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‘American Idol’ finalist John Foster returns to his hometown of Addis for a parade and concert ahead of Sunday’s season finale
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Lafayette eyes move for arts academy
Facility would shift from Comeaux to Lafayette High BY ASHLEY WHITE Staff writer
The Lafayette Parish School Board will consider moving the visual and performing arts academy from Comeaux High to Lafayette High. The request was placed on the agenda for the board’s Thursday meeting by Superintendent Francis Touchet Jr. and Jennifer Gardner, the assistant superintendent of administration and operations. If approved, the move would go into effect for the upcoming school year. The school system did not respond to a request for comment in time for publication. The idea of moving the academy from Comeaux was brought up last fall. It was just one piece of a proposal from a hired strategic planner. That proposal included closing Comeaux altogether, which failed in a 5-4 vote during a contentious board meeting in November. During that meeting, the board rejected many other suggestions for closures and consolidations that were designed to save the district money, something it needed as it faces budget shortfalls caused by declining district enrollment and increased insurance costs. The board ultimately only ended up saving about $100,000 annually. Comeaux’s enrollment has steadily declined since the 2018-19 school year, decreasing by 500 students in that time, and about 66% of families zoned for the school choose to send their students
ABOVE: ‘American Idol’ finalist John Foster waves to the crowd at a parade in his honor Wednesday in his hometown of Addis. RIGHT: A rider shows support for Foster during Wednesday’s parade.
ä See ACADEMY, page 4A
STAFF PHOTOS By HILARy SCHEINUK
STAFF FILE PHOTO By LESLIE WESTBROOK
Comeaux High School’s enrollment has steadily declined since the 2018-19 school year.
Senate turns up heat on insurance chief Debate over auto insurance bills continues
BY TYLER BRIDGES Staff writer
Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple had a rough day at the State Capitol on Wednesday as senators took out their frustration with him and the insurance industry over high car insurance rates in Louisiana. Over Temple’s objections, one Senate committee approved legislation to turn his elected job into an appointed position, and another passed two bills that he contends distract from the real solutions to high rates. “We’ve had better days,” Temple
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Lawmakers scale back anti-hazing measure
2025 LEGISLATURE
said in an interview afterward. “It may not be personal or political, but I can’t help but feel that it’s both.” Temple had better days when the House two weeks ago passed more than a dozen pro-industry measures that he supports because they will address what he sees as the answer — tilting legal scales away from trial lawyers and their injured clients to reduce how much the companies pay for insurance claims. “When loss costs go down, premiums go down,” Temple said. “It’s working in other states. It can
BY PATRICK WALL
Staff writer
STAFF FILE PHOTO By JAVIER GALLEGOS
A Senate committee passed legislation Wednesday that would give Louisiana Commissioner of Insurance Tim Temple more latitude to reject rate increases that he deems will lead to ä See INSURANCE, page 4A unreasonably high profits.
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Louisiana lawmakers pared down a bill Wednesday that would have required college students to take an anti-hazing course, a proposal inspired by the recent death of Southern University student Caleb Wilson. Citing cost concerns, they replaced the semesterlong course with an annual two-hour training. In its original form, House Bill 279 required any student who joins a fraternity, sorority, band, athletic team or similar group to take a
ä See ANTI-HAZING, page 4A
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