Lake Charles News

State Treasurer John Kennedy testifies against the Senate Bill 204, which would authorize the issuance of bonds to finance capital improvements for the Louisiana Community and Technical Colleges System, in front of the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, May 22, 2013.

For now, the state has not decided if they will take advantage of millions of dollars to expand the federal medicaid program.

Matching federal Medicaid dollars for hospitals and nursing homes would increase under two constitutional amendments approved by the Senate Committee on Finance on Monday, May 20, 2013.

Hospital executive LAKE CHARLES - Services were Saturday for hospital executive Dave Usher.

That ruling was reaffirmed Friday as the Louisiana Ethics Board upheld an earlier advisory opinion, reports the American Press of Lake Charles (). State law prevents someone who has served on a board from contracting with the board or being employed by the board for at least two years.

9.62 lbs leads day 1 of McDonald's Big Bass Splash on Toledo Bend 9.62 lbs leads day 1 of McDonald's Big Bass Splash on Toledo BendThe Toledo Bend Big Bass Splash is officially underway! $440,000 is guaranteed to be paid to participants in cash and prizes over the course of this three day event.Hourly paybacks, exact weight bonuses, drawings - so many ways to win!Day one of this three day event started out with overcast, hazy skies in the lower 60's with a southwest wind at 10-15 mph.Radio station Kicks 105 was on site keeping everyone on and off the water informed what all was happening at tournament central, Cypress Bend Marina.TX won the first hour with his 6.68 lb catch.By the 12-1:00 weigh in hour the top five bass had been established for the day.Louisiana anglers dominated the board!6.72 lbs Josh Bordelon, Deville LAAnglers were bringing in a steady stream of hefty bass throughout the day.The top twelve bass each hour catches a check, and the first 3.00 & 4.00 exact weight bass win a $5,000 bonus each day.Victor Jones of Lake Charles, LA won the first $5,000 check during the first hour of the tournament with his 4.00 lb catch.Many anglers continued to gun for the 3.00 exact, often missing the mark by 1/100th of a pound.Rockie Ramshur hit it on the nose, garnering the last $5,000 bonus check of the day.Any kid up to 12 years old can fish for crappie, bream, catfish or bass to win gift certificates from Academy Outdoors.Toledo Bend has come on strong this past lunker season.The Toledo Bend Lake Association awards anglers who turn in their live bass catch over 10 pounds with a free replica.Fifty eight anglers will receive beautiful replica's of their lunker catch on Toledo Bend by Scottie's Taxidermy."A few of the lunkers caught this year had tags on them from already having been caught and released again," commented Scottie Lucas of Scottie's Taxidermy.Many people who fish Toledo Bend and catch these prize bass often simply take a quick picture on the spot and release them immediately.Sometimes they will call us and share the moment and experience with us.Photo's taken at this event will be available at www.TheLakecaster.com6.68 lbs Keith Worthy - Orange, TX4.66 lbs James Whatley - Orange, TX4.47 lbs Clinton Ermis - Cypress, TX4.26 lbs Rocky Roszell - Deville, LA6.72 lbs Josh Bordelon - Deville, LA6.33 lbs Jeff Bunch - Nacogdoches, TX4.28 lbs Ramon Arias - Ore City, TX4.24 lbs Derek Wheat - Hammond, LA5.47 lbs Miles McDaniel - Milam, TX5.13 lbs Jarrett Trammell - Deville, LA4.40 lbs Beau Weir - Ore City, TX6.50 lbs Rebel Sonnier - Sulphur, LA5.45 lbs Gregory Guidry - Sulphur, LA4.92 lbs Roy Carroway - Lufkin, TX

Westlake's operations, which benefit from low-cost ethane based feedstock ethylene production, are generating historic highs in operating income and cash profits.

An 18-year-old Elton woman was killed and two other women critically injured in a two-vehicle crash on Ward Line Road and La.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of legalized casino gaming in Louisiana. Under state law, there are 15 riverboat licenses in the state.

Two organizations pitched proposals Wednesday to build and open new charter schools as soon as the 2014-15 school year in collaboration with the Lafayette Parish School Board.

House Speaker Chuck Kleckley, R-Lake Charles, and Senate President John Alario, R-Westwego, speak after a Revenue Estimating Conference meeting on May 15, 2013.

Aimee Smallwood, CEO of the Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation, is scheduled to speak at the Bossier Arts Council Gallery & Fine Arts Center, 2151 Airline Drive, Suite 200 at 11:30 a.m. Bossier is the latest stop on Smallwood's tour which began back in late April in Lake Charles.

The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Office and the Louisiana State Police celebrated National Police Week with a special ceremony on Tuesday morning.

LaGrange High School students will show a documentary they created for the school's 110th anniversary from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the school's library.

Barbe Elementary School in Lake Charles received a gold award of distinction from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service's HealthierUS Schools Challenge Tuesday at the Calcasieu Parish School Board meeting.

The Jindal administration's budget does not contain $42 million in termination pay and unemployment costs for the 5,000-plus state employees losing jobs because of its privatization of LSU hospitals, according to a report issued Monday.

"Whatever happened in the past happened in the past. Tonight we are talking about what is going on right now," said Tom Gayle, attorney for Industrial Carbon Services.

At about 8:30 p.m. on Sunday, officers with the Lake Charles Police Department were dispatched to Veterans Memorial Park in Lake Charles in reference to a robbery.

WICHITA, Kan.-Value Place announced today that construction has begun on a new property in Lake Charles, La.

Menard was fishing with his brother-in-law Friday morning at Lacassine Wildlife Refuge when the storm moved in to the east.