Good morning, Lake Charles.

On Friday, local residents donated nearly $10,000 in cash + essential supplies at Abraham’s tent during KPLC’s Pack the Tent event, a drive organized with Rouses to help feed southwest Louisiana for a year.

Joe Nichols will visit Gator 99.5 on Monday morning, November 17th to chat with Mike — Scotty about his upcoming holiday concert in Lake Charles.

He will perform live at Cowboy Christmas at Le Bocage on December 5th for a festive market and family event.

Dr. Kedrick Nicholas has been named interim president of McNeese State University after outgoing president Dr. Wade Rousse took a new job in Baton Rouge—he is a two-time graduate, former student-athlete, and longtime administrator prepared to support the campus during this period of change. He said his goal is to keep the university moving forward by focusing on strong recruitment and boosting school spirit.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Robert Olen Butler returned to McNeese State University on Friday to read selections from his new novel 'Twice Around a Marriage' at 7 p.m. in the Henning Seed Center’s Noland Conference Room—he engaged with students, faculty and attendees during a question and answer session.

Louisiana has named Seth Gold as its new Medicaid director at the Department of Health.

He worked for the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce—where he helped with Medicaid programs—and his appointment comes as changes from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act may affect care for about one-third of state residents.

The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury’s TRIAD Network will host a free Lunch and Learn workshop at the Lake Charles Senior Center on November 18 from 9 a.m. to noon—experts will discuss Medicare updates, scams, and holiday stress while seating is limited and pre-registration is required.

Ronald Tower from the Calcasieu Local Emergency Planning Committee asked residents to review the community’s chemical response plan—designed to improve safety and emergency communication for potential chemical hazards from local manufacturing plants.

Residents can submit written feedback by email or mail to help update the plan.

Health officials are recalling ByHeart Whole Nutrition Infant Formula from local retailers due to potential contamination that could lead to infant botulism (no cases have been reported in Louisiana).

Parents are advised to discard any unused formula and seek immediate care if infants show symptoms (constipation, feeding difficulties, and poor head control).

The Louisiana Department of Health advised caregivers to discard all ByHeart Inc. infant formula — a recall that began on November 11 — due to possible Clostridium botulinum contamination, and no infant botulism cases have been reported in Louisiana.

Retailers are actively removing the recalled product from shelves and caregivers are urged to record lot numbers and wash any containers that touched the formula — following strict cleaning instructions — to minimize risk.

Gator 99.5 is holding a Great Turkey Hunt contest from November 17 to November 21—listeners will call the hotline when they hear a turkey gobble and may win a free turkey from Rouses Markets and a bottle of seasoning from In-Law's Specialty Meats.

Vinton Lions won their first playoff game since 2014 by beating DeQuincy 28-0 at B.S.

Walker Stadium on Friday; the team controlled the game clock and will host Jonesboro-Hodge next week in the regional round.

Southwest Louisiana athletes Aubrey Portie and J.D.

Alexander signed with the University of Texas softball team and Texas A&M baseball team on Wednesday, joining a group of six local athletes who committed to Division I schools. Portie, a multi-sport star who led her team to a state title, and Alexander, fully recovered from Tommy John surgery and set to pitch his final season, are headed for the SEC — a significant step in their college careers.

Vinton High football won a 21 to 17 district title over rival DeQuincy on Friday and will face them again in a playoff opener today—an important rematch that follows three seasons of rapid improvement.

Coach Tyler Lavergne credits the four seniors for powering the turnaround and leading the Lions forward.

Object-Oriented Programming in C# Training

N/A — 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. — SOWELA Regional Training Center — $2250 — Enhance your programming skills with hands-on C# training in a local expert-led course.

Smoke & Barrel Weekend 2025

1-5 p.m. — Calcasieu Clerk of Court — Tickets vary — Savor a weekend of over 80 bourbons, whiskeys, and exquisite BBQ from top pitmasters.

The Nutcracker

7:00-8:30 p.m. — Rosa Hart Theatre — Ticket prices vary — Experience the enchanting journey of Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy in this classic holiday ballet.

Christmas In The Air

2:00 – 3:30 PM — Golden Nugget Lake Charles Hotel & Casino — Ticket prices vary — Celebrate the holiday spirit with a festive event for the whole family.

Cowboy Christmas Celebration

9 AM - 5 PM — The Stables At LeBocage — Free admission — Experience the magic of Christmas with festive shopping, live music, and Southern traditions.

Santa's Hot Chocolate Run

2-4 p.m. — Downtown Lake Charles — Registration fee required — Enjoy a festive 3.1-mile adventure with a blend of running and holiday cheer.

East Texas A&M Lions vs. McNeese State Cowgirls Basketball

3:30-6:30 a.m. — The Legacy Center — Ticket prices vary — Catch an exciting college basketball matchup live in Lake Charles.

LAR's Swamp Stomp Half Marathon & Fun Run

7-11 a.m. — Graywood Golf & Racquet Club — Registration fees apply — Test your endurance at the Swamp Stomp and enjoy a fun run experience.