News

On June 26, Gov. John Bel Edwards formally extended Phase Two of reopening in Louisiana for another 28 days, as new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations increase across the state. The new order leaves in place occupancy and other restrictions of the previous Phase Two order and adds a crowd size limit of 250 to indoor gatherings.

Since Monday, Louisiana has added 3,637 new COVID-19 cases, a steady uptick in new positives. More than 3,000 Louisianans have died from complications of COVID-19. Louisiana has also pushed to increase testing, exceeding its goal of 200,000 tests for the month of June already. Louisiana has completed 257,535 tests in the month of June.

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Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell is awarding more than $1.2 million in grants to local governments and parish school systems in Northwest Louisiana to promote energy efficiency.

Energy upgrades funded by the grants include high-efficiency LED lights in buildings operated by local public agencies.

“These improvements will lower electric bills by thousands of dollars for these public institutions,” Campbell said.

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The Louisiana Senate Committee on Education, chaired by Senator Cleo Fields, is holding a hearing on Thursday, June 25, 2020 at 6:00 p.m. in the John J. Hainkel, Jr. Room of the Louisiana State Capitol to discuss plans for reopening Louisiana’s K-12 schools.

The hearing will feature presentations by Dr. Cade Brumley, Superintendent of Education, and Dr. Courtney Phillips, Secretary of the Department of Health. It will also include a question and answer session. All concerned individuals are encouraged to submit questions for possible consideration during the meeting.

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Sheriff Richardson would like to announce the recipients of the annual Louisiana Sheriff ’s academic scholarship program for the 2019-2020 school year. The Sheriffs’ Scholarship is made possible by the Louisiana Sheriffs’ Honorary Membership Program (LSHMP). Louisiana Sheriffs provide scholarships to graduating high school students from each parish where the Sheriff is an affiliate of the program. Qualities such as academic achievement, leadership, and character are considered in making selections of Sheriffs’ scholarship recipients. The only limitations are that applicants be permanent residents of Louisiana, scholarships be utilized in higher education within the State, and students be enrolled as full-time undergraduate students. These scholarships are awarded in sixty-four parishes throughout the state.

Registered Democrats and Republicans are eligible to vote in the early 2020 Presidential Preference Primary (PPP) between the dates of Saturday, June 20, and Saturday, July 4, 2020. Besides voting for the presidential candidate of your choice within your registered party, Democrats will decide a Democratic State Central Committee 23rd Representative for District, Office A. Democrats will vote either for Erica F. Durr of Natchitoches or Jackie Lansdale of Gloster.

DeSoto Registrar of Voters Amanda V. Raynes reminds voters to bring proof of identification with a photograph such as your Driver’s License, State Issued ID, etc. She said that for the 2020 PPP you will cast your ballot at the Registrar of Voters’ office, located at 104 Crosby Street in Mansfield (behind the Mansfield Post Office and across the street from the DeSoto Parish Library’s main office). The hours to vote are from 8:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. except on Sundays.

Sheriff Jayson Richardson and deputies at the DeSoto Parish Sheriff ’s Office would like to sincerely thank Principal Debbie Lamar and Central High School for going over and beyond in their assistance for DeSoto deputies during the recent COVID-19 pandemic.

Over the past several weeks, Central High School students and staff have been donating items such as hand sanitizer, drinks, snacks, anddisinfectant wipes. These items are crucial in keeping deputies safe while practicing cleanliness in the field.

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The effort to lower auto insurance prices by curtailing litigation will have to begin again as Gov. John Bel Edwards on Friday vetoed the legislation that overwhelmingly passed both chambers but included faulty wording.

Senate Bill 418, the Omnibus Premium Reduction Act of 2020, was among eight bills the governor rejected. He also vetoed legislation that required jail time for people crossing often unmarked property lines of critical infrastructure, which community activists called a way to squelch protests at refineries, as well as a measure to limit lawyer advertising.

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On June 12, 2020, four months after DeSoto Parish Deputy Donna Richardson-Below was killed in a car accident, the driver of the other car, Richard Wimer of Stonewall, was arrested for vehicular homicide and reckless operation. According to Louisiana State Police he allegedly was impaired and speeding during a rainstorm when he crashed into the deputy’s car. She was on duty at the time. Troop G spokesman Brent Hardy said that there was no further information available at this time.

To refresh your memory continue reading about the original story regarding Dy. Richardson-Below’s accident and death.

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Longtime district court judge Charles Adams announced his retirement, effective, Monday June 15 from the judicial bench in the 42nd Judicial District of Louisiana.

Adams, who was first elected judge in 1997 and was re-elected three times subsequently thereafter, retired to become a candidate for District Attorney in DeSoto Parish in the election to be held on November 3,2020.

“I am running for District Attorney to change the current direction and climate of the District Attorney’s Office,” said Adams.

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On June 4, Gov. John Bel Edwards signed the order moving Louisiana to Phase Two of the White House plan for reopening, while cautioning members of the public and businesses to continue to take mitigation measures, like wearing masks when in public, to prevent the further spread of COVID-19 as more people will be interacting with each other.