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UPDATE: Third fire at BioLab in four years
A fire at BioLab Tuesday morning led to precautionary shelter-in-place orders and a brief closure of the Interstate 10 Calcasieu River bridge. BioLab produces swimming pool chemicals, and the facility entrance is near the eastbound bridge feeder ramp in Westlake. At 2:30, BioLab spokesperson Daniel Hoadley confirmed no injuries were reported, smoke […]
Second arrest made in Ernest Street homicide
A second arrest has been made in last month’s Ernest Street homicide. Lake Charles Police Deputy Chief Kevin Kirkum said a 16-year-old was arrested early Tuesday morning with the assistance of the Lafayette Sheriff’s Office in Carencro. Kirkum said just before 10 p.m. Saturday, June 22, officers responded to reports of multiple gunshots fired and […]
7/2: Calcasieu Parish Sheriff announces arrest list
The Calcasieu Parish Sheriffs Office reported the following arrests: Stephanie Nicole Dean, 37, 196 Levan Hoffpauir Road, Ragley — drug possession; prohibited acts, drug paraphernalia. Bond: $11,000. Kyle Hollis Medley, 30, 1195 Joshllins Pit Drive, DeRidder — failure to register and notify as a sex offender or child predator. Bond: $40,000. Robert Charles Williams, 52, […]
UPDATE: Shelter in place lifted, interstate reopening
The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness said the shelter in place has been lifted and Interstate 10 is reopening after a warehouse fire at the BioLab facility in Westlake. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality said the fire at BioLab is 75 percent under control, and it is actively […]
UPDATE: I-10 being shut down due to BioLab fire
Interstate 10 in Calcasieu Parish is being closed and vehicles diverted to Interstate 210 due to a warehouse fire at the BioLab facility in Westlake. Louisiana State Police Trooper Matt Gaspard said a precautionary shelter in place has also been expanded due to a shift in the wind direction. The shelter in place has now […]
Louisiana State Police Crime Lab launches Sexual Assault Kit Tracking Program
Special to the American Press The Louisiana State Police Crime Lab has launched a statewide Sexual Assault Kit Tracking Program. State Sen. Beth Mizell authored Senate Bill 169 (ACT 193) during the 2023 Legislative Session, which was passed and signed into law by former Gov. John Bel Edwards. This legislation mandates the Louisiana State Police […]
BREAKING: BioLab warehouse fire leads to shelter in place
The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness has issued a precautionary shelter in place due to a warehouse fire at BioLab in Westlake. The area affected is from the BioLab facility to a quarter-mile south due to wind direction. Here are shelter in place instructions from the parish: STEP 1 […]
PHOTO GALLERY: Freedom Fest celebration
The annual Freedom Fest in Lake Arthur over the weekend featured market and food vendors, live music, sack races, watermelon eating contest, tug-o-war, greasy pig chase, a parade, fireworks and more. (Photos by Doris Maricle)
Better Business Bureau: Have a plan in place for potential hurricanes
Rapidly intensifying storm developments means less time to watch and wait before disaster strikes. Now, more than ever, it’s vital to be prepared for severe weather events, to have a plan in place for a hurricane season with above average predictions. In the past, Southwest Louisiana had about a 120-hour window from weather development to […]
US Federal Judge James Cain Jr. strikes down Biden administration pause on new LNG exports
U.S. Federal Judge James Cain Jr. of the Western District of Louisiana, issued a preliminary injunction on Monday in Louisiana’s favor for the state’s lawsuit against President Joe Biden and the United States Department of Energy over the decision to pause new liquefied natural gas exports to non-free trade agreement countries. Judge Cain’s order lifts […]
Landry steps up fight on behalf of DENKA plant in dispute with EPA
Gov. Jeff Landry, R-La., is fighting to keep open the only plant in the United States that produces neoprene. The state is also in a fight to keep the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality’s right to grant extensions to give industry a more realistic window to come into compliance with the EPA’s latest rules. Not […]
New era at McNeese as Rousse takes the reins as president
Monday marked the start of a bright, blue, brand-new day at McNeese State University. Eighth McNeese President Wade Rousse and his executive leadership team hosted a news conference on Monday to celebrate the occasion, discussing structural changes to the executive staff and laying out plans and methods for future development. Rousse is succeeding Daryl Burckel, […]
Heat advisory in place in SW La.
There is a heat advisory in effect for the first half of the week in Southwest Louisiana with the possibility of an excessive heat warning upgrade in some areas. Chanelle Stigger, a meteorologist for the National Weather Service Lake Charles office, said temperatures are expected in the mid-90s this week, but area moisture could bring […]
Higgins, Carter introduce legislation to combat contaminated foreign seafood
Special to the American Press U.S. Congressman Clay Higgins, R-La., and state Congressman Troy A. Carter Sr., D-La. introduced the Destruction of Hazardous Imports Act, which grants the Food and Drug Administration authority to destroy imported products that pose a significant public health concern. Historically, the FDA has been responsible for protecting public health by […]
Former Elton mayor pleads not guilty to battery charge
Former Elton mayor Kesia Lemoine pleaded not guilty Monday to a simple battery charge stemming from an altercation with another woman following a council meeting. A bench warrant was issued Monday for Lemoine for failure to appear for the 9 a.m. arraignment. It was recalled after Lemoine arrived in court later in the day. She […]
7/1: Calcasieu Parish Sheriff announces arrest list
The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office reports the following arrests: Jeremiah D. Landry, 24, 2314 Poplar St. — illegal possession of stolen firearms, first offense. Bond: $25,000. Paul Douglas Blank, 47, 914 Aberdeen Drive — domestic abuse battery-child endangerment; domestic abuse battery-pregnant victim; false imprisonment. Derrelle Duane Upshaw, 38, 419 John Henry Jones St., DeRidder — […]
Southland welcomes two new members
July 1 has become the new moving day in college athletics and the Southland Conference is no different. While it won’t make as much noise as Texas and Oklahoma jumping to the SEC, or the four West Coast schools leaping into the Big Ten, the Southland also has reason to celebrate. Monday the recently floundering […]
Supreme Court rules ex-presidents have broad immunity, dimming chance of a pre-election Trump trial
The Supreme Court on Monday ruled for the first time that former presidents have some immunity from prosecution, extending the delay in the Washington criminal case against Donald Trump on charges he plotted to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss and all but ending prospects the former president could be tried before the November election. In a historic […]
Names in the News: People shaping the future of Lake Area business
LyondellBasell facilities honored LyondellBasell is proud to announce four of its U.S. manufacturing facilities have been awarded some of the highest safety awards in the industry during the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers’ 2023 Annual Safety Awards event held last month. The AFPM Safety Awards Program is part of a comprehensive safety program developed to […]
On Campus: SW La. students recognized for achievements
Stillwell inducted into honor society BATON ROUGE — Abigail Stillwell of Lake Charles was recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. Stillwell was initiated at University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a […]
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