Born in Lafayette and raised in St. Martinville, I am a Cajun in heart, mind and spirit. I dove into the news industry with my start at my hometown newspaper where I picked up some journalistic skills. I earned a degree in mass communications at UL Lafayette which prepared me for covering news in Acadiana and around the state. As a news reporter for KPEL, my news beats include, but are not limited to, Lafayette Consolidated Government and the Lafayette Parish School Board. Jumping from print media to broadcast has been an exciting move for me in the ever-changing multimedia environment of today's news world. When not covering news, I can often be found playing guitar or cooking at home, both usually being done with my daughter, Jolie, very near by.
Derek Albert
Pedestrian Lying On Road Killed In Hit-And-Run Crash
A 60-year-old pedestrian, Larry Finister, of Berwick was killed Sunday night on U.S. 90 near Ricohoc, in St. Mary Parish Sunday night.
Fontenot Resigns As Principal At Sacred Heart Of Ville Platte
Committee determined Fontenot's relationship with parents and stakeholders has become "irreparable," hindering her leadership capacity.
City of Broussard To Bolster Its Water Supply
Mayor: Upgrades to Water System should end Broussard's need to purchase LUS water.
Scott PD Searching For Attempted Bank Fraud Suspect
Suspect left fake check in teller's hands.
Men Land in Jail After Trying To Cash Fake Checks
A bank teller's vigilance leads to the arrests of two men trying to cash fraudulent checks.
St. Martin Parish Arrests For June 18
The following individuals were booked into the St. Martin Parish Correctional Center.
St. Martinville Woman Gets Busted For Online Fraud Scheme
Woman booked for getting more than $5,000 through a catfishing scheme.
Youngsville Students Being Rezoned To Broussard Schools
Though a contingent of parents agree that rezoning schools from Youngsville to Broussard is imminent, the Lafayette Parish School Board voted to move the affected students sooner than they would like.
Home Burglary Suspect Sought
Victim encounters suspect when arriving home.
Eunice Man Dies in Acadia Parish Crash
Anderson Domingue pronounced dead at the scene after his truck hit an embankment, a tree and ended upside-down in a canal.
**UPDATE** Two Dead Following Apparent Murder-Suicide in Opelousas
St. Landry Sheriff's officials have identified the woman shot in the Opelousas murder-suicide as 36-year-old Indra Marie Q. Sarong-Jones.
Lt. Clay Higgins said the Sheriff's Office communicated the news of her death with her family who lives in the Philippines.
...
Palmetto Water System Issuing A Precautionary Boil Advisory
Technicians are working to make repairs to the water system's well off of La. Highway 360.
Authorities Searching For Missing Carencro Teen
Sixteen-year-old boy missing since May 26.
Crowley Police Make Multiple Narcotics Arrests
Drug arrests have been made regarding traffic stops, search warrants and distribution cases.
Erath Teen Drowns In Canal Saturday
Teen was fishing near a canal in Erath when he fell in and was caught in the current.
Armed Robbery Victims Attempt To Immobilize Suspects, Get Fired Upon
Two suspects arrested for armed robbery in rural St. Martin Parish.
Update: SM’Ville Police Identify Shooting Suspects – Victims
Multiple fights and the shooting ensued as a large crowd exited the building just after midnight.
Red River Floods Thousands Of Acres Of State’s Farmland
Louisiana Agriculture Commissioner says recovery will take time.
Last of “Angola Three” To Remain Behind Bars…For Now
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The last of the "Angola Three" inmates, Albert Woodfox is now expected to stay behind bars until at least the end of the summer.
An appeals panel Friday ruled that Woodfox must stay in jail until it hears arguments in late August on Louisiana's push to retry him in the death of Louisiana State Penitentiary prison guard Brent Miller...
Lafayette Parish Arrest Reports
The Lafayette Parish Sheriff's Office Reported the following arrtests.