A Florien man was killed in a Vernon Parish accident Wednesday morning. On March 12, at approximately 10:21 a.m., Louisiana State Police Troop E responded to a two-vehicle crash on Louisiana Highway 28 West near Louisiana Highway 465. The crash claimed the life of 54-year-old Christopher D. Authement of Florien. A 2019 International loaded log truck and a 2017 Hyundai, driven by Authement, were westbound on Louisiana Highway 28 West. Authement failed to slow down and rear-ended the log truck. Authement, who was not restrained, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the log truck, who was restrained, sustained no injuries. A toxicology sample was obtained and submitted for analysis.

A shooting reportedly occurred in Jackson Parish on Wednesday. The Jackson Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a shooting at the intersection of LA Hwy 548 and Tisdale Road on March 12. The Jackson Parish Sheriff's Office reported that when deputies arrived on scene they located the victim, who was pronounced dead at the scene. According to officials, Jaxon Keen was arrested and charged with second-degree homicide as a result of their investigation. The name of the shooting victim has not been released by authorities.

An early morning traffic stop by Many police resulted in ICE detaining nine illegal immigrants who had been working at an area chicken farm facility in the Sabine Parish. A van carrying the undocumented immigrants was travelling to Natchitoches on La Highway Six around 3:30 a.m. when it was pulled over by Many police for a routine traffic stop. Many Police Chief Cheryl Wooley stated, "Officers stopped a van with Mississippi plates and the driver didn't have a driver's license. The only other person in the vehicle with a license had a suspended license. When the officer asked if anybody else in the van had a driver's license, nobody had one. ICE agents were notified and helped identify the immigrants. Wooley says there will be an investigation into which business hired the undocumented immigrants.

Natchitoches police have arrested two teenagers in connection with a shooting last month that left a person injured. Kaiden Burks, 17, and a 15-year-old juvenile are charged with attempted second-degree murder. Both were placed in a juvenile facility in Jackson Parish. The shooting occurred on the afternoon of February 13 on Saida Street. One person was injured and taken to the hospital for treatment. Bullet casings were retrieved from the shooting scene. On Thursday, Natchitoches police, the Violent Crimes Task Force and the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted several search warrants inside the city and in the parish. Those searches led to the arrest of Burks and the juvenile. Anyone with additional information on the shooting is asked to contact Det. Charles Cassels at (318) 357-3858.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is issuing a Health Advisory to notify clinicians, public health officials, and potential travelers about a measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico. As of March 6, a total of 222 measles cases were reported by 12 states: Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, and Washington. Measles may cause severe illnesses including pneumonia or encephalitis. While encephalitis is rare, this swelling of the brain requires hospitalization and intensive treatment. It can cause seizures, hallucinations, permanent brain damage, blindness, hearing loss, and memory loss. Measles symptoms appear 7 to 14 days after contact with the virus and include high fever up to 105° F, red, watery eyes, cough, and runny nose. The most common symptom of measles is a rash that often develops on the face and neck, but can spread to the entire body. Measles rash appears 3 to 5 days after the first symptoms.

A Natchitoches woman was killed in a Natchitoches Parish accident Friday afternoon. On March 7, at approximately 1:15 p.m., Louisiana State Police Troop E responded to a three-vehicle crash on Louisiana Highway 6 at Collins Road. The crash claimed the life of 58-year-old Doris L. Nichols of Natchitoches. A 2015 GMC 2500, driven by 45-year-old David W. Cross of Deville, and a 2020 Honda CRV, driven by Nichols, were westbound on Louisiana Highway 6. Cross failed to slow down as Nichols was preparing to make a left turn onto Collins Road. As a result, the GMC rear-ended the Honda, causing it to enter into the eastbound lane of travel. After this initial impact, the Honda was struck a second time by an eastbound 2000 Ford pickup truck. Nichols, who was restrained, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Cross, who also was restrained, sustained no injuries. The driver of the Ford, who also was restrained, sustained moderate injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Toxicology samples were obtained and submitted for analysis.

A Tyler, Texas woman was killed in a Natchitoches Parish accident Wednesday afternoon. On March 5, at approximately 2:15 p.m., Louisiana State Police Troop E responded to a two-vehicle crash on I-49 north of Natchitoches. The crash claimed the life of 51-year-old Fletda R. Arterberry of Tyler, Texas. A 1998 Chevrolet truck and a Can-am Spiker, driven by Arterberry, were southbound on I-49. Arterberry failed to slow down and rear-ended the Chevrolet. After impact, the Can-am became engulfed in flames. Arterberry sustained fatal injuries and was transported to a local medical facility where she was pronounced dead. The driver of the Chevrolet, who was restrained, sustained no injuries. A toxicology sample was obtained and submitted for analysis. The crash remains under investigation.

A drug smuggling investigation by the Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office led to the arrest of two Texas residents accused of attempting to bring methamphetamine, cocaine, and other contraband into the Grant Parish Federal Prison. Authorities said Connor Currington, 29, of Corinth, Texas, and Chelsea Johnson, 32, of Terrell, Texas, were arrested on multiple charges after deputies intercepted their smuggling attempt. The confiscated contraband included $49,895 worth of methamphetamine, $7,200 worth of cocaine, $60,000 worth of cell phones, and 91 cigarette lighters. Both suspects were booked into jail on charges of possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, and attempting to introduce contraband into a penal institution.

Five attorneys who run local public defender offices in Louisiana will be forced out of their jobs in July, and contracts for the 32 remaining district defenders are "under review" for potential changes, according to letters the lawyers received Thursday. The notices are the latest in a years-long fight involving State Public Defender Rémy Starns, chief local public defenders and two separate boards over whether Starns should control those attorneys’ salaries. Starns told the five district defenders he will not renew their annual contracts to run their offices, which cover parts of north and central Louisiana, when they expire in July. The lawyers who are losing their jobs have been the most outspoken about Starns’ efforts to cut their own pay and exert more influence over the public defender system. They include Michelle AndrePont in Caddo Parish, Brett Brunson in Natchitoches Parish, Deirdre Fuller in Rapides Parish, Trisha Ward of Evangeline Parish and John Hogue, who works in Tensas, Madison and East Carroll parishes.

Winn Parish Sheriff's Department Arrest Report

Winnfield Police Department Arrest Report

Northwestern State University will offer a 38-hour driver education course during the 2024-2025 school year. The classes will be April 14-17. Students must be 15 years of age. For more information or to register for NSU non-credit programs,visit checkout.nsula.edu or call (800) 376-2422 or (318) 357-6355.