No Struggle, No Progress
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People from both sides of political spectrum will be talking about one thing between now and election day. The flavor for the months to come will be about President Joe Biden being too old to serve another term as president. Right-wing media are running stories non-stop about the president being past his time to be in any office, let alone that of the presidency. Biden is 81 years-old, which many will agree that is kind of old to serve in a job as demanding as that of the presidency. However, for some reasons that defy logic, many are...
When Lorethie "Loe" Dunn was selected for the position of Campus Director in Region 8 of Louisiana Delta Community College, located in Bastrop, LA, she became the first African-American to hold that position. Dunn received high praise from the person who selected her, but some did not appear to show the same enthusiasm for her. Allegedly, after the selection, Dunn noted an interesting occurrence - not one of the other Regional Directors, whose job was to select a new Campus Director, offered...
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Black teens and young adults are facing alarming rates of mortality, seemingly ignored by elected leaders. Despite funds allocated at the state level to address this issue, local municipalities often divert these funds elsewhere, neglecting the urgent needs of young Black individuals. Awareness of the funding appears to have lapsed while Black youth and young adults continue to perish from gun violence. The whereabouts and actions of our local leaders in addressing this crisis...
The bodies of three American soldiers killed in an attack at a military base in Jordan had barely landed back home At Dover AFB, as Republicans in Washington almost immediately began to criticize President Joe Biden. Even as President Biden performed the solemn duty of being present when the deceased soldiers in flag-draped coffins were taken off military aircraft, the saber-rattlers were criticizing Biden for not striking back quickly enough. Even as Biden watched the coffins pass him and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden with their hands across...
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD)put on their roadshow in Monroe LA on Tuesday February 6, 2024 at Abe E. Pierce conference Hall, informing people of the various road and other projects underway, and the State leaders from DODT and state/local/were on hand to listen to the concerns on state projects that affect their way of life. A major concern of those who attended the event was about the timeframe of when projects would begin in their area. Citizens questioned...
Disclaimer: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A suspect in a stabbing incident, Keith Franklin, a man from Port Allen, LA, faces numerous charges for his alleged criminal activities. Monroe Police (MPD) had been actively seeking Franklin after he allegedly attacked a female victim in her vehicle. According to MPD, officers responded to a call on January 7, 2024, around 5:02 AM on Mississippi St., where the incident occurred. Court documents reveal that the victim, seated...
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A local man, who had been wanted by law enforcement authorities, was apprehended during a recent traffic stop. On January 29, 2024, deputies from the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office (OPSO) stopped a silver Ford Fusion being driven on Highway 165 with an unreadable temporary tag. According to the deputies' report, the driver of the vehicle was identified as Patrick Tillman. Tillman was of interest to deputies because he was...
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Monroe Police have upgraded the charges against two individuals identified as prime suspects in the death of a 14-year-old on October 21, 2023. The individuals, Joshua L. Smiley and a juvenile were initially charged with Second-Degree Murder, two counts of Carrying a Weapon on School property, and Aggravated Assault with a Firearm. The juvenile, not Smiley, was also charged with Possession of a Handgun by a juvenile. Court documents now reveal that both individuals face...
Prior to, Lorethie "Loe" Dunn's job loss, she devoted 34 years to the vocational and technical institution/community system, giving her more tenure than any other employee in the history of the Bastrop Campus. Part of Dunn's tenure while at Bastrop was her serving as Campus Director which she held from 2011- 2014. Dunn met the qualifications of having a Minimum of a Master's Degree in Education, Administration, or a related field and three years of experience at a senior level in management...
We can be sure that in the race to pick the next president, if it is between President Joe Biden and ex-president Donald Trump, one thing is certain. The nation will have an old man in the White House who will have to contend with an even more dangerous and changing world. One can say that both men are “experienced” in the position of having served as president. Nonetheless, the argument will be how “competent” each man is now that both of them are past the age that most Americans would prefer their president to be. Supporters on both sides o...
In this modern era, individuals must be mindful of their surroundings. Unexpected situations can arise even in places where one wouldn't anticipate them, emphasizing the need for a consistently alert mindset. While some people may follow the same daily route without incident, it's the rare "one time" that can catch them off guard. On January 20, 2024, around 8:00 PM, a local man, accustomed to walking through his neighborhood after visiting a store on Winnsboro Rd., experienced an unsettling event. As he passed the gas pumps at a business...
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A search warrant for an individual wanted by Monroe Police (MPD) developed into an altercation where three people were arrested. According to police, on January 20, 2024, MPD officers arrived at an apartment on Louberta St. to conduct arrests and search warrants. When officers knocked on the door, they made contact with a female identified as Myshella J. Smith. While at the front door of the residence, police indicated that they...
Acquiring it posed challenges. Sustaining it may prove even more challenging. The quest for establishing a second majority-Black voting district in Louisiana has finally succeeded, but not without difficulties. The U.S. Supreme Court played a decisive role, compelling Louisiana Republicans to yield. It seemed evident that conservatives were destined to lose this battle. Governor Jeff Landry is anticipated to sign the bill, along with others passed in a special session. However, the significant achievement is the creation of the second...
Lorethie "Loe" Dunn had a remarkable career, standing unrivaled in her field. In an era where not everyone opts for a traditional four-year college education, Loe Dunn distinguished herself by supporting those who pursued vocational/technical college paths-a successful choice for thousands. Dunn became one of the most impactful educators working at the Bastrop, LA campus and within her community. Her accomplishments in the vocational/technical field at the Bastrop campus and in the city are...
There are many people eagerly awaiting the construction of the massive Amazon facility slated to be built in Monroe, LA, which should provide an economic boost and offer more jobs in the area. City officials made the announcement of Amazon’s arrival several weeks ago, which no doubt will attract many residents in Ouachita Parish and the surrounding area. With a pay scale ranging from $17 to $28 an hour, many job seekers will see this as a way to live better lives for themselves and their families. The facility, upon completion, will be l...
When Donald Trump won the Iowa Caucuses last week, that wasn’t news. When he won almost all of the counties in the state, that wasn’t news. When MSNBC and CNN refused to air Trump’s victory speech soon after the votes were still being counted, that became news. News to Trump’s supporters that is. Trump’s supporters were irate because the cable giants didn’t broadcast (MSNBC) all or some(CNN) of their speech, saying that a leading candidate for his party’s nomination was denied his right to “speak to the nation” on what the Iowa win meant an...
Officers of the Monroe Police Department (MPD) recently detained a local woman for allegedly providing a handgun to an individual involved in an altercation. The woman stated that she was in the parking area of Henrietta Johnson Community Center on December 21, 2023, when an altercation occurred outside a local fish market across the street. Deputies from the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office (OPSO) soon arrived at the scene, later joined by officers of the MPD Heat Team. According to sources, OPSO deputies made no arrests and let MPD handle the...
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. An Ouachita Parish woman is behind bars after being arrested on a charge of Attempted Second-Degree Murder. Monroe Police began looking for a wanted female during the early morning hours on Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, who was a suspect in an alleged crime. The female was identified as Valarie Davis 45. As of press time, Monroe Police have released no details of what happened, as the investigation is still ongoing. Before the...
Delta Community College has undergone several transitions over the last decade, with numerous turnovers in administrations that could be concerning to the community. Despite its growth, there seems to be a toxic atmosphere surrounding the school, according to some community members. Some have mentioned issues that significantly impact employee morale, such as the promotion process, where individuals are promoted or passed over for positions irrespective of their experiences or academic accomplishments. One of the most troubling issues, accordin...
Republicans in Congress are doing all that they can to bring Donald Trump an early Christmas present. Well, maybe an extra present to go in his Christmas stockings. If Trump should happen to win back the presidency, there will be no stopping him from doing whatever he wants. But if Trump somehow becomes the next president of these United States, what do you think would make him an even happier man? As of now and throughout the rest of the campaign season, Republicans in Congress are working on the one thing that Trump wants to see more than...
We are told that one of the institutions upon which this nation was built is that all men are created equal with certain inalienable rights, including life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Among these rights is the right to be judged by our peers and to have a "speedy" trial. It took some time before some of us (Native Americans, Black people) could enjoy the benefits of justice enjoyed by those who were "privileged" in American society. Even now, there is still much work that needs to be done with our current judicial system, as it is...
Last Saturday Jan. 6, 2024 was the third anniversary of an historic assault on the nation’s capital by supporters of ex-president Donald Trump who tried to overthrow a presidential election. Not to long ago, this reporter wrote an article asking readers to recall where they were and what they were doing when televised coverage of the riot took place at the Capital. Just like those of us who remember where we were when JFK, and MLK were murdered and when the moon landing occurred, the Challenger incident and yes, even 911, there are still those...
Melvin Slack asserts that he is a "proud, always super supporter of Carroll High School and always will be." The 1988 graduate, known as "Mr. Carroll," passionately backs the school's athletic program and was present at last Thursday's game against West Monroe on December 7, 2023. However, an alleged incident involving Slack and a Monroe police officer left him angered and upset about the officer's conduct. According to Slack, he was sitting in his regular spot just before the "big" game started when someone asked him to exit a nearby door....
Disclaimer: All persons are innocent until proven guilty. On December 15, 2023, Ouachita Parish Sheriff Deputies responded to a battery complaint in the Brownsville-Bawcomville neighborhood of West Monroe, LA where they identified a male and female victim. The male victim recounted a verbal dispute with the suspect, Jaterrious Burks, escalating to a physical altercation. Burks allegedly brandished a black handgun, striking the male victim on the head multiple times. The female victim,...
A man wanted by Union Parish law enforcement authorities was shot and killed by Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies. According to reports on December 10, 2023, the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office requested assistance from the Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office to locate an individual wanted for a homicide alleged to have occurred in the Crossroads community in Union Parish. Reports indicate that Ouachita Parish deputies found the suspect’s vehicle at his residence on Topic Drive in Monroe. When deputies were about to execute a search and arr...
When there is a race between two or more individuals, the person who comes in first is usually declared the winner. Suppose it is a 100-meter race, and there is a “photo-finish” result. In that case, various mechanisms, such as replay, are used to determine the winner. In the game of football, if there is a controversial call by an official, the head coach has the right to challenge the call. Again, instant replay is used from a variety of angles for the referee to get the call on the field right. When everything is done right by the rul...
In a tragic incident early Monday morning, a house fire in the 200 block of Tennessee St. resulted in the death of a man. The Ouachita Parish Fire Department swiftly responded to the emergency call around 1:45 AM, discovering the victim's body in the living room area of the residence. While official identification is pending from the parish Coroner's Office, authorities believe the deceased to be the 63-year-old homeowner, pending confirmation. After assessing the scene and gathering witness...
The initial stages of the investigation into former Monroe City Schools Superintendent Vidrine's alleged employee misconduct prompted the school board to have him retire. Now, Workplace South Chief Investigator Brian Blackwell states that there was no effort within the school system to regulate the cost of Vidrine's 2018 contract, as well as a lack of a clear outline of the board's responsibilities. Blackwell notes that Vidrine was in charge of his own pay without additional oversight, highlighting "significant failures" by the board. This...
A local mother received a phone call that all parents dread. Debra Price-Ervin recounted that on November 6, 2023, she received a call from Ochsner-LSU Medical Center informing her that her son, Triney Price, was in critical condition. Like any concerned parent, Ervin said she rushed to the hospital, and upon seeing her son, her heart fell apart. She learned that Triney's condition was worse than feared; hospital personnel allegedly told Ervin that her son had tuberculosis after suffering from...
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A local man is in custody, allegedly due to his shoe print. According to the Monroe Police Department (MPD), officers responded to a shooting on Evangeline Street on November 27, 2023, where they engaged in a foot chase with an individual suffering from a gunshot wound. The alleged suspect, identified as Kadorian J. Dougan, was soon apprehended and transported to a local hospital. As officers conducted their investigation at the...
There is good news on the home front. A local woman who was reportedly shot and killed on Owl Street on Sunday, December 3, 2023 did not die. An initial news report stated that the still unidentified woman was shot and taken to a local hospital, where it was reported that she died from her injuries. According to a news statement from the Monroe Police Department (MPD), the victim was transferred to a hospital in Shreveport. MPD made a correction concerning the incident on Monday, December 4, 2023, stating that the victim was recovering and her...
At the current trajectory of his political career, House Speaker Mike Johnson is on a pace not to be known as a great leader in the House. The last three Republican House Speakers will not be mentioned in the same breath as Tip O’Neill when one looks at how they let the inmates take over the asylum. Those Speakers may have tried to be “a voice of reason”, but when Donald Trump decided to take on Barack Obama by questioning his birthright, it was over for the Republican party. Mitch McConnell and other Republicans like Rafael Cruz and Linds...
A local man was the victim of a shooting on Monday, November 27, 2023, at the Shadow Hawk Apartments complex in North Monroe, LA. Monroe Police responded to a report of the shooting at the apartment complex located on N. 23rd and Cameron Streets. An ambulance on the scene transported the (as of press time) unidentified male victim away. According to police reports, the victim was shot around 10:30 AM in the 3200 Block of Evangeline Street. As of press time, the victim was not known to be suffering from any life-threatening wounds. The shooting...
All citizens have the right to petition their elected officials on matters that affect their community, especially when it comes to spending money. One of the first things that citizens want to feel comfortable with is whether their leaders are being transparent when they bring forth new ideas for moving the community forward through improvements that will benefit the community as a whole. Members of the Monroe City Council are part of an entity that regularly votes on matters that are vital...
There are some things, that no matter how long an individual lives, that person will remember that particular instance for the rest of their lives. It takes on a different( and maybe special) if that instance happens when that individual is very young, like in their early teen years. This reporter says this because, at the age of 12, he can remember exactly where he was and what he was doing when John Kennedy( not that John) President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. This reporter knows where he was when NASA’s Challenger e...
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A suspect wanted in an October shooting on Wendall Dr. in Monroe, LA has been arrested. The Monroe Police Department (MPD) recently announced that Thomas J. Little, who was allegedly involved in a shooting incident, had been wanted for Aggravated Assault with a Firearm and Attempted Second-Degree Murder. According to MPD, the incident happened on October 28, 2023, when three off-duty officers were working a detail at the Burg...
Officers of the Monroe Police Dept. arrested a suspect who was alleged to have been involved in an automobile chase where shots were fired during the encounter. Officers would arrest a suspect identified as 36-year-old Isaac C. Bradley as the driver of one of the vehicles involved in a high-speed chase. According to the affidavit filed by officers, officers were on patrol in the area of Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive near the vicinity of Powell and Renwick Streets. They received a call that gunshots came from a dark-colored Dodge Charger....
It wasn’t for the faint of heart. It was words that needed to be said and heard in hopes that mistakes made by a school board or any school board in America would not happen again. But at a school board meeting on November 14, 2023, Monroe City Schools Board members and the public heard the results from findings of Investigators of the South, a firm hired by the board to investigate the activities concerning Superintendent Brent Vidrine. It was a long-awaited report that was scathing in detail about the shortcomings in how the system as a whole...
One may think of lawyers in general during times when we might need one. They are essential to ensuring our rights are protected when one has to go through civil or criminal cases. Lawyers, like judges, are held to the highest standards to ensure they perform their duties with honor and integrity. I’m no lawyer, but I can appreciate them for what they do. A few years back, a case involving a lawyer who practices in Louisiana was brought to my attention. This case was about more than just his legal skills, but rather about how he conducts h...
In an earlier article, this reporter wrote that new House Speaker Mike Johnson, over time, may lament wanting his new position as speaker. In that article, this reporter paraphrased what Star Trek icon Mr. Spock in an episode, said about wanting something that you think you want. In that episode, Mr. Spock told a suitor whom he wanted to take as his wife, someone who was intended by custom for Mr. Spock. In the end, Spock released his intended bride to the person who desired her saying, “Often one may desire something that appeals to him, t...
Allocate tax money where it's needed most, especially as southside schools grapple with innovative techniques and a one-size-fits-all mentality. The Monroe City School system acknowledges the greater needs of its low socioeconomic schools but falls short in providing essential resources. The problems these schools face are enormous, yet the public only hears about the system's dedication to providing opportunities without a clear plan of action. The public demands school accountability, not the lip service received for the last 50 years. Tax...
Details from a deadly confrontation between Ouachita Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies and an Ouachita Parish man were recently released. As the Monroe Dispatch went to press last week, it received reports of a deadly shooting by deputies of a local man killed on November 7, 2023. At the time of the tragedy, few details were released because the incident was under investigation by the Northeast Louisiana Sheriff’s Investigative Unit (NLSIU). Since then, the Sheriff’s Investigative Unit has released new details surrounding the circu...
Say what you will about Donald Trump, he is willing to push the envelope as far as possible just to see how far he can get things to go his way. If one wants to see what “privilege” is all about, see Trump’s picture next to the word. A prime example to take note of is what is going on in the trial that is currently happening in New York, as a judge will soon decide on the punishment that Trump’s businesses will suffer for allegedly overvaluing his properties. Though the judge has already found Trump guilty, that has not prevented Trump from sa...
By the time these words will be read, Dr. Brent Vidrine should be retired as head of the Monroe City School District after being at the post for ten years. People will remember him in their own way, but he certainly will be remembered as someone who came aboard with high expectations to turn a flailing school district around. How he will be judged is not up to this reporter but rather by those who knew him best. Those who worked with him in the field of education up until the time he was unceremoniously released from his position as...
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The arrest of the two suspects who have been charged in the shooting death of a 14-year-old hours after Carroll's 2023 homecoming football game brought a sense of relief to the community. The two suspects, one a 17-year-old minor and 19-year-old Joshua Smiley, are currently incarcerated, with both facing multiple charges. The minor is charged with Second-Degree Murder, Criminal Conspiracy, two counts of Carrying a Weapon on...
Louisiana is known as “The Sportsman’s Paradise" state for its hunting and fishing areas and also if you want to do some alligator hunting. If you are really a “tough guy” you can try a little alligator wrestling. Just kidding. But seriously, Louisiana will soon be known as it is already recognized or ranked as the second most dangerous state for pedestrians. That is a designation that the state could well do without. According to reports, Louisiana was ranked #2 most dangerous state for pedestrians, according to a bumper.com recent review...
Louisiana is going to be in the news a lot over the next 12 months. Jeff Landry will step into the governor’s mansion next year taking the state into God knows where. In Washington during what will be a historic election year if Donald Trump becomes the Republican nominee, Louisiana will be in the news because of Mike Johnson. Yes, that Mike Johnson. The man who was an unknown name in politics except in northwestern Louisiana, is now Speaker of the House of Representatives. What kind of factor will he be in the presidential race on a n...
A local mother received a phone call that all parents dread. Debra Price-Ervin recounted that on November 6, 2023, she received a call from Ochsner-LSU Medical Center informing her that her son, Triney Price, was in critical condition. Like any concerned parent, Ervin said she rushed to the hospital, and upon seeing her son, her heart fell apart. She learned that Triney's condition was worse than feared; hospital personnel allegedly told Ervin that her son had tuberculosis after suffering from...
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty. A local man is in custody, allegedly due to his shoe print. According to the Monroe Police Department (MPD), officers responded to a shooting on Evangeline Street on November 27, 2023, where they engaged in a foot chase with an individual suffering from a gunshot wound. The alleged suspect, identified as Kadorian J. Dougan, was soon apprehended and transported to a local hospital. As officers conducted their investigation at the...
No one knew how it might end. For weeks, there has been a cloud hanging over the Monroe City School Board as it grappled with how to handle what was called a "misconduct" allegation against Superintendent Brent Vidrine. Numerous meetings were held as the board sought ways to minimize the effects that a pending investigation would have on the school district, but it would not be business as usual. That all came to a head Monday night at a special meeting of the school board where members, by a 6-...