Louisiana
Louisiana’s top Democrat hopes next generation will help rebuild party
Louisiana Democratic Party Chairman Randal Gaines speaks to the Baton Rouge Press Club on Monday, Sept. 23, 2024. (Photo credit: Wes Muller/Louisiana Illuminator)
Louisiana Democratic Party Chairman Randal Gaines is counting on young people to help rebuild what many political onlookers see as a floundering organization that has been losing power for nearly four decades.
The former state lawmaker addressed the Baton Rouge Press Club Monday, sharing his thoughts on the future of the party in Louisiana.
Gaines, who is from LaPlace, said he is working to broaden his party’s appeal by holding town hall meetings and speaking with voters to get a sense of how Democrats can better serve them. He also hopes to get more college students and younger people interested in the organization.
“Our goal is to re-attract those who have left the party, but more importantly to attract those younger voters, 18 to 35, who are looking for a place that’s gonna provide an answer to the things that are important to them,” he said.
The statewide electoral power of the Democratic Party has been sliding steadily since about 1980. Democrats haven’t held a majority in Louisiana’s congressional delegation since the 1990s and have been outnumbered in the state legislature since 2010.
Although Democrats still hold a slight edge on the total share of registered voters in Louisiana, many have been switching their affiliations to Republican and independent. The Democratic Party has lost 58% of its voter plurality in the state since 2021, according to Baton Rouge pollster John Couvillon.
Of Louisiana’s roughly 3 million registered voters, 1,130,553 are Democrats, 1,035,961 are Republicans, and 834,164 have minor or no party affiliations.
It is Gaines’ first year chairing the state central committee after he ousted former chair Katie Bernhardt in April. Bernhardt oversaw disastrously poor results and low turnout during the 2023 elections that ceded all statewide offices to Republican, and Democrats failed to field candidates in 44 statehouse elections.
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Louisiana
First Alert Forecast: Coldest Night of Season in Southwest Louisiana — Here’s What You Need to Know
LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) – After enjoying mild weather in the 70s just yesterday, southwest Louisiana is bracing for the coldest night of the season so far, with temperatures expected to plunge well below freezing overnight and wind chills dipping into the teens.
What to Expect Tonight
Temperatures will vary depending on where you live in southwest Louisiana:
Inland areas north of I-10: Temperatures will drop below 32 degrees for 8 to 12 hours, with wind chills potentially reaching the upper teens.
Along I-10: Freezing conditions expected for 5 to 8 hours.
Coastal areas: Temperatures will dip below freezing for 1 to 2 hours, with the least severe impacts.
Monday morning will be brutally cold to start, but temperatures will gradually warm into the low 50s by afternoon as the sun rises.
Protect Your Pipes
The most immediate concern for homeowners is frozen water pipes. Here’s what you need to know:
If you’ve never had pipe problems before: You likely won’t experience issues tonight. Pipes typically only freeze when temperatures stay below 25 degrees for several hours.
If you’ve had problems in the past: Take precautions now. Cover exposed pipes or leave a faucet dripping slowly. Once temperatures rise above freezing, stop dripping the faucet to avoid wasting water.
Use common sense and assess your home’s vulnerable areas. Every situation is different.
Other Safety Reminders
- Outdoor pets: Bring them inside if possible, or ensure they have adequate shelter and unfrozen water.
- Check on neighbors and friends: Make sure elderly relatives and those living alone are staying warm and safe.
- Test your smoke detector: Cold weather increases the use of heating sources — make sure your smoke detector is working properly.
- Dress in layers: If you’ll be outside, bundle up. Wind chills will make it feel significantly colder than the actual temperature.
Looking Ahead
The good news? This cold snap won’t last long. Southerly winds should return as early as Tuesday afternoon, gradually warming temperatures back toward normal.
However, Monday night into Tuesday morning will bring widespread frost with calm winds and temperatures in the 30s.
Another cold front is expected to move through Wednesday night into Thursday, bringing scattered showers. This system won’t be as severe as today’s front, but temperatures will drop slightly by week’s end.
A third cold front may arrive Sunday with scattered showers and possibly a few thunderstorms, though impacts appear minimal.
By Thursday and Friday, temperatures will rebound into the 70s before cooling slightly over the weekend.
Copyright 2025 KPLC. All rights reserved.
LSU women’s basketball started slow but recovered Saturday against Louisiana Tech, head coach Kim Mulkey’s alma mater. Inside New Orleans’ Smoothie King Center, the No. 5 Tigers won 87-61 to improve to 11-0.
Mikaylah Williams led the team with 19 points while Flau’Jae Johnson notched her first double-double of the season with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Kate Koval and MiLaysia Fulwiley finished with 19 and 10 points, respectively. Jada Richard dished out a game-high eight assists.
Grace Knox, in the first start of her college career, scored four points as part of a 6-0 opening run for LSU, but three three-pointers put Louisiana Tech up with 7:19 on the clock. Back-and-forth play ensued, but the Lady Techsters led by two at the end of the first quarter. They hung around on the glass as well, limiting the Tigers to one and done most times.
LSU woke up in the second quarter and began imposing its physicality. Louisiana Tech didn’t score until the 5:34 mark and racked up fouls, including two on sharp-shooter Paris Bradley. The Tigers were in the bonus for over half of the second quarter but experienced a near-three-minute scoring drought, letting the Lady Techsters hang around. LSU led by nine points heading into the locker room. Both teams shot under 40% in the opening 20 minutes.
Louisiana Tech kept the game within reach for much of the third quarter but it eventually got away. LSU ended the frame on a 9-0 run and built a 20-point lead for good a minute into the fourth. Turnovers and mental mistakes piled up for the Lady Techsters, which gave the Tigers more chances to push the pace of play. The Tigers went on a 14-2 run over four minutes when substitutes started rolling in. They shot 58.6% in the second half.
LSU lacked success in transition
LSU relies on getting into track meets with opponents quickly to build a comfortable cushion. That didn’t happen Saturday as Louisiana Tech hit its shots to open the game. Even when the Lady Techsters missed, they were comfortable going one-and-done most times as they prioritized getting numbers back to defend. That’s how they kept the score close in the early goings.
In the first half, LSU scored just six points in transition and 11 points off turnovers. The Tigers stepped up on the defensive end in the second half. Even though they didn’t produce the fast break opportunities they’re used to, they were more patient on the offensive end and knocked down their open shots.
Koval, Joyner didn’t get enough touches
As in most of its nonconference games, LSU possesses a substantial size advantage inside. That was the case Saturday but the purple and gold struggled to get the ball inside to Koval and Joyner. When the pair had touches, they often either finished, kicked out for an open shot, or drew a foul. They combined for 21 points on 21 shots from the field and 10 free-throw attempts. LSU scored just 36 points in the paint over the entire game.
Likely driven by Mulkey’s comments at the break. LSU made a concerted effort to pounce on the ball inside. Koval scored over half of her points in the final two quarters. She easily worked with passes over the top of Louisiana Tech’s Averi Aaron and in the high-low when the Lady Techsters went to a zone. The Tigers need to learn from their lack of post play and use their advantage inside, especially as they prepare to play in the SEC.
Williams led LSU throughout the game
LSU struggled to find rhythm on both ends of the court in the early goings but Williams put the team on her back in the middle two frames. She scored 13 points, including two triples, on four of seven shots from the field. She added five rebounds and three assists over the same span.
Williams played a team-high 32 minutes on Saturday and she played all but two minutes in the first half. The junior displayed much-needed poise to an LSU team that couldn’t settle into the way it wanted to play initially. She also locked in on the defensive end, switching onto Bradley and locking her down for the back half of the contest. Her play in all facets gave the Tigers the confidence that they needed to pull ahead in the second half.
Kramer Robertson, son of Kim Mulkey, New Orleans Pelicans and Saints owner Gayle Benson and Mayor-Elect Helena Moreno sit on the sidelines during the first half of a Compete 4 Cause Classic basketball game between the Louisiana State Tigers and the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025. (Photo by Sophia Germer, The Times-Picayune)
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