Louisiana’s embattled Department of Children and Family Services took another hit Tuesday when a federal lawsuit was filed against the department and others on behalf of nine children who suffered abuse and psychiatric trauma while under DCFS supervision.The 95-page lawsuit, filed in Louisiana’s Middle District in Baton Rouge, details the abuse suffered by the nine plaintiffs, but also outlines a system …

Union Parish football star and LSU running back Trey Holly will not face an attempted murder charge after a grand jury refused to indict him after hearing evidence from the state’s Attorney General’s office.Holly still faces an weapons charge related to Feb. 9 shooting at the Union Villa apartments in Farmerville that left a man and woman with gunshot wounds. …

A stretch of “road” between Rocky Branch and Point washed out during the storm, but was open again as of Wednesday evening. Power outages, fallen trees, road closers mostly resolved as of late Wednesday The turbulent storm system that barreled through Union Parish this week dropped more than 7 inches of rain, left thousands temporarily without power, closed roads and …

The pregame logistics of LSU’s Elite Eight loss to Iowa have turned into a controversy that reached the governor’s mansion on Tuesday.Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry posted a tweet the morning after LSU’s 94-87 loss to Iowa calling for the Louisiana Board of Regents to create a policy mandating that student-athletes be present for a pregame national anthem or risk losing …

The Louisiana Gaming Control Board signed an order Wednesday banning licensed sportsbooks from offering prop bets on college athletes.The suspension on collegiate athlete prop bets begins Aug. 1 at 9 a.m. ET. The ban comes in time for college football season. The state of Louisiana has 10 Division I football program, including LSU.“It is the intention of the Louisiana Gaming …

BLACK BAYOU – Crappie fishing is improving around the trees on shiners and jigs Bass are fair fishing spinners and soft plastics around the points. Contact Honey Hole Tackle Shop 323-8707 for latest information.BUSSEY BRAKE – Bass fishing is improving with some to around 8 pounds caught on spinners and flipping creature baits around he brush. Crappie are in transition …

Ross Downer, Minden, is proud of his first gobbler, one he called in by himself Glynn HarrisGlynn Harris is a long-time outdoor writer from North Louisiana and has won more than 50 writing and broadcasting awards during his 47 year career. There is no way I could ever forget my introduction to hunting wild turkeys. I had actually tagged along …

Thomas FieldsThomas “Tuffy” Fields is an author and regular contributor to The Gazette. He can be reached by email at thelouisianaexplorer@yahoo.com. When I was in elementary school I had heard the story of the crucifixion of Jesus. For those that are younger, you heard right; I heard about it not only in Sunday School but also in school. Being Cristian, …

Sallie HollisSallie Rose Hollis is a native of Rocky Branch and retired Journalism Professer from Louisiana Tech University. Contact her at sallierose@mail.com. One of my most cherished memories concerning nature sprang from our last big solar eclipse here in North Louisiana. But it wasn’t the actual eclipse itself. It was a mere byproduct – one little incident that has remained …

Luke Britt Editor’s note: The following commentary was authored by Allison Plyer and Robert Habans, both with The Data Center of Southeast Louisiana. Plyer is the former chair of the U.S. Census Bureau’s Scientific Advisory Committee, and Habans is chief economist at The Data Center.Louisiana’s population loss is troubling because it suggests that the cost of living is out of …