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BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana Senator Bob Hensgens was unanimously elected chair of the Energy and Environment Committee for The Council of State Governments Southern Office (CSG South) by members of the committee during the 78th Annual Southern Legislative Conference (SLC) held on July 21 - 25 at the Greenbrier Hotel in West Virginia.
The CSG South Energy and Environment Committee is comprised of state legislators and legislative staff from the 15 CSG South member states. Recent policy and program issues addressed by the committee include emerging nuclear power technologies, baseload power in Southern states, carbon capture, and liquid natural gas storage.
“I am honored to be the Chair of this committee and representing CSG South and the fifteen Southern states,” said Senator Hensgens. “Coming from an energy-rich state, the knowledge and insight of other Southern state leaders will only benefit our efforts in Louisiana. As is often said at CSG South, ‘Why reinvent the same thing 15 times!’”
As chair of the CSG South Energy and Environment Committee, Senator Hensgens will work with the committee’s vice chair, Georgia Representative Bill Werkheiser, in guiding the committee’s policy focus and projects, including programming for the 79th Annual Southern Legislative Conference, July 19 - 23, 2025, in Birmingham, Alabama.
Senator Hensgens represents District 26 in the Louisiana Senate and is the Chair of the Natural Resources Committee. He was elected to the Louisiana Senate in 2018. Prior to becoming a state senator, he served in the Louisiana House for seven years and, before that, was the Mayor of the Town of Gueydan in Vermilion Parish. Senator Hensgens graduated from Vermilion Catholic High School and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. He went on to build his own successful healthcare management business. He and his wife, Nancy, are active members of St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church in Gueydan.

About CSG South

Established In 1947, The Council of State Governments Southern Office (CSG South) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that exists to support members in all three branches of state government. At CSG South we act as an extension of state government, fostering the exchange of insights and ideas to help state officials shape public policy and create problem-solving partnerships.
The mission of CSG South is to promote and strengthen intergovernmental cooperation among its 15 member states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia. Predominantly, this is achieved through the ongoing work of CSG South's seven standing committees and supporting groups.
Legislative leadership, members, and staff depend on CSG South to identify and analyze solutions for the most prevalent and unique policy issues facing Southern state governments. We facilitate outreach in state capitols, leadership development, staff exchange programs, domestic and international policy delegations, and other efforts to support state policymakers and legislative staff in their work to build stronger, more successful states.
The Southern Legislative Conference (SLC) is the largest regional gathering of legislative members and staff. SLC boasts an array of well-established programs—focusing on both existing and emerging state government innovations and solutions—providing policymakers and staff diverse opportunities to interact with policy experts and share their knowledge with colleagues.

On the afternoon of Aug. 8, the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office received a request from the Vermilion Parish Coroner’s Office to present an Order of Protective Custody to a subject who was reportedly suicidal.
Deputies were dispatched to the subject’s residence where Abbeville Police Department was already on scene attempting to make contact with the subject. After numerous attempts, the officers remained unsuccessful and no response was received from inside the residence.
The subject’s wife requested that a welfare check be completed. Abbeville Police Officers attempted to enter the residence after the subject’s wife unlocked the door and the officers were ordered out of the residence by the subject.
Due to the nature of the complaint and concerns of the complainant, there was a heightened awareness of the threat to public safety. A perimeter was established, and negotiators were called to the scene, along with members of the Vermilion Parish Sheriff’s Office Special Response Team.
Upon arrival, the subject of the OPC was identified but refused to comply with VPSO deputies and barricaded himself in this home. The remainder of the VPSO SRT team was then activated and several peaceful but tactical efforts began, to induce his surrender.
After a three-hour standoff, the subject eventually exited the home peacefully and was taken into custody without incident. He was then transported by Acadian Ambulance to a local medical facility for evaluation.
Sheriff Langlinais would like to extend a thank you to the Abbeville Police Department and the Vermilion Parish Coroner’s Office for their collaborative efforts, which led to a peaceful resolution.

A Time of Remembrance will be held on Monday, August 12, 2024, at 11 a.m. at Fountain Memorial Funeral Home in Lafayette, LA for Annette Vincent Meaux, 85, who passed away on Wednesday, August 7, 2024, at her residence in Lafayette, LA.
Visitation will be observed at Fountain Memorial Funeral Home in Lafayette, LA on Sunday, August 11, 2024, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. and will resume on Monday, August 12, 2024, from 8:30 a.m. until the time of service at 11 a.m.
A Rosary will be recited by Tony Meaux on Sunday, August 11, 2024, at 6 p.m. at Fountain Memorial Funeral Home in Lafayette, LA.
A Eulogy will be delivered by Rick Nunez.
Interment will follow in Fountain Memorial Cemetery in Lafayette, LA.
Annette Vincent Meaux, was born May 7, 1939, on Pecan Island, LA and was a long-time resident of Acadiana. From an early age Annette valued education. Her accomplishment of graduating from Abbeville High School as Valedictorian, Class of 1957, was only the beginning. After high school, Annette graduated from the University of Southwestern Louisiana in 1973 with a Bachelor’s Degree, and a Master’s Degree in Business Education in 1976. Later, while teaching at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School and raising a young family, Annette was determined to provide the best life and education for her own children. In the evenings, Annette would commute to Baton Rouge to obtain her Ph.D. from Louisiana State University, graduating in 1980.
For 31 years, Annette served as a distinguished professor at the University of Southwestern Louisiana, dedicating her career to researching and developing new curricula for the Department of Business Systems, Analysis and Technology. Her efforts and frequent publishing not only contributed to USL’s accreditation, but also put her students on a path to success in a technologically changing workplace. To Annette, education was never wasted. Going the extra mile was a given to ensure her students were armed to help themselves, their communities, and their own young families. In two of her papers, she focused on personalizing education based on personality types, and championed the multiplying value of mentorship among female executives. In addition to education and mentorship, Annette valued preparedness. Annette’s presentation and dignity set the standard in professionalism for both her students and colleagues. Dr. Vincent was simply classy in every way.
After retirement, Annette's beaming spirit extended beyond academia into the heart of her community. As an avid supporter of Big Band music, especially The Skyliners and the music of Bill Rosa, she loved dancing at the Petroleum Club on Friday nights with her husband Leo and beloved friends. For over 30 years, she was also an active member for the Krewe of Zeus, embodying the festive spirit and rich traditions of the Mardi Gras season. Her enthusiasm for dance, music and community involvement left a lasting impression on all who knew her.
Annette is survived by her beloved husband of 37 years, Leo Meaux, of Lafayette, LA; her daughter, Charla Mercier and her husband, Kurt, of Youngsville, LA; her son, Rick Nunez and his wife, Geralyn, of Houston, TX; her brother, Carlis Vincent, of Morgan City, LA; her four grandchildren, Elizabeth Stewart, Chuck Stewart, Lauren Nunez and Abby Nunez and dear family and friends.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Denward and Estelle Suire Vincent.
Honored to serve as Pallbearers are Rick Nunez, Kurt Mercier, Chuck Stewart, Mike Meaux, Brandon Danos and Craig Delahoussaye.
The family wishes to thank the staff of St. Joseph Hospice, especially her caregiver Bridgette Martin for the compassionate care given to Annette and her family.
Online obituary and guest book may be viewed at www.fountainmemorialfuneralhome.com.
Fountain Memorial Funeral Home and Cemetery, 1010 Pandora St., Lafayette, LA 70506, 337-981-7098 is in charge of arrangements.