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
Iberia Parish Officials Indicted On Fraud Charges
The mayor of Jeanerette, and her brother, an Iberia Parish councilman were indicted in Baton Rouge today for a years-long Medicaid fraud scam.
Carencro Man Sentenced On Child Porn Charges
The U.S. Attorney's office reported 57-year-old Michael Deblanc will spend the next seven years behind bars for possessing child pornography.
Calif. Judge Rules Coffee Requires Cancer Warning
The culprit chemical is a byproduct of the bean roasting process that is a known carcinogen and has been at the heart of an eight-year legal struggle between a tiny nonprofit group and Big Coffee.
Lafayette Church Evacuated During Good Friday Service
Reports of a person on church property turned out to be a false alarm. This afternoon's church activities have resumed.
Congress Honors WWII Veteran From Abbeville
Retired Brigadier General Robert Joseph LeBlanc earned the Congressional Gold Medal --the highest civilian honor the United States can bestow.
Social Media Threat At Mall of Louisiana Prompts Evacuation
Though social media users shared the active shooter threats, no shooter or weapon have been confirmed to be found at the facility.
Cameron Parish Trustee Crew Finds Rotting Human Head
The road crew made the grisly discovery Thursday along a roadside in the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge.
School Bus Stolen From Jennings High School
The school bus was stolen early Tuesday morning from Jennings High School.
Foreign Nationals Arrested In Lafayette ATM Skimmer Investigation
Both of the teen suspects were arrested at a local hotel after beung charged for installing a skimming device on an ATM at a local credit union.
Why Is La. Taking More Taxes From Our Paychecks?!?!
Is an effort to keep the state in the black making Louisiana workers see red on payday?
Resourceful Dog Becomes Epitome Of Texas Resiliency During Harvey (PHOTOS)
A dog in Sinton, Texas has become an unlikely sign of Texas' resiliency in the midst of historic flooding.
Harvey Halts Oil & Gas Production In Some Areas Of The Gulf
As of Monday afternoon, nearly 100 offshore oil and gas platforms have been evacuated.