As communities across the nation prepare to celebrate the Fourth of July, 2026, Americans will also recognize a historic milestone: the 250th anniversary of the United States.
On July 4, 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, setting in motion the creation of a new nation built on the ideals of liberty, self-government and opportunity. Two and a half centuries later, the anniversary offers an opportunity to reflect on the generations who have shaped the country through service, sacrifice, innovation, perseverance and community.
The nation’s 250th birthday will be marked by fireworks, parades, family gatherings, patriotic programs and local celebrations. Beyond the traditions, the occasion serves as a reminder that America’s story continues to be written in neighborhoods, schools, businesses, churches, farms, military bases and communities across the country.
For many families, Independence Day is a time to gather around picnic tables, watch fireworks light up the summer sky and share stories across generations. It is also a time to honor those who have served to protect the freedoms celebrated each July Fourth.
As the United States enters its next chapter, the 250th anniversary stands as a moment to remember where the nation began, recognize the people who have carried its promise forward and look ahead with hope for the generations still to come.
As Louisiana families prepare to celebrate Independence Day and America’s 250th year, the Office of State Fire Marshal (SFM) is urging residents to put safety first and use fireworks responsibly.
Fireworks remain a leading cause of preventable holiday injuries each year. Sparklers can reach temperatures above 2,000 degrees, creating a serious burn risk, especially for children.
According to 2025 data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, fireworks misuse and malfunction were linked to at least 15 deaths and an estimated 13,000 emergency department-treated injuries. Sparklers accounted for an estimated 1,300 injuries. People ages 15 to 24 were injured most often, with burns to the hands, fingers and head among the most common injuries.
More than 660 permitted fireworks stands will operate statewide this season, with retail sales allowed through 11:59 p.m. July 5. Louisiana law requires fireworks vendors to be licensed and permitted through the SFM and to sell only where fireworks are authorized.
“Public fireworks displays remain the safest way to celebrate,” said DPS Principal, Assistant Chief Bryan J Adams. “If you choose to use consumer fireworks at home, plan ahead, follow safety guidelines and buy only from licensed vendors.”
To help prevent injuries, the Office of State Fire Marshal recommends:
Check local burn bans and avoid fireworks during dry or windy conditions
Use fireworks in open areas at least 200 feet from buildings, vehicles and flammable materials
Never allow children to handle fireworks; consider safer alternatives such as glow sticks or public displays
Never use homemade, altered or illegal fireworks and always follow label instructions
Do not use fireworks while impaired by alcohol or drugs
Light one firework at a time and keep a hose or bucket of water nearby
Soak used fireworks before disposal and never place dry fireworks in the trash
The celebration takes place on Tuesday, July 14, 2026 – 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. CST
Restaurant location is 440 Keyser Ave., Natchitoches, LA 71457
Chick-fil-A’s Cow Appreciation Day is Tuesday, July 14,2026 and we would love you to join us to celebrate!
Guests who visit our restaurant dressed like a cow or dressed in their best cow-inspired spots can get a free selected chicken entrée that day.
A little history on the day:
Cow Appreciation Day first launched in 2005 as a lighthearted idea built around fun, community and the iconic Chick-fil-A Cows. Over time, it grew into one of the brand’s most recognizable traditions.
For nearly 15 years, Customers showed up dressed like Cows to celebrate together, turning a one-day event into something that created lasting memories for families, Team Members and communities alike. That kind of enthusiasm and connection is rare, and a reflection of the unique relationship Customers have with Chick-fil-A.
Now, after a seven-year pause, Cow Appreciation Day returns as part of Summer of Cows and the 2026 year of Newstalgia. For Natchitoches, this is our first celebration, and we would love to see you in store and have you celebrate with us.
Our cow will be making an appearance that day as well. At 5 PM bring your kiddos and join us for “Reading with the Cow” where we will read a book together and take photos with the cow.
We can’t wait to see you in your best cow gear on Tuesday!
*Offer valid only on July 14, 2026, 7:00 A.M. through 7:00 P.M.
CST. One (1) free entrée per person. Available free entrée options will be posted in store. Cow-themed attire required. Subject to availability. Cannot be combined with other offers or Chick-fil-A One® rewards. Guests can redeem free entrées via dine-in, carry-out or the drive-thru.
Journal staff taking a break for America’s 250th celebration
There’s a birthday party for all of us this weekend.
The United States of America turns 250 years old Saturday on Independence Day. The staff at the Natchitoches Parish Journal is getting a well-deserved break to celebrate the holiday beginning early, and as a result there will not be a Friday edition this week only.
We’ll be back early Monday morning online, publishing our free-to-everybody news, information and sports coverage that you count on.
Enjoy your holiday weekend events and celebrate the home of the brave, and the land of the free.
When you think of bigtime celebrating in Louisiana, most people automatically think “New Orleans.”
I get it.
A town with few rivals. Internationally appreciated. A culture all its own. Can’t walk down its streets without overhearing several different languages.
I love it.
But if you want to celebrate without the traffic, the potholes, and a less likelihood of your car getting jacked, you getting mugged, or your toilet getting backed up, I’ll take Natchitoches any day of the week.
(I’d take Ruston, Minden, and Farmerville too, and we haven’t even gotten out of northwest Louisiana yet.)
Louisiana is blessed with small-town goodness.
But today, for a special reason, the salute goes to charming, quaint, welcoming Natchitoches.
Of course there are the annual Christmas lights. (I might be the only person in a five-state area who’s never been.) Eeeeeeeverybody loves the Christmas lights.
But Natty lights up each summer too.
The annual Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame class is inducted each June, usually on the fourth weekend. The welcome mat, the red carpet, the good times are rolled out and one of the South’s finest small towns says, “Come on and getcha some!”
Last weekend was no exception, and my encouraging word would be to consider going next summer or the next or as soon as you can to a Hall of Fame weekend. All the deets — plus a replay of the ceremony and video intros of each inductee, all produced by the team of all-stars at Louisiana Public Broadcasting — are at lasportshall.com.
The weekend never disappoints.
If you haven’t studied just how the actual LASHOF works, the induction side of it, please be encouraged to read this effort by Doug Ireland, the chairman of the Hall. The road to the sports hall of fame in your state is significantly steeper than the road to the sports halls of fame in most any other state. Most states are trying to scrape together a couple of inductees each year. Louisiana’s selection committee has year-long knock-down drag-outs to figure out which eight stars should be inducted that year.
And each year, some deserving candidates are left knocking on the door. It’s fascinating that in Louisiana, you can’t swing a cat without it hitting a Super Bowl winner, All-American, Pro-Bowler, Olympic medalist, national champ, All Star … and the list goes on.
And on and on.
And each year, more stars and studs become eligible.
The setting is always a no-doubter. Natchitoches. The actual Hall of Fame on Front Street. (Don’t forget to go upstairs! It’s a state history museum, not just sports.) The Cane River Right There, even though it’s not a river. The awnings. The bricked street. The food.
The flowers. The hospitality.
It’s a movie set.
And then the Events Center, decorated more beautifully each year. (One member of this year’s induction class didn’t “get it” until Saturday night when he saw the joint. “Wait a minute,” he said. “I thought … I didn’t know it was going to be like this.”
Oh, it’s a big deal. Done right.
And if you walk downtown a couple of hours after the Saturday night induction, all is calm again. Like walking in a painting.
Because of the pandemic in 2020, two ceremonies were held in 2021. In the same summer. Both were full throttled. Natty didn’t skimp. Sponsors, volunteers, organizers: everyone showed up with their A-games. The whole town is like a living Statue of Liberty.
And this year’s inductees? Humble. Authentic. Seldom does an inductee disappoint. They get what ball means to Louisiana, and maybe through the ceremony and the weekend, they begin to get how they each fit into the state’s Phenomenal, Stunning Sports Story.
The Hall’s a place where legends live, and Natchitoches keeps the lights on and the fire burning so you can meet them any time.
Pat Williams (center) and Todd McClure (right) shared the stage with Tim Brando (left) a few feet apart last Saturday, just as the duo was in close quarters several times in college and NFL. (Photo by CHRIS REICH, for the LSWA)
Foes up front in college, NFL, new Hall of Fame inductees meet once again
By JASON PUGH, Written for the LSWA
They collided, literally, in their college and pro football careers, lining up across from each other on the front lines.
Last weekend’s reunion for Todd McClure and Pat Williams could not have been more pleasant. They were the big fellas in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame’s 2026 induction class that made its final step into the Hall at the Induction Ceremony last Saturday night at the Natchitoches Events Center.
McClure, a center throughout his long NFL career with the Atlanta Falcons, had banged up against Williams, a nose tackle for Buffalo and Minnesota, numerous times in their playing days. They first met in a couple of college games when LSU and McClure took on Williams and Texas A&M.
They had an easy camaraderie and obvious mutual respect apparent from last Thursday when they met at the Hall of Fame museum before the introductory press conference.
“Ohh, yes, we do know each other,” said McClure. “Nobody wanted to see Pat Williams on the other side of the ball.”
They took different paths to the NFL. Williams, at Wossman High in Monroe, needed to go to junior college after not taking academics too seriously. He was an All-American there and a standout for the Aggies in two seasons, but was not chosen in the NFL Draft. He made it in Buffalo behind Pro Football Hall of Famer Bruce Smith as a free agent, launching a 13-year NFL career.
McClure was an All-America center as a senior at LSU, but was picked in the last round of the draft by Atlanta. Nobody could deny him in a distinguished 14-season stay with the Falcons.
A three-sport star at Central High School, McClure went to nearby LSU with designs on playing both football and baseball, where he would have teamed with his brother, Trey, an All-American on the diamond.
Instead, it took former Tiger coach Gerry DiNardo all of three games to nix any idea of Todd McClure joining his brother at venerable Alex Box Stadium.
“I had played mostly tight end and defensive end in high school,” McClure said. “I didn’t know how quickly I could pick it up. My sports background allowed me to pick it up so quickly. It helped to have Alan Faneca, an NFL Hall of Famer, teaching me the ropes. Coach DiNardo told me I had a chance to make the NFL. For a freshman, for him to put those thoughts in my mind, meant a lot.”
After a standout career anchoring the Tiger offensive line and twice earning All-SEC honors, McClure was a seventh-round draft pick of the Atlanta Falcons.
There, the man fellow Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer Kevin Faulk referred to as the second smartest player on that Tiger team and a true leader, McClure overcame a season-ending knee injury as a rookie to become even more than a foundation player for the Falcons.
“Todd was our rock of Gibraltar,” Falcons owner Arthur Blank said. “He’s one of the greats in the history of the Atlanta Falcons franchise. He’s an exceptional human being and leader in the NFL.”
A member of the Falcons’ Ring of Honor, McClure spent all 14 of his NFL seasons with the Falcons, a rarity in the current professional sports landscape.
“He dedicated himself not only to the team, but to his family,” said his father, Leo McClure. “He was able to keep them in one city. Sorry, Saints fans, once he was a Falcon, he was always a Falcon.”
McClure cited the meaning behind the Ring of Honor as the culmination of what he hoped for as a player.
“It wasn’t about awards or accolades,” he said. “You want to earn the respect of your teammates and coaches and the people you played against. For your owner to come out and show you that type of respect is why I played the game and why I loved the game.”
McClure and many offensive linemen during his career had plenty of respect for Monroe native Pat Williams.
Williams’ path from a standout career at Wossman High School to the NFL took him through the junior college route, beginning his college career at Navarro College in Corsicana, Texas.
After playing at Texas A&M and going undrafted, Williams grinded his way into the league and established a lengthy, often-dominant career at nose tackle, earning three Pro Bowl berths and a remarkable 37 game balls.
“I can’t say I was doubted,” Williams said. “I was doubting myself. I wasn’t doing school work like I should have been doing school work (in high school).”
Williams signed with the Buffalo Bills as an undrafted free agent in 1997 and enjoyed a standout eight-season run with the Bills, “tolerating” the blustery Buffalo winters.
In his lone foray into free agency, Williams signed with the Minnesota Vikings after the 2004 season. There he teamed with Kevin Williams (no relation) to form the dominant “Williams Wall” within the Vikings’ defensive line.
“He showed up and did some great things,” said Vikings defensive line coach Karl Dunbar. “Our first three years with Pat, we set an NFL record for holding teams under 63 yards on the ground. I saw the ability in Pat that he could really move around. He did that in college and in Buffalo. That’s how he earned the right to get to Minnesota.”
Those years with the Vikes capped a fabulous NFL run and earned him a weekend in Natchitoches, to claim the ultimate accolade in his career.
For the past decade the Dylan Kyle Poche Memorial Foundation has supported Northwestern State University’s competitive bass fishing team, raising money by hosting the DKP Memorial Fishing Tournament on Toledo Bend. But this year’s 10th annual event wasn’t just about fishing and scholarships. The Poche Foundation is also supporting a local child and her family with a donation to the Cure Sanfilippo Foundation.
Incoming NSU freshmen Michael Watkins of Alexandria, Adelyn Parr of St. Francisville and Eli Lockart of Tioga are this year’s recipience of Dylan Kyle Poche Fishing Scholarships that are awarded to NSU students who will compete on the NSU Fishing Team. Funds from the Poche Foundation also defray expenses incurred with travel and competition. Over the last 10 years, the Poche Foundation has donated more than $200,000 to the NSU Foundation, adding $22,000 after this year’s event.
Although devoted to the NSU Fishing Team, Burt and Shelley Poche said they had been looking for other local philanthropies to support. The obvious choice was to help their neighbors and long-time friends Kirk and Morgan Rachal, whose 3-year-old daughter Lydia needs treatment for Sanfilippo syndrome.
Sanfilippo syndrome is a rare terminal neurodegenerative disease estimated to affect 1 in every 70,000 births. Children born with Sanfilippo syndrome lack a specific enzyme that breaks down natural cellular waste so that over time, toxic buildup causes rapid mental and physical degeneration. Losses typically begin around age 4.
There is currently no cure, but important research is taking place. After Lydia’s diagnosis, the Rachals connected with the Cure Sanfilippo Foundation and launched Save Lydia, a far-reaching awareness and fundraising initiative that engaged friends, volunteers, organizations, churches and communities far beyond Louisiana seeking contributions to fund a treatment option. Lydia’s story made national news and support came in from all over the world. The goal was to raise $3.8 million by Dec. 1, 2025, and a remaining $2.2 million this spring to enable Lydia and other children with Type B Sanfilippo syndrome access to treatment.
The goal was met. Lydia is on the list for enzyme replacement therapy. In August, she will be admitted to UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for treatment that will last three months, followed by weekly infusions. Gene therapy, which would be a one-time treatment, is still in the future. Information on the Cure Sanfilippo Foundation and Save Lydia is available at curesanfilippofoundation.org/save_lydia/.
Burt and Shelley Poche established the Dylan Kyle Poche Memorial Fishing Scholarship in memory of their son to help students who share a passion for fishing achieve their goals while doing what they love. Poche was a 2015 graduate of Natchitoches Central High School and an avid outdoorsman. He excelled at tournament fishing and was a member of the NCHS Fishing Team and the NSU Fishing Team as a freshman. He passed away in January 2016. Information on the Dylan Kyle Poche Memorial Foundation is available at dylankylepoche.com.
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) has announced a temporary road closure affecting LA 478 at the Union Pacific railroad crossing near its intersection with LA 1.
The closure is scheduled for Wednesday, July 15, 2026, weather permitting, and is expected to remain in place from approximately 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. for one day.
According to DOTD, the closure is necessary to allow Union Pacific crews to conduct maintenance work on the railroad crossing.
During the closure, traffic will be detoured from the LA 478 crossing west onto Interstate 49 northbound, then east onto LA 6 Business/University Parkway, and south onto LA 1.
Northbound traffic on LA 1 will continue north and use LA 6 (University Parkway) and I-49 southbound to reconnect with LA 478 eastbound.
Officials noted that all construction activity is weather dependent and may be rescheduled in the event of inclement weather. DOTD also reminded motorists to use caution when traveling through work zones and to be on the lookout for crews and equipment.
The Natchitoches Parish School Board has announced that registration for the 2026–2027 school year is now open for both new and returning students.
Families with students currently enrolled in Natchitoches Parish Schools can complete returning student registration through the JCampus system. Parents and guardians are encouraged to review and update all student information, including contact details and home address, and upload any required documents.
According to the district, accurate information is essential as it is used to determine bus routes and transportation eligibility. Officials noted that incorrect or outdated information may impact transportation for the upcoming school year.
Students who are already enrolled but are transitioning to a new campus due to a change of address or grade progression are also required to complete the returning student registration process.
Families with students new to Natchitoches Parish Schools, including incoming kindergarten students, should complete the new student registration process online.
The district emphasized that families should select the 2026–2027 school year when registering and noted that registration is not complete until the “Submit” process is finished.
For Pre-K registration information, families are directed to contact the district office by phone or visit the Ready, Set, Learn program website. Assistance is also available for K–12 registration through the district’s online registration support team via email.
The Natchitoches Parish School Board said it looks forward to welcoming students back for another successful school year and encouraged families to ensure all students are registered and ready for day one.
Northwestern State University alumnus Dieter Fertsch, Class of 2001, has been appointed honorary consul of the Federal Republic of Germany in Honduras. He will represent Germany in the country’s northern region while continuing to serve as general manager and CEO of his family’s business.
Fertsch, who earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Northwestern State in 2001, is based in San Pedro Sula. As honorary consul, he serves as Germany’s official representative in northern Honduras, assisting German citizens, promoting economic, cultural and educational ties between Germany and Honduras and coordinating with the German Embassy in Tegucigalpa.
“My years at NSU played an important role in shaping both my professional career and my outlook on leadership,” Fertsch said.
As an international student at Northwestern State, Fertsch was involved in intramural soccer, the International Student Organization and Theta Chi Fraternity’s Eta Omicron Chapter.
“I enjoyed participating in intramural soccer, and I was a member of the International Student Organization, which brought together students from around the world and encouraged cross-cultural engagement, experiences that would later influence my interest in international relations and diplomacy,” Fertsch said.
After graduating, Fertsch returned to Honduras and joined COGACSA, the family business founded by his grandfather in 1948. He now serves as the company’s general manager and CEO. He also serves as vice president of the German-Honduran Chamber of Commerce and Industry and as a member of the board of directors of the National Industrial Association of Honduras.
“The role allows me to combine my background in business leadership with public service while helping strengthen the longstanding relationship between both countries,” Fertsch said.
Fertsch said he remains grateful for his time at Northwestern State.
“I remain grateful for the education and experiences I received at Northwestern State University, which have contributed greatly to my professional journey,” Fertsch said.
The City of Natchitoches has announced an update regarding the temporary closure of the intersection of Church Street at Second Street.
The closure, originally planned for the evening of Wednesday, July 1, 2026, has been rescheduled to the evening of Thursday, July 2, 2026.
According to the city, the closure is necessary for the replacement of an existing sewer manhole at the intersection as part of an ongoing project to replace deteriorated concrete pavement and utilities along Second Street.
Officials said the work will take place during evening hours to reduce inconvenience to motorists. The intersection is expected to reopen to traffic by 8:00 a.m. on Friday, July 3.
During the closure, motorists will be detoured around the work zone using adjacent city streets.
The City of Natchitoches thanked the public for its patience during the project and urged drivers to follow all advance warning signs and traffic control devices.
For more information, residents may contact the City Engineer’s Office at (318) 357-3877.
Arthur O’Quinn Walker Jr., 76, of Dallas, Texas, passed away peacefully on June 7, 2026. Art was born on September 5, 1949, in Natchitoches, Louisiana, to Arthur O’Quinn Walker Sr. and Mildred Louise Adkins Walker. He grew up in Shreveport, where he attended Fair Park High School before continuing his education at Louisiana Tech University. He then studied at the University of Texas, where he earned his master’s degree in petroleum engineering.
While attending Louisiana Tech, Art met the love of his life, Donna Lee Spargo. They married and shared 56 years together, building a life centered on faith, family, and service to others. Art faithfully served his country in the United States Navy for 20 years, retiring with the rank of Commander. Following his military service, he had a successful career in the oil and gas industry. He started as a petroleum engineer with John D. Caruthers, and ultimately partnered with Witt Caruthers to purchase Caruthers Producing Co., where he stayed until his retirement.
More than any title or accomplishment, Art was defined by his faith, his devotion to his family, and the quiet strength with which he lived his life. He loved Jesus deeply and demonstrated that love through humble service, unwavering loyalty, and steadfast commitment to those around him. He was a man whose actions spoke louder than words. Disciplined, loyal, kind, generous, selfless, hard-working, patient, and humble, Art lived his convictions daily.
After coming to know Christ, one of Art’s most treasured habits was rising early each morning to study God’s Word. His faith was not merely something he professed—it shaped the way he lived, loved, and served others. For more than 30 years, he faithfully served as a >deacon at First Baptist Bossier, investing in his church and encouraging those around him. Art’s greatest joy was his family. Known affectionately as Pops to his children and grandchildren, he rarely missed an opportunity to cheer them on. Across their variety of interests, he was there—quietly present, faithfully supportive, and genuinely interested in the lives of those he loved. Nothing brought him greater happiness than spending time with his family and watching his children and grandchildren thrive.
Art is survived by his beloved wife, Donna Lee Spargo Walker; his children, Todd Walker, Mark and his wife Hannah Walker, Lindsey and her husband Chad Hutchinson, Kelsey and her husband Jay Hills, and daughter-in-law Katie Walker; his grandchildren, Riley Walker, Jackson Walker, Presley Walker, Shea Walker, Chloe Walker, Isabella Walker, Justus Walker, Sky Walker, Isaac Hutchinson, Wyatt Hutchinson, London Hutchinson, Hyde Hills, and Remy Hills; and his siblings, Mickey Walker and Juana Walker.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur O’Quinn Walker Sr. and Mildred Louise Adkins Walker, and his sister, Toni Sewell.
Art’s legacy is found not only in the family he loved so deeply, but also in the example he set through a life of faith, service, humility, and integrity. His steady presence, servant’s heart, and unwavering devotion to Christ will continue to inspire those who knew and loved him. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association in Art’s memory.
Services will be held at Airline Baptist Church in Bossier City, LA, on Sunday July 19, 2026 at 2pm.
State Representative Gabe Firment officially announced his candidacy for Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District, pledging to bring proven conservative leadership, rural values, and a results-driven approach to Washington.
Firment, who has represented his district in the Louisiana House of Representatives since 2019, currently serves as Chairman of the House Insurance Committee and has built a reputation as a principled conservative leader, small business owner, and advocate for Louisiana families.
“Washington doesn’t need another career politician,” Firment said. “It needs leaders who understand the people they serve, share their values, and are willing to fight for them.
I’m running for Congress because Louisiana deserves a proven conservative who will stand up for our families, our freedoms, and our future.”
A native of Rapides Parish, Firment is a graduate of Louisiana Christian University and Louisiana Tech University. He and his wife, Erica, a public school educator, raised their family in Grant Parish and are proud parents of three children and grandparents of three grandchildren.
A committed Christian, deacon, and Sunday School teacher, Firment has been recognized as a defender of traditional values and individual liberties, earning thePrestigious Gladiator Award from Louisiana Family Forum for his leadership in the Louisiana Legislature.
As a lifelong Republican, Firment has championed policies that defend life, protect the Second Amendment, strengthen public safety, lower taxes, and protect private property rights. He has been a vocal advocate for farmers, timber producers, and rural communities throughout Louisiana.
If elected, Firment says his priorities will include securing the border, restoring American energy dominance, protecting Social Security and Medicare, defending constitutional freedoms, and supporting President Trump’s America First agenda.
“Louisiana’s 5th District deserves a fighter who will stand firm and deliver results,” Firment said. “I’m ready to take that fight to Washington.”
James Genovese is president of Northwestern State University (Chris Reich, Courtesy of Northwestern State University)
By Piper Hutchinson, Louisiana Illuminator
Northwestern State president says his plan is ‘wasting away in Margaritaville’
State Sen. Alan Seabaugh takes credit for ousting Northwestern State University’s president in 2024 and, with the backing of Gov. Jeff Landry, replacing him with former Louisiana Supreme Court Justice Jimmy Genovese.
Two years later, Genovese says he isn’t able to count on either of his two supporters to advance his plans for the school, which include starting the first law school in North Louisiana.
In recent interviews, Genovese said his feud with Seabaugh, a Republican whose district includes the Natchitoches campus, is costing Northwestern State much-needed cash from the state. And it was Landry who came up with the idea to open a law school at the university, but the governor has since dropped his support of the plan, he said
“It wasn’t my idea,” Genovese said. “When I came on board … there were discussions coming out of the governor’s office regarding a law school, so I just went with the flow.”
When asked if the governor supports a new law school at Northwestern State, Landry spokeswoman Kate Kelly said that decision is completely up to the Board of Regents, which oversees higher education in Louisiana.
While he maintains the governor still privately backs the idea, Genovese said two factors have led Landry away from providing any public or material support. The first, Genovese said, is Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, whose district includes Tulane University, home to one of the state’s four law schools. Genovese said the governor doesn’t want to get crosswise with a legislative leader he needs to advance his agenda.
“The last thing Louisiana needs is more lawyers,” Henry said when reached for comment about Genovese’s proposal.
Another obstacle, Genovese said, is that promoting a new law school might create the impression that Landry supports trial attorneys. The governor himself is an attorney and has received campaign contributions from trial lawyers.
“There was this nasty fight … between the insurance industry and the trial lawyers, and I don’t think the governor wants to be labeled a trial lawyer person,” Genovese said.
Genovese provided a copy of his law school proposal he said he submitted to the Board of Regents and the University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors, which oversees Northwestern State. Genovese and UL System board member Robert “Skeeter” Salim, Genovese’s lifelong friend and a prominent trial attorney in the state, requested the Regents expedite their review process so it could receive approval from the UL System Board just a month after it was proposed.
Emails the Illuminator obtained through a public records request show Board of Regents staff discussed the matter with Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed, who was not comfortable with an expedited review. Genovese and Salim have not brought the law school pitch to the full UL System board.
Genovese described his proposal as “wasting away in Margaritaville,” a reference to the Jimmy Buffet song.
Despite no further moves to make the proposal a reality, Genovese has continued to publicly advocate for the law school in speeches and in news interviews, rankling state lawmakers and other stakeholders.
“If the Board of Regents wanted another law school, they would do it,” said state Rep. Jack McFarland, R-Jonesboro, whose district includes Natchitoches. “So I don’t know why he continues to talk and advocate for things like that and get people’s hopes up, when obviously an application to do a law school has not moved within the Board of Regents.”
From reference to rival
While he seemingly tilts at windmills for a new law school, Genovese has also feuded with the lawmaker who claims he got him the job at Northwestern State.
Seabaugh, an conservative lawmaker, said in an interview last week his first order of business after joining the Louisiana Senate in 2024 was ousting Marcus Jones, the first Black leader at Northwestern State, who Seabaugh said was responsible for the school “going downhill in many ways.”
Sen. Alan Seabaugh
After being forced to resign, Jones returned to the University of Louisiana System office as executive vice president and chief operating officer.
Seabaugh proposed Genovese replace Jones in Natchitoches. Landry also backed Genovese for the job.
“Nobody was more responsible for putting him there than me,” Seabaugh said.
Genovese, despite having had no experience in higher education leadership, touted his budget expertise when interviewing with faculty and staff for the president’s job. He took credit for securing money for the Louisiana Supreme Court during his time as an associate justice from 2017-24.
That claimed fiscal prowess isn’t reflected in the state budget that takes effect Wednesday, however.
Northwestern State was the only public university in Louisiana to receive no additional funding in the primary budget bill on top of what each campus is required to receive. It was also the only campus left out of the supplemental budget, where lawmakers dole out millions for special projects. These special projects find their way into the budget at the request of lawmakers, usually senators.
When asked about Northwestern State’s omission in the budget, Genovese blamed Seabaugh.
“We don’t have a senator that helps us,” Genovese said. “[Seabaugh has] been mad at me from day one. I … hardly even know this guy.”
‘I don’t think he’s suited for the job’
Genovese said the feud started because he refused to fire Northwestern State employees Seabaugh asked him to dismiss. Since then, Genovese said, Seabaugh hasn’t answered his phone calls.
Seabaugh said none of that is true. By his account, he never asked Genovese to fire anybody but rather warned him not to take advice from the same people he viewed as leading Jones astray.
Jones has not responded to a request for comment.
Seabaugh also said he hasn’t refused any calls from Genovese, because he hasn’t gotten any to reject.
“If they want me to put something in the budget, they might want to ask,” Seabaugh said.
Though he wouldn’t characterize the tension between the two leaders as a “disagreement,” Seabaugh expressed frustration in the way Genovese handled the first major hire of his administration.
Genovese brought in former Northwestern State basketball coach Mike McConathy as a special adviser in fall 2024 shortly after he was hired. McConathy is a Louisiana basketball coaching legend who was recently inducted into the state’s Sports Hall of Fame. He also ran against Seabaugh in his 2023 Senate bid.
Seabaugh said he didn’t mind that he hired McConathy, but he did take issue with how Genovese addressed it with him.
“When he called me, he said, ‘I know this is going to piss you off, but I don’t care. I’m doing it anyway,’” Seabaugh recounted.
Genovese said that was not the language he used but confirmed he did call Seabaugh as a courtesy to tell him he was hiring McConathy, which he said angered the senator.
The two confirmed they haven’t talked since that call in 2024.
“He doesn’t know how to ask,” Seabaugh said. “I think he’s used to being a judge and telling people what to do. I don’t think he’s suited for the job he’s in.”
“The university has not improved and it’s not going to as long as he’s there,” the senator added.
Spending in question
McFarland, who leads the legislature’s budget-writing committee, said some of Genovese’s “decision making has been questioned.”
McFarland didn’t detail the gripes he has heard from lawmakers, but a look into Northwestern State’s budget shows warning signs of financial difficulties ahead.
Genovese has raised pay for Northwestern State’s approximately 800 employees three times in less than two years, despite the university operating at a deficit. The university projects a shortfall of $13.4 million for the fiscal year that ended Tuesday, according to a UL System financial report. The university has covered the cost by spending down its cash reserves.
Other UL System schools are in worse financial positions, but Northwestern State’s spending has raised the eyebrows of its board members, who questioned Genovese about the deficit at last week’s meeting. Genovese said the university was likely to end the next fiscal year in the black, possibly with a surplus.
While Genovense’s spending at Northwestern State has increased, enrollment at the school has dropped. Its student body reached 8,847 in 2023 and fell to 8,402 for fall 2025, a 5% decrease. Less than a quarter of NSU students attend class on campus, which means they bring in less revenue for the school.
Other schools in the UL System are also experiencing enrollment declines, but most are adjusting their budgets to match.
“We’re closely monitoring the enrollment projections and being optimistic that they will be able to turn the tide on their own,” UL System President Rick Gallot, Genovese’s boss, said about the budget situation.
Photo and Article Courtesy of the Louisiana Illuminator
As Northwestern State University (NSU) looks ahead to the Fall 2026 semester, internal tracking data reveals that high school dual enrollment programs are projected to play an even larger role in the university’s total headcount than in previous semesters.
According to an official institutional research document, the university has set an aggressive Next Fall Target of 7,879 undergraduate students. However, a closer look at the tracking metrics shows that nearly one-third of that entire target population is made up of high school students.
The ‘Enrollment Mask’ Expands
The university separates its high school and introductory enrollment into two tracking categories: University (Non-Prep) and University (Prep). For the upcoming Fall 2026 semester, the university’s targets for these categories are:
UNIV (Non-Prep) Target: 351 students
UNIV (Prep) Target: 2,183 students
Total High School Target: 2,534 students
If NSU hits its goals, dual enrollment students will account for 32.2%—nearly one out of every three—of the total undergraduate student body. This represents a significant shift from previous years, expanding the “Enrollment Mask” that higher education analysts say allows institutions to report stable or growing total headcounts while masking a structural decline in full-time, on-campus students.
Current Summer Progress
As of June 24, 2026, registration tracking shows the university still has a long hill to climb before reaching its census goals, which is typical for this point in the summer cycle.
The university’s Current Enrollment stands at 4,732 out of the 7,879 target. When isolating the true degree-seeking undergraduate numbers from the high school dual enrollment categories, the breakdown shows:
Total Reported Current Enrollment: 4,732*
Current Dual Enrollment (Prep & Non-Prep): 768
True Current Undergraduate Enrollment: 3,964**
*Note: Across the university’s broader tracking metrics, true undergraduate enrollment stands at 3,964; however, it should be noted that many of these students are online-only or attend classes outside of the main campus in Natchitoches.
While a vast majority of the targeted 2,534 high school students will be registered later in the summer as school districts finalize their schedules, the physical campus infrastructure remains tied to the 3,964 true undergraduates currently on the books.
Budget vs. Body Count
The economic reality for the Natchitoches campus remains stark. Traditional undergraduate students pay full tuition and generate critical “auxiliary revenue” through campus housing, meal plans, and student fees. In contrast, dual enrollment students pay deeply discounted contract rates or receive state-funded exemptions.
The physical presence of these students on campus remains rare. While a select few students from local institutions like Natchitoches Central and the Louisiana School for Math, Science, and the Arts (LSMSA) are granted rare permission to attend classes in person, the vast majority of the dual enrollment population completes coursework remotely or at their respective high schools.
As the university pushes toward its ultimate master plan under leadership to stabilize total institutional footing, the tracking data indicates that the path to high headcount numbers relies more heavily than ever on the high school demographic.
**Note Dual Enrollment (DE) students are excluded from “True Enrollment” figures above. While these students are academically valuable, their reduced tuition and minimal use of campus facilities mean they do not reflect the institutional sustainability or the market demand for the university’s core physical and residential services.
The City of Natchitoches would like to advise the public that on Saturday, July 4 the following streets will be closed at 9 PM in preparation for a 9:30 PM fireworks display for the conclusion of the City of Natchitoches July 4th Celebration.
Church Street bridge
Williams Ave., from Whitfield Ave. to Henry Ave.
All streets will open upon conclusion of the fireworks display once the Fire Marshal has given the all-clear.
In preparation for these events, the Downtown riverbank will be closed to all vehicular traffic beginning at 6 AM on Saturday, July 4.
*Front Street will be closed from Touline to Church Street from 6 AM to 1 PM for Farmers Market.
Doug said, “I drive, therefore I am,” and honestly, I’m starting to trust my version more.
I spend so many hours with my body attached to a car that I’m basically a mobile Methodist. I know I20 like the back of my hand—every bump, every dip, every spot where my cell signal disappears as if it’s entering the Witness Protection Program. I know where law enforcement hides, waiting to catch those who treat the speed limit as a suggestion from a friend rather than a command from the state. I know exactly how far I can push the fuel light before I’m praying in tongues at the next exit. If you see me on the Interstate, give me a wave. I’ll wave back. I’m friendly like that.
Driving entertains me. I read bumper stickers like they’re sacred texts. If you see me tailgating, don’t worry—I’m not being aggressive; I’m just trying to discern whether your “Coexist” sticker is faded or ironic. And I’ve developed a spiritual gift: I can tell when someone is talking on the phone while driving. They always slow down. Always. It’s like the car senses the conversation and decides to meditate.
Today I was headed to Bossier City when the nice truck in front of me decided it was time for a midjourney spa treatment. He hit his windshield washer at 70 mph. At my following distance, his washer fluid became my washer fluid. A surprise baptism by RainX. I just smiled and thanked God for the improvisational rain shower. Louisiana weather is unpredictable, but apparently so are Louisiana drivers.
Now here’s where the sermon sneaks in.
My actions can change your attitude, and your attitude interprets my actions. That’s the whole ballgame.
I could’ve gotten mad. I could’ve imagined he did it on purpose. I could’ve turned on my wipers and smeared my windshield into a Monet painting. Or I could interpret it factually: I was following too closely behind a man with a dirty windshield who needed to see better. Or I could interpret it spiritually: God’s grace falls on the just, the unjust, and the guy behind the truck who wasn’t expecting a windshield blessing.
We don’t live in a vacuum. Our actions splash onto the people behind us—sometimes literally. That’s why Scripture tells us to be careful how we walk. We don’t want to trip someone else up. But the other side is just as important: I’m not responsible for what you do to me, but I am responsible for what I let your actions do inside me.
The world is small. The road is shared. And whether we like it or not, we’re all windshield washers for somebody.
So drive kindly. Live kindly. And if you must baptize the car behind you, at least use the good fluid.
