Good morning, Lake Charles.

Entergy Louisiana’s $2 million utility bill assistance program opened Wednesday, Oct.

28, and United Way Southwest Louisiana is accepting applications from eligible residential customers in south, central and Southwest Louisiana via its online portal. Approved applicants will receive a one-time $100 credit applied to their Entergy accounts (may take up to 90 days).

Union Tank Car Company gifted Sasol a one-of-a-kind America 250 commemorative tank car that arrived this week at Sasol’s Lake Charles Chemical Complex, celebrating the U.S. semiquincentennial and highlighting rail’s role in local manufacturing and the national supply chain.

Westlake High Theatre will perform Villains Revue for You at 7 p.m. today at 1000 Garden Drive (Westlake High School).

The 50 minute, student led, 20 person show invites the audience to vote for the ultimate villain; tickets are $10 and available online.

The McNeese Homecoming parade runs today, beginning at East LaGrange & Ryan streets and heading south on Ryan back to the football stadium.

On Friday, Oct. 30 the Cowboy Block Party will host Keith Frank at the Grove and Alumni Center grounds on the corner of Common & McNeese streets; gates open 6:00 p.m., Frank plays 7:30 p.m., and admission is free.

At a summit in Lake Charles, the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana announced it will launch oyster shell collection in 2027 and use those shells to build a living shoreline in 2028, backed by a $60,000 matching grant.

The Louisiana Public Service Commission recently approved the Louisiana Advanced Nuclear Exploration Program, requiring some utilities including Entergy to join a three-year research effort to study nuclear economics, feasibility, and potential sites to inform future power planning.

The USDA declared a Secretarial disaster for the fast-moving drought that began March 3, opening Farm Service Agency low-interest emergency loans for producers in primary and neighboring parishes (primary: Beauregard, East Carroll, Lincoln, West Carroll); farmers must apply by June 21, 2027 through their local USDA Service Center.