Louisiana
Louisiana Peach Festival expected to have huge economic impact in Ruston
RUSTON, La. (KNOE) – The 74th annual Louisiana Peach Festival is on June 1. It’s expected to bring in thousands of people from all over the region and have an economic impact of over $2 million for local businesses, restaurants and hotels.
For the first time ever, the Peach Festival will be free for all ages.
“It’s peach time, and we could not be more excited,” said Amy Stegall, main street director and community coordinator for the City of Ruston. “It’s our favorite time of year in Ruston and has been for over 74 years now. We’re super excited to offer it for free for the whole day and that’s our big news this year.”
The theme for the festival is, “Everyone’s invited,” which as Stegall says, is part of how the idea of having admission costs for free got started.
“We actually found in the Peach Festival catacombs an old banner that said, ‘Everyone’s invited to the Louisiana Peach Festival,’ and we thought, ‘What better year to bring that theme here when we’re going to offer the festival for free for the first time,’” said Stegall.
The festival includes live music, more than 100 food trucks and art vendors, kids’ activities, a parade, and of course, peaches.
RELATED CONTENT: 74th annual Louisiana Peach Festival to take place June 1
“You can come to the rodeo or play in the Pickleball tournament. You could also be a part of the pageants. There are lots of fun things happening in and around the festival property as well,” Stegall said.
Stegall said she hopes the economic impact will be felt by the entire community.
“We’ll see merchants in downtown have the biggest days of the year during the peach festival. Our hope is that if it’s free for the whole day, that impact will be felt even further, so restaurants, hotels and all of the things that happen. We want to see those dollars going to that local economy so we’re excited about that,” said Stegall.
Stegall explains why it’s important to keep the festival in town.
“It is something that is really important to our culture, and then when we come together in the community to spend our money in the community, it just multiplies in great ways for everybody,” Stegall said.
There are still slots available for those who wish to volunteer at the festival. If you are interested in signing up, click here.
Copyright 2024 KNOE. All rights reserved.
Yasin Gungor
19 April 2026•Update: 19 April 2026
At least eight children were killed and two others were wounded in a shooting in the US state of Louisiana, local police said Sunday.
Shreveport Police Department spokesperson Christopher Bordelon said officers responded to the shooting just after 6 am (1100GMT), following a domestic disturbance call.
The age of the deceased ranged from one to 14 years, he said, adding that the incident involved at least 10 individuals across four separate locations.
The suspect attempted to flee by carjacking a vehicle and driving to neighboring Bossier City, where police located and shot him dead.
Bordelon said Shreveport police officers pursued the suspect’s vehicle into Bossier, where three officers discharged their firearms, killing him. He said investigators believe the suspect was the only person who opened fire at the locations.
Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux described the attack as “maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had,” adding: “It’s a terrible morning.”
No immediate information was available about the condition of the injured.
Louisiana
‘Growth pays for growth’: Entergy’s Fair Share Plus model to save Louisiana customers $2.8 billion
Think tank proposes capping Social Security benefits at $100,000
A Washington think tank proposed capping annual Social Security benefits at $100,000 for couples as a way to shrink a looming deficit in the retirement trust fund.
When it comes to retiring, the best places to do so often are affordable, have a high quality of life and access to quality healthcare.
If you’re looking for a place to retire, Niche has identified the best places for retirees in Louisiana.
In its list, Niche has taken into account factors like weather, crime rates, housing costs and access to amenities.
The 5 best places to retire in Louisiana according to Niche
These are the top five best places to retire in Louisiana, according to Niche.
1. Oak Hills Place
Oak Hills Place is a suburb of Baton Rouge and is the overall best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb, located in East Baton Rouge Parish, has a population of 9,038 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. The area is highly rated for families, diversity, as well as health and fitness. Here, the median home value is $437,900 and the median rent is $1,422, according to Niche.
2. Westminster
Westminster is another suburb of Baton Rouge and is the second-best place to retire in Louisiana. Located in East Baton Rouge Parish, this suburb has a population of 2,559 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. This area is highly rated for nightlife, diversity, families, health and fitness, as well as commute. The median home value here is $266,100 and the median rent is $1,482, says Niche.
3. River Ridge
River Ridge is a suburb of New Orleans, located in Jefferson Parish, and is the third-best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb has a population of 13,312 and offers residents a dense suburban feel. The area is highly rated for public schools, family, nightlife and diversity. The median home value is $357,400 and the median rent is $1,127, according to Niche.
4. Westlake
Westlake is a town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. With a population of 4,743, this town offers residents a rural feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, jobs, cost of living, nightlife and weather. Here, the median home value is $166,100 and the median rent is $1,049, says Niche.
5. Prien
Prien is another town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. This town has a population of 7,119 and offers residents a suburban rural mix feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, nightlife and weather. The median home value here is $278,000 and the median rent is $1,292, according to Niche.
Presley Bo Tyler is the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team reporter for USA Today Network. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com
-
Detroit, MI14 minutes agoGame 21: Tigers at Red Sox, Garrett Crochet battles both Detroit and the weather
-
San Francisco, CA26 minutes agoWhy do gray whales keep dying in San Francisco’s waters?
-
Dallas, TX32 minutes agoDallas Mavericks Owners Might Be Making Big Mistake in Search for New GM
-
Miami, FL38 minutes agoDefense dominates, Mensah flashes in Miami’s spring game – The Miami Hurricane
-
Boston, MA44 minutes ago
A crowd scientist is helping the Boston Marathon manage a growing field of 30,000-plus runners
-
Denver, CO50 minutes agoDenver Nuggets Altitude broadcasts now being offered in Spanish for first time ever
-
Seattle, WA56 minutes agoNeed to shred? Free drive-up/ride-up shredding Wednesday at Village Green West Seattle
-
San Diego, CA1 hour agoGame 21: San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Angels
