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 School board, judicial and municipal contests highlight a crowded election year  Qualifying has closed for the Nov. 3 election, leaving Union Parish voters with a ballot stretching from the United States Senate and Congress to school board, judicial, justice of the peace, constable and municipal offices.  The Louisiana Secretary of State’s candidate inquiry lists 78 candidates under 44 office headings …

 STAFF REPORT   Ruston attorney cites service in law enforcement, state litigation, and courtrooms throughout north Louisiana  RUSTON, La. – Attorney Phillip Ellis of Ruston today announced his candidacy for the open position of judge for the Third Judicial District Court, Division B, which serves Lincoln and Union parishes. Ellis said his decision to run for the judgeship was driven by …

 Johnny Dollar editor@fgazette.com   After Years of Planning, Farmerville Mega Ramp Nears Construction  The Town of Farmerville’s long-awaited Lake D’Arbonne Mega Ramp project has reached another major milestone, with engineering complete, state reviews nearing completion, and construction bidding expected to begin within the next several weeks.  The Gazette recently interviewed Oliver Neal, project engineer with Meyer, Meyer, LaCroix & Hixson (MML&H;), the …

Youth Pageant Queens 2026

 Sydney Lake Fortune.com   Meta’s sprawling AI data center in rural Louisiana just got a massive cash infusion, but not everyone close to the project is celebrating.  The company said Monday its Hyperion supercluster in Richland Parish will expand to a 5-gigawatt facility costing more than $50 billion, making it Meta’s largest data center and one of the biggest AI infrastructure projects …

 Gabe Kenley gabe@fgazette.com   “Happy Fourth of July,” a phrase that was uncertain midday July 4th, 2026 in Farmerville, Louisiana. Heavy thunderstorms set in and nearly cancelled the Fourth of July Fireworks on Lake D’Arbonne annual event hosted by the Union Parish Chamber of Commerce.  Thankfully, however, the weather would even out, and enough of the fireworks were still viable to host …

 Johnny E. Dollar editor@fgazette.com   LETLOW WINS GOP SENATE NOMINATION; FLEMING EMERGES WITH POLITICAL STRENGTH INTACT  Congresswoman Advances to November General Election While State Treasurer Demonstrates Enduring Conservative Support  Congresswoman Julia Letlow captured the Republican nomination for the United States Senate after defeating Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming in one of the state’s most closely watched Republican contests in recent years. The …

D’Arbonne Woods Charter School STAFF REPORT D’Arbonne Woods Charter School is proud to announceMrs. A’naliese Towns as our new ExecutiveDirector.Mrs. Towns is a native of Morehouse Parish anda graduate of Sterlington High School. She holds aMaster’s Degree in Educational Leadership, plus30 graduate hours, and is a certified EducationalDiagnostician. Throughout her career and into hernew role, she remains a passionate advocate …

Judge Bruce Hampton  STAFF REPORT   District Judge Bruce Hampton today announced his candidacy for re-election as the Division C judge for the Lincoln-Union Parish 3rd Judicial District. The election is Nov. 3.  Hampton began serving as the Division C judge in November 2018, filling out the unexpired term of former District Judge Jay McCallum of Farmerville. Hampton was then elected …

 Julie O’Donoghue  Louisiana Illuminator   Louisiana lawmakers now have deadline to choose between teacher pay cut or school funding reduction  Louisiana lawmakers have until 5 p.m on June 23 to cast their vote on whether to shift $168 million from public school operations to another year of public school teacher pay stipends. (Photo by Spenser Heaps/Utah News Dispatch)  Louisiana lawmakers have …