Melinda Martinez

1 week ago | foodsafety.einnews.com | Melinda Martinez

Rodents, flies and mislabled crawfish: Top Rapides Parish restaurant inspections - June 2-6 Melinda MartinezSeveral Rapides Parish restaurants had critical health violations between June 2-6, 2025. Violations ranged from improper food temperatures and storage to pest issues. Some establishments had repeat violations for lacking food safety certifications. The Louisiana Department of Health has a dashboard that tracks these inspections, though with a seven-day delay.

1 week ago | thetowntalk.com | Melinda Martinez

A "No Kings" rally protesting President Trump took place in Alexandria, Louisiana. Counter-protesters supporting Trump were also present, leading to some tense exchanges. Rally attendees expressed concerns about various issues, including immigration, economic hardship and abortion. Organizers and participants emphasized the importance of protecting democracy and opposing authoritarianism.

2 weeks ago | thetowntalk.com | Melinda Martinez

LSU archaeologists are excavating the site of the original Louisiana State Seminary of Learning and Military Academy in Pineville. The excavation aims to uncover the building's footprint, construction methods, and evidence of the 1869 fire that destroyed it. Artifacts found include stoneware, buttons, spur pieces and remnants of a staircase. In a cistern discovered on the grounds of the Old LSU Site Walking Trail in Pineville, an LSU student picks up a piece of stoneware she found while digging.

2 weeks ago | yahoo.com | Melinda Martinez

The Town Talk obtained food safety inspection information for the week of for the week of May 26-30, 2025, from the Louisiana Department of Health. The top five addresses in Rapides Parish with the most critical violations are listed, along with an explanation of the findings. All restaurants on the list had at least two critical violations. According to the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, uncorrected critical violations are more likely to contribute to food contamination or illness.

2 weeks ago | thetowntalk.com | Melinda Martinez

Three Rapides Parish restaurants had multiple critical health violations between May 26-30, 2025. Pedro’s Tacos and Tequila had the most violations, totaling 14, including improper food temperatures and pest presence. Huddle House and Kathy’s Frigid Frog had four and three critical violations, respectively. The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals considers critical violations those most likely to cause foodborne illness.