The following arrests were made by local law enforcement officers.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Rapides Parish – Louisiana State Police Troop E responded to a two-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 71 at Bill Warner Road on July 28 at approximately 4:42pm. The crash claimed the life of 29-year-old Michael Dauzat Jr. of Hessmer.
The initial investigation revealed that a 2009 Toyota Camry, driven by Dauzat, was southbound on U.S. Highway 71. For reasons still under investigation, Dauzat attempted to access the service road by crossing both northbound travel lanes. This maneuver put the Camry in the direct path of a northbound 1993 Chevrolet Caprice. As a result, the Caprice impacted the Camry.
Dauzat, restraint usage unknown, sustained severe injuries and was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The driver of the Caprice, who was restrained, sustained moderate injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment. Routine toxicology samples were obtained and submitted for analysis.
While the cause of this crash remains under investigation, distracted and inattentive driving continues to be a leading cause of crashes in the state. Louisiana State Police urges all motorists to stay alert while driving. A lapse in one’s awareness can have deadly consequences.
| How familiar are you with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technology? | Percentage of the 3306 completed surveys that selected this one statement |
|---|---|
| Somewhat familiar – I have a general understanding of what it involves | 54.08% |
| Very familiar – I understand the technical processes and current applications | 35.03% |
| Slightly familiar – I’ve heard of it but don’t know much detail | 7.80% |
| Not familiar at all – This is new to me | 3.09% |
| What concerns, if any, do you have about carbon capture and sequestration technology? (Select all that apply) | Percentage of the 3306 completed surveys that selected this concern |
|---|---|
| Safety risks from storing CO2 underground | 82.21% |
| Environmental impacts and contamination of water supply | 82.03% |
| Render our land as “non-marketable” for a potential sale in the future | 73.50% |
| High costs and economic viability | 42.47% |
| No significant concerns | 10.53% |
| Which of the following potential environmental impacts of CCS operations do you consider most significant? (Select up to 3) | Percentage of the 3306 completed surveys that selected this element |
|---|---|
| Potential groundwater contamination | 84.94% |
| Long-term geological stability risks | 56.81% |
| Disruption of local ecosystems during construction and operation | 37.57% |
| Air quality impacts from capture facilities | 30.49% |
| Induced seismic activity (earthquakes) from injection processes | 30.13% |
| No significant concerns | 9.98% |
| Do you believe our Governor should place a moratorium on all carbon capture and sequestration, restore the local governmental authority of each parish, and the right of the citizens of each parish to approve, or disapprove of these massive CO2 injection wells? | Percentage of the 3306 completed surveys that selected YES / NO |
|---|---|
| YES | 86.57% |
| NO | 13.43% |
| Do you know where your Local and State Elected Officials stand on the carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) issue? | Percentage of the 3306 completed surveys that selected YES / NO |
|---|---|
| YES | 57.53% |
| NO | 42.47% |
This poll was to gain insight among the readership of the Parish Journal regarding Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS). This is simply a snapshot-in-time of the opinions of our readership at the time the survey was taken. This is NOT a scientific poll.
Secretary of State Nancy Landry announced that, due to legislation passed in the 2025 Regular Legislative Session, the Independent Party will cease to exist as a recognized political party in Louisiana on Aug. 1, 2025. Voters registered as Independent will have their party affiliation automatically changed to “No Party” in the state’s voter registration system. Affected voters will receive a notification by mail, including an updated voter information card.
The Louisiana Legislature mandated this change in Act 84 of the 2025 Regular Session to prepare for the state’s transition to a Closed Party Primary system for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Louisiana Supreme Court, Public Service Commission, and Board of Elementary & Secondary Education contests. Closed Party Primaries will begin in 2026 and participation will be limited to voters whose party affiliation is listed as Democrat, Republican, or “No Party” on their voter registrations.
“Many Louisiana voters who are registered as Independents mistakenly believe they are unaffiliated with any political party, when in fact they are members of the Independent Party,” Secretary Landry said. “This proactive change will allow voters formerly registered as Independents to participate in Closed Party Primaries next year, preventing voter confusion while maximizing participation.”
Louisiana’s new Closed Party Primaries were created by the Louisiana Legislature in Act 1 of the 2024 First Extraordinary Session. Secretary Landry encourages voters to check their voter registration information on the GeauxVote Online Registration System or free GeauxVote mobile app to ensure their information and party affiliation are up to date.
The first day of school for Avoyelles Parish schools is Thursday, August 7, and the official start and end times for each school are available below. Make sure children arrive on time and are ready to start the school year strong! Everyone is excited to kick off another amazing year of learning and growing together.
In addition to the school schedule, APSB also updated its bus routes. The new bus routes are designed to improve safety, efficiency, and on-time arrivals for all students. Review routes before the first day of school at www.avoyellespsb.com. Let’s work together to ensure a smooth and successful start to the year.
Louisiana State Police and the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) are alerting residents about another text message scam that aims to steal personal information and charge unnecessary fees.
In the latest iteration of the scam, many Louisiana residents have received text messages claiming the recipient has an “outstanding traffic ticket” and must pay a fee or face repercussions. These messages are fraudulent; do not click links, respond, or send payment. The OMV advises all recipients to ignore and delete these messages immediately.
The Louisiana OMV offers the following tips to help residents avoid scams:
The Louisiana OMV does not send text messages or emails threatening prosecution for traffic or fee violations. To process legitimate online services safely and securely, Louisiana residents can visit the official OMV website at www.expresslane.org.
The Lifeshare Bloodmobile will be at the Avoyelles Hospital on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 11am to 4pm. Donate and receive a limited edition Lifeshare koozie duo while supplies last.
The Avoyelles Parish School Board still has several openings across the district, including school secretary and bus driver positions, plus opportunities in classrooms and more.
Join a team that believes in bright futures for every student.
Check out all current openings and apply today at: www.avoyellespsb.com/employment
The Bordelonville Volunteer Fire Department recently announced that it received $225,000 in cash from the State of Louisiana. Cash money means there are no matching funds. These funds were submitted for improvements to the Bordelonville VFD training facility.
The VFD expressed gratitude to State Representative Mr. Daryl Deshotel, who worked so hard to help the department obtain these funds. Without his support, this would not have been possible.