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North La. rattled by rash of earthquakes
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M o n d ay, M ay 4, 2026
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EPA tells state to monitor effects of oil, gas operations
BY SAM KARLIN and DAVID MITCHELL
Staff writers
Federal regulators are asking Louisiana to step up oversight of oil and gas operations after a rash of earthquakes in the northern half of the state, including one tremor that matched the largest in state history. In a letter last month, the Environmental Protection Agency told state regulators to more closely watch how oil and gas companies inject brine into the ground. Both regulators and scientists are homing in on such wastewater wells as a potential culprit for the earthquakes. The 11 earthquakes recorded in the region over the past month warrant “a closer examination to ensure the safety of underground sources of drinking water,” the EPA told Louisiana’s Department of Conservation and Energy. Now, researchers are installing seismometers and aftershock monitors across northwest Louisiana and the state’s Department of Conservation and Energy is investigating saltwater disposal wells in a bid to find the cause. The earthquakes ratcheted up in 2022, and since then, 35 earthquakes with a magnitude of 2.5 or more have struck northwestern
ä See EARTHQUAKES, page 5A
Community questions possible changes at LeRosen Rumors swirl over alternative school moving to online-only classes
BY ASHLEY WHITE Staff writer
Families and other stakeholders have raised concerns about the Lafayette Parish school system’s alternative program, LeRosen Preparatory School, after rumors spread that the in-person learning option will not be available after this school year. Concerns include that moving to an onlineonly environment would negatively impact students in an alternative education setting and that, if a decision was already made, families weren’t told about the change. But Tracy Wirtz, a district spokesperson, said the program is analyzed every year to ensure it is properly serving students, and a decision about removing the in-person learning option has not been made. “Our goal is to get students back to their base campuses and on the right track,” Lafayette
ä See LeROSEN, page 5A
WEATHER HIGH 79 LOW 62 PAGE 10C
PHOTOS By ROBIN MAy
The Crawfish Festival Parade rolls in downtown Breaux Bridge on Sunday.
Paradgoers enjoy the Crawfish Festival Parade on Sunday.
The world-famous Crawfish Festival came to a close Sunday with the parade rolling in downtown Breaux Bridge. The festival has been around since 1960 and this year featured the sounds of Cajun, zydeco and swamp pop music on three stages, crawfish cooked all sorts of ways by food vendors, a dance contest, a crawfish-eating contest, crawfish races, Cajun dance lessons, a crawfish étouffée cookout, a parade, arts and crafts booths and a carnival.
3 Democrats are running to be La.’s next senator Trio have varied reasons for entering race
BY TYLER BRIDGES
Staff writer
For Jamie Davis, his decision to run for the U.S. Senate came last year after former Gov. John Bel Edwards chose to stay out of the race. For Nick Albares, his decision to run came after President Donald Trump and the Republican Congress passed a bill last year that will lead to big cuts in the Medicaid program for the working poor. For Gary Crockett, his decision to run came after seeing Sen. Bill Cassidy, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Gov. Jeff
next senator. Here’s a measure of the odds: Louisiana has not elected a Democrat since then-U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu won reelection in 2008. Cassidy knocked her out six years later and won reelection in 2020. He’s now facing a tough reelection battle in the Republican primary against state Treasurer John Fleming, U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow and business owner Mark Spencer. The Democratic and Republican candidates will compete in separate party priAlbares Crockett Davis maries on May 16, with early voting runLandry repeatedly support Trump in ways ning through Saturday. No-party voters that Crockett believes are hurting ordinary will have to decide whether to vote for the Louisiana citizens. Republican or Democratic slate of candiDavis, Albares and Crockett — all Demo- dates in all races on the ballot. crats — are crisscrossing the state as each ä See RUNNING, page 5A one mounts a long-shot bid to be the state’s
ELECTION 2026
Classified .....................4B Deaths .........................4B Nation-World................2A Comics-Puzzles .....7C-9C Living............................5C Opinion ........................2B Commentary ................3B Metro ...........................1B Sports ..........................1C
101ST yEAR, NO. 308