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F r i d ay, F e b r u a ry 7, 2025
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Lafayette drainage project gets permit ette officials did not obtain the re- tion Ponds project near Scott. It Corps of Engineers quired permit before beginning was the first portion of $27 million work on the project three years worth of state reimbursements OKs controversial ago. that were withheld. Boulet said her detention ponds work Mayor-President Monique Bou- administration continues to fight
BY MEGAN WYATT
Staff writer
Lafayette Consolidated Government has finally received a federal permit for a controversial drainage project spearheaded by former Mayor-President Josh Guillory. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a permit last week to LCG for the Homewood Detention Ponds project near Milton. Lafay-
let halted work on the project when she took office in January 2024 in an effort to reestablish credibility with the Corps of Engineers and the state funding agencies that refused to reimburse the city-parish for the work done on multiple drainage projects without the proper permits. In November, LCG recouped $6.1 million from the state for work performed in 2022 on the Homewood Detention Ponds and the Coulee Ile des Cannes Deten-
for the remaining funds. Boulet said a public meeting will be held in March to review recommendations from engineers about how to complete the Homewood project, which will connect existing detention ponds to the Vermilion River. There is about $8 million in state capital outlay funds remaining to complete both projects. “We’ve worked with a couple of different engineers and really want
STAFF FILE PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK
Work on the Homewood Drive detention pond project was halted by Lafayette Consolidated Government in 2024. ä See DRAINAGE, page 4A
HORSE SHOW
PHOTO By ROBIN MAy
The Budweiser Clydesdales marched through downtown Lafayette on Wednesday, stopping at local bars and restaurants for photos. They will be making appearances throughout Lafayette for the rest of the week. More photos, Page 1B.
La. finds new leverage in overdetention suit of Justice will seek to Civil rights litigation ment drop any lawsuits under Trump remains unclear. freeze by Trump —But Murrill, Louisiana’s atmay prove helpful torney general, argues the de-
BY MEGHAN FRIEDMANN Staff writer
A freeze on certain civil rights litigation under President Donald Trump has empowered state Attorney General Liz Murrill to fight a federal effort to keep Louisiana from imprisoning inmates for longer than their sentences. The scope of the freeze — and whether the U.S. Depart-
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partment should reconsider the new lawsuit, which was filed by the Department of Justice in December under President Joe Biden and accuses Louisiana of systematically holding prisoners past their release dates. Over the past decade, the state has at times acknowledged that its system for calculating release dates is flawed and outdated. At other times, it
ä See SUIT, page 4A
Landry says task force meetings will be secret are state legislators, it is planning Panel studying to spend tax dollars to hire outside consultants and is meeting in govgovernment spending ernment buildings.
The public will learn about its work when the group, known as the Fiscal Responsibility Program, Staff writer issues a report by the end of the Gov. Jeff Landry has no intention year, Landry said. Transparency-in-government exof providing public access to a task force that has begun meeting in perts say the governor should open secret to find ways to eliminate or up the meetings. shrink government programs. “I think the law is pretty clear In an interview Thursday, on this one,” said Steve ProcopSTAFF PHOTO By CHRIS GRANGER Landry said he doesn’t believe the io, president of the Public AfGov. Jeff Landry speaks at a group is a public body subject to fairs Research Council, a Baton Louisiana showcase event in New the state public meetings law, even Orleans on Thursday. ä See LANDRY, page 4A though eight of its nine members
BY TYLER BRIDGES
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