Louisiana
Local leaders seek federal aid after storm damage plagues north Louisiana
MONROE, La. (KNOE) – Local and state leaders are mobilizing resources and reaching out to Washington for support following the devastating storm.
President Donald Trump has already signed a Federal Disaster Declaration, a critical first step that opens the door for the state to access federal resources and recovery funds. This declaration sets the recovery process in motion and signals the federal government’s commitment to supporting affected areas.
Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis has been working the phones, staying in contact with House Speaker Mike Johnson and Congresswoman Julia Letlow to ensure his city gets the support it needs.
A significant development: the necessary paperwork has been filed to get the disaster classified as Category A Emergency Work. This designation is crucial for local communities because it means recovery efforts will be reimbursable at a higher rate—stretching federal dollars further and easing the financial burden on municipalities.
According to FEMA, Category A Emergency Work is focused primarily on debris removal, one of the most immediate and pressing needs following major storms.
Congressional Leaders Respond
Congresswoman Julia Letlow has made it clear that disaster response is a priority. Her office reports she has been focused on providing informational resources to constituents and maintaining open lines of communication with local leaders about the storm’s impacts.
Speaker Mike Johnson is also actively engaged with local officials. His office emphasizes that while aid is forthcoming, the approval process takes time—a reminder that recovery is a marathon, not a sprint.
Senator Bill Cassidy announced a major development today: nearly half a billion dollars in support from previous hurricanes in 2020 and 2021 is being directed to help Louisiana recover. He’s also personally committed to working with local leaders in the region.
“Today I spoke with West Monroe Mayor Stacey Mitchell and learned of their needs,” Cassidy said. “I’ve committed to work together with them. A delegation from the City of Monroe also spoke with us about what we can accomplish on the federal level.”
Efforts to secure additional support continue across the board, with local delegations meeting with federal representatives to outline specific community needs and identify federal resources that can be deployed.
The coordination between local and federal leaders demonstrates that when disaster strikes, government at all levels can work together to support recovery and rebuilding efforts.
Copyright 2026 KNOE. All rights reserved.
MONDAY
RED STICK FLY FISHERS PROGRAM: 7 p.m., Bluebonnet Regional Library, 9200 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge. Open to the public. Email Brian Roberts: roberts.brian84@gmail.com. Website: rsff.org
WEDNESDAY
FLIES & FLIGHTS: 7-9 p.m, Rally Cap Brewing, 11212 Pennywood Ave., Baton Rouge. Casual fly tying. Open to public. Email Chris Williams: thefatfingeredflytyer@gmail.com
THURSDAY
ACADIANA FLY RODDERS PROGRAM: 6 p.m., Pack and Paddle, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette. Open to public. Email Darin Lee: at cbrsandcdc@gmail.com. Website: acadianaflyrodders.org
FRIENDS OF NRA/SOUTHWEST LA BANQUET: 6 p.m., Riverside Bar & Grill, 3748 Louisiana 3059, Lake Charles. Call Brack Cole 337-912-1620. Email: jbcoleair@yahoo.com
ONGOING
STATEWIDE TOURNAMENT & ANGLERS RODEO/S.T.A.R.: Through Sept. 7, Coastal Conservation Association’s summer-long fishing event. Tagged redfish, coastal/offshore species categories & youth division. CCA membership required. Website: ccalouisiana.com/star
LOTTERY HUNTS
DOVE/TEAL: July 27 application deadline for dove hunt on Elbow Slough Wildlife Management Area and teal hunt on White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area. Website applications only on Wildlife & Fisheries/Louisiana Outdoors License, Permits and Tags webpage. Fee $8.50. Details: dove hunt, David Hayden at dhayden@wlf.la.gov; teal hunt, Lance Ardoin at lardoin@wlf.la.gov
AROUND THE CORNER
JULY 21 — LAFAYETTE KAYAK FISHING CLUB MEETING: 6 p.m., Pack and Paddle, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette. Call 337-232-5854. Website: lafayettekayakfishing.com
JULY 21-22 — GULF COUNCIL SHRIMP COMMITTEE MEETING: Gulf Council office, 4107 W. Spruce St., Tampa, Florida. In conjunction with Scientific and Statistical committees. Website: gulfcouncil.org
JULY 23 — ACADIANA BUGS & BREWS: 6 p.m., Pack and Paddle, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette. Casual fly tying and local beers provided. Open to the public. Email Darin Lee: cbrsandcdc@gmail.com. Website: packpaddle.com
JULY 23-25 — International Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo, Grand Isle Marina & Otto Candies Pavilion, Grand Isle. Website: tarponrodeo.org
JULY 24-25—BASSMASTER JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: Kentucky Lake, Paris, Tennessee. Website: bassmaster.com
JULY 26 — SOUTH LOUISIANA HIGHPOWER CLUB MATCH: 8:30 a.m., Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Range, St. Landry Road, Gonzales. NRA XTC & F-Class match rifle or service rifle, 200-yard/50-rounds match course. Fee $15 members, $20 nonmembers, $5 juniors. $25 annual club (first match free) and Civilian Marksmanship Program membership (allows purchases from CMP). Call Mike Burke, 337-380-8120. Email: SouthLAHighPower@hotmail.com
FISHING/SHRIMPING
SHRIMP: Spring inshore season closed except for Breton/Chandeleur sounds; all outside waters open.
OPEN RECREATIONAL SEASONS: Private recreational red snapper; gray triggerfish; flounder; lane, blackfin, queen and silk snappers and wenchmen among other snapper species; all groupers except closed for goliath and Nassau groupers in state/federal waters.
CLOSED SEASONS: Greater amberjack; bluefin tuna; gag, goliath and Nassau groupers in state/federal waters. Commercial greater amberjack season closed.
LDWF UPDATES
Closed: Roads on Pomme de Terre, Richard Yancey & Bogue Chitto WMAs (flooding)
Drawdowns: Saline Lake (Natchitoches/Winn parishes through Oct. 5); Iatt Lake (Grant Parish through Oct. 5).
Louisiana State Police reported an Ascension Parish resident died in a fatal crash in Livingston Parish.
According to an LSP Troop A news release, 68-year-old Gwendolyn Blank of St. Amant died in the two-vehicle crash along Highway 1032 near Debbie Lane around 3:30 p.m. July 11.
Per the release, the preliminary investigation found that a 2016 Toyota Avalon was traveling south on the highway when, at the same time, a 2023 Dodge Ram was traveling northbound.
For reasons still under investigation, the Toyota crossed the center line in a left-hand curve and collided head-on with the truck, troopers reported in the realease.
Blank, who was the front seat passenger in the car, sustained serious injuries and was transported to a hospital, where she later died, according to LSP.
Troopers reported the driver of the car sustained moderate injuries, and a juvenile rear-seat passenger had minor injuries, while the driver of the truck received minor injuries.
CATAHOULA PARISH, La. (KALB) – Judge John Reeves, who serves the 7th Judicial District Court in Catahoula and Concordia parishes, pleaded guilty in a Judiciary Commission investigation to having engaged in misconduct in his actions at the judge’s bench.
The investigation, in conjunction with admissions of guilt by Reeves, found he:
- issued a legally deficient verbal order of visitation in a child custody case
- issued a legally deficient verbal search warrant in a criminal case
- allowed two members of his court staff to seek appointment as reserve deputies of the Catahoula Parish Sheriff’s Office
- failed to timely recuse himself in a criminal case and gave the appearance of bias
- failed to comply with the Code of Criminal Procedure in reducing, revoking, and subsequently reinstating the defendant’s bond in a criminal case.
The Louisiana Supreme Court issued an opinion on June 25 agreeing with the Commission’s findings.
In acceptance of Reeve’s admissions, his four-month suspension will last from August 31, through the end of his term in office on December 31, 2026.
In addition to the suspension, Reeves must pay $6,148 to the Judiciary Commission of Louisiana.
Read the opinion by clicking here.
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Copyright 2026 KALB. All rights reserved.
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