PODCAST · business
The Parish Circuit
by 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.
Episodes
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Mayoral and Police Chief Elections
Early voting is open in Opelousas. Stuart Amidon and David Riley revisit their interviews with mayoral candidate Rod Sias and police chief candidate Ebony Martin, break down who’s on the ballot, and share who they’d back for mayor and police chief. Plus: Elbert Guillory’s broom-and-mop campaign…
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Trail Rides Might Leave St. Landry Again
Trail rides are back at the Yambilee grounds, but Parish President Jessie Bellard says one more shooting and they’re done for good. That includes every trail ride in the parish, Mardi Gras and cook-off rides too. After the May shooting, organizers came back this month with 35 officers, pat-downs…
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Jessie Bellard Stands His Ground
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...
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Why Conservatives Keep Losing the Media War
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.
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Take the King's Coin, Become the King's Man
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.
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Louisiana Banned Abortion But Abortion By Mail Still Exists
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…
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Louisiana Is Projected to Spend $47 Million on OnlyFans in 2026
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.
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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...
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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…
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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.
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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...
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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…
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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?...
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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....
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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…
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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....
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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...
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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…
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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US Senate Candidate Jamie Davis Seems To Be Shifting Local Democrat Politics Farther Left
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…
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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…
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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....
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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...
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St. Landry Parish Rolls Out Mobile Crisis Team, and the Government Just Got a Little Bigger
A new mobile crisis unit just launched in St. Landry Parish, and Stuart Amidon and David Riley aren't just cheering it on. On this episode of The Parish Circuit, they ask who's really showing up at your door, what worldview they're bringing, and why the church keeps outsourcing its job to the...
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Three Men Detained in Opelousas as ICE Sweeps Reach St. Landry Parish
ICE just made an arrest three miles from home. Stuart Amidon and David Riley dig into what happened in Opelousas, then go deeper: what does Scripture actually say about borders, the melting pot myth, and why national identity matters. A local story that opens up a much bigger conversation....
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Here Comes The Sun (Doo doo doo doo)
Daylight saving time just passed the House, and Stuart Amidon and David Riley are here for it. On this episode of The Parish Circuit, they break down the 1918 farm-labor origins, why farmers never actually wanted it, and what an 8 a.m. winter sunrise in Louisiana really means for you....
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The Deficit Grew: St. Landry’s Schools Are Closing - Part II
Stuart Amidon and David Riley return with part two of their breakdown on St. Landry Parish's school closures. They dig into the real reason public education keeps drifting left, why Krotz Springs is fighting to survive, and what it actually looks like for parents to reclaim responsibility for…
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Opelousas Lands $17 Million for Water System Fixes
Stuart Amidon and David Riley break down Opelousas' $17 million water system overhaul on this episode of The Parish Circuit. They dig into wells, storage, lead lines, and the truth behind the city's A rating.
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Public Housing, Part II: Interview with Brad Vae
Public housing was never meant to be a permanent address. Stuart Amidon and David Riley sit down with local entrepreneur Brad Vae to talk about what's actually keeping people trapped — broken incentives, absent accountability, and a system designed to manage people rather than free them. The...
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Comment Section Roundup: The Giving Fridge: Part II
The comment section erupted after The Parish Circuit's original Giving Fridge article, and Stuart Amidon and David Riley are back to go through it. Free food, the War on Poverty, nearly $2 trillion in annual welfare spending, and a biblical case for why dependency is not the same thing as help....
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Opelousas Built a Giving Fridge. It Was Looted by Morning.
The Opelousas Giving Fridge was looted within hours of opening. Stuart Amidon and David Riley break down why the Giving Fridge was doomed from day one — and what Opelousas actually needs to do if it's serious about getting people out of poverty....
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St. Landry Parish Names May 10 “Boosie Day,” Says Rapper Who Made “Set It Off” Is Exactly The Role Model Local Kids Need
St. Landry Parish gave a rapper who glorifies cop-killing his own holiday — then watched two public shootings follow within weeks. Stuart Amidon and David Riley aren't connecting dots so much as pointing at the obvious. This episode of The Parish Circuit doesn't pull a single punch....
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St. Landry's Schools Are Collapsing — And That Might Be the Best Thing to Happen to Them
St. Landry Parish schools are closing, and Stuart Amidon and David Riley aren't sad about it. On this episode of The Parish Circuit, they break down the $18 million budget deficit, the schools on the chopping block, and why the collapse of public education in Opelousas might be exactly the reset...
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Parish President Says Public Housing "Isn't Permanent Housing" — And the Town Wanted His Head
St. Landry Parish President Jessie Bellard said nine words about public housing—and the town demanded his resignation. Stuart Amidon and David Riley unpack the firestorm on this episode of The Parish Circuit, making the blunt case that government dependence isn't compassion, it's bondage.…
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St. Landry Parish Sports Podcast (01) — Basketball Playoffs Heat Up Across the Parish
Welcome to the first episode of the St. Landry Parish Sports Podcast. Today, David Riley breaks down the boys and girls basketball playoff matchups across St. Landry Parish — who's advancing, who got knocked out, and which team is two wins from a state title. New episodes drop Mondays.
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Larry Davis: The Bible on the Ballot
In this episode of The Parish Circuit, Stuart Amidon sits down with Larry Davis, a candidate for Louisiana’s 6th Congressional District who is throwing out the standard political playbook. Davis isn’t running on focus-grouped platitudes; he’s running on a mandate to bring the Word of God into the...
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Dupuis Guides #01 | Reclaiming the Family: The Call to Return to the Wild
Modern families are crumbling in a world of air-conditioned safety and digital distractions. We’ve traded genuine adventure for "pretended risk," leaving men soft and households without a mission. But the ruins of our culture won't be rebuilt from a couch; they’ll be rebuilt in the wild. In this...
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Cockfighters Call it Culture, Christians Call it Cruelty
Truth, goodness and beauty for Acadiana and all of Louisiana. When cockfighting advocates showed up at the Saint Landry Parish Council meeting asking for help to legalize the blood sport again, they came armed with two arguments: money and culture. Louisiana was the last state in America to ban...
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Buddhist Monks and Getting Kicked Out by Christians — Pastor Jeff Mercer's Story
Welcome to another episode of The Parish Circuit, for truth, goodness and beauty for Acadiana and all of Louisiana. When Buddhist monks walked through Central Louisiana on a "peace walk" to Washington D.C., Christ Fellowship pastor Jeffrey Mercer made a one-minute video explaining why Jesus—not...
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The Real Reason for All the Abandoned Buildings in Opelousas
In this episode, Stuart Amidon sits down with Building Official and Code Enforcement Director Lance Ned to reveal the real reasons behind the city’s countless empty properties. https://theparishcircuit.com/opelousas-enforces-vacant-building-ordinance-as-downtown-revitalization-effort-gains-momentum/
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FOLLOWUP: Weed Shop - A conversation with Jamie Cormier
Stuart and Jamie sit down to talk about the recent news of a weed shop moving to Opelousas. They discuss Jamie's story, the opioid crisis, alternative medicine, addiction, and the benefits of THC in the right application....
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A WEED SHOP in Opelousas?
In this episode, we discuss the news of the opening of a medical marijuana pharmacy, “The Apothecary Shoppe” in Opelousas, LA. We delve into the history of The Apothecary Shoppe and examine the issue of marijuana from a biblical perspective. We also had guests share their insights from past...
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BREAKING NEWS: Police Chief Case Taken On by State Attorney General
In this episode, we talk about the news of the case for the Police Chief of Opelousas being taken on by the State Attorney General's office. . If you have any stories that you think we should cover, please reach out to Stuart Amidon [email protected] . Aaron Vaughan, CPA [email protected]
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Aug 13th Opelousas City Council Meeting Breakdown
In this episode, the Parish Circuit team dissects the August 13th Opelousas City Council meeting. Key topics include: Surprise tax increases A long list of properties slated for demolition Updates on the city’s infrastructure Lighthearted moments about mysterious water stations Quirky email...
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A Life Parade Is Pretty Triggering
Why throw a life parade every year? Because it's one way we change the world.
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Porn Should Not Be Your Goal
Don't defile the marriage bed means more than you think.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Parish Circuit have?
The Parish Circuit currently has 65 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Parish Circuit about?
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.
How often does The Parish Circuit release new episodes?
The Parish Circuit has 65 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to The Parish Circuit?
You can listen to The Parish Circuit on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Parish Circuit?
The Parish Circuit is created and hosted by Stuart Amidon.
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