BATON ROUGE, La. (KALB) – After strong public pushback, a drafted proposal to transfer portions of Louisiana’s only national forest to the local jurisdiction of Grant Parish faces stronger opposition at the state capitol.

Grant Parish’s State Representative Michael “Gabe” Firment filed HR343 on May 26 to vocalize opposition to a grassroots proposal under consideration by Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy that would create new classifications for Grant Parish, as well as transfer Kisatchie National Forest lands to the Grant Parish Police Jury and School Board. Due to the land’s status as a national forest, it falls under federal jurisdiction, requiring an act of Congress for transfer purposes.

“I think the people behind that proposal were well-intended…Senator Cassidy probably had good intentions, but, the will of the people, not just in Grant Parish, but in Central Louisiana, across the state…I’ve even been contacted by people from outside of Louisiana, 100 percent are opposed to the idea of transferring Kisatchie.”

If passed, HR343 would voice an official stance of opposition from the state legislature against the land-transfer proposal and “further urge increased federal and state investment in outdoor recreation, conservation, tourism, and family-friendly opportunities associated with the forest.” That declaration would also be sent to the U.S. Congress and relevant federal parties for consideration.

“It is just a House resolution. It has no binding authority, but, we’re going to send this to our congressional delegation, to, of course, Senator Cassidy, Senator Kennedy, the head of the Forest Service.”

Filed within the last week of the 2026 legislative session, State Rep. Firment said he plans to file for an exception to the standard legislative process by bypassing the committee process, and therefore sending HR343 immediately to the Louisiana House floor for a vote. On May 27, he successfully bypassed the standard committee reading process.

You can read the full, unamended HR343 below.

The initially drafted land-transfer proposal was made with the intention to get Grant Parish in an economically ‘available’ position by additionally redefining certain federal data and definitions, and, in turn, allowing the parish to meet the requirements for some federal programs.

Firment disagreed with the draft’s arguments, criticizing the Kisatchie’s economic viability, a topic that has been in the crosshairs of regional leaders for years, saying, “I think outdoor recreation is economic development, and so, we definitely need to be encouraging more investment at the federal level…Instead of looking at transferring the forest to the locals, why not spend a little money and take care of it?”

“I’m opposed to the great majority of the proposal. If you’re going to do something like this, you certainly need to reach out to your state representatives, your state senators, you need to have town hall meetings where people are invited.”

After garnering publicity, the Grant Parish Police Jury distanced itself from the proposal, denying involvement in the proposal’s drafting process and passing a motion to officially oppose the land-transfer proposal.

The Louisiana State Police has issued a Silver Alert on behalf of the Monroe Police Department for 67-year-old Blanche Thomas McGhee. She was discovered missing from her residence on Harrison Street today, at approximately 10:11 a.m. The Louisiana State Police received the request to issue a Silver Alert at approximately 1:49 p.m.

McGhee has brown eyes and black hair. She is 5’5” and weighs approximately 199 pounds. Family reports that McGhee has a medical condition that may impair her judgment.

McGhee is believed to be driving a silver 2018 Toyota RAV4 bearing Louisiana license plate 343JVI.

Anyone with information regarding McGhee’s whereabouts is asked to immediately contact the Monroe Police Department at (318) 329-2600 or dial 911. All questions should be directed to the Monroe Police Department.

• Shreveport soon will be officially designated as the Stuffed Shrimp Capital of Louisiana.
• The delicacy’s origins are traced to the historic, Black-owned Freeman & Harris Cafe.
• A bill to grant the designation passed the state Senate with a unanimous vote.
• The city celebrates the dish with an annual Stuffed Shrimp Festival.

Shreveport soon will officially be known as the Stuffed Shrimp Capital of Louisiana, a city that traces the origins of the delicacy to the historic Freeman & Harris Cafe, which was one of the oldest Black-owned restaurants before it closed permanently in 2006.

House Bill 9 by Democratic Shreveport Rep. Joy Walters cleared the Senate May 26 on a unanimous 36-0 vote and will become law with Gov. Jeff Landry’s signature.

“We don’t talk enough about the positive things that happen in Shreveport,” Walters said in an interview with USA Today Network. “It’s exciting for me to be able to amplify our culinary and hospitality reputation.”

Though Freeman & Harris closed, its legacy is carried on by family-connected restaurants like Eddie’s Seafood and Soulfood and Orlandeaux’s Cafe. Eddie’s was named one of the “Best Soul Food Restaurants in the South” by Southern Living in 2015.

Walters said her favorites are the Freeman & Harris Cafe legacy restaurants Eddie’s and Orlandeaux’s, but many eateries offer the Shreveport-style stuffed shrimp in the city.

Democratic Shreveport Sen. Sam Jenkins carried the bill for Walters in the Senate on Tuesday, where he told colleagues this was their chance to vote for “the tastiest and most delicious bill of the Session.”

“It’s a big deal in Shreveport,” Jenkins told USA Today Network.

Like Walters, Jenkins said his top spots for the dish are Eddie’s and Orlandeaux’s.

Shreveport also plays host to the annual Stuffed Shrimp Festival each spring.

Visit Shreveport-Bossier promotes the dish, describing Shreveport-style stuffed shrimp as “large, succulent shrimp are stuffed with fiery Creole dressing, deep-fried and served with a spicy tartar sauce.”

Greg Hilburn covers state politics for the USA TODAY Network of Louisiana. Follow him on Twitter @GregHilburn1.

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