YOUNG QUARTERBACKS STAND OUT DURING UL SPRING FOOTBALL GAME 1C THE
ACADIANA
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T H E A C A D I A N A A D V O C AT E.C O M
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S u n d ay, M ay 4, 2025
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Hospitals in La. fear potential cut to Medicaid Congress debates changes to provider taxes BY MARK BALLARD | Staff writer
STAFF PHOTOS By LESLIE WESTBROOK
Mail carrier Aleke Kanonu picks up and drops off mail in the community of Branch. Kanonu covers 100 miles a day, a third of them dirt or gravel, delivering to more than 655 mailboxes, doorsteps and people’s hands.
A LIFELINE TO A SMALL TOWN
Debate over privatizing USPS could affect La.’s most rural routes BY JENNA ROSS | Staff writer BRANCH — The white Jeep Wrangler sprinting down the gravel road, stirring up dust in the early morning light, bore no markings of the U.S. Postal Service. No lights, no logos. But everyone in this corner of Acadiana knew who was inside: Aleke Kanonu Jr., the only mail carrier in town. Kanonu covers 100 miles a day, a third of them dirt or gravel, delivering to more than 655 mailboxes, doorsteps and, pretty often, people’s hands. On a recent morning, as he turned into Marla Taylor’s long, curved driveway, Taylor approached him with a wide smile, her arms extended. As Washington types talk about remaking the postal service — moving it under the Commerce Department or privatizing it — people here worry about losing their little post office and the daily delivery of the things they need. Not only bills, checks and “crap my wife orders,” as one man put it, but medications, contact lenses and a “Hey, how’s it going?” on an otherwise quiet morning. “Amazon sends people from all over the country into our home, onto our property,” Taylor said, as her 2-year-old grandson scooted by on a pink toy tractor. “I just don’t know
ä See LIFELINE, page 16A
WASHINGTON — As Republicans in Congress debate potential cuts or changes to Medicaid, one proposal could have a particularly large impact on Louisiana, which has one of the highest rates of residents on the program. Conservative lawmakers say provider taxes are artificially inflating how much the federal government pays and should be halted. But Louisiana health care leaders fear stopping the taxes could leave many people, particularly in rural areas, without good health care coverage. A group of 20 conserva- Higgins tives, including Rep. Clay Higgins, R-Lafayette, demanded in a letter Thursday that Congress “address the money laundering.” They are referring to provider taxes, which states impose on hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and other facilities.
ä See MEDICAID, page 7A
City Council approves traffic light by Lafayette High School Next steps include acquiring right of way
BY ASHLEY WHITE | Staff writer
Aleke Kanonu chats with Marla Taylor as he delivers a package in the community of Branch on April 17.
Louisiana has 1,305 rural routes, according to the carriers’ association. Nationally, Republicans and Democrats have signed onto a resolution that Congress should take “all appropriate measures” to ensure that the USPS remains an independent government agency and “is not subject to privatization.”
A much-needed traffic light by Lafayette High School is one step closer to becoming a reality. The Lafayette City Council unanimously voted without discussion at its April 22 meeting to deem the traffic signal project at Marie Antoinette and West Congress streets a public necessity. The vote allows Lafayette Consolidated Government to acquire the necessary rights of way, immovable property and
ä See LIGHT, page 7A
WEATHER HIGH 79 LOW 56
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© D. YURMAN 2025
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Business ......................1E Deaths .........................3B Nation-World................2A Classified .....................2B Living............................1D Opinion ........................4B Commentary ................5B Metro ...........................1B Sports ..........................1C
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