Ashaunta Bradley has made it into the Top 15 on Favorite Chef. Voting to get him into the Top 10 closes Thursday, April 24 at 9pm. Help him reach the Top 10 by casting your vote here. 

Big Bass Splash is back at Cypress Bend Park on Toledo Bend Lake May 16-18. Amateur anglers, get ready for $550,000 in guaranteed cash and prizes, including boats, trucks, and hourly payouts! This three-day tournament is one of the biggest amateur tournaments in the country. Register by mail by May 6 or sign up online. Get all the details here.

It’s official–Louisiana is finally get a Buc-ee’s. The first one broke ground last week in Ruston. The iconic travel stop is expected to open June 2026. Once opened it is expected to generate 200+ jobs.

The Town of Coushatta will host a Family Community Day Saturday, June 7 from 10am – 1pm at the Coushatta Ballpark. There will be free food, prizes and family fun. The Healthy Blue Mobile Health Unit will also be on site. More details coming soon. 

Nanette Marie Crawford
March 25, 1964 – April 15, 2025
Funeral services will be held Saturday April 26, 2025 at 11am at New Light B.C. in Hall Summit.

Matt Vines

COUSHATTA – Playoff softball is coming to Coushatta for only the second time in its history as Red River held its home playoff slot in the official playoff pairings announced Wednesday.

The No. 15 Lady Bulldogs (20-7) will host No. 18 seed Pine on Friday at 2 p.m.

Red River’s only other home playoff game came in 2021 as a No. 15 seed, but the Lady Bulldogs fell to South Plaquemines.

The program is looking for its first-ever playoff win in its sixth-ever appearance, according to LHSAA playoff records that date back to 2003.

Red River is making its first playoff appearance since 2022 as the Lady Bulldogs have put together one of the best regular seasons in program history.

Winners of their last six games, Red River will put its explosive bats to the test in a playoff atmosphere.

Red River has scored double-digit runs in 19 of its 20 wins. In Red River’s seven losses, the Lady Bulldogs have scored five runs or less.

Pine (9-11) enters the playoffs 3-3 in its last six games.

It sports an offense that’s capable of production with seven games of 10 or more runs.

Both teams have struggled against elite competition, but Red River has proven it can win the close games.

The Lady Bulldogs are 4-1 in games decided by three runs or less. The best example of Red River’s progress this season is a 14-13 win this past week against a Northwood-Lena bunch that opened the season with a 16-5 win against Red River.

Pine is 3-4 in games decided by three runs or less.

Matt Vines

LIVINGSTON – The Red River baseball team battled early Thursday in both games against Doyle, but big innings sunk the Bulldogs in the first-round playoff series.

No. 10 seed Doyle put together prolific innings in wins of 11-1 and 11-1 to end No. 23 seed Red River’s season.

Red River (14-18) struck first in the opening game when Hunter Tingle singled in a run in the first inning. The Bulldogs loaded the bases with their first three batters on an Eli Murphy single, an error and a John Dickey walk.

But Doyle pitcher Parker Taylor struck out the next two batters with the bases loaded, and the threat ended with a ground out.

Taylor scattered six hits and two walks in the five-inning complete game.

Red River pitcher Aston Hester cruised through the first three innings before Doyle hung nine runs in the fourth.

Hester danced around three base runners in the first three innings, but Doyle’s big fourth inning blew the game open.

Doyle (20-14) tied the game by starting the fourth inning with a pair of singles and an error with a bases-loaded walk bringing across the first run.

Reese Jones drove in two more runs for a 3-1 lead before a Tate Albin grand slam put the Tigers up 7-1. Doyle added another pair of runs in the inning for a 9-1 edge.

In the second game, Doyle took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning before Red River answered in the bottom of the frame.

Nolan Moore singled in Hester to tie the game 1-1 in the second inning.

Doyle scored three runs in the fourth inning before adding a combined five runs in the fifth and sixth innings.

Murphy got the start on the mound, allowing six runs on eight hits and seven walks in 5 1-3 innings.

Overall in the doubleheader, Murphy and Hester had three hits each to lead the offense.

Doyle eliminated Red River from the playoffs for the second consecutive season after the Tigers won a three-game set in the 2024 quarterfinals.

Red River High School will host a blood drive Tuesday, April 22 from 9am until 2pm in the banquet room of the Vocational Building.

Donors will receive a pair of limited-edition sunglasses, while supplies last.

The public is invited to participate.

You can preregister at https://donor.lifeshare.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/279424

Walk ins are welcome also.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Bobbi Foster, America 250 State Chairman, LSDAR, and Commissioner, Louisiana 250 Commission
Phone: (985) 788-0305
Personal Email: BobbiFosterDAR@proton.me
Website: http://www.lsdar.org

Honoring 250 Years of Freedom: Louisiana DAR Champions Patriotism and Heritage

Coushatta, LA – As the United States prepares to celebrate a historic milestone—the 250th anniversary of its founding, the Louisiana State Society Daughters of the American Revolution (LSDAR) is proudly at the forefront of commemorative efforts across the state. With deep roots in Louisiana’s rich cultural heritage and a steadfast commitment to service, the organization is honoring America’s journey with projects that preserve history, promote education, and inspire patriotism.

The America 250! initiative, established by the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission, is a nationwide effort to recognize the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. As a proud partner, the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), and by extension, the LSDAR has embraced this opportunity to engage communities, celebrate our freedom, and reflect on the values that define our nation.

In Louisiana, DAR members are making a meaningful impact. From marking Revolutionary War graves, placing and dedicating America 250 bronze plaques, hosting educational essays and awarding student scholarships, their efforts are connecting the past to the present. As the 250th anniversary approaches in 2026, the LSDAR is planning special events and tributes that highlight the state’s unique role in shaping the American story.

With 44 active chapters across Louisiana, the state society invites citizens from all walks of life to join in the celebration, whether by attending public events, supporting historic sites, or simply reflecting on the blessings of freedom.

For more information on upcoming programs or membership opportunities, visit http://www.lsdar.org or http://www.dar.org.
________________________________________
About the DAR
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) is one of the country’s most vibrant and active patriotic organizations, with more than 190,000 members worldwide. Founded in 1890, the NSDAR is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women’s service organization open to any woman 18 years or older who can prove lineal, bloodline descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving American independence. The Louisiana State Society DAR is proud to be part of this enduring legacy, uniting women across the state in a shared commitment to honoring the past and shaping the future.

By Nolan McKendry Apr 16, 2025

(The Center Square) — According to the latest Rich States, Poor States report, Louisiana’s Economic Outlook rank jumped from 31 to 18, the largest improvement from one year to the next in the U.S..

“Each of these factors is influenced directly by state lawmakers through the legislative process. Generally speaking, states that spend less – especially on income transfer programs – and states that tax less – particularly on productive activities such as working or investing – experience higher growth rates than states that tax and spend more,” the report writes.

Undoubtedly, the tax reforms made by the Legislature in November worked to move the state up the list. Those reforms included flattening the income tax, reducing the corporate tax rate, expanding the list of taxed goods and services, and eliminating a torrent of tax incentives, exemptions and credits.

The state’s tax reforms earned it the number 14 spot on the indexes “Recently Legislated Tax Changes,” up from number 49.

Jonathan Williams, executive vice president of the American Legislative Exchange Council, previously told The Center Square that Gov. Jeff Landry’s tax proposal closely reflects the ideas behind Donald Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

“We saw significant economic growth, new investment, and business creation across the country,” Williams said. “In fact, the federal tax code ended up becoming more progressive after the Trump tax cuts than it was before. It’s critical to consider not just the projected short-term impacts, but also the long-term implications for a state’s economic competitiveness.”

The corporate tax changes earned the state the number 10 rank for the indexes “Top Marginal Corporate Income Tax Rate,” up from number 21. 

Louisiana did increase the state sales tax, after the legislature was unable to pass a bill that would have even more expanded taxes on goods and services.

This may have contributed to the state 12-rank increase for the states “Remaining Tax Burden”, which is “calculated as the amount of tax revenues from state and local taxes — excluding personal income, corporate income, property, sales, and severance—per $1,000 of personal income.”

The state also worsened in rank for “Debt Service as a Share of Tax Revenue” and the “Sales Tax Burden.”

So much of our life is unpredictable even though we think we have a game plan. We are constantly making plans for the future even with so many variables out of our control. We’ve all heard how we as humans are truly creatures of habit. But sometimes life takes us down a path we weren’t expecting. It may be a road that if we had a choice, we might not have traveled.

Let’s look at my years of tournament fishing. As a former athlete who has played all levels of baseball and football, my competitive fire still burns strong. I not only want to win, I also want to kick your butt in the process.

But as I’ve written before, tournament bass fishing is a very humbling sport. I think the only sport comparable would be golf. Just when you think you’re “the man ” bass fishing reels you in and makes you realize that you have no idea what you’re doing!

For me personally, as I continue to pursue championship stringers, even at the age of 64, tournament fishing still gets my blood flowing. Competing against so many of today’s younger anglers just motivates me even more and keeps me feeling young.

I used to lose sleep over my performance in previous tournaments. Like a lot of anglers, I self-analyze every tournament and try to learn from my small victories on the water to my biggest mistakes.

But a turning point in my bass tournament perspective came when I was diagnosed with stage 3 Melanoma in June of 2023. Everything changed after my dermatologist called to let me know my biopsy was positive. Next thing I knew, I was sitting in the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston with the finest doctors in the world, putting together a plan of attack with immunotherapy that would hopefully cure my cancer.

It was at this point that my outlook on winning bass tournaments changed dramatically. After several treatments and numerous PET scans and MRIs over the last two years, my cancer has disappeared and hopefully will stay away.

Today when I show up for a tournament, I’m so happy that I can continue to participate in the sport I love. I’m probably more excited today to fish an event because I realize my battle with Melanoma could have been a lot worse. While I’ll continue to go through more blood work, PET scans and MRIs the rest of my life, I’m so thankful to be able to experience life to the fullest.

My cancer scare has been a reminder of how precious life really is and how blessed I am to get to continue to enjoy my fishing. Several times I have shed a tear or two as the national anthem is played before we leave the boat ramp for a day of chasing those little green fish we call bass.

While all of us at some point in our lives will have health issues, sometimes it takes a life altering moment to make us realize there are things more important than winning a bass tournament. Just the fact that I get to go fishing is a true blessing and one I no longer take for granted!

Let’s not get this twisted, I’m still competitive and will continue to critique myself after each event in my desperate pursuit of championship stringers! But it’s no longer the most important part of my life and does not define who I am as a person.

Til next time, enjoy every opportunity you get to wet a hook and go fishing while spending time in God’s great outdoors.

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

By Nolan McKendry Apr 16, 2025

(The Center Square) — Everyone in Louisiana is able to agree that the cost of insurance is too much to bear, but a sizeable rift has emerged on where to place the emphasis of addressing the crisis.

The rift has pitted Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple against Gov. Jeff Landry along with several legislators from both parties.

Among the questions asked by lawmakers: Are insurers making too much money in Louisiana or not enough? Does the insurance commissioner have the authority to deem a rate excessive? Can insurers conceal information that the insurance commissioner needs to regulate those insurers?

Temple and Landry have opposite answers to these questions, as do many legislators.

Landry has assumed a position that argues insurers are making too much money and testified Wednesday morning in favor of a bill which would allow the insurance commissioner to determine an insurer’s rates to be excessively profitable.

“Insurance companies continue to report record profits, while our rates continue to rise,” Landry told the House Insurance committee.

Temple said in a recent news conference that 40 commercial auto insurers have left the state, stopped or limited writing policies. 

“For-profit companies don’t stay away from markets where they can make a profit,” Temple said. “Insurers certainly would not stay out of Louisiana if they were making the billions of dollars that some are suggesting they are making.”

Still, Louisiana’s largest auto insurer is reporting some $600 million in profits, collecting about $1.6 billion in premiums and spending over $1 billion on claims. However, this doesn’t include operational expenses, most notably salaries. According to IBISWorld, State Farm employs 67,000 people. 

The bill in question, House Bill 576, would repeal the current distinction between competitive and noncompetitive insurance markets and give the insurance commissioner broader authority to reject rates deemed excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory — regardless of market conditions.

Temple made it clear that he did not support the bill and has previously testified against such a law. 

“If insurance companies were profitable, they would be writing policies in the state,” Temple told Sen. Jason Hughes, D-Orleans, at a March Senate Insurance committee.

Temple also says that he already has the authority to deem a rate to be excessive, another point that he and Landry disagree on.

Claire Lemoine, an attorney at the Department of Insurance made clear at the Senate Insurance hearing that the commissioner already has authority to reject rates in competitive markets if they are unfairly discriminatory. According to Lemoine, that determination hinges on whether the rate is actuarially justified based on the risk being covered.

“If a rate is too high, then it’s not actuarially justified,” Lemoine said, adding that under Title 22, the department’s actuary can also consider whether the projected profit is reasonable — something they already do as part of the review process.

Hughes wasn’t convinced and no common ground was reached.

“The senator is trying to suggest that if i don’t like the rates, I can just arbitrarily change them,” Temple told The Center Square. “He thinks I can just say, ‘Oh that’s too high, you need to lower them. When it comes to excessive rates, yes we can deny excessive rates, if you understand that excessive means the insurer cannot justify them.”

The School of Allied Health at Northwestern State University is accepting applications for its new Master’s of Science in Allied Health program which starts this fall.

According to School of Allied Health Graduate Director Ben D. Wood, Ed.D., entry into the program requires a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university and prospective students must hold a licensure credential in their respective allied health field. Allied health professions are health professions distinct from nursing, medicine and pharmacy. They provide a range of diagnostic, technical, therapeutic and support services in connection with healthcare. The professions include but are not
limited to dental hygienists, dietitians, occupational assistants, physical therapy assistants, respiratory therapists, medical lab technologists, emergency medical personnel (EMTs and paramedics), exercise science professionals (athletic trainers), health information technologists and allied health educators.

These healthcare professions are rapidly growing and are presenting career opportunities for individuals in these professions.

“Allied Health encompasses a broad group of health professionals who use scientific principles and evidence‐based practice for the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of acute and chronic diseases; promote disease prevention and wellness for optimum health and apply skills to support healthcare systems in a variety of settings,” said Wood. “In order to progress to other positions, such as clinical education and clinical operations, these individuals require additional education to build the requisite skills.”

According to Wood, there is a disparity of allied health managers who do not hold a master’s degree. This is also demand from those in the allied health education where faculty at community colleges may only hold a bachelor’s degree and may have some graduate school coursework completed.

Wood said the Master’s of Science in Allied Health at NSU will be the first of its kind in Louisiana. The goals of the program are to: prepare healthcare professionals who can function as leaders in allied health professions; develop allied health professionals who are prepared to contribute to healthcare delivery; prepare allied health professionals to become departmental leaders who are supportive of and contribute to the overall organizational mission and prepare allied health professionals who are adaptable to
changing legal and legislative trends regarding healthcare delivery.

“The MSAH program offers two concentrations in the areas of clinical education and clinical operations,” said Wood. “The program allows a pathway for allied health professionals to earn a graduate degree in their discipline and to develop skills that will assist with career advancement within allied health clinical education or clinical operations.”

According to Wood, the program will be offered online, allowing working professionals to continue in their current positions while pursuing the degree requirements.

For more information on the Master’s of Science in Allied Health at Northwestern, go to nsula.edu/alliedhealth.

Donald Edwin Pollock was born in 1914. In the late 1930s, Donald met and fell in love with Nellie Ruth “Ruthie Pill” Pillsbury. They married in 1939. When the United States entered World War II, Donald joined the Navy. In 1945, they had a son named David, followed by another son named Stephen two years later. When Stephen was just two years old, his father said he was going out to get a pack of cigarettes. Stephen later quipped, “It must’ve been a hard pack to find,” because Donald never returned. He used the need for cigarettes as a ruse to get out of the house and he abandoned his family.

Ruthie Pill only referred to Donald a few times in front of her children. When he left, she acted as if he never existed. When Stephen was a little older, he began to ask about his father. Ruthie Pill told young Stephen, “When people ask you why he left, say he’s in the Navy and that he’s at sea because that might not be a lie.” David and Stephen always had more questions than answers about their father, but they knew it was painful for their mother to discuss. Stephen remembered that as a teenager he said if he ever met his father, he would sock him in the mouth. When he matured a little more, Stephen said that if he ever saw his father, “I would ask, ‘why?’… Then, I would sock him in the mouth.” Stephen never saw his father again.

Ruthie Pill struggled as a single parent, but she provided well for David and Stephen. They never got all they wanted, but they always got what they needed. Ruthie Pill read to David and Stephen often. Stephen remembered fondly that they sat spellbound as their mother read stories about U.F.O.s, paranormal activity, and other tales of the strange and unknown from Fate magazine. The two brothers were fascinated by stories and read just about everything they could get their hands on. Stephen began to recreate comic book panels that he found interesting. His drawings were good for a child his age, but he just copied the text verbatim. One day, young Stephen showed his mother a comic panel he had reproduced. She appreciated his artwork but was less than impressed with the stories he had copied. “I bet you could do better,” she said, “Write one of your own.” Stephen had never considered this before. The possibilities were endless. Stephen said it was, “as if I had been ushered into a vast building filled with closed doors and had been given the key to open any I liked.” As an extra incentive, his aunt paid him a quarter for each original story he created. Stephen’s first story was published when he was 12 years old in a self-published magazine his 14-year-old brother created called “Dave’s Rag.”

In 2014, Stephen had a genealogist investigate his family history. He wanted to know more about his father. The genealogist showed Stephen a photo of a man and asked if he had ever heard the last name Pollock. Stephen did not recognize the man or the surname. He said, the name Stephen Pollock “just doesn’t have the same ring to it.” The genealogist revealed a secret that had been unknown to Stephen, his brother, and, most likely, his mother. For reasons that remain a mystery, years before Donald and Ruthie Pill married, he had changed his name from Pollock to King. By changing his name, his wife and sons became Kings, and his youngest son became the King of Horror, Stephen King.

Sources:

1. “In Search of Our Fathers,” Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Season 2, Episode 1, September 23, 2014, accessed April 12, 2025, https://pluto.tv/us/on-demand/series/65c662fe70ac440013ca78fa/season/2/episode/65eb824d925569001374b855?utm_medium=deeplink&utm_source=publisher.

2. “Donald Edwin King,” Findagrave.com, accessed April 13, 2025, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/136342403/donald_edwin-king.

Got change to spare? It adds up! This April, round up your purchase at participating Ace Hardware locations to support kids. Thanks to donations through Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, our local kids benefit from physical, occupational and speech therapy provided at CHRISTUS Kids Clinic in Coushatta. Donations support our local kids, providing the critical care they need to thrive!

Clara Springs Fourth Friday Fish Fry is April 25 from 5-7pm. Grand Cane Baptist will host. The $15 dinner includes All You Can Eat fish, coleslaw, french fries, hushpuppies, pinto beans, lemon breadpudding, homemade ice cream and a drink. Kids (10-17) only $10. Kids 9 & under are FREE. A Farewell Reception honoring Ron and Lori Thompson will also be held.

Red River Parish Schools will host Spring STEAM Camp Saturday, April 26 from 9am until 2pm at the Red River High School Vocational Building. Lunch will be provided. For more information contact Dr. Diane Newton at 318.271.3142. Students attending will receive a STEM.

The Annual El Camino Real Sale is May 2-3.  2 states, 6 cities, 100 miles. There will be garage and yard sales, flea markets, boutique shopping, entertainment and more from Natchitoches to Nacogdoches. 

The Village of Hall Summit will host a Community Yard Sale Saturday, May 24 beginning at 8am at the Hall Summit Community Center & Park. $10 per spot. Sale anything and everything. No electricity or water provided. Payments can be made at Town Hall.

Riverdale Baseball is hosting an Alumni Game June 7 at 3pm. $30 entry fee (tshirt included). Home Run Derby ($10 entry fee) open to anyone after the game. Concessions and fish plates will be sold.

Clara Springs Baptist Camp is hiring Summer Staffers. Must be 15 years old prior to June 1. Looking for grounds crew, lifeguards, kitchen  helpers, rec crew, etc. Apply on website: http://clarasprings.com/camp-summer-ministry-team

Morris Williams
May 3, 1944 – April 9, 2025
Funeral services will be held  Saturday, April 19,2025 at 11am at St. Paul B.C. in Coushatta.

Lois H Sanders
March 17, 1932 – April 13, 2025
Funeral Services will be held Friday, April 18, 2025 at 11am at Rockett Funeral Home in Ringgold.

Red River Parish Police Jury sponsored a cleanup day in the parish.  On Saturday, 100 people signed up to volunteer for trash disposal along roads, highways, and streets.

The product of all their hard work was the removal of over 700 bags of trash and loads of large debris from ditches. Crews met at the fairgrounds, Martin Village Hall, Catfish Bend Road, and the Fairview Baptist Church. The Red River Sheriff’s Office supported the crews and helped clean up.  

Coordinator Ben Taylor thanked all Police Jury members who worked hard and provided donations to pay for the food for volunteers after working all morning.  He recognized the 4-H program, the Umbrella group, Bank of Coushatta, Sheriff Glen Edwards, Captain James Moseley, Mayors Cole and Longino, and Larry Hughes. Mr. John Moore coordinated the Catfish Bend area.  Police Jury President Tray Murray and Troy Murray headed up the group from Fairview.   In the Southern Hills and Hwy 71 area, Sam Carter, Tangela Maxwell, Anita Taylor, family, and friends bagged as much as possible.   Diane Newton, Glenn, and Sue Turner coordinated the Smith Community.  Expand Energy provided safety vests and grabbers for everyone.  Most importantly, thanks go to all the volunteers who showed up and did their part to make Red River cleaner.  

“The day was a success for our Parish.  We are making a difference in how people view our town and surrounding communities and building pride in ourselves.”  

This effort was so successful that Taylor plans a similar event for October. “If we can get teams to sign up in September and have the Highway Department make sure that the sides of the Highways are mowed before the event, we will have the opportunity to get even more trash out of our Parish.”

This area owes an enormous thank you to Mr. Taylor and the Police Jury for sparking a sense of pride in the people of Red River. 

Clean up the Boot/Clean up Red River.

Matt Vines

COUSHATTA – The Red River baseball program will get another shot at Doyle as the No. 23 seed Bulldogs head to No. 10 Doyle for the first round of the Division III Non-Select playoffs.

The best-of-three series starts with a Thursday doubleheader beginning at 11 a.m. with an if-necessary game Friday (11 a.m. start).

The matchup is a replay of the 2024 quarterfinals series in which Doyle won two games. All three games were decided by one run with Doyle winning 1-0 and 2-1, sandwiching a Red River 1-0 win.

Doyle ended Red River’s best-ever baseball season as the program advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time after a program-record 25 wins.

Red River (14-16) remains a dangerous out with players who have experienced playoff series wins.
The Bulldogs won two of their last three contests (Choudrant and Ebarb) to end the regular season after an eight-game slide in district play four of which were by two runs or less.

Doyle (18-14) is one of the hottest teams in Division III as the Tigers have won 14 of their last 16 games. The District 8-3A champions started the season 4-11 against a tough slate.

The series winner advances to play at No. 7 seed Jena this coming week.

The playoff format has changed in that each round is a best-of-three series instead of just the first three rounds.

That means teams won’t advance to Sulphur’s McMurry Park until the championship series.

Divisions I, II, and III will implement this change while Divisions IV and V remain one-game series in every round.

The 2025 Regular Legislative Session convened Monday at noon as required by the State Constitution. Returning to Baton Rouge, lawmakers say they’re prepared to balance the budget and debate legislation aimed at addressing Louisiana’s auto insurance crisis.

“As I’ve traveled the state visiting members in their districts, the overwhelming priority of constituents shared is the high cost of insurance,” said Speaker of the House Phillip DeVillier. “During the interim, our committee chairs have hosted numerous meetings to take a deep dive into the factors that increase auto rates for consumers and they’re fully prepared to tackle this issue head on. In terms of the budget, we know the only way to spend more on roads and infrastructure, lower taxes and fund education is to take the resources we have and put them to work. Despite a standstill budget, the House is looking to find efficiencies, save tax payer dollars and move the state forward just like we did last year.”

“There’s been a lot of work in the interim around addressing Louisiana’s high auto insurance premiums and the Senate is certainly ready to advance solutions that make sense,” said Senate President Cameron Henry. “The budget always takes center stage during fiscal sessions and it will again this year, but I’m optimistic we’ll be able to find efficiencies, save tax payer dollars and pass a balanced bill that addresses the state’s priorities.”

In the House of Representatives, newly elected member, Annie Spell of Lafayette was officially
sworn into office today to serve District 45. Spell has been named to the Transportation, Health and Welfare and Retirement committees.

Two former House members also took their oath of office as elected Senators. Senator Brach Myers of Lafayette represents District 23 and will serve on the Environmental Quality, Insurance, Labor and Industrial Relations and Retirement committees. Senator Larry Selders of Baton Rouge represents District 14 and will serve on the Finance, Labor and Industrial Relations and State and Senate Governmental Affairs committees as well as the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget.

As of this morning, more than 860 bills have been filed by legislators. Subject matter is limited in odd-numbered years to fiscal issues including but not limited to the budget, tax increases or decreases, exemptions and credits. Additionally, members can introduce up to five bills that are outside the restrictions.

To follow the legislative session in real time, the public can log onto http://www.legis.la.gov to search for bills and watch live streams of committee room and floor debates. Additionally, the legislative mobile phone app, LALEGE can be downloaded from the Apple Store or Google Play. This year, the app has been updated to include a bill search and “find my legislator” function. Other key features include legislator profiles, Senate and House schedules and a visitor’s guide to the Capitol.

The 2025 Regular Legislative Session must adjourn no later than 6:00 pm on Thursday, June 12th
unless extended pursuant to Article III, Section 2 of the Louisiana Constitution. 

An enthusiastic group of 26 students and 8 faculty mentors from Northwestern State University attended the 14th Annual University of Louisiana System Academic Summit, hosted by Nicholls State University in Thibodaux April 10-11.

The Academic Summit brings together all nine universities within the UL System for a yearly celebration of exemplary applied learning. This multidisciplinary event fosters collaboration and exploration across diverse fields, including the arts, sciences, business and industry, health sciences, human behavior, engineering technology, social sciences and humanities. Through poster presentations, art exhibitions, stage performances, and oral presentations, students have the opportunity to engage with and learn from a wide range of academic disciplines.

Undergraduate participants were nominated by their faculty mentors and selected to represent NSU based on the excellence of their research, service initiatives, and creative or performing arts projects.

The 15th annual Academic Summit will be held next year at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond. Information is available by contacting Dr. Betsy Cochran at cochran@nsula.edu or Steven Gruesbeck at sgruesbeck@nsula.edu.

ULS Academic Summit:

Northwestern State students who participated in the ULS Academic Summit are, front row from left, Autumn Tipton of Shreveport, Shae Wetzel of Pitkin, Milayah Ealey of Gonzales, Zaiba Daud of Dhaka, Bangladesh; Pete Gorham of Natchitoches, Nelson Tamez of DeRidder, Emma Estrada of Robeline, Vy Bui of Natchitoches, Omarion White of Beaumont, Texas; Ronald Zaldanaof Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Carlos Diaz Del Valle of Natchitoches, Brooke Jones of St. Rose, Jesus Calderon of Natchitoches and Oscar Carballo of San Pedro Sula, Honduras. On the back row are Joseph Laughlin of Many, Xavier Williams of Alexandria, Micaiah Portis of Grambling, Hollon Gower of Bossier City, Tyrell Lockett of Jeanerette, Brody Heard of Alexandria and Kyle Hargrove of Coushatta.

Are you getting enough hugs?

While there’s no definitive “magic number,” some experts suggest aiming for at least 8 hugs a day for maintenance and potentially 12 for growth, emphasizing the positive effects of physical touch on well-being and emotional connection.

Family therapist Virginia Satir famously said, “We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.” 

Hugs can boost oxytocin (the “love hormone”), reduce stress, improve mood, strengthen the immune system, and enhance interpersonal relationship. They also may support cardiovascular health.

Quality trumps quantity. Focus should be on meaningful and genuine connections, rather than simply hitting a specific number of hugs. Aim for hugs lasting at least 20 seconds to potentially maximize the release of oxytocin and emotional connection. 

The arena is the Family Life Center of cowboy church. Red River Cowboy Church hosts a variety of activities aimed at the western culture. It’s an opportunity for people, of all walks of life, to come together and be with Christ. The Ragin’ Cajun Mounted Shooters are coming to introduce the thrilling sport of mounted shooting to the RRCC community! They are affiliated with the US Mounted Shooting Association and RRCC is excited to welcome this event to our arena. The event will feature two main pistol matches. In this event, riders will use two single-action revolvers to shoot five balloon targets while on horseback. After holstering the first revolver, they will draw the second to hit the remaining five targets. For the shotgun category, participants will shoot five targets with a single-action revolver then retrieve the shotgun from the scabbard to take down two additional bundles of targets. The rifle category combines single-action revolvers with rifle shooting where competitors aim to hit five rifle targets. It’s a show of incredible precision, speed, and horsemanship!

The event will take place on Sunday, April 27th, immediately after church (around noon). The event is FREE and there will be lunch available for purchase. We would love for you to attend church with us before the event. For those who are interested, your attendance to church will register you for the drawing to win a Rossi 22 LR Caliber rifle. It’s a great way to learn more about cowboy church. The day begins at 10:30am with donuts and coffee. Come enjoy a day with us and see what the western culture has to offer in living life with Jesus! For more information about this event, contact Clyde Miley at 318.201.2626. For more information about RRCC, visit our website at www.redrivercowboychurch.org

Where:
Red River Cowboy Church
Intersection of Hwy 1 & Hwy 174
Lake End, Louisiana

When:  April 27, 2025 – After Church

“Brad and Sophie are, by most standards, good people. They do things as a family, and they try to keep their kids involved in various activities. They are considering trading their SUV for a minivan, something Sophie said she would never do. They try their best to have dinner as a family when the kids’ schedules permit it, and when the family dinners happen, they always hold hands around the dinner table and say, “the blessing.”

On Facebook, a recent family photo by the flowered cross at church has more than one hundred likes and dozens of comments about their beautiful family. Brad and Sophie are in their mid-thirties and go to church once every three months, because they are so busy. The extended family on Brad’s side has a beach house on the Gulf Coast and they try to get down there for the weekend whenever the weather is nice. It is also a real hassle to get the kids out the door on Sunday morning. (Miraculously, they can get everyone ready for school each morning, but nobody has ever brought that up.) When they are in town, they try hard to be at church because it means a lot to Papa and Nana, Sophie’s parents.

Papa is a third-generation member of the church and has taught in the same adult Sunday school classroom for thirty years. He sings in the choir every now and then but doesn’t like some of the new music they’ve been doing since the church hired the “new guy.” Papa serves on several committees in the church and never misses a Sunday. Nana’s entire social life revolves around the church, and she is always so thrilled to see the grandkids there so she can show them off to friends. She and the other ladies teaching Sunday school tell the girls that they changed their mom’s diaper in the nursery when she was a baby.

Church is a “good thing” in this family’s life, especially for the kids, since it is a place where they learn good moral lessons. And when they finally do make it, they admittedly feel good about themselves—and it gives the kids a chance to wear their monogrammed “church clothes.” Being seen as a family that doesn’t take the kids to church would be embarrassing for Nana, and the passive-aggressive comments at family gatherings would be unbearable. Even when they lived in a different state, Nana would ask Sophie every Monday on the phone whether she “took my grandkids to church.” It drove Sophie crazy. Now, being back in the same town, she can’t lie about their church attendance. Attending a different church than Nana and Papa’s in the same town would be worse than not attending at all.

Plus, the experience is comfortable. During the worship service, the new minister speaks for twenty minutes about loving others. Jesus is portrayed as a great example of this, since He helped the poor. The pastor doesn’t talk about sin, repentance, or the need for salvation, but the messages are inspiring. 

After church, Brad, Sophie and the kids head to Nana and Papa’s for lunch, and the kids can’t wait to change into their regular clothes. Brad and Sophie have found they fight less if they occasionally give this four-hour sacrifice to Sophie’s parents, as it doesn’t seem to impact the rest of their normal day-to-day routine.”

A happy story, huh?