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Louisiana Christmas tree farm ready for holiday rush after drought recovery

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Louisiana Christmas tree farm ready for holiday rush after drought recovery


ETHEL—A Christmas tree farm in Ethel is ready for the holiday rush and happy to keep Christmas traditions alive for families across the state.

Lisa Brabham and her husband Ricky Peairs own Windy Hills Farm and have been growing trees since the 1990s. Last year’s historic lack of rain spooked the couple.

“We had such a serious drought. Some of the trees we lost. They died and some had damaged limbs. We still had plenty to sell, but we were worried about the impact on this year,” Brabham said. “We’ve had calls this year saying, ‘Hey, do y’all have trees this year? Do you have a good selection?’ And I think we do.”

The couple waited anxiously to see if those young trees would come back. As they get ready for the Christmas season to begin, Brabham says she’s pleased with how the farm held up.

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“We’ve had rain this year, so I would say the trees have recovered, so lots better than last year,” Brabham said.

Families can come to chop down their Christmas trees once again and carry on traditions.

“I remember going with the family to go get the tree. It’s a very good memory we have, and I think that’s what people are trying to do now is build memories and get traditions started,” Brabham said.

Windy Hills Farm will be open for business on Black Friday. 



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Red, Rock & Blue: Registration deadline approaches for tournament benefitting La. military charities

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Red, Rock & Blue: Registration deadline approaches for tournament benefitting La. military charities


BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – The Red, Rock & Blue charity softball tournament to benefit Louisiana military charities is quickly approaching.

SLOW-PITCH SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT

  • April 17 – April 19
  • BREC Oak Villa | Baton Rouge

Each team will get a three-game guarantee. There are different divisions for different skill levels.

Team registration is open to the public. You can register a team online.

The deadline to register is Friday, April 10.

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Click here for more information about the 32nd annual charity slow-pitch softball tournament.

Past tournaments have been held in July, but the 2026 tournament was moved to spring for the cooler temperatures.

Red Rock and Blue typically gives $50,000 or more to military charities like The Blue Star Mothers of Louisiana and Gulf Coast Veterans each year.

The Caterie Reunion IV to benefit Red Rock and Blue is also set for August 15 at The Texas Club in Baton Rouge. More information on that event, including the musical lineup and ticket sales, is coming soon.

*WAFB is a sponsor and supporter of the Red, Rock & Blue non-profit organization.

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Click here to subscribe to our WAFB 9 News daily digest and breaking news alerts delivered straight to your email inbox.

Watch the latest WAFB news and weather now.

Copyright 2026 WAFB. All rights reserved.



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How carbon capture is becoming one of the biggest fights in Louisiana politics

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How carbon capture is becoming one of the biggest fights in Louisiana politics


Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Mark T. Guillory, second from right, speaks to fellow members of Save My Louisiana and, on the far left, State Treasurer Dr. John Fleming on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2025, outside the 19th Judicial District courthouse in downtown Baton Rouge. The group sued the state of Louisiana to challenge a law that allows companies seeking to do carbon capture to store the gas under private land. Fleming, a critic of carbon capture who is running for U.S. Senate, was present for the news conference held immediately after the lawsuit was filed. Guillory, a Rapides Parish resident, is one of the plaintiffs. Gary Musgrove, president of the group, is fifth from the right.



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Vehicle hits revelers, injuring about 15, at Lao New Year celebration in Louisiana

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Vehicle hits revelers, injuring about 15, at Lao New Year celebration in Louisiana


More than a dozen people were injured when a vehicle struck revelers at a parade celebrating the Lao New Year on Saturday in rural Louisiana, authorities said.

The driver was quickly arrested and charged with impaired driving, police said.

Video shared on social media showed multiple people on the ground at the annual event in Broussard and New Iberia. The videos showed firefighters tending to one person trapped beneath the car, which wound up in a ditch along the parade route.

About 15 people were hurt, some seriously, according to the Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office.

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“Based on the preliminary investigation, this does not appear to be an intentional act,” said a spokesperson for the Sheriff’s Office, Rebecca Melancon.

Acadian Ambulance, a private ambulance company, said on social media that it responded to the emergency at around 2:30 p.m. and sent 10 ambulances and a helicopter to aid the injured. Two patients were airlifted, it said.

The Louisiana State Police said the driver, who is 57 and lived in Jeanerette, La., appeared impaired when police arrived and later tested positive for a high blood alcohol level. He was charged with impaired, negligent and careless driving and having an open container of alcohol in the vehicle.

The parade is part of a three-day New Year celebration set in the Lanexang Village, a Laotian neighborhood near New Iberia with hundreds of families near the Buddhist temple grounds of Wat Thammarattanaram.

It features Southeast Asian food, live music, a parade and other family-friendly activities attracting thousands each year.

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Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry issued a statement on behalf of himself and his wife about the incident. “Sharon and I are praying for all those affected, and are grateful for the first responders who have responded to the scene,” he said.

The festival’s organizers issued a statement on Facebook saying they were “profoundly saddened” by the tragedy. “We are praying for the victims and for their families during this difficult time,” it said.

Afternoon and evening events were canceled, but the festival planned to hold religious services Sunday, the organizers said.



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