Louisiana

USA Today’s 10 best small towns in the South. This Louisiana town made the list

Published

11 months ago

April 12, 2025

USA Today’s 10 best small towns in the South. This Louisiana town made the list

USA Today has released its Readers’ Choice Awards 2025 results for the 10 best small towns in the South, and one Louisiana town made it into the top ten.

The Southern U.S. is known for its charm, hospitality and rich history, as well as for its beautiful and diverse small towns.

Small towns in the South can make for great getaways, full of cultural immersion, outdoor adventures and culinary delights.

Monroe, Louisiana named one of the best small towns in the South by USA Today

West Monroe, Louisiana was voted the fourth best small town on USA Today’s “Charming getaways: 10 best small towns in the South.”

A few years back, West Monroe made it into the pop culture sphere thanks to the hit reality TV show “Duck Dynasty,” which was set and filmed in the town. Although, there’s many more attractions to discover within this Northeastern Louisiana community.

Among the attractions in Monroe are Landry Vineyards, the Louisiana Purchase Gardens and Zoo, as well as the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum.

There is also the Biedenharn Museum and Gardens, which explores the history of Coco-Cola where it was first bottled by the Biedenharn Candy Company.

Additionally, there are a number of parks and wetlands to explore, such as the Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge.

USA Today’s 10 Best Small Towns in the South

Starkville, Mississippi
Lewisburg, West Virginia
Inverness, Florida
West Monroe, Louisiana
Safety Harbor, Florida
Clemson, South Carolina
Thomasville, Georgia
Cocoa Beach, Florida
Williamsburg, Virginia
Orange Beach, Alabama

Presley Bo Tyler is a reporter for the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com

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Louisiana

Louisiana delegation responds with mixed reaction to leadership change at DHS

Published

2 hours ago

March 6, 2026

Press Room

Louisiana delegation responds with mixed reaction to leadership change at DHS

WASHINGTON (WAFB) — President Donald Trump has removed Kristi Noem as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and nominated Sen. Markwayne Mullin to replace her. Noem will take on the role of Special Envoy for the Shield of the Americas. Members of Louisiana’s congressional delegation responded to the change in leadership.

FILE – Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem appears for an oversight hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, March 3, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)(J. Scott Applewhite | AP)

FILE - Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla. speaks during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing,... — FILE – Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla. speaks during a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, Jan. 14, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington.(Jacquelyn Martin | AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

Kennedy clash preceded removal

Noem led DHS since the beginning of Trump’s second term. One of the most noted controversies of her tenure was the department’s spending of $220 million on television ads across the country, which drew scrutiny from Sen. John Kennedy during a committee hearing.

“Did the President know you were going to do this?” Kennedy asked during the hearing.

“Yes,” Noem replied.

Kennedy said the spending and other issues had weighed on him.

“You just add all of this up and the other turmoil and it’s been stuck in my craw,” Kennedy said. “I want to secure the border and I want to enforce our immigration laws, but I’m tired of trying to explain behavior that is inexplicable to me.”

wafb — (Source: ASSOCIATED PRESS, POOL, U.S. SENATE TV, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, U.S. IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT)

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Louisiana

Louisiana has the highest incidence of prostate cancer in the nation. See the parish data.

Published

14 hours ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

Louisiana has the highest incidence of prostate cancer in the nation. See the parish data.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men, with an estimated 333,830 new cases and 36,320 deaths projected for 2026 for the disease, according to the American Cancer Society.

In the U.S., there are approximately 116 new prostate cancer cases per 100,000 people annually. Louisiana has the highest prostate cancer incidence rate in the country at 147.2 cases per 100,000 — a rate that has been steadily rising since 2014, according to data from the National Cancer Institute.

New prostate cancer drug can extend life expectancy by 8 months, Baton Rouge doctor says

These parishes had the highest rates, in cases per 100,000, of prostate cancer from 2018 to 2022, in descending order:

West Feliciana Parish with 218.6 cases per 100,000;
Iberville Parish with 182.3 cases per 100,000;
Bienville Parish with 179.7 cases per 100,000;
West Baton Rouge Parish with 179.4 cases per 100,000;
Vermillion Parish with 176.5 cases per 100,000;
Iberia Parish with 173.8 cases per 100,000;
East Baton Rouge Parish with 173.6 cases per 100,000;
East Carroll Parish with 172.9 cases per 100,000;
East Feliciana Parish with 166.3 cases per 100,000;
Tangipahoa Parish with 166.2 cases per 100,000;
St. Martin Parish with 166 cases per 100,000;
Jackson Parish with 165.3 cases per 100,000;
and Lincoln Parish with 165.1 cases per 100,000.

These parishes had the lowest rates, in cases per 100,000, of prostate cancer from 2018 to 2022, in ascending order:

Cameron Parish with 101 cases per 100,000;
Evangeline Parish with 102.7 cases per 100,000;
Union Parish with 106.9 cases per 100,000;
Winn Parish with 108.2 cases per 100,000;
Vernon Parish with 109.4 cases per 100,000;
Grant Parish with 109.7 cases per 100,000;
Franklin and La Salle parishes with 111 cases per 100,000;
St. Bernard Parish with 113.9 cases per 100,000;
Tensas Parish with 115.2 cases per 100,000;
Terrebonne Parish with 117.5 cases per 100,000;
Washington Parish with 121.1 cases per 100,000;
Livingston Parish with 122.8 cases per 100,000;
Sabine Parish with 122.9 cases per 100,000;
Bossier Parish with 123.7 cases per 100,000;
and La Fourche Parish with 124.8 cases per 100,000.

Data represents an annual average for all stages of prostate cancer.

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Louisiana

Shavers leads ULM past Louisiana 79-63

Published

1 day ago

March 5, 2026

Press Room

PENSACOLA, Fla. — Marcavia Shavers posts 21 points and 13 rebounds to lead ULM Warhawks women’s basketball past Louisiana 79-63 in the Sun Belt Conference tournament.

ULM (15-15, 7-11 Sun Belt) took control early, outscoring Louisiana 17-7 in the first quarter and extending the lead to 41-21 by halftime. The Warhawks never trailed and led by as many as 28 points in the second quarter.

Shavers anchored the inside for ULM, finishing 9-of-15 from the field with 13 rebounds. Jazmine Jackson added 17 points off the bench, knocking down four 3-pointers, while J’Mani Ingram scored 16 points and dished out six assists.

ULM shot 46.9% from the field and held a 42-27 advantage on the boards. The Warhawks also converted Louisiana turnovers into 29 points and scored 26 second-chance points.

Louisiana (5-26, 2-16 Sun Belt) was led by Mikaylah Manley with 18 points and Imani Daniel with 17 points and seven rebounds. Amijah Price chipped in 12 points.

After struggling early, Louisiana shot better in the second half, scoring 42 points after the break. However, the early deficit proved too much to overcome.

ULM advances in the Sun Belt tournament, while Louisiana closes its season with the loss.
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