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BATON ROUGE — The House Education Committee rejected a resolution Wednesday that would have asked public schools, including universities, to provide information on programs and activities related to critical race theory, diversity, equity and inclusion, and social-emotional learning.

The resolution was deferred on a 6-5 vote. Two Republicans — Reps. Vincent “Vinney” St. Blanc III, of Franklin, and Barbara Reich Freiberg, of Baton Rouge — joined four Democrats in rejecting the proposal.

A major contention point, highlighted by public education officials at all levels, was the resolution’s lack of definitions for the various subjects. The vote also represented a relatively rare instance in which Louisiana Republicans blocked a push on a cultural issue targeted by national party activists.

Rep. Ken Brass, D-Vacherie, asked the sponsor of the bill, Rep. Valarie Hodges, R-Denham Springs, to define critical race theory. She dodged the question, saying, “different people interpret it different ways.”

He repeated his question, with a similar response from Hodges. Brass asked instead, “What are people teaching?”

“That one race is superior or inferior to another, or that some people are advantaged because of the color of their skin,” Hodges replied. “And I do not believe that. I think that we have equal opportunity, and we should not judge one another based on the color of our skin.”

Ethan Melancon, representing the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, said the lack of definitions made it unclear what exactly was being asked of the
schools. He said schools have provided information like this before, and making them do it again would pose a bureaucratic burden.

“There are no CRT in our school systems,” Melancon said. “This has been reported.”

At one point in the hearing, Hodges said she believed there was a critical race theory department at LSU. But State Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter
Reed later said there were no critical race theory departments at universities anywhere in Louisiana.

Monty Sullivan, president of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, said the resolution was not the accountability instrument Hodges portrayed it as.

“You’re asking people of color to justify why they need resources spent on them,” he said.

He also touched on how the bill was fueled by a national culture war debate. “The little man in Florida does not drive policy in Louisiana,” he said in an apparent reference to presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has opposed diversity programs in schools.

Rep. Tammy T. Phelps, D-Shreveport, echoed his point.

“We know it’s a national agenda item. We know that,” she said. “So just be honest and respectful to all of us and say that, then we can move on.”

Hodges and opponents of her resolution defended it by saying it simply claimed to collect information.

She said the information would not necessarily be used to deflate diversity programs.

The following are the radio dispatch logs from the Morgan City Police Department. To report unlawful or suspicious activity, call the Police Department at 985-380-4605.
Tuesday, May 30
6:28 a.m. 700 block of Bush Street; Purse snatching.
7:43 a.m. 1000 block of Railroad Avenue; Domestic.
8:20 a.m. 600 block of General Hodges Street; Animal complaint.
8:39 a.m. 1100 block of Victor II Boulevard; Alarm.
9:03 a.m. 3300 block of La. 70; Medical.
9:17 a.m. 300 block of Laurel Street; Animal complaint.
11:12 a.m. 500 block of Egle Street; Complaint.
11:29 a.m. U.S. 90 Bridge; Vehicle accident.
12:17 p.m. 900 block of Seventh Street; Theft.
12:22 p.m. Orange Street; Disturbance.
12:28 p.m. U.S. 90 East; Traffic incident.
1:53 p.m. 2300 block of Cypress Street; Loud music.
1:58 p.m. 10 block of Glenwood Street; Medical.
2:23 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.
2:28 p.m. 900 block of Youngs Road; Medical.
2:50 p.m. 1400 block of Filmore Street; Suspicious person.
4 p.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Fire alarm.
6:07 p.m. 600 block of Louisa Street; Complaint.
6:21 p.m. Marguerite Street/Victor II Boulevard; Traffic complaint.
6:24 p.m. 400 block of Laurel Street; Criminal damage.
6:30 p.m. 300 block of Aycock Street; Alarm.
6:59 p.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Disturbance.
7:50 p.m. 1700 block of Elk Street; Complaint.
8:04 p.m. U.S. 90 Westbound; Stalled vehicle.
9:56 p.m. Glenwood/Pecos streets; Suspicious person.
11:11 p.m. Wren/Mallard streets; Disturbance.
11:41 p.m. 500 block of First Street; 911 hang up.
Wednesday, May 31
12:20 a.m. Front/Greenwood streets; Suspicious vehicle.
1:30 a.m. 2300 block of Clements Street; Mental patient.
2:46 a.m. 1000 block of Third Street; Welfare check.

LAFAYETTE – A Mass of Christian Burial and Celebration of Life will be held Friday, June 2, 2023, at 2:00 PM in St. Mary Mother of the Church Catholic Church for Douglas A. “Buddy” Moody Sr., age 95, who passed peacefully at home, surrounded by his family members, on Saturday, May 27, 2023. Reverend Cedric Sonnier, Pastor of St. Mary Mother of the Church Catholic Church in Lafayette, will officiate the services, and Reverend Kenneth Domingue, Pastor of St. John Berchmans Catholic Church in Cankton, will be the Homilist and con-celebrate the Funeral Mass. Lectors will be Rosalind Moody Robertson and Douglas Moody II; giftbearers will be Buddy’s Granddaughters. Interment will immediately follow the mass in Calvary Cemetery.

Survivors include his beloved wife of 64 years, Claire Boriskie Moody of Lafayette; his daughter, Mary Margaret Moody Domingue (and Son-In-Law, Hille Domingue) of Lafayette; two sons, Douglas A. Moody II (and Son-In-Law Gregg Pavlak) of Asheville, NC; and Philip John Moody (and Daughter-In-Law Cindy Sauls Moody) of Baton Rouge; his beloved brother, Braxton I. Moody III of Crowley; eight treasured grandchildren, Mallory Chastant Rodrigue (and Jacques Rodrigue) of New Orleans; Paul Thomas Chastant III (and Lillie Joyce Chastant) of New Orleans; Natalie Domingue Folse (and Andrew Folse) of New Orleans; Christopher Domingue (and Amelie Greco Domingue) of Houston, TX; and Benjamin Domingue of Houston, Tx; Phillip John Moody II (and Rachel Falgout Moody) of Baton Rouge; Anna Catherine Moody of Grayton Beach, FL; and Amelia Grace Moody of Baton Rouge; four great grandchildren (Ruthie Chastant, Roman Rodrigue, “Tripp” Moody, and Adeline Domingue); and his nineteen beloved nieces and nephews including his beloved Godchild, Rosalind Moody Robertson, who with her husband Sam Robertson, have been treasured family members and neighbors since 1987.

Mr. Moody was preceded in death by his father, Braxton Isham Moody Jr. of Iota, LA and Auburn, AL; his mother, Mabel Amy Moody of Iota, Rayne, and Lafayette; his brother, Charles Armstrong Moody of Lafayette; and his sister, Ann Bievenue Richard of Rayne, LA.

Buddy was a life-long native and avid hunter of southwestern Louisiana. He was born in Eunice on September 21, 1927, the second son of Braxton I. Moody Jr. and Mabel Amy Moody. His early family years were lived in Iota where his father suffered an untimely death when he was eight years old, leaving his mother a widow with three young boys during The Great Depression. His family eventually moved to Rayne where Buddy grew-up and played six-man football on the Rayne High Wolves Louisiana State High School Championship team in 1944. Later that same year, Buddy joined the US Navy at the height of World War II, training in Boot Camp at the Naval Training Center in San Diego, CA. In his love of story-telling with friends and family, Buddy often recounted that upon his graduation from Boot Camp and right before being deployed into combat in the Pacific Theatre in 1945, the Japanese surrendered because “they heard he was coming.” After “The War” ended, Buddy was Honorably Discharged from the Navy and returned to Lafayette. He worked in the oil and gas industry, “rough-necking” to pay for his college education while attending Southwestern Louisiana Institute (now the University of Louisiana Lafayette). He relished hunting with friends whenever he could find time to do so. He graduated from SLI in 1954 with a BS degree in Business Administration. He met his wife, Claire, in Lafayette in the Summer of 1957 and they were married in New Orleans in January 1959. Claire and Buddy chose Lafayette as “home” and raised their three children while he worked in the directional drilling sector of the oil and gas industry at Eastman. Buddy started his own directional drilling company in 1966, Directional Control, Inc., where he successfully managed and grew his business until retiring in 1985. Buddy never met a stranger and usually started conversations with “Where are you from?” If the response was “Acadia Parish,” he almost always sought a connection to the person’s family and especially cherished such friendships. Since his retirement, Buddy continued to actively pursue investment opportunities in the oil and gas industry with his lifetime friends and business colleagues. Buddy and Claire have been blessed with many years of enjoying time on their family farm in Branch, LA, hunting trips with grandchildren and nephews, family holidays at home, and vacations with their children and grandchildren.

Pallbearers will include Buddy’s sons, Douglas Moody II and Philip Moody, along with his grandsons, Paul Chastant III, Philip Moody II, Christopher Domingue, and Benjamin Domingue. Honorary Pallbearers include his brother, Braxton I. Moody III, Kevin Moody, Sam Robertson, Edward Moody II, Jack Larimer, Ted Graser, and Russell Richard. Buddy also cherished all of his nieces and nephews and loved them dearly.

The family requests that visitation be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church prior to his Celebration of Life and Mass of Christian Burial on Friday, June 2, 2023, from 12:30 PM until time of service, a Rosary will be recited at 1:00 PM, followed by the Mass at 2:00 PM. Interment with Military Honors will follow immediately afterwards at Calvary Cemetery.

The family would like to recognize and express deepest gratitude to Buddy’s medical team, especially Dr. Bradley Chastant, Sr. and Dr. Bradley Chastant, Jr., along with Dr. Roth, Dr. Edward Moody, II, Dr. Kenneth Champagne, and Hope Healthcare and Hospice with his nurses Michelle and Julie. The family would especially like to recognize the love and support from their special friends and Eucharistic Ministers, Kay and Russell Richard from St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and Buddy’s next-door neighbors, Angelle and Edward Marsh. Deepest gratitude to the tireless love, work, and assistance of Buddy’s caregivers at First Options Healthcare, Leading Healthcare, and especially Senior Helpers of Lafayette.

In honoring the values for business education Buddy instilled in his children and grandchildren, his pride in his brother and their shared alma matter, and in lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions in Buddy’s memory be made to the University of Louisiana Lafayette – the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration. Such contributions can be made online at https://give.louisiana.edu/academic-colleges/moody-college-business-admi... or by mail c/o The UL Foundation, P.O. Box 44290, Lafayette, LA 70504.

Words of condolence may be expressed online at www.mourning.com.

Martin & Castille Funeral Home - DOWNTOWN, 330 St. Landry Street Lafayette, Louisiana 70506, 337-234-2311

Some Parish Council members are pushing back against a delay in appointing a public works director until the new parish president takes over next year. They spoke up at Wednesday’s meeting.

Also Wednesday, the council approved a deal that would raise residential trash pickup rates in unincorporated St. Mary. Residents won’t see the increase on their monthly bills — not this time, anyway.

The council also heard from Amelia residents concerned about water rates, poor streets and blighted houses in their community.

The public works director position has been vacant for a month. Former Director Jean Paul Bourg was appointed by Parish President David Hanagriff to be the new chief administrative officer at the end of April, when Henry C. “Bo” LaGrange retired after 27 years.

That leaves Bourg in charge of day-to-day parish government operations as well as continuing to serve as de facto head of public works until his successor is named.
Councilman J Ina of Franklin noted that Bourg was also asked to oversee Water District No. 5 after all five commissioners resigned last month.

Ina asked when a public works director will be appointed.

Bourg answered that Hanagriff, who was absent Wednesday, wants to leave the appointment to the next parish president, who will take office in January. Hanagriff is term-limited and won’t run when parish offices come up for election in October.

“Public works director is a big spot that you want to make sure you’re putting the right person in as well,” Bourg said.

That’s too long a delay for Ina.

“I don’t think having you do CAO duties, public works director duties and the new Water 5 (duties) as a new, inexperienced CAO is putting us as a parish in a position to be successful,” Ina said.

Councilman Dean Adams was more blunt.

“I think we ought to fill that position,” Adams said. “I think [the delay] is a travesty.”

Trash pickup

The council authorized Hanagriff to enter a five-year extension of the deal under which Pelican Waste & Debris LLC handles residential trash pick-up in the residential parish.

The current contract calls for a charge of $19.83 per household per month. The residents themselves pay $19 per household, with the parish paying the remaining 83 cents.

The new deal would raise the charge to $21.95.

The new agreement continues to cap annual increases at 4% and includes a 2% penalty if landfill tipping fees are not paid within 30 days.

Officials pointed to high inflation over the last few years as the reason for the increase.

Bourg said that after talking with other officials, extending the contract with Pelican seemed more practical than putting the contract out for bids. Pelican is already equipped to handle pick-up using bear-proof trash cans, which require a substantial investment, and the area in which bear-proof cans are required will soon expand in the area south of U.S. 90.

No one had exact figures on how much the parish would have to pay to absorb the higher per-home rate. Bourg called it “substantial.” Councilman Rodney Olander said a previous $4 increase amounted to $80,000.

Bourg said he’s about to oversee a parish budget for the first time, but for now, he doesn’t favor passing the increase on to parish households. Olander agreed.

“I’m not for raising no rates right now,” said Councilman Mark Duhon of Amelia.