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STAFF REPORT editor@fgazette.com Part One of Three Union Parish should begin the process of replacing its police jury with a parish president and council under a locally written home rule charter. The amount of public money moving through this small parish warrants a government organized around clear executive responsibility and effective public oversight. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates Union Parish …

 STAFF REPORT   Jones’ two public jobs, significant case backlog, become issues in judge race  Lewis Jones’ simultaneous employment in two Parish district attorney’s offices, and the criminal case backlog in Lincoln and Union parishes, are drawing attention in his race against Phillip Ellis for a Third Judicial District judgeship.  Jones serves as chief felony prosecutor for the Third Judicial District …

 Louisiana Supreme Court  STAFF REPORT   New Orleans, La. ─ The Louisiana Supreme Court’s Families in Need of Services Assistance Program (FINS-AP) will begin a multi-day conference on Tuesday (September 29) aimed at equipping participants with practical, trauma-informed strategies for supporting children and families. The “Building a Trauma-Sensitive State” conference, which runs through October 2, examines how to look beyond a …

 Mark Ballard  The Advocate   WASHINGTON – Gov. Jeff Landry is calling for a ban on exports of diesel fuel, saying it’s a way to lower historically high prices, but is facing pushback from oil industry leaders who say that idea could actually drive prices up.  Joining Republican candidates, especially those representing agricultural districts, who have stepped up the pressure because …

STAFF REPORT State Police arrest three northeast Louisianalaw-enforcement officers on DWI allegationsLouisiana State Police arrested three northeastLouisiana law-enforcement officers on first-offenseDWI allegations during a 16-day span, according toarrest and booking records and local reporting reviewedby the Gazette.The arrests involved Union Parish Sheriff’s OfficeDeputy Ronald S. Leonard, longtime Lincoln ParishSheriff’s Office official Chad Alan Alexander andMonroe Police Officer Dominic Lyn Simpson. …

 Johnny Dollar editor@fgazette.com   Carson McKoin faces sentencing Dec.2; jury acquitted him on a separate firearm count  MONROE- A federal jury convicted Carson McKoin, 23, of Monroe, of assaulting, resisting or impeding federal wildlife agents after he fired a shotgun toward an approaching patrol boat during a duck hunt at the Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuge.  The jury returned its verdict Aug. …

 Johnny Dollar editor@fgazette.com   FARMERVILLE – Union Parish voters will be asked Nov. 3 to approve a 12-mill parishwide property tax for public roads and bridges for 10 years, according to the final proposition posted by the Louisiana Secretary of State. The official measure is not 10 mills, as some descriptions have suggested; the number 10 refers to the duration of the …

 Claudia Wade Union General   Union General Hospital Invests in the Future of Local Healthcare Through HERO Grant  Union General Hospital and Louisiana Delta Community College welcome the first six scholarship recipients in a program that will invest in 12 future healthcare professionals  FARMERVILLE, La. Union General Hospital and Louisiana Delta Community College (LDCC) are proud to announce the launch of the …

 School board, judicial and municipal contests highlight a crowded election year  Qualifying has closed for the Nov. 3 election, leaving Union Parish voters with a ballot stretching from the United States Senate and Congress to school board, judicial, justice of the peace, constable and municipal offices.  The Louisiana Secretary of State’s candidate inquiry lists 78 candidates under 44 office headings …

 STAFF REPORT   Ruston attorney cites service in law enforcement, state litigation, and courtrooms throughout north Louisiana  RUSTON, La. – Attorney Phillip Ellis of Ruston today announced his candidacy for the open position of judge for the Third Judicial District Court, Division B, which serves Lincoln and Union parishes. Ellis said his decision to run for the judgeship was driven by …