Lake Charles Police make two arrests in fatal electric scooter hit and run BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN | Staff writer Jul 23, 2026 The Lake Charles Police Department has made two arrests following a fatal hit-and-run involving a teenager on an electric scooter.
Lake Charles will soon have full access to the Sheriff’s Office’s Real Time Crime Center BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN | Staff writer Jul 23, 2026 The Lake Charles Police Department will soon have unlimited access to employees and technology designed to help solve crimes at the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office.
How will Tropical Storm Bertha impact southwest Louisiana? BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN | Staff writer Jul 21, 2026 Southwest Louisiana is forecast to see minor impacts from Tropical Storm Bertha as the storm nears landfall early Wednesday
The space once considered for a Lake Charles Big Chicken location could soon see new life BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN | Staff writer Jul 21, 2026 A property on Nelson Road in Lake Charles may soon have a new purpose after it plans for it to become a location of Shaquille O'Neal's fast-food chain, Big Chicken, were denied.
Motorcyclist dies in crash on the Lake Charles I-210 Bridge BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN | Staff writer Jul 17, 2026 A motorcyclist died on the Lake Charles Interstate 210 bridge Friday morning.
+2 How new McNeese President Mike Reese plans to run the university while remaining a state senator BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN | Staff writer Jul 16, 2026 While McNeese State University’s new president Mike Reese originally planned to step down from his Louisiana’s Senate District 30 seat after starting his role at the school, he will now be ser…
Krew’s Books and Brews closes physical location, moves online BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN | Staff writer Jul 14, 2026 After less than two years, a local Lake Charles bookstore and cafe is closing its physical location and moving to an online business format.
A Blue Angels show is coming to Lake Charles. See when. BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN | Staff writer Jul 13, 2026 The U.S. Navy’s Blue Angels will soon make their way to Lake Charles as the headliner of an air show in the area.
Lake Charles City Council and staff address recent shoving altercation at City Hall BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN | Staff writer Jul 10, 2026 Two weeks after a physical altercation happened between a Lake Charles City Council member and a constituent, council members are still discussing how it was handled — and how to prevent simil…
Westlake woman sentenced to 5 years in prison after shooting her boyfriend in the head BY MEGAN WYATT | Staff writer Jul 10, 2026 A Westlake woman was sentenced Thursday to 15 years in prison, with 10 years suspended, more than four years after she shot her boyfriend in the head with her three children in the home.
Enterprise Boulevard project in Lake Charles sees completion after 3 years of work BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN | Staff writer Jul 6, 2026 Three years of work on a well-traveled Lake Charles boulevard is complete.
Lake Charles mayor discusses sports complex, property taxes in State of the City address BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN | Staff writer Jul 3, 2026 Mayor Marshall Simien gave Lake Charles’ first State of the City address Thursday night, just over a year after being sworn in as the city’s first elected Black mayor.
A claw machine aracade is making its way to Lake Charles BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN | Staff writer Jul 2, 2026 A Lafayette claw machine arcade is expanding to three new cities, including Lake Charles.
Recreation equipment rentals are coming to some Lake Charles parks BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN | Staff writer Jul 1, 2026 Lake Charles community members and visitors will soon have access to pickleball, Ping-Pong, cornhole and disc golf equipment at area parks.
+3 This popular Lake Charles restaurant expects to lose its land during I-10 bridge construction BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN | Staff writer Jul 1, 2026 A beloved Lake Charles restaurant, Steamboat Bill’s, is expected to lose its location across from the lake as construction progresses on the new Calcasieu River Bridge for Interstate 10.
+3 Lake Charles garden center is closing after 66 years of service to the community BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN | Staff writer Jun 30, 2026 The Greengate Garden Center is closing its doors after 66 years selling plants, soil, pots and Christmas trees to the southwest Louisiana Community.
+2 DeRidder transportation director fired over misappropriation of funds, audit says BY MEGAN WYATT | Staff writer Jun 29, 2026 The transportation director for the city of DeRidder was fired earlier this year after $1,600 to $3,000 in cash collected by transit system drivers over a three-month period did not make it to…
A kayak launch is coming to to mid-city Lake Charles for outdoor enthusiasts BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN | Staff writer Jun 27, 2026 The city of Lake Charles is bringing a new, more affordable option for fishing and boating to the mid-city area with a kayak launch.
+12 Here’s how much energy giants will pay for new Lake Charles bridge after past chemical spill BY MEGAN WYATT | Staff writer Jun 25, 2026 Two petrochemical giants will chip in a tiny percentage toward the overall cost of building the new Lake Charles Interstate-10 bridge after the state quietly settled a lawsuit earlier this yea…
Louisiana native, former The Voice contestant to headline Lake Charles music festival BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN | Staff writer Jun 24, 2026 An annual southwest Louisiana festival that has been around for more than 30 years will feature artists from the region as headliners this year.
+2 This Louisiana state park is getting $5M to rebuild after 2020’s hurricanes BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN | Staff writer Jun 23, 2026 The only state park in Calcasieu Parish will soon see a major restoration project after it receiving the largest corporate investment in Louisiana State Park history.
Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office hosts courses to teach teens how to navigate real-life challenges BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN | Staff writer Jun 23, 2026 Calcasieu Parish teenagers have the opportunity to learn from uniformed officers this summer as the Sheriff’s Office hosts a series of “Reality Check” sessions across the parish, a news releas…
Could this Louisiana city be a 'dupe' for a Las Vegas vacation? The 'Today Show' thinks so. BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN | Staff writer Jun 22, 2026 Lake Charles has hit national TV screens being touted as a vacation “dupe” for Las Vegas.
+2 Like father, like daughter: Sulphur student wins silver at competition with her dad as coach BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN | Staff writer Jun 19, 2026 For Sulphur native Autumn Buck, the graphic design department at Southwest Louisiana Technical Community College has been her second home for as long as she can remember.
+13 He barreled off the I-10 Lake Charles bridge 20 years ago. How many more will do the same? BY MEGAN WYATT | Staff writer Jun 19, 2026 Lolly Comeaux Sr. rarely wore a seat belt 20 years ago when he worked as a truck driver in Westlake.
Lake Charles area sees minimal rain from former Tropical Storm Arthur BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN | Staff writer Jun 18, 2026 While Cameron and Calcasieu parishes were at one point directly in the path of Tropical Storm Arthur, as the storm was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone and changed direction, southwest Lo…
Gov. Jeff Landry issues executive order to suspend Cameron Parish early voting until Saturday BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN | Staff writer Jun 17, 2026 With Cameron Parish seeing several storm watches and warnings, early voting for the upcoming election has been suspended until Saturday.
Potential tropical cyclone 1 is now Tropical Storm Arthur. What does that mean for Lake Charles? BY COURTNEY PEDERSEN | Staff writer Jun 17, 2026 The first named tropical storm of the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season is headed for southwest Louisiana and southeast Texas.