Good morning, Lake Charles.

A school bus hit a ditch on McNeese Street in Lake Charles on Friday, Feb.

13, with only one student on board and no injuries reported by the Calcasieu Parish School Board.

DeRidder native Russell Chew built a multi-million dollar beauty empire with his Perfect Curl line and now empowers local entrepreneurs by hosting multicultural hair shows and leading Brothers Stand in Unity in Lake Charles.

Today at the Lake Charles Event Center Amphitheater, the World Famous Gumbo Cookoff offers chicken & sausage, seafood, and wild game gumbo along with lively stage events and crowd contests, running from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

The Mardi Gras Merchants Parade featuring local businesses begins tonight at 7:00 p.m., with floats lining up at the Event Center at 3:00 p.m.; the route follows West Pine and Ryan Streets to conclude at Ryan and Sale Road in South Lake Charles. *Don't miss the Buddy Russ Bus*.

Sowela Technical Community College reported record enrollment for spring 2026 as registration increased by more than seven percent, with a 55.6 percent rise in Aviation Maintenance and boosts for Vehicle Maintenance+Repair and Industrial Electrical programs.

The college now enrolls over 4,500 students and supports regional workforce needs.

Gov. Landry selected Lee Mallett as the new chair of the LSU Board on Thursday (he is a longtime board member and business owner from Calcasieu Parish), replacing Scott Ballard amid major leadership shifts at LSU.

He is known for his contributions as a donor and veteran board member.

Lane Regional and Woman’s Hospital are launching Project MOM to reduce accidental overdose deaths among pregnant and postpartum women by providing faster access to naloxone (a drug that reverses opioid overdoses) and coordinated care.

The program aims to cut deaths by 80 percent in three years across 11 hospitals statewide.

McNeese's top-ranked women and fast-climbing men's teams travel to Commerce, Texas today for games on ESPN+; the women tip off at 2:30 p.m. and the men start at 5:00 p.m. with records of 21-4 and 20-5 respectively.

LSU baseball kicks off its season today — with Milwaukee dealing the first pitch — as the Tigers defend their national title while reaching for a 9th championship crown.

The City of Lake Charles Department of Recreation and Parks announced registration for its USSSA sanctioned adult softball league, with games set to begin on April 15 at the OD Johnson Complex.

Teams will play on Monday and Wednesday evenings — eight weeks with playoffs for men’s and coed divisions.

McNeese State Cowgirls Basketball vs. UTRGV

5:59-8:59 p.m. — Townsley Law Arena, Doland Fieldhouse — Check for ticket prices — Witness a critical Southland Conference matchup as the Cowgirls battle UTRGV for tournament seeding.

Senior Night: UTRGV vs. McNeese State Cowboys Mens Basketball

6:30-9:59 p.m. — Townsley Law Arena — Ticket prices vary — Celebrate graduating student-athletes in an emotional final home game of the regular season.

LSU Tigers vs McNeese State Cowgirls Softball

6-9 p.m. — Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond — Ticket info not provided — Catch the Cowgirls as they take on the LSU Tigers in a thrilling softball matchup.

Iowa Hawkeyes at McNeese State Cowgirls Softball

3-6 p.m. — Joe Miller Field at Cowgirl Diamond — Admission details not provided — Catch the exciting midweek softball showdown as the Cowgirls aim for victory against Iowa.

AWS Certified Machine Learning: Specialty Training

8 a.m. — Health and Safety Council (HASC) Louisiana — $2100 — Master machine learning with expert-led training in a hands-on environment.

Groove on the Green

5-7 p.m. — Arts and Humanities Council of Southwest Louisiana — Free entry — Enjoy a lively evening of jazz under the lush oaks with friends.

Houston Christian Huskies vs. McNeese State Cowboys Baseball

2 p.m. — Joe Miller Ballpark — Ticket prices vary — Witness an exciting afternoon of baseball as the Huskies face off against the Cowboys in this thrilling series continuation.

Southland Conference Men's Basketball Championships - First Round

5 PM – 9 PM — Townsley Law Arena — Ticket prices vary — Witness thrilling single-elimination games as teams battle for a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

Southland Conference Women's Championship Game

4-7 p.m. — Townsley Law Arena — Tickets from $75 — Experience thrilling college basketball as teams compete for the Southland Conference title.

Banners 2026 Presents: Orchid-Stra

12-6 p.m. — F.G. Bulber Auditorium — Admission varies — Experience a stunning orchid exhibition presented by the Calcasieu Orchid Society.