BATON ROUGE—The House Education Committee advanced a resolution last week asking Louisiana universities to adopt a flexible and holistic admissions approach amid the COVID-19 epidemic.

BATON ROUGE—A Senate committee rejected legislation proposed by state Sen. Regina Barrow, D-Baton Rouge, last week that would have expanded mail-in voting in Louisiana.

The Ouachita Parish School Board is participating in the Summer Food Service Program. Meals will be provided to all children under 18 years of age without charge. Acceptance and participating requirements for the program and all activities are the same for all regardless of race, color, nati…

BATON ROUGE—The Senate Health and Welfare Committee voted, 5-1, last week in favor of House Bill 819, legislation to make medical marijuana more widely available.

BATON ROUGE—A House committee last week pushed forward a package of bills that closely reflected the revised budget plan that Gov. John Bel Edwards presented in response to a loss of more $1 billion in revenue from the Coronavirus shutdown.

The Sterlington Town Council signed off on an ordinance Tuesday levying a 2-percent sales tax on restaurants and convenience stores within the town’s corporate limits.

The First Circuit Court of Appeal in Baton Rouge thumped Anadarko Petroleum Corp. last week by opening the door for Monroe businessman Stanley Palowsky III to pursue legal claims against the oil and gas company in an ongoing racketeering lawsuit.

Monroe Civic Center Director George Cannon says asbestos has been falling from the ceiling inside the Jack Howard Theatre for at least a year.

Makayla Thomas, a West Ouachita High School senior looking forward to prom and graduation, says she was shocked when the school closed in March to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Louisiana Economic Development (LED) recently notified the city of West Monroe that a portion of its Highland Park property has been designated as an LED Certified Site.

The city of Monroe’s finances could take a dive because of lost sales tax collections of some $3.6 million to $10.8 million thanks to the COVID-19 crisis, the state auditor says.

More than 40 percent of the people who have died from complications related to COVID-19 were residents of nursing homes across the state, the Louisiana Department of Health revealed this week.

University of Louisiana-Monroe students say they’re pleased to see the university plans to issue a $300 check in COVID-19-related aid to some 3,900 students instead of making them prove they needed the money.

State Rep. Michael Echols says legislation previously opposed by the state teachers lobby has been amended to ensure state retirees are not deprived of health insurance plans through Medicare.

Fourth Judicial District Court reopened to the public earlier this week, ending a limited court closure that lasted more than two months and left the court with a case backlog and uncertainty about its financial health.

West Monroe Police Chief Jeff Terrell says his department and other civil service agencies cannot quickly recruit entry-level officers or firefighters thanks to state laws that lengthen their hiring process with delays as long as eight months

The University of Louisiana-Monroe presidential search committee selected seven semifinalists to interview for the school’s top post.

Families of Children Who Normally Receive Free or Reduced-Price Meals at School May Apply Starting Monday, May 18