There is something truly magical about bringing Louisiana communities together to celebrate what makes our state so vibrant, welcoming and unique.
Over the past few weeks, the Parish Journals of Louisiana had the privilege of partnering with Paige Alost and the Natchitoches Parish Tourist and Convention Commission, alongside Rebecca Blankenbaker and the Cane River National Heritage Area, to help promote a one-of-a-kind regional celebration: Truvyโs Blush & Bashful Weekend: Natchitoches Celebrates Dolly Parton.
From the moment planning began, our mission was simple: rally readers from across North and Central Louisiana and share the charm, history, and warmth of Natchitoches.
Today, we could not be prouder of the overwhelming response.
Throughout the multi-week promotional campaign, our readers answered the call in record numbers:
Over 1.29 million total impressions were delivered across our 16 digital Parish Journals, connecting community members to the spirit and schedule of the festival.
More than 1 million views greeted readers on topboard banners across every single news article published in our network.
Nearly 300,000 in-depth reads were logged on our dedicated feature advertorials exploring the weekendโs itinerary and the rich heritage of Cane River country.
More than 4,400 verified, non-duplicated entries were submitted by readers eager to win the exclusive $600 Dolly Parton Weekend Getaway package.
Beyond the numbers, what stood out most was the enthusiasm of our neighbors. Whether reading in Lincoln, Webster, Rapides, Jackson, Shreveport-Bossier, or right at home in Natchitoches Parish, readers embraced the chance to support and visit a premier Louisiana destination.
Events like Truvyโs Blush & Bashful Weekend demonstrate the enduring spirit of local community. Partnering with dedicated leaders like Paige Alost and Rebecca Blankenbaker reminds us of the power of collaboration between local tourism organizations and local community journalism.
To the Natchitoches Parish Tourist and Convention Commission and the Cane River National Heritage Area: thank you for trusting us to help tell your story. And to our readers across Louisiana: thank you for supporting community events and continuing to make our parish news network your daily home.
We were honored to play a part in this unforgettable celebrationโand we look forward to many more to come.
BATON ROUGE, La. โ Louisiana hunters using firearm suppressors will not face state penalties for lacking federal tax stamps or registration papers following recent changes to federal law, wildlife officials announced Monday.
The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries issued guidance clarifying how enforcement agents will address suppressors in the field after major federal shifts removed long-standing registration mandates.
Congress recently reduced the federal tax on suppressors to $0, and a federal court in Texas ruled in August that the federal government could no longer enforce specific registration requirements. On Oct. 9, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced it would no longer require agency approval or registration to possess a suppressor.
While Louisiana state law permits hunters to use suppressors, state statutes previously relied on the federal tax stamp as proof that the device was possessed legally.
LDWF officials said enforcement agents will adjust their field inspections accordingly. Agents will not cite hunters or seize equipment simply because an individual does not possess an ATF tax stamp or registration paperwork, provided the suppressor is legally owned and attached to a firearm permitted for the active hunting season.
Officials emphasized that standard hunting regulations and restrictions remain in effect. Agents will continue checking licenses, harvest tags, season dates, legal hunting hours, bag limits and approved methods of take.
Key rules that remain unchanged include:
Suppressors remain legal for taking game birds, wild quadrupeds, outlaw quadrupeds, nutria and beaver.
Firearms must still meet legal specifications for the specific season and game pursued; attaching a suppressor does not make an otherwise illegal firearm lawful.
Individuals legally prohibited from possessing firearms may not possess suppressors.
Anyone convicted of a class four or greater hunting violation remains barred from hunting with a suppressor for five years following the conviction date.
Machine guns remain fully regulated under federal law.
For many people, applying for a loan can feel like being reduced to a number.
A credit score may be part of the lending process, but it does not always tell the full story of a personโs financial situation.
Someone may have experienced a job change, medical expense, divorce, unexpected repair or other setback that affected their credit. Another person may simply have a limited credit history because they have not used traditional financial products very often.
That does not mean their current financial need is any less real.
Better Finance believes that is why a conversation still matters.
For more than 60 years, the company has worked with customers in Northwest Louisiana by taking the time to understand why they need financing, what their circumstances are and whether a loan can be structured appropriately.
That personal approach can be especially important for people who feel overlooked by larger or more automated financial systems.
Today, many lending decisions begin online. An applicant enters information, a computer reviews the data and a decision may be made with little or no personal interaction.
Technology can make financial services more convenient, but convenience and understanding are not always the same thing.
Sometimes a borrower needs the opportunity to explain the situation.
Perhaps a vehicle needs to be repaired so someone can continue getting to work.
Perhaps several existing payments have become difficult to manage.
Perhaps a family faces a medical expense, school expense or household need that was not part of the monthly budget.
The circumstances can be very different from one customer to the next.
Better Financeโs approach is to begin by listening.
That conversation does not guarantee that every loan will be approved. Responsible lending requires evaluating whether a loan is appropriate and whether the borrower can reasonably handle the repayment.
But it does mean the customer has an opportunity to discuss the need with someone who understands that financial lives are rarely as simple as a single number on a report.
For consumers who do not have a strong relationship with a traditional bank or financial institution, that conversation can be particularly valuable.
A past financial problem does not necessarily describe where someone is today.
A limited credit history does not necessarily describe someoneโs ability to work, earn an income or meet future obligations.
And an unexpected financial need does not always arrive at a convenient time.
Better Finance has built its business around personal relationships and local lending, with financing available for qualified borrowers for a variety of needs.
The first step does not have to be complicated.
Sometimes it simply starts with explaining what you need and asking what options may be available.
Better Finance: Letโs Have a Conversation.
To learn more about Better Finance and its lending options, visit CoushattaFinance.com or contact the Better Finance office in Coushatta.
This is a paid advertorial provided on behalf of Better Finance. Loan approval, terms and availability are subject to Better Finance lending requirements and applicable laws.
Oil and gas leasing, rights of way and drilling continued across several areas of Natchitoches Parish during September, even as the number of new filings declined slightly.
The Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Courtโs office recorded 53 oil and gas-related filings during September.
Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court David Stamey said the office remains busy both in person and through its online records system.
โWe continue to have abstractors in the office daily and working online,โ Stamey said.
The continued presence of abstractors is an important indicator of industry interest. Abstractors research property ownership, mineral interests and title history as companies evaluate land for leasing, drilling and other development.
Geographically, leasing continues across a broad portion of Natchitoches Parish.
Leases continue to be recorded east of Interstate 49, west toward the Sabine Parish line and south of Robeline. The Ashland area also remains active, with recent interest extending south of Ashland.
The expanding footprint follows the pattern seen throughout 2026 as oil and gas interest has moved beyond the original areas and into additional portions of the parish.
Drilling also continues.
Stamey noted that the Clerk of Courtโs office does not receive information concerning production from individual wells. However, the office does provide residents with another way to follow potential future drilling. (See Pictures Below)
The Clerkโs office posts notices from the Louisiana Department of Conservation on the bulletin board outside its office concerning upcoming meetings and proposed drilling unit maps.
Those proposed unit maps can provide an early indication of where companies are seeking authorization for future drilling and development.
The combination of continued leasing, title research, rights-of-way filings and drilling shows that oil and gas development remains strong across Natchitoches Parish.
Landowners approached with mineral lease offers, rights-of-way agreements, pipeline easements or other oil and gas documents should understand the complexity and potential long-term consequences of the agreements they are being asked to sign.
Those who are not experienced in oil and gas matters should strongly consider consulting a qualified oil and gas attorney or other specialist before signing an agreement. Mineral leases and related agreements can affect royalty payments, mineral rights, surface access and the future use of property.
Professional guidance can help landowners understand proposed terms and protect their interests before entering into a long-term agreement.
Bulletin Board just outside the Clerk of Court’s Office – Natchitoches Parish
Maps provide to the public by the Clerk of Court
The September filings bring the 2026 year-to-date total to 624, continuing a pace well ahead of the 405 filings recorded during all of 2025.
Total filed in calendar year 2025: 405 Total filed in calendar year 2026: 624
The Natchitoches Parish Journal will continue following leasing, drilling and related oil and gas development across the parish.
A review of Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court records confirms the leases filed in September 2026. The NPJ obtained this information directly from the parishโs online Public Records system.
The inaugural festival brings 10 artists and two nights of country music to Natchitoches as Northwestern State University launches an annual event with ambitions to become North Louisianaโs premier music festival. Get your tickets now at topofthebootmusicfest.com.
By Cole Gentry, Chief Marketing Officer at Northwestern State University
On Oct. 16 and 17, Northwestern State University will welcome country music fans, alumni, students, families and visitors to Natchitoches for the inaugural Top of the Boot Music Festival. The two-day event will bring established country stars, rising artists and Louisiana talent to the NSU campus for a fall weekend centered on live music, good times and the people you want beside you.
Friday, Oct. 16, opens with co-headliners Lee Brice and Louisiana native Dylan Scott.
Brice brings a catalog that includes eight No. 1 country singles and songs such as โI Drive Your Truck,โ โI Donโt Dance,โ โHard to Loveโ and โOne of Them Girls.โ Scott returns to his home state with four No. 1 songs on the U.S. Country Airplay charts, including โMy Girl,โ โNew Truck,โ โCanโt Have Mineโ and โThis Townโs Been Too Good to Us.โ
Lanie Gardner, Jackson Wendell and Clay LaBeff complete Fridayโs lineup.
Saturday, Oct. 17, features Flatland Cavalry as the nightโs headliner. The Texas Country and Americana group has earned three ACM Group of the Year nominations from 2024 through 2026. Ian Munsick, Rodney Atkins, Laine Hardy and Bottomland round out Saturdayโs lineup.
Across two nights, 10 artists will take the stage at Northwestern State.
The reach of Top of the Boot extends well beyond Natchitoches. Marketing for the festival stretches across a multi-state region from Little Rock, Arkansas, to Jackson, Mississippi, south to New Orleans, Louisiana and west to Houston and Dallas, Texas.
That reach reflects the scale of the vision. Top of the Boot is being built as an annual destination event with the goal of becoming North Louisianaโs premier music festival, bringing country music fans from across Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi and Texas to Natchitoches each fall.
The festival will take place behind the NSU Soccer Complex along Tarleton Drive. Food trucks, vendors and two nights of performances will create a place for friends, families and loved ones to spend a fall weekend together.
For alumni, it is a reason to come home. For prospective students and families, it is another way to experience Northwestern State. For visitors, it is an invitation to spend time on campus and in Natchitoches while enjoying one of North Louisianaโs largest new entertainment events.
Northwestern State Athletics also has a direct stake in the festivalโs success. The event was created to benefit NSU student-athletes while showcasing the university and Natchitoches to visitors from across the region.
Every annual tradition has a first year. For Top of the Boot, that year is 2026. Bring your friends. Bring your family. Come back to NSU or experience our campus for the first time. Spend two nights with some of country musicโs biggest names and be there at the beginning of something built to return year after year.
Top of the Boot Music Festival Oct. 16-17, 2026 Northwestern State University Natchitoches, Louisiana
Size: 1 story / 1,300 Square Feet (approx.). New Driveway, paint inside/out, new flooring and blinds. Term: Lease – 1 year minimum Lease Rate: $2,500.00
Location: 301 Church Street, Natchitoches, Louisiana
For more information and/or a showing, please contact, 318-471-9955
Donna Arender of Webster Parish has been named the grand prize winner of the Dolly Parton Weekend Getaway to Natchitoches, organizers announced Monday.
The $600 getaway package includes $300 in food cards, $200 in travel cash, and a $100 gas card to fund a weekend trip to Louisiana’s oldest city.
The popular promotion drew more than 4,400 entries from residents across Louisiana. Participating entries represented 27 parishes statewide: Acadia, Allen, Avoyelles, Beauregard, Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Calcasieu, Caldwell, Claiborne, De Soto, East Baton Rouge, Evangeline, Grant, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, Lafayette, LaSalle, Lincoln, Natchitoches, Orleans, Ouachita, Rapides, Red River, Sabine, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Tammany, Terrebonne, Union, Vernon, Webster, and Winn.
Organizers expressed appreciation to the thousands of readers who participated and congratulated Donna Arender of Webster Parish on winning the weekend retreat.
Thereโs no better place to celebrate Dolly Parton than the Louisiana town where one of her most beloved characters came to life.
This October 9โ11, Natchitoches invites visitors to spend a weekend celebrating Dolly with Truvyโs Blush & Bashful Weekend: A Dolly Parton Celebration. Inspired by Dollyโs unforgettable role as Truvy Jones in Steel Magnolias, the three-day celebration brings together music, movies, local businesses and plenty of pink for a weekend in the heart of Louisianaโs oldest city.
Natchitoches has long held a special connection to Steel Magnolias. The beloved film was shot in and around the city, and decades later, visitors still come to Natchitoches to experience the places that made the movie so memorable. This October, that connection takes center stage as the community celebrates Dollyโs legacy in true Natchitoches fashion.
The celebration begins Friday, October 9, with Dolly Bingo at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum at 5:30 p.m. Later that evening, channel your inner Dolly and head to Mamaโs Blues Room for karaoke beginning at 8:30 p.m.
On Saturday, October 10, start the morning with Books & Butterflies from 8 a.m. to noon at the Natchitoches Farmers Market. The celebration continues throughout the day with Truvyโs Downtown Traipse, inviting visitors to explore Natchitochesโ historic downtown and experience Truvyโs Specials offered by participating businesses.
Saturday evening, tease up your hair and get ready for Truvyโs Big Hair Affair at Parkway Cinema 6 at 7 p.m. Itโs a fitting way to celebrate a character, a movie and a little bit of Southern style that have become part of Natchitoches history.
The weekend wraps up Sunday, October 11, with a Blush & Bashful Brunch at Flying Heart Brewery beginning at 9 a.m.
While youโre here, make a weekend of it. Stroll the brick streets of the Natchitoches Historic District, shop local boutiques, enjoy Louisiana flavors, take in the beauty of Cane River and discover the filming locations that helped bring Steel Magnolias to the big screen. As Louisianaโs oldest city, Natchitoches offers the perfect backdrop for a weekend filled with history, Southern charm and plenty to explore.
Whether youโve loved Dolly for decades, can quote Steel Magnolias from beginning to end, or simply need an excuse for a girlsโ weekend in Natchitoches, Truvyโs Blush & Bashful Weekend is your invitation to celebrate friendship, Southern charm and the legacy of a woman whose talent and spirit have touched generations.
Pack something pink, bring your best big hair and join us October 9โ11, 2026, in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
For complete event information, updates and weekend details, visit Truvyโs Blush & Bashful Weekend: A Dolly Parton Celebration at Natchitoches.com. Visitors can also explore Natchitoches.com for lodging, dining, attractions and everything needed to plan a weekend getaway.
The 2026 Natchitoches Car Show, a sure sign of the upcoming Fall season now in its 20th year, was held Friday and Saturday in downtown Natchitoches. Thousands of visitors filled the downtown area and enjoyed seeing 357 cars parked on the riverbank and Front Street. The vehicles ranged from a variety of classic Volkswagens to a 1939 Rolls Royce limousine. There was indeed something for every taste.
The visiting car owners started arriving on Friday and were treated to a welcoming fish fry. The car show continued Saturday morning and went on throughout the day. Visitors to the show were able to enjoy live music from several local bands as they perused the vehicles on display. At the end of the show, the car owners gathered at the downtown riverbank for the presentation of awards.
The Natchitoches Classic Car Show has grown over the past 20 years into one of the largest and most eagerly awaited events held in the city as well as a popular destination for antique car aficionados. This yearโs show featured a car driven by its owner all the way from British Columbia, Canada as well as a car from Alaska. The show is a solid day of nostalgia with no cost to attend. The event is also a wonderful showcase for our community. Events such as the annual Classic Car Show are part and parcel of what makes life in our community special!
Thereโs no better place to celebrate Dolly Parton than the Louisiana town where one of her most beloved characters came to life.
This October 9โ11, Natchitoches invites visitors to spend a weekend celebrating Dolly with Truvyโs Blush & Bashful Weekend: A Dolly Parton Celebration. Inspired by Dollyโs unforgettable role as Truvy Jones in Steel Magnolias, the three-day celebration brings together music, movies, local businesses and plenty of pink for a weekend in the heart of Louisianaโs oldest city.
Natchitoches has long held a special connection to Steel Magnolias. The beloved film was shot in and around the city, and decades later, visitors still come to Natchitoches to experience the places that made the movie so memorable. This October, that connection takes center stage as the community celebrates Dollyโs legacy in true Natchitoches fashion.
The celebration begins Friday, October 9, with Dolly Bingo at the LSHOF at 5:30 p.m. Later that evening, channel your inner Dolly and head to Mamaโs Blues Room for karaoke beginning at 8:30 p.m.
On Saturday, October 10, start the morning with Books & Butterflies from 8 a.m. to noon at the Natchitoches Farmers Market. The celebration continues throughout the day with Truvyโs Downtown Traipse, inviting visitors to explore Natchitochesโ historic downtown and experience Truvyโs Specials offered by participating businesses.
Saturday evening, tease up your hair and get ready for Truvyโs Big Hair Affair at Parkway Cinema 6 at 7 p.m. Itโs a fitting way to celebrate a character, a movie and a little bit of Southern style that have become part of Natchitoches history.
The weekend wraps up Sunday, October 11, with a Blush & Bashful Brunch at Flying Heart Brewery beginning at 9 a.m.
While youโre here, make a weekend of it. Stroll the brick streets of the Natchitoches Historic District, shop local boutiques, enjoy Louisiana flavors, take in the beauty of Cane River and discover the filming locations that helped bring Steel Magnolias to the big screen. As Louisianaโs oldest city, Natchitoches offers the perfect backdrop for a weekend filled with history, Southern charm and plenty to explore.
Whether youโve loved Dolly for decades, can quote Steel Magnolias from beginning to end, or simply need an excuse for a girlsโ weekend in Natchitoches, Truvyโs Blush & Bashful Weekend is your invitation to celebrate friendship, Southern charm and the legacy of a woman whose talent and spirit have touched generations.
Pack something pink, bring your best big hair and join us October 9โ11, 2026, in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
For complete event information, updates and weekend details, visit Truvyโs Blush & Bashful Weekend: A Dolly Parton Celebration at Natchitoches.com. Visitors can also explore Natchitoches.com for lodging, dining, attractions and everything needed to plan a weekend getaway.
The Parish Journals of Louisiana are giving one statewide reader the opportunity to enjoy a special weekend in Natchitoches Parish during the Dolly Parton Celebration.
One qualifying reader will receive a $600 travel package to help make the trip possible.
The prize package includes:
$300 Food Card
$200 Travel Cash
$100 Gas Card
The winner will be selected from the statewide pool of eligible qualifiers on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.
The getaway is intended for the winner to visit Natchitoches Parish during the Dolly Parton Celebration weekend, Friday, Oct. 9 through Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026.
Events being planned for the weekend include Dolly Bingo at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, Dolly Karaoke, downtown dining and drink specials, the Melrose Arts and Crafts Festival, the Creole Festival at St. Augustine Church, Butterflies and Books at the Natchitoches Farmers Market, Steel Magnolias-themed activities, shopping and entertainment along Front Street, Truvyโs Big Hair Affair on the riverbank and a Blush & Bashful Brunch.
Some celebration events remain tentative and individual schedules, locations and activities may change.
Each participating Journal will have its own signup link, but all eligible qualifiers will be combined into one statewide pool from which the winner will be selected.
There is no cost to participate.
Every eligible qualifier who completes the registration process will also receive a Lifetime Free Subscription to the Journal through which the reader qualified, delivered directly to the email address provided during registration.
Thereโs no better place to celebrate Dolly Parton than the Louisiana town where one of her most beloved characters came to life.
This October 9โ11, Natchitoches invites visitors to spend a weekend celebrating Dolly with Truvyโs Blush & Bashful Weekend: A Dolly Parton Celebration. Inspired by Dollyโs unforgettable role as Truvy Jones in Steel Magnolias, the three-day celebration brings together music, movies, local businesses and plenty of pink for a weekend in the heart of Louisianaโs oldest city.
Natchitoches has long held a special connection to Steel Magnolias. The beloved film was shot in and around the city, and decades later, visitors still come to Natchitoches to experience the places that made the movie so memorable. This October, that connection takes center stage as the community celebrates Dollyโs legacy in true Natchitoches fashion.
The celebration begins Friday, October 9, with Dolly Bingo at the LSHOF at 5:30 p.m. Later that evening, channel your inner Dolly and head to Mamaโs Blues Room for karaoke beginning at 8:30 p.m.
On Saturday, October 10, start the morning with Books & Butterflies from 8 a.m. to noon at the Natchitoches Farmers Market. The celebration continues throughout the day with Truvyโs Downtown Traipse, inviting visitors to explore Natchitochesโ historic downtown and experience Truvyโs Specials offered by participating businesses.
Saturday evening, tease up your hair and get ready for Truvyโs Big Hair Affair at Parkway Cinema 6 at 7 p.m. Itโs a fitting way to celebrate a character, a movie and a little bit of Southern style that have become part of Natchitoches history.
The weekend wraps up Sunday, October 11, with a Blush & Bashful Brunch at Flying Heart Brewery beginning at 9 a.m.
While youโre here, make a weekend of it. Stroll the brick streets of the Natchitoches Historic District, shop local boutiques, enjoy Louisiana flavors, take in the beauty of Cane River and discover the filming locations that helped bring Steel Magnolias to the big screen. As Louisianaโs oldest city, Natchitoches offers the perfect backdrop for a weekend filled with history, Southern charm and plenty to explore.
Whether youโve loved Dolly for decades, can quote Steel Magnolias from beginning to end, or simply need an excuse for a girlsโ weekend in Natchitoches, Truvyโs Blush & Bashful Weekend is your invitation to celebrate friendship, Southern charm and the legacy of a woman whose talent and spirit have touched generations.
Pack something pink, bring your best big hair and join us October 9โ11, 2026, in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
For complete event information, updates and weekend details, visit Truvyโs Blush & Bashful Weekend: A Dolly Parton Celebration at Natchitoches.com. Visitors can also explore Natchitoches.com for lodging, dining, attractions and everything needed to plan a weekend getaway.
The Parish Journals of Louisiana are giving one statewide reader the opportunity to enjoy a special weekend in Natchitoches Parish during the Dolly Parton Celebration.
One qualifying reader will receive a $600 travel package to help make the trip possible.
The prize package includes:
$300 Food Card
$200 Travel Cash
$100 Gas Card
The winner will be selected from the statewide pool of eligible qualifiers on Friday, Oct. 2, 2026.
The getaway is intended for the winner to visit Natchitoches Parish during the Dolly Parton Celebration weekend, Friday, Oct. 9 through Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026.
Events being planned for the weekend include Dolly Bingo at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, Dolly Karaoke, downtown dining and drink specials, the Melrose Arts and Crafts Festival, the Creole Festival at St. Augustine Church, Butterflies and Books at the Natchitoches Farmers Market, Steel Magnolias-themed activities, shopping and entertainment along Front Street, Truvyโs Big Hair Affair on the riverbank and a Blush & Bashful Brunch.
Some celebration events remain tentative and individual schedules, locations and activities may change.
Each participating Journal will have its own signup link, but all eligible qualifiers will be combined into one statewide pool from which the winner will be selected.
There is no cost to participate.
Every eligible qualifier who completes the registration process will also receive a Lifetime Free Subscription to the Journal through which the reader qualified, delivered directly to the email address provided during registration.
NATCHITOCHES โ Northwestern State University is welcoming its largest entering freshman class in three years this fall, with 1,120 first-time freshmen choosing NSU for fall 2026. The class represents a 6 percent increase over last year and continues a trend of growth in Northwestern Stateโs traditional student population.
The fall 2026 entering class also arrives with one of the strongest academic profiles in recent years, posting an average ACT score of 21.7 and an average high school GPA of 3.4. The classโs average ACT score is well above Louisianaโs average, reflecting the continued strength and academic quality of Northwesternโs incoming students.
The academic strength of the class is further reflected in the 114 high school valedictorians and 22 salutatorians who selected Northwestern State.
โThis is the type of growth we want to see at Northwestern,โ said NSU President James T. Genovese. โWe are attracting talented students who want the complete college experience, and they are choosing a university where they can receive an outstanding education while developing the relationships and experiences that prepare them for life after graduation. The strength of this freshman class is a testament to the work taking place across our university.โ
NSUโs reach continues to extend well beyond Natchitoches. Members of the entering class represent 10 states, 25 countries and six continents, creating an increasingly diverse student body while the university simultaneously strengthens its connection to its home community.
A record 112 members of the entering class are from Natchitoches Parish, the largest number in the last decade. NSU also continues to draw students from throughout northwest and central Louisiana. Some of the largest feeder schools include Tioga High School with 28, Airline High School with 27, Parkway High School with 26 and Pineville High School with 24.
Demand for the residential Northwestern experience remains strong. Campus housing is again at 100 percent occupancy, filling University Place I and II, University Columns and Varnado Hall. The second consecutive year of full housing reflects continued demand for the traditional, face-to-face college experience on the Natchitoches campus.
โThe numbers within this freshman class tell an exciting story about where NSU is headed,โ said Vanner Erikson, director of enrollment at Northwestern State. โWe have more first-time freshmen, a strong academic profile, record participation from Natchitoches Parish and students coming to NSU from around the world. When you combine that with full housing, we are seeing important indicators that our focus on the traditional student experience is working.โ
Student success is another significant component of the fall 2026 enrollment picture. Northwesternโs first-to-third-semester retention rate reached 70 percent, exceeding the Louisiana average of 64 percent and placing NSU among the strongest-performing institutions in the region.
The retention rate reflects a university-wide emphasis on helping students successfully transition from their first year into their second.
โRecruiting a student is only the beginning,โ Erikson said. โOur responsibility is to help that student persist, graduate and ultimately accomplish what brought them to Northwestern in the first place. Seeing 70 percent of our freshmen continue into their second year tells us that the work being done by our faculty and staff is making a difference.โ
At the 14-day count, overall fall 2026 enrollment was 8,245 students, compared with 8,402 in fall 2025. The decline was attributable largely to increased degree completion, including students progressing more quickly through accelerated programs.
Graduate enrollment increased to 904 students, and NSU enrolled more dual enrollment students than in fall 2025. These gains reflect continued efforts to expand graduate education, strengthen partnerships with Louisiana high schools and provide flexible pathways for students seeking college credit and advanced credentials.
โOur goal has never been simply to chase a headcount,โ Genovese said. โWe are focused on sustainable enrollment, attracting students who are prepared to succeed and creating an environment that makes them want to remain at Northwestern through graduation. Growth in our freshman class, strong retention and full residence halls are important signs of progress toward that goal.โ
Northwestern continues to serve students throughout Louisiana through its Natchitoches campus, instructional sites and eNSU online programs while expanding recruitment efforts in Louisiana, Texas and other markets. With a 17-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, Northwestern offers students the personalized attention of a private education at a public university.
The university has also continued to invest in the student experience, academic programs and facilities, including the $45 million Robert Alost Hall, which opened in fall 2025 as a new academic hub on the Natchitoches campus.
With a larger freshman class, a strong academic profile, record enrollment from its home parish, full residence halls and retention above the state average, Northwestern officials say the fall 2026 enrollment picture provides important evidence that the universityโs focus on recruitment, student success and the traditional campus experience is producing results.
โStudents and families are recognizing what makes Northwestern special,โ Genovese said. โThey find outstanding academic programs, faculty and staff who know them personally and a campus community where they can belong. We are proud to welcome this exceptional class to the Demon family.โ
NATCHITOCHES โ As James T. Genovese completes his second year as president of Northwestern State University, the institution is reporting gains in student persistence, academic outcomes, workforce-focused programs, private support and athletics while continuing to address enrollment and graduation challenges.
Since taking office in 2024, Genovese has organized the universityโs work around five strategic focus areas: the Student Experience, Academic Excellence, Market Responsiveness, Community Enrichment and Athletic Prominence. University officials said those priorities have guided efforts in recruitment, retention, academic programming, capital projects, technology and external partnerships.
โOur first two years have been about strengthening the foundation of Northwestern while keeping our attention fixed on the future,โ Genovese said. โWe have made significant progress because our faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors and partners believe deeply in this University and in the role Northwestern plays in Louisiana.โ
Student recruitment and retention have remained central to that work.
Overall enrollment declined from 8,523 in Fall 2024 to 8,402 in Fall 2025, but entering freshman enrollment increased to 1,065. Preliminary Fall 2026 figures provided by the university show approximately 1,120 entering freshmen, which will represent the universityโs largest freshman class in three years when the official 14-day enrollment count is finalized.
The Fall 2026 entering class arrived with one of the strongest academic profiles in recent years, posting an average ACT score of 21.7 and an average high school GPA of 3.4. The classโs average ACT score is well above Louisianaโs average, reflecting the continued strength and academic quality of Northwesternโs incoming students.
Northwesternโs first-to-third semester retention rate reached 70 percent, exceeding the Louisiana average of approximately 64 percent and placing NSU among the strongest-performing institutions in the region. NSU has responded to retention and graduation challenges by strengthening early intervention, proactive financial-aid communication, academic mapping, stop-out recovery and support beyond the first year.
Student satisfaction provided another measure of progress. In the first year of Genoveseโs presidency, 70 percent of students reported overall satisfaction, compared with 52 percent nationally, according to university survey data. Seventy-four percent said they intended to re-enroll, compared with 60 percent nationally.
The survey data showed gains in campus services, student-centeredness, registration and recruitment, financial aid, counseling, safety and campus conditions. Northwestern exceeded University of Louisiana System and national norms across most measures included in the survey.
Student involvement also increased. Membership in recognized student organizations grew from 823 to 1,292, while participation in living-learning communities increased from 68 to 168 students. The university also expanded or improved spaces supporting accessibility services, collegiate recovery and eSports.
Career preparation grew through Handshake, which connected a network of more than 30,000 students, alumni and employers. NSU approved 1,610 new employers during 2025-26. Among graduates responding to the universityโs First Destination Survey, 93.3 percent reported employment, continued education or military service.
โStudents should feel that Northwestern knows them, supports them and is preparing them for a meaningful life and career,โ Genovese said. โThe gains in satisfaction and persistence are encouraging, but we know our work must continue until more students who begin at Northwestern complete their degrees.โ
Academic programs also expanded in areas tied to workforce demand.
The College of Nursing and School of Allied Health, which serves nearly 2,500 students across Alexandria, Leesville and Fort Polk, Natchitoches, Shreveport and online, added new nursing pathways and launched the Master of Science in Allied Health.
Allied Health enrollment increased 19 percent, from 412 to 491 students. Radiography enrollment rose from 100 to 182, while Diagnostic Medical Sonography increased from 86 to 115.
Student outcomes included nursing graduates exceeding state and national first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates, a 96 percent certification pass rate for Radiography graduates and 100 percent pass rates on the Sonography Principles and Instrumentation examination for the 2025 and 2026 Diagnostic Medical Sonography classes. Radiography also received the maximum eight-year accreditation term from the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.
External awards are supporting additional healthcare education and workforce development. A $4 million Louisiana Department of Health award and a $2.597 million federal Health Resources and Services Administration award are supporting rural healthcare education, clinical training, student assistance and workforce expansion. More than $1.3 million in scholarships, stipends and traineeships assisted 239 students during 2025-26.
Other academic areas reported growth as well.
The Gallaspy College of Education and Human Development received nearly $8 million in grants during fiscal year 2025-26 supporting education, behavioral health, child welfare, early childhood development, workforce preparation and student success.
In the College of Arts and Sciences, new Computer Science and Sport Analytics concentrations within the Mathematics degree program helped increase Mathematics enrollment by more than 400 percent since 2024, according to university data. The college also engaged more than 5,600 K-12 students through School of STEM outreach events, camps, festivals and recruitment activities.
The College of Business and Technology expanded opportunities in applied technology, cybersecurity and workforce preparation. The School of Business received an extension of its accreditation from AACSB International, while Hospitality Management and Tourism maintained its status as Louisianaโs only four-year hospitality program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration.
The college also opened the Sandbox Application Development Lab and established the Cyber Demons Tech Club. A Computer Information Systems team competed for the first time in program history in the International Collegiate Programming Contest North America South Central Regional.
Across the university, 78.1 percent of academic programs have been created or updated within the past five years. NSU also offers 37 certificate programs in areas ranging from healthcare and education to strategic communication, leadership and professional ethics.
Programs launched or advanced during Genoveseโs first two years include the Master of Social Work, Master of Science in Allied Health, new Mathematics concentrations, an online Master of Music in Music Education and redesigned pathways in nursing and criminal justice. The university also expanded options in event management, hospitality, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing.
Industry engagement accompanied those academic changes. In 2025-26, students participated in 416 documented interactions with business and industry through career fairs, guest speakers, field experiences, interviews and service-learning projects. University administrators completed 56 additional engagements with industry partners.
Technology investments included creation of a continuously monitored Security Operations Center in partnership with the Louisiana Optical Network Infrastructure and other state agencies, increased internet capacity at the Alexandria and Leesville sites and modernization of the universityโs network, data center and disaster-recovery systems.
Major facility investments also changed the learning environment. The $45 million Alost Hall opened with classrooms, laboratories, simulation spaces, a cafe and faculty offices. Iberville Dining Hall underwent a $2 million renovation, A.A. Fredericks Auditorium received improvements, and classrooms, laboratories and instructional technology were upgraded across campuses.
Eligible faculty and staff received a 3 percent cost-of-living adjustment on Jan. 1, 2026, following a 2.5 percent adjustment in January 2025.
State support in the 2026 legislative session included approximately $2.54 million in additional operating funding. Capital outlay legislation included $6.9 million in Priority 1 funding for Innovation Park and $7 million in Priority 1 funding for Warrington Hall in Shreveport.
Private support also increased. The NSU Foundation reported $8.04 million in fiscal year 2026 revenue, up 6.9 percent, while restricted endowment assets grew to $87.26 million university wide. Major gifts supported scholarships, professorships, academic programs and facilities, including a $1.5 million private gift supporting the David and Sherry Morgan Health Performance Center, which is scheduled to open on October 23.
Community engagement remained another focus. NSU reported at least 228,378 hours of professionally based service with 194 campus and community partners in 2025-26. That work supported healthcare, education, public safety, economic development, the arts and environmental stewardship.
Athletics posted gains in academics, competition and facilities.
Student-athletes maintained an overall GPA above 3.2 in both reporting years. In 2025-26, 211 earned Deanโs List or Presidentโs List recognition, 216 were named to the Southland Conference Commissionerโs Honor Roll, and the departmentโs multiyear Academic Progress Rate rose for the third consecutive year to 970.
Seven teams earned perfect single-year Academic Progress Rate scores of 1,000. Womenโs track and field won a third consecutive Southland Conference outdoor championship, soccer captured the conference regular-season championship, as did tennis, and six varsity teams finished in the upper third of the league.
Athletic facility improvements included approximately $1.9 million for artificial turf at the baseball and softball facilities, $593,000 in scoreboard upgrades and $1.7 million for a new track surface and lighting.
Looking ahead, Genovese said NSU will continue focusing on enrollment growth and degree completion, high-demand and flexible credentials, faculty investment, emerging technology, experiential learning, private support and partnerships. Work also will continue on Innovation Park, Warrington Hall and projects intended to support the student experience.
โThese accomplishments belong to the entire Northwestern family,โ Genovese said. โWe have built momentum, but we are not finished. Our responsibility is to honor Northwesternโs history, respond to the needs of the present and prepare Louisiana for the future.โ
Oil and gas activity remained strong across Natchitoches Parish in August, with leasing continuing to expand into new areas while several previously active locations remained busy.
The Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Courtโs office recorded 88 oil and gas leases during August, along with approximately six pipeline easements.
Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court David Stamey said leasing activity continues to spread geographically across the parish.
The Ashland area saw additional leasing during August, as did property just north of Provencal. Several tracts east of Interstate 49 were also leased, while the Sisson Road, Johnson Chute Road and Eight Mile Loop areas continued to generate activity.
The continued expansion is significant because leasing activity is no longer concentrated in only one portion of the parish. Instead, companies continue to examine and lease property across a broader geographic area.
Stamey said abstractors remain active as they research property ownership and mineral interests. They continue to use the Clerk of Court officeโs online resources while also examining older documents maintained in the courthouse, including records dating to before 1900, as they complete title research.
The approximately half-dozen pipeline easements recorded during August also provide another indication of continuing oil and gas development activity. Pipeline easements generally allow companies to construct, operate or access pipeline infrastructure across private property.
Stamey said recent rig start-ups have also created optimism among residents watching the developing oil and gas activity in the parish.
The seismic survey underway in the area has now started, providing another reason for optimism. Seismic work allows exploration companies to gather information about underground geological formations as they evaluate areas for possible future development.
While seismic surveying and leasing do not guarantee that wells will ultimately be drilled, the combination of continued leasing, pipeline easements, rig activity and seismic work demonstrates that exploration and development interest in Natchitoches Parish remains active.
Landowners approached with mineral lease offers, pipeline easements or seismic survey agreements should understand the complexity and potential long-term consequences of the documents they are being asked to sign.
Those who are not experienced in oil and gas matters should strongly consider consulting a qualified oil and gas attorney or other specialist before signing an agreement. Mineral leases and easements can affect royalty payments, mineral rights, surface access and the future use of property.
Professional guidance can help landowners understand proposed terms and protect their interests before entering into a long-term agreement.
The Natchitoches Parish Journal will continue following leasing, drilling, seismic and related oil and gas activity as development continues across the parish.
A review of Natchitoches Parish Clerk of Court records confirms the leases filed in August 2026. The NPJ obtained this information directly from the parishโs online Public Records system.
Total filed in calendar year 2025: 405 Total filed in calendar year 2026: approximately 571
Partnerย Rodney Harrington says that with the proliferation of leasing going on in Natchitoches and surrounding parishes, many land owners are at a loss of what they should do and whether or not they are making the right move to lease their property.ย
Harrington said he worked many years as a petroleum land man meeting with landowners on behalf of oil and gas leasing companies to try and convince them to lease their property.ย ย
โItโs usually a good idea to lease your land as opposed to leaving it unleased,โ said Harrington, โBut you want to make certain you are making the best deal possible and that the terms of the lease are the most favorable to you.โ
โYou need to remember that the agents working for the leasing companies, or โlease hounds,โ as they are sometimes called.โย Harrington continued, โThey are trying to get the best deal possible for their company and lease your property under the terms most favorable to them.ย Thatโs their job.โย Harrington also said that his previous employment as a petroleum land man gives him a unique prospective.
โI know how these guys think,โ he said.ย โItโs not that theyโre trying to take advantage of landowners for the most part, itโs just that, as I said, their job is to make the best deal possible for their employer.โย He did say there are also some โbad actorsโ out there.
Harrington said that he has recently represented several clients in Natchitoches Parish in lease negotiations and has been able to obtain significant increases in the bonus payments they were offered and significant improvements to their lease terms.ย He also worked extensively in the field during the first Haynesville Shale Boom several years ago.ย
The Harrington Law Firm is an AU Rated firm by Martindale-Hubble, ranking it in the top 10% of all law firms in the nation.ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย
The attorneys also represent clients in the areas of Personal Injury, Bankruptcy, Social Security Disability, Wills and Successions.
You can reach Rodney Harrington at the Harrington Law Firm at 352-5900 or call that number for a free consultation.ย
Flash back to Week 1 of this past season, Tyler Hassellโs first as the head coach on the Many sidelines.
The Tigers were eager to prove that the historically bad winless 2024 season wasnโt an indication that this program that molded itself into championship contenders for the past 10-15 years.
Many made a statement in its 35-19 win at Logansport, a traditional Class 1A power that regularly goes deep in the playoffs.
One canโt say โthe Tigers are backโ after a 6-6 season that included a revenge win against Red River in the first round of the playoffs, but all can say Many is firmly back on the path toward what the Tigers once were.
Many can solidify that path Friday when Logansport visits Friday to open the regular season.
โI think weโve made a lot of progress, and last yearโs win at Logansport was huge,โ Hassell said. โMore than anything, it gave our kids, confidence that we were headed in the right direction.
โBut this is a new year, and we want to establish discipline and consistency. Year 2 is an opportunity for that.โ
When Hassell took the job, he wanted to walk the halls and re-engage the student body to play and support football.
The Tigers boast 66 players on this yearโs roster, a gargantuan number in todayโs Class 2A.
โIโm really proud of that number,โ Hassell said. โIn todayโs game, especially in our classification, having 66 guys committed to playing football is a big deal.
โWe do lose some really good football players from last year, but we have a lot of guys who have been waiting for their opportunity.โ
While Many will be replacing eight all-district players, the Tigers do have anchors in running back Daniel Thomas (2,247 rushing yards and 31 touchdowns) and offensive lineman Gage Sanders.
The Tigers tested out many of their new players in a surprising 14-7 loss at Rosepine in the jamboree, a team that won one game each of the past two seasons.
Hassell said his defense struggled to get off the field on third and fourth down, while allowed the Eagles to gobble up large chunks of the one half of football played this past week.
Friday will be the real test in which a normal game rotation will be played, and the defense will be challenged to improve on money downs by a Logansport offense thatโs capable of efficiently moving the chains or hitting the big play.
โWe have a lot of respect for Logansport, and they are physical, well-coached, and will make you earn everything,โ Hassell said. โOffensively, (quarterback) Kollin Magee can throw the ball around with his big arm, and they want to play at a fast tempo.
โThey swarm to the football on defense with good ends that set a hard edge. Each down is going to be a physical battle in the trenches.โ
Not only will Many unleash its traditional pregame fireworks and famous entrance, but theyโll be able to unveil their renovated $1.1 million fieldhouse.
Having used the gym as their locker room this past season, Many will get the full gameday experience in its new digs starting Friday.
What if one concert could bring together people who love classic hymns, contemporary Christian music, love country music by artists like Dolly Parton, Alison Krauss, Brooks & Dunn & Jelly Roll, those who love Southern Gospel and traditional Black Gospel, along with those who grew up listening to the Eagles, the Beatles, James Taylor, STYX and classic rock?
Thereโs one that can.
Itโs an Amazing! Rhythm Disciples (ARD) concert.
The Disciplesโ mantra is โFamiliar Music. Timeless Message.โ They like to describe their concerts as seven very accomplished musicians with very diverse backgrounds coming together to make โA VERY Joyful Noise!โ
ARD was born in Natchitoches, Louisiana, in the fall of 2024, when seven musicians who also happened to be friends came together to play music, have fun and praise Godโand ended up forming a unique music ministry.
โIt all came together very quickly and very organically,โ said bassist Keith โDonโt call Me Shirleyโ Shirley. โWe were just jamming around and having fun. We would play a Southern Gospel song, then a contemporary Christian song, then a country song, then a classic rock song. Sometimes we would almost accidentally mash them together, look at each other and say, โHey, that works!โโ
Shirley gives credit where he believes it belongs.
โWe knew the good Lord had His hand in this from the get-go,โ he said. โThe blending of the various musical stylesโor โmashups,โ as we call themโcame together so naturally and so quickly that we knew God was doing something.โ
Donโt let all the joking fool you. There is an extraordinary amount of musical experience on an ARD stage.
Among the Disciples are four members of the Louisiana Music Hall of Fame, current and former church music directors and ministers, and musicians holding at least five music degrees, including a doctorate. Violinist Andrei Kurti studied at the Moscow Conservatory and has performed at Carnegie Hall and in concert halls throughout Europe.
Altogether, the group stopped counting after passing 300 years of combined musical performance experience.
But ARD is difficult to put into a musical box.
โI donโt think you can pigeonhole us as a Gospel group or even simply a Christian music group,โ said vocalist Julia Brown. โWhat we see happening over and over at our concerts is that folks who donโt normally listen to Christian music hear us play a classic rock song or even a current country song reinterpreted through the lens of faith, and they think, โHey, I know that song!โ Before they know it, theyโre hearing a contemporary Christian song or a Southern Gospel song and finding that they like it, in spite of themselves.โ
โFamiliar music is the bridge, and Jesus is where the bridge leads.โ
The Amazing! Rhythm Disciples have performed at churches of various denominations, non-denominational churches, festivals and other events. Along the way, they have watched people of different generations, races, backgrounds and faith traditions come together to laugh, cry , praise and sing along while hearing a message centered unmistakably on Jesus Christ.
โWe take music people know, along with humor and fun, and use it to open the door,โ said one of the Disciples. โThen we walk through that door with them. And no one receives a bigger blessing than us.โ
That connection is at the heart of an ARD concert.
โWeโre constantly striving to connect with someone in the audience and convey the message that no matter what problems youโre having in your life, you donโt have to face them alone. Thereโs strength and hope in Jesus. If we reach one person, itโs all been worth it.โ
After a recent Disciples concert at a church, an elderly lady approached the group with just one word to describe what she had experienced:
โJoyous.โ
The band couldn’t have asked for a better description.
ARD believes sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ doesn’t have to be somber. There can be laughter. There can be great music. There can be familiar songs, unexpected arrangements, stories, memories and plenty of fun.
And there can be joy.
That’s why the Amazing! Rhythm Disciples plan to keep doing exactly what they set out to do:
Making a VERY Joyful Noise!
THE AMAZING! RHYTHM DISCIPLES Familiar Music. Timeless Message. Making a VERY Joyful Noise!
Are you passionate about helping children and families overcome challenges and connect with needed services? The 11th Judicial District Court is seeking a dedicated and motivated professional to serve as a FINS Intake Officer within the Families in Need of Services (FINS) division of court. Join a team committed to strengthening families, supporting youth, and serving the community through meaningful intervention and collaboration. This position offers a rewarding opportunity to make a positive impact in the lives of youth and families while working closely with the court, schools, community agencies, and service providers.
Position Summary
The FINS Intake Officer serves as the first point of contact for families referred to court under the Families in Need of Services process found in Louisiana Children’s Code Title VII. The successful candidate will receive community complaints, conduct intake screenings, meet with families, coordinate services, facilitate conferences, and assist families in developing solutions that promote positive outcomes for children and youth.
Key Responsibilities
Receive and review FINS referrals.
Meet with children, parents, and guardians to assess family needs.
Conduct intake conferences and gather case information.
Develop and monitor case plans.
Connect families with community resources and support services.
Maintain accurate case records and documentation.
Work collaboratively with schools, law enforcement agencies, service providers, and court personnel.
Prepare reports and recommendations as needed for Judges.
Assist families in accessing services designed to improve family stability and youth success.
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor’s Degree in:
Social Work
Criminal Justice
Psychology
Sociology
Counseling
Human Services
Behavioral Sciences
Or a closely related field
Or, 6 years of experience in case management, social services, juvenile justice, education, counseling, or a related field.
Lived experience navigating social services, FINS, CINC, or other juvenile justice systems.
Residence in Sabine Parish is always preferred.
Desired Skills
Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work effectively with children, families, and community partners.
Strong organizational and time management abilities.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism.
Ability to manage multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.
Computer Skills.
The ability to coordinate services.
Understanding of community based services.
Ability to work with a variety of people.
Salary
Competitive salary based on qualifications and experience.
Benefits
Retirement:Yes Health Insurance: Available with employer contributions Life Insurance: Available Paid Leave: Yes, subject to accrual policy
To Apply
Submit a resume, application, and any required supporting documents to: Kristi Kor, Judicial Administrator for the 11th Judicial District Court, via e-mail to admin@11jdc.com Application Deadline: August 26, 2026
Texas has a documented long-term water problem and is aggressively planning future supplies. Louisiana has major new industrial and data-center water demands of its own. Because the two states share interconnected river systems, Louisiana should conduct and publicly release a comprehensive study of the cumulative effects before major water commitments are made.
That question matters because Louisiana citizens have watched enormous economic-development projects negotiated under NDAs, public authorities become major players in private industrial development, fights over eminent domain and permanent underground COโ injection, massive transmission projects, thousands of acres targeted for solar development, rapidly expanding data centers, and even discussions involving nuclear development and radioactive-waste disposal.
Researchers at the University of Texas reported in May 2026 that Texas data-center growth could eventually account for ๐ฎ๐ ๐บ๐๐ฐ๐ต ๐ฎ๐ ๐ต% ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒโ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐๐ฒ ๐ฏ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฐ๐ฌ under a high-growth scenario.
Louisiana is facing many of the same questions as enormous data-center and industrial projects move into our state.
The Texas Water Development Board adopted its 2027 State Water Plan on July 23, 2026.
Texas estimates that implementing more than 3,000 recommended water-management projects through 2080 will require nearly $174 billion in capital investment.
Even if Texas builds all of those projects, its plan still projects approximately ๐ญ.๐ฒ ๐บ๐ถ๐น๐น๐ถ๐ผ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ-๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ป๐บ๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ด๐ฌ.
Texas also warns that without the recommended strategies, roughly one out of every four Texans in 2080 could have less than half of the municipal water supply needed during a drought of record.
North Texas already takes water from ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ง๐ฒ๐ ๐ผ๐บ๐ฎ ๐ผ๐ป ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฅ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ, and additional Texoma conveyance infrastructure is being developed.
Texas planning also identifies additional supplies involving ๐ช๐ฟ๐ถ๐ด๐ต๐ ๐ฃ๐ฎ๐๐บ๐ฎ๐ป ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ and the proposed ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐๐ถ๐ป ๐ก๐ถ๐ฐ๐ต๐ผ๐น๐ ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ผ๐ถ๐ฟ on the Sulphur River; ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ ๐ขโ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฃ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐, which feeds Big Cypress Bayou toward Caddo Lake; and ๐ง๐ผ๐น๐ฒ๐ฑ๐ผ ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐ฑ on the Sabine River.
These are not all one project. Some are operating, some proposed, and some are long-range strategies.
But Louisiana should not look at each one in isolation and ignore the cumulative question.
The Sulphur River belongs to the larger Red River drainage system.
Lake Oโ the Pines controls flows into Big Cypress Bayou toward ๐๐ฎ๐ฑ๐ฑ๐ผ ๐๐ฎ๐ธ๐ฒ, a Texas-Louisiana water system. The Corps of Engineers has documented that reservoir operations altered the natural downstream flow regime enough that special releases have been used to restore portions of that flow.
Texas planning identifies approximately ๐ณ๐ฑ,๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ-๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ from Lake Oโ the Pines as a potential North Texas supply strategy and approximately ๐ญ๐ฎ๐ฎ,๐ฎ๐ฌ๐ฌ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฟ๐ฒ-๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฟ associated with Wright Patman.
For decades, many Louisiana citizens probably would have laughed if somebody suggested Louisiana might someday discuss selling Toledo Bend water to Texas.
Then it became a real public-policy discussion.
Residents pushed back. Public meetings were held. Controversy followed.
Louisiana law expressly gives the Sabine River Authority power to enter contracts involving the sale, distribution, or consumption of water within or outside Louisiana, subject to required approvals.
Nobody has shown us a document saying Texas is going to reroute the Red River.
We are not claiming one exists.
But Texas already takes water from the Red River system and is planning or studying additional supplies from tributaries connected to that regional drainage.
So what happens when you add all of those withdrawals together?
What happens at Shreveport?
What happens at Alexandria?
What happens during drought?
And what happens underground?
The ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฅ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฎ๐น๐น๐๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฎ๐พ๐๐ถ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฟ is hydraulically connected to the river in significant areas. When the river rises, water can move into surrounding alluvial sediments and contribute to groundwater recharge and bank storage.
If major upstream withdrawals materially alter river levels, flow duration, or high-water periods, Louisiana needs to know whether recharge could decline, groundwater levels could fall, hydraulic gradients could change, or poorer-quality groundwater could move differently.
That does not mean the Red River simply pours directly into the Chicot.
It does mean Louisianaโs groundwater systems are not isolated underground tanks.
USGS data show that approximately ๐ฑ๐ญ% ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฎ๐น๐น ๐ด๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ป๐ฑ๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐๐ถ๐๐ต๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐๐ป ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ผ๐๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฎ comes from the Chicot aquifer system.
And even if Texas water transfers never directly lower Chicot water levels, another concern remains:
If significant quantities of water are transferred from Toledo Bend or elsewhere in the Sabine system, the concern does not stop at the reservoir shoreline.
The Sabine continues south toward Sabine Lake and the Gulf. Freshwater flow affects salinity, wetlands, fisheries, ecosystems, municipalities, and industry.
Change the amount and timing of freshwater long enough, and downstream systems can change with it.
The Calcasieu is a separate basin, but southwest Louisianaโs water resources do not exist in isolation. If one source becomes less dependable, demand can shift elsewhere.
Louisiana officials may not like citizens asking these questions.
But they created the atmosphere that makes us ask them.
When citizens repeatedly watch public business conducted under NDAs, they stop assuming silence means nothing is happening.
When enormous projects are negotiated before communities understand them, citizens stop accepting:
โDonโt worry about it.โ
Louisiana citizens have watched eminent-domain battles, permanent underground COโ injection, huge transmission projects, enormous solar developments, data centers beside rural communities, nuclear and radioactive-waste discussions, and actual discussions about sending Toledo Bend water to Texas.
Texas is identifying reservoirs, pipelines, interbasin transfers, drought strategies, and future supplies while planning for population growth, industrial expansion, and data-center demand.
Where is the cumulative analysis combining Lake Texoma, the Red River, Wright Patman, Marvin Nichols, Lake Oโ the Pines, Caddo Lake, Toledo Bend, the Sabine, the Red River alluvial aquifer, the Chicot, industrial growth, data-center demand, and drought?
Maybe Texas can develop all of these supplies without materially harming Louisiana.
Fine.
๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ ๐ถ๐.
Model it.
Put the numbers on the table.
Show us what happens to the Red River at Shreveport and Alexandria, Caddo Lake, Toledo Bend, the Sabine, the Red River alluvial aquifer, and the Chicot.
Show us what happens under drought conditions.
And model it while accounting for the unprecedented growth in AI data centers, power generation, and industrial development across both states.
Because Louisiana citizens should have learned one lesson by now:
Region C Water Planning Group โ North Texas water-management strategies, including Lake Texoma, Lake Oโ the Pines, Wright Patman, Marvin Nichols, Toledo Bend, Red River off-channel storage, and other potential supplies:
North Texas Municipal Water District โ Texoma Two-Step program; additional pipelines designed to add approximately 90 million gallons per day of Lake Texoma conveyance capacity:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers โ Big Cypress Bayou / Caddo Lake Sustainable Rivers Program; documents the downstream connection between Lake Oโ the Pines, Big Cypress Bayou, and Caddo Lake:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers โ Lake Oโ the Pines environmental pulse releases designed to reproduce portions of the natural flow regime downstream:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers โ Lake Oโ the Pines / Ferrells Bridge Dam Water Control Manual and environmental-flow information for Big Cypress Bayou and Caddo Lake:
U.S. Geological Survey โ Relation of water levels in the Red River alluvial aquifer to the Red River, documenting river/aquifer hydraulic relationships:
U.S. Geological Survey โ Louisiana groundwater withdrawals dataset; approximately 960 million gallons per day, or about 51% of Louisiana groundwater withdrawals, came from the Chicot aquifer system:
Qualifying for the upcoming election cycle has officially concluded, setting the field of candidates who will appear on the local ballot. Across the parish, voters will consider candidates seeking office at every level of leadership, from key judicial seats and school board positions to municipal offices and parish-wide boards.
To help keep our readers informed, Journal Staff has compiled a complete roster of candidates who have qualified for contested races. Below is the official list of candidates, organized by office, along with their political party affiliation and direct contact details to help you connect with those seeking to represent our community.
