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The Louisiana Legislature convened this week for a special session called by Gov. Jeff Landry in an effort to implement new tough-on crime policies.The bills lawmakers approve are likely to drastically reshape the state’s justice system, rolling back many of the efforts by former Gov. John Bel Edwards to reduce the number of people incarcerated in state prisons.Bills filed this …

Construction on the new Reeves Memorial Medical Center in Bernice continues, and this week the hospital announced that the dirt work necessary to prepare the site for construction is nearly complete. The new $25 million medical center broke ground in November and when finished will include state-of-the-art facilities that include new services, including dental and 0women’s health care. The facility …

By Luke BrittEditorFormer Union Parish High School football star Trey Holly on Saturday issued a statement on social media saying he is “100% innocent” of the criminal charges levied against him last week.Holly was one of three people arrested Feb. 15 for their alleged role in a Feb. 9 shooting at Union Villa Apartments in Farmerville that left two people …

The Louisiana Sheriffs’ Scholarship Program will award scholarships to worthy Louisiana students to assist with furthering their education and training.“We support education in Union Parish, and I encourage our students to apply for these scholarships,” said Sheriff Dusty Gates.There are no restrictions on the purposes for which scholarships are spent. The scholarships are not loans and will be awarded as …

By Luke BrittEditorRetired Farmerville Police Chief George Cothran, who led the town’s police department for nearly 25 years, died Feb. 8. He was 83-years-old.Cothran was described by those who knew him as a generous man who enjoyed helping people and seldom passed an opportunity to make people laugh.“If you know someone who is loved by young children and old people, …

The Linville Firetower Road bridge, closed about two weeks ago, will remain closed for the foreseable future. The DOTD delivered the closure notice, along with images of deteriorating pylons like the one at left, to the Union Parish Police Jury this week, and the repairs necessary to reopen the bridge are extensive. Major repairs were made to the bridge in …

Through an attorney, Holly says he is not guilty of the crimes By Luke BrittEditorFormer Union Parish High School and current LSU runningback Trey Holly and two other people have been arrested by the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office and charged with multiple felonies in connection with a shooting that occurred in Farmerville last week that left two people injured, one …

D’Arbonne Woods Chater school recently held the middle school 6th-8th grade Social Studies Fair.Winners in the competitions seven categories include:Anthropology1st place: Audrey Brown2nd place: Braylin Smith, Emmalane Shaw, Makenzee Canterberry, & Makenley Leggett3rd place: Kenzlie Issac, Sunni Riser, Abigail CastillioEconomics1st place: Grant Halley, Jaxson Roberson, Jacob Hobbs, & Miguel Garcia2nd place: Henslee Albritton & Avery Brantley3rd place: Lawson Culver & …

Winners of the D’Arbonne Woods Charter School Spelling Bee included: Division 1 First Place, Maverick Tucker; Second Place, Jesper Lemoine, Third Place Everett Kavanaugh. Division 2 First Place, Lucy Vocker, Second Place Melodee Carr and Third Place, Conner Craig.

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 …