SUMMARY: Lafayette Consolidated Government (LCG) plans to spend $17 million renovating city hall, addressing outdated plumbing, ventilation, and non-ADA-compliant facilities. The $21.5 million project, part of LCG’s five-year capital program, is funded through bonds, sales tax revenue, and existing ARPA funds, which must be spent by December 2026. The project aims to improve public access and modernize the building, following similar city hall renovations in Alexandria, VA, and Clearwater, FL. Design will continue until bidding in summer 2026, with construction starting fall. Approval of new funding depends on this year’s city council budget process, amid some local budget criticism.

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SUMMARY: Thursday, July 31st will be marked by continued excessive heat, with temperatures near 100°F and heat indices over 110°F across southwest Arkansas, north Louisiana, and northeast Texas. An Extreme Heat Warning is in effect for most of southwest Arkansas, though eastern areas and parts of east Texas are excluded due to earlier thunderstorm development, which may reduce heat. Scattered showers and gusty thunderstorms are expected later today with a frontal boundary moving in. This front will bring cooler temperatures by the weekend, lowering highs to the upper 80s and lows to the mid-60s. However, the heat will return by next Wednesday with upper 90s expected.

Clouds have continued to cover the skies overnight and for parts of this morning. Peeks of sunshine are still expected as the excessive heat continues. Temperatures are still expected to reach near 100 degrees with the heat index at or over 110 degrees. A frontal boundary is expected to arrive later today when more scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected. These storms will pose a gusty wind threat and along with heavy downpours. The plus side is temperatures will start to cool down through the next few days into the start of the weekend. This cool down will be brief because temperatures will begin to climb back to the upper 90’s by next Wednesday.

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SUMMARY: Ray Boyer, a longtime Vermilion River resident, faces significant shoreline erosion at his waterfront home, losing about 10 feet over 30 years. He attributes this largely to boat wakes, worsened by high water events when the river is supposed to be closed but isn’t fully enforced. Boyer and neighbors propose solutions like a no-wake zone, increased patrols, and possibly a boat launch fee for funding enforcement, although implementing these is complicated due to jurisdictional limits and funding. Other residents cite runoff and dredging needs. Erosion control efforts include some bulkheads, stormwater management, and trash removal, but no definitive solution exists.

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