Louisiana
No Money For Repairs to Louisiana Hurricane Evacuation Route
Lafayette, LA (KPEL News) – Hurricane season. The words often become white noise for south Louisiana residents who start hearing predictions and preparation alerts well in advance of the beginning of the season on June 1. As communities near the coast like Lafayette, Abbeville, and New Iberia continue their day to day activities with a passing thought to what the cyclone season may bring, emergency preparedness agencies and state officials look at every eventuality should a hurricane set Louisiana in its sights.
NWSNewOrleans Via Twitter
The word “contraflow” entered our collective consciousness in the early 2000s, especially during the disastrous hurricane season of 2005 that brought us Katrina and Rita. People in low lying areas or in the direct path of the storms were under mandatory evacuation orders. Vermilion and Cameron Parishes, and even some further inland like Acadia, took a walloping, and residents there know the importance of heeding evacuation warnings. Katrina was a storm of a different color in that it struck New Orleans, and the world watched as people who couldn’t or didn’t evacuate were affected by the storm and its after-effects.
Three Weeks After Katrina Hit, Gulf Coast Struggles With Recovery
Getting roughly a million people out of a metropolitan area in Louisiana or any state is no small feat. People who have evacuated know that traffic is a nightmare as cars head in all directions that take them out of harm’s way. State officials know the nightmare of putting that many people on the interstate system and do their best to offer drivers an alternate route.
But one of those routes isn’t available to folks trying to cross from Louisiana into Mississippi (or vice versa) on US Hwy 90 because five bridges across the Pearl River are closed, and there’s no money to fix them.
louisiana mississippi bridges
According to NOLA.com, the West Pearl River bridge which crosses the Louisiana/Mississippi state line near Slidell in St. Tammany Parish has been closed since 2022.
The Sun Herald reports that state lawmakers passed a resolution to Governor Jeff Landry pushing for the bridges, which provide an alternate route to I-10, to be fixed. The publication notes that the price tag is at least $350-million.
One lawmaker suggested that the bridge be opened temporarily in the event that residents need to evacuate, but Louisiana DOTD shut the bridge down because it is structurally unsound.
As they try to find the money or a viable solution, south Louisiana residents, especially those in the New Orleans area, will pray that storms steer clear of the Bayou State.
LIST: 10 Deadliest Louisiana Hurricanes
Gallery Credit: Rob Kirkpatrick
The complete list of names for the 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season
Gallery Credit: Dan Zarrow
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
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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
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