Queen City News PINEVILLE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The mother of a woman who was seriously injured after jumping from a moving police vehicle in 2022 has filed a federal lawsuit against the Town of Pineville and the officer involved in the incident during an alleged domestic dispute at Willow Ridge Apartments Johnson was reportedly intoxicated and visibly upset Officers said she assaulted her boyfriend in front of them Officials claim Johnson’s boyfriend told officers that she had bipolar disorder and asked for a Crisis Response Team Despite knowledge of Johnson’s mental health history officers took her into custody rather than involving specialized mental health responders Johnson was placed in the back of a police cruiser to be taken to jail the complaint alleges that the officer transporting her failed to follow several safety procedures and ensuring the rear in-car camera was operating Johnson allegedly slipped out of one of her handcuffs and began lowering the back window manually was captured on the officer’s body-worn camera the officer did not stop or slow the vehicle Johnson eventually climbed out of the window while the vehicle was moving at an estimated 70mph Officials said she fell to the ground and rolled between 30 and 40 feet including a fractured skull and multiple brain injuries Johnson now requires full-time care and is no longer able to live independently Emergency responders were called to the scene and attempted life-saving measures before transporting her to a hospital The incident prompted an internal review and led to policy changes at the Pineville Police Department The officer involved was never placed on leave and his name has not been publicly released seeks accountability for what she describes as avoidable failures in handling a mental health emergency She is represented by civil rights attorneys Bakari Sellers and Ben Crump these are the actual most popular baby names so far in 2025 Whether it’s a short vacation or they’re jetting off to begin their career show the future traveler you care with a meaningful graduation gift National Teacher Appreciation Week begins May 5 take advantage of these freebies and deals This website is unavailable in your location It appears you are attempting to access this website from a country outside of the United States therefore access cannot be granted at this time (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A person is in the hospital after a shooting in Pineville The incident happened in the 800 block of Aileen Circle around 8 p.m Medic says one person was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries police have not released any additional details in this case It's all about schools on the ballot in Rapides Parish this Saturday and residents who vote at Horseshoe Drive Elementary School should note their precincts have been moved temporarily because of ongoing construction at the Alexandria school See the list: Rapides Parish high school seniors get ready for 2025 graduation ceremonies State funding: Rapides schools lose more than $2 million, eye what's coming with LA GATOR program Pineville schools: Proposed District 52 bond would bring improvements, if passed Precincts C24 and C25 have been moved to the Common Point Shopping Center The ballot includes four property tax renewals, two of which are parish wide, and one new bond proposal for Pineville schools Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInPINEVILLE (KALB) - John Neal has been named acting Principal of Pineville High School according to a post on the school’s Facebook page Neal’s first day as principal will be on Monday “It is an honor to lead a school that means so much to my family and to our community,” Neal said “I am proud of the traditions of Pineville High and our consistent high academic performance I look forward to working alongside our amazing faculty and staff to provide the best opportunities for success for all students.” Neal was formerly the Assistant Principal at the school Click here to report a typo Please provide the title of the article in your email CATS is proud to provide transportation options for PGA ticketholders Ride complimentary with your digital championship tickets on the day(s) that their tournament tickets are valid The Sharon Road West Park and Ride will be closed to the public during the tournament Get the details on temporary service change by visiting the link below: The Blue Line Extension to Pineville and Ballantyne is a proposed extension of light rail service from the existing terminus of the Blue Line at I-485/South Boulevard CATS evaluated rapid transit opportunities to serve Pineville and Ballantyne This study evaluated both light rail options (as an extension of the Blue Line) and bus-based options (using the future express lanes on I-485) A map depicts the proposed Pineville/Ballentyne study area as well at the area where the current end of the Blue Line light rail alignment at I-485/South Boulevard meetings the study area The area is highlighted in green and covers major portions of Pineville and Ballantyne The boundaries are approximately north of Lancaster Highway and the study area oval is intercepted by I-485 One of the most unique characteristics of the study area is the presence of two major activity centers (Carolina Place Mall and Ballantyne Corporate Park) that provide the opportunity for large-scale transit-supportive land use CATS initiated a study to evaluate potential extensions of the Blue Line to the Town of Pineville and the Ballantyne community in Charlotte Following a public process and technical evaluation CATS staff recommended a 5.5-mile extension of the Blue Line with five stations to serve Pineville and Ballantyne to MTC Additional recommendations included a Bus Rapid Transit service connecting the existing Blue Line to the Ballantyne area upon completion of the I-485 express lanes The MTC adopted the recommendations at their September 2019 meeting This map shows the adopted locally preferred alternative option for the Blue Line light rail to extend into Pineville/Ballentyne The map depicts the existing Blue Line alignment and the staff recommendation of a dark blue line meant to represent the light rail extension meant to represent the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) extension onto (or parallel to) I-485 into Ballantyne Commons Parkway There is also a red dotted line meant to represent an area that is recommended for further analysis This line travels from Ballantyne Commons Parkway past Marvin Road and all the way to the southeastern side of Lancaster Highway As an initial step toward more intensive transit investments in this area CATS intends to begin express bus service connecting Ballantyne to the Blue Line Sharon Road West station using the new I-485 Express Lanes upon their completion Phone: 704.336.7433 Email: telltransit@charlottenc.gov Phone: 704.336.3159 Hospital is one of just seven in North Carolina recognized by the American Nurses Association program along with its freestanding emergency departments at Steele Creek has received the prestigious Pathway to Excellence designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) a subsidiary of the American Nurses Association This distinction recognizes the hospital’s commitment to creating a healthy work environment “I am incredibly proud of our team for earning this recognition who impact so many lives in so many ways,” said Robyn Barriffe chief nursing officer at Atrium Health Pineville “From our nursing professional governance to our leadership team the contributions they make every day are reflected in our culture and this well-deserved recognition positive practice environments and nursing excellence is truly exceptional.” To achieve the Pathway to Excellence designation a hospital must meet the ANCC’s six overarching standards that form the framework of a healthy work environment: shared decision-making The assessment period includes a review of documentation teammate narratives and comprehensive surveys completed by nearly every nurse at the hospital The entire process can take years to complete “We are committed to fully supporting our nurses not only in their career development and well-being but in empowering them to own their nursing practice,” said Janice Walker senior vice president and chief nursing officer for the Southeast Region of Advocate Health “The voice of every nurse is vital and within Advocate Health all of our nurses are in a position to influence health care at the decision-making table creating an environment where innovation and compassionate care thrive.” “The Pathway to Excellence designation represents years of intentional work to create a positive place for our nurses to practice,” said Alicia Campbell facility executive and vice president of Atrium Health Pineville interdisciplinary efforts of our teams and their leaders We know that creating a healthy work environment for our teammates leads to exceptional outcomes for our patients and the families who support them.” Several other facilities within Charlotte-based Advocate Health – of which Atrium Health is a part – have also submitted applications and are at varying stages of earning the designation There are just 235 Pathway to Excellence-designated facilities in the country Advocate Health currently has 12 Magnet-designated hospitals Magnet designation recognizes a hospital’s commitment to excellence in nursing leadership that includes Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center Atrium Health Levine Children’s Hospital Atrium Health Levine Cancer Institute and Atrium Health Mercy Atrium Health is renowned for its top-ranked pediatric burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs Atrium Health is also a leading-edge innovator in virtual care and mobile medicine providing care close to home and in the home News & World Report’s Best Hospitals in eight pediatric specialties and for rehabilitation Atrium Health has also received the American Hospital Association’s Quest for Quality Prize and its 2021 Carolyn Boone Lewis Equity of Care Award as well as the 2020 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Health Equity Award for its efforts to reduce racial and ethnic disparities in care With a commitment to every community it serves elevate hope and advance healing – for all providing nearly $3 billion in free and uncompensated care and other community benefits in 2023.  It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs Committed to providing equitable care for all Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.   By KALB Digital TeamPublished: Apr 2025 at 9:56 AM CDTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInPINEVILLE (KALB) - The Pineville Police Department said they are looking for a man wanted for hit-and-run and no insurance Police said Kenneth Rachal allegedly hit a parked car at a local business and drove away from the scene you are asked to contact PPD at 318-442-6603 by William Weathers // GeauxPreps.com Contributor Pineville softball coach Allison Frye decided the topic was worthy enough to get feedback from her players The Lady Rebels were in the Division I select state semifinals last season and were eliminated by John Curtis Christian It was the second trip to the semifinals in four years but for a program that was dominant in the 1980s and the latter half of the 90s – winning six state championships in Class 3A and 4A – Frye wanted to get her team’s input about the meaning of getting to the top of the mountain this year Should Pineville go on to reach such a milestone it would mark the first state crown for the school in 27 seasons.  “I sent each one of them a text and asked what it would mean to you to win a state championship for Pineville High,” Frye said some from seniors that really went above and beyond on what it would mean to them Then we had a long conversation about that a couple of weeks ago “I sat down and read a couple (of responses) to them,” Frye said and getting them to try to understand we need to take full advantage of this opportunity a team we believe that could go all the way Some of the freshmen and sophomores that went (to the state tournament) last year think this is kind of what we do For the second time in four years Pineville is the top-seeded team but this time it’s in the select division where students in Rapides Parish are part of an open enrollment structure the Lady Rebels made it to the state quarterfinals before bowing out to Archbishop Chapelle in their initial foray into the select bracket.  This year they’re considered to be one of the state’s top teams where Pineville is built with experience on the field to go with the elements of a championship-level team – excellent pitching took its first step in the postseason Monday with an 8-0 victory over No We’ve had a full season to talk about that and have that pressure on us They know numbers don’t matter and it’s going to be whoever’s hot who’s mentally prepared enough to get it done when the time comes.” The Lady Rebels are ranked fourth in the state by MaxPreps behind three-time Division III select state champion Calvary Baptist Division I non-select’s top seed Sam Houston the top-seeded team in Division II non-select “We were there last year and have one freshman starter this year so everybody got to experience that,” said Frye who coached Holy Savior Menard to a state title in 2015 in her four years there “Going to the state tournament gets you a little hungrier to want to go back and get that experience and opportunity again This senior class has been one of the best that I’ve ever coached They’ve done a great job with the younger kids throughout the year.” The first indication of this year’s Pineville team positioning itself for potential postseason glory took place during the initial stages of the season last year’s state semifinalist team began 8-10 and finished the regular season by winning 11 of 14 games and wound up 21-14 overall.   When Pineville advanced to the state quarterfinals in its last year in the 2022 non-select bracket they won their first 13 games before its first loss The Lady Rebels didn’t lose again until their regular season finale until they were eliminated by Sam Houston (4-3) for a 33-3 record Given the team’s deep playoff run of last season the Lady Rebels won their first eight games this season and 13 of 14 “This is one of our better seasons,” Frye said we’ve dropped a couple that I feel like we shouldn’t have I think they’ve done a pretty good job of that all year “It’s kind of a different route than we’ve taken “We had a rough start and kind of got hot late This year it’s been pretty consistent from the beginning Five of the team’s 11 shutouts occurred in the first month of the season with pitchers Addalyn Burch and Chelsie Simpson providing a solid 1-2 combination to go with a defense that’s been a staple of the team’s success “I realized early on that we had a pretty good defense,” Frye said “I’ve been telling them from the beginning that I thought this was the best defensive team I’ve ever coached The Lady Rebels also proved they could be dominant when aligning all facets of their game where a powerful offense helped contribute to 16 of 19 run-rule victories before April.   The team’s only setbacks were to West Ouachita (17-7) on March 5 and to District 2-5A rival Alexandria (8-6) on March 18 That was followed by highly anticipated non-district matchups with nationally ranked Calvary Baptist and North DeSoto on March 31 and April 4 spoke volumes about the competitiveness of this year’s team which finished with Alexandria in a tie for the District 2-5A title with identical 8-2 records that included a late 9-7 loss to Ouachita more than two weeks ago “We talk about the little things a lot and how one little thing can be the difference in a game when you’re playing good competition,” Frye said “It’s a pretty mature team and we’ve been able to do some things that we haven’t been able to in the past as far as mentality-wise Playing good competition can only make you better and pushes you and gives you different experiences to grow competitive environments against top-notch teams can only prepare you better.” Frye also complimented the play of the district which sent four of six teams to postseason play with Pineville and Alexandria still on a collision course for the state semifinals “Our district’s always been super competitive,” she said the girls know each other and that’s always a huge rivalry thing Having a competitive district plays a part in the season and having good games throughout the week.” Pick an area of this year’s team and it’s a good bet you’ll find excellence a senior who has signed with Southern Virginia leads Pineville’s superb pitching staff where sophomore Chelsie Simpson has also excelled.  doesn’t dominate like some of the big pitchers that people talk about,” Frye said of Burch She has been successful and is a super competitor The latest outing from Burch may have been among her best this season with a two-hit shutout of Evangel with nine strikeouts and one walk Burch is 22-4 with a 2.38 earned run average She’s struck out 147 batters in 141 innings and Simpson (8-1) has a 2.29 ERA with 62 strikeouts in 61 innings One of the loudest bats for the Lady Rebels this season belongs to Burch who doubled and drove in a team-high three runs against Evangel She’s one of the team’s four .400-plus hitters with a .404 average Pineville has one of the state’s top players in senior first baseman Madelyn Halle a Class 5A honorable mention All-State selection in 2024 She’s already signed with Mississippi College and has been selected to the LHSCA All-State game “She’s always been a big hitter,” Frye said she’s more confident than ever and the numbers show that.” a McNeese State signee and LHSCA All-State selection is another returning honorable mention Class 5A All-State choice and leads the team in batting (.537) on-base percentage (.593) and doubles (24) Sophomore Briley Byrnes is next with a .486 batting average to go with a .545 on-base percentage leading the way with a 1.208 slugging percentage and is second in on-base percentage (.556) and third in batting (.433) Sophomore right fielder Jadin Basco is another key offensive contributor (.406 batting average and senior catcher Mallory Edwards (.429 batting average “Cassidy’s our lead-off hitter and is a super competitor,” Frye said “She’s kind of the sparkplug that starts it all off She’s the best leader I’ve been around in my life Briley hits in the two-hole and can do a little bit of everything She has great speed and is going to have a good at-bat every bat “This is Jadin’s first varsity season and she’s a big bat for us,” Frye said “She’s a constant threat in the lineup and has tons of power and plays outfield.  Mallory’s really broken out for us this year She had never contributed to our offense like she is now She’s having good at-bats against good pitching She’s provided a major contribution to our lineup and has been very good for us this year.” has been at designated player where Frye has counted on sophomore Chelsie Simpson Simpson has enjoyed a solid season with a .339 batting average and a .661 slugging percentage with six doubles Moore is right behind at .333 and .633 in hitting and slugging slugging at .923 with two homers and 8 RBIs “There’s a lot of depth on this team,” Frye said “A big part of us being successful is everyone buying into their role and when it’s your time be confident and get in there and do what you can to help the team We’ve got very good softball players sitting on our bench Pineville would love nothing more than to go wire-to-wire and reach the pinnacle of the sport Health has played a role in the Lady Rebels’ level of consistency but they’re approaching the time of the year where everything they’ve worked for is very much within their grasp and you never know what next year will bring,” Frye said “This could be your one chance to do something special for the community I’ve tried to get them to understand we have a great opportunity in front of us.” Featured Image Courtesy of Pineville High School on Facebook Grab Your Crew – the First 100 People in Line at the Grand Opening to Receive Free Games for a Year PINEVILLE, N.C.  , Feb. 26, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Dave & Buster's and sports watching destination for families and friends announces the opening of its completely reimagined location in Pineville NC located in Carolina Place Mall at 11049 Carolina Place Pkwy. The all-new Dave & Buster's location brings everything families and crew connectors alike love reimagined with innovative gaming activities and groundbreaking ways for crews to play – including Private Game Suites and an immersive watch experience Get ready for entertainment like never before "We are thrilled to open the all-new Dave & Buster's Pineville as a premier entertainment destination," says General Manager Jim McGann "Be sure to come out for our Grand Opening and see this incredible transformation – from our giant 40-foot WOW Wall to the immersive gaming environment and High-Tech Darts & Digital Shuffleboard it's the ultimate experience and we can't wait to see you!" The first 100 people in line at Dave & Buster's grand opening on March 7 will receive free games for a year don't miss out on this opportunity to game all year where guests can enjoy $5 drink specials on the new Tres Tequila Rita Backwoods Blueberry Lemonade and D&B Long Island Iced Tea Dave & Buster's Pineville hours of operation are Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. – midnight, Friday from 11 a.m. – 1 a.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. – 1 a.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. – midnight. For more information, please visit www.daveandbusters.com About Dave & Buster'sFounded in 1982 and headquartered in Coppell is the owner and operator of 232 venues in North America that offer premier entertainment and dining experiences to guests through two distinct brands: Dave & Buster's and Main Event The Company has 171 Dave & Buster's branded stores in 43 states and Canada and offers guests the opportunity to "Eat Each store offers a full menu of entrées and appetizers a complete selection of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and an extensive assortment of entertainment attractions centered around playing games and watching live sports and other televised events The Company also operates 61 Main Event branded stores in 22 states across the country hundreds of arcade games and virtual reality making it the perfect place for families to connect and make memories visit daveandbusters.com and mainevent.com Entertainment Retail Electronic Gaming Travel Do not sell or share my personal information: By KALB Digital TeamPublished: Mar 2025 at 7:03 PM CDTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInPINEVILLE (KALB) - According to the Pineville Police Department Mayor Joe Bishop and the City Council have officially confirmed Roy Fore as Pineville’s Chief of Police The city named Fore as Interim Police Chief back in November 2024 after former chief Darrell Basco announced his retirement the same month Fore’s background includes 12 years working as a paramedic He joined the Pineville Police Department in 1999 after graduating from the Alexandria Regional Police Academy He transitioned to the Detective Division in 2003 and eventually became Deputy Chief in 2022 Captain Kimberly Mixon was named as the new Deputy Chief of Police Chief Fore shared this statement on Facebook on March 11: “I am dedicated to working alongside Mayor Bishop and the City Council to make the City of Pineville a great place to live The relationship between the police department and city administration has never been stronger While many departments across the country are facing officer shortages I’m pleased to share that we are only four officers short we’ve seen an increase in applications and expect to have these vacant positions filled before the next police academy Our patrol division is the backbone of the department and remains well-staffed Our officers are encouraged to engage with the community at every opportunity Building strong relationships through positive interactions helps foster trust Our goal is to take a proactive approach to crime rather than a reactive one A police department’s ultimate mission is to foster a safe and we continue to uphold that responsibility I am committed to serving this city with dignity Thank you for trusting me to serve as your Chief of Police.” Click here to report a typo (KALB) - The City of Pineville is looking to move forward after scandalous headlines loomed over the city involving former mayor Rich Dupree being involved in an extramarital affair with a city employee the city discussed settling the Equal Employment Opportunity Complaint filed by Brittany Poston Meshell had some shocking things to say about the former mayor’s handling of the city’s finances McKay said he spent a lot of time investigating transactions that had to do with former Pineville Mayor Rich Dupree and former chief of staff Doug Gann “An employee was paid for services outside of employment These services entail having an animated character show up and perform for several city events checks written to this business were written to several different parties during the year which appeared to us to be attempts to circumvent the related party issues the frequency of using this service and the price charged for this service increased during the year which would call into question whether the service was needed at all the city paid the previous mayor’s son’s band for several performances during the year and no member of the accounting department was aware of the previous mayor’s relationship with either party The city could also not provide evidence these transactions were done in at arm’s length.” Pineville resident Eddy Lashney said he is not happy with the findings of McKay’s audit report off the top of my head sitting here tonight we’re more than $200,000 in the hole because of Mr Dupree’s actions,” said Pineville resident Eddy Lashney Lashney brought his concerns about this to the council “Any of you intend to pursue recouping our losses?” Lashney asked the council City attorney Mark Vilar addressed Lashney’s concern saying that the mismanagement of city funds has been turned over to the next level of authorities “It’s a thing that’s been turned over,” Vilar said on whether or not the items that have been brought to light equate to an opportunity to do that It’s too hard to determine that right now.” Lashney said he wants those funds back in the city’s budget It is every other taxpaying citizen in the City of Pineville’s money that was used inappropriately,” Lashney said “You should not be able to do this inappropriately and simply walk away with it.” Next up on the agenda was to address a settlement for the EEOC complaint filed by Brittany Poston Meshell She filed the claim in May 2024 and alleged she was discriminated against and constructively discharged from her job “We recently conducted a mediation with Ms Meshell and her attorneys and came to a tentative resolution which requires the city to appropriate and pay to Ms Meshell and her attorneys the amount of $188,500 Meshell will release all claims of any type against the city and its current and former employees.” Vilar said under federal law the city is vicariously liable and responsible for paying damages incurred as a result of the actions of its employees the employees themselves are not responsible This means the residents of Pineville are on the hook for the price tag “I agree with the accepting of the settlement “The issue that I have is the fact that basically no matter how you slice it it’s you and me and the taxpayers of the City of Pineville that’s paying this tab.” Vilar recommended that the council agree to the settlement He said going to trial would be much costlier The council voted to introduce an ordinance to appropriate funds to resolve the claims filed by Meshell The city voted unanimously on that agenda item and said they wanted to put this dark chapter behind them the city and the employees here in the City of Pineville,” said Pineville Mayor Joe Bishop The agenda item the council voted on was an introduction to the ordinance they either vote to approve or deny the settlement after making sure all the legal documentation is in order Based on Mayor Bishop’s addressing of the public Former mayor Dupree could not be reached for comment (KALB) - The Pineville Police Department said they are looking for a suspect who has been wanted since 2017 Connie Lacour is wanted for four counts of monetary instrument abuse Pineville police said if the suspect is out of town they will reach out to outside agencies to assist you are asked to contact PPD at 318-442-8632 Police said that although the warrant was issued in 2017 An arrest is required for further court proceedings All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty PINEVILLE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The Pineville Police Department has partnered with Charlotte Homeless Services in an effort to improve the community response to homelessness Officers and community members can now submit referrals through a centralized online system that connects individuals with food A referral could lead to long-term support and a path off the street Click here for more details Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInPINEVILLE, La. (KALB) - Louisiana Legislative Auditor (LLA) released their findings on Wednesday following an investigative audit into the City of Pineville LLA said they began an investigation following complaints regarding the City’s use of public money three of which may have violated state law and the fourth may have violated state ethics laws as well as the response from former and active City officials auditors reported former Mayor Rich Dupree may have violated state law by instructing City Human Resources staff to backdate an employee’s hiring date LLA said this was done to ensure the employee received health insurance benefits before they were eligible under city policy would have become eligible for health insurance on September 1 the hire date on their Employee Benefits Summary Report was manually changed to July 1 and a note was left on the form which indicated the effective date of coverage Auditors said they spoke with the City’s HR Coordinator who confirmed Dupree asked her to give the City’s insurer the employee’s backdated date of hire LLA provided the following recommendation: “We recommend the City implement written policies and procedures to ensure that accurate personnel information is compiled and maintained for all employees These policies and procedures should require written documentation and supervisory approval for any changes to personnel information.” auditors said Pineville City Council members and Pineville Mayors may have received excess compensation after their salaries were increased without an ordinance LLA said the City correctly increased the salaries for the mayor and city council by an ordinance in 2002 the Mayor’s salary has been increased by over $45,000 Salaries for the city council have increased by $4,000 since 2002 the City was reportedly unable to provide an ordinance to increase the mayor’s and council’s salaries Dupree also reportedly stated he was unaware passing an ordinance was required to increase his salary “We recommend the City adopt policies and procedures to ensure municipal officers are paid according to the appropriate salary ordinances adopted by the Council and that additional compensation in the form of health insurance benefits be addressed clearly in such ordinances.” auditors discovered a company owned by a city employee was paid $4,100 for providing cartoon characters for City events and parades who was hired by the City in February 2023 was the sole owner of Enchanted Celebrations until April 28 ownership of the company reportedly changed to her husband auditors said the city issued seven payments to Enchanted Celebrations LLC Constantino was told she could no longer do business with the City after she was hired When the City later received invoices from Enchanted Celebrations concerns were brought up to the City Finance Director who then spoke with Dupree Constantino no longer owned the company and he would not have authorized those payments had he known she was still the owner “We recommend that the City consult with its legal counsel and the Louisiana Board of Ethics to ensure compliance with the state’s ethics laws regarding transactions between the City and entities owned by City employees and/or members of their immediate families The City should also adopt detailed policies restricting City employees and/or members of their immediate families from entering into transactions with the City.” LLA found that prior to Dupree’s resignation his car did not have a Louisiana public license plate and the City’s name was not inscribed on the vehicle When asked, former Mayor Dupree said his car wasn’t marked with the City’s name partially because no other Pineville Mayor had done so. He also reportedly stated his vehicle is exempt from that particular law because his car has police sirens “We recommend that the City develop and implement policies and procedures for the use of public vehicles to ensure that public vehicles are used only for public purposes These policies and procedures should require that vehicle mileage and use logs be maintained for all City vehicles We further recommend that the City obtain public license plates for City vehicles and mark all City vehicles in accordance with state law.” former Mayor Dupree and Brittany Meshell each provided a response to the LLA: Lla Response by jkinder on Scribd Lla Summary by jkinder on Scribd Lla Pineville Investigation Full by jkinder on Scribd KALB has reached out to the City of Pineville for comment Lla Response by jkinder on Scribd Lla Summary by jkinder on Scribd Lla Pineville Investigation Full by jkinder on Scribd 2025 at 4:34 PM CDTEmail This LinkShare on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInThe following was released by the City of Pineville: - The City of Pineville Animal Control has achieved no-kill status according to the industry’s most comprehensive data set collected by Best Friends Animal Society a leading national animal welfare organization working to save the lives of every savable cat and dog in America’s shelters The City of Pineville Animal Control was able to achieve a save rate of 90% over the last twelve consecutive months the City of Pineville Animal Control has implemented new pet lifesaving programs The City of Pineville Animal Control expanded its adoptions and foster programs so more pets can be placed into loving homes while also supporting people who find lost pets to help them get back to their owners more quickly Best Friends has supported the City of Pineville Animal Control’s lifesaving efforts to build implement and track the programs to close the facility’s lifesaving gap “We asked our community to help us save pets’ lives by adopting and fostering and the people of Pineville jumped right in to be part of it,” said Mayor Joe Bishop “Our community values dogs’ and cats’ lives and we’re so grateful to celebrate this important we work to keep the momentum going and sustain this standard!” Four ways to get involved and keep propelling lifesaving forward are by adopting helping lost pets be reunited with their families To learn more, connect with the City of Pineville Animal Control on Facebook or by visiting the facility at 1967 Monroe Highway between 8 a.m.-4 p.m. “The cats and dogs sleeping on soft couches today are alive and safe because the City of Pineville Animal Control asked for help and the people of Pineville said yes to saving these pets’ lives,” said Julie Castle “Lifesaving is a collective effort and everyone in Pineville should take pride in this incredible achievement.” 2024) — UK HealthCare is proud to welcome Pineville Community Health Center to the University of Kentucky Gill Heart & Vascular Institute Affiliate Network and the UK HealthCare/Norton Healthcare Stroke Care Network Pineville Community Health Center (PCHC) will gain access to the latest cardiovascular expertise This partnership will provide PCHC providers and staff with comprehensive cardiac education and training enhancing their ability to improve the cardiovascular health of patients in Bell County and the surrounding areas Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in Kentucky with the state boasting one of the highest rates in the nation the UK Gill Heart & Vascular Institute is working to combat these health challenges through its Gill Affiliate Network This initiative aims to reduce the prevalence of heart disease by fostering collaborative relationships with health care facilities across the state UK Gill Heart & Vascular Institute works with a large network of regional and community hospitals across the state to enhance access to high-quality cardiovascular care to ensure Kentuckians receive care where and when they need it The affiliate network includes 25 hospitals Gill supports more than 15 outreach locations and provides cardiac image interpretation services “We are thrilled to welcome Pineville Community Health Center to the Gill Affiliate Network Their commitment to providing high-quality care aligns with our mission to expand access to advanced cardiovascular services across the region,” said Navin Rajagopalan heart failure cardiologist and director of the UK Gill Affiliate Network “Our hope is that this collaboration will allow patients to receive high-quality cardiac care closer to home we look forward to enhancing outcomes and improving heart health in Pineville and beyond.” PCHC providers and staff will receive specialized cardiovascular education and training assistance in achieving and maintaining cardiac accreditations and support for the growth and development of their cardiac program This collaboration ensures comprehensive heart care — from medical cardiology to vascular and cardiothoracic surgery — is accessible to Pineville residents enabling patients to receive high-quality care close to home for as long as possible As part of the UK HealthCare/Norton Healthcare Stroke Care Network PCHC will also gain resources to promote stroke-related community and professional education and tools to optimize stroke care The network’s services are designed to help hospitals provide the highest quality stroke-related clinical care This mission is supported through comprehensive educational programs for providers as well as robust continuous quality improvement Kentucky has among the highest rates of stroke-related deaths in the country with more than 2,000 Kentuckians dying from stroke or stroke-related complications each year Stroke Care Network Interim Medical Director Larry B says having more hospitals join the network will contribute to the growth of systems of care across the state to improve stroke prevention and emergent treatment and the best possible outcomes for those who have had a stroke providing not only individualized programs supporting stroke care to hospitals but education for providers updating them on state-of-the-art treatment approaches and tools for reaching out to their local communities to enhance stroke prevention and acute responses,” said Goldstein who is also chair of the UK Department of Neurology and co-director of the Kentucky Neuroscience Institute The SCN currently has a total of 41 affiliate hospitals UK HealthCare is the hospitals and clinics of the University of Kentucky It is more than 10,000 dedicated health care professionals committed to providing advanced subspecialty care for the most critically injured and ill patients from the Commonwealth and beyond It also is the home of the state’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit that cares for the tiniest and sickest newborns the region’s only Level 1 trauma center and Kentucky’s top hospital ranked by U.S we are continuously pursuing the next generation of cures Our discoveries have the potential to change what’s medically possible within our lifetimes Our educators and thought leaders are transforming the health care landscape as our six health professions colleges teach the next generation of doctors pharmacists and other health care professionals UK HealthCare is the power of advanced medicine committed to creating a healthier Kentucky 2025 at 4:16 pm ET.css-79elbk{position:relative;}(Pineville Tavern)WRIGHTSTOWN PA — Just in time for the coldest months of the year spiced wine and schnapps will be opening on Monday inside the heated garden greenhouse at the Pineville Tavern in Wrightstown "We are excited to announce the opening of the Pineville Lodge," said tavern owner Andrew Abruzzese this week in addition to enjoying lunch and dinner inside the restaurant we will welcome our guests to our snowy and cozy chalet Abruzzese said he's hoping the 80 seat ski lodge will add a new dimension to the dining atmosphere and will "re-spark that new feeling that we had when the garden greenhouse was added." Patrons seated in the ski lodge can select from the tavern menu or from a special ski lodge menu that will highlight ski lodge favorites including fondues Abruzzese said the idea for the ski lodge came from a friend who runs one of Jean George’s restaurants on the upper east side of New York City L shaped tent on Madison Avenue at 74th Street Guests began complaining that it was too drafty so someone came up with a great idea," said Abruzzese "They converted the tent into a ski lodge atmosphere and served things like fondue and schnapps - things that you would expect in an après-ski environment "You could not get a reservation for two months," said Abruzzese everyone at the tavern has been working hard to transform the garden space into a ski lodge with teak wood animals pictures of skiers and lots of artificial snow just outside of the greenhouse door patrons will find a fire pit surrounded by four or five tables "We put a fire pit out there and we're going to have a roaring fire People can go out there and smoke some cigars drink some brandy and warm themselves up by the fire." Abruzzese said reservations are suggested for the tavern and the ski lodge. For information, call 215-598-3890 or email info@pinevilletavern.com. For more information, click here. Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts. The Pineville City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to allocate $188,500 to settle claims in an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filing from a former employee It brings the allegations from Brittany Poston Meshell a step closer to being fully resolved alleging she was discriminated against and later fired after having an affair with former Mayor Rich Dupree and another city employee and the city entered into mediation through EEOC with Meshell City attorney Mark Vilar briefed council members on the tentative settlement at its January meeting and the council unanimously approved a resolution to appropriate the money for the settlement January meeting: Pineville Council hears about former mayor's alleged card misuse, proposed settlement 'Great sadness': Pineville Mayor Rich Dupree announces resignation The final vote on that was before the council at its regular meeting on Tuesday Meshell would drop all claims against Pineville and current or former employees And he recommended that the city agree to the settlement since federal law dictates that it is responsible for the actions of its employees while they are on the job and any damages as a result of their actions The settlement also would prevent litigation and the threat of greater damages in court PINEVILLE — Joe Bishop was sworn in as Pineville's interim mayor Wednesday minutes after he was appointed by a 3-1 vote of the City Council Mary Galloway resigned her District 1 seat and the council now has 20 days to appoint someone to fill her seat The same applies for the Rapides Parish Police Jury who is serving his second term as president of the parishwide governing body Bishop said he would turn in his resignation on Thursday morning It was Bishop's experience that prompted his nomination to fill the unexpired term of former Mayor Rich Dupree 20 after admitting to an affair with a former city employee we found the need for day one experience was crucial," said District 3 Councilwoman Christy Fredric pointing to Bishop's years serving on the jury and He said his connections with other municipalities parish officials inside and outside of Rapides federal agencies and educational institutions would serve the city well He said "a lot of people" were considered before they put forward a resolution with Bishop as the choice He said members didn't want to pass on their obligation to appoint an interim may to anyone else 'Great sadness': Pineville Mayor Rich Dupree announces resignation 'Just horrible': Rapides Police Jury takes aim at Optimum after upgrade angers customers If the body did not appoint and approve an interim within 20 days Jeff Landry would be able to appoint an interim District 2 Councilman Kevin Dorn voted against the appointment because of the procedure behind it and our trust factor with the citizens of Pineville is fractured," he said He said members continued to use their "personal privilege" and act as if there's no one else for which they are responsible Dorn said he likes to talk and resolve matters without controversy "You can't exclude everyone every time in every decision." Dorn was the lone no vote against appointing Bishop One resident who spoke at the meeting said she would rather see "a people's choice" and an election but Vilar later explained to her that the law does not allow for that based on how much time is left before the April 2026 mayoral election Dupree pushed back his resignation by two weeks so that the council could appoint an interim mayor instead of paying for a special election Quebedeaux’s Cajun Cafe in Pineville made USA TODAY's list of best restaurants in the country The USA TODAY Restaurants of the Year 2025 list features 44 restaurants from fine-dining establishments to counter-service seafood shacks USA TODAY Network food journalists from across the country pooled their expertise to select the list Quebedeaux’s Cajun Cafe was chosen because Executive Chef John Valenzuela owns the Creole Cajun and his wife Leslie are passionate about the people in Central Louisiana having a good local place to eat without having to drive to Lafayette or New Orleans The restaurant is filled with Louisiana flair – from art featuring the late Louisiana artist George Rodrigue’s Blue Dog to murals of scenes in the bayou to enhance the dining experience Here's the full list and more about Quebedeaux’s Cajun Cafe Voters in Rapides Parish will decide May 3 on multiple school-related tax renewals and one new proposition a $27-million bond issue for Pineville school improvements Rapides Schools Superintendent Jeff Powell has been hosting informational meetings about the proposed bond and the latest was Monday night at Pineville High School He told the small group of mostly employees that Rapides Parish School Board District B member Steve Berry had been meeting in the past few months with stakeholders and principals in the district about what is needed "That's kinda how the whole conversation started about possibly going after a bond," he said Powell laid out how the district makes improvements to its facilities, telling the group it has 14 different taxing districts — one parishwide and 13 individual. The May 3 ballot will include items covering these districts "We get no funding from the state or the federal government for facilities," he said "Facilities for K-12 schools come directly from the local tax base There's no other funding source for that." See the list: Rapides Parish high school seniors get ready for 2025 graduation ceremonies 'Resiliency of educators and children': 5 years after COVID-19 pandemic, report hails Rapides' progress battling learning loss Dangers of vaping: As Rapides School Board debates vaping, 2 arrested for allegedly selling to high schoolers Powell said a common question he's heard about the proposed bond is why not seek more than $27 million one being that District 52 already has an existing bond There's "only so much bonding capacity within a community," and officials have to balance that capacity with what the community is willing to pay Figures from the district estimate that the average homeowner in Pineville would pay approximately $18.54 a month and about $222.50 a year if the bond passes what is planned to be done with the proposed bond Some of those in attendance had suggestions about other items and Powell told them some of those could be done if budgets allowed Here is what currently is planned for each school within District 52: Sue Gene Hammons was 25 when she became the organist at Pineville Park Baptist Church in 1975 “I say I started out young – then 50 years happened,” said Hammons who will turn 75 in July Hammons also remembers that when she was 25 someone at First Baptist Church Pineville was celebrating their 50-year anniversary the church honored Hammons during the Sunday morning service and held an afternoon reception The City of Pineville proclaimed April 6 Sue Gene Hammons Day It’s very nice,” said Hammons of the celebration held for her not expecting to get recognition for doing what she loves to do “We are super pleased to have her as part of the worship team here at Pineville Park,” said the Rev adding that “her gifts and abilities add to the worship experience.”  “We look forward to many more years of faith and service,” he added Hammons grew up in Baton Rouge and learned how to play the piano by teaching herself “I stayed at this daycare down from my elementary school,” she said And whenever he got through with his books he would just leave them at the daycare.”  “I started looking at them and started teaching myself a few things about playing,” she explained her parents decided that they ought to buy a piano for her helped them pick out a good used upright piano and she started taking lessons “I skipped a lot of stuff because I had taught myself a lot of stuff You didn't want to learn all that stuff like chords and all that.’ Because I really don’t know chords.”  Then she decided she wanted to play the organ and started taking lessons “And my church needed an organist,” she said I started playing the organ at Parkview Baptist Church in Baton Rouge.”  Hammons likes being the organist and plans to continue for as long as she can “I don't know if it'll be five or ten more years,” she said “I don't know if I'll make it to 80 or not I don't know what I would be doing if I wasn’t doing it Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInBELL COUNTY (WYMT) - A legal complaint was filed against two board members of the Pineville Community Health Center (PCHC) earlier this month President and CEO of PCHC Michael Frey and board chair Natalie Frey filed the complaint against board members Dennis Varghese and Sheryl Richter for reportedly misappropriating millions of dollars and withholding information needed for Medicare reporting Frey said the Medicare cost report brought this to his attention “We were asked to sign a Medicare document that is to be submitted to Medicare We were not comfortable with that with $7 million unaccounted for,” Frey said He said Varghese and Ritcher were the only ones with access to the hospital’s finances “Your books have to balance,” Frey explained the only people that had access to the funds and they refused to give us an answer we had no choice other than to notify the proper authorities He said as this situation continues to unfold several hospital employees have been wrongfully terminated “They were terminated because they uncovered the truth and to say that it was wrongful termination is an understatement,” Frey said “So part of my desire and part of what I’m fighting for are not only those people with the entire staff over there but because we had a family atmosphere in the hospital and we think that it can still be that way.” Frey said above all he is fighting for the Pineville community “It’s truly a tragedy for the people around here because there was so much hope and you can feel it and we can hear it,” Frey said And we’re going to try to fix that and stop it and get back in the building and continue to build what we intentionally set out to build.” He said he remains optimistic for the future of the hospital “We’re just going to continue to do the right thing,” Frey said “Focus on what we can focus on and direct people to believe in what we’re telling them and we will finish what we started in this hospital one way or another.” he would encourage the Pineville community to continue going to the hospital The lawsuit is going to federal court but a date for a hearing has not yet been set WYMT reached out to the defense for a statement on Dec The Easter Bunny will make an appearance at the Alexandria Mall this Saturday and Longview Baptist Church is hosting a Spring Carnival Here's a list including other upcoming Easter events happening in the area April 5 Easter Bunny at Alexandria Mall Where: Alexandria Mall and visit with Easter Bunny and other characters Bunny portraits and Xpress Train provided by Xpressions Professional Photography Where: Forts Randolph & Buhlow State HIstoric Site April 20The ONEderful Egg Hunt and Easter Celebration at Journey Church Where: Journey Church Saturday worship service at church with egg hunt afterwards Sunrise Service at Buhlow Lake (no egg hunt) live music food trucks and silent auction benefiting family ministries NC – A Pineville police officer shot and killed a suspect outside a bar on Saturday afternoon That suspect has been identified as 24-year-old Colton Floren It happened in the parking lot of Tavern 51 in the Tower Place Festival shopping center off Pineville-Matthews Road near Park Road police received a 911 call about a suspect inside Tavern 51 that allegedly pulled out a handgun and was threatening others The caller also noted that the suspect may have had two additional firearms on his person A Pineville police officer says he found Colton Floren in the parking lot Police said the officer gave up to 13 verbal commands which Floren did not comply with The officer fired his weapon after Flroen allegedly made a sudden gesture which the officer perceived as an imminent threat to himself and others nearby Paramedics took Floren to Atrium Main where he later died The police officer involved did not get hurt The North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation is conducting a criminal investigation Pineville Police is also conducting an internal affairs investigation