Journal Staff

A Pineville lawmaker is pushing legislation that would give Rapides Parish voters and governing authorities the power to decide whether carbon capture and sequestration projects and carbon dioxide pipelines can operate within the parish — part of a broader package of bills that would extend that same local authority to every parish in Louisiana.

House Speaker Pro Tempore Mike Johnson (R-Pineville) prefiled three bills on Jan. 12, the first day of the 2026 legislative prefiling period, targeting carbon capture and sequestration, a technology that captures carbon dioxide emissions from industrial facilities and stores them underground. The bills are now before the Louisiana Legislature in its active 2026 session.

The lead measure, House Bill 7 — dubbed the Louisiana Landowners Protection Act — would repeal existing statutes that grant private companies the power of eminent domain for carbon capture projects and CO2 pipelines. Under current Louisiana law, companies pursuing CCS infrastructure can seek to force landowners into court to acquire easements over their property. HB 7 would end that authority entirely, requiring companies to negotiate voluntary agreements with landowners.

House Bill 6 targets Rapides Parish directly, allowing the parish governing authority to determine whether CCS projects and CO2 pipelines may be permitted within its boundaries. House Bill 5 takes the same approach statewide, giving parish governing authorities and citizens across Louisiana the authority to vote on whether Class VI injection wells, carbon sequestration and CO2 pipelines may be permitted in their communities.

Johnson said the bills are a response to constituent concerns in Rapides Parish and are not intended to damage the carbon capture industry. “You won’t find a word in any of these bills I’ve sponsored that says kill the industry or discourage the industry,” Johnson said. “My basis is not a motivation to hurt industry.”

“I filed these bills because I listened to the people I represent, and I take their concerns seriously,” Johnson said in a statement. “Protecting private property and respecting local decision-making are core Louisiana values.”

Johnson’s bills are directly relevant to Rapides Parish because of the proposed SunGas Renewables plant in Pineville, which would rely on carbon capture and CO2 pipeline infrastructure. Johnson acknowledged that a vote against CCS in Rapides Parish could affect that project. “If my bill passes and Rapides Parish has a right to vote or to have some input on local governance as to whether or not CCS permits will be granted, then yeah, I’m afraid if they vote against it, that may affect SunGas and any other company that uses that entity,” he said. “But by the same token, it protects them if the people vote for it.”

Industry groups have pushed back against the proposals. Tommy Faucheux, president of the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association, argued that parish-level fragmentation would undermine Louisiana’s ability to build a viable statewide CCS program. “I firmly believe that for us to have a thriving CCS program, you really do need that statewide program,” Faucheux said. “It’s hard to have that and to build out that infrastructure and network for success if you have communities opting out of it.”

Faucheux also cited a specific economic consequence already attributed to legislative uncertainty over CCS, noting that a state economic development official told lawmakers that a $2 billion project in Beauregard Parish fell through after a bioenergy company cited a “lack of confidence” that CO2 storage development would proceed in the parish.

Johnson’s bills carry co-sponsors including Reps. Gabe Firment, Jason DeWitt, Rhonda Butler, Rodney Schamerhorn and Charles “Chuck” Owen, all Republicans. Owen, who represents Vernon Parish, was the original author of similar legislation in prior sessions.

The 2026 legislative session is active and the bills remain pending before the Legislature.

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The popular film “Cabrini” was released in 2024 by Angel Studios, but you can read “the rest of the story” about the profound connection between Mother St. Frances Xavier Cabrini and the most famous bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Alexandria.

Father Chad Partain, the pastor of Cabrini Church in Alexandria, and a noted historian, tells the story that Mother Cabrini founded the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in 1880, and she sent the sisters to New Orleans to minister to a large Italian community that had immigrated to New Orleans at the turn of the 20^th century.

The sisters established a school and orphanage in the French Quarter, and one of the youngsters at the school was Charles Greco.

“Word came that Mother Cabrini was going to visit the sisters and inspect the school and the orphanage,” said Father Chad, as he is affectionately called. “She attended a school Mass, and the altar boy was Greco. When the Mass was over, Mother and some of the sisters came in the sacristy and thanked the priest for offering Mass. The priest introduced the altar server to Cabrini.”

Mother Cabrini asked Greco what he wanted to be when he grew up, and young Charles said, “Mother, I want to become a priest.”

“She placed her hand on the boy’s head and didn’t speak for a few moments, gazing in the distance above his head,” Partain said. “Then she said to the sisters in Italian, ‘This boy will become a priest, and he will go far in the priesthood.’ The sisters never told him what she said, and he did go on and become a priest in 1918.

“Years later,” Father continued, “when Greco was named the 6^th bishop of Alexandria in 1946, some of the sisters who were there in the sacristy that day told him what Mother Cabrini had said. One of his first trips abroad as bishop was to attend the canonization of Mother Cabrini to sainthood (in July of ’46).”

When Greco returned to Alexandria, plans were already in the works from his predecessor, Bishop Daniel Desmond, for a new parish to be built in Alexandria.

“He said, ‘We won’t build one, we’ll build two,’” Father said, “and one he dedicated under the patronage of St. Frances Cabrini.” (The other was Our Lady of Prompt Succor Church.) Cabrini Parish was to have a church and school.

Bishop Daniel Desmond, meanwhile, had done the groundwork for a new hospital and bought the land from the Prescott family, Partain said, and the hospital was to be named St. Mary’s. Bishop Greco was instrumental in getting the Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, who were administering and staffing the school, to serve the new hospital. But when it was built, Greco dedicated it as St. Frances Cabrini Hospital.

Greco, who served as Bishop of Alexandria from 1946 to 1973, never forgot that encounter he’d had with a saint, however brief it might have been at the time, Partain said. Thus came the overflowing evidence in Alexandria of places named for the Mother Superior of her order. And like the feisty Cabrini, Greco would not be stopped in any pursuit of a goal for the diocese.

And now, Father Chad says he has had a lifelong devotion to Mother Cabrini, who, he says, had an ardent spiritual life that wasn’t clearly demonstrated in the movie.

“Being baptized in this parish and attending this (elementary) school, my first writing assignment was a short biography of Mother Cabrini for the school newspaper,” Partain said, noting even as a boy he loved the portrait of Mother Cabrini that still hangs in a school hallway. Cabrini Church also has a relic of the saint that Bishop Greco brought back to Alexandria from her canonization ceremony. There is also a near life-size statue of her in the small chapel behind the main Cabrini Church altar. There’s a whole other story as to how that statue made its way to the church from its original digs at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Natchitoches.

“Getting older and being able to read more about her life,” Father Chad continued, “I am amazed at her courage, perseverance and fortitude” despite her small size, sickly nature and disrespect she often received as an Italian immigrant. “She is a real role model of courage and generosity in the service of souls.”

(Editor’s note: This is a column that Bob Tompkins wrote in 2024, slightly updated in observance of Easter week.)

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By Andrew Nober, Legislative Assistant

Deep down in Louisiana — about three hours from New Orleans —Rapides Parish is a sportsman’s paradise that also boasts impressive cultural amenities. 

“We have a really nice theater downtown,” said Matt Johns, long-time Rapides Parish resident. “The Coughlin Saunders Performing Arts Center. And you can get into some stuff there that is as good as what you would see in other larger cities.”

Johns isn’t just proud of his home parish — he’s working every day to plan for its future and make it an even better place to live and work. Johns leads the Rapides Area Planning Commission (RAPC), the metropolitan planning organization (MPO) that coordinates transportation planning and development for a major portion of Rapides Parish.

Johns serves both as the organization’s CEO and as a commissioner on its board appointed by the Rapides Parish Police Jury. RAPC also plans for economic development, which Johns says goes hand in hand with the transportation work that RAPC does.

However, Johns notes that there is often difficulty managing economic development priorities with other transportation needs. 

“We have to spend money on necessities before we can do amenities,” Johns cautioned. 

That can create tradeoffs for the parish transportation network and stretch RAPC’s capacity. Even when they know projects will spur economic development, RAPC must put upkeep at the top of their priority list. 

“We can’t let the existing network crumble to spend some money on potential economic development,” he said.

That means projects like extending Sugarhouse Road in Rapides Parish, which Johns says has been on RAPC’s planning radar for more than two decades, must wait. 

“If we had the funding to do it, we could have programmed it, paid for it and been done with it, rather than chasing this unicorn that keeps getting more and more expensive the longer we wait,” he said. 

This feedback loop of expensive projects leading to delays, which in turn drives prices up even further, is a constant issue facing local leaders. Johns also noted that this situation is exacerbated by significant cost increases in the transportation space. 

“In the 1980s, you could build a good amount of roadway for $3.5 million,” he said. “Now $3.5 million might get us one mile of overlay and a couple of intersections, maybe a piece of the sidewalk.” 

In facing these challenges, Rapides Parish is far from alone. Local and regional transportation planners map out projects years in advance, but without adequate funding, they often must sit on the shelf. Nationwide, counties own 44% of public road miles and 38% of bridges, but, under current transportation funding programs, local governments receive a much smaller share of federal formula funding – just 14%. 

New legislation in Washington could change that and give counties nationwide more access to federal formula funding. In February, Reps. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Mich.) and Rob Bresnahan (R-Pa.) introduced the Bridges And Safety Infrastructure for Community Success (BASICS) Act (H.R. 7437). 

This bipartisan legislation would grow the share of overall formula transportation funding that is “sub-allocated,” or made available for organizations like RAPC to use for locally selected projects. This would include new access to formula funding for bridges and safety infrastructure.

This increase in capital funding would help move county-led projects forward in places across the country. The BASICS Act also includes process reforms to ensure that local governments — in conjunction with transportation planning organizations like MPOs — can better handle and implement federal dollars. 

Johns says that his board of directors likes to call this process “[beating] the snakes out of the weeds,” ensuring that projects have gone through all the necessary steps to proceed quickly with construction.

The BASICS Act has a clear, albeit steep, path forward: Being included in the next surface transportation reauthorization bill. Every five years, Congress passes a bill to reauthorize surface transportation programs through the Department of Transportation. 

This bill not only sets topline spending levels for roads, bridges and more, but it also dictates how that money gets spent and by whom. The current surface transportation law, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, is set to expire at the end of September, meaning Congress is actively working to draft and pass the next bill.

NACo and many of its peer organizations have made the BASICS Act their top priority for that bill. In February, more than 70 organizations representing local governments in all 50 states sent a letter to committee leaders in the House and Senate asking them to include the BASICS Act in their respective reauthorization proposals.

As Congress moves forward with developing the next surface transportation reauthorization bill, NACo is encouraging counties to weigh in with their representatives.

“Members of Congress want to know that the bills they support in Washington will benefit their communities back home, said Ben Gilsdorf, NACo Associate Legislative Director for Transportation. “County leaders should tell their representatives that supporting the BASICS Act is how to ensure that the next bill works for their district and their residents.”

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BATON ROUGE – There was a drum corps.

A welcome video on the Pete Maravich Assembly big screen scoreboard.

A fog machine.

And shooting flames.

The only thing lacking was the P.A. system blaring the theme from Welcome Back, Kotter.

It may have been the best introductory press conference setting ever for a guy who was previously run out of the same town on a rail.

Four seasons after LSU fired Will Wade as its head basketball coach for being an exceptionally clumsy cheater piling up more NCAA violations than he did technical fouls, he strolled back into the PMAC on Monday as if he’d been on a sabbatical.

Having paid his penance by sitting out a season, then coaching two seasons for McNeese State and this past year for North Carolina State, he officially became the first SEC men’s head basketball coach in history to be fired and re-hired by the same school.

“We’re coming back to try to hang a banner, win a national championship, or I’m going to be the first coach fired from the same school twice,” said Wade, who was 105-51 with an SEC regular season championship and three NCAA Tournament appearances in his first LSU stint from 2017 to 2022. “One way or another, we’re going to make history.”

There was immediate laughter and applause from the estimated crowd of 500, something in short supply along with wins and hope under Wade’s second LSU predecessor Matt McMahon.

McMahon was a nice guy with the personality of a dripping faucet.

Wade gushes enthusiasm and one-liners. He has a fast-break tongue that doesn’t hold back. He doesn’t mind being a living, breathing lightning rod conductor of controversy.  

“I know people have been talking about us a little bit,” Wade said. “I understand, I’m not for everybody, and we understand also that LSU isn’t for everybody. But one thing we both understand is I’m for LSU, and LSU is for me.”

There’s no way Frank Williams Wade “LSU Part Deux” happens without former McNeese president Wade Rousse getting hired as LSU’s president last October. And then last Thursday, just hours before Wade announced on social media he was coming back to Baton Rouge, LSU hired McNeese athletic director Heath Schroyer (who hired Wade as McNeese’s head coach in March 2023). His new unofficial title is senior deputy athletic director in charge of Wade.

“We had incredible alignment (at McNeese),” Wade said. “We can take that formula that made McNeese a regional power and won a first-round NCAA tournament game, move that to LSU, and make us a national force. The same formula with more resources and more support, just because of the financial aspect of it all.”

In Rousse’s introduction of Wade at Monday’s whoop-t-doo, he made it clear he doesn’t mind the $200 million LSU has invested in Wade and a coaching staff, and new head football coach Lane Kiffin and a coaching staff, while paying what is owed to fired head coaches McMahon and Brian Kelly and their fired assistants.

“Our athletic department drives the brand recognition that illuminates the remarkable research and educational opportunities present throughout the entire LSU system,” Rousse said. “The ignition point for the entire process is athletics. It drives the brand.

“At LSU, we do not gather to celebrate mediocrity. We aim to be elite. We want to win in this league. We want to win national championships.”

Rousse also knows he eventually has to fill seats in LSU’s new 12,500 to 15,000-seat multi-purpose arena to be built on the site of the well-worn campus golf course from Alex Box Stadium. Groundbreaking hasn’t started, but it should come soon after the goat ranch. . .uh, golf course is closed permanently in the summer.

It’s been proven time and again that LSU coaching hires who approach their jobs with unabashed passion equal to the Tigers’ fan base usually succeed.

Any coach taking the standoffish “it’s strictly a business approach” and doesn’t truly understand the fans here live and die, laugh and weep, love and mourn their Tigers, ultimately fails.

See former fired LSU football coach Kelly as an example of taking an NFL-type approach, insulating himself from the fan base.

Then see new head coach Kiffin totally embracing the Louisiana culture. He was the co-Grand Marshal for the Krewe of Endymion parade in mid-February.

Tigers’ head women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey was born and raised just down the road in the sleepy Hammond suburb of Tickfaw, Her Louisiana vibe stayed with her 21 seasons at Baylor before coming to coach the Tigers five years ago.

And if you’re an outsider and coach at LSU long enough, like the national championship-winning head coaching Jay duo of Jay Johnson (baseball) and Jay Clark, you realize few places on earth embrace life like Louisiana.

Wade, a Nashville native, began learning this when, at age 35, he was originally hired by LSU in 2017. But it wasn’t until he was given his first head coaching chance at redemption, hired in March 2023 by McNeese State, a Lake Charles-based university still recovering from back-to-back hurricanes in August 2020 and October 2020, that he gained full respect and love for Louisianians.

“Make no mistake, this is home,” said Wade, now older and wiser at age 43. “I wasn’t born in Louisiana, but Louisiana is home for my family and me. We’ve got the best people in the world.

“Unless you’re from down here or unless you’ve been down here, it’s hard for other people to understand. It’s hard for other people to grasp the culture and the folks down here.

“You won’t find anybody that’s more proud to wear that LSU and state of Louisiana than this guy right here, and we’re going to find 15 players that are willing to lay it on the line for us every night.

“Our team is going to represent Louisiana the way it should be represented, with toughness, grit, and a lot of swagger, because that’s what we have down here. We don’t do anything halfway in this state.”

When Wade referred to his decision to return to a place that fired him as “extremely personal,” it meant he wanted to change the narrative of how his first LSU go-around crashed and burned.

He was fired in March 2022, a day after LSU was eliminated from the SEC tournament. He was accused of five NCAA Level I and two Level II recruiting violations.

“I’ve never connected with a fan base and with people as I have with LSU and Louisiana,” he said. “I feel like we left the book open a little bit. We left some chapters unfinished.

“To have the opportunity to come back and finish that off and to bring pride and joy to people that I care about and people that mean a lot to me, yeah, I feel a heavy burden towards that.

“There’s nothing like the meaning of winning with your friends. I feel like we have a greater purpose with this program than anywhere I’ve ever been. At the end of the day, that’s why I came back.”

In whipping together his staff, Wade is set to hire former LSU head coach and player Johnny Jones. The 65-year-old Jones resigned as Texas Southern’s coach on Monday.

Having the guy (Wade) re-hired by the school that fired him then hiring the head coach (Jones) who preceded him the first time in Baton Rouge before being fired, might be the most LSU thing ever.

At most places, it’s referred to as thinking outside the box.

Down here in the toe of The Boot, it’s called all the crazy you can handle.

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

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The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development advises the public that a section of I-49 in Alexandria, Rapides Parish will soon have new roadway striping (pavement markings).

Work is set to begin on Monday, April 6, 2026, and will require alternating lane closures on the I-49 northbound and southbound on and off-ramps from Exit 80 (US 71/US 167 McArthur Dr.) to Exit 86 (US 165/LA 28 McArthur Dr.).

These lane closures are scheduled to take place from approximately 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.

All work is anticipated to be complete by May 2026, with progress dependent on weather conditions and other factors that can impact construction timelines.

Pavement markings are used to convey messages to road users. They indicate which part of the roadway to use, provide information about changing conditions, and indicate where passing is allowed, among other important driving-related tasks.

Permit/Detour section
No detours are associated with this project.

Safety Reminder
All construction activity is weather-dependent and may be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. DOTD appreciates the motoring public’s patience and reminds drivers to please exercise caution when traveling through work zone areas and be on the lookout for work crews and their equipment.

Additional Information
Motorists can access the latest updates on real-time traffic and road conditions using the 511 Traveler Information System by dialing 511 from their telephone and saying the route or region on which they are seeking information. Out-of-state travelers can call 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511). Travelers can also access this information by visiting the 511 Traveler Information Web site at http://www.511la.org. Additionally, you can follow the Traffic Management Center on Twitter: (@Alex Traffic). Motorists may also monitor the LA DOTD website @ http://www.dotd.la.gov and the DOTD Facebook page.

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The Pineville Police Department is pushing back against what it describes as false and misleading information circulating on social media over the weekend.

POST: Saturday after finally getting away and getting back home I went to natchotiches er, where they were told by Pineville PD not to do a rape kit or anything because they would not be sending a detective to collect any evidence they may gather. They said I’d have to go back to Pineville and when I told them I wouldn’t have a way they basically said its that or nothing gets done. How is this
ok?

In a public advisory, the department said a widely shared post included “inaccurate and egregious allegations” regarding how officers handled a reported incident. Officials confirmed they were contacted about the situation but denied claims that anyone from the department discouraged a forensic exam or refused to send a detective.

According to the department, once notified of the situation, command staff was alerted and steps were taken to prepare for an investigation. A Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) was placed on standby, and an investigator was prepared to respond to a local medical facility where the individual was expected to undergo a forensic exam.

Authorities say the individual ultimately never arrived at the facility.

While specific details of the case were not released, officials emphasized the importance of proper procedures in cases involving potential sexual assault, noting that preserving evidence is critical to ensuring a thorough investigation and successful prosecution.

The department also stated that investigators have previously traveled out of state, including to Colorado and Virginia, to assist in preserving evidence in similar cases, disputing claims that distance would prevent a response.

Officials acknowledged that while no agency is perfect, their focus remains on seeking justice for victims and maintaining the integrity of each case.

The Pineville Police Department said it remains committed to serving the community with professionalism, integrity, and transparency.

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People have dreamed about coasting back to Earth from great heights from at least the 1470s when Italian Francesco di Giorgio Martini designed a cone-shaped canopy parachute.  It is the oldest known design for a parachute.  In 1485, Leonardo da Vinci designed a pyramid-shaped parachute.  For the following 300 years, several inventors, including Frenchman Louis-Sebastien Lenormand in 1783, jumped from trees to test their own parachutes, but none of their designs really worked as expected.       

In 1797, André-Jacques Garnerin attached a parachute he designed to a hydrogen balloon in a test in Paris, France.  When the balloon reached an altitude of about 3,200 feet, Garnerin parachuted safely back to the ground and became the first person to design and test a parachute capable of slowing a person’s fall from a high altitude.  Two years later, his wife became the first female parachutist.  In 1802, Garnerin made a safe parachute jump in a demonstration in England from an altitude of 8,000 feet.  101 years later, in December 1903, the Wright Brothers made history with the first powered, controlled, and sustained flight in a heavier-than-air machine at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.  In the following years, human flight became popular.  Pilots were seen as heroes and daredevils.  Pilots understood that if their airplanes failed during flight, the chances of survival were slim.  They recognized the need for a way to escape from a doomed aircraft and saw the life-saving potential of parachutes.  On March 1, 1912, during an exhibition in St. Louis, Missouri, parachutist Albert Berry jumped from an airplane flown by another pilot at an altitude of 1,500 feet.  He made a safe landing and became the first person to successfully parachute from a moving airplane.          

Parachutes eventually became standard equipment for airplane pilots after World War I.  They worked well for pilots of propeller driven aircraft and jet aircraft up to a point.  On October 14, 1947, Air Force test pilot Chuck Yeager flew an experimental Bell X-1 jet around 785 miles per hour and became the first human to break the sound barrier.  Eight years later, in February 1955, test pilot George Smith was flying an experimental jet over the Pacific Ocean when the jet malfunctioned.  Unable to regain control, George had to bail out.  The only problem was that he was flying faster than the speed of sound and no one had ever ejected from an aircraft traveling at that speed.  George knew that staying in the jet meant certain death, so he made the split-second decision and ejected.  The force of the wind hitting him knocked him unconscious, but his parachute automatically opened.  He landed in the water near a fishing boat crewed by a former U.S. Navy rescue expert.  George remained unconscious for five days.  When he awoke, he was blind in both eyes.  George’s recovery required numerous surgeries and a seven-month hospital stay.       

The U.S. Air Force immediately began working to solve the problem of parachuting from a supersonic jet.  After seven years of testing, Air Force scientists created an escape capsule for a supersonic jet.  On March 21, 1962, a flyer with the call sign “Yogi” ejected from a jet flying at about 870 miles per hour, 1.3 times the speed of sound.  The parachute on the capsule opened as expected.  Yogi landed successfully and became the first flyer to safely parachute from a jet traveling at supersonic speed.  But Yogi was no ordinary human.  He was not human.  The flyer with the call sign “Yogi” was a two-year-old black bear.      

Sources:

1.     “First parachute jump is made over Paris,” March 4, 2010, History.com, accessed March 22, 2026, https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/october-22/the-first-parachutist.

2.     “March 1, 1912, This Day in Aviation, accessed March 22, 2026, https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/albert-berry/.

3.     “February 26, 1955,” This Day in Aviation, accessed March 22, 2026, https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/tag/george-franklin-smith/.

4.     “March 21, 1962,”  This Day in Aviation, accessed March 22, 2026,  https://www.thisdayinaviation.com/21-march-1962/.

5.     David Cenciotti, “A bear named ‘Yogi’ was ejected from a USAF B-58 to test the Hustler’s escape capsule on this day in 1962,” March 21, 2016, The Aviationist, accessed March 22, 2026, https://theaviationist.com/2016/03/21/b-58-ejects-yogi-bear/.

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Services for Leonard Emile Portier will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, March 31, 2026, in the Chapel of Hixson Brothers, Pineville, with Reverend Tom Jordan officiating. Burial will be in Craig Cemetery, Deville.

The family requests that visitation be held on Tuesday at Hixson Brothers, Pineville, from 9:00 a.m. until service time.

Pallbearers will be Benny Gates, Tuk Iles, Brandon Rush, Everett Pennington, Steven Pierce, Wayne Nevill, and Ashley Sayer. Honorary pallbearers will be David Bates, Floyd Hines, Clyde Pennington, Travis Baygents and Danny Jo Daniels.

Mr. Portier, 74, of Deville, passed from this life on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at his residence.

During his working career, he served his community in the maintenance department for the City of Pineville. Mr. Portier proudly served his country in the United States Marines. Leonard enjoyed many activities in his spare time, including gardening, rabbit hunting, and fishing. His greatest joy was his grandchildren, grand dog, and grand cat.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Vasser and Shelby Jean McKinney Stockman, and brother, Hoyle Stockman.

Those left to cherish a lifetime of memories include his wife, Kimberly Portier; son, Kendall Portier and wife, Sabra; daughter, Kourtney Decota and husband, Kirt; sister-in-law, Gloria Stockman; grandchildren, Autumn Portier, Willow Portier, Kinsley Decota, Mason Decota, Raylie Decota, Tuk Iles, and Amber Iles.

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Services for Margie Nell Lucas will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, April 3, 2026, in the chapel of John Kramer & Son Funeral Home with Rev. Clark Palmer officiating. Interment will follow in Big Island Cemetery in Deville.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at the funeral home and resumes from 9:00 AM until the time of service in the Kramer chapel.

Margie Nell Lucas, 74, of New Iberia, passed away on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, in New Iberia Manor South.

Margie is preceded in death by her parents, Andrew Lucas and Daisy Gates Lucas; sisters, Betty Feldman and Florence Johnson; and nephew, Robert LaCombe.

Margie worked for many years at Central State Hospital in Pineville and LaVergne’s TeleMessaging Service.

Those left to cherish her memory include her sister, Evelyn Lucas LaCombe (Edward, Jr.); nieces, Sonya Johnson, Sheri LaCombe Curtis, Angela LaCombe Shiver; niece, Lacara Johnson and a host of nieces and nephews.

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By JIM BUTLER

The Central Louisiana Port Authority is seeking state certification under the Clean Water Act to allow construction of a cargo dock to accommodate SunGas Renewable’s Beaver Lake green methanol plant.

The Authority reached a Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Red River Waterway Commission last June regarding the facility.

Public comment on the application is open through April 6 on the DEQ site.

The Port Authority proposes to clear, grade and place fill to construct road, cargo dock, methanol loading facility/liquid loading dock and associated infrastructure near and on bank of Red River off Williams Lake Road.

Precise river location is not listed in the certification application notice.

In April 2024 representatives of the Association for Quality Red River Living urged the Authority to reject any efforts to build the methanol dock between river markers 83 & 84, directly across the river from Riverview Acres.

Documents regarding the Sun project note 17 acres of designated wetlands are included and about 324,000 cubic yards of fill material will be needed project-wide.

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A landmark agreement announced Friday between Entergy Louisiana and Meta — the parent company of Facebook and Instagram — to build seven new power plants and dramatically expand Louisiana’s electrical grid underscores the state’s emergence as one of the nation’s premier destinations for artificial intelligence infrastructure, a race in which Rapides Parish is now an active competitor.

Friday’s announcement, issued from Rayville, revealed that Meta and Entergy Louisiana have agreed to a comprehensive buildout of generation, transmission and storage infrastructure for Meta’s hyperscale data center campus in Richland Parish. Paid entirely by Meta, the agreement adds seven new combined-cycle natural gas plants totaling more than 5,200 megawatts of generating capacity — roughly five times the average daily power consumption of the entire city of New Orleans — along with up to 2,500 megawatts of solar generation and approximately 240 miles of new high-voltage transmission lines connecting South Louisiana to North Louisiana and Arkansas.

Combined with a prior 2025 agreement, the two deals are expected to deliver approximately $2.65 billion in total savings to Entergy Louisiana customers over the life of the agreements — with Meta bearing its full cost of service.

“This agreement reflects what’s possible when strong partners align around long-term growth and value,” said Phillip May, Entergy Louisiana president and CEO. “We are making targeted investments that strengthen reliability, support economic development, and deliver meaningful benefits to customers — all while keeping energy rates affordable.”

Meta Vice President for Data Centers Rachel Peterson said the Richland Parish campus reflects the scale of the company’s AI ambitions. “We are building foundations for the future of AI innovation right here in the United States,” Peterson said.

Louisiana’s Data Center Map — And Where Rapides Fits

Friday’s Meta announcement is the latest in a series of massive technology investments reshaping Louisiana’s economy. Amazon announced in February a $12 billion multi-campus data center investment across Caddo and Bossier parishes in Northwest Louisiana, developed in partnership with STACK Infrastructure. Hut 8 is developing a $10 billion AI data center campus in West Feliciana Parish in Southeast Louisiana.

Rapides Parish is now positioned to join that list. Site work is actively underway on a 672-acre parcel along Interstate 49 near Boyce, where Applied Digital Corporation — a Dallas-based digital infrastructure developer that designs, develops and operates data centers for high-performance computing and AI industries — purchased the land in December 2025 for $26.9 million.

The project, known internally as Project Lightning, is anticipated to create 1,500 construction-related jobs and 200 permanent positions in its first year of operation, with an average annual wage of $65,000. The parcel has already been reclassified from agricultural to industrial use, with its assessed value adjusted from $257,350 to $25,287,000.

Applied Digital develops large-scale digital infrastructure and typically leases its facilities to major technology companies — known as hyperscalers — that operate massive AI computing networks. The identity of any prospective tenant at the Boyce site remains under nondisclosure agreements. England Airpark Executive Director Ralph Hennessy confirmed that Applied Digital is actively making site improvements and is in discussions with a potential tenant, though no agreement has been finalized.

On the power front, Applied Digital has been in discussions with Cleco, the regional electric utility, and power arrangements are described as substantially worked out. Louisiana Central CEO Chris Masingill, whose organization has been coordinating the Rapides Parish project with state officials, described the potential scope of the project as among the most consequential in the parish’s modern history.

The England Authority — Rapides Parish’s economic development district — approved the creation of England District Subdistrict No. 4 in February, an overlay district encompassing the Applied Digital property that allows local officials to issue bonds to finance project infrastructure and negotiate payment-in-lieu-of-taxes agreements — the same tools that Meta, Amazon and Hut 8 have used for their own Louisiana projects.

The Rapides Parish Journal will continue to monitor developments on the Boyce site and the broader Louisiana data center landscape.

Construction at Boyce data center site along I-49

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Louisiana voters will decide May 16 whether to raise the mandatory retirement age for state judges from 70 to 75, a constitutional amendment that supporters say would bring the state in line with most of the country but that opponents argue voters have already rejected — twice.

The measure appears on the May 16 statewide primary ballot as Amendment 5, stemming from House Bill 63 of the 2025 Regular Session. It was authored by Rep. Kyle Green Jr. (D-Marrero) and co-authored by Rep. Jason Hughes (D-New Orleans), with Sen. Gregory Miller (R-Norco) carrying the bill on the Senate side. The amendment passed the Louisiana House 95-1 on final passage and cleared the Senate 31-3, before being certified for the ballot.

The ballot question voters will see reads: “Do you support an amendment to change the mandatory retirement age for judges from seventy to seventy-five, provided that a judge may continue to serve to complete a term of office?”

Under current Louisiana law, judges must retire at age 70, though a judge who reaches that age while serving a term may complete that term. If approved by a simple majority of voters, the amendment would raise the mandatory retirement threshold to 75 while keeping the term-completion provision intact.

Supporters argue Louisiana is an outlier on the issue. Of the 31 states that have mandatory judicial retirement ages, 16 — including Louisiana — set the limit at 70, the lowest in the country. Eight states, including Florida, Texas, Indiana and Pennsylvania, set their retirement age at 75. Proponents contend the change would allow experienced judges to continue serving at a time when judicial vacancies and caseload backlogs are persistent challenges across the state.

Opposition has centered on democratic accountability and voter precedent. Sen. Alan Seabaugh (R-Shreveport) argued during the legislative session that Louisiana voters have considered and rejected similar proposals before. In 1995, voters rejected a similar amendment 62% to 38%. In 2014, voters rejected a separate amendment that would have eliminated the mandatory retirement age entirely, 58% to 42%.

“We put this on the ballot before,” Seabaugh said during debate. “It failed in 62 out of 64 parishes.”

Pennsylvania is the most recent state to approve a similar change, with voters there raising their judicial retirement age from 70 to 75 in 2016 by a 51% margin.

Amendment 5 is one of five constitutional amendments appearing on the May 16 statewide ballot. Louisiana polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 8 p.m.

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The Louisiana Department of Education has recognized two Rapides Parish educators as semifinalists for statewide honors.

Kathy “Michelle” Blaney of Buckeye High School was named a Teacher of the Year semifinalist, while Christy Dugas of Paradise Elementary School earned recognition as a Principal of the Year semifinalist.

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Christ and community were celebrated Thursday evening at the inauguration ceremony for Louisiana Christian University’s 10^th President Dr. Mark Johnson.

Dr. Tommy Kiker, chair of the Board of Trustees, delivered the Inaugural Oath and Installment, and said Johnson came to LCU at a time of “sacred intersection of calling and responsibility.”

“You are called to lead the university into the future with conviction and courage,” Kiker said. “Lead LCU to flourish for generations to come.”

The invocation was offered by Johnson’s father Dr. Henry L. Johnson III, along with a scripture by his youngest son, Benjamin. 

Dr. Jamie Dew, president of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, delivered the keynote address and the Presidential Charge. 

“When I first met you, I knew immediately you would be president somewhere of something,” Dew said, remarking on Johnson’s “energy, charisma, leadership and charm.”

Dew encouraged Johnson to “keep your heart and your life right before God” as positions of power or attention can corrupt. “Love the Lord Jesus with all your heart.”

“Every aspect of the school is under your purview,” Dew said. “Some things are heavy, but don’t lose sight of the most important work. That’s people. Your students are your actual work.”

The focus of the evening, however, wasn’t just about Johnson and the university, but about the community coming together to celebrate a collective spirit of cooperation—and moving into the future in unity.

Members from the religious, educational, political and business communities spoke, offering both congratulations, thanks and encouragement to Johnson and his wife, Heather.

They included Executive Director of Louisiana Baptists Dr. Steve Horn, Senior Pastor of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church of New Orleans Fred Luter, President Emeritus of NOBTS Dr. Chuck Kelley, Rapides Parish School Board Superintendent Dr. Jeff Powell, retired President of Washington and Jefferson College Dr. John Knapp, State Representative Mike Johnson, Pineville City Councilman Nathan Martin and Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce President Deborah Randolph.

“We welcome and interlock with you,” Powell said. “Besides a relationship with God, education is the only other thing that can’t be taken away from them [students.].”

Rep. Johnson, a 1981 alumnus of the university, delivered a blessing and a commendation from Gov. Jeff Landry and the State House of Representatives, who voted unanimously to commemorate the day in honor of Johnson’s inauguration. 

Martin, who also graduated from Louisiana College, spoke on behalf of Pineville Mayor Joe Bishop and the City Council. 

“This university has shaped the character and the values of the community,” he said. “The future is full of opportunity, and the city of Pineville stands with you as a committed partner.”

Randolph remarked on the energy and commitment to partnerships that she has already seen demonstrated since he took office.

“Your vision for Louisiana Christian University has generated excitement in the business community,” she said. “You love what you do, and it shows. Your faith, vitality and mission are ushering in a new era at this university.”

Heather Johnson spoke, thanking all who spoke and all who attended for their prayers and support, calling it “humbling” to have so many people who have welcomed them to campus and the community.

Lastly, Johnson spoke, citing Proverbs 3:5-6. “Love the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your paths.”  

He said he takes his presidential calling seriously while acknowledging the role the community plays in LCU’s success. He remarked that he is following in the footsteps of some pioneers of Christian higher education, noting former Louisiana College President G. Earl Guinn, who worked to integrate faith seamlessly into academics.

Johnson said he will lead LCU to help fulfill needs that exist in the community, building on what he sees as a strong foundation. 

This area has the strongest education community I’ve ever been around,” he said, also remarking, “the business leaders are looking to us to produce leaders for the workforce. Louisiana Christian University is still here, and God has plans in store.”

Music was provided by a community choir from First Baptist Church in Pineville, Kingsville Baptist Church, Philadelphia Baptist Church, the Citywide Choir of Alexandria and LCU Chorale. Midstate Homeschool Choir presented special music. 

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The Alexandria Police Department has announced the promotion of three officers, recognizing their leadership and commitment to the community.

Robert Distefano has been promoted to captain, Tod Beaman to lieutenant, and Kerry Simmons to sergeant.

Department officials said each officer has demonstrated strong dedication and service, earning the opportunity to take on expanded leadership roles within the agency.

The promotions reflect the department’s continued focus on strengthening leadership and service to the Alexandria community.

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Arrests are accusations, not convictions.

March 29

Acario J. Dotson, 40, Pineville – two counts attempted second degree murder, two counts armed robbery, two counts possession of CDS, $1,500 bail;

Jamarion Leblanc, 19, Opelousas – OWI underage, reckless operation of a vehicle, $1,500 bail;

Blaine Loupe, 40, Deville – domestic abuse battery, resisting a police officer with force or violence, $500 bail;

Luis Onate, 29, Alexandria – OWI first offense, speeding, no driver’s license, open containers, $1,300 bail.

March 28

Kenderrick Jacoby Bell, 32, Alexandria – OWI first offense, possession of firearm by convicted felon, improper lane usage, driver’s license not in possession, $16,200 bail;

Albert Blue Blue, 46, Lecompte – contempt of court, $50,000 bail;

Christopher C. Bordelon, 39, Alexandria —  aggravated battery, no bail data;

Edward Dewayne Carter, 34, Alexandria – domestic abuse with child present, aggravated assault with child endangerment, no bail data;

Danny Dwayne General, 49, Alexandria – three counts contempt of court, $46,000 bail;

Tommy Lee Hurts, 61, Alexandria – aggravated assault domestic abuse, illegal use of weapons/instrumentalities, disturbing the peace, $20,500 bail;

James Jeromy Keene, 56, Alexandria – solicitation on an interstate highway, seven counts contempt of court, $35,500 bail;

Franklin Kevin Smith, 57, Pineville – create, distribute or possess with intent counterfeit CDS, driving under suspension, modified exhaust, $1,700 bail;

Logan Stansell, 23, Alexandria – OWI first offense, improper lane usage, improper headlight equipment, driver’s license not in possession, $1,300 bail.

March 27

Jacob Hunter Ardoin, 38, Lafayette – Louisiana fugitive, possession of burglary tools, theft, $5,500 bail;

Roosevelt Bass III, 35, Ferriday – OWI first offense, speeding, $1,100 bail;

Kimberly Marshay Dunbar, 31, Alexandria – theft, domestic abuse battery, resisting police officer with force or violence, contempt of court, $12,500 bail;

Victoria Guillot, 34, Plaucheville – three counts contempt of court, $102,000 bail;

Tadarius Lemon Lott, 31, Alexandria – possession of fentanyl, paraphernalia, four counts contempt of court, $209,500 bail;

Breet Havard Lyons, 41, Pineville – OWI second offense, possession of marijuana, possession of CDS, paraphernalia, turn lamp signal, $4,100 bail;

Daniel Melder, 47, Pineville – domestic abuse battery with child present, probation violation, $25,000 bail;

Jerry Jermaine Sheppard, 36, Colfax – possession of CDS, assault on emergency personnel, disturbing the peace, contempt of court, $7,500 bail.

March 26

Urshala Aaron, 31, Boyce – cruelty to juveniles, $5,000 bail;

William Huey Johnson, 41, Pineville – battery of a dating partner, resisting an officer, $5,500 bail;

Seth Cullen Dubois, 43, Montgomery – four counts unlawful use of social networking site, Louisiana fugitive, $100,000 bail;

David Lee Dauzat Jr., 42, Alexandria – Louisiana fugitive, burglary of inhabited dwelling, possession of firearm by convicted felon, contributing to the delinquency of juveniles, parole violations, $15,500 bail;

William James Folse, 49, Pineville – two producing manufacturing distributing CDS, Louisiana fugitive, possession of marijuana, possession of synthetic cannabinoid, possession of fentanyl, possession of CDS, paraphernalia, probation violation, $121,500 bail;

William Huey Johnson, 41, Pineville – battery of a dating partner, resisting an officer, $5,500 bail;

James Thomas Moore III, Drasco, Ark. – illegal possession of stolen things, no bail data;

Jaye’den D. Sanders, 19, Alexandria – domestic abuse battery with serious injury, illegal use of weapons/dangerous instrumentalities, $50,000 bail;

David Scott, 70, Pineville – OWI second offense, speeding, $1,700 bail;

Alexis Brooke Wyllie, 32, Alexandria – home invasion, $50,000 bail.

March 25

Kelvin Lavell Craig, 62, Clarence – OWI second offense, open container, reckless operation, running a red light, $1,900 bail;

Alfred Ray Davis Jr., 41, Alexandria – domestic abuse battery, five counts theft, contempt of court, $7,000 bail;

Kemon D. Lewis, 26, Ferriday – criminal conspiracy, taking contraband to and from penal institutions, contempt of court, $20,000 bail;

Nicholas Joseph Scallan, 41, Pineville – stalking, $250,000 bail;

Ashley Nichole Young, 43, Pineville – possession of CDS, theft, probation violation, contempt of court, $7,000 bail.

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Susan Diane Chelette Reed, age 70, of Pineville, Louisiana, passed away on March 27, 2026. Born on February 11, 1956, in Alexandria, Louisiana, Susan was the daughter of Lee Timothy Chelette and Julia Roshto Chelette.

Funeral services will be at Gallagher Funeral Home & Crematory on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at 1:00 PM. Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM and continue until the time of service. Bro. Kevin Simmons of Wayside Baptist Church, Pollock, LA will be officiating the service. Serving as pallbearers will be Steven Seale, Adam Chelette, Wesley Chelette, Luke Chelette, Eli Norris, Jayden Bridges

Susan devoted much of her life to caring for others. She worked as a Resident Training Specialist at Pinecrest State School, where she faithfully served and showed great compassion, especially in helping those with disabilities. Her caring spirit was evident not only in her work, but in every part of her life.

She had a deep love for music and was a cherished part of her family singing group. Susan also enjoyed good food and was known as an excellent cook, especially when preparing duck, which was one of her specialties. She found joy in simple pleasures such as word puzzles, adult coloring books, and spending time in church, which was a very important part of her life. Above all, she was a loving mother, aunt, and friend who will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Susan was preceded in death by her parents, Lee Timothy Chelette and Julia Roshto Chelette; and by her son, Bobby Blade.

Those left to cherish her memory include her son, Anthony Brown of Pineville; her brothers, Derk and wife Sally Chelette of Colfax, Timothy and wife Karen Chelette of Colfax, and Chris and wife Vicki Chelette of Angleton, Texas; her sister, Iris “Sissy” Hollie and husband Ronald of Pineville; her beloved pet, Matilda “Mattie Cake”; as well as a host of extended family members and friends.

Susan will be remembered for her loving heart, her kindness to others, her devotion to family, and her faithful love for church and community.

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A Celebration of Life for Kevin Paul Barrett will be held at New Hope Free Methodist Church, Deville, with a visitation from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Graveside Services will follow at Big Island Memorial Garden at 11:00 a.m., with Brother Beau Edwards officiating. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Hixson Brothers Funeral Home of Pineville.

Pallbearers honored to serve will be Sean Fisher, Sammy Fisher, Jody Fisher, Knocky Joe Foster, Cody Barrett, and Blake Hunley. Honorary Pallbearers will be Jacob Barrett, Rabon Fisher, Chuck Lucas, and Randall Lucas.

Kevin faced many challenges throughout his life, and those who knew him remember him in their own way. As a family, we take this time to reflect on his life and to hold close the importance of grace, compassion, and peace.

He is preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Luther Barrett, Sr., and Mattie Barrett; maternal grandparents, Odron Fisher, and Leona Fisher; and aunts & uncles, Cody Fisher, Dora Jane Fisher, Irvin Fisher, Patsy Fisher, Claudell Lucas, and Martha Detrich.

He is survived by his parents, Irma Faye and Odis Barrett, Jr.; son, Jacob Barrett; brother, Brian Barrett (Sheri); nieces, Alexis Hunley (Blake), and Peyton Barrett; nephew, Cody Barrett, and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends who will remember him and the life he lived. Though his journey was not without hardship, we hope he has now found peace.

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