Local GIS district becomes a modelThe state legislature has approved a bill that will ensure the city of Ruston, the Lincoln Parish Police Jury and several other local entities share technological resources for years to come.
During the recent session, Rep. Hollis Downs, R-Ruston, introduced legislation that would transform the Lincoln Parish Geographic Information System Commission into a GIS district.
The changes in the makeup of the commission will be minor, but the legislation formalizes the structure, making the group eligible to receive grant money and ensuring the commission lives well beyond its current members. »
Heat relief on horizon next week
Lincoln Parish residents will probably have to brave 100-degree temperatures throughout the holiday weekend, but they might experience cooler temperatures and possible rain on Monday.
Nick Fillo, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Shreveport, said 100-degree temperatures are expected to drop to the upper 90s sometime Sunday. A cold front is expected to move into the area starting next week, bringing a 50 percent chance of rain, Fillo said.
Temperatures are expected to stay around the mid 90s throughout next week, he said. »
Foster Farms plant opens July 16
FARMERVILLE (AP) — Foster Farms, which took over the shuttered Pilgrim’s Pride poultry processing plant in a deal involving $50 million from the state, said Wednesday that it will not extend contracts to all chicken growers who previously sold to Pilgrim’s Pride in the region.
In a statement issued by the California-based company, director of marketing services Ira Brill said independent growers had been providing chickens to both the Farmerville plant and another now-shuttered Pilgrim’s Pride plant in Clinton, Ark.
“As Foster Farms brings the Farmerville plant up to full capacity, it expects to extend contracts to the vast majority of Louisiana growers, but the regrettable fact is that this single plant cannot fully accommodate a grower base that was previously supplying two plants,” Brill said. »
Teaching the game of life
Little League baseball is all about learning.
It teaches the fundamentals of the sport and the importance of teamwork and how hard work and determination can pay off for anyone.
And sometimes, it teaches one of life’s big lessons. »
Higher education cuts reduced
None of it can be considered good, but there is both bad news and better news for area universities.
The bad part is that Louisiana Tech and Grambling State are still facing substantial financial cuts following the recently-ended legislative session finalizing next year’s budgets. The better part is those cuts won’t be nearly as deep as first anticipated.
Tech is facing a reduction of $4,535,757 in state funding, while GSU will have $2,755,720 sliced from its funding. Those are tough numbers but not as daunting as the originally projected cuts of $8.3 million for Tech and $4.9 million for GSU. »
