Latest news with #UniversityofLouisiana
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Major tweaks to TOPS scholarships in Louisiana scrapped due to cost
The University of Louisiana Monroe library, photographed from Northeast Drive. (Greg LaRose/Louisiana Illuminator) Louisiana lawmakers have advanced a new TOPS award for high-performing students, scrapping language from an original proposal that would have dramatically changed the popular scholarship program. House Bill 77 by Rep. Chris Turner, R-Ruston, was amended Tuesday in the House Committee on Appropriations because it would have increased state spending nearly $50 million annually at a time when lawmakers are working under budget constraints. In its current state, Turner said his proposal comes with a $12 million cost that can be covered with unused TOPS awards. Originally, Turner's bill would have created a flat rate for each level of TOPS award rather than a unique allotment for each school. The new rate would have meant students at LSU, its two medical schools and the University of New Orleans would pay more out of pocket, while students at other Louisiana schools would pay less. The provisions drew the criticism of Phyllis Taylor, whose late husband Patrick F. Taylor was responsible for the creation of the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, a merit-based scholarship program for Louisiana students who attend in-state schools. With the new amendments, Turner's bill creates the TOPS Excellence award, which is available to any student with a 3.5 grade point average and a score of 31 or higher on the ACT. The scholarship will equal tuition and fees at the public university the student chooses or $12,000, whichever is less. The new Excellence award would go to students who enroll in college starting in the upcoming fall semester or later. Turner added amendments to his bill that incorporate language from House Bill 70 by Rep. Ken Brass, D-Vacherie. It would expand the number of students eligible for the TOPS Tech award, which covers up to two years of study in a skill or occupational training program. The bill will next be debated on the House floor. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Lafayette Public Schools, ULL announce Spring Break schedules that begin Friday
Students across Lafayette Parish will get some time off as all public schools prepare to close for spring break. Lafayette's Easter/Spring Break for K-12 will be April 18 to 25, according to the Lafayette Parish School Board's website. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette's Easter/Spring Break for students will be Friday through April 27. Administrative offices will be open from April 22 to April 25. This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Lafayette Parish schools, UL Lafayette announce Spring Break schedules
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Artist Steven Schneider draws inspiration from daily living, nature
TUPELO – Ringed by trees on the 10-acre property he shares with his wife, Steven Schneider can simply take a peek from the studio he built next to their Colorado-inspired stone-and-wood home for inspiration. Stepping out onto the back porch with a commanding view overlooking the vast agricultural fields stretching below and into the horizon, the clear turquoise of the pool is inviting, albeit it's still a bit too cool to take a dip. "It's beautiful out here, isn't it?" he says. "See that cedar over there? I think I'll paint that soon." The setting is ideal for Schneider, who is in his element. At 70, he has an infectious enthusiasm. His eyes sparkle while describing some of his acrylic canvases. "I've been through an evolution ... mostly based on nature references," he said "I tend to go back to landscapes. It's a familiar thing. Growing up in south Louisiana, I'm greatly in love with nature. It feels good." A pre-med major with a fine art minor while in college, Schneider had a revelation while going through the rigors of his studies. While his 3.5 GPA was good, he didn't have the passion for medicine. And his art was as constant companion. "I piddled in watercolor and this and that ... and I realized I wasn't going to medical school," he said. "The art people were so much more fun, and I blame music, too, since I play a little." After graduating from the University of Louisiana, he was associated with a gallery in Lafayette, and it didn't take long for one off his paintings to capture the interest of a buyer. "The gallery called and said, 'Somebody's really interested in your painting and wants to meet you and talk about it,'" he said with a sigh. That wasn't something he was exactly thrilled to do. "My initial thought this would be easy. I could stay at home, do these pictures and these paintings and just send then to galleries, and they sell and they send me a check," he said. "It never really worked out that way." Eventually, he overcame his own hesitation to meet and greet his potential buyers. 'I realized later on that more and more people want to engage with you, the process, what you're all about, and in most cases it's a personal thing if they're going to purchase," he said. "I'm OK with that after 40 years of doing that." Planting the seed Schneider tapped into his affinity for the creative process starting at an early age. "I drew like so many artists, and started drawing as a kid, and discovered I had an aptitude," he said. "I remember in the fourth grade, I was out on the playground drawing, and the teacher put my piece up and asked, 'Who did this?'" That drawing, a house, planted a seed that has blossomed into a career that now finds his artwork viewed and purchased from Oxford Treehouse Gallery in Oxford, Fischer Galleries in Ridgeland, Justus Fine Art in Hot Springs, and Greg Thompson Fine Art in Little Rock. He has been inspired by a range of artists — Georges Braque, the founder of Cubism; Van Gogh and his colorful impressionism; surrealists like Salvador Dali, Max Ernst and Marcel Duchamp; the abstract expressionism of Han Hofmann and the graphic styles of Andy Warhol and Franz Klein; and others. After earning a fine arts degree, Schneider studied advertising design and went into business with his brother. He later opened an ad agency, but after two years, his urge to paint was greater than ever. He wanted to be seen. "All along I was doing my art and painting, and so what I would do was keep contacting galleries and do my art," he said. "So, when I left the ad agency, it was just me. I would do an advertising piece get some money to get some chickens to throw in the freezer, buy some canvases go paint, have an art show, sell a few pieces and go back and forth between graphic design and painting. So, I guess I've been doing that since the age of 25." And he was no starving artist. "I always managed to eat. Advertising paid the steady money," he said. One person who took interest in Schneider was his wife, Cynthia, who he met at a charity event in Lafayette, some 22 years ago. She was intrigued when she first heard about him. "I'd always heard about this very elusive, hidden away artist, a total man of mystery," she said. Cynthia owned a restaurant at the time, and the couple later moved to Donaldsonville, Louisiana, in 2004, where they opened the Schneider Art Gallery and Grapevine Cafe and Gallery and often held events together. "It was really neat," Steven Schneider said. "Have a little wine, a little art. It really paired well." Schneider's style Schneider's art can't be put in a single box, given his various influences. He describes himself as being "compelled to observe and document daily living." He said he draws inspiration from both the "natural and spiritual realms." His interest in plein air forms a base for his landscapes, with planar shapes combined with realistic impressions. "I did plein air painting for a while, and it's something I really enjoyed I have a lot of plein air friends but realize there are thousands of them, and I'm just OK," he said. "Within the past four years, I've tried to push a little more unique and personal." A painting he's working on is inspired by the natural beauty of the Ozarks in northwest Arkansas, where the Schneiders lived for a decade before moving to Tupelo last year. This particular piece is an homage to the Lost Valley Trial in the Buffalo National Forest, the most popular hike in the Ozarks. With sheer rock faces, flowing water and a forested landscape, the trail is being interpreted by Schneider with the blue of the sky, the brown shadowed rock and the green trees playing off each other. Some of his paintings are referenced by photographs, and with his graphic designer skills, he's learned to manipulate the shapes and colors in order to get it to where he wants to be with his paintbrush. "I've done oil, watercolor, 3-D assemblies. Acrylic works for me. I've gotten to the point where I can develop colorizations that mimic texture and depth," he said. Another landscape — called simply, Trace — is inspired by the Natchez Trace. It recently hung at the GumTree Museum of Art in Tupelo, and it speaks to his use of light and shadow. "The colors just sizzle off each other," Schneider said. "After years of studying art theory and plein air outdoor painting, no longer are all the shadows dark and there's just not much light ... now the shadows are luminous. "I like the light and focusing on an area where everything else sort of contributes to the lit areas," he added. "You want people to look at a painting and go, 'Wow, that's cool.' I keep wanting to get to that point where people are compelled to look at it and say, 'Wow, for some reason, I really enjoy looking at it.'" Schneider also has surrealistic paintings like a fireworks stand that caught his eye after a wedding, or a series of paintings of antique vehicles from a junkyard. What he paints is what he would want to hang in his own home, "Things that are cool and intrigue me." For example, there is a 60-by-60 painting of his Martin guitar which he admits is for a very specific audience. Retirement is just a word, not a vocation, but he is trying to be "sort of retired." However, he also feels like he has a lot more time to devote to painting. "My focus for image making is to interpret and communicate more effectively, while my goal is to reveal some truth that initiates interaction and conversations," he said.
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Yahoo
Five arrested for guns, marijuana in Lafayette
LAFAYETTE, La. () — Five people were arrested in Lafayette Parish on alleged firearm and drug charges. The following individuals were arrested and sent to a Lafayette Parish jail, where they were booked on the listed charges: Layton D. Smith, 19, of Alexandria, was charged with one count of possession with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance schedule I (Marijuana). Mikel E. Ferrell, 18, of Alexandria, was charged with one count of possession of controlled dangerous substance schedule I (Marijuana), one count of illegal possession of a firearm with a controlled dangerous substance, and one count of possession of a firearm in a firearm-free zone. Kameron D. Stewart, 19, of Alexandria, was charged with one count of simple possession of marijuana, one count of illegal possession of a stolen firearm, and one count of possession of a firearm in a firearm-free zone. The firearm possessed by Stewart, a 9mm Glock pistol, was reported as stolen by the St John the Baptist Sheriff's Office. Kaleab D. Stewart, 18, of Alexandria, was charged with one count of possession of a firearm in a firearm-free zone. Reginald D. Price, 20, of Prairieville, was arrested on an active 15th Judicial District Court arrest warrant. On March 24, at approximately 4:31 p.m., officers with the were dispatched to the 100 block of Lamar Street to investigate a report of suspicious circumstances. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Lafayette officials said they received information that people were allegedly seen brandishing firearms in the area, which is in close proximity to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette's campus. Officials said an investigation at the scene led to the discovery of firearms and marijuana in the possession of multiple individuals, including five THC cartridge dosage units, 46.3 grams of marijuana, a .40-caliber Glock pistol and two 9mm Glock pistols, with one being reported stolen. There is currently no information regarding bond for any of the people listed. Family of Riley Strain files wrongful death lawsuit against Delta Chi fraternity Meeting with House panel, OPM officials cut short after clash between top lawmakers Rolls-Royce Black Badge Spectre: A New Era in Luxury US Marshals arrest 2020 Louisiana double-homicide suspect Five arrested for guns, marijuana in Lafayette Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Annie Spell only candidate to qualify for State House Dist. 45
BATON ROUGE, La. () — The special election to replace Brach Myers in the will not take place, as only one candidate has qualified. Annie Spell will be the next State Rep. for District 45, a seat that was vacated when Myers stepped down to run for State Senate. in State Senate Dist. 23. According to her campaign website, Spell, a Lafayette native, attended the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau before earning her bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. She later obtained her doctorate from Louisiana State University. That election was scheduled to be held May 3. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Annie Spell only candidate to qualify for State House Dist. 45 Conor McGregor visits White House on St. Patrick's Day Jessie Hoffman asks Supreme Court to block Louisiana's first nitrogen gas execution Brown University doctor deported despite judge's order Signing of veteran backup Brandon Allen points to the Titans using No. 1 draft pick on QB Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
