinated by the Farmerville Jaycees with support from Union General Hospital, April Isaac Fuller, Connie Bevans Bearden, Audrey …

Photo taken by Austin Klais Attention Landowners! If you live in Bienville, Claiborne, Jackson, Lincoln, Morehouse,Ouachita, Union, and Webster Parishes:The LDWF, Quail Forever, the USDA-NRCS, and other partners are offering a program for enhancing private forestland for wildlife. The AR-LA Open Pine Landscape Restoration RCPP will provide support for these parishes for the next 3 years for enhancing your turkey …

Downsville Mayor Reggie Skains, made sure Union Parish was represented in Baton Rouge at the Jan. 7 inauguration of Gov. Jeff Landry. At right, Skains with his granddaughter, Emma Lou Ford, and Louisiana’s new Health Secretary, Dr. Ralph Abraham and his wife, Diane. Skains attended the inaugural ball with his daughter, Paula S. Ford (not pictured) and his granddaughter, Emma …

BATON ROUGE (AP) — A proposed Louisiana congressional map with a second majority-Black district, which could deliver another U.S. House seat to Democrats, received bipartisan support and advanced through a legislative committee Tuesday.During the second day of Louisiana’s special redistricting session, lawmakers took their first in-depth look at proposed congressional boundaries, backed by newly inaugurated GOP Gov. Jeff Landry. Under …

State lawmakers have passed a series of new laws that took effect Jan. 1. Many of them may not seem to impact your daily life but could in the months to come.Louisiana Political Analyst Jim Engster said the marquee item as far as new bills that went into effect at the first of the year is the bill banning gender-affirming …