The Red River Parish Library is inviting the community to celebrate Independence Day a little early with a patriotic-themed Bingo event on today at 1:00 p.m. Participants will have the chance to win patriotic-themed prizes while enjoying an afternoon of fun and friendly competition. The event will be held at the Red River Parish Library and is open to those looking for a festive way to kick off the summer holiday season. For more information, contact the Red River Parish Library.

Residents seeking assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) should be aware of upcoming call-in dates and requirements. The DeSoto Parish Police Jury Office of Community Services is accepting names for the LIHEAP cooling assistance waiting list on the first Tuesday of each month beginning at 8:30 a.m. The first 100 callers will receive a place on the waiting list. Applicants must call (318) 872-8241 and follow the phone prompts to speak with the appropriate case manager, as voicemails will not be accepted. Individuals needing crisis assistance due to utility disconnections may call (318) 872-0880 on Mondays and Fridays, subject to available funding. Applicants should have required documents ready, including identification, Social Security cards, proof of income, utility bills and proof of residency.

Louisiana has issued new animal movement restrictions after New World screwworm was detected in Texas. The flesh-eating parasite was eradicated in the US decades ago. It can infest livestock, pets, wildlife and in rare cases, people. The LSU AgCenter has various links and resources for livestock owners as well as links to up-to-date information from the USDA at https://tinyurl.com/NWSresources26.

The Louisiana Folklife Center at Northwestern State University will present “A Life Spent Singing the Blues: A Music Informance with the Wayne ‘Blue’ Burns Band” on Saturday, June 20 at 2 p.m. at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum at 800 Front St. in Natchitoches. The event is free and open to the public.Dr. Shane Rasmussen, professor of English and director of the Louisiana Folklife Center at Northwestern State, will interview the band about the cultural significance of blues music in Louisiana. Their discussion will include songs performed by the band which will also perform at the 46th annual Natchitoches-NSU Louisiana Folklife Festival, to be held July 18 in air-conditioned Prather Coliseum on the NSU campus. For more information, call the Louisiana Folklife Center at (318) 357-4332, email folklife@nsula.edu, or go to http://www.nsula.edu/folklife/.

Minden & Louisiana Tech alum L’Jarius Sneed is returning to the Kansas City Cheifs.