POPE FRANCIS IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER RESPIRATORY CRISIS 3A THE
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S u n d ay, F e b r u a ry 23, 2025
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Lafayette enforcing ban on short-term rentals Property owners appearing in court for noncompliance
BY MEGAN WYATT | Staff writer Patti Rood admits that she continued to list her Harrell Drive property for short stays on Airbnb despite Lafayette’s ban on short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods like Broadmoor. Rood and others in the local real estate scene say they felt like the city ordinance, which went into effect in October, was unfair and would be nearly impossible to enforce. “There’s tons of people still doing it because they feel it’s against their constitutional rights,” Rood said. “We were the same way. We were still going to do it.” That changed a few weeks ago when Rood received a violation notice from Lafayette Consolidated Government’s Department of Community Development and Planning. Rood said she
GOING THROW THE MOTIONS
ä See RENTALS, page 10A
ABOVE: Riders celebrate as the Krewe of Rio Mardi Gras parade rolls in Lafayette on Saturday. LEFT: The Krewe of Rio Mardi Gras parade tosses throws on Saturday.
Federal layoffs ripple through Louisiana Workers in the state brace for more cuts
BY BLAKE PATERSON | Staff writer Chante Powell struggled to choose among several job offers last year as she looked for the next step in her career. In December, she settled on a new position as an auditor at the National Finance Center that would let her return to her native Louisiana. The little-known federal agency, headquartered in New Orleans, processes payroll for nearly 700,000 federal workers. Powell’s job was to review financial statements and root out waste, fraud and abuse. That is, until Valentine’s Day, when she was called into a conference room and handed a letter. “The Agency finds, based on your performance, that you have not
ä See LAYOFFS, page 10A
WEATHER HIGH 52 LOW 44 PAGE 6B
MARDI GRAS
2025
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Gordon McKernan takes on Morris Bart on his home turf Personal injury firms vying to be biggest in the state BY TYLER BRIDGES | Staff writer
Bart
McKernan
“One Call, That’s All.” With that tagline, Morris Bart III built the biggest personal injury law firm in New Orleans.
“Get Gordon. Get it Done.” With that tagline, Gordon McKernan more recently built the largest personal injury law firm in Baton Rouge. Now McKernan is challenging Bart on his home turf in what is shaping up to be an epic battle between two legal titans — with big bank accounts, fierce competitive streaks and a flair for
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Dr. Sydney Crackower NOW OFFERING Weight Loss Injections
ä See FIRMS, page 6A
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