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Patterson is entering the podcast universe.

Patterson Mayor Rodney Grogan has been interviewed by Mayor Matt Seale of Ocilla, Georgia, for the Small Town Podcast, a partnership between the Louisiana Municipal Association and Louisiana Economic Development.

According to a press release, “Mayor Grogan discusses what it’s meant to serve as the first African-American mayor in Patterson and his life leading up to this great honor. Grogan also discusses the efforts being made in revitalizing the great small town of Patterson.”

The podcast became available for streaming or download Monday. Click here to find the podcast webpage.

Podcasts have been around for nearly 20 years, but they’re like opera or liver and onions: You either love them or you don’t acknowledge their existence. For the latter category, podcasts are like radio shows that you can download or stream anytime you want. Generally you can listen to them on the web or use an app like Apple Tunes, Spotify and Stitcher.

Some podcasts are just re-airing of news shows you’d see on Fox News or MSNBC. Some are old-fashioned radio dramas.

Some are devoted to fans rehashing episodes of new or classic TV shows like "The Americans" or "Law & Order." And some are dedicated to hobbies like sewing, boating or amateur radio.

Podcasts have become famous in their own right, like Serial, a true-crime exploration of the conviction of a high school student for killing a classmate. True crime is huge in the podcast world.

Some people have become famous for hosting popular podcasts, such as Joe Rogan.

As you might expect, our weird and wonderful state has been the focus of some special podcasts.

Duking it out

Josh Levin, a New Orleans native who is now national editor for Slate, explored the rise of David Duke in the fourth season of Slate’s Slow Burn podcast.

The Slate blurb about Slow Burn says Levin explores “how a Nazi sympathizer and former Klansman fashioned himself into a mainstream figure, and why some voters came to embrace his message. It will also examine how activists, journalists, and ordinary citizens confronted Duke’s candidacy, and what it took to stop him.”

The series focuses on the political tap-dancing over whether and how state Republicans would support or not support Duke in his 1991 gubernatorial campaign, the one featuring the infamous “runoff from hell” pitting Duke against Edwin Edwards.

The podcast includes interviews with Edwards and the late Beth Rickey, the south Louisiana Republican who did much of the early research into Duke’s ties to the Klan and neo-Nazis.

The podcast is worth hearing in the present day, when national politics wrestles over which side is being radical and what to do about it.

Slow Burn’s other seasons have been devoted to stories including Watergate, the Clinton impeachment and, currently, the run-up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Click here to find the Slow Burn Season 4 page.

The Bulldog

Another ear-opening podcast is Deep Cover, which begins — but only begins — with the notorious Bulldog marijuana smuggling case from the 1980s.

An abandoned barge was found in 1983 at a Vermilion Parish shipyard near a community called Bancker. Inside were the water- and oil-spoiled remnants of what had been an estimated 280,000 pounds of marijuana.

Five years later, a federal grand jury in Louisiana handed down indictments alleging that millions of pounds of marijuana and cocaine were smuggled into the state, and that the proceeds were laundered by none other than Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega.

The drug-smuggling and money-laundering accusations played a role the next year in the decision by President George H.W. Bush to invade Panama and depose Noriega.

Among those interviewed for the early stages of the podcast was Roy Frusha, who was head of Louisiana State Police Region II Narcotics when I covered state police in the early 1990s.

Frusha, who wasn’t yet the Region II Narcotics commander in 1983, describes climbing down into the barge, finding the dope dregs and tracking the smugglers who had stayed in the Bancker area during the off-loading. Utility bills helped investigators figure out what had been going on.

Click here to go to the Deep Cover website.

Frusha, by the way, wrote “Wrestling With Pigs,” a fictionalized account of the case and the politics that followed in its wake. The title comes from a George Bernard Shaw quote: “Never wrestle with pigs. You’ll both get dirty and the pig likes it.”

Bill Decker is managing editor of The Daily Review.

(Editor’s note: The charges listed here and the narratives that go with them are provided by the police agencies that made the arrests. Guilt or innocence has not been determined in court.)

A Pierre Part man is in jail in Assumption Parish, accused of sexually assaulting a juvenile girl, the Sheriff’s Office said

In Berwick, a disturbance led police to Martin Luther King Drive home on Saturday, and then to outstanding warrants and methamphetamine, according to arrest reports.

Assumption
Sheriff Leland Falcon reported these arrests:
—Richard Paul Allemond, Jr., 32, Agnes Street, Pierre Part, was arrested on charges of first-degree rape, sexual battery and indecent behavior with a juvenile.
Deputies responded to an Agnes Street address Friday for a possible kidnapping. Deputies reported that a child was believed to have been a victim of felony sex crimes. The information relative to a possible kidnapping is being investigated and have since been referred to the Criminal Investigations Divisions.
Detectives were assigned to the case and learned that the child had been lured by the suspect, Allemond, to his residence with a promise of candy. Once the child arrived at the suspect’s residence, he allegedly committed multiple sex crimes.
The suspect was located at a location in Pierre Part and was detained at that time.
Detectives interviewed a number of witnesses relative to the case.
Detectives additionally secured search warrants, and those warrants were executed at addresses within the community. The Sheriff’s Office wouldn’t say what if any evidence was seized with those warrants.
As the investigation progressed, detectives detained Allemond for investigative purposes.
Based on the investigation, detectives applied for and received arrest warrants for Allemond.
Allemond was arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Facility with bond set at $500,000.
—Harrison A. Truehill, 37, Luther King, Napoleonville, was arrested Friday on charges of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, illegal carrying of weapons, driving with a suspended driver’s license, illegal win-dow tint, and obstruction to driver’s view or driving mechanism.
A uniformed patrol officer observed a vehicle near La. 1 and Martin Luther King commit a traffic violation.
The deputy made contact with the driver, identified as Truehill, and the deputy conducted an interview. The deputy was notified by Communications that Truehill was driving under a suspended driver’s license and was a fugitive from the city of Thibodaux.
During a search of the suspect vehicle, deputies seized a large-caliber handgun. The investigating officers de-termined that Truehill was a convicted felon. Truehill was arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Facility. He was released on a $125,000 bond.

Berwick
Police Chief David Leonard reported these arrests:
—Rickey Watts, 32, Martin Luther King Drive, was arrested at 6:57 a.m. Sunday on charges of possession of methamphetamine, violations of controlled dangerous substance laws (drug-free zone) and illegal use of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a minor, and on a St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant for failure to appear.
—Alicia Bertrand, 36, Oregon Street, Berwick, was arrested at 6:57 a.m. Sunday on charges of possession of methamphetamine, violations of controlled dangerous substance laws (drug-free zone) and illegal use of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a minor, and on a St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office war-rant for failure to appear.
About 6:16 a.m. Sunday, the Berwick Police Department received a call of a disturbance at a residence on Ore-gon Street. Officers arrived in the area and learned that Watts and Bertrand had been involved in a verbal alter-cation.
Through the course of the investigation, both were found to have active warrants through the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office and were placed under arrest. While allowing Bertrand to gather some belongings inside the residence, officers located methamphetamine in plain view, which led to a search warrant of the residence.
During this time, three children were present. The residence where the incident occurred is within 2,000 feet of a church.
Following the investigation, Bertrand and Watts were transported to the Berwick Police Department where they were both booked.

St. Mary
Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that over the last 72-hour reporting period, the Sheriff's Office responded to 120 complaints and reported these arrests:
—Shawn Matthew Miller, 26, Iota, was arrested at 6:31 p.m. Friday on charges of theft, possession of meth-amphetamines and possession of drug paraphernalia. No bail has been set.
—Tyrone David Jackson, 37, Jeanerette, was arrested at 10:57 a.m. Saturday on charges of no tail lights and driving under suspension. Jackson was released on a summons to appear Sept. 1.
—Corey Logan Chavis, 31, Freeport, Florida, was arrested at 4:34 p.m. Saturday on a warrant through the Fort Walton County Sheriff's Office alleging aggravated battery with a deadly weapon, battery and failure to register as a convicted felon. Chavis is being held for another agency.
—Dontrielle Harris, 30, Franklin, was arrested at 12:10 p.m. Sunday on charges of expired license plate and no insurance. Harris was released on a summons to appear Sept. 1.
—Kamron Nicholas, 19, Bayou Vista, was arrested at 4:13 p.m. Sunday on charges of possession of marijua-na, no seat belt and possession of drug paraphernalia. Nicholas was released on a summons to appear Sept. 1.
—Amaya Renee Barbay, 18, Franklin, was arrested at 4:13 p.m. Sunday on a charge of resisting an officer by giving false information. Barbay was released on a $2,500 bond.
—Jasmine Rae Mccoy, 27, Franklin, was arrested at 6:23 p.m. Sunday on charges of driving under suspension and reckless operation (no accident). Mccoy was released on a summons to appear Sept. 1.
—Christian Jonathan Avila-Suazo, 25, Patterson, was arrested at 11:54 p.m. Sunday on charges of reckless operation (no accident), driving while intoxicated and driver must be licensed. Avila-Suazo was released on a $750 bond.

Morgan City
Police Chief James F. Blair reported that over the last 72-hour period, the Morgan City Police Department responded to 106 calls for service and made these arrests beginning Friday:
—Tommy James Vidos, 45, Levee Road, Morgan City, was arrested at 4:09 a.m. Friday on charges of resisting an officer and possession of marijuana and on a 16th Judicial District Court warrant for failure to appear for a revocation hearing.
-—Rachel L. Vidos, 43, Levee Road, Morgan City, was arrested at 4:24 a.m. Friday on a charge of posses-sion of marijuana.
—James M. Russo, 71, Fifth Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 12:36 p.m. Friday on a warrant alleging stalking, authorized entry of an inhabited dwelling and simple battery.
—Arther Geroldo Wesh Jr., 26, Short Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:55 p.m. Friday on a warrant alleging possession of marijuana.
—Edward Ulyesee Giroir, 26, Egle Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 4:05 p.m. Saturday on a charge of aggravated assault.
—Brock Elix Williams, 41, Oak Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:05 p.m. Saturday on a charge of criminal damage to property less than $1,000.
—Jermaine Antoine Peters, 45, Eighth Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 3:38 a.m. Sunday on a warrant alleging failure to register or notify as a sex offender.
—Myles Anthony Morgan, 33, Front Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 2:04 p.m. Sunday on 6th Ward Court warrants alleging six counts of failure to appear to pay fines and two counts of contempt of court.

Franklin
Police Chief Morris Beverly reported that the Franklin Police Department responded to 23 complaints over the 24-hour reporting period and made this arrest:
—Travis Mack, 42, of Blakesley Street, Franklin, was arrested at 12:31 p.m. Friday on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of a legend drug without a prescription.
Mack was additionally arrested on a warrant for 16th Judicial District Court for failure to ap-pear on the charges of driving while intoxicated, reckless operation, and no driver's license. Mack was booked, processed and held on a $3,500 0 bond.

St. Martin
Sheriff Becket Breaux reported these arrests:
—Nathaniel Davis, 38, Begnaud Street, Breaux Bridge, was arrested Saturday by the Breaux Bridge Police Depart-ment on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated; head lamps on motor vehicles and motorcycles; operating a vehicle while license is suspended; resisting an officer; and resisting an officer with force or violence.
—Lawrence Leblanc, 53, Champaign Drive, Youngsville, was arrested Saturday on a charge of contempt of court.
—Emery Richard, 33, Vance Avenue, Alexandria, was arrested on a charge of Schedule I drugs, contraband taken to or from a penal institution, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
—Laporchia Alexander, 28, Oak Apple Avenue, Baton Rouge, was arrested Friday by the Louisiana State Police on charges of aggravated obstruction of a highway of commerce, switched plates and drivers must be licensed.
—Zed Guidry, 36, Antoine Circle, St. Martinville, was arrested Friday on charges of child endangerment domestic abuse and interfering with emergency communication.
—Dylen Zenon, 36, Florence Drive, Breaux Bridge, was arrested Friday on charges of manufacture, distribution and possession with intent to distribute Schedule II drugs and failure to appear.

Officials should wait for a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers study before making decisions about flood control that could affect Morgan City and surrounding areas, U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy said Thursday.
Cassidy toured the $80 million Bayou Chene Flood Control Structure and got a look at the Arulaq, the specially built Brice Civil Constructors dredge designed to keep the Atchafalaya River Bar Channel open for large vessels.
Cassidy visited Morgan City at a time when fundamental assumptions about control of Mississippi and Atch-afalaya River flooding are being re-examined.
During a series of high-water events since 2011, the Bonnet Carre Spillway has been opened six times, sending water into Lake Pontchartrain and eventually to the Mississippi Sound.
Interests in Mississippi and eastern Louisiana, including the fishing industry and environmentalists say the Mississippi River Commission and the Corps are too quick to open Bonnet Carre and too slow to use the Morganza Spillway, which would relieve Mississippi River flooding by sending more water into the Atchafalaya.
Mississippi officials point to the economic damage to shrimp fishing and oyster beds, to flooding and to effects on ecologically sensitive areas. And those interests have gone to Congress and the federal courts for relief.
An even more dramatic change is being discussed. Currently, 30% of the Mississippi’s water is diverted into the Atchafalaya system at the Old River Structure. There has been talk of increasing the percentage headed into the Atchafalaya, potentially increasing the flood risk for St. Mary Parish and the surrounding area and dumping more sediment into commercially important waterways.
Thursday in Morgan City, Cassidy, R-La., said the Corps study is needed to predict what he called the “second-, third-, fourth- and fifth-order effects.”
The senator pointed to the Bayou Chene structure as an example. A permanent flood gate that can be closed during high water is under construction in St. Mary. But it offers protection to six parishes.
“That’s a very simple watershed,” Cassidy said. “Think about the complexity of a system throughout the Mississippi as well as the Atchafalaya.”