Wednesday, October 5, 2011

District 3 City-Parish Councilman Brandon Shelvin’s campaign finance report was disappointing at best — disturbing at worst. By Leslie Turk

The Independent’s ongoing reporting on Brandon Shelvin’s history in the Lafayette business world has revealed deeply troubling questions about his judgment, ethics, honesty and suitability for the public office he holds. So imagine our surprise when we reviewed his campaign contributions, which were due to the Louisiana Boa
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Wednesday, October 5, 2011

But it doesn’t always speak clearly; sometimes it insinuates.

The numbers demanded a double take. An incumbent lugging nearly two years’ of bad headlines is rolling in the dough. His competitor, a decades-long civil servant with 22 years in the U.S. Air Force under his belt, is scraping by. I can’t remember which campaign-finance report on the Ethics Board’s website was more compelling — the handsome sum raised by Councilman Brandon Shelvin in one of Lafayett

U.S. District Judge Richard Haik has no doubt seen a cavalcade of human depravity during his decades on the bench. So can anyone question the severe sentence Haik handed down last week against former Acadiana High teacher Stephen Hurst?

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

C'est Bon
Opelousas resident Hubert Vidrine’s 15-year battle with the feds over false criminal environmental charges and malicious prosecution ended Friday when Vidrine was awarded $1.67 million in damages from the federal government.

Pas Bon
If you believe the candidates vying for Louisiana lieutenant governor, both are jerks and double dealers who aren’t fit for public office.

Couillon
When it comes to representative democracy, the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Comme

The place to find vintage clothing and jewelry, Lafayette’s newest flea market piggybacks ArtWalk. By Erin Z. Bass

“This is a different kind of art, but it’s art,” says Twila Trahan about her addition to Lafayette’s ArtWalk. Art & Fleas is a flea market-type venue for handmade crafts, home décor items and vintage clothing and jewelry, minus the fleas of course...

FOND OF FONVILLE
Fonville Winans had been to Louisiana before — in 1928 to work construction. But in 1932 he really got into Louisiana. And it got into him...

Quick: Name the 1989 civil revolt, also known as the Gentle Revolution, that led to the overthrow of Czechoslovakia’s communist regime! Bone up on your trivia, test your command of random knowledge and, most important, help Camp Bon Coeur at the 8th Trivia Night...

Facilitator of grooves and creator of colorful expressionist paintings, retired UL visual arts instructor Dutch Kepler brings his extravagant gifts to Gallery 549...

Un-Pho-Gettable
Saigon Noodles Brings Southeast Asia to Lafayette. By Anna Purdy

Some restaurants are so good you hesitate to mention them, hoping to keep it your own little secret, a backup in the back pocket to take dear friends and impress in-laws. Y’all are lucky I don’t feel that way because if I were to keep a secret, this would be it.

The ladies of the Junior League of Lafayette sparkled and shined for the Tinsel and Treasures Preview Party...