On a summer morning in Philadelphia, a single sheet of parchment changed the world — or at least announced that it intended to. Two hundred and fifty years later, on July 4, 2026, a nation of 340 million people will gather under fireworks and flags to celebrate that announcement, and to argue, as Am...

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Summerville Baptist Church Pastor Buddy Willis, who has contributed to this newspaper many times throughout the years, submitted his Sunday, June 28 sermon for publication to coincide with the United States of America’s 250th birthday celebration.) I am an American, and I love Americ...

PART TWO of a Two-Part Series In observance of the nation’s birthday, residents across LaSalle Parish are reflecting on a word deeply tied to the American story: independence. To better understand what independence means at the local level, we asked leaders from parish towns to share their thoughts ...

After weeks of campaigning following the Closed Party Primary Election held on May 16, voters will head to the polls Saturday, June 27, to cast their ...

A well-known Jena pharmacist passed away last week. Sidney Mack “Maxie” Parker Jr., 84, of Jena, served as pharmacist at Jena Pharmacy, when it was lo...

On June 8, 2026, Governor Jeff Landry signed House Bill 578 into law.With that signature, Louisiana officially closed the chapter on what many conserv...