The Parish Circuit

Jessie Bellard says “Debate Me.”  On the latest episode of The Parish Circuit, the St. Landry Parish President opened the books on the parish budget, from what state auditors found to why he won’t let the council pass a new tax without a public vote. He also put out an open challenge to anyone who wants to debate him on how parish government runs.  https://theparishcircuit.com/jessie-bellard-stand...

Local news is still owned by the left. On this episode of The Parish Circuit, Stuart Amidon and David Riley sit down with Brian Dawson of 1819 News. He built a $2.7 million statewide Alabama newsroom on donor money, not ads, and he explains why conservatives keep losing the media fight.

Take the king's coin, become the king's man. On this episode of The Parish Circuit, Stuart Amidon and David Riley sit down with historian Dr. George Grant to trace America's slide into dependence on the state, and why the way out starts in local churches, not Washington. Get to work.

Stuart Amidon and David Riley take on Louisiana's abortion pill loophole. The state banned abortion, but pills are still arriving by mail through out-of-state telehealth providers, and the law currently stops at the provider. They make the case for what the next step has to be, and why Louisiana's own constitution already supports it.

Legalized and taxable abuse of women is on the rise. A new report tracking OnlyFans spending by state, city, and parish puts Louisiana at $47 million spent so far in 2026, and St. Landry Parish is on the list.

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 currentl...

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.

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.

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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/

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....

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/

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...

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/

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 cha...

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 L...

Stuart Amidon and David Riley dig into Jamie Davis, the farmer-turned-Senate-candidate selling "Louisiana First" to Southwest Louisiana Democrats. Behind the good-old-boy image? Greater funding for universal healthcare, education, and government housing at every turn. Is this common sense, or soft socialism?

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/

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-...

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-stopper...