Suzanne Ferrara is a reporter for KPEL NewsRadio FM 96.5. A broadcasting veteran with 20 years in the business, Suzanne began her career at WWL-TV in New Orleans, while attending Loyola University. She left New Orleans for a news anchor job with WSEE-TV in Erie, Pennsylvania. Missing South Louisiana, she took a job as a reporter for KATC-TV in Lafayette; two years later, she returned to her birth place, and joined the news team at WDSU-TV in New Orleans. In 1998, Suzanne took a job as a reporter for WAFB in Baton Rouge to be closer to Lafayette where her husband, former TV news anchor Scott Brazda was living. From there she followed her heart and returned to Lafayette's KATC-TV as a senior reporter. Suzanne Ferrara has earned associated press awards and has covered numerous big stories; she is particularly proud of her coverage of the New Orleans Mississippi River barge accident which she reported live on CNBC. When management asked her to join the KPEL 96.5 news team in 2008, it didn't take much convincing: Suzanne was ready to join the award winning news team. Suzanne and her husband Scott are the proud parents of a ten-year old daughter Sophia and a two-and-a-half year old son Nick.
Suzanne Ferrara
![Freeze Causes Fire Concerns [Audio]](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2011/02/Firefighter-Getty.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Freeze Causes Fire Concerns [Audio]
The biggest cold front yet this winter has Acadiana fire fighters on edge.
Alton Trahan with the Lafayette fire department tells KPEL news some leading causes for tragic fires are people trying to stay warm from a pot on the stove, an open oven door, or a space heater, especially older models that do not have safety features...
Council Grant Vote [Audio]
Grant money for external agencies is expected to be the most talked about issue among Lafayette city parish council members tonight. KPEL's Suzanne Ferrara explains.
Upper Lafayette Development [Audio]
The flood gates for new development are opening for Upper Lafayette.
![Acadiana Fights Flu [Audio]](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2011/01/Flu-Shot-Spencer-Platt-Getty1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Acadiana Fights Flu [Audio]
There are higher than usual reports of Acadiana residents being treated at area emergency rooms because they've contracted the flu.
![“Armadillo” Aids Police [Audio]](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2011/01/handcuffs-getty15.jpg?w=980&q=75)
“Armadillo” Aids Police [Audio]
The Lafayette Police Department unveiled an armored Brinks truck loaded with high-tech camera surveillance equipment.
![Acadiana Partakes In Life March [Audio]](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2011/01/March-For-Life-Rally-Chip-Somodevilla-Getty.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Acadiana Partakes In Life March [Audio]
Hundreds of Acadiana pro-lifers, including high school students, converged at the National Mall today for the March for Life Rally in D.C.
![Crime Fighting Help [Audio]](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2011/01/Handcuffs-Getty2.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Crime Fighting Help [Audio]
KPEL news has learned Lafayette police have two new programs rolling out this month that will help them fight crime. Details will not be unveiled to the public until next week, however Police Chief Jim Craft gave KPEL's Suzanne Ferrara a sneak peak.
![No Seat-belt Fatalities](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2011/01/Louisiana-State-Police-Badge-Katc2.jpg?w=980&q=75)
No Seat-belt Fatalities
State Police are investigating two fatal crashes in Acadiana within 24 hours of each other.
![Accidents Shutdown Interstates[Audio]](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2011/01/81858412-e1343855866510.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Accidents Shutdown Interstates[Audio]
There's been a handful of fatalities and accidents with injuries in Acadiana, all within 24-hours of each other. Some shutting down our interstate systems. Acadiana State Police are sending drivers a message.
![State Police Feel Economic Downturn[Audio]](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2011/01/Louisiana-State-Police-Badge-Katc1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
State Police Feel Economic Downturn[Audio]
KPEL news has learned State Police has been forced to cancel it's academy class because of lack of funding. In fact, there hasn't been an academy class in two years because the economic downturn.
On average, fifty troopers graduate from the academy...
![Acadiana Freeze Fire Concerns [AUDIO]](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2011/01/Firefighter-Getty1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Acadiana Freeze Fire Concerns [AUDIO]
A hard freeze lasting up to six hours is being predicted overnight across Acadiana. One of the biggest concerns is one of safety. Fire Chief Robert Benoit and fire fighters had a Fire Prevention Bureau awareness meeting in light of forcasted freezing temperatures.
![Power Back-up On for Freeze[Audio]](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2011/01/Freezing-Thermometer.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Power Back-up On for Freeze[Audio]
Power officials are doing everything they can to ensure a major blackout like what happened in Acadiana about two weeks ago doesn't happen during these freezing temperatures.
![Cleco Prepared For Freeze [Audio]](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2011/01/Freezing-Thermometer-2.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Cleco Prepared For Freeze [Audio]
Cleco officials tell KPEL they are prepared for freezing temperatures.
![Acadiana Mourns Victims [Audio]](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2011/01/mourn.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Acadiana Mourns Victims [Audio]
Acadiana came together today for the national moment of silence and prayer for the Arizona shooting victims.
![U.L. Enrollment Up Again!](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2011/01/UL-Lafayette-Logo.jpg?w=980&q=75)
U.L. Enrollment Up Again!
U.L. Lafayette is maintaining increased enrollment despite huge budget cuts. University President Dr. Joe Savoie tells KPEL news preliminary numbers show nearly six-hundred more students for Spring.
U.L. had the highest enrollment ever this past fall with nearly seventeen-thousand students...
![2010 Crime Rate](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2011/01/crime_stats.jpg?w=980&q=75)
2010 Crime Rate
The murder rate in Lafayette increased by one, according to preliminary police statistics that reflect up to November of 2010. There were twelve murders in 2010 and eleven in 2009.
![Acadiana Flu](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2011/01/89747046.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Acadiana Flu
The flu season is getting an early start here in Acadiana as well as statewide. Flu season normally peaks in February or even March.
![The Heat is Back On!](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2010/12/83593927.jpg?w=980&q=75)
The Heat is Back On!
Overall, about 180-thousand households were without power Monday morning. The rolling black out lasted two-and-a-half hours. Power officials tell KPEL news the order to pull the plug this morning was very rare.
![Population Explosion Taxes Firefighters [Audio]](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2010/12/Firefighter.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Population Explosion Taxes Firefighters [Audio]
The Lafayette Fire Department's increase in fire calls and calls for help is not because of the cold weather snap.
Fire Chief Robert Benoit tells KPEL news the increased population and more and more people living under one roof are the reason for the increase.
![Lafayette Holiday DWI Arrests [Audio]](http://townsquare.media/site/36/files/2010/12/alcohol-drinking.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Lafayette Holiday DWI Arrests [Audio]
Both Lafayette Police and State Police say they're seeing a significant increase in DWI arrests by narcotics.