Free Republic

<p>Louisiana residents are fortunate to have two quality gubernatorial candidates in Bobby Jindal and Kathleen Blanco. We recommend Blanco.</p> <p>Blanco, a Democrat, has experience on the Public Service Commissioner, in the Legislature and eight years as lieutenant governor. She has 20 years solid of public service in Louisiana and has earned the chance to lead the state.</p>

The Voice of NASCAR Comes to Louisiana for Jindal Darrell Waltrip to Campaign with Bobby in Monroe Thursday The Jindal campaign today announced that Darrell Waltrip, the face and voice of NASCAR will join Bobby Jindal for a campaign rally on Thursday afternoon, November 13th, in Monroe. The rally will occur at Bubba Luigi’s restaurant, 2105 North 7th Street in West Monroe at 1:00pm. The rally is free and open to the public. “I am very excited to have NASCAR legend Darrell Waltrip campaign with me. Darrell only supports candidates who share his conservative philosophy and the core values that...

<p>Democratic gubernatorial contender Kathleen Blanco ended the first day of her final-week, statewide tour with a stop in Monroe.</p> <p>In her attempt to galvanize and energize her support in northeastern Louisiana, Blanco echoed her message of increasing industry, creating jobs, improving education and addressing health-care concerns.</p>

<p>A former Monroe congressman and the Ouachita Parish sheriff threw their support Friday behind Republic gubernatorial candidate Bobby Jindal.</p> <p>Dr. John Cooksey, a former U.S. representative, and Ouachita Parish Sheriff Richard Fewell met with Jindal and a group of supporters at the foot of the Louisville Bridge in West Monroe to announce their endorsements of Jindal. Both Fewell and Cooksey said they believed Jindal could better deal with the state's financial woes than his Democratic opponent Kathleen Blanco, who is the state's lieutenant governor.</p>

<p>RUSTON - For the first time in more than 60 years, the senator from District 35 will come from somewhere other than Jackson, Lincoln or Union parishes.</p> <p>Official returns confirmed that former 2nd Circuit Court Judge Robert Kostelka defeated incumbent Sen. Bill Jones. Kostelka, R-Monroe, tallied 17,321 votes, while Jones, D-Ruston, totaled 16,122 votes.</p>

<p>Saturday's voting in the governor's race leaves us Monday's choices. Thankfully, they are good ones.</p> <p>Although The News-Star's endorsed candidate for governor, former state Sen. Randy Ewing, did not make the Nov. 15 runoff, his supporters and the supporters of other candidates who fell by the wayside Saturday can take great solace from the choices that remain.</p>

<p>Gubernatorial candidate Bobby Jindal visited Monroe this week to outline his plan for changing Louisiana's image.</p> <p>Jindal, R-Baton Rouge, released the plan during his "Good Government Tour" across the state. The plan includes three main themes - making state and local government more open and accountable to the public, aggressively addressing potential conflicts of interest and responsibly managing spending of hard-earned taxpayer dollars.</p>

<p>Instructors of the Bible course elective in Ouachita Parish Schools walk a fine line.</p> <p>They may teach the Bible as history, but they can't let their beliefs enter the dialogue between student and instructor, said Robertine Hammond, instruction services director.</p>

<p>MILLVILLE, N.J. (AP) — An 8-year-old boy who safely stopped his aunt's sport utility vehicle after she went into diabetic shock will be recommended for Scouting's top lifesaving award.</p> <p>Cub Scout Brandon DiMatties of Monroe will be nominated for the Honor Medal with Cross Palms by Ron Pierson, assistant executive of the Southern New Jersey Council of the Boys Scouts of America.</p>

<p>RUSTON - Retiring 2nd Circuit Court of Appeal Judge Robert Kostelka hopes to trade his seat on the bench for a seat in the Louisiana Senate chamber this fall.</p> <p>Kostelka, R-Monroe - set to retire July 15 from his seat on the State Court of Appeals - hopes to unseat Sen. Bill Jones, D-Ruston.</p>

<p>A Ouachita Parish grand jury returned indictments accusing a Monroe mother and her boyfriend with second-degree murder in connection with the April death of her 5-month-old baby.</p> <p>Assistant District Attorney Stephen Sylvester said the true bills for Jessica Tensley, 20, and Kevin Falcon, 28, also of Monroe, were filed into court records Wednesday morning, and warrants for both were issued.</p>

Graduates find area job market limiting Leesha Faulkner / Education Editor Posted on May 4, 2003 Rachel Childress stood at the back of a conference room at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. She clutched a certificate and a copy of the "Merck Index." The certificate, bestowed last month at ULM's Academic Awards Convocation, honored the ULM senior's outstanding status in chemistry. The book provided information about chemicals, drugs and biological agents. They both mean a lot to Childress. A job for this former Monroe resident means more. The 24-year-old with a 3.5 grade point average works as a chemist...

<p>Ouachita Parish Superintendent Bob Webber said an action item to hire Mike Collins to the coaching staff of Ouachita Parish High School will not appear on tonight's school board agenda.</p> <p>But, he said Wednesday, Collins is likely to be on the agenda when the board meets in May.</p>

<p>University of Louisiana at Monroe head football coach Mike Collins resigned Friday after his arrest for suspicion of driving while intoxicated and careless operation of a vehicle.</p> <p>The arrest came after Collins was involved in a one-vehicle accident early Friday morning.</p>

<p>JONESBORO - Louisiana Tech University English instructor Stephanie Pepper Sims died from a single gunshot wound to the chest, law enforcement officials in Jackson Parish said Friday.</p> <p>As first reported at www.thenewsstar.com, Jackson Parish Sheriff's Office chief deputy Andy Brown said at a Friday morning press conference that investigators haven't found a weapon, but they are searching for Sims' personal gun.</p>

HE WAS only married to Marilyn Monroe for nine turbulent months, but Joe DiMaggio, the reclusive US baseball legend, vowed he would never forgive the Kennedys for her death. Now, four years after his own demise, the man immortalised by Simon and Garfunkel in the song Mrs Robinson appears to have his revenge. A new book, written by his long-time lawyer and close companion Morris Engelberg, reveals he really did believe the Kennedy clan killed Monroe. "They murdered the one person I loved," DiMaggio confided to Mr Engelberg. Officially, Monroe, who allegedly enjoyed affairs with both John Kennedy, the US...

<p>Hundreds of area youth and supporters attended marches and celebrations Monday honoring the efforts of slain civil rights leader the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.</p> <p>Monroe was the center of much of the activities Tuesday, with two separate marches through city streets and a gathering of youth in southern Monroe.</p>

<p>A two-month investigation ended in the arrest of a Monroe man on charges of pornography involving a juvenile.</p> <p>The probe - coordinated between investigators at the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office and the Keene, N.H., Police Department - revealed that Travis Eugene Henson was allegedly posing as a 15-year-old Ouachita Christian School student in an Internet chat room.</p>

<p>Republicans are hoping a visit to northeastern Louisiana by former President George Bush today will galvanize support within and without the party in the last few days of the campaign.</p> <p>"This is a huge deal, motivating our base and everybody in the Twin Cities," said Jeremy Foster, director of communications for Republican 5th Congressional District candidate Lee Fletcher.</p>

<p>Former President George H.W. Bush is coming to Monroe and Lincoln Parish Monday to campaign and raise money for fellow Republicans Lee Fletcher and Suzanne Haik Terrell.</p> <p>Fletcher faces Democrat Rodney Alexander in the 5th Congressional District runoff, while Terrell faces incumbent Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu.</p>