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The Parish Circuit

Stuart Amidon

The Parish Circuit is a local news and events platform focused on St. Landry Parish and the surrounding region. Building media centered on truth, goodness, and beauty for our local community.

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  • 27 episodes
  • Avg 25 min
  • English

Episodes 27

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  • Saturday · 16 min

    St. Landry Sheriff and Parish President Dispute Summary

    NEW PODCAST EPISODE -- St. Landry Parish President Jesse Bellard and Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz both came on The Parish Circuit to make their cases in the jail funding fight, and after hearing both sides, the picture is getting clearer. One inmate has been sitting in the parish jail for nine years waiting for trial, the docket is backed up, and two departments that have to work together are currently tied up in a suit. We broke down what both men said, where they actually agree, and what needs to

  • Friday · 6 min

    State gives St. Landry Parish six months to fix its finances — or lose control of them

    St. Landry Parish government has six months to prove it can pay its bills before the state steps in and takes over its finances. The State Bond Commission approved the extension this week, but the Legislative Auditor was blunt: real cuts, verified monthly, or a court-appointed administrator strips parish government of its financial decision-making.

  • September 17 · 1 hr 1 min

    Sheriff Guidroz Fires Back on the Jail Funding Fight

    Stuart Amidon and David Riley sit down with St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz to get his side of the jail funding lawsuit against Parish President Jesse Bellard. Guidroz breaks down the cost per inmate, the missing receipts, and the parish spending decisions he says don't add up.

  • September 16 · 19 min

    JD Vance's Plan to Pay Stay-at-Home Parents

    Stuart Amidon and David Riley break down JD Vance's proposal to redirect childcare funding straight to stay-at-home parents. They dig into the numbers, the eligibility rules, and what strings might come attached once the government starts writing the check. Plus a quick update on the local police chief's trial delay. https://theparishcircuit.com/jd-vances-plan-to-pay-stay-at-home-parents/

  • September 11 · 1 hr 6 min

    Jesse Bellard Talks Jail & Budget Shortfalls

    Stuart Amidon and David Riley sit down with St. Landry Parish President Jesse Bellard for a no-nonsense breakdown of the parish's jail funding fight. Why is the sheriff keeping state inmate money while the parish eats the cost? Bellard lays out the numbers, the overcrowding crisis, and what happens next. https://theparishcircuit.com/new-episode-jesse-bellard-talks-jail-budget-shortfalls/

  • September 9 · 13 min

    ODDD Tax Expansion

    Opelousas is pushing to expand its downtown tax district, adding another cent to an already sky-high sales tax rate, all while sitting on nearly nine million dollars in unspent reserves. Before this gets rubber-stamped: why do we need more tax revenue, and who decides on the tax? https://theparishcircuit.com/oddd-tax-expansion/

  • September 4 · 13 min

    Opelousas Candidates Are Letting AI Write Their Campaigns

    A good number of the candidates on your Opelousas ballot this year didn't write their platforms, ChatGPT did. We break down why so many candidates are letting AI speak for them and what that says about where they actually stand on the issues.  https://theparishcircuit.com/opelousas-candidates-are-letting-ai-write-their-campaigns/

  • September 3 · 53 min

    Bringing the Church Back to the Public Square

    Larry Davis, running for Congress, joins Stuart Amidon and David Riley on this episode of The Parish Circuit to break down how ordinary people actually move local government.  From library board fights to a single email changing a lawmaker's vote, this episode is a real playbook for getting involved close to home. https://theparishcircuit.com/bringing-the-church-back-to-the-public-square/

  • September 2 · 18 min

    Daughters of the American Revolution Drop Gender Requirement

    The DAR just redefined what "woman" means for membership, and it hits home with chapters in Opelousas and Lafayette. On this episode of The Parish Circuit, Stuart Amidon and David Riley dig into the rule change, and how this is actually harming the women it was built for. https://theparishcircuit.com/daughters-of-the-american-revolution-drop-gender-requirement/

  • August 19 · 38 min

    Massachusetts Just Legalized Abortion Up to Birth. Opelousas Has Its Own History Here Worth Remembering.

    Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey recently signed legislation lifting abortion restrictions up to the point of birth, leaving the decision at the discretion of the physician. Louisiana currently stands among the states that have restricted abortion. That protection wasn't always the case here though. Opelousas itself has a direct history with this issue that's worth remembering, especially now. https://theparishcircuit.com/massachusetts-just-legalized-abortion-up-to-birth-opelousas-has-its-own

  • August 17 · 10 min

    Fatal Dog Attack in Opelousas, Could This Have Been Avoided?

    Stuart Amidon and David Riley break down the fatal pit bull attack in Opelousas and don't hold back. They dig into breed, dog fighting rings hiding in plain sight, and why the parish's cockfighting crackdown needs a sequel. Straight talk on accountability, ownership, and what residents can do right now. https://theparishcircuit.com/https:/fatal-dog-attack-in-opelousas-could-this-have-been-avoided/

  • August 14 · 40 min

    Comment section roundup: Jamie Davis Seems To Be Shifting Local Democrat Politics Farther Left

    Stuart Amidon and David Riley dive back into the reaction from their episode on Louisiana State Senator Jamie Davis, tackling the flood of comments that followed. From accusations of bias to debates over whether Louisiana Democrats and national Democrats are really "polar opposites," the guys unpack why they think the political labels people cling to don't tell the whole story. Featuring comments by Page Christopher, Blake Garland, and Christopher Jackson. https://theparishcircuit.com/us-senate-

  • August 12 · 21 min

    The Bible Has a Better Answer Than Prison.

    A local woman gets nearly two years in prison for stealing half a million dollars from area clinics. Stuart Amidon and David Riley break down what biblical justice actually demands: real restitution, not empty punishment. They dig into restorative justice, the death penalty, and why our prison system fails victims twice. https://theparishcircuit.com/the-bible-has-a-better-answer-than-prison/

  • August 11 · 23 min

    Opelousas Mayoral Candidates and Their Platforms

    Qualifying has closed for the Opelousas mayoral race, and Stuart and David run through all seven candidates on the ballot, from two-term incumbent Julius Alsandor to a stacked field of challengers, breaking down what each one is actually promising versus what they're leaving out. Every campaign leans on the same warm, feel-good language about transparency, safety, and growth, but the guys keep chasing the same question with no real answer: what's the plan, and how are we paying for it? With earl

  • August 10 · 27 min

    Comment Section Roundup: Opelousas Has an Absurd Amount of Potential-Part II

    The comment section exploded after The Parish Circuit called Opelousas a city of opportunity "despite its flaws," and Stuart Amidon and David Riley are back to sort through the comments.  Affordable housing, low crime myths versus lived experience, decades of political corruption, and a biblical case for why judgment — and repentance — might be exactly what our city needs. This episode featuring Lana Soileau, Chris Richard, Maggie Faye Richard, Bill Doucet, Sarah Beard, Carol Masson, and Mario T

  • August 4 · 17 min

    Opelousas Has an Absurd Amount of Potential. Almost Nobody Is Taking It.

    Stuart Amidon and David Riley make the case for Opelousas: cheap houses, booming businesses, and opportunity hiding in plain sight. From new restaurants to a $300 million Walmart expansion, they break down why this overlooked Louisiana town is quietly on the rise, and why now's the time to get in. https://theparishcircuit.com/opelousas-has-an-absurd-amount-of-potential-almost-nobody-is-taking-it/

  • August 1 · 18 min

    Nearly Three Years Later, Opelousas Police Chief Scandal Still Sits Unresolved as Election Looms

    Nearly three years after a shooting tied to an affair, the Opelousas police chief is running for reelection with the case still open. Stuart Amidon and David Riley break down the charges, the AG's response, and why voters deserve answers before October. This one's been a long time coming. https://theparishcircuit.com/nearly-three-years-later-opelousas-police-chief-scandal-still-sits-unresolved-as-election-looms/

  • July 24 · 21 min

    St. Landry Crime Stoppers Wants You Watching Your Neighbor’s Yard

    Stuart Amidon and David Riley break down a St. Landry Crime Stoppers post telling residents to watch their neighbors and report "any suspicious activity." They dig into vague government language, the swatting epidemic, police-issued parenting advice, and why a healthy community polices itself instead of outsourcing vigilance to the nanny state. https://theparishcircuit.com/st-landry-crime-stoppers-wants-you-watching-your-neighbors-yard/

Showing 1–20 of 27 episodes