Expect a number of feisty contests when the 2024 Louisiana High School Athletic Association football season kicks off Sept. 6 across Northeast Louisiana.

The Monroe area boasted three state champions last fall and two additional semifinalists with at last that many expecting the same finish this fall.

Ruston High, which completed an undefeated season (14-0), returns a bundle of talent for coach Jerrod Baugh, which has a team seeking a third consecutive trip to the Louisiana Superdome. Tulane commitment Josh Brantley, uncommitted Power 5 recruit Aidan Anding and Louisiana Tech commit Zheric Hill give Bearcat fans plenty to smile about.

Union Parish (10-4) also won a state title in Non-Select Division III and Oak Grove compiled an 12-2 record to win Non-Select Division IV. Semifinal finishes came from Sterlington (11-2) in Non-Select Division III and Ouachita Christian (11-2) in Select Division IV.

OAK GROVE WINS: VIDEO: Oak Grove 62 Haynesville 36: Tigers win fourth state championship in five seasons

ALL-AREA FOOTBALL: Meet The News-Star’s All-Area high school football team for 2023

UNION PARISH WINS: Highlights from Union Parish’s 36-35 win over St. James for the Non-select D-3 state title

Jimmy covers Louisiana sports him for the USA TODAY Network. Email him at jwatson@shreveporttimes.com and follow on Twitter @JimmyWatson6.

Here’s a look at the 2024 schedules for Monroe area football teams:

Class 5A

West Monroe  

Sept. 6 vs. Huntington  

Sept. 13 Open 

Sept. 20 at North DeSoto 

Sept. 27 at Catholic B.R. 

Oct. 4 vs. Scotlandville 

Oct. 11 at Alexandria 

Oct. 18 at Ouachita Parish 

Oct. 25 vs. Pineville 

Nov. 1 at Neville 

Nov. 8 vs. Ruston 

Ruston 

Sept. 6 vs. Acadiana 

Sept. 13 vs. Cabot, AR 

Sept. 20 at Longview 

Sept. 28 vs. Midland Legacy 

Oct. 5 vs. Stephenville 

Oct. 11 at Ouachita Parish 

Oct. 18 vs. Neville 

Oct. 25 at Alexandria 

Nov. 1 vs. Pineville 

Nov. 8 at West Monroe 

Ouachita Parish 

Sept. 6 at Captain Shreve 

Sept. 13 at Wossman 

Sept. 20 vs. Sterlington 

Sept. 27 Open 

Oct. 4 vs. Franklin Parish 

Oct. 11 vs. Ruston 

Oct. 18 vs. West Monroe 

Oct. 25 at Neville 

Nov. 1 vs. Alexandria 

Nov. 8 at Pineville 

West Ouachita 

Sept. 6 vs. Richwood 

Sept. 13 vs. Jonesboro-Hodge 

Sept. 20 at Winnfield 

Sept. 27 at Sterlington 

Oct. 4 vs. Caldwell Parish 

Oct. 11 at Franklin Parish 

Oct. 18 vs. Tioga 

Oct. 25 at Wossman 

Nov. 1 at Peabody 

Nov. 8 vs. Grant 

Class 4A

Neville 

Sept. 6 at Evangel Christian 

Sept. 13 at Southside 

Sept. 20 vs. Holmes County Central 

Sept. 27 vs. St. Thomas More 

Oct. 4 at Sterlington 

Oct. 11 vs. Pineville 

Oct. 18 at Ruston 

Oct. 25 vs. Ouachita Parish 

Nov. 1 vs. West Monroe 

Nov. 8 at Alexandria 

Bastrop 

Sept. 6 vs. Wossman 

Sept. 13 vs. Booker T. Washington  

Sept. 20 at Rayville 

Sept. 27 vs. Frederick 

Oct. 4 vs. General Trass 

Oct. 11 at Green Oaks 

Oct. 18 at Carroll 

Oct. 25 vs. Sterlington 

Nov. 1 at Richwood 

Nov. 8 vs. North Webster 

Franklin Parish 

Sept. 6 at West Jefferson 

Sept. 13 vs. St. Frederick 

Sept. 20 vs. Calvary Baptist 

Sept. 26 at Caldwell Parish 

Oct. 4 at Ouachita Parish 

Oct. 11 vs. West Ouachita 

Oct. 18 at Peabody 

Oct. 25 vs. Grant 

Nov. 1 vs. Wossman 

Nov. 8 at Tioga  

Class 3A

Sterlington 

Sept. 6 vs. Tioga 

Sept. 13 at Rayville 

Sept. 20 at Ouachita Parish 

Sept. 27 vs. West Ouachita 

Oct. 4 vs. Neville 

Oct. 11 at Richwood 

Oct. 18 vs. North Webster 

Oct. 25 at Bastrop 

Nov. 1 vs. Carroll 

Nov. 7 at Union Parish 

Union Parish 

Sept. 6 at Union Parish 

Sept. 13 vs. Alexandria 

Sept. 20 at Airline 

Sept. 27 at Green Oaks 

Oct. 4 vs. Homer 

Oct. 11 at North Caddo 

Oct. 18 vs. Calvary Baptist 

Oct. 25 at D’Arbonne Woods Charter 

Nov. 1 vs. Magnolia School of Excellence 

Nov. 7 vs. Sterlington 

Carroll 

Sept. 6 at Parkway 

Sept. 13 Open 

Sept. 20 vs. Arcadia 

Sept. 27 at General Trass 

Oct. 4 at Wossman 

Oct. 11 at North Webster 

Oct. 18 vs. Bastrop 

Oct. 25 Open 

Nov. 1 at Sterlington 

Nov. 8 vs. Richwood 

Richwood 

Aug. 30 vs. Oak Grove  

Sept. 6 at West Ouachita 

Sept. 13 vs. Mangham 

Sept. 20 vs. Wossman 

Sept. 27 at Tioga 

Oct. 4 Open 

Oct. 11 vs. Sterlington 

Oct. 18 at Lake Arthur 

Oct. 25 at North Webster 

Nov. 1 vs. Bastrop 

Nov. 8 at Carroll 

Wossman 

Sept. 6 at Bastrop 

Sept. 13 vs. Ouachita Parish 

Sept. 20 at Richwood 

Sept. 27 at Iowa 

Oct. 4 vs. Carroll 

Oct. 11 vs. Tioga 

Oct. 18 at Grant 

Oct. 25 vs. West Ouachita 

Nov. 1 at Franklin Parish 

Nov. 8 vs. Peabody 

Class 2A

Mangham

Sept. 6 at Jena 

Sept. 13 at Richwood 

Sept. 20 vs. Caldwell Parish 

Sept. 27 vs. Beekman Charter 

Oct. 4 at Madison 

Oct. 11 vs. Ferriday 

Oct. 18 vs. Oak Grove 

Oct. 25 at Ouachita Christian 

Nov. 1 vs. Rayville 

Nov. 8 at Delhi Charter 

Ferriday 

Sept. 6 at Vidalia 

Sept. 13 at Block 

Sept. 20 vs. Delta Charter 

Sept. 27 vs. Delhi Charter 

Oct. 4 at Beekman Charter 

Oct. 11 at Mangham 

Oct. 18 vs. Madison 

Oct. 24 at Oak Grove 

Nov. 1 vs. Ouachita Christian 

Nov. 8 at Rayville 

General Trass 

Sept. 6 vs. Rayville 

Sept. 13 vs. Ouachita Christian 

Sept. 20 at Madison 

Sept. 27 vs. Carroll 

Oct. 4 at Bastrop 

Oct. 10 at Tensas 

Oct. 18 vs. Block 

Oct. 25 at Delta Charter 

Nov. 1 vs. St. Frederick 

Nov. 8 at Delhi 

Rayville 

Sept. 6 at General Trass 

Sept. 13 vs. Sterlington 

Sept. 20 vs. Bastrop 

Sept. 27 at Oak Grove 

Oct. 4 at Ouachita Christian 

Oct. 11 vs. Madison 

Oct. 17 vs. Delhi Charter 

Oct. 25 vs. Beekman Charter 

Nov. 1 at Mangham 

Nov. 8 vs. Ferriday 

Delhi Charter 

Sept. 6 Cedar Creek 

Sept. 13 at Lakeview 

Sept. 20 vs. Jonesboro-Hodge 

Sept. 27 at Ferriday 

Oct. 4 vs. Oak Grove 

Oct. 11 at Ouachita Christian 

Oct. 17 at Rayville 

Oct. 24 Open 

Nov. 1 at Beekman Charter 

Nov. 8 vs. Mangham 

Vidalia 

Aug. 30 at West Ouachita 

Sept. 6 vs. Ferriday 

Sept. 13 at Delta Charter 

Sept. 20 at Block 

Sept. 27 at Grant 

Oct. 4 vs. Delhi 

Oct. 11 at Buckeye 

Oct. 18 vs. Jena 

Oct. 25 vs. Marksville 

Nov. 1 at Bunkie 

Nov. 8 vs. Caldwell Parish 

Beekman Charter 

Aug. 30 at Bastrop 

Sept. 6 at Delhi 

Sept. 13 vs. Tensas 

Sept. 19 vs. Lincoln Preparatory School 

Sept. 27 at Mangham 

Oct. 4 vs. Ferriday 

Oct. 11 at Oak Grove 

Oct. 18 vs. Ouachita Christian 

Oct. 25 at Rayville 

Nov. 1 vs. Delhi Charter 

Nov. 8 at Madison 

Madison Parish 

Sept. 6 at Ringgold 

Sept. 13 at Fontainebleau 

Sept. 20 vs. General Trass 

Sept. 26 vs. Ouachita Christian 

Oct. 4 vs. Mangham 

Oct. 11 at Rayville 

Oct. 18 at Ferriday 

Oct. 24 Open 

Nov. 1 vs. Oak Grove 

Nov. 8 vs. Beekman Charter 

D’Arbonne Woods Charter 

Sept. 6 vs. Lincoln Preparatory School 

Sept. 13 vs. Bearden, AR 

Sept. 20 at Grant 

Sept. 27 at Calvary Baptist 

Oct. 4 vs. Green Oaks 

Oct. 11 at Magnolia School of Excellence 

Oct. 18 vs. North Caddo 

Oct. 25 vs. Union Parish 

Nov. 1 Open TBA

Nov. 8 at Homer 

Class 1A

Ouachita Christian 

Aug. 30 at Cedar Creek 

Sept. 6 at Caldwell Parish 

Sept. 13 at General Trass 

Sept. 20 vs. Delhi 

Sept. 26 at Madison 

Oct. 4 vs. Rayville 

Oct. 11 vs. Delhi Charter 

Oct. 18 at Beekman Charter 

Oct. 25 vs. Mangham 

Nov. 1 at Ferriday 

Nov. 7 vs. Oak Grove 

Oak Grove 

Aug. 30 at Richwood  

Sept. 6 at Calvary Baptist 

Sept. 13 vs. Crossett 

Sept. 20 vs. Red River 

Sept. 27 vs. Rayville 

Oct. 4 at Delhi Charter 

Oct. 11 vs. Beekman Charter 

Oct. 18 at Mangham 

Oct. 24 vs. Ferriday 

Nov. 1 at Madison 

Nov. 7 at Ouachita Christian 

St. Frederick 

Sept. 5 vs. Loyola College Prep 

Sept. 13 at Franklin Parish 

Sept. 20 vs. Jena 

Sept. 27 at Bastrop 

Oct. 4 vs. St. Mary’s 

Oct. 11 vs. Block 

Oct. 18 at Delhi 

Oct. 25 vs. Tensas 

Nov. 1 at General Trass 

Nov. 7 vs. Delta Charter 

Cedar Creek 

Aug. 30 vs. Ouachita Christian 

Sept. 6 at Delhi Charter 

Sept. 13 vs. Delhi 

Sept. 20 vs. Loyola Prep 

Sept. 27 at Glenbrook 

Oct. 11 at Plain Dealing 

Oct. 18 vs. Haynesville 

Oct. 25 at Lincoln Prep 

Nov. 1 vs. Arcadia  

Nov. 8 vs. Jonesboro-Hodge 

Delhi 

Sept. 6 vs. Beekman Charter 

Sept. 13 at Cedar Creek 

Sept. 20 at Ouachita Christian 

Sept. 27 at Southern Lab 

Oct. 4 at Vidalia 

Oct. 11 at Delta Charter

Oct. 18 vs. St. Frederick 

Oct. 26 at Block 

Nov. 1 vs. Tensas 

Nov. 8 vs. General Trass 

River Oaks 

Aug. 16 at Porter’s Chapel Academy 

Aug. 23 vs. Magnolia 

Aug. 30 at Tensas 

Sept. 6 vs. Claiborne Academy 

Sept. 13 vs. Franklin Academy 

Sept. 20 at Prairie View Academy 

Sept. 27 vs. Riverdale Academy 

Oct. 4 vs Union Christian Academy 

Oct. 11 at Briarfield Academy 

Oct. 18 at Tallulah Academy 

Tensas Parish 

Sept. 6 at Plain Dealing 

Sept. 13 at Beekman Charter 

Sept. 20 vs. Ringgold  

Sept. 27 vs. Montgomery 

Oct. 4 at Northwood-Lena 

Oct. 10 vs. General Trass 

Oct. 18 vs. Delta Charter 

Oct. 25 at St. Frederick 

Nov. 1 vs. Delhi 

Nov. 8 at Block 

Delta Charter 

Sept. 6 at LaSalle 

Sept. 13 vs. Vidalia 

Sept. 20 at Ferriday 

Sept. 27 TBD

Oct. 3 vs. Cedar Creek  

Oct. 11 vs. Delhi

Oct. 18 at Tensas 

Oct. 25 vs. General Trass 

Nov. 1 vs. Block

Nov. 7 at St. Frederick  

Lincoln Prep 

Sept. 6 at D’Arbonne Woods Charter 

Sept. 13 vs. Magnolia School of Excellence 

Sept. 19 at Beekman Charter 

Sept. 26 at Jonesboro-Hodge 

Oct. 4 at Haynesville 

Oct. 11 vs. Ringgold 

Oct. 18 vs. Glenbrook 

Oct. 25 vs. Cedar Creek 

Nov. 1 at Plain Dealing 

Nov. 8 vs. Arcadia 

LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) – A new law currently in effect in Louisiana now makes panhandling illegal on most streets across the state.

While panhandling along interstates in Louisiana has been illegal, ACT 678 includes all public rights of way such as public sidewalks and roads.

“The change from the new law to the old law is when you are coming off the interstate and people are there begging you for money, that is illegal now,” Calcasieu Parish Sheriff Stitch Guillory said.

Panhandling in these prohibited areas is punishable by an up to $200 fine. Offenders will first receive a warning, then citations, and could even be arrested if they continue to disobey the new law.

“We are trying not to tie up our jail space or tie up our court system with minor petty crimes like that, but we also don’t want our panhandling to get out of hand,” Guillory said.

Parish and city ordinances also make it illegal to panhandle on private property. Guillory and the Lake Charles Police Department say drivers are welcome to report panhandlers if they are causing a distraction along the road.

The intent of the law is for the safety of the panhandler and drivers.

“It is also better for the drivers now so now they are not distracted and worried about if this guy is trying to get in my car, or ‘Who is this guy, and why is he walking up to my window?’ Eventually, our goal is to match those people who need services with people who can provide those services,” Guilloy said.

Local services and organizations that can help those who may otherwise resort to panhandling include:

Abraham’s Tent

2424 Fruge St, Lake Charles, LA 70601

(337) 721-7211

Salvation Army Church

3020 Legion St, Lake Charles, LA 70615

(337) 721-8068

Copyright 2024 KPLC. All rights reserved.

Some Louisiana oil field workers say that they are being discriminated against while doing work on the West Coast.

if you know anyone who works in the oil field, you know that they work hard and they work very long shifts. In addition to that, many work very far away from home, and sadly some now say they are being discriminated against while in their oil field uniforms.

I recently spoke to someone who works in the oil field and he told me that he’s been working on the West Coast, in California, for a few months now because the pay and opportunities with a new company are very beneficial for him and his family.

However, when I asked what he thought about being on the West Coast to work, rather than in the Gulf of Mexico, he said the travel doesn’t bother him, but the people there are not welcoming.

I asked him to explain, and he told me that those who work in the oil industry are shunned by many of the locals, along the West Coast. He said that because so many in California are in favor of the “Green Mission,” which would all but eliminate oil-based vehicles, they look down upon those there to drill.

The man I spoke to told me that one day he and others were in a ride share when the driver noticed their oil field attire, and that is when the driver of an all-electric vehicle began to chastise them for destroying the environment.

I asked how the conversation ended and the oil field worker told me that after he explained to the driver that about 99% of what he owned is petroleum-based, the driver had a bit of a different outlook on them.

Then, the same oil field worker told me that while in California for work, they could not enter a restaurant with their work attire. He explained some restaurants will not serve those who are there to drill off the West Coast.

Yes, if you are seen in certain restaurants in California with oil field clothing, you will not be waited on and will be ignored by those who work there.

Sadly, some men and women who leave their homes to make a living elsewhere are being discriminated against and it’s all because of what they do to support themselves and their family.

It became quite clear to me after my conversation with this oil field worker that some in California have put their feelings toward the environment ahead of their hospitality to others.

So, the next time you see someone who works in the oil field, thank them and be nice to them, after all, they too are just trying to make a living.