All Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles customer service centers will be closed Monday, Sept. 14, 2026, for system modernization efforts and staff training.

All private companies contracted to do business with the OMV, including Public Tag Agents and Auto Title Companies, will be unable to perform driver’s license, reinstatement, vehicle registration and title transactions from Saturday, Sept. 12, through Monday, Sept. 14.

Additionally, the OMV’s website, Expresslane.la.gov, and LA Wallet will be temporarily unavailable from Saturday, Sept. 12, through Sunday, Sept. 13.

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NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State University is welcoming its largest entering freshman class in three years this fall, with 1,120 first-time freshmen choosing NSU for fall 2026. The class represents a 6 percent increase over last year and continues a trend of growth in Northwestern State’s traditional student population.

The fall 2026 entering class also arrives with one of the strongest academic profiles in recent years, posting an average ACT score of 21.7 and an average high school GPA of 3.4. The class’s average ACT score is well above Louisiana’s average, reflecting the continued strength and academic quality of Northwestern’s incoming students.

The academic strength of the class is further reflected in the 114 high school valedictorians and 22 salutatorians who selected Northwestern State.

“This is the type of growth we want to see at Northwestern,” said NSU President James T. Genovese. “We are attracting talented students who want the complete college experience, and they are choosing a university where they can receive an outstanding education while developing the relationships and experiences that prepare them for life after graduation. The strength of this freshman class is a testament to the work taking place across our university.”

NSU’s reach continues to extend well beyond Natchitoches. Members of the entering class represent 10 states, 25 countries and six continents, creating an increasingly diverse student body while the university simultaneously strengthens its connection to its home community.

A record 112 members of the entering class are from Natchitoches Parish, the largest number in the last decade. NSU also continues to draw students from throughout northwest and central Louisiana. Some of the largest feeder schools include Tioga High School with 28, Airline High School with 27, Parkway High School with 26 and Pineville High School with 24.

Demand for the residential Northwestern experience remains strong. Campus housing is again at 100 percent occupancy, filling University Place I and II, University Columns and Varnado Hall. The second consecutive year of full housing reflects continued demand for the traditional, face-to-face college experience on the Natchitoches campus.

“The numbers within this freshman class tell an exciting story about where NSU is headed,” said Vanner Erikson, director of enrollment at Northwestern State. “We have more first-time freshmen, a strong academic profile, record participation from Natchitoches Parish and students coming to NSU from around the world. When you combine that with full housing, we are seeing important indicators that our focus on the traditional student experience is working.”

Student success is another significant component of the fall 2026 enrollment picture. Northwestern’s first-to-third-semester retention rate reached 70 percent, exceeding the Louisiana average of 64 percent and placing NSU among the strongest-performing institutions in the region.

The retention rate reflects a university-wide emphasis on helping students successfully transition from their first year into their second.

“Recruiting a student is only the beginning,” Erikson said. “Our responsibility is to help that student persist, graduate and ultimately accomplish what brought them to Northwestern in the first place. Seeing 70 percent of our freshmen continue into their second year tells us that the work being done by our faculty and staff is making a difference.”

At the 14-day count, overall fall 2026 enrollment was 8,245 students, compared with 8,402 in fall 2025. The decline was attributable largely to increased degree completion, including students progressing more quickly through accelerated programs.

Graduate enrollment increased to 904 students, and NSU enrolled more dual enrollment students than in fall 2025. These gains reflect continued efforts to expand graduate education, strengthen partnerships with Louisiana high schools and provide flexible pathways for students seeking college credit and advanced credentials.

“Our goal has never been simply to chase a headcount,” Genovese said. “We are focused on sustainable enrollment, attracting students who are prepared to succeed and creating an environment that makes them want to remain at Northwestern through graduation. Growth in our freshman class, strong retention and full residence halls are important signs of progress toward that goal.”

Northwestern continues to serve students throughout Louisiana through its Natchitoches campus, instructional sites and eNSU online programs while expanding recruitment efforts in Louisiana, Texas and other markets. With a 17-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, Northwestern offers students the personalized attention of a private education at a public university.

The university has also continued to invest in the student experience, academic programs and facilities, including the $45 million Robert Alost Hall, which opened in fall 2025 as a new academic hub on the Natchitoches campus.

With a larger freshman class, a strong academic profile, record enrollment from its home parish, full residence halls and retention above the state average, Northwestern officials say the fall 2026 enrollment picture provides important evidence that the university’s focus on recruitment, student success and the traditional campus experience is producing results.

“Students and families are recognizing what makes Northwestern special,” Genovese said. “They find outstanding academic programs, faculty and staff who know them personally and a campus community where they can belong. We are proud to welcome this exceptional class to the Demon family.”

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A rain delay may have temporarily stopped the action on the field, but it provided an unexpected opportunity for fellowship between two longtime rivals.

Members of the Jena High School Band and their counterparts from Mangham used the weather delay as a chance to come together, showing that competition and friendship can go hand in hand.

“Sometimes a rain delay gives a wonderful opportunity to have fellowship. Today was that day,” the Jena High School Band shared. “You can be rivals and still be friends!”

The moment brought together the schools’ colors — Jena’s black and gold and Mangham’s purple and gold — during circumstances that were less than ideal for a football game.

“Purple and gold can come together for great things when circumstances are less than ideal,” the band shared following the game.

Jena also praised Mangham for both the competition and camaraderie, adding, “Great game Mangham, y’all are a great rival and a great friend to Jena!”

The rain may have interrupted the evening’s plans, but the interaction between the two schools provided a reminder that some of the most memorable moments in high school athletics happen beyond the scoreboard.

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The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is continuing a long-term effort to restore native aquatic vegetation and improve fish habitat throughout the Saline-Larto Complex.

LDWF Inland Fisheries biologists recently planted coontail, a native aquatic plant that provides important habitat for fish and other aquatic wildlife.

The plants were placed inside 10 protective enclosures near Open Bayou, Little Saline Bayou and Shad Lake. The enclosures are designed to protect the newly planted vegetation from being eaten while it has an opportunity to become established.

Healthy native aquatic vegetation serves several important functions within a fishery. It provides nursery areas for young fish, shelter from predators and feeding areas while also supporting insects and other organisms that form part of the aquatic food chain.

Established vegetation can also create additional areas for anglers to target fish.

LDWF has been working to re-establish native aquatic vegetation throughout the Saline-Larto Complex since 2022.

While officials say habitat recovery takes time, vegetation surveys conducted in 2026 are showing encouraging signs. Biologists have documented the continued presence of American lotus and white-water lily, along with the discovery of bladderwort in the Shad Lake area.

The latest coontail planting represents another step in the department’s effort to restore and enhance native fish habitat throughout the complex.

LDWF biologists plan to continue monitoring the newly planted areas and conducting annual vegetation surveys to determine how well native plants are recovering over time.

The Saline-Larto Complex, which includes Saline Lake, Larto Lake, Shad Lake and interconnected waters, is an important recreational fishery in central Louisiana. The ongoing habitat work is intended to improve conditions for fish and other aquatic wildlife while supporting the quality of the fishery for future generations of anglers.

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I’m a huge fan of the Little League World Series. There’s so much joy watching baseball at its purest form, kids having fun in a game that has been played for over a century, not worried about how much money they are making.

It’s probably the one time in a young baseball player’s life that money is not a factor. It’s kids playing a game they grew up with on a sandlot or in the side yard of their neighbor’s house. 

This is how I learned to play baseball, either on a sandlot or in someone’s backyard. Sure, there were a few broken windows and an occasional broken nose when someone (probably me) lost control of a fastball. But at the end of the day, it was just a part of the game we all loved!

Of course, once a window was broken, we scattered like a covey of quail and ran to our houses as if nothing had ever happened. No one wanted to accept or admit they were responsible for the damage done. But eventually over time, the truth would come out and the person responsible had to pay for the window either by handing over cash or doing yard work for a month, or maybe even both. 

While we very seldom had enough players to field a full team, baseball is the only game that I’m aware of where you have ghost runners. That’s right, imaginary runners who could literally fly around the bases. You could play with 3-4 players on a team and make it work, all due to the ghost runner rule.  

The thing about growing up in a small Texas town was that there really were neighborhood rivalries. East side vs. West side, North side vs. South side. One elementary school vs. another. The rivalries were real until you got to high school and you became one team. 

What is the secret to a winning athletic program? Well, in the town of Mt. Pleasant, Texas, during the 1970s, the athletic talent level was insanely high for such a small town. There were many great athletes coming through MPHS during this time frame. The Mt. Pleasant Tigers had a statewide reputation for winning and doing well in all sports. 

Championship teams were a constant and expectations from the community were high. But the one thing I remember the most was the support we had from the school and the community itself. 

The leadership came from a lot of people like the mayor, school principals, teachers, booster club members, the student body, auxiliary groups, coaches and our parents, that paved the way for so many championship teams. You cannot put a price on how much community support means. 

We took pride in representing Mt. Pleasant High School and looked forward to anyone who wanted to challenge the Mt. Pleasant Tigers in any sport.

I was so blessed to have the opportunity to play for a Texas baseball state championship in 1978 and win. I’ll never forget what our head coach told the team after we won. “Fellows, this win tonight will mean more to you later in life than it does now.” Truer words have never been spoken.

To this day at the young age of 65, it’s the proudest moment I have ever experienced as an athlete including the day I signed to play college football and baseball at Northwestern State. Winning a state title has meant more to me than being drafted by Major League Baseball.

There’s something special about growing up in a small town and winning a state title during your high school years, playing with guys and friends you grew up with. 

It’s that closeness and comradery that made us great, along with the talent we possessed as a team. It has made us friends for life as we continue to get together from time to time to celebrate our accomplishment and share the same stories over and over. 

The one thing I have noticed over time is just how much better we have gotten with each passing year. That’s right, we’re now legends in our own minds!  

How lucky was I to have been a part of such a great community of people who cared about and made sure we had the support we needed to be successful! I would like to say thank you to those who played a part in not only my personal success, but the success of many teams that represented Mt. Pleasant High School. Go Tigers!

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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On Sept. 9, 1776, the Continental Congress formally declared that the new nation would be known as the “United States” of America, replacing the term “United Colonies” that had been used previously. 

The decision came less than three months after the Declaration of Independence was adopted, as the colonies continued establishing the government and identity of the nation they had declared independent from Great Britain.

The name “United States of America” was directed to be used in continental commissions and other official documents.

Sept. 9 also marked other notable moments in history, including California becoming the 31st U.S. state in 1850 and Elvis Presley making his first appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” in 1956. 

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“We don’t understand it, but your muffler is disintegrating from the inside.”

For once, the description of the noise my truck was making actually matched the noise it made for the service technician. Usually, when you take a vehicle to the shop, it immediately begins behaving like a child in front of company.

“It was doing it all the way over here,” you say.

The mechanic starts the engine.

Silence.

The truck sits there looking innocent.

But Saturday it cooperated.

“Eventually,” the service man explained, “your muffler will completely disintegrate, and your truck will become very loud.”

There are at least two ways you know you are getting old. The first is when the phrase “your truck will become very loud” sounds more like a threat than a promise. When I was younger, a loud truck might have been impressive. Now I want my muffler to do exactly what its name implies: muffle. Loud and old do not mix well—whether we are talking about trucks, music, neckties, or people explaining their opinions at restaurants.

The second way you know you are old is Muzak. If you step into an elevator, a doctor’s office, or a car dealership and realize the gentle instrumental music playing in the background is the same song your parents once yelled, “TURN THAT GARBAGE DOWN!” about—you are old. Saturday, Muzak was playing while the service man described my disintegrating muffler.

There was no denying it.

I am old.

And suddenly I began imagining life with a loud truck. Would people hear me pulling into the church parking lot before they saw me? Could I lead a funeral procession in it? Would the Baptists think I had joined the youth group? Would the Catholics begin praying for me?

“How much will it cost to fix?”

It was going to be expensive. Apparently, disintegrating from the inside was not covered by the warranty. That phrase stayed with me. Disintegrating from the inside.

How is your muffler?

Because mufflers are not the only things that can look reasonably good on the outside while quietly falling apart where nobody can see.

People can do it too.

Discouragement is a kind of interior rust. You start with faith, hope, and love. But disappointment works on you. Frustration works on you. Anger works on you. Fear works on you. And if you do not continually center your life in Christ, the corrosion begins. Often the problem is not that God has abandoned us. The problem is that we have decided exactly how God ought to behave. We get a plan fixed in our heads, a result fixed in our hearts, and a timetable fixed on the calendar. Then, when God refuses to cooperate, we become discouraged. Slowly, quietly, something begins disintegrating on the inside.

And here is another thing I learned about mufflers: When they deteriorate on the inside, eventually they get loud on the outside. That may explain more about our world than we would like to admit. Public discourse has become a contest to see who can be loudest. Conversation has been replaced by competition. Listening has become a lost art. We no longer seem content to disagree with somebody; we must defeat them, embarrass them, label them, or shout over them. Maybe all that exterior noise is telling us something about our interior condition.

Maybe some of us need our spiritual mufflers repaired. There is a verse of Scripture that both comforts and confronts. Eight simple words that can aggravate people who are determined to stay loud and bring wonderful hope to those who know something inside them needs restoring:

“Be still, and know that I am God.”
—Psalm 46:10

Be still. Stop shouting. Stop insisting. Stop rehearsing everything that is wrong. Stop telling God how God ought to run the universe. Be still long enough to remember who God is—and who you are. Maybe faith, hope, and love are not restored by becoming louder. Maybe they return when we become quiet enough to hear God again.

I get it, Lord.

Will you help me repair my muffler?

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In 1863, the United States of America and the Confederate States of America were in the midst of what we now call the Civil War.  On June 1, 1863, nineteen-year-old Willis Meadows of Lanott, Alabama, joined Company G of the 37^th Alabama Regiment.  Willis was a fierce hunter who realized early on that missing a shot at wild game meant that he and his family would not have any meat on the table.  Within days of his enlistment, his superiors recognized his shooting skills and made him a sharpshooter.  One month to the day after his enlistment, July 1, Willis was helping defend Vicksburg from the Union army.  Through a small hole in a sheet of boiler plate, Willis took careful aim and fired a single shot at a time at Union soldiers so as not to give his position away.  He waited several minutes before firing again so the enemy could not pinpoint his position.  Every few minutes, Willis took down another soldier.  

21-year-old Peter Knapp and three other members of the 5^th Iowa volunteers were ordered to eliminate the sniper.  They slowly scanned the area while they awaited another shot.  Finally, Peter saw a flash come from the small hole in the boiler plate.  Peter was a crack shot as well.  As Willis peeked through the hole in search of another target, Peter fired.  The one-ounce cone-shaped bullet went through the same hole Willis had been firing through and struck him, Willis, in his right eye.  Peter saw Willis collapse and knew he was either dead or dying.  Peter and the other three reported that they had eliminated the sharpshooter and were sent on another assignment.

A short while later, a Union soldier found Willis and realized that he was still alive.  He and other Union soldiers took Willis to their surgeon who transferred the wounded sharpshooter to a federal hospital.  Doctors operated on Willis and concluded that it would be too dangerous to try to remove the bullet.  They stopped the bleeding and hoped for the best.  Despite the doctors’ grim prognosis, Willis’s condition slowly improved.  Except for the loss of his right eye, Willis regained his health.  Willis was eventually paroled and returned to Alabama.

58 years later, Peter was reading the newspaper when he read Willis’s incredible story.  He soon realized that Willis was the man he shot and whom he thought he had killed.  Peter wrote to Willis and they began corresponding back and forth for the remainder of Willis’s life.  The newspaper article which turned former enemies into friends was published on March 22, 1921.  On the day before, Willis, then 78 years old, was in his kitchen when he began coughing.  His coughing progressed into a coughing fit.  Willis held his handkerchief over his mouth, but nothing he tried would ease his coughing.  After several long minutes, Willis’s coughing ended abruptly when something struck his handkerchief.  He lowered the handkerchief from his mouth and stared in amazement.  58 years after being shot through the eye and left for dead, Willis coughed up Peter’s bullet.         

Sources:

1.     The Wellston News (Wellston, Oklahoma), April 1, 1921, p.2. 

2.     Phillips County News (Malta, Montana), September 8, 1921, p.1.

3.     “March 14, 1921 Coughing up Bullets,” Cape Cod Curmudgeon, March 24, 2018, Accessed August 30, 2026, https://todayinhistory.blog/2018/03/24/march-24-1921-coughing-up-bullets/.

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Joyce Lynn Holloman Long
Passed September 6, 2026 age 84
Visitation: Friday September 11 from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM at First Baptist Church, Olla
Services: Friday September 11 at 3:00 PM at First Baptist Church, Olla

LaSalle Parish Journal publishes paid obituaries – unlimited words and a photo, as well as unlimited access.

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The following report displays all bookings made at the LaSalle Parish Jail between the dates listed. These arrests were made by LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office and surrounding local and state agencies. All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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LASALLE PARISH, La. — The LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office is reminding residents that several payment options are available for handling traffic tickets and fine citations, including in-person, online and mobile app payments.

According to information released by the Sheriff’s Office, residents who prefer to pay in person may visit the LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office and make their payment using a money order.

For those who prefer an online option, payments can be made through the LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office website. Once on the website, users should select the Civil tab and then choose “Pay Traffic and Fine Citations” to access payment services.

Residents can also make payments using the LaSalle Parish Sheriff App, which is available for mobile devices through the Apple App Store and Google Play.

The Sheriff’s Office said the multiple payment methods are intended to make the process fast, easy and convenient while allowing residents to choose the option that works best for them.

The payment options include:

In person: Visit the LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office and pay by money order.

Online: Visit the LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office website, select the Civil tab and choose “Pay Traffic and Fine Citations.”

Mobile app: Use the LaSalle Parish Sheriff App, available through the App Store and Google Play.

Residents with a traffic ticket are encouraged to follow the payment instructions provided by the LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office and ensure payments are submitted as required.

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LaSalle Parish Schools has been recognized as one of Louisiana’s top-performing school systems for early literacy, ranking No. 8 statewide based on results from the 2025-2026 K-3 Literacy Screener.

According to the Louisiana Department of Education, 74% of LaSalle Parish students in kindergarten through third grade scored on or above level, placing the district among the 10 highest-achieving school systems in the state.

The recognition comes as Louisiana continues to make gains in reading. The Louisiana Department of Education reported that Louisiana ranks No. 1 among states in reading growth, noting that the work taking place in high-performing school systems is helping drive that progress.

LaSalle Parish Schools joined several districts from across Louisiana in earning a place among the state’s top 10. DeSoto Parish Schools led the rankings with 80.4% of students scoring on or above level, followed by West Feliciana Parish Schools at 80.2% and Ascension Public Schools at 78.7%.

For LaSalle Parish, the 74% proficiency rate and No. 8 statewide ranking highlight the work being done in local elementary classrooms to strengthen reading skills during the critical early years of a student’s education.

The Louisiana Department of Education recognized LaSalle Parish Schools and the other top-performing districts during the August meeting of the Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE).

The statewide recognition gives LaSalle Parish another reason to celebrate its students and educators as local schools continue working to build strong literacy foundations and prepare young learners for future academic success.

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LASALLE PARISH, La. — Hot temperatures will continue across LaSalle Parish through Labor Day, with heat index values reaching potentially dangerous levels Wednesday before rain chances increase late in the week, according to the National Weather Service.

Wednesday will be mostly sunny and hot with a high near 96 degrees. Heat index values could climb as high as 106 degrees. Light southeast winds will increase to 5 to 10 mph during the afternoon. Wednesday night will be partly cloudy with a low around 73.

Thursday will be sunny and hot with a high near 97. Winds will be calm before becoming southeast around 5 mph during the afternoon. Thursday night will be mostly clear with a low around 74.

The best chance for rain arrives Friday, when showers will become likely during the afternoon, with thunderstorms also possible after 1 p.m. The chance of precipitation is 70%. Despite the rain chances, temperatures will remain hot with a high near 95. A 20% chance of showers will continue Friday night before 1 a.m., with partly cloudy skies and a low around 73.

Saturday will bring a 40% chance of showers, with thunderstorms also possible after 1 p.m. Otherwise, conditions will be mostly sunny and hot with a high near 95. Saturday night will be partly cloudy with a low around 73.

A 30% chance of showers and thunderstorms remains in the forecast for Sunday. The day will otherwise be mostly sunny and hot with a high near 97. Sunday night will be mostly clear with a low around 74.

The hottest temperature in the extended forecast is expected on Labor Day, when the high could reach 99 degrees. Sunny and hot conditions are forecast along with a 20% chance of showers and thunderstorms.

Overall, LaSalle Parish can expect highs ranging from 95 to 99 degrees through Labor Day, with Friday bringing the greatest chance for showers and thunderstorms. Wednesday will bring the most significant heat-index concern, with feels-like temperatures potentially reaching 106 degrees.

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Jena High School Anatomy and Physiology students recently took their learning beyond the classroom during a visit with the LaSalle Parish Library, where they gained valuable research skills that can support their academic and future educational success.

The students learned how to identify reputable sources, properly cite information and navigate research databases. They were also shown how a library card can provide access to many of those resources from home.

Mrs. Andrea Book and the LaSalle Parish Library hosted the students and provided instruction on tools that can help them conduct reliable research for school assignments and other academic projects.

Jena High School thanked the library and Book for providing students with the opportunity to strengthen their research skills while becoming more familiar with resources available in their own community.

School officials said experiences like the library visit help connect students with community resources that can continue supporting them throughout their education and into the future.

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NATCHITOCHES – As James T. Genovese completes his second year as president of Northwestern State University, the institution is reporting gains in student persistence, academic outcomes, workforce-focused programs, private support and athletics while continuing to address enrollment and graduation challenges.

Since taking office in 2024, Genovese has organized the university’s work around five strategic focus areas: the Student Experience, Academic Excellence, Market Responsiveness, Community Enrichment and Athletic Prominence. University officials said those priorities have guided efforts in recruitment, retention, academic programming, capital projects, technology and external partnerships.

“Our first two years have been about strengthening the foundation of Northwestern while keeping our attention fixed on the future,” Genovese said. “We have made significant progress because our faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors and partners believe deeply in this University and in the role Northwestern plays in Louisiana.”

Student recruitment and retention have remained central to that work.

Overall enrollment declined from 8,523 in Fall 2024 to 8,402 in Fall 2025, but entering freshman enrollment increased to 1,065. Preliminary Fall 2026 figures provided by the university show approximately 1,120 entering freshmen, which will represent the university’s largest freshman class in three years when the official 14-day enrollment count is finalized.

The Fall 2026 entering class arrived with one of the strongest academic profiles in recent years, posting an average ACT score of 21.7 and an average high school GPA of 3.4. The class’s average ACT score is well above Louisiana’s average, reflecting the continued strength and academic quality of Northwestern’s incoming students.

Northwestern’s first-to-third semester retention rate reached 70 percent, exceeding the Louisiana average of approximately 64 percent and placing NSU among the strongest-performing institutions in the region. NSU has responded to retention and graduation challenges by strengthening early intervention, proactive financial-aid communication, academic mapping, stop-out recovery and support beyond the first year.

Student satisfaction provided another measure of progress. In the first year of Genovese’s presidency, 70 percent of students reported overall satisfaction, compared with 52 percent nationally, according to university survey data. Seventy-four percent said they intended to re-enroll, compared with 60 percent nationally.

The survey data showed gains in campus services, student-centeredness, registration and recruitment, financial aid, counseling, safety and campus conditions. Northwestern exceeded University of Louisiana System and national norms across most measures included in the survey.

Student involvement also increased. Membership in recognized student organizations grew from 823 to 1,292, while participation in living-learning communities increased from 68 to 168 students. The university also expanded or improved spaces supporting accessibility services, collegiate recovery and eSports.

Career preparation grew through Handshake, which connected a network of more than 30,000 students, alumni and employers. NSU approved 1,610 new employers during 2025-26. Among graduates responding to the university’s First Destination Survey, 93.3 percent reported employment, continued education or military service.

“Students should feel that Northwestern knows them, supports them and is preparing them for a meaningful life and career,” Genovese said. “The gains in satisfaction and persistence are encouraging, but we know our work must continue until more students who begin at Northwestern complete their degrees.”

Academic programs also expanded in areas tied to workforce demand.

The College of Nursing and School of Allied Health, which serves nearly 2,500 students across Alexandria, Leesville and Fort Polk, Natchitoches, Shreveport and online, added new nursing pathways and launched the Master of Science in Allied Health.

Allied Health enrollment increased 19 percent, from 412 to 491 students. Radiography enrollment rose from 100 to 182, while Diagnostic Medical Sonography increased from 86 to 115.

Student outcomes included nursing graduates exceeding state and national first-time NCLEX-RN pass rates, a 96 percent certification pass rate for Radiography graduates and 100 percent pass rates on the Sonography Principles and Instrumentation examination for the 2025 and 2026 Diagnostic Medical Sonography classes. Radiography also received the maximum eight-year accreditation term from the Joint Review Committee on Education in Radiologic Technology.

External awards are supporting additional healthcare education and workforce development. A $4 million Louisiana Department of Health award and a $2.597 million federal Health Resources and Services Administration award are supporting rural healthcare education, clinical training, student assistance and workforce expansion. More than $1.3 million in scholarships, stipends and traineeships assisted 239 students during 2025-26.

Other academic areas reported growth as well.

The Gallaspy College of Education and Human Development received nearly $8 million in grants during fiscal year 2025-26 supporting education, behavioral health, child welfare, early childhood development, workforce preparation and student success.

In the College of Arts and Sciences, new Computer Science and Sport Analytics concentrations within the Mathematics degree program helped increase Mathematics enrollment by more than 400 percent since 2024, according to university data. The college also engaged more than 5,600 K-12 students through School of STEM outreach events, camps, festivals and recruitment activities.

The College of Business and Technology expanded opportunities in applied technology, cybersecurity and workforce preparation. The School of Business received an extension of its accreditation from AACSB International, while Hospitality Management and Tourism maintained its status as Louisiana’s only four-year hospitality program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Programs in Hospitality Administration.

The college also opened the Sandbox Application Development Lab and established the Cyber Demons Tech Club. A Computer Information Systems team competed for the first time in program history in the International Collegiate Programming Contest North America South Central Regional.

Across the university, 78.1 percent of academic programs have been created or updated within the past five years. NSU also offers 37 certificate programs in areas ranging from healthcare and education to strategic communication, leadership and professional ethics.

Programs launched or advanced during Genovese’s first two years include the Master of Social Work, Master of Science in Allied Health, new Mathematics concentrations, an online Master of Music in Music Education and redesigned pathways in nursing and criminal justice. The university also expanded options in event management, hospitality, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing.

Industry engagement accompanied those academic changes. In 2025-26, students participated in 416 documented interactions with business and industry through career fairs, guest speakers, field experiences, interviews and service-learning projects. University administrators completed 56 additional engagements with industry partners.

Technology investments included creation of a continuously monitored Security Operations Center in partnership with the Louisiana Optical Network Infrastructure and other state agencies, increased internet capacity at the Alexandria and Leesville sites and modernization of the university’s network, data center and disaster-recovery systems.

Major facility investments also changed the learning environment. The $45 million Alost Hall opened with classrooms, laboratories, simulation spaces, a cafe and faculty offices. Iberville Dining Hall underwent a $2 million renovation, A.A. Fredericks Auditorium received improvements, and classrooms, laboratories and instructional technology were upgraded across campuses.

Eligible faculty and staff received a 3 percent cost-of-living adjustment on Jan. 1, 2026, following a 2.5 percent adjustment in January 2025.

State support in the 2026 legislative session included approximately $2.54 million in additional operating funding. Capital outlay legislation included $6.9 million in Priority 1 funding for Innovation Park and $7 million in Priority 1 funding for Warrington Hall in Shreveport.

Private support also increased. The NSU Foundation reported $8.04 million in fiscal year 2026 revenue, up 6.9 percent, while restricted endowment assets grew to $87.26 million university wide. Major gifts supported scholarships, professorships, academic programs and facilities, including a $1.5 million private gift supporting the David and Sherry Morgan Health Performance Center, which is scheduled to open on October 23.

Community engagement remained another focus. NSU reported at least 228,378 hours of professionally based service with 194 campus and community partners in 2025-26. That work supported healthcare, education, public safety, economic development, the arts and environmental stewardship.

Athletics posted gains in academics, competition and facilities.

Student-athletes maintained an overall GPA above 3.2 in both reporting years. In 2025-26, 211 earned Dean’s List or President’s List recognition, 216 were named to the Southland Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll, and the department’s multiyear Academic Progress Rate rose for the third consecutive year to 970.

Seven teams earned perfect single-year Academic Progress Rate scores of 1,000. Women’s track and field won a third consecutive Southland Conference outdoor championship, soccer captured the conference regular-season championship, as did tennis, and six varsity teams finished in the upper third of the league.

Athletic facility improvements included approximately $1.9 million for artificial turf at the baseball and softball facilities, $593,000 in scoreboard upgrades and $1.7 million for a new track surface and lighting.

Looking ahead, Genovese said NSU will continue focusing on enrollment growth and degree completion, high-demand and flexible credentials, faculty investment, emerging technology, experiential learning, private support and partnerships. Work also will continue on Innovation Park, Warrington Hall and projects intended to support the student experience.

“These accomplishments belong to the entire Northwestern family,” Genovese said. “We have built momentum, but we are not finished. Our responsibility is to honor Northwestern’s history, respond to the needs of the present and prepare Louisiana for the future.”

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September, during Hunger Action Month, The Food Bank of Central Louisiana is joining the nationwide Feeding America network in calling on Central Louisiana to Play Your Part. As the cost of essentials like groceries and energy continue to put pressure on household budgets, everyone can take action to help ensure their neighbors have access to the food they need to thrive.

“Together we can end hunger,” said Denis McDonough, CEO of Feeding America. “It takes people looking out for each other, especially now, as so many families are navigating difficult tradeoffs necessitated by high food prices. This Hunger Action Month, we’re asking everyone to show up for their neighbors facing hunger and play their part. Whether you give, volunteer, speak up or support your community in another way, your action matters. When neighbors care for neighbors, we strengthen our communities.”

According to the latest data available from Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap study, 48 million people, including more than 14 million children, experienced food insecurity in 2024, the highest level since 2014. Of the communities The Food Bank of Central Louisiana serves, we see food insecurity range from a low of 18.3% in LaSalle Parish to a high of 24.8% in Vernon Parish. Across The Food Bank of Central Louisiana’s 11-parish service area, 80,000 people live in food insecure households.

Hunger Action Day falls on September 29, when Feeding America will release the 2026 Elevating Voices: Insights Report, an annual, nationally representative survey of the experiences, concerns and policy views of people facing hunger in the United States.

People can get involved locally by donating at https://www.fbcenla.org/?form=donate or through the actions below:

Schedule time to volunteer at the Food Bank or your local food pantry.
Stop by the Food Bank of Central Louisiana for a tour and learn more about the organization
Host a virtual food drive. Money raised will allow the Food Bank of Central Louisiana to purchase additional food to help feed those facing hunger. Visit the website at https://www.fbcenla.org/virtual-food-drive for more information.

“No one should have to face hunger, yet thousands of people across Central Louisiana do – including children, seniors, and veterans. Let’s build a community of committed individuals to end hunger across the nation. If we all do our part; we have the power to set things right,” said Jayne Wright-Velez, executive director of the Food Bank of Central Louisiana.
Learn more about how you can take action by visiting hungeractionmonth.org.

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Football season is bringing Friday night excitement back to LaSalle Parish, and local fans are being encouraged to grab their school colors, head to the ballgames and cheer on the Tigers and Giants.

The LaSalle Parish Sheriff’s Office recently helped add a little extra fun to the upcoming games when Sheriff Lane Windham delivered footballs to LaSalle High School, LaSalle Jr. High School, Jena High School and Jena Jr. High School.

The footballs will be used by cheerleaders to toss into the stands during ballgames, giving fans another reason to get involved in the excitement under the Friday night lights.

High school and junior high football games have long been about more than the final score in communities across LaSalle Parish. Game nights bring together students, parents, grandparents, alumni and neighbors while giving local athletes, cheerleaders, band members and other students a chance to represent their schools and communities.

With football season underway, residents can show their support by filling the stands, cheering loudly and helping continue the small-town traditions that make local Friday nights special.

Whether you’re wearing blue and gold for the Jena Giants or supporting the LaSalle Tigers, there’s no better time to get out and support local students.

Bring the family, meet up with friends and enjoy a night of hometown football.

Go Giants! Go Tigers! And let’s pack those stands, LaSalle Parish!

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Anglers fishing the Saline-Larto Complex will need to follow new size and daily creel limits for black bass and crappie beginning Sept. 20, 2026, according to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.

The new recreational fishing regulations will apply to designated waters within the Saline-Larto Complex, including Saline Lake, Larto Lake, Shad Lake and associated waterbodies in portions of Catahoula, LaSalle, Avoyelles and Rapides parishes.

Under the new regulations, black bass will have a 14-inch minimum length requirement and an eight-fish daily creel limit.

For crappie, anglers will be required to observe a 10-inch minimum length and a daily creel limit of 25 fish.

LDWF also emphasized an important provision for anglers traveling through or fishing within the regulated area. Beginning Sept. 20, anyone in possession of fish while within the regulated portion of the Saline-Larto Complex must comply with the new size and creel limits, regardless of where those fish were caught.

That means anglers should be aware of the new rules even if they catch fish elsewhere before entering the regulated area.

Waters outside the designated Saline-Larto area will continue to fall under statewide black bass and crappie regulations unless otherwise specified. Statewide regulations currently have no minimum length limit for those species and allow a daily creel limit of 10 black bass and 50 crappie per licensed angler.

The changes represent a significant reduction in the number of fish anglers may keep while fishing the Saline-Larto Complex, particularly for crappie, where the daily limit will drop from the statewide 50-fish limit to 25.

Anglers who regularly fish Saline Lake, Larto Lake, Shad Lake and surrounding waters are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the boundaries of the regulated area and the new requirements before they take effect Sept. 20.

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Back in 1990 when I started fishing bass tournaments, I had a great partner, Randy Farrar, who helped teach me a few things about how to pre-fish before a tournament — pre-fishing techniques like how to find bass but not catch them right before a tournament. You always want to catch them on tournament day and not so much in practice.

So many guys go out and catch bass right before the tournament and take them home for a good fish fry. One thing I know for sure, you will not be able to catch them on tournament day after you’ve eaten them!  

I learned a lot from my first fishing buddy. One thing he taught me was how to “shake fish off” and not hook bass during practice since you want to catch them on tournament day. 

“Shaking” refers to when a bass bites your lure, you shake the tip of the rod and hopefully the bass will let it go. Close to tournament day, the last thing you want to do is set the hook and sore mouth bass you’re wanting to catch when it counts.

However, during pre-fishing when the bass are in spawning mode, you don’t have to worry if you hook a fish. Because during spawning, bass are very aggressive and will strike a lure multiple times if it comes anywhere close to their spawning bed.

But over the years, I have learned on my own that bass might be the most unpredictable creatures on earth. So many times during practice, I have gone through a particular area and shook off a lot of bass thinking they will be there on tournament day. Well guess what? For whatever reason, the bass have either left or will not bite. 

This is when fishing gets very frustrating! But then there are times when finding those bass, a day or two before tournament day, actually pays off.

Another pre-fishing technique that I now employ is fishing without a hook and using what is called a screw lock. I use this when I’m fishing with any type of soft plastic worms. This is where you tie on a screw lock and use it to hold your worm or soft plastic bait instead of using a hook.

This way you never have to worry about hooking any fish you want to catch on tournament day. This is a pre-fishing technique I always use, especially the day before the tournament. 

In today’s bass tournament world, if you don’t pre-fish several days in a row before a tournament, you’re probably not going to win. The anglers winning today are guys who are on the water at least three days before the tournament. 

The days of showing up and winning or even getting a check are gone, as there are too many anglers putting in 8-10 hours a day locating bass. Even fishing on a lake that you know very well is not good enough to beat the guys putting in hours of pre-fishing. 

There are a lot of variables that can affect your ability to locate bass and catch them on tournament day. The first and foremost is the weather. This is something an angler has no control over, but you must understand bass behavior well enough to know how the weather affects them. 

Another factor you can’t control is the movement of baitfish they like to feed on. Bass will always be close to wherever the bait fish are. It’s their buffet; it’s their grocery store. Wherever the baitfish go, the bass will follow. 

So, if you want to compete and have a shot at winning or even getting a check in today’s bass tournaments, you better pre-fish and find as many schools of bass as you can during practice. Otherwise, you’re just donating your entry fee.  

Contact Steve at sgraf26@yahoo.com

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If you think declaring yourself emperor or empress requires an army, a palace and perhaps a crown, Joshua Abraham Norton had a different idea.

On Sept. 2, 1859, a San Francisco businessman named Joshua Norton took a rather unusual step: He proclaimed himself Emperor Norton I of the United States.

Norton had once been a successful businessman, but after losing much of his fortune, his life took an unexpected turn. He began wearing a military-style uniform and issuing proclamations about how the United States should be governed.

His 1859 declaration announced that he was now Emperor of the United States. A few years later, he expanded his imaginary empire by proclaiming himself Protector of Mexico.

San Francisco residents, rather than simply dismissing Norton as a crank, embraced the eccentric figure. Newspapers published his proclamations, restaurants reportedly accepted his self-issued currency and some businesses gave him free meals.

Norton also issued decrees that were surprisingly ahead of their time. He called for the creation of a League of Nations-like organization and advocated for a bridge connecting San Francisco and Oakland — decades before the Bay Bridge was built.

Although Norton had no actual political authority, he became a beloved San Francisco character. When he died in 1880, thousands of people reportedly attended his funeral.

So, Sept. 2 marks the anniversary of one of history’s strangest self-promotions: the day a financially ruined businessman decided he wasn’t unemployed after all.

He was emperor.

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