‘NOT DONE YET’: UL MEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM BEATS TEXAS STATE IN HOME FINALE 1C THE
ACADIANA
ADVOCATE
T H E A C A D I A N A A D V O C AT E.C O M
|
S u n d ay, F e b r u a ry 22, 2026
$2.50X
Guillory charge years in the making Decisions made as early as 2021 lead to spoil bank indictment
BY CLAIRE TAYLOR Staff writer
STAFF PHOTO By ENAN CHEDIAK
Caleb Izdepski, left, and Tyler Loeb record data on Feb. 12 at a research site in the marshlands near in Hopedale.
UNLOCKING MYSTERIES OF THE MARSH Unique project provides deep insights into state’s sinking soil along the coast MEASURING THE MARSH
BY MIKE SMITH Staff writer
A skinny bayou curves between thick reeds of marsh grass, revealing a spot hidden deep in the muck with an importance far greater than its surroundings would suggest. Standing atop wooden planks, Caleb Izdepski and Tyler Loeb pull up chunks of soil samples and take measurements to help gauge the rise and fall of the land here. It is one tiny part of a giant research effort constantly in motion, unique worldwide and key to unlocking the mysteries of the Louisiana marsh. “It’s the only one of its kind in the world, really,” Melissa Hymel, a scientist with the state’s coastal authority, said while on the visit to the site accessible only by boat, located near Hopedale in St. Bernard Parish. Largely unknown outside the scientific community, the project is now in its 20th year, stretching from the chenier
Louisiana’s network of 390 coastal monitoring stations is unique worldwide and has become key to a wide range of scientific research. Now in its 20th year, the network is deepening understanding of Louisiana’s land loss crisis, among other subjects.
55
49
LOUISIANA
Baton Rouge
12
Slidell
Lafayette
Source: Coastwide Reference Monitoring System
plains of the state’s southwest to the sinking soils at the Mississippi’s mouth. Its ever-accumulating mountain of data has become key to a broad range of
Staff graphic
research, including studies the world to use it. If a publicist would’ve helping deepen the state’s understanding of its land named it, the network of loss crisis. It is all posted 390 sites might be called online for anyone to view, ä See MARSH, page 6A enabling scientists across
The decisions and activities that led to the Feb. 19 indictment and arrest of former Lafayette MayorPresident Josh Guillory began as early as 2021. Lafayette city and parish officials had been pushing money and projects to improve drainage since a 2016 deluge left hundreds of homes flooded. One of the projects officials considered was removing part of a Guillory spoil bank, a leveetype structure created decades earlier when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dredged the Vermilion River and dumped the dredged material near the bank. The spoil bank provided some protection to St. Martin Parish as it prevented the river from overflowing during high water events. Lafayette officials under the Guillory administration saw the
ä See GUILLORY, page 6A
Roof program can’t keep up with demand Only 20% of homeowners awarded grant
BY SAM KARLIN Staff writer
Council member Simone Champagne put forward motions to require letters of approval from the utility companies and a hold harmless agreement contingent to any variance approved by the council. Both motions failed, and the variance was approved unanimously without qualification. Afterward, council member
Nearly three years since the start of a state program to dole out grants for homeowners to get stronger roofs, the number of people seeking help is far outstripping the money available. The state’s fortified roof grant program has emerged as a popular solution to rising homeowners insurance costs, which have culminated in a crisis that is threatening people’s ability to remain in their homes. But the chances of getting a fortified roof grant through a state lottery program remain unfavorable, according to state data.
ä See CLASHES, page 7A
ä See PROGRAM, page 7A
Council clashes over land use variances youngsville’s current ordinances spark debate
BY JOEL THOMPSON Staff writer
The Youngsville City Council approved several property variances during a Feb. 12 meeting that will allow plans for new busi-
WEATHER HIGH 61 LOW 37 PAGE 6B
nesses in the city to move forward. The requests also sparked an intense debate over the city’s current ordinances concerning land use. Contention surrounding the topic arose during a request from B&B Contractors, in which the developer sought a property variance in response to the company’s accidental violation of Youngsville’s ordinance restricting property setbacks.
Ordinances in Youngsville require new buildings to be built at least 25 feet from the property line and at least 10 feet from utility lines. The garage on the house was 5 feet closer to the property line than allowed by Youngsville’s municipal code; however, it was still in compliance with the 10foot setback on utilities. The developer called it an honest mistake.
Business ......................1E Living............................1D Opinion ........................4B Classified .....................7D Metro ...........................1B Sports ..........................1C Commentary ................5B Nation-World................2A
101ST yEAR, NO. 237