Born in Lafayette and raised in St. Martinville, I am a Cajun in heart, mind and spirit. I dove into the news industry with my start at my hometown newspaper where I picked up some journalistic skills. I earned a degree in mass communications at UL Lafayette which prepared me for covering news in Acadiana and around the state. As a news reporter for KPEL, my news beats include, but are not limited to, Lafayette Consolidated Government and the Lafayette Parish School Board. Jumping from print media to broadcast has been an exciting move for me in the ever-changing multimedia environment of today's news world. When not covering news, I can often be found playing guitar or cooking at home, both usually being done with my daughter, Jolie, very near by.
Derek Albert
America’s Cajun Navy Hosting Family Friendly Fundraiser
America's Cajun Navy is hosting a family friendly cook-off event this Sunday at Cowboy's in Scott.
UPDATE: Dine-&-Dash Couple Turn Themselves In
The pair of women--with a young child in tow--racked up a more than $100 meal bill before leaving a Scott restaurant.
Five LCG Town Hall Meetings Set For Next Week
The meetings are being held in order to gather public input on the issue of partial deconsolidation of LCG.
Plan To Revamp LCG Charter Clears First Hurdle
The council voted 5-3 Tuesday night to put the item on an LCG agenda for final approval in two weeks.
UPDATE: CAPTURED; Lafayette Man Wanted For Child Sex Crimes
Attorney General Jeff Landry and his Cyber Crime Unit are looking for 65-year-old Durice "Joey" Richard accused of child sex crimes.
4th Arrest Made In Case Of Murdered Teen
A Breaux Bridge woman was arrested for supplying the murder suspect, a convicted felon, with a firearm weeks before Simone Robin was found dead.
Aggreko Expansion Bringing Jobs To Iberia Parish
The expansion that is expected to produce 30 new direct jobs and 30 new indirect positions in Acadiana.
Lafayette Native Rising To Top Of National Music Competition
TownSquare Media's Taste of Country features Lafayette native Chase Dugas among its national finalists.
Resource Officers Being Assigned To Every LPSS School
School resource officers could be found at every high school and middle school in the parish, Now, the presence of an armed, uniformed officer will be extended to all grades K-12.
Lafayette Cell Phone Store Robbed At Gunpoint
The Lafayette Police Department is investigating the afternoon armed robbery.
LPSS To Unveil Online Checkbook
Lafayette School Board member Justin Centanni talks about new initiatives being implemented in the school district.
UPDATE: 3rd Man Arrested In Death Of St. Martinville Teen
62-year-old Donald Boutte of Breaux Bridge has also been arrested.
Online Video Leads To Road Rage Arrest In Lafayette
A video posted online today led to the arrest of a Lafayette man who was witnessed driving recklessly.
UPDATE: Missing Breaux Bridge Toddler Found Safe
The girl--Ryan Trosclair-- has been returned safe and sound to the child's grandparents.
Firefighters Fight Blaze At Zoosiana (VIDEO)
Fortunately, no animals--or humans--were injured in a structural fire at Zoosiana Saturday night.
State Tax Renewal Fails In House By 7 Votes
It's lights out for a tax renewal that would cover about half of the state's looming budget gap.
Overdose Death Ruled A Homicide, Suspect Arrested
One man charged with murder for supplying lethal dose of narcotics.
UPDATE: All Lanes Open Near I-10 Crash Site
If you need to head to Baton Rouge from the Acadiana area, get off of I-10 at the 1-49 exit.
Downtown Library Evacuated
The Main Branch of the Lafayette Public Library is being evacuated at this hour amid a fire alarm activation.
According to the Lafayette Parish 911 system, the fire alarm was activated at 4:10 p.m.
The Lafayette Fire Department is currently on the scene...
Line Of Storms Cause Acadiana Power Outages
Thousands are without power in Acadiana following a line of storms early this morning.