https://www.weeklycitizen.com/story/news/local/2026/10/27/ascension-parish-officials-approve-90-day-moratorium-for-data-centers/92454228007/

• The Ascension Parish Council reconvened its meeting Oct. 26 after several days of recess.
• A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to discussing data centers.
• The council passed a 90-day moratorium on new data centers and high-impact facilities.
• This moratorium will be revisited at the council's meeting set for Jan. 21, 2027.

The Ascension Parish Council approved a 90-day moratorium on possible data centers Oct. 26.

Members reconvened its meeting in Gonzales following a recess that began Oct. 15 due to traffic from the East Ascension High School homecoming parade held simultaneously that evening.

As members gathered again at the courthouse annex, the council spent much of the nearly three-and-a-half hour meeting discussing possible high impact development facilities, such as data centers, and listening to comments from the public.

Near the end, Council Chair Chase Melancon made a motion for the moratorium, with the matter to be brought back Jan. 21, 2027, during the meeting scheduled for the courthouse annex in Gonzales.

Todd Varnado seconded the moratorium motion, and it passed without objection from the other members.

Prior to the decision, many citizens spoke about their concerns regarding the possibility of data centers building in the parish.

"We just need more information and that's what we're doing tonight," Varnado said late in the meeting. "We're doing what we're supposed to do and granting ourselves more time to have more information."

At one point during the meeting, Parish President Clint Cointment broke down his thoughts on the three options the parish has concerning data centers.

"You can do nothing, and have no protections in place," he said, referring to the first option. "You can have a facility buy a piece of property, invest in it, and fight them legally because you have nothing in place. You can put protective ordinances in place, so they have to follow rules, if the body chooses to put regulations in place for a data center to operate here on very strict confinement operations. Or you do a moratorium and kill it. That's the three options."

He went on to note that the council could extend the moratorium early next year or create new solutions moving forward.

Major concerns over data centers have included resource consumption, environmental impacts and quality of life issues.

Hello

I am just now finishing up a stint at a physical rehabilitation center and im looking for a studio apartment or 1br home.. maybe someone with a guest house?

Please point me in the right direction.

Note: i am aware of zillow apartments.com etc etc

Does anyone know what the building is used for now? I always see cars there.

What are your thoughts on this amendment? I’m not sure which to choose.

Just moved to Baton Rouge this past August and I’m looking for a solid tattoo artist that can do new gen tattooing like cybersigilism and micro detail. Anyone have any recommendations around town or the surrounding area?

So, we bought a somewhat beat-up Mustang, and we need to wrap it. Can you please suggest a good place that does vinyl wrapping in or around Baton Rouge? It can be a good place you have used or some place you have seen on your daily commute. Or maybe you know a guy who knows a good guy. Please. You might save our marriage. 😄 Before my spouse DIYs it and asks me to help and I don't want to, and we argue, and I send him (hypothetical) places, and he throws it all away and ... you know how ot goes.

Thank you in advance

Edit: I didn’t make this flyer lol. Just helping the guy out by posting about the festival.

Anyone here found to have a pituitary adenoma?
What were your symptoms?

As far as a medical team, it appears that Ochsner has the only pituitary multidisciplinary team in the South (correct if wrong), comprised of
-Neurosurgeon
-Endocrinologist
-Neuro ophthalmologist
-Radiation oncologist

District 1

Here’s the problem I’m having…

Both Kim and Megan seem to be fluffing their qualifications. 

Kim—is a social worker. She has a doctorate degree…but it’s from Walden University. 

Megan—touts herself as an educator, but I can’t find ANY evidence that she went to college at all. Does she have a bachelor’s degree? If so, from where? Or is she being promoted as an “educator” because she has extensive experience in working in daycare and preschool, with no formal higher education? 

I’m more likely to vote for a social worker with a doctorate from Walden than a glorified daycare worker with no college degree who calls herself an educator. 

I'm in my 30s, I'm not a student, and all I can find when I search for them is student housing. I'm looking to rent a room, and struggling to find anything I'll be able to afford that isn't a scam.

This is long af, but it is so very important. The foundation of strong, healthy, compassionate communities is education.

TL;DR - scroll down to the list of candidates 
My recommendations are at the bottom

Current School Board Map

With the November 3 election approaching, I am starting a voting guide for the East Baton Rouge Parish School Board races. Sorry I didn’t get this out before early voting!

This is not an attempt to be neutral about the future of public education. I oppose charter expansion at scale, and am deeply concerned about wealthy political interests using local elections to reshape our school system without meaningful public support or accountability.

I support strong traditional public schools and believe specialized charter schools can play an important role when they meet a genuine, unmet need. Baton Rouge's dyslexia-focused charter is an example of the kind of specialized model worth examining on its merits. That's very different from an open-ended political agenda to expand charter schools.

I am doing my best here to show who's funding these campaigns, what those funders want, which candidates share their agenda, and whether those priorities serve the children and communities of East Baton Rouge or the interests of a small, powerful group.

1. Why I'm concerned about charter expansion at scale

Charter schools are often marketed as simply giving parents more choices. But a school system isn't just a collection of independent schools competing for students. It is an interconnected system responsible for educating every child.

One of the biggest concerns with charter expansion is which students a school actually serves. Charter schools vary considerably, and their admissions practices differ. Some may screen applicants, use selective admissions criteria where permitted, or create barriers that disproportionately discourage students with disabilities, behavioral challenges, or academic difficulties. Even without explicitly denying admission, some schools' policies and practices can make them more accessible to families whose children are already easier or less expensive to educate.

The result can be a system in which schools compete for students while traditional public schools remain responsible for educating everyone, including children who need the most intensive and expensive support. When students and funding leave traditional public schools, those schools don't automatically shed their buildings, transportation routes, staffing needs, special education obligations, and other fixed costs.

This is particularly concerning for students who are economically disadvantaged, have disabilities, struggle academically, or have other needs that make them more expensive to educate.

I'm not suggesting that every charter school does this, or that every charter is harmful. Some specialized charters serve genuine unmet needs and offer tremendous promise. But the answer to our education challenges is not simply "more charters." We need to ask whether each proposed school improves the entire education system, serves students who need it most, and strengthens rather than undermines our collective ability to educate every child.

My position is ‘anti-charter-at-scale’, not ‘anti-every-charter’. A specialized school addressing a demonstrated need is one thing. Building an entire political agenda around continually expanding charter enrollment is another. AKA, privatization of education.

2. Follow the money: Who is trying to influence these races?

Two organizations worth understanding are the Baton Rouge Alliance for Students and Red Stick Leaders for Students, along with the PACs and other education-reform groups operating in this political space.

The Alliance has undertaken worthwhile work, including its Changemakers program, which is an excellent community-leadership initiative. Recognizing that positive work, however, doesn't mean voters should overlook the organization's policy priorities or its role in local education politics.

Red Stick Leaders for Students and related education-reform interests have supported candidates in these races. Their endorsements, campaign spending, and policy priorities deserve scrutiny, particularly when their resources are substantially greater than those available to many individual candidates.

Why does this matter? School board members make consequential decisions about budgets, school closures, charter applications, enrollment, and how public resources are allocated. Organizations that invest heavily in local elections may have a particular policy agenda they want the board to pursue. Voters deserve to know what that agenda is, who is funding it, and how it could affect the entire public school system.

An endorsement is not just a name on a mailer; it can tell voters something important about the policies and interests a candidate may be aligned with.

I encourage people to look beyond campaign mailers and slogans. Check campaign finance reports, examine the organizations supporting each candidate, and compare their stated priorities with the policies those organizations advocate.

Our school board should be accountable to the students, families, educators, and communities it serves. Voters should be able to make informed decisions about who is trying to shape its direction.

According to The Bayou Progressive's October 24 investigation, Red Stick Leaders received $250,000 from Michael Bloomberg and $500,000 from City Fund Action in 2026. It reported nearly $881,000 available before expenditures, with approximately $820,000 remaining as of September 24. That is a substantial amount of political spending for local school board elections.

The problem isn't simply that money is being spent. It's what that money is trying to accomplish.

Red Stick Leaders and other education-reform organizations have the resources to influence local races through endorsements, independent expenditures, and political mailers. Their financial backing can give a small group of people influence far beyond their numbers in the community.

I'm particularly concerned when those organizations support multiple candidates in the same race, or redirect their support when a candidate no longer serves their policy objectives. 

In District 7, Red Stick Leaders' support for both Chris Spalatin and Michael Vincent, while opposing Hannah Amoroso's approach, raises questions about whether the organization's priority is a particular candidate or simply electing someone who will advance its agenda.

Candidates have become interchangeable vehicles for an organization's policy goals. If an elected member stops voting the way the organization wants, these PACs throw support behind a different person in the next election. Carla Powell is an example of this. She called out the PAC support she received, owned it, and claimed she will no longer be influenced by it. She is now being targeted by the same $ that supported her originally. 

Candidates interview for support by these orgs and must agree on certain policy items before being supported.

The Bayou Progressive recent investigation into school board political donations
** I would link the Alliance’s candidate forum that was streamed Oct 7, but they mysteriously ‘lost’ the stream after their candidates showed poorly

3. District 7: An example of what's at stake

Hannah Amoroso has emphasized community involvement and has opposed the direction Red Stick Leaders wants to take the school system. My understanding is that she has substantial grassroots support from people who want their elected representative to answer to local stakeholders rather than outside political organizations. She has been to dozens of school board meetings over the last 2 decades and been involved with policy as a parent for years. Her opponents have zero experience or connection with EBR schools before now.

Meanwhile, a recent Red Stick Leaders mailer presents voters with a choice between Spalatin (D) and Vincent (R) and urges them not to choose Amoroso. It makes completely untrue claims about Hannah, and I want voters to compare them with Amoroso's actual statements and policy proposals. If a mailer attributes a position to a candidate that the candidate has not taken, voters deserve to know that.

A political organization shouldn't get to define a candidate's position for the public through a mailer and expect voters not to check the underlying facts.

The larger concern is that an organization can spend heavily to shape the choices presented to voters, even when the candidate with the strongest grassroots support may not align with its agenda. If the organization's overriding goal is to elect someone who will advance charter expansion, then supporting either of two candidates may serve that purpose. The public deserves transparency about that strategy and the interests behind it.

I want this guide to investigate the actual spending, endorsements, mailers, and policy positions so voters can make their own judgments.

4. Other organizations pushing education reform

Education Reform Now Advocacy (ERNA)

ERNA actively advocates for public charter school expansion and market-based school choice. Its network has supported candidates in EBR races and spent independently on political communications. The CEO is the former mayor of Providence and pushed for a state takeover to charter-ize the city's schools. He believes that charter expansion and ‘school choice’ is central to progressive education policy.

Democrats for Education Reform (DFER)

A national network that supports Democratic candidates aligned with its education-reform priorities, including school choice and charter-school expansion. DFER is affiliated with ERNA (same CEO). Its presence is a reminder that party affiliation alone doesn't tell voters whether a candidate supports traditional public schools, charter expansion, or some combination of the two.

FuturePAC

A political organization associated with the Greater Baton Rouge Economic Partnership. It has supported candidates whose education-policy priorities overlap with those of Red Stick Leaders.

These organizations aren't necessarily identical, and their overlapping endorsements don't by themselves establish coordination or control. But their common priorities, financial relationships, and spending patterns deserve scrutiny.

I want to focus on the substantive questions: Are they promoting a system that preserves strong public schools for everyone, or one that increasingly shifts students, resources, and political influence toward charter expansion?

5. The races and candidates

There are nine school board districts. Seven have contested races this year; Districts 5 and 9 are unopposed.

• District 1: Kimberly Marie Bainguel (D) vs. Megan Garretson (R)
• District 2: Tristan J. George (D), Vereta Lee (D), Robert Signater Sr. (D)
• District 3: Thomasina Joseph (D), Carla Powell (D, incumbent), Stephen "Stewart" Stewart (No Party), Eugene "Rico" Williams III (D)
• District 4: Tebbe Jackson (No Party) vs. Shashonnie Steward (D, incumbent)
• District 6: Nicole Fitzgerald (No Party), Nathan Rust (R, incumbent), Tristan Yperman (D)
• District 7: Hannah Amoroso (No Party), Chris Spalatin (D), Michael Vincent (R)
• District 8: Melissa "Dani" Altazin (D) vs. Emily Soulé (R, incumbent)

Unopposed districts:

• District 5: Cliff Lewis (D, incumbent, unopposed)
• District 9: Patrick Martin (R, incumbent, unopposed) (tax evasion guy)

What PACs and outside groups are supporting each candidate?

Based on publicly reported endorsements and the October 24 investigation. This is not necessarily a complete list of every donor or expenditure.

• District 1: Megan Garretson: Red Stick Leaders and FuturePAC.
• District 2: Tristan George: Red Stick Leaders, FuturePAC, and DFER Louisiana.       * Robert Signater Sr.: Red Stick Leaders and FuturePAC.       * Vereta Lee was targeted by ERNA opposition spending.
• District 3: Rico Williams: Red Stick Leaders and DFER Louisiana.       * Carla Powell was targeted by ERNA opposition spending.
• District 4: Shashonnie Steward: Red Stick Leaders, FuturePAC, and DFER Louisiana.
• District 6: Nathan Rust: Red Stick Leaders and FuturePAC.
• District 7: Chris Spalatin — Red Stick Leaders, FuturePAC, and DFER Louisiana.       * Michael Vincent — Red Stick Leaders and FuturePAC.     * Spalatin's reported outside support is particularly substantial.     * Hannah Amoroso was targeted by Red Stick Leaders
• District 8: Emily Soulé — Red Stick Leaders and FuturePAC.

Candidates that do not have any charter PAC support or outside money of note:

• District 1: Kimberly Marie Bainguel
• District 2: Vereta Lee
• District 3: Thomasina Joseph; Carla Powell; Stephen “Stewart” Stewart
• District 4: Tebbe Jackson
• District 6: Nicole Fitzgerald; Tristan Yperman
• District 7: Hannah Amoroso
• District 8: Melissa “Dani” Altazin

Help build this guide

• Firsthand perspectives from EBR parents, teachers, students, and community members
• Candidate interviews & public statements
• Evidence documenting who advocated for changes to board representation

Please share sources, correct errors, and add information about candidates or organizations that I have missed. I will keep this updated.

My central concern is that the future of our public schools should be determined by the people who depend on them and not by a handful of wealthy donors and political organizations with a particular reform agenda.

I want excellent public schools for all children, especially those who are most vulnerable and expensive to educate. I'm not convinced that charter expansion at scale serves that goal, and I don't believe voters should have to dig through political spending records and misleading mailers on their own to understand what's happening.

This election is about more than individual candidates. It's also about whether EBR's public education system will be shaped by the communities it serves or by well-funded organizations pushing charter expansion as an end in itself. Voters deserve to know who's funding that agenda and what it could mean for the children who depend on our public schools.

Thank you for reading, thank you for voting, and thank you in advance to all who contribute to this post!

Based on all of this plus factoring in prior education experience in our district I am inclined to recommend:

• District 1: Kimberly Marie Bainguel 
• District 2: no recommendation
• District 3: Thomasina Joseph 
• District 4: Tebbe Jackson 
• District 6: Nicole Fitzgerald 
• District 7: Hannah Amoroso 
• District 8: Melissa "Dani" Altazin 

It looks like my family will be using Medicaid during this transitional stage. From my past experience on Medicaid, trying to get appointments in a reasonable time frame was a nightmare...especially if you need to see specialists.

Has anyone navigated this recently?

Is anyone in need of these services? I'm an 28 year old girl looking to make some extra cash. I grew up with pits and currently have 3 cats. I have references if needed! And i can do ANY hours.

Hey everyone! If you enjoy two-player card games or want to try something new, we're running a walkthrough/open-play session for Chu Han tomorrow (Tuesday, Oct 27) at 6 PM at Little Wars. Everyone is welcome with no experience needed. It’s also good practice for anyone thinking about entering the tournament next month. Hope to see a few of you there!"

Anybody have 2 adult tix for the night maze on this Friday . They sold out as I just found out about them today.

Taking family Christmas photos and i found the perfect dress. Unfortunately I found it too late because it takes at least a month to get here and my pictures are on the middle November. Anyone know a dress maker between here and New orleans...or maybe someone's grandma or fashion student?

Time: about 2 weeks

Cost: <$500

Location: B.R to N.O

Please let me know of any leads. Ill be contacting seamstresses in the meantime but surprisingly a lot are closed today. Bonus points if they have an online portfolio.

Also, ive never had a dress made. Feel free to tell me if my time/cost is unreasonable.

Thanks in advance

It's tough to find info about judicial candidates other than what's on the candidate's websites and LinkedIn pages. Thankfully, East Baton Rouge Parish Prison Reform Coalition holds a number of candidate forums in the lead-up to elections. Like this one:

https://youtu.be/L3LLCQkINUM

Hope it helps.

I am using this YouTube video to help me decide how to vote on the constitutional amendments. It explains each amendment. If there is something you don’t understan, maybe you can ask in the comments and someone can explain it better. That someone might not be me. Please don’t use this post as an opportunity to be ugly. Please be civil and kind, and please tell the truth.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wGurqBhcLv8&pp=iggUQAFKEC0zVFNwNmxackhiWjQ1NG4%3D&ra=m

Any recommendations for someone to keep up a 600 koi pond in Baton Rouge?

Can anyone recommend a reasonably priced succession attorney with experience to help us gain administration of an estate?

Hey everyone, trying to make a list of lunch deals by day for the south Baton rouge/N prairieville area. Some examples would be pizza artista bogo and Alexander's $5 sushi, both on Tuesdays. These or even things like the every day price of Sam's club hotdogs would be appreciated