March, 2024

• 29 March

  March Madness stirs reflections

  Jim BrownJim Brown is a former Louisiana state senator, Secretary of State, Commissioner of Insurance and a regular contributor to The Gazette. Are you all fired up and into March madness? It’s my favorite sports time of year. Now I understand you may disagree, but I’ll take the college basketball tournament over any other sporting event, even the Super Bowl. …

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• 29 March

  Lessons from a trip to New York City

  

  Thomas FieldsThomas “Tuffy” Fields is an author and regular contributor to The Gazette. He can be reached by email at thelouisianaexplorer@yahoo.com. I normally don’t like to call out an individual for criticism or accolades. Instead I prefer to let the facts speak for themselves and allow the reader to draw his or her own conclusions. It is realized this is …

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• 29 March

  COVID bill testimony rife with falsehoods

  Editor’s note: The following is a commentary published by Louisiana Illuminator.The Louisiana House Education Committee on Wednesday approved a bill offered by Rep. Kathy Edmondston, which would apply to public and private schools. Edmonston, a Baton Rouge Republican, has insisted her legislation is needed, although a process has long existed for parents to exempt their children from required vaccines.Just as …

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• 29 March

  Formerly inmates in Louisiana could soon access higher education funds

  A Louisiana House committee advanced a bill Wednesday to expand who can access a financial aid program for high-demand workforce education programs.The House Education Committee unanimously approved House Bill 728 by Rep. Paula Davis, R-Baton Rouge. It would allow people convicted of violent crimes to access the M.J. Foster Promise Program, a financial aid program that allows students to pursue …

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• 29 March

  Cost of education savings accounts for Louisiana in dispute Opponents feel private schools won’t be held to adequate accountability standards

  A proposal that would allow families to steer Louisiana public education dollars to private schools — regardless of their income — is expected to cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars, with a wide gap between legislative calculations and a good government group’s projections.As an education savings account bill from Rep. Julie Emerson, R-Carencro, advances through the Legislature, its …

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• 29 March

  News Brief

  Union Parish Egg Hunton tap tomorrowThe 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 whole lot of Easter Eggs and, of course, the Easter …

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• 29 March

  Senate panel rejects ‘red flag’ proposal

  Republicans on a Senate panel fended off multiple efforts to soften gun laws in Louisiana, including a “red flag” law to give authorities the power to prevent someone from possessing a firearm if they deemed a risk to themselves or others.Senate Bill 256, by Sen. Gary Carter, D-New Orleans, would have allowed a judge to issue such an order only …

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• 29 March

  Constitutional convention proposed for May

  Legislators and Gov. Jeff Landry’s handpicked delegates would meet between May 20 and July 15 to rewrite Louisiana’s Constitution, under a preliminary plan made public Wednesday.With the governor’s blessing, Rep. Beau Beaullieu, R-New Iberia, submitted House Bill 800 that outlines the process for overhauling the current constitution adopted 50 years ago in Edwin Edwards’ first term as governor.Beaullieu’s proposal has …

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• 29 March

  Trump, Biden win ‘no surprises’ primary

  How Union Parish Voted President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump won Louisiana’s primary on Saturday, collecting more delegates after they already clinched their party nominations.In Union Parish, where roughly 14 percent of eligible voters — about 1,700 —turned out, Trump received 1,187 votes to Biden’s 407.Biden also appeared in Missouri’s Democratic primary, with results not expected to be …

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• 25 March

  Rickey Dean Dison

  

  Rickey Dean Dison, age 66, of Bogue Chitto, Mississippi passed away peacefully Sunday, December 17, 2023, after a brief illness. He was born November 5, 1957, in Truxno, Louisiana to Wilber Dean and Karleen Black Dison. Rickey was preceded in death by his wife Lola Wooten Dison, his mother, Karleen Black Dison and brother Dave Dison, grand-parents Bertha & Grady …

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