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: Truvy’s 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 weekend’s 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 Truvy’s 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 celebration—and we look forward to many more to come.
BATON ROUGE, La. — 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.
BATON ROUGE, La. — The Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana has released its comprehensive guide analyzing the 10 proposed constitutional amendments scheduled for the fall statewide ballot.
The independent, nonpartisan review is designed to explain the legal background, arguments for and against, and practical effects of each measure so voters can make informed decisions at the polls.
Seven of the 10 proposed changes address Article VII of the Louisiana Constitution, focusing on state and local tax policy, assessment rules, and public finance:
Amendment 1: Permits the surviving spouse of a disabled veteran who qualified for a special property tax exemption to transfer that exemption to a new home in a one-time move.
Amendment 2: Grants local taxing bodies greater flexibility and time to determine whether to roll forward to their maximum authorized property tax millage or retain a lower rate.
Amendment 3: Prohibits bail for individuals convicted of certain aggravated offenses against children under state law.
Amendment 4: Establishes a lifetime limit of two four-year terms for Louisiana governors, replacing the current consecutive-term limit.
Amendment 5: Gives the Louisiana Legislature and state retirement systems discretion over the order in which state surplus funds are applied toward retirement debt.
Amendment 6: Authorizes parishes and municipalities to increase property tax exemption levels for qualifying senior homeowners ages 65 to 81.
Amendment 7: Clarifies that public funds can be used to identify and replace lead drinking water service lines extending from public mains onto private residential property.
Amendment 8: Prohibits private corporations affiliated with designated foreign adversaries from exercising expropriation powers over private property.
Amendment 9: Increases the household income eligibility ceiling for property tax assessment freezes from $100,000 to $150,000.
Amendment 10: Authorizes parishes to create optional property tax exemption programs for the rehabilitation of blighted or derelict properties.
LEESVILLE, La. — Treaty Oak Clean Energy, LLC will host an informational open house regarding a proposed solar energy project in Vernon Parish.
The public meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 13, from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Vernon Parish Fairgrounds, located at 276 H.M. Stevens Blvd. in Leesville.
Area residents and community members are invited to attend, learn details about the proposed development, and ask questions of project representatives.
Attendees are encouraged to RSVP ahead of the event. Additional information regarding the project and event registration is accessible via the event notice QR codes.
Alexandria native Lyn Rollins (left) interviews Eli Manning (blue shirt, middle) as LPB personnel film the conversation for a 2023 episode of “Behind the Glory” which makes its season debut tonight at 8:45 spotlighting 2026 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame inductees. (Photo by CHRIS LECOQ)
From athletes and coaches across the spectrum of sports to the writers and sports figures who chronicle their achievements, “Behind the Glory” from Louisiana Public Broadcasting carriesviewers behind the stats and headlines to tell the stories of the people who have helped shape Louisiana’s remarkable sports legacy.
Season 4 of this award-winning, original sports series showcasing Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame inductees premieres tonight at 8:45, with a new episode each Thursday night through November 5 and returning for a spring series. LPB programming airs on Channel 25 KLPA in Central Louisiana.
The show is hosted by acclaimed state sports journalist Lyn Rollins, an Alexandria native, distinguished graduate of Bolton High and Northwestern State. “Behind the Glory” was developed as a stand-alone short-form series and spinoff of LPB’s annual live coverage of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Each episode profiles an inductee and gives audiences a closer look at their lives, careers and lasting impact.
The premiere episode Thursday spotlights former LSU and NFL standout Todd McClure. The Baton Rouge native’s professional football career didn’t get off to the most promising start, but McClure more than made up for lost time during his 13 seasons as an offensive lineman with the Atlanta Falcons.
Other new episodes this fall feature journalist John James Marshall, coaches John Brady and Kathy Holloway, and NFL great Pat Williams. Five additional episodes will premiere in spring 2027, including a profile of Alexandria resident and LSU baseball legend Warren Morris, to complete Season 4.
“Louisiana has a rich and vibrant sports culture that connects communities across the state. From our recent premiere of “Circles: The Life of Billy Cannon” to “Behind the Glory” and our weekly college football series “Game Notes” and “Post Game Notes,” LPB continues to tell stories that celebrate Louisiana’s sports traditions and the people who shape them,” says Jason Viso, LPB Director of Programming.
“Behind the Glory” was recently honored by the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters at the 2026 Prestige Awards for Best Series or Documentary. The series is headed by LPB Senior Producer Chris LeCoq.
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 Louisiana’s 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 “I Drive Your Truck,” “I Don’t Dance,” “Hard to Love” and “One of Them Girls.” Scott returns to his home state with four No. 1 songs on the U.S. Country Airplay charts, including “My Girl,” “New Truck,” “Can’t Have Mine” and “This Town’s Been Too Good to Us.”
Lanie Gardner, Jackson Wendell and Clay LaBeff complete Friday’s lineup.
Saturday, Oct. 17, features Flatland Cavalry as the night’s 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 Saturday’s 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 Louisiana’s 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 Louisiana’s largest new entertainment events.
Northwestern State Athletics also has a direct stake in the festival’s 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 music’s 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
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 year’s 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!
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.
There’s no better place to celebrate Dolly Parton than the Louisiana town where one of her most beloved characters came to life.
This October 9–11, Natchitoches invites visitors to spend a weekend celebrating Dolly with Truvy’s Blush & Bashful Weekend: A Dolly Parton Celebration. Inspired by Dolly’s 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 Louisiana’s 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 Dolly’s 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 Mama’s 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 Truvy’s Downtown Traipse, inviting visitors to explore Natchitoches’ historic downtown and experience Truvy’s Specials offered by participating businesses.
Saturday evening, tease up your hair and get ready for Truvy’s Big Hair Affair at Parkway Cinema 6 at 7 p.m. It’s 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 you’re 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 Louisiana’s oldest city, Natchitoches offers the perfect backdrop for a weekend filled with history, Southern charm and plenty to explore.
Whether you’ve loved Dolly for decades, can quote Steel Magnolias from beginning to end, or simply need an excuse for a girls’ weekend in Natchitoches, Truvy’s 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 9–11, 2026, in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
For complete event information, updates and weekend details, visit Truvy’s 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 entry period for the $600 Natchitoches Weekend Getaway giveaway has concluded.
The official winner will be announced and published on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026.
Readers can check back Monday morning to see the announcement and details on claiming the getaway prize package. Thank you to everyone across the community who participated and submitted an entry.
There’s no better place to celebrate Dolly Parton than the Louisiana town where one of her most beloved characters came to life.
This October 9–11, Natchitoches invites visitors to spend a weekend celebrating Dolly with Truvy’s Blush & Bashful Weekend: A Dolly Parton Celebration. Inspired by Dolly’s 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 Louisiana’s 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 Dolly’s 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 Mama’s 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 Truvy’s Downtown Traipse, inviting visitors to explore Natchitoches’ historic downtown and experience Truvy’s Specials offered by participating businesses.
Saturday evening, tease up your hair and get ready for Truvy’s Big Hair Affair at Parkway Cinema 6 at 7 p.m. It’s 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 you’re 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 Louisiana’s oldest city, Natchitoches offers the perfect backdrop for a weekend filled with history, Southern charm and plenty to explore.
Whether you’ve loved Dolly for decades, can quote Steel Magnolias from beginning to end, or simply need an excuse for a girls’ weekend in Natchitoches, Truvy’s 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 9–11, 2026, in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
For complete event information, updates and weekend details, visit Truvy’s 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, Truvy’s 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.
There’s no better place to celebrate Dolly Parton than the Louisiana town where one of her most beloved characters came to life.
This October 9–11, Natchitoches invites visitors to spend a weekend celebrating Dolly with Truvy’s Blush & Bashful Weekend: A Dolly Parton Celebration. Inspired by Dolly’s 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 Louisiana’s 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 Dolly’s 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 Mama’s 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 Truvy’s Downtown Traipse, inviting visitors to explore Natchitoches’ historic downtown and experience Truvy’s Specials offered by participating businesses.
Saturday evening, tease up your hair and get ready for Truvy’s Big Hair Affair at Parkway Cinema 6 at 7 p.m. It’s 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 you’re 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 Louisiana’s oldest city, Natchitoches offers the perfect backdrop for a weekend filled with history, Southern charm and plenty to explore.
Whether you’ve loved Dolly for decades, can quote Steel Magnolias from beginning to end, or simply need an excuse for a girls’ weekend in Natchitoches, Truvy’s 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 9–11, 2026, in Natchitoches, Louisiana.
For complete event information, updates and weekend details, visit Truvy’s 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, Truvy’s 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 – 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 State’s 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 class’s average ACT score is well above Louisiana’s average, reflecting the continued strength and academic quality of Northwestern’s incoming students.
The academic strength of the class is further reflected in the 114 high school valedictorians and 22 salutatorians who selected Northwestern State.
“This is the type of growth we want to see at Northwestern,” said NSU President James T. Genovese. “We 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.”
NSU’s 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.
“The numbers within this freshman class tell an exciting story about where NSU is headed,” said Vanner Erikson, director of enrollment at Northwestern State. “We 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.”
Student success is another significant component of the fall 2026 enrollment picture. Northwestern’s 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.
“Recruiting a student is only the beginning,” Erikson said. “Our 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.”
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.
“Our goal has never been simply to chase a headcount,” Genovese said. “We 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.”
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 university’s focus on recruitment, student success and the traditional campus experience is producing results.
“Students and families are recognizing what makes Northwestern special,” Genovese said. “They 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.”
NATCHITOCHES – 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 university’s 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.
“Our first two years have been about strengthening the foundation of Northwestern while keeping our attention fixed on the future,” Genovese said. “We 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.”
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 university’s 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 class’s average ACT score is well above Louisiana’s average, reflecting the continued strength and academic quality of Northwestern’s incoming students.
Northwestern’s 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 Genovese’s 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 university’s First Destination Survey, 93.3 percent reported employment, continued education or military service.
“Students should feel that Northwestern knows them, supports them and is preparing them for a meaningful life and career,” Genovese said. “The gains in satisfaction and persistence are encouraging, but we know our work must continue until more students who begin at Northwestern complete their degrees.”
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 Louisiana’s 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 Genovese’s 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 university’s 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 Dean’s List or President’s List recognition, 216 were named to the Southland Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll, and the department’s 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. Women’s 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.
“These accomplishments belong to the entire Northwestern family,” Genovese said. “We have built momentum, but we are not finished. Our responsibility is to honor Northwestern’s history, respond to the needs of the present and prepare Louisiana for the future.”
Vernon Parish football fans have to be feeling good after all three teams in the parish won their jamborees this past week.
Leesville, Rosepine and Pickering appear to be headed in the right direction in their respective classifications, and those teams will strap on the pads for real Friday.
The Wampus Cats host DeRidder, the Eagles welcome Montgomery and the Red Devils bring in Pine Prairie as football stadiums will light up all around the parish for Week 1.
LEESVILLE
Leesville fans don’t need to rub their eyes and take a second glance at Week 1 opponent DeRidder.
The Dragons are one of four District 3-4A members from this past cycle to move down to Class 3A, leaving just Leesville and LaGrange from the old gang in District 3-4A.
The Wampus Cats will open the season with two of those former district rivals, first DeRidder and then Iowa.
If the 27-20 jamboree win against Natchitoches Central is any indication, expect fireworks on the scoreboard.
Quarterback Trel Broom is back for a third season under center after accounting for nearly 3,000 yards and 29 touchdowns as a junior.
While his top target Michael Davis Jr. (Western Carolina) as well as four other senior targets are gone, Broom still has plenty of options with Julius Brown (742 yards, 10 touchdowns) leading the way.
Grant Braxton is just a junior and will serve as the bell cow running back again this season, gaining nearly 1,500 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2025.
Offense was rarely an issue for veteran coach Robert Causey, who’s been at the helm a decade and has his Wampus Cats receiving votes in the preseason statewide Class 4A football poll.
While the defense improved in the second half of the season, six teams topped 30 points this past season, including Lake Charles Prep – 42-23 winners in the second round of the playoffs.
Leesville finished the season 6-6.
Now LCCP is a district foe in the reshuffle, and that Week 10 matchup will almost surely be for all the marbles as other district members LaGrange, North Vermilion, and Rayne combined to win just five games this past season.
As for DeRidder, the Dragons also won a playoff game in 2025 and finished 6-6.
DeRidder will try to make room behind a sizable offensive line for quarterback Michael Parmley and running back Jaiden Cooper to keep the ball away from Leesville.
ROSEPINE
A jamboree win does not a season make, but Rosepine’s 14-7 victory against Many changes the narrative around the entire program.
Coming off consecutive 1-9 campaigns in which the win came in the season finales, the Eagles will attempt to put one in the win column early when they welcome Montgomery on Friday.
Rosepine’s one win in each of the past two seasons came against East Beauregard, but the jamboree victory came against a Many team who caught fire in the back half of 2025, won a playoff game, and returned key players from that 2025 squad.
The last time Rosepine won a season opener? 2023 – against East Beauregard.
But the Eagles bring back 10 rising seniors on a 29-player roster as they aim to rewrite recent history in the second year of coach David Weldon, who previously served as the team’s offensive coordinator.
Weldon called this team one of the “hardest working teams” he’s ever been around, calling 2026 their “breakout year.”
The offensive anchors begin with four-year starter Brynnum Chaney, who led the team with 514 receiving yards, and offensive lineman Tug Haymon, another four-year starter.
Other weapons include receiver Austin Lounsberry (led team with five touchdown catches), fullback Brayden Bergeron and running back Camdyn Curry (244 rushing yards).
Dax Wagster is a defensive leader from the back end, with guys like Wyatt Colletti (defensive line), Levi Kennedy (defensive line), Griffin Carter (cornerback) and Collin Cline shoring up the defensive unit.
That defensive unit could be tested by a Montgomery bunch who scored at least 34 points in eight games en route to a 5-6 season.
PICKERING
The playoffs.
While every program starts the regular season with the playoffs as a major goal, for the Pickering Red Devils, it’s pretty much the only thing on their mind.
Pickering is eligible for the playoffs after rebuilding its program for the past two seasons without competing in district, allowing the Red Devils to schedule opponents more similar to their competition level.
Now the Red Devils re-enter District 5-2A and will play a full district slate after successfully repairing the program following a 23-game losing streak that ended in 2024.
That journey begins Friday when Pine Prairie comes to town.
Pickering posted a 5-5 record in 2025, its first non-losing since 2020 – which also happens to be its last playoff appearance.
Coach John Daugherty has provided stability to the program headed into his fourth season, which includes a 9-11 mark over the past seasons.
Two of those wins have come against Week 1 opponent Pine Prairie, a 29-6 win this past season and a 41-20 win in 2024. That score against Pickering was the only one Pine Prairie managed all season long in an 0-10 campaign.
Quarterback Taylor Osorio threw 15 touchdowns one year ago and wiil look to connect with targets like Braxton Baker and Caleb Falls.
Hunter Noel is a four-year starter and leader of a defense that held five opponents to 14 or less points this past season.
The Red Devils topped Lakeview, 7-6, in the Battle on the Bricks Jamboree in Natchitoches this past week.
Leesville football coach Robert Causey gave a compelling talk Monday at the Battle on the Bricks NRMC Jamboree press conference in Natchitoches. (Journal photo by DOUG IRELAND)
The Leesville Wampus Cats football team takes on the Natchitoches Central Chiefs Saturday night at 7 in Northwestern’s Turpin Stadium to wrap up the two-day, 10-team Battle on the Bricks NRMC Jamboree.
At a Monday press conference to promote the event, veteran Leesville coach Robert Causey was the last speaker. He was the most profound one, too. Here’s what he said:
“Sometimes we can get kind of confused when we start talking about winning and losing, what’s really important. It’s just really high school football. It’s about the people that you invest into, and you watch them grow, and become young men, because we’re really investing into other people’s children.
“Along the way, they teach us things. Because if we can teach them, they can teach us. And so that is really the lesson.
“We were 1-5 last year, in the middle of the season. The year before, we had a great year (11-3, reaching the state semifinals). All the coaching evaluators sitting in the stands from the first row to the top row, two years ago, we coaches are geniuses. It was great. And then last year, we’re 1-5, and all of a sudden, I just got dumber, you know? You start hearing the outside noise, the chirping. The distractions are everywhere.
“We’re 1-5 and we’re playing our rival (DeRidder). It’s the big game. The ladies around town, they always talk about it. It’s big. Tuesday, that week, I had to cancel practice. We had 13 starters out with the flu. I sent them all home. Half the coaching staff was sick, and I sent them all home, but I stayed up there, and I fumigated and cleaned the entire field house on my own. I said, ‘it’s up to me.’
“Then my wife held me to a different standard after that point – like, ‘what are you gonna do? Friday night is going to be what it’s going to be. The end of the day, it’s in God’s hands.’
“We’re just talking about high school football. He’s in charge of everything and it’s gonna be His will, that if we’re gonna be 1-9, we’ll be 1-9. All we can do is control the things that we can control. And at the end of the day, it’s just about loving other people. It’s about relationships, and helping them grow to be the best versions of themselves.
“Along the way, I noticed our players, they started having a positive effect on me. And I started looking in the mirror, wondering what I can do to improve, in our program, in my life, spiritually, personally, professionally, and then in our program, what areas?
“I really found that, at that moment in time, our kids never quit on us. The credit goes to them. They never quit. There had to be something there, a belief there. I give them credit for the success we had last year. I thought it was a phenomenal year, because they didn’t tank it. They didn’t listen to the outside noise. They believed in something.
“Was it me? Was it the coaches? Maybe to some degree, but we owe them a lot. They didn’t quit on themselves, and they did not quit on the program. When the season was over, I was so proud of what we were able to accomplish, because of that moment. (The Cats beat DeRidder, won four more in a row, and finished 6-6 with a second-round playoff appearance).
“And so, through the offseason, everything was about what do we have to fix? Where did we fall short? Because we owe them our very best. Because what we expect of them, they should be expecting from us as the coaches. We just started evaluating everything in our program. What have we got to change? Where did we fall short? Our core values never change, but how do we word the standard? What is the standard?
“I listened to all the coaches, and what they were saying, and it kind of came down to this: do the ordinary things extraordinarily well. Just show up. If you’re showing up, what do you do when you’re there? Are you just doing the ordinary things? The best that you can possibly do? Why do you do what we ask you to do? Why do you do this? We ask you to go out in the heat, we ask you to practice more than you ever play. At the end of that, we heard from our kids, ‘because I want to do my best.’
“(So we said to our players), ‘whatever you do, you’re gonna do the very best you can at it.’ That’s been the approach we’ve absorbed into our program. If you’re gonna do anything, do it the very best you could possibly do it. And it’s just the ordinary things. Everybody runs, lifts weights, but are you doing the best that you can do at it?
“I’m not worried about anybody else … the outcomes are gonna be determined by you doing the ordinary things extraordinarily well. Every day, we try to focus on us doing a little bit more right. We fear nobody, but we respect everybody … At the end of the day, when you look back, when it’s all over with, did you do your very best? And did you develop relationships and memories and have a bond that lasts a lifetime?
“And so, I’m looking forward to coaching this bunch. I’ve been with these kids since they were playing youth football. I know their parents; coached their dads. It’s a unique situation, being in a place for that many years, and watching this program grow with them and helping us all improve. I’m excited as anybody could be to watch these kids and the coaches that we have go compete this season.”
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?
There’s one that can.
It’s an Amazing! Rhythm Disciples (ARD) concert.
The Disciples’ mantra is “Familiar Music. Timeless Message.” They like to describe their concerts as seven very accomplished musicians with very diverse backgrounds coming together to make “A VERY Joyful Noise!”
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 God—and ended up forming a unique music ministry.
“It all came together very quickly and very organically,” said bassist Keith “Don’t call Me Shirley” Shirley. “We 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, ‘Hey, that works!’”
Shirley gives credit where he believes it belongs.
“We knew the good Lord had His hand in this from the get-go,” he said. “The blending of the various musical styles—or ‘mashups,’ as we call them—came together so naturally and so quickly that we knew God was doing something.”
Don’t 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.
“I don’t think you can pigeonhole us as a Gospel group or even simply a Christian music group,” said vocalist Julia Brown. “What we see happening over and over at our concerts is that folks who don’t 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, ‘Hey, I know that song!’ Before they know it, they’re hearing a contemporary Christian song or a Southern Gospel song and finding that they like it, in spite of themselves.”
“Familiar music is the bridge, and Jesus is where the bridge leads.”
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.
“We take music people know, along with humor and fun, and use it to open the door,” said one of the Disciples. “Then we walk through that door with them. And no one receives a bigger blessing than us.”
That connection is at the heart of an ARD concert.
“We’re constantly striving to connect with someone in the audience and convey the message that no matter what problems you’re having in your life, you don’t have to face them alone. There’s strength and hope in Jesus. If we reach one person, it’s all been worth it.”
After a recent Disciples concert at a church, an elderly lady approached the group with just one word to describe what she had experienced:
“Joyous.”
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!
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 CO₂ 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 𝗮𝘀 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝘀 𝟵% 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲’𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟰𝟬 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 𝟭.𝟲 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗲-𝗳𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘂𝗻𝗺𝗲𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟴𝟬.
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 𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗧𝗲𝘅𝗼𝗺𝗮 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿, and additional Texoma conveyance infrastructure is being developed.
Texas planning also identifies additional supplies involving 𝗪𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗺𝗮𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗲 and the proposed 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘃𝗶𝗻 𝗡𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗿 on the Sulphur River; 𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗢’ 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀, which feeds Big Cypress Bayou toward Caddo Lake; and 𝗧𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗼 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗱 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 O’ the Pines controls flows into Big Cypress Bayou toward 𝗖𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗼 𝗟𝗮𝗸𝗲, 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 𝟳𝟱,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗲-𝗳𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 from Lake O’ the Pines as a potential North Texas supply strategy and approximately 𝟭𝟮𝟮,𝟮𝟬𝟬 𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗲-𝗳𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿 associated with Wright Patman.
𝗧𝗢𝗟𝗘𝗗𝗢 𝗕𝗘𝗡𝗗 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗟𝗗 𝗕𝗘 𝗔 𝗪𝗔𝗞𝗘-𝗨𝗣 𝗖𝗔𝗟𝗟.
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 𝗥𝗲𝗱 𝗥𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘃𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗳𝗲𝗿 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.
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 Louisiana’s water resources do not exist in isolation. If one source becomes less dependable, demand can shift elsewhere.
𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲𝘀.
𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗜𝗦 𝗪𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗨𝗦𝗧 𝗕𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗦 𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗧 𝗢𝗙 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗥𝗬.
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:
“Don’t worry about it.”
Louisiana citizens have watched eminent-domain battles, permanent underground CO₂ 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 O’ 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.
𝗣𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝘁.
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 — North Texas water-management strategies, including Lake Texoma, Lake O’ the Pines, Wright Patman, Marvin Nichols, Toledo Bend, Red River off-channel storage, and other potential supplies:
North Texas Municipal Water District — 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 — Big Cypress Bayou / Caddo Lake Sustainable Rivers Program; documents the downstream connection between Lake O’ the Pines, Big Cypress Bayou, and Caddo Lake:
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — Lake O’ the Pines / Ferrells Bridge Dam Water Control Manual and environmental-flow information for Big Cypress Bayou and Caddo Lake:
U.S. Geological Survey — Relation of water levels in the Red River alluvial aquifer to the Red River, documenting river/aquifer hydraulic relationships:
U.S. Geological Survey — Louisiana groundwater withdrawals dataset; approximately 960 million gallons per day, or about 51% of Louisiana groundwater withdrawals, came from the Chicot aquifer system:
