Good morning, Lake Charles.

Lake Area Grassroots Gatherings held its first demonstration in downtown Lake Charles on Jan.

3 to showcase local engagement and a platform for community voices.

Twelfth Night kicked off the Mardi Gras season at the Lake Charles Event Center, where revelers enjoyed king cake prizes—setting the tone for celebrations leading to Mardi Gras on Feb.

17.

The Mardi Gras Twelfth Night celebration (a kickoff event for the season) is set to take place soon in Lake Charles.

Local organizers plan parades, music, and traditional festivities that invite community participation.

LaGrange High School (a $90,000 parish institution built in 1929 and once praised as the best-equipped small high school) was destroyed by fire on May 9, 1931 after flames started in its chemical laboratory, leaving the structure a shell and prompting plans for a larger replacement.

Buck moth caterpillars are expected to appear mid-April, so local tree owners—who saw increased moth activity this December—should schedule tree spraying in March to reduce the risk of painful stings when caterpillars drop from oak trees.

Gardeners are also advised to prune azaleas after flowering to encourage new growth.

Janice Lansing, the CPRA’s former CFO (2010-2025), is honored with the R.

King Milling Distinguished Coastal Service Award for her vital role in ensuring transparent coastal project funding. The award recognizes her behind-the-scenes efforts to build a strong financial foundation after Hurricane Katrina and the BP oil spill.

The McNeese Cowgirls broke a 17-game losing streak with a 65-57 win over Lamar in Townsley Law Arena on Saturday — Patton and Pierre led key plays that secured the victory.

McNeese women ended a 17-game losing streak to Lamar with a 65-57 win Saturday afternoon in Lake Charles—Patton added 11 fourth-quarter points to boost the team to a 10-4 record, and they will face Nicholls on Thursday.