The two Republican candidates vying for the support of voters in Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District met in a televised debate last week but spent little time debating policy issues.

Monroe businessman Stanley Palowsky III gained the court’s approval last week to pursue his allegations against two Fourth Judicial District Court officials for engaging in case fixing as part of a scheme to conceal illegal activity at the courthouse.

The Ouachita Parish Police Jury voted earlier this week to revoke its ownership of a road entering the Osterland Recreation Center in spite of a petition from a local apartment management company seeking ongoing access to the center and its new sports complex.

Deciding to spend her and her husband’s savings in 2017 to open a drive-through Christmas lights park in Calhoun felt like jumping off a cliff with no parachute, Amy Hanson says.

The Ouachita Parish Police Jury voted earlier this week to reboot its search for a new director at the Green Oaks Juvenile Detention Center in Monroe after deciding none of the current candidates met the necessary qualifications.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Students at West Ridge Middle School wrote essays about what Thanksgiving means to them. Essays were randomly selected for printing, but all the students’ works are available at www.ouachitacitizen.com.

In the Dec. 5 general election, Ouachita Parish voters will entertain a measure to renew a property tax of 1.45 mills across the parish to support the operations of the G.B. Cooley Hospital Service District.

The two Republican candidates who will square off in the Dec. 5 run-off election in the 5th District congressional race expressed support for President Donald Trump’s challenges of the election results in key battleground states.

Local tourism officials say they want to review the estimated cost of West Monroe Mayor Staci Mitchell’s proposed indoor arena project before they commit any money to building the sports venue.

A special appointed judge is scheduled to entertain arguments this week on whether Monroe businessman Stanley Palowsky III may pursue his allegations against two Fourth Judicial District Court officials, who he accused of engaging in illegal case fixing.

The city of West Monroe was named a recipient of the 2019 Community Achievement Awards, the Louisiana Municipal Association’s most prestigious award for outstanding municipal improvements and accomplishments in the category of Community Development.

Three student teams from the College of Health Sciences at the University of Louisiana Monroe dominated the Louisiana Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) and Anatomage Virtual Collegiate Anatomy and Physiology Tournament.

A $6.3-million project completing the construction of a service road south of Interstate 20, from Nutland Road east to Lowe's Home Improvement, is expected to begin this month.

The Monroe City Council approved the appointment of two new members to the Southside Economic Development District's board of directors earlier this week.

The Sterlington Town Council declined earlier this week to rezone property so a Monroe developer could build a 26-unit housing development within the town's corporate limits.

West Monroe aldermen approved hiring local architect Tim Brandon Tuesday night to design a proposed indoor arena that could possibly be built in 15 months and cost as much as $20 million.

Ouachita Parish residents have until Nov. 30 to place all storm debris from their property in the public right-of-way for debris pick-up trucks to collect and dispose of.

Ouachita Parish police jurors say they are unwilling to spend some $1 million to $2 million expanding the Ouachita Parish 911 Center unless local law enforcement commit to the project and confirm its need.