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T h u r s d ay, au g u s T 21, 2025
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Council OKs negotiations for Lafayette library land Former Holy Rosary site eyed for new Northeast Regional facility
BY CLAIRE TAYLOR | Staff writer
ALL RETIRED UP ABOVE: Lafayette MayorPresident Monique Boulet hugs former Lafayette Fire Chief Robert Benoit during his retirement party at Lafayette Central Fire Station in Lafayette on Wednesday. Benoit worked for the Fire Department 46 years. He was the fire chief for 32 years. RIGHT: Robert Benoit is greeted by family, friends and colleagues during his retirement party on Wednesday. BOTTOM RIGHT: Fire Department personnel and other guests listen to a speaker during the retirement party for Robert Benoit.
The latest plan to build the long-sought and delayed Northeast Regional Library in Lafayette, this time on land that was part of the historic Holy Rosary Institute, received the go-ahead Tuesday from the Lafayette Parish Council. The council authorized Mayor-President Monique Boulet to negotiate and enter into a lease agreement with the property owners of the former high school for Black students. Details of the potential agreement between Lafayette Parish officials and Holy Rosary Land Holdings, while not yet in writing, suggest the parish could Boulet lease the land for $1 per year for 99 years on which to build the Northeast Regional Library. The council voted 4-1 Tuesday to support building the library on the property along Louisiana Avenue next to Holy Family Apartments and near Carmel Avenue, across from the municipal golf course.
ä See LIBRARY, page 6A
Power plan for Meta data center gets green light Regulators approve construction of three electricity plants in La.
BY JOSIE ABUGOV | Staff writer State regulators on Wednesday approved a controversial plan to power tech giant Meta’s largest artificial intelligence data center yet, to be built in rural northeast Louisiana, clearing the way for construction of three gas-fired electricity plants. The Public Service Commission voted 4-1 in favor of the plan proposed by Entergy at a meeting in the city of Plaquemine following hours of public debate. The power plan is key for Meta’s $10 billion facility to move forward. The project will be built on former agricultural land the size of around 70 football fields. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has spoken of further
STAFF PHOTOS By LESLIE WESTBROOK
ä See META, page 3A
Louisiana policymakers endorse AI in schools Tech leaders cheer move, but some educators are concerned
drawing cheers from some techindustry titans but raising alarms among education experts who say the hype around AI is not yet backed by strong evidence. The state board of education passed a resolution Wednesday calling on the Louisiana DepartBY PATRICK WALL | Staff writer ment of Education to lead an “ongoing AI research agenda” so that Louisiana’s education policy- students can compete in a “rapidly makers want schools to embrace ä See AI, page 3A the use of artificial intelligence,
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Business ...................10C Commentary ................3B Nation-World ................2A Classified .....................4A Deaths .........................4B Opinion ........................2B Comics-Puzzles .....7C-9C Living............................5C Sports ..........................1C
The Amira AI tutoring program listens to students read and helps them sound out words that stump them. The state board of education passed a resolution Wednesday calling on the Louisiana Department of Education to lead an ‘ongoing AI research agenda’ so that students can compete in a ‘rapidly evolving AI landscape.’ STAFF FILE PHOTO By PATRICK WALL
101ST yEAR, NO. 52