Brent Pry Emerges As Favorite in Louisiana-Lafayette’s Coaching Search

Penn State defensive coordinator Brent Pry has emerged as the favorite in Louisiana-Lafayette’s search for a new head coach, a source told SI. One of the challenges for the ULL job, as it is for some Group of Five head coaching searches, is managing the economics of trying to hire away a coordinator from a top FBS program where that candidate probably could make considerably more at his current job.

Pry has played a key role in top-10 defenses at Penn State, Vanderbilt, Virginia Tech, Georgia Southern and Western Carolina, spending the past two seasons as the Nittany Lions’ DC. In his first season as defensive coordinator, Pry helped Penn State to the 2016 Big Ten championship by guiding a unit that finished 37th in FBS in total defense (367.9), seventh in tackles for loss (8.1) and 19th in sacks (2.86) despite a significant number of injuries to the linebacking corps. The Nittany Lions ranked 11th in the country this fall in yards per play allowed.

Pry coached at Louisiana-Lafayette from 2002 to ’06, helping the Ragin’ Cajuns to a share of their first Sun Belt championship in ’05.

Mark Hudspeth was let go by ULL last month after seven seasons.

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Brent Pry makes important recruiting stop as questions linger about potential ties to Louisiana-Lafayette head job

Penn State defensive coordinator Brent Pry watches a replay of a Michigan State touchdown during the third quarter on Nov. 4, 2017.Joe Hermitt | jhermitt@pennlive.com(

Penn State will host multiple commitments and top targets this weekend for official visits. Tyreke Smith will be among them.

The four-star defensive lineman from Cleveland, Ohio could be an end or a tackle depending on how he fills out, and colleges like USC, Ohio State, Oregon, Alabama, and of course the Nittany Lions are lining up to try and persuade him during the December contact period, which runs until Dec. 17, before he decides on Jan. 4 at the Under Armour All-American game.

It’s relevant not only because Smith could be a program-changing player at the next level, but also because of who stopped to see him Wednesday night.

Cleveland Heights head coach Mac Stephens tweeted a picture of Pry with Smith as the defensive coordinator was out and about recruiting even as reports earlier in the day said he was a candidate, and perhaps one of a final three, for the open head coaching job at Louisiana-Lafayette. Pry coached there for a number of years before connecting with James Franklin and eventually following him to Penn State, and it’s not the first time he’s been linked to a head coaching job. He’s declined each time; will this finally be the right job?

That might not know for a little while as PSU battles to not lose its third and final coordinator after Joe Moorhead and Charles Huff both left for Mississippi State. The former did not go on the road recruiting, at least publicly, before he left, but Huff was at an in-home visit with kicker Jake Pinegar two days before following Moorhead to the SEC.

The conversations Pry, or his representatives, are having could be something or could be nothing, but they will undoubtedly be monitored closely as PSU’s biggest visit weekend of the year kicks off and the new early signing period sits less than two weeks away.

Penn State Defensive Coordinator @CoachPry_LBU spending a little time with Under Armour All American and Ohio Mr. Football runner-up @T_23_baller HEIGHTS FOOTBALL! #WeAre #PennState #NittanyLions pic.twitter.com/YXL4f0F0oa

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones addresses the crowd at the National Football Foundation dinner on Tuesday night at the Midtown Hilton ballroom in New York City.
Penn State running back Saquon Barkley breaks into the clear during the Lions’ 56-44 victory over Nebraska. Photo by Joe Hermitt, PennLive

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Benefits of Choosing the Right Hotel in Lafayette Louisiana

If you are going to Lafayette Louisiana for a few days or weeks, pick the right hotel. However, picking the right hotel is hard. The best hotels have a good a reputation and they have been in this business for several years. They get good reviews on the internet.

Here are the benefits of choosing the right hotel in Lafayette Louisiana.

1. Safety

The best hotels in Lafayette Louisiana are safe. You don’t have to worry about your safety when you are in the hotel. In fact, they are in a safe neighborhood. You can even check the crime rate in that neighborhood before booking the hotel. This should give you a peace of mind because your safety is guaranteed.

2. Accessible

The best hotels are easily accessible. The roads are great and the hotel is located near hospitals, banks, and shopping malls. This is convenience if you love shopping. If there is an emergency, there is a hospital nearby. These hotels are great if you are traveling to Lafayette Louisiana with your family.

3. Affordable

There are so many hotels so it is easy to choose the best hotel that you can afford. Search for the best hotels in Lafayette and compare their rates. Visit their website. If they have not listed their rates, contact them. They respond to emails in a few hours. Pick an affordable hotel that has everything you need.

4. Service

The best hotels have the best service. Their employees are friendly and helpful. They can help you every time you have a problem.

You now know the benefits of choosing the best hotels in Lafayette Louisiana. Do your own homework when you are searching for the right hotel. The best hotels have enough security and they are located near the necessary amenities.

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Long-time Louisiana lawmaker diagnosed with prostate cancer

One of Louisiana’s longest-serving state lawmakers has been diagnosed with prostate cancer.

Sen. Francis Thompson, a Delhi Democrat who has served more than 40 years in the Louisiana Legislature, told The News-Star he will have surgery Dec. 13 in Baton Rouge to remove the cancer.

The 76-year-old Thompson said he’s "a little anxious, but the Lord tells us to turn over our problems to him, and that’s what I’ve done."

He said he expects to be "around for a long time."

Thompson was elected to the Louisiana House in 1974. He has served with seven governors and has the second-longest tenure of anyone in the Legislature.

The only lawmaker with a longer stint is his friend and Senate President John Alario, a Westwego Republican who joined the House two years before Thompson.

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No. 20 Women’s basketball rolls past Louisiana-Lafayette

Junior Dani Williams made 21 points, making it her seventh game in a row scoring double figures.

Despite a seven-point deficit in the first quarter, the No. 20 Texas A&M women’s basketball team came back to defeat the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns 83-62 in the WNIT Quarterfinals on Sunday during Military Appreciation Day at Reed Arena.

A&M head coach, Gary Blair said he was pleased with how the Aggies drove the ball, rebounded, and the number of free throws attempts they finished with.

“One of our goals on the board was to get 30 free throw attempts after we got 36 the last time. We hit it on the nose. I think we are doing a great job of driving the basketball and not just being a jump shooting team, which is what we have been in the past… We didn’t have any turnovers in the second half.” Blair said.

A&M and Louisiana-Lafayette showed their defensive strength early in the first quarter, not scoring until the eight-minute mark of the half. The Ragin’ Cajuns took a 4-2 lead with two back-to-back field goals by Kendra Howard and Simone Fields.

The Aggies fought back with the help of junior Danni Williams who gave them their first lead of the game and started a chain of points for the Aggies, when she shot a three-pointer advancing the score to 8-6, in the Aggies favor.

Stopping the Aggies’ three-score lead, the Ragin’ Cajuns tied the game 12-12 and would continue to hold the Aggie offense, forcing their own seven-point lead. A&M couldn’t bounce back from this deficit and fell to the Ragin’ Cajuns, 19-12 at the end of the first.

In the second quarter, Caylinne Martin and Jasmine Lumpkin fouled three times against the Ragin’ Cajuns, moving Louisiana’s lead to 21-18. However, A&M bounced back with three consistent points by Lulu McKinney, Khaalia Hillsman, and Williams, tying the game at 23-23.

The Aggies led 25-23 with the aid of four free throws by Williams and sophomore, Anriel Howard. A&M would keep this lead as their offense began to show some fight at the end of the first half. The Aggies went into halftime leading 33-30.

Coming out of halftime, A&M showed no signs of stopping. A&M went on their own scoring run, moving ahead 44-35 with a nine-point lead and the help of back-to-back three-pointers by Williams and McKinney who scored a combined seven points for the Aggies.

Williams and Howard led the Aggies to 55-39 with a total of four free throws at the end of the third. A layup by Chennedy Carter ended the third and moved the game into the fourth and final quarter, with A&M leading by 18 points.

Blair credited this change in pace after halftime to their ability to keep the Ragin’ Cajuns in front of them on the drive.

“I think we kept them in front of us on the drive a little bit better. Coach [Bob] Starkey gave his sermon.” he said. “We just decided they are going to have to stop us inside first. Then, let’s get into transition. We have to be a running team to keep people from sagging and taking a lot of our set plays."

Entering with a substantial lead, A&M secured the game as the offense and defense continued to blend and come out with a combined total of 13 rebounds, eight free throws, and four layups in the fourth quarter, making the final score 83-62.

Finishing the game with 18 points and leading the team in scoring, Chennedy Carter is one of the only freshman, along with Sydney Colson, to score more than 10 points in their first two games.

Carter said that her teammates are constantly pushing her to focus on the task at hand, and that she felt she played with more urgency offensively in this game.

“I feel like I played with a little more sense of urgency. I feel like my teammates kept me involved and kept me pushing.” Carter said. “They pretty much told me to just keep shooting and don’t worry about last game. I feel like I focused on this game and just went out there to compete and it made a difference from last week’s game to this week’s game

The Aggies will face No. 11 Oregon at Reed Arena on Thursday at 7 p.m.

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Restore Louisiana Small Business Program launches flood relief initiative for business owners

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LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY)- Good news for small business owners affected by the August floods in 2016.There is hope for those of you who are still having a hard time bouncing back.

The South Central Planning and Development Commission has been awarded funding under the state’s restore Louisiana Small Business Program.

This loan program would allow small business affected by the March and August 2016 floods to apply for zero percent interest loans for their recovery efforts.

Businesses such as grocery stores, pharmacies, healthcare and childcare providers, gas stations, construction-related companies, locally owned restaurants and other goods and service providers may qualify for zero percent interest loans if they meet certain criteria.

To qualify for these loans, a small business must have experienced at least $10,000 of physical damages or a 20% loss of revenue due to the flood events. In certain circumstances, 40 percent of the loan amount may be forgiven.

The loan funds may be used to purchase moveable equipment or for up to 6 months of monthly rent or mortgage payments, monthly utilities, monthly non-owner wages and benefits, and business inventory.

Business impacted by the 2016 Floods should contact the SCPDC restore Louisiana Small Business Program at 1-800-630-3791 or visit scpdc.org

SCPDC was chosen as one of five organizations tasked with processing on behalf of the state. So far they’ve processed nearly half of the approved applications.

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WDSU Editorial: Louisiana needs constitutional convention to deal with debt crisis

WDSU President and General Manager Joel Vilmenay issues an editorial on the ongoing issues with the state’s budget, which also trickles down to Louisiana’s standing in the U.S.

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Lafayette gives initial approval to yearlong drilling ban

Jeremy Papasso, Longmont Times-Call file photo

Lafayette’s City Council approved a yearlong stay on new drilling applications within city limits on Tuesday night.

Merrily Mazza was the sole council member voting against the ordinance.

If officially sanctioned next month — on second reading — the moratorium would preempt new oil and gas development until late 2018, unless officials iron out new regulations before then, they said.

The ordinance would halt the “submission, acceptance, processing, and approval … of all land use applications, including all special use review applications” aimed at the “exploration or extraction, and related operations and activities, of oil and gaseous materials.”

It would also include pending applications and applications to “expand the scope of existing special use review approvals.”

Read the full story at TimesCall.com.

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APNewsBreak: Few Louisiana doctors seek marijuana permit

Louisiana’s medical marijuana program is edging closer to kickoff, but doctors have been slow to embrace the new medication option.

Only two doctors have applied for the permit required to offer medical-grade pot to patients, according to information The Associated Press obtained from the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners under a Public Records Law request.

One permit application has been approved, while the other is under review.

That’s raising questions about whether patients struggling with chronic pain and suffering will gain access to the drug they sought.

Medical marijuana is a controversial subject in the conservative Southern state. But Sen. Fred Mills, the Republican pharmacist who sponsored the laws, still hopes to see an uptick in permit requests from doctors when the drug is closer to release next summer.

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West Lafayette sprints to girls soccer sectional victory

WEST LAFAYETTE – The West Lafayette girls soccer team scored early and often and rolled to a 6-3 victory over Hanover Central in the first round of the West Lafayette sectional Tuesday night.

The Red Devils will face Culver, an 11-0 victor over Benton Central, at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at the West Lafayette field. Kankakee Valley will take on Twin Lakes in the other semifinal at 7:30.

West Lafayette was coming off a tough loss to Harrison last week. After trailing Harrison 3-0 early, the Red Devils rallied to tie the score before losing 4-3. That loss played a big part in Tuesday’s victory.

“It felt like more of a win for us after coming back from the three goal deficit,” West Lafayette coach Shauna Stapleton said. “I think it showed our players that the game is not over until it is over.”

“I think that was the first game that we stepped it up and went hard for the full 80 minutes,” West Lafayette’s midfielder Madeline Lynam said. “We know how that should feel now.”

The Red Devils did not need to rally to win in their first sectional game. They jumped out to a 4-0 lead and were up 5-1 at halftime behind the play of Lynam and Katy Penquite.

Lynam accounted for two goals and had one assist while Penquite added a goal and had two assists.

“It was very important for us to get off to a fast start,” Lynam said. “We make it a goal to score within the first five minutes of every game. It gets us off to a great start and sets a good tempo for the rest of the game.”

Penquite got things started for West Lafayette by knocking in a goal with 35:36 left in the first half. The Red Devils scored less than two minutes later when Alyson Haehl scored off a scramble in front of the goal after a corner kick from Avery Bartlett.

Caroline Sautter made it 3-0 West Lafayette with 27:45 left. Lynam got her first goal to run the lead to 4-0 with 12:46 remaining.

Hanover Central, which had only three shots on goal in the first 40 minutes, finally got on the scoreboard when Madison Spejewski scored off a corner kick from Breanna Nirtaut.

Lynam got the final goal of the half off of a Sautter assist with 8:45 left to make it 5-1 at the break.

“I thought our offense looked very strong,” Stapleton said. “We played very quick and had a creative attack.”

Things slowed down for the Red Devils in the second half. Alexandra Lynam sent a long shot into the net off another assist by Penquite to give the Red Devils their biggest lead at 6-1. But that would be the final score for the Red Devils.

“We had a couple defensive errors in the second half,” Stapleton said. “I don’t think it was because of the lack of effort. We just have some things we need to sharpen up."

Then Hanover Central mounted a mini-comeback. With many of the West Lafayette starters on the bench, the Wildcats got their second goal when Savannah Ferry scored off a rebound shot to make it 6-2.

Alexis Vera brought the Wildcats to 6-3 when she sailed a penalty kick just outside the box over the West Lafayette goalie with 16 minutes left to play.

“We rested a lot of starters in the second half,” Madeline Lynam said. “I think overall we did what we had to do. There were a couple breakdowns that we will be working on before we play Culver.”

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Will Louisiana Ever Catch A Break?

Will the state of Louisiana ever catch a break? That’s what many who live here wonder, as do many more who used to live there or know someone that still lives there.

The state was famously thrashed by Hurricane Katrina some years back, which killed many and destroyed entire portions of New Orleans and surrounding parishes. The city has rebounded nicely since then, with much of the rest of the nation contributing all it could to the recovery efforts.

Unfortunately, the state of Louisiana did not go unscathed in the hurricane season of 2017. While Harvey, Irma, and Maria primarily hit places like Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico, this particular state was on the outer edges of many of these storms or dealt with their remnants after they made landfall in other places.

Those other places did get hit harder and are deservedly getting most of the attention, but possibly too much so. Louisiana did see a lot of rain and flooding, and there are many structures that took wind damage or are sitting on ground that absorbed too much moisture.

Water is a huge risk to the state, especially in the bayou of the lower state. While the cause of rising sea levels is under serious political dispute, many home- and land-owners on the coast or in the bayou know all too well that water levels are higher than they were a generation ago, and some lots have been abandoned already. A number of towns know they are on a clock, and some have already relocated further inland.

Conversely, the sediment carried into the Gulf of Mexico by the mighty Mississippi River has been increasing the delta at the river mouth for eons, and so that is one part of the state where the amount of land is actually winning against the water.

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Louisiana lawmaker trying to remove state incentives from Saints

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LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) – Massive controversy took over the country when more NFL players than ever decided not to stand for the national anthem.

Players, fans, and owners all have their own take on the situation.

For one Louisiana lawmaker, these protests have made their way past the playing field and into state legislature.

The New Orleans Saints were among the teams protesting.

10 players sat on the bench during the national anthem.

This has prompted Louisiana lawmaker Kenny Havard to try to withdraw millions of state tax dollars allocated to the team.

Havard saying in a news release:

“It is a disgrace to the men and women of this nation who have sacrificed so much. Disrespecting our flag in the name of social injustice is the highest form of hypocrisy. It is time the taxpayers quit subsidizing protest on big boy playgrounds.

He goes on to say:

“I believe in the right to protest but, not at a taxpayer subsidized sporting event. Do it on your own time.”

Saints quarterback Drew Brees and Coach Sean Payton both stood for the anthem but say they will not stand for the President’s comments.

“I disagree with what the President said and how he said it. I think it is very unbecoming of the office of the President of the United States. To talk like that. To degrade people like that. Obviously he has diappointed a lot of people,” says Brees

“Disappointed in the comments that were made I think we need a little bit more wisdom in that office. That’s being a little blunt but that’s how I feel. I want that guy to be one of the smarter guys in the room and it seems that everytime he is opening his mouth, it is something that is dividing our country and not pulling us together,” says Payton.

The total value of incentives provided to the Saints by the state is unclear at this point.

Investigators found the victim unresponsive in a silver…

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Villanova overwhelms Lafayette in home opener, 59-0

ELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Staff Photographer Villanova’s Aaron Forbes breaks away from the pack for a 29 yard gain in the 3rd quarter of the Wildcats’ 59-0 win over Lafayette.

Conventional football wisdom is if you win the toss, defer to the second half and put your defense on the field. Real wisdom when you are facing a team that has given up 462 yards per game against lesser opponents is to take the ball and see if they can stop you.

The answer came quickly Saturday night at Villanova Stadium. Lafayette could not stop the Wildcats. Nor could their offense move the ball. This is generally not a good combination – unless, of course, you are Villanova playing its final non-conference game before embarking on the always difficult CAA schedule Saturday at Albany.

Villanova had 20 points before Lafayette had a first down, 49 before the Leopards got a second first down. If there had been a mercy rule, this would have been called early in the second quarter. Alas, they played all 60 minutes and Villanova won, 59-0. It was 49-0 at the half.

First-year Leopards coach John Garrett (brother of the Cowboys’ Jason) might want to call on 1976 Lafayette grad Joe Maddon, the Cubs manager, for some divine intervention for his 0-3 team. First-year Villanova coach Mark Ferrante was bequeathed a very good team, with weapons everywhere, that is ranked No. 7 in FCS for a reason. The schools are 66 miles apart. It felt like 666.

“We did a real good job in all three phases,” said Ferrante, who was also excited that he was able to use players who might be needed later.

At one point, `Nova (2-1) had 260 yards, while Lafayette had 4. It was 340-25 at halftime, 505-77 for the game. Cats reserves played the second half.

Villanova quarterback Zach Bednarczyk had near perfect passing. He threw for two touchdowns, ran for another and did not play after halftime.

“Every single time, it felt like they were going three and out.” Bednarczyk said. “It was great to get back on the field with a chance to score.”

Junior tight end Ryan Bell was borderline unstoppable. The former walk-on turned NFL prospect had two touchdown catches, the second a 37-yard streak down the right sideline worthy of a wideout. He also took a slant 59 yards on the second play from scrimmage. The Cats scored three touchdowns on returns – two on interceptions, another on a punt.

It was a great performance against an overmatched opponent. It is all about the conference now, and the competition will be ratcheted up dramatically.

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Highlights: Douglass downs Lafayette; Henry Clay gets first win; No. 1 Scott County falls to Ohio power

Frederick Douglass 29, Lafayette 14: A week after beating Tates Creek for the program’s first victory, the Frederick Douglass football team secured a signature win, knocking off Lafayette on the road.

Nate Gay’s 7-yard TD run late in the first quarter gave the Broncos a 15-7 lead, and they never looked back.

“This feels good, a lot of my kids on this team have never beat these guys so I’m just proud for them,” said Douglass Coach Brian Landis. “But we’ve got a long way to go. We had too many penalties … but we’ll get that cleaned up and we’ve got a chance to be pretty good.”

Aided by interceptions from Jaylin Bybee and Daiyann Perkins and a ruthless run defense, Douglass held the Generals to 282 yards of offense and 12 first downs. The Generals finished with just 76 yards on the ground. Their biggest play of the night was a 93-yard touchdown strike from Dekwan Edwards to Kuantaze Cooper as Lafayette trailed 29-7 with 6:34 left in the game.

“(The defense) played very well, I was happy with the way they responded,” Landis said. “After (Lafayette’s) first touchdown they didn’t get anything until that very last drive, that long bomb.”

Quarterback Montaveon Bean managed the game effectively for Douglass (2-1), completing 12 of 26 passes for 110 yards and avoiding an interception for the second week in a row while rushing for 63 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown that gave the Broncos the lead less than three minutes into the game.

Jefferson Harkless paced the Broncos’ ground game, rushing for 74 yards and a touchdown. Paul Dunbar transfer Gavin Bugg saw some action under center for Douglass as well, completing two passes, including a 44-yard touchdown to Micah Lowe for a 22-7 lead late in the second quarter.

Edwards, who starred at wide receiver last season, passed for 197 yards for Lafayette (1-3). Cooper caught two passes for 134 yards in the loss.

Henry Clay 48, Southwestern 16: Tyree Clarke had a monster night, rushing for 113 yards and three touchdowns and reeling in a 63-yard TD catch as the offense came alive in the second half to give the Blue Devils their first win of the season and the Warriors their first loss.

Clarke’s 1-yard plunge gave Henry Clay (1-3) a 6-0 lead heading into halftime. After the intermission, Zac Berezewitz’s bomb to Clarke kicked off a 28-point third quarter.

Michael McMullen had a pair of touchdown runs and Jordan Kimball returned an interception 48 yards for a score to cap the explosive quarter for the Blue Devils, who outrushed the Warriors 310 yards to 104.

Patric Edwards carried 16 times for 100 yards and a touchdown for Southwestern (3-1).

Tates Creek 37, Paul Dunbar 0: Teontè White celebrated his birthday in a big way on Friday night, rushing for 145 yards and three touchdowns in Tates Creek’s shutout of visiting Dunbar.

The Commodores (3-1) racked up 220 of their 287 yards on the ground.

White, who also intercepted a pass, had short TD runs in the first and second quarters, then broke loose for a 23-yard score in the final minute.

It was the second shutout of the season for Tates Creek’s defense, led by Cam Stewart’s 9 1/2 tackles. The Commodores defeated Henry Clay 48-0 in the season opener.

Paul Dunbar (0-3) has been held scoreless in all three of its games this season.

Moeller (Ohio) 38, Scott County 28: Cincinnati’s Archbishop Moeller took a 14-0 lead over host Scott County in the opening minutes, and the Cardinals couldn’t recover.

Scott County (3-1) lost fumbles on each of its first two possessions, the first on the Moeller 35-yard line and the second near the Moeller goal line. The Crusaders also converted a seven-play, 99-yard drive late in the first half to take a 24-7 lead.

The Cards cut the Moeller lead to 24-14 with Josh Davis’ 52-yard touchdown pass to Glenn Covington in the final minute of the first half, but the Crusaders opened the third quarter with an 11-play, 82-yard drive, and Scott County never got the scoring margin within single digits in the second half.

Senior running back Brice Fryman led the Cards with 16 carries for 187 yards. Covington had nine catches for 149 yards and two touchdowns.

Four-star UK commitment Brenden Bates of Moeller had two receptions for 35 yards and was targeted just three times, though he played a majority of the offensive snaps and was often used as a blocker. Bates will play tight end for the Wildcats next season.

Scott County opened the season with victories over North Bullitt, Lafayette and Highlands.

Moeller was coming off of a 38-30 loss at Trinity last weekend.

Madison Central 37, Madison Southern 13: Madison Central (2-2) rolled up 366 yards on the ground against its county rival thanks to two 100-yard rushers.

Gavin Hulberg had 148 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown run, on 16 carries, and Ethan Hahn added 102 yards on just five carries. Hahn had TD runs of 31 and 42 yards.

The longest score of the day, however, came on a trick play by Madison Southern (2-2) when Tobias Storm connected with fellow receiver Hunter Richardson on an 83-yard touchdown pass.

Madison Southern’s Nathaniel Eads led all players with 12 tackles. He also forced a fumble and had the game’s only interception.

Ryle 49, Highlands 27: Senior Jake Chisholm was a one-man wrecking crew on Friday, accounting for more than 300 yards of offense and five touchdowns as the Raiders overwhelmed the Bluebirds for their third win in a row.

Chisholm opened the scoring with a 27-yard touchdown run and added a pair of 2-yard TD plunges as Ryle (3-1) built a 28-14 halftime lead. He added touchdown runs of 15 and 7 yards in the second half. Chisholm carried 26 times for 281 yards and caught three passes for 47 yards. His huge night overshadowed a great performance by Raiders quarterback Easton Pilyer, who rushed for 142 yards on 10 carries and completed 12 of 16 passes for 118 yards and a touchdown.

Quarterback Carl Schoellman kept Highlands (2-2) in the game. His 20-yard touchdown pass to Jared Wogan drew the Bluebirds within 28-20 in the third quarter, but Ryle outscored the visitors 21-7 down the stretch. Schoellman completed 34 of 49 passes for 362 yards and four touchdowns as he leaned on senior receivers Wogan and Nick Veneman. Wogan caught nine passes for 126 yards and two touchdowns while Veneman hauled in 14 catches for 155 yards and a pair of scores.

Collins 28, Oldham County 21: Quarterback J.R. Lucas used his arm and his legs to lead the Titans past the host Colonels. Lucas rushed for 240 yards and two touchdowns on 26 carries and completed 13 of 25 passes for 221 yards and a 19-yard touchdown to Nikos Klenakis.

Collins (3-1) put up 507 yards of total offense while holding Oldham County (1-2) to 255.

Anderson County 20, Valley 0: Blake Franklin rushed for 213 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries to power host Anderson County (3-1) past Valley (0-4).

Anderson County, which attempted just one pass (it was incomplete), had 228 yards of offense and held Valley to 52. Valley has scored just 14 points in four games this season.

Simon Kenton 59, Dixie Heights 21: Simon Kenton built a 35-0 first-quarter lead thanks in part to three Matt Scherer touchdown passes, and the host Pioneers coasted from there to stay undefeated.

Scherer finished 12-for-21 for 254 yards and four touchdowns, including two to Fisher Hayden (four catches for 97 yards). Brandon Smith caught four passes for 110 yards for Simon Kenton (4-0).

Dixie Heights (0-4) scored its first touchdown on Will Reidmatter’s 93-yard kickoff return.

Boone County 27, Holmes 6: Zach Grau threw two touchdown passes, and visiting Boone County’s defense held Holmes (0-3) to negative yards on the ground as the Rebels notched their first win of the season.

McKeem Robinson’s 1-yard run in the second quarter was Holmes’ first touchdown of the year after two shutout defeats.

Four different players scored touchdowns for Boone County (1-2).

Paris 41, Harrison County 7: Matthew Barber ran for 128 yards and two touchdowns, and Aaron Maggard added three TD runs for host Paris (3-0).

Will Cox had 15 tackles and returned one of his two interceptions 48 yards for a Paris touchdown.

Harrison County (0-4) scored on Ben VanHook’s 24-yard TD pass to Tyler Watts in the second quarter.

Somerset 20, Hazard 9: The Bulldogs struck first on Tyler Collins’ 38-yard field goal but Ty Tevis’ 55-yard TD run gave the Briar Jumpers the lead, and his 15-yard score in the fourth quarter sealed the win for visiting Somerset (2-1). Bailey Blair scored the lone touchdown for Hazard (2-1), a 1-yard plunge that briefly recaptured the lead for the Bulldogs in the third quarter.

Shelby County 35, North Bullitt 26: Caleb Morehead rushed for 123 yards and three touchdowns as Shelby County (3-1) overcame a 20-7 second-half deficit to win on the road for the second time this season.

After Dylan Embry’s 27-yard touchdown run gave North Bullitt (1-3) its biggest lead of the night midway through the third quarter, the Rockets scored four straight touchdowns, including all three of Morehead’s runs, to take control. Abnee Conner had 57 yards rushing and two touchdowns in the loss.

Conner 47, Scott 27: A pair of seniors led the Cougars past Scott (2-2) on Friday. Matt Simpson scored on an 85-yard kickoff return and Trevor Courts rushed for 163 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 12 carries as Conner (2-1) won its first road game of the year.

Union County 28, Madisonville 14: Chris Bledsoe had a 64-yard touchdown run, and Tyran Holmes returned an interception 66 yards for a score as Union County (3-0) stayed undefeated.

Madisonville (2-2) led 7-0 after Jariah Hightower’s 45-yard TD run in the first quarter, but the Maroons didn’t score again until Marquis Parker’s 37-yard punt return in the fourth.

Hightower had 111 of Madisonville’s 142 rushing yards on 14 carries.

Josh Sullivan: 859-231-3225, @sullyjosh

Ben Roberts: 859-231-3216, @BenRobertsHL

Caitlyn Stroh contributed to this report

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Mexican restaurant to open 1st Louisiana location in Lafayette

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El Pollo Loco will soon open its first location in Louisiana at 3808 Johnston St. in Lafayette.

The popular quick-service restaurant — whose Spanish name translates to "The Crazy Chicken" — started in Mexico in 1975 and now has more than 400 locations.

Background: Restaurant to bring ‘theater of chicken’ to Lafayette

Local franchisee Jason Trotter announced last year his intention to enter the Louisiana market.

El Pollo Loco is known for its chicken and Mexican-inspired entrees.

(Photo: John Kelly Photography)

Trotter, a former franchisee of the fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant, Zoës Kitchen, first tried El Pollo Loco while living in San Diego, California, as a child. While looking for a franchise opportunity in Lafayette, Trotter visited Houston and saw that El Pollo Loco had entered the market.

"I was looking for something that hadn’t been done 1,000 times over in the Lafayette market," Trotter said during an October interview. "And I’d had the food there, and believe, it’s amazing. It’s what we did at Zoës — almost more prep. Everything is made fresh every day. It’s something very different from what any other fast-food restaurant has to offer."

El Pollo Loco plans to open two Lafayette locations by 2018. (Photo: Submitted)

Lafayette’s first El Pollo Loco restaurant will be located at the corner of Johnston Street and Westchester Drive.

Construction on the building is expected to begin in early September, with an anticipated opening in the late spring of 2018.

The 3,000-square-foot restaurant will include a drive-thru.

El Pollo Loco is known for flame-grilled, citrus-marinated chicken, burritos, salads, soups, tacos and quesadillas.

Steve Sather, president and CEO of El Pollo Loco, described the restaurant as being quick-service-plus — offering the speed, convenience and pricing of a fast-food restaurant such as Taco Bell with the quality of a fast-casual restaurant such as Chipotle.

Sather’s favorite meal from the restaurant is the three-piece chicken combo with rice and beans. Trotter’s is the same but with a side of corn instead of rice.

"The chicken is just craveable," Sather said during an October interview. "Even though we have other great products, it’s really all about the chicken."

El Pollo Loco is publically traded and has more than 470 company-owned and franchised restaurants in Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas and Utah.

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Two of Lafayette’s newest football players won’t let disabilities keep them off the field

Lafayette’s football team hosted Woodford County in a scrimmage on Aug. 10. The Generals won 41-7, but the team’s biggest winners that night were Ronald Dyer and Will Watkins.

Dyer, a junior defensive back, and Watkins, a sophomore defensive lineman, played multiple snaps for the Generals inside the final eight minutes of the fourth quarter. It was the first time either player has gotten on the field after joining the team in the offseason.

Watkins had wanted to play football for a while. He had to prove to his parents that it was something he would take seriously before they allowed him to go out for the team. They finally relented this spring.

Dyer, on the other hand, played in peewee leagues growing up and participated in middle school. He stepped away from athletics for a couple of years before joining Lafayette’s track and field team last season. Football assistant coach Jon Lawson observed Dyer’s performance and encouraged him to come back to football.

Their paths to playing time were different, but similar in one regard: both players require special educational needs. Dyer battles ADHD and has been diagnosed with multiple learning disabilities; Watkins has a mild form of autism and suffers from severe migraines.

Of course, if you were watching from the stands that night, you would never have known they were different from any other kid on the sideline.

‘Clearly serious’

Watkins had never played football, but he had played basketball before. He was a center when he played in the Glendover League as a child.

“He was the big kid on the team, and he was way too nice to play center,” said Jennifer Watkins, Will’s mom. “He’d bump into somebody and be like, ‘Oh, sorry about that,’ and we’d be like, ‘No, buddy, you’ve got to use your size.’”

Will was asked by his parents to do several months of conditioning work at home before they would entertain the notion of him participating in high school football. He committed.

“So we finally said, ‘OK, he’s clearly serious about wanting to do this,’” Jennifer said.

Matt Watkins, Will’s dad, was a teacher at Bryan Station High School last school year and spoke with that school’s coaches about Will’s interest in playing this season. They connected Jennifer and Matt with Lafayette’s coaching staff. Generals head coach Eric Shaw spoke with the three of them directly about the pros and cons of bringing Will into the fold.

Head injuries are a major concern for any football parent, but especially so for the Watkins family because of Will’s history with migraines. His neurologist at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and his local pediatrician both felt comfortable with Lafayette’s vigilance in protecting its players.

So far, so good.

“He comes every day. He practices hard, he does the drills,” Lafayette assistant coach Matt Brown said. “He really takes in what’s going on and tries to perfect what we do in practice.”

‘Being a friend’

Dyer’s fascination with football goes back to his childhood, when the son of a family friend who played for Anderson County High School became a role model.

Renee Dyer, Ronald’s mom, said she and her husband have always parented by the mantra “If he wants to try it, then we’re gonna let him try it.’ That led not only to youth football and track, but lots of time spent on baseball fields as a left fielder.

Youth football is one thing; varsity athletes are a whole lot bigger.

“Of course, as a mom, the first thing you think is, ‘That’s my kid out there on the field!’” Renee said. “And then your heart skips a beat and you’re like, ‘Dear Lord, don’t let him get hurt.’”

The Dyers adopted Ronald when he was 7 years old. He was an “angry, aggressive child” but has become a “polite, well-mannered young man” and rarely exhibits the outrage he did when he was younger, Renee said.

Lafayette High School defensive back Ronald Dyer came off the field during the Generals’ scrimmage versus Woodford County High School on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017.

Dana Bradford Lafayette Football

His behavior is so good, in fact, that he’s become something of a role model himself. While he was in the hospital nursing a broken hand over the summer, a nurse was so impressed with his demeanor that she asked him to come work at a special-needs camp.

Ronald doesn’t perceive himself as a role model, though.

“He just sees it as he knows what it was like to be a kid who had needs and was looking to be accepted and looking to have friends, and looking for people to help him and just treat him like a regular kid,” Renee said. “He is very empathetic and he has a big heart for kids that need a little more help, and he just does it.

“He doesn’t look at it as being a role model; he looks at it as being a friend.”

Acceptance

Jennifer has been amazed at the growth of her son Will’s social circle since he joined the football team.

“It seems like when he’s leaving practice or walking into school for something, there’s somebody that knows him and speaks to him and he speaks to,” Jennifer said. “I think, for us as his parents, and I think for any parent, that’s what you want for your kid.”

Ronald and Will aren’t unique from most of their teammates in at least one respect: they’re among the 92 percent of high school football players who won’t play in college.

“The reality is, most kids aren’t going to play football beyond high school,” Jennifer said. “It’s all about being active and doing something that he enjoys and having a group of people that supports him and that he can enjoy.”

Renee said other kids quickly realize that Ronald has special needs, and that it takes some time for him to catch on, but acceptance has never been much of an issue.

“He enjoys being on the team and he enjoys being accepted by those kids, and not treated like a special-needs kid,” Renee said.

Postgame report

Ronald was interviewed a few days after the game. He glowed when asked about his first time hitting the field.

“It was awesome,” he said. “I was just excited ’cause I got a tackle and I got to be out there.”

Renee chimed in. “This smile he’s got is the smile he had from the moment he got out of bed until he walked off the field,” she said. “I’ve got some pictures of him walking off the field and he’s just beaming.”

Will was every bit as elated right after the win, and was frank about playing multiple possessions.

“The first time I went out, it was really fun. The second time, it was a little more challenging,” Will said with a laugh.

Renee said when Ronald sat down with Shaw before he joined the team, one of the things he told him was, “‘Your disability isn’t who you are; it’s what you have.’”

She called it a “profound statement.” A slight retooling of that statement might be as equally profound: Your ability isn’t who you are; it’s what you have.

Each year, there are athletes at every level renowned for their on-field talent while exhibiting terrible off-field behavior. At Lafayette, there are at least two athletes whose on-field talent isn’t other-worldly, but whose off-field character and work ethic are worthy of Hall of Fame consideration. It puts things in perspective.

Renee continued sharing what Shaw told her son.

“‘What makes you you is the fact that you stand up for the little guy. The fact that you help out at school with kids who are special needs, that you volunteer your time at camps.’

“‘That’s you. That’s your personality, that’s who you’re becoming. That’s what makes you you, not your disability.’”

Lafayette High School defensive lineman Will Watkins, left, battled Woodford County High School on Thursday, Aug. 10, 2017.

Dana Bradford Lafayette Football

Josh Moore: 859-231-1307, @HLpreps

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Things to Do in Lafayettte, Louisiana

Each new destination is exciting, and it’s only natural to want to make the most out of the cities you visit by exploring the things to do there. In this article, we will discuss a few fun things to do in Lafayette, Louisiana.

1. Acadian Village

The first thing to do? Visit the historic Acadian Village! This old 19th-century community features real Cajun homes, period buildings that have been recreated, and a Native American museum. It’s definitely a wonderful place to visit for those who want to get a feel for Louisiana history and culture.

2. Lafayette Science Museum

Another excellent place to visit that those who enjoy learning can enjoy is the Lafayette Science Museum. This is both a museum and a planetarium that regularly employs changing exhibits and other programs. It’s a wonderful place for the whole family, especially those who are traveling with children.

3. Evangeline State Park

Lafayette is home to a fantastic state park, which presents itself as another thing to do while in this Louisiana city. The Evangeline State Park grounds are not only beautiful to behold but feature a 18th-century Acadian shack, a Creole plantation, and a museum for visitors to enjoy.

4. Alexandre Mouton House

The last fun thing to do that we will mention here is to tour the Alexandre Mouton House. Built in 1800 by the city’s founder, this house later was passed onto son Alexandre, who became the first Democratic governor of the city of Lafayette. Today the home houses priceless antiques and paintings, as well as Mardi Gras costumes.

In conclusion, Lafayette is a thrilling city that has much to offer to those who choose to visit. For a wonderful and educational time, be sure to check out these things to do. You won’t regret it!

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High turnover, caseloads in Louisiana foster care program

Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera.

Louisiana’s social services agency was so understaffed amid repeated budget cuts that it short-changed its foster children, skipping some background checks on foster parents and placing children with people accused of abuse, according to an audit released Monday (Aug. 14).

Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera’s office reviewed the Department of Children and Family Services’ handling of the foster care program during former Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration, saying that high caseloads, hefty employee turnover and ineffective computer systems damaged the agency’s oversight of children placed in its care.

"These challenges may impact (the agency’s) ability to ensure the safety and well-being of children in foster care in Louisiana," the report says.

Auditors reviewed the program from Jan. 1, 2012, through Jan. 1, 2016, finding that although the number of children in foster care increased by nearly 4 percent over the period, field staff for the program dropped by more than 3 percent.

By 2016, caseworkers carried an average of 16 cases, higher than the 10-case maximum established in agency policy, the audit says. More than 4,400 children were in the foster care program on Jan. 1 of that year.

Auditors found that 29 percent of those who took in children because they were family members or someone known by the foster child didn’t receive background checks. A handful of providers were allowed to care for children though they had prior "valid cases of abuse and neglect," the audit says. Also, the department didn’t make sure foster children were getting the medical and behavioral health treatments they needed.

The Department of Children and Family Services — which oversees child welfare, food stamps, the welfare program and child support enforcement — had a more than $1.2 billion budget with 5,200 jobs when Jindal took office. By the end of his tenure, spending was down to nearly half, and the department had fewer than 3,500 employees.

Marketa Garner Walters took over as agency secretary in January 2016, appointed by Gov. John Bel Edwards. She wasn’t surprised by the audit, which came after an Edwards transition committee determined the department couldn’t properly manage its child welfare mission.

"We knew that coming in we had inherited a mess," she said.

Since then, the department’s budget has edged up. Walters said she’s reorganized, shuffled foster care caseworkers to address shortage areas and bolstered employee coaching. She enacted a policy that no child will be placed with someone with a prior case of abuse or neglect.

"We have cleaned up so much. We are not where we want to be by any stretch of the imagination, but in 18 months we’re in a world of difference," Walters said.

Walters said the department also has changed its approach to foster parenting, beefing up education and seeking to build more community support from church organizations, nonprofits and businesses.

"The kids we get are hard, and they come with lots of trauma. So, we’re giving the parents trauma training," Walters said. "We’re being more candid and upfront."

Still, the agency has trouble, according to the audit, retaining enough foster care providers — paying foster parents less than the estimated cost to care for children. The average payment rate of $15.20 per day hasn’t been increased since 2007, and no rate hike is on the horizon amid continued state budget gaps.

FILE – In May 17, 2017 file photo, House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, of La., speaks with the media on Capitol Hill in Washington. Scalise, wounded when a gunman opened fire at a Republican baseball practice, delivered a Father’s Day message Sunday, June 18, through his Twitter account. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
City of New Orleans workers use a giant vaccum machine to suck out drains in the flooded-out areas of Treme August 7, 2017. Three of the city’s five vacuum trucks are out of service as of Thursday. (Photo by G. Andrew Boyd, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)

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Lafayette election could shape city’s direction for years to come

Four City Council seats up for grabs as issues of growth and regulation abound
Construction is pictured on E. Elm Street in Lafayette in July. (Cliff Grassmick / Staff Photographer)
Brad Wiesley (File Photo)

Four seats on Lafayette’s seven-member City Council will be up for grabs this November in an election that could overhaul the city’s approach to an array of issues gripping local consciousness.

Lafayette Mayor Pro-Tem Gustavo Reyna, Councilman Brad Wiesley and Councilwomen Merrily Mazza and Chelsea Behanna — the latter was appointed by council to replace former Councilman Tom Dowling last summer — will see their current terms end in November.

A future City Council is likely to see issues already present in Lafayette — questions over oil and gas regulations and retooled growth management, among others — increase in scope and with perhaps greater urgency, rather than new issues wholly foreign to the Front Range.

Merrily Mazza (File Photo)

Over the last several years, city leaders have typically approached decisions innate to Lafayette life with the left-leaning, progressive sensibilities often associated with the county at large: an eye on historic preservation against a building boom, stricter industry regulation and an emphasis on citywide social programs.

The election may serve as a referendum on such issues; a growing opposition along eastern Boulder County’s fringes — one spotlighted amid recent oil and gas debate — could spur a change in the old guard.

However, a complete identity shift among Lafayette’s leadership is unlikely.

At least one seat is guaranteed to see a fresh face — Wiesley is nearing the end of a second, four-year term and is ineligible for another under city code. The other three are campaigning for re-election.

Debate over such topics has consumed discussion within council chambers over the last year, with little sign of slowing anytime soon.

Gustavo Reyna (Courtesy Photo)

"The biggest issue right now is managing our growth in an intelligent way," Reyna said Friday. "A little bit of balance between growth that is sustainable and ensuring that there is enough affordable housing so that we’re not changing the social fabric of the town, and making sure the working class doesn’t get squeezed out."

Between 2010 and 2015, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released in March, Lafayette’s population increased by 2,995, to a total of 27,548 — a 12 percent surge.

It’s a microcosm of the growth occurring at the county level, and with the increase in people has come the need for homes to live in.

Chelsea Behanna (Courtesy Photo)

Between 2009 and 2016, the city gained 1,362 dwellings within its borders — most by developers with an eye for maximizing profit through dense "urban sprawl," locals have argued. Almost 1,700 permits are expected to be issued through 2018.

With such growth comes the fear of affordability being tossed to the wayside, Reyna and other like-minded officials say, and the void threatens to water down the city’s diversity.

"We are losing affordable housing, and what we do have is not always very good quality," he said. "The whole idea in the effort to create affordable housing is precisely about (preserving diversity). Boulder County is such a wealthy county that people don’t realize that 12 to 15 percent are living below the poverty line."

Lafayette officials approved a string of development plans in recent months aimed at ushering in large-scale, affordable housing, including the SoLa Subdivision, slated to bring 260 units to the city’s southern edge, and a $3.5 million, 24-acre land deal with Flatirons Community Church with plans for up to 500 units.

The latter development will be shaped over the next few years under a potentially fresh-faced council.

A candidate who embraces abounding development in the name of tax revenue is unlikely to be welcomed by Lafayette voters anytime soon; though signs of dissension exist.

Opposition to efforts aimed at reshaping zoning codes in Old Town — and a 90-day development moratorium in the process — have signaled residents’ reluctance to such measures amid a countywide housing crisis.

"We want to make sure that the kids we have graduating from Centaurus (High School) can afford to come back and live here later in life," Behanna said, adding that outreach to the city’s Latino population is a necessary component.

Behanna said she hopes to examine preserving the city’s mobile home parks in pursuit of affordable housing, an approach similar to Louisville’s recent efforts.

Outside of development, perhaps no issue has drawn as much scrutiny as the call for stricter oil and gas regulations within Lafayette. The city spearheaded the issue earlier this year with its "Climate Bill of Rights and Protections," an ordinance that would have sanctioned direct-action protests in response to oil and gas operations.

The bill was essentially stripped of its teeth in the final hour, to the disappointment of Mazza, who championed the measure’s original iteration. Despite the bill’s failure, she said initiatives aimed at stymieing fracking will abound over the next four years.

How to run for Lafayette City Council

Qualifications

Must be a current Lafayette resident for at least one year

Must be a registered elector

Must be at least 18 years old

Must not be in default to the city or any other government unit of the state

Nomination process

Candidates must circulate and submit a nomination petition containing signatures of at least 25 registered electors who reside within the city limits of Lafayette. Candidate petition packets and must be picked up from the City Clerk’s Office.

Nomination petitions must be returned by Aug. 28

"Debate surrounding oil and gas is certainly not going to dissipate," she said. "If anything, it’s only going to get more heated because it’s going to start to involve unincorporated Boulder County and open space.

"I don’t subscribe to this golden dome theory, where people think that nothing will happen to us in Lafayette."

Lafayette may soon draft an ordinance requiring oil and gas operators to map their pipelines throughout Lafayette, according to Mazza, legislation that failed at the state level.

Attitudes toward oil and gas development among Lafayette constituents have remained relatively steadfast. However, the current council, a board almost entirely in favor of stricter regulation, was unable to pass a landmark measure earlier this year.

Any dissention among future council members — especially at a time when the county’s moratorium no longer exists, and companies are planning 200 oil wells near the outskirts of the city — could prove troublesome for any lasting regulation efforts.

A mixture of new, conflicting ideas could prove beneficial for a council facing modern issues, Reyna said of resident interest in running for a council seat — especially from younger demographics.

"Sometimes you need to bring new thinking into the council," he said. "Experience and knowledge of the whole history of how things become what they are now is important, but so is having new people who are asking, ‘Why not trying something different?’ I like that balance."

Anthony Hahn: 303-473-1422, hahna@dailycamera.com or twitter.com/_anthonyhahn

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Man found dead at Lafayette apparently a suicide, coroner says

Officials are investigating the death of a 20-year-old man Wednesday at Lafayette College. (CHRIS SHIPLEY / THE MORNING CALL)

The death of a 20-year-old man at Lafayette College appears to be a suicide, Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek said Thursday morning.

The man, who was from New Jersey, was found in a dorm Wednesday.

Police said they were called about 10:15 a.m. to 701 High St. to assist in a death investigation. The death is being investigated by Easton police, the coroner’s office and school officials.

610-820-6564

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New charter school opens in Lafayette with non-traditional scheduling

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LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) – A charter school with over 400 students in the New Orleans area is expanding with a new school in Lafayette. JCFA is located at 1501 Ambassador Caffery Parkway.

According to the executive director, JCFA provides for students who are academically capable but have non-academic barriers. The school opens August 14, 2017.

JCFA Executive Director Millie Manning Harris says the first school opened seven years ago in partnership with Jefferson Parish Schools. Harris explains the story of a student who attends one of the JCFA schools. “Adrian actually started with us as a 21-year-old as a first-time freshman. He had no credits. He was able to graduate from high school.”

JCFA students attend school year-round with classes 3.5 hours per day. “Whether you’re taking care of your grandparents, taking care of a sibling; you may not be able to go to school 7:30 am to 2:30 pm,” adds Harris.

Ron Bodin is a forty year educator who says he retired from the Lafayette Parish School System.

Question: So what drives you to teach here? “It’s small, personal, individualized and we work with many kids who have been given-up on,” explains Bodin.

The executive director says when it’s all said and done students earn a high school diploma. “It’s a regular state diploma. They can get scholarships and go away to college. We had a young lady get a scholarship to Loyola in New Orleans,” says Harris.

Harris confirms that JCFA is a Type 2 Charter and operates independent of the Lafayette Parish School System. She says students from any Louisiana parish can attend.

JCFA currently operates three schools in the greater New Orleans area. The Lafayette charter will be JCFA’s fourth school. For more information, visit www.jcfa.co.

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Louisiana Lafayette student volunteers and helps undergrads “Gear Up”

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LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) – In 2014, volunteer rates were lowest among 20- to 24-year-olds (18.4 percent), according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The volunteer efforts of Caden Jones, 21 of Lafayette proves that there is truth to not forgetting where you come from.

“I got to experience going to different universities and different colleges and all kinds of different things that just inspired me to the point that I knew I wanted to go to college; at this point and time,” says Jones.

It’s been a long and bumpy road for Jones. He says at the age of 12-years-old he lost his mother to cancer. “To make a long story short. I watched for two hours and the rest is history. I quit my martial arts. There are a lot of things that progressed in life and I kept quitting things,” adds Jones.

“They’re gone but I feel like the spirit and what they put into you is still there. Elevate as if they are still alive but within yourself,” says Jones. Acadiana High School is where Caden joined the Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Program (Gear UP).

Currently, Caden attends the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. He’s an engineering major and serves as a Gear Up alumni mentor. Caden is determined to help students realize that even in difficult times there’s opportunity. “If you never quit at what you do, then there are so many great things that can happen for you,” says Jones.

“There’s always good and always bad. When the bad times came, such as anything in my life, I knew a week later or the next day I could wake up and it could possibly be good,” notes Jones. Jones advises young people to ask questions — and be willing to take advice.

“There are people you can see in random households, people you can see in college and high school. You can walk up to them and bring up a question and they’ll help you. Just start with one person and talk to them and it will spread too many people who will be motivating you and connecting you. Some of us, like me, I will be looking for you guys to give help too,” explains Jones.

For more information on Gear Up, you can log onto their website.

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Make Your Visit to Lafayette Louisiana

When you are planning your vacation this year, you want to make sure you visit an area that not only has a lot to offer in the way of entertainment, it also allows you to get a taste of a slower time in life. After all, many of us tend to run from one stressful thing to another and we don’t necessarily have or take the time to slow down. If you would like to slow down this year on vacation, be sure that you visit Lafayette Louisiana.

The fact of the matter is, most people tend to overlook Louisiana as a vacation destination. They feel that their time would be better spent sitting under a palm tree in a tropical paradise or perhaps skiing down a mountainside in a winter vacation. Lafayette, however, is a place that should not be underestimated. It is known as the happiest city in America and once you make your visit, you will understand why.

One of the things that many people appreciate about Lafayette is the music that is available. You will be able to enjoy some of the greatest music that America has ever known. It can be found in many venues within the city and in the surrounding area. Regardless of whether you are taking in a concert or dancing in a downtown pub, it is an enjoyable time.

One other thing that you would want to make sure you did when you were in the city is eat. In fact, Lafayette is a culinary destination that is beyond compare. Take some time to research the different food options that are available in the surrounding countryside and within the city. What you get a taste for Lafayette, it will be a vacation destination that comes up on your radar every year.

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Downtown Lafayette celebrating 4th of July with Uncle Sam’s Jam tonight

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LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) – Uncle Sam’s Jam is taking place at Parc International today in Downtown Lafayette from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

The event is free and for all ages.

Geno Delafose & The French Rockin’ Boogie and Three37 Band will be performing while residents enjoy the food, drinks, facepainting and other activities.

All of this leads to a massive fireworks display that is sure to be unforgettable!

Uncle Sam’s Jame benefits the Downtown Lafayette Restaurant & Bar Association.

For more information, CLICK HERE.

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Before she was Miss Louisiana 2017, she was a journalist

Before she won the title Miss Louisiana 2017 on Saturday (June 24), Laryssa Bonacquisti practiced her skills as a journalist for the LSU Manship School News Service, covering sessions of the Louisiana Legislature. Videos and podcasts by Bonacquisti have appeared on NOLA.com.

It was clear before the Miss Louisiana Pageant began that Bonacquisti was a likely winner. After all, she had already won a preliminary talent contest with her ventriloquism skills Thursday night and the Lifestyle and Fitness (swimsuit) contest Friday.

In the end, Bonacquisti wore the crown, winning out over 32 women age 18 to 24, all of whom had won local pageants in the past. Bonacquisti will go on to represent Louisiana in the Miss America Pageant.

Miss Louisiana 2015 crowns Justine Ker, the winner of Miss Louisiana 2016, with the help of Miss Outstanding Teen Louisiana Sarah Katherine McCallum at the Monroe Civic Center on Saturday, June 25, 2016. (Hannah Baldwin /The News-Star via AP)

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WeatherCast Saturday Evening

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Will UL-Lafayette P Wyatt Marks go to MLB Draft after emergence as reliever?

Louisiana-Lafayette’s Wyatt Marks (31) pitches against LSU during a NCAA Super Regional game at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge on Saturday, June 6, 2015. (Photo by Brett Duke, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)(

Louisiana-Lafayette pitcher Wyatt Marks started his career with the Ragin’ Cajuns playing at a very high level, but once he struggled to take the next step in his progression, coach Tony Robichaux decided to move the right-hander into a full-time bullpen role.

That move motivated Marks into becoming one of the top relief pitchers in the nation during 2017.

Marks, a former St. Thomas More standout, was named a first-team selection on Baseball America’s All-American team on Thursday after ending his junior campaign with a 2-1 record, seven saves and a 2.28 ERA on pitching 59.1 innings with 25 walks and 100 strikeouts–the most by a reliever in school history.

He ended the season ranking first in the nation in both strikeouts per nine innings (14.97) and hits allowed per nine innings (4.47).

Marks pitched one inning in his last appearance of the season during the team’s extra-inning loss against Georgia Southern in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. Marks came in to pitch relief during the eighth inning with the Ragin’ Cajuns leading, 6-1, and he struck out three of the four batters he faced before the Eagles came roaring back with a ninth-inning rally.

Marks now faces a tough decision because after his breakout season he’s projected as a 14th-round pick going into next week’s MLB Draft, according to DraftSite.com, and he may end up going even higher with his startling strikeout numbers.

It’s still unclear if Marks will decide to forgo his senior season, but if he does return the Ragin’ Cajuns could potentially have one of the strongest bullpens in the Sun Belt Conference once again.

Marks and fellow junior Dylan Moore combined for 18 saves last season and only allowed 31 earned runs in 95.2 innings. If the team’s top starter and Sun Belt Pitcher of the Year Gunner Leger also returns to school, Louisiana-Lafayette may be able to make an argument for having one of the best pitching staffs in the nation next season.

Leger ended his junior season with a 10-2 record after pitching 91.1 innings and posted an impressive 1.97 ERA.

Leger was the top pitcher in the conference, but Marks still managed to end the year with the most strikeouts on the team despite pitching 32 less innings than the left-hander.

With Marks’ ability to make batters miss on a consistent basis, his best fit going forward may be to remain in a reliever role, but it’s also possible that he may want to come back to school and prove that he can be successful as a starter once again.

Much of his decision will likely center around where he goes in next week’s draft and how much a team is willing to pay in guaranteed money to lure him away from the college ranks. But if Louisiana-Lafayette can get him and the rest of its top pitchers to return, the Ragin’ Cajuns may be a dangerous team going into next season.

Wyatt Marks Breakdown

Position: Pitcher

Height, weight: 6-3, 195

Class: Junior

Previous drafts: Not Drafted

2017 stats: 2-1 record, 7 saves, 59.1 IP, 2.28 ERA, 25 BB, 100 SO

LeBron James days in Cleveland could be numbered when his contract expires after 2018 season.

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20 Summer concerts you can’t miss in Baton Rouge and Lafayette

School’s out. It’s getting hot. You look around and you’re thinking, "What the heck am I gonna do with all this time?"

Well, you won’t be bored this summer in south Louisiana if you love going to a good concert.

Weekend after weekend is full of good shows. In the next few days, Baton Rouge alone will host R&B superstar Maxwell and the ever-soulful St. Paul and the Broken Bones.

After that? Take your pick.

Country legend Garth Brooks will visit the Cajundome in Lafayette for five shows at the end of June. Rapper J. Cole will head to the Varsity for a sold-out show at the top of June. And a few locals will host some big shows as well.

What follows is 20 concerts you can’t miss this summer. So, next time someone tells you, "There’s nothing to do around here," tell ’em, "No sir," and show them this list.

JUNE 6: The Bacon Brothers at the Acadiana Center for the Arts

Though he’s commonly known as the actor in films such as "A Few Good Men" and "Tremors," Kevin Bacon is no musical slouch. He and his brother, Michael, will bring their folk sounds to Lafayette early next week. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. $90-$120. acadianacenterforthearts.org.

JUNE 7: J. Cole at Varsity Theatre

He went platinum with no features. Again. And again. Rapper J. Cole will bring his 4 Your Eyez Only world tour to Baton Rouge next week. Hopefully you have tickets for this one, because it is sold out. Doors open at 8 p.m. The show starts at 9 p.m. varsitytheatre.com.

JUNE 9: Jay Leno at L’Auberge Baton Rouge Casino & Hotel

Whether you like him or not, many cannot argue that comedian Jay Leno is one of the hardest-working men in show business. His blue-collar style won audiences night after night while he hosted "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on NBC. Now, he continues to do what he did — work. 8 p.m. $65 and up. lbatonrouge.com.

JUNE 9: Adam Dollar$ at Spanish Moon

A young rapper on the Baton Rouge scene, Adam Dollar$ continues to impress. Next Friday, he’ll celebrate the release of his stellar new EP, "W8T4IT," with a hometown show at 9:30 p.m. $10. thespanishmoon.com.

JUNE 15: Mutoid Man/Helms Alee at Spanish Moon

If your summer needs a little metal, look no further than this show. Mutoid Man, a trio formed from members of the mighty Cave-In and Converge, is touring behind its forthcoming "War Moans." Expect a head-banging good time. $17-$20. thespanishmoon.com.

JUNE 16: Tracy Lawrence at The Texas Club

Time might march on, but the country sounds of Tracy Lawrence are still golden. The singer-songwriter will bring his hits to the Baton Rouge club for what should be a packed show. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. The show starts at 9 p.m. $29. ticketweb.com.

JUNE 17: Quinn Sullivan at Manship Theatre

At 17 years old, this blues performer has played with legends like Eric Clapton, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeshi, and B.B. King, all while holding his own. To say Sullivan is the real deal might be an understatement. But you can witness his greatness at this intimate show in downtown Baton Rouge at 8 p.m. $33 plus fees. manshiptheatre.org.

JUNE 23: Humble Kind at Varsity Theatre

The legitimately nicest (and most humble?) guys in Baton Rouge rock, Humble Kind, headline a summer show at the Varsity with special guests Hudson Long & The Wild Blue Yonder. Some sweet guitar solos and three-part vocal harmonies will be on display. If that’s your cup of tea, put this on the calendar. Doors open at 8 p.m. The show starts at 9 p.m. $10 in advance. varsitytheatre.com.

JUNE 23, 24, 25, 30, and JULY 1: Garth Brooks at Cajundome

Get your pina coladas ready because the thunder will roll in Lafayette in late June (two puns in one sentence, yes!). Garth Brooks is back in Louisiana for the seventh leg of his world tour. The country singer and his wife, Trisha Yearwood, will perform five shows in Lafayette. No word on whether Chris Gaines will make it, though (and a Gaines mention? This graph is en feugo!). Showtimes are as follows: 7 p.m. June 23 and 30; 7:30 p.m. June 24, 25 and July 1. $74.98. cajundome.com.

JUNE 30: Tony Cobb at Dyson House Listening Room

If you want to hear some more down-home country sounds, head to this intimate venue on Jefferson Highway. Singer-songwriter Tony Cobb will celebrate the release of his full-length debut, "Leave Behind a Song." Showtime is 7 p.m. facebook.com/dysonhouselisteningroom.

JULY 4: The Funk of July at Spanish Moon

Get funky this Fourth of July with a couple of locals. The Baton Rouge venue hosts a triple bill featuring Captain Green, Alabaster Stag and Lemon Stevies (great band name). Doors open at 8 p.m. $10. thespanishmoon.com.

JULY 8: Wish You Were Here at Dyson House Listening Room

The Charles Brooks Collective will mold its improv jazz into a tribute night for Pink Floyd’s classic album, "Wish You Were Here." The show features guest performances from vocalist Margaret Fowler, as well Brooks on the vibes, Chris Lee on drums, Bob Kling on bass, and John Bishop on electric guitar. 7 p.m. $20-$35. facebook.com/dysonhouselisteningroom.

JULY 9: Sean Patton at Club 337

A former New Orleanian, Sean Patton returns to Louisiana for a stand-up set at Club 337 inside the Doubletree Hotel in Lafayette. If you’re unfamiliar, Patton has appeared on "Conan," "Inside Amy Schumer," "@midnight," and "Maron," to name a few. Also, he’s damned funny. Jason P. Leonard hosts the show. Tyler Arceneaux will also perform. 8 p.m. $12 in advance, $15 at the door. facebook.com/lafayettecomedy.

JULY 14: Aaron Neville at Acadiana Center for the Arts

Soul, funk, R&B, even a scene-stealing role in Adam Sandler’s "Sandy Wexler" — New Orleans’ own Aaron Neville does it all. The singer behind hits such as "Everybody Plays the Fool" and "Don’t Know Much" performs at the Lafayette venue in mid-July. 7:30 p.m. $30-$70. acadianacenterforthearts.org.

JULY 15: Hunter Hayes at Blue Bayou/Dixie Landin’

The young country superstar visits Baton Rouge for an outdoor concert. Hunter Hayes performs during the 2017 Dixie Landin’ Summer Concert Series, free to park guests. Gates open at 6:30 p.m. The show starts at 7 p.m. bluebayou.com.

AUG. 11: Alvin Youngblood Hart’s Muscle Theory at Dyson House Listening Room

If you’re in the mood for some soulful blues, head to Dyson House Listening Room in mid-August for this show. Alvin Youngblood Hart will perform with his band at 7 p.m. $15 online, $25 at the door, and $30 VIP. facebook.com/dysonhouselisteningroom.

AUG. 12: Hayes Carll/David Borné at Manship Theatre

Americana sounds is what Manship Theatre is cooking in August. The downtown venue hosts two singer-songwriters in a special Red Dragon Productions show. While Carll is known for winning audiences and awards with his albums such as "Lovers and Leavers," Borné released a new EP, titled "Break My Heart," last year. 7:30 p.m. $39.95-$59.95 plus fees. manshiptheatre.org.

AUG. 17: Flow Tribe + Brass Mimosa at Jefferson Street Pub

Beat the heat with some funk in downtown Lafayette. Flow Tribe and Brass Mimosa will bring the jams at the Jefferson Street venue. Doors open at 8 p.m. The show starts at 9 p.m. $10 in advance on eventbrite.com. facebook.com/socialentertainment.la.

AUG. 25: Shabazz Palaces at Spanish Moon

The summer winds down with some hip-hop flavor from the critically-acclaimed Shabazz Palaces at Spanish Moon. The group is touring behind it summer releases, "Quazarz: Born on a Gangster Star" and "Quazarz vs. The Jealous Machines," both due July 14. $17-$20. thespanishmoon.com.

AUG. 26: Kansas at Raising Cane’s River Center Theatre

"Carry on, my wayward son" into the twilight of summer with the prog-rock sounds of Kansas. The platinum band performs at 8 p.m. at the downtown venue’s theater. Expect the hits and some cuts from the group’s latest album, "The Prelude Implicit." $59.50-$99.50. raisingcanesrivercenter.com.

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Lafayette Louisiana Restaurants That Serve Up All The Great Food

Louisiana makes me think of all kinds of things. From creole and cajun food to the Big Easy, casinos and of course all its great cities, Louisiana is a gem of a state. One of the great cities of Louisiana is Lafayette, and I have certainly driven through that city before. I couldn’t tell you much as far as the scene because I just remember Louisiana in general and stopping in Monroe. However, I have hand selected three restaurants to help you have great places to eat on your itinerary when you stop in or pass through Lafayette.

The first Lafayette restaurant is called The French Press. It is located on East Vermilion Street. Biscuits and breakfast sandwiches have made the menu highlights, and it is said to be a good place in Lafayette for brunch. Now after your brunch stop, let’s see what place we are making a stop at next.

It is Louisiana Crawfish Time, and it is located on Verot School Road. That is the cajun and creole food mentioned earlier, so you get the whole experience at this place. One reviewer called herself a Bayou girl and said she loved them, and you know she knows her stuff. That is making me hungry. Have you ever tried crawfish? I haven’t, but I have tasted creole food. It is going to be a treat for you.

Okay, there is time for one more restaurant, and it is going to be Pizza Artista on Johnson Street. You are talking about not just pizza but cajun sausage, crab and more. More great stuff is mentioned in the reviews, and honestly, it would make me pick this place to visit first. You will have to take a closer look and decide which stop gets your attention first, and then you can feast on a delicious meal.

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