It’s a shame that an issue as sensitive to our community as domestic violence has Democrats and Republicans playing election-year politics.

Up until now, reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) has always passed with strong bipartisan support. But this year it has become emeshed in partisan bickering that rages on in Congress.

Fall is upon us, and with it comes all that is great about the season. Sitting snuggled up together under a blanket at a football game, leaves transforming themselves into the most glorious oranges and browns, a crisp chill in the air allowing us boot wearers to get them out of the closet and onto our feet. Fall is a time of change, and I decided to do some of that change over the weekend.

While there are storms enough to topple governments, regimes and societies afoot in these early times of the 21st century, I doubt the apocryphal end of humanity is near.

Gulf Coast shrimpers were braced for the worst news that could come out of a revisiting by the U.S. International Trade Commission of antidumping orders that have been placed on frozen warm water shrimp imported into the U.S. from Brazil, China, India, Thailand and Vietnam.

One question we all encounter these days: How high do you think gasoline prices will go?

The evolving impact of the BP oil spill continues to grow, an upward spiral of ecological and economic bad news few expected when the Deepwater Horizon rig exploded April 20.

Like many folks, we hate to see the U.S. Postal Service put elimination of Saturday delivery back on the table as a means of straightening out its finances.

“Little Shop of Horrors,” the classic comedy  musical based on director Roger Corman’s cult  movie, is coming to Gonzales and the Ascension Community Theatre.

Not long ago Louisiana was ranked No. 1 in the nation for the happiness of its residents in a survey conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The announcement by Sen. Evan Bayh, the moderate Democrat from Indiana, that he will not seek re-election was a stunner.

Once upon a time if someone had suggested abolishing the office of Lt. Governor in Louisiana they would have been laughed out of the state.

It seems that everyone is in the mood to party thanks to the New Orleans Saints Super Bowl victory and the Mardi Gras season. What a great time this month is to be alive in Louisiana and enjoying all the festivities.

With all the excitement and hoopla over the Saints’ Super Bowl win Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts, the election of Mitch Landrieu as Mayor of the City of New Orleans came off as a low key event.

Congratulations. If you are living in Ascension Parish, you live in the fastest growing parish in Louisiana.

If you’ve never been to Louisiana, sucked a crawfish head, booed for the Saints, cheered for the bums and cried like a baby when they choked yet another game, we’ll forgive you.

While many are breathing a sigh of relief that we are in the midst of somewhat of a downturn in the H1N1 flu pandemic, it is important to remember that these viruses are notoriously unpredictable.

The 7.0 Haitian earthquake in Port-au-Prince has stunned the world with its savage quickness and terrible loss of life.

If you judge a good idea by the size of the idea or project it involves, skip this column.

Anyone hoping to see 2009 go out peacefully ought to have known better.