State

From left are Evangeline Parish Superintendent Darwan Lazard, Chataignier Elementary Beta Club sponsor Sherelene Johnson, and Chataignier Elementary principal Leslie DesHotels. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

From left are Evangeline Parish Superintendent Darwan Lazard, Chataignier Elementary Beta Club sponsor Sherelene Johnson, and Chataignier Elementary principal Leslie DesHotels. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

Preschool sites, Beta Club sponsor gain recognition at school board meeting

News Staff
Monday, March 23, 2026
By: TONY MARKS Editor VILLE PLATTE - Academic achievements at the parish’s preschool sites and at Chataignier Elementary were recognized during the Evangeline Parish School Board’s meeting held Wednesday, March 18.
Local Headline

Local Headline

Louisiana voter rolls cleaned as verification debate heats up in D.C.

News Staff
Monday, March 23, 2026
By: IZZY WOLLFARTH LSU Manship School News Service BATON ROUGE – Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry said a federal data program that verifies citizenship status uncovered the 403 noncitizens registered to vote in Louisiana out of a total voting pool of 2.
The LJHSAA state champion Bayou Chicot Elementary team is pictured. Team members are Reese Zanca, Laikyn Mire, Layken Fontenot, Avery Kraemer, Emily Fontenot, Callie Johnson, Adalynn Dutton, Adalynn Fontenot, Finley Doucet, Nadia Fontenot, Melia George, Blaiklee Mire, and Mica Fontenot. Head coach is Chuncey Fontenot. (Photo courtesy of Chuncey Fontenot)

The LJHSAA state champion Bayou Chicot Elementary team is pictured. Team members are Reese Zanca, Laikyn Mire, Layken Fontenot, Avery Kraemer, Emily Fontenot, Callie Johnson, Adalynn Dutton, Adalynn Fontenot, Finley Doucet, Nadia Fontenot, Melia George, Blaiklee Mire, and Mica Fontenot. Head coach is Chuncey Fontenot. (Photo courtesy of Chuncey Fontenot)

Making a statement: Bayou Chicot Elementary goes undefeated in tournament to win state title

News Staff
Thursday, March 19, 2026
By: TONY MARKS Editor Champions again reside in Bayou Chicot. The Bayou Chicot Elementary softball team went undefeated in all four games of the state tournament to claim another Louisiana Junior High School Athletic Association state championship.
Local Headline

Local Headline

Louisiana OMV updates Website domain

News Staff
Thursday, March 19, 2026
The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles announced today that it has officially transitioned its website to www.expresslane.la.gov. The domain change from an .org address to the .
Local Headline

Local Headline

Louisiana schools could get more money for mandated costs

News Staff
Thursday, March 19, 2026
By: AUBRI JUHASZ WWNO-FM (Editor’s Note: The following article is courtesy of Louisiana Illuminator and can be found online at lailluminator.com.) Louisiana’s top education official is recommending that lawmakers approve a recurring increase in school funding.
Mazzo Matteo (15) consoles Ernest Dugas (0) towards the end of Mamou’s loss to Marksville in the state semifinals on Wednesday night. Pictured between them is Braxton Ardoin (11), and standing is head coach Jaenne Fontenot. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

Mazzo Matteo (15) consoles Ernest Dugas (0) towards the end of Mamou’s loss to Marksville in the state semifinals on Wednesday night. Pictured between them is Braxton Ardoin (11), and standing is head coach Jaenne Fontenot. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

Marked short: Season ends for Mamou in state semifinals

News Staff
Monday, March 16, 2026
By: TONY MARKS Editor LAKE CHARLES - A season that produced a share of the district championship for the Mamou boys’ basketball team came to a sudden end on Wednesday, March 11, as the Green Demons fell 66-47 against Marksville in the semifinals of the LHSAA state tournament.
Local Headline

Local Headline

SoLAcc reports impact

News Staff
Monday, March 16, 2026
South Louisiana Community College (SoLAcc) contributes nearly $295 million in annual economic impact to the Acadiana region, supporting more than 4,000 jobs and accounting for nearly 1% of the region’s total economy, according to a new independent Economic Impact Study conducted by Lightcast.
Members of the Mamou coaching staff and cheerleading squad, as well as other member of the Mamou community, celebrate after the Mamou Green Demons advanced to the state semifinals. With the win, the team moved on to play Marksville on Wednesday, March 11, at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

Members of the Mamou coaching staff and cheerleading squad, as well as other member of the Mamou community, celebrate after the Mamou Green Demons advanced to the state semifinals. With the win, the team moved on to play Marksville on Wednesday, March 11, at Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles. (Gazette photo by Tony Marks)

Stately living

News Staff
Thursday, March 12, 2026
By: TONY MARKS Editor LIVINGSTON - On March 6, 1836, a small fortress on the Brazos River known as The Alamo fell to Mexican forces after a 13-day siege.
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