Earlier this week Washington Parish Sheriff’s deputies assisted in the rescue of a man injured while kayaking on the Bogue Chitto River, about eight miles north of Franklinton. The man’s 9-year-old daughter called 911 after he struck his head and began bleeding, moving him to a sandbar before swimming downstream and climbing to the Warnerton Bridge on LA-438 to seek help. Fire District 9 first attempted to reach the man but was forced to retreat due to strong currents and deep water. The Franklinton Fire Department then requested boat support from the Sheriff’s Office, and a WPSO captain and lieutenant launched into the river, locating and rescuing the man approximately a quarter mile upriver from the bridge. He was transferred to EMS for treatment. Authorities urge caution on local waterways following heavy rains, as rising water and swift currents can conceal hazards, and recommend carrying emergency radios in remote areas where cell service is limited.
–The Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) has received a $60 million grant from the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (RESTORE Council), securing the final major funding needed to fully deliver the $488 million River Reintroduction into Maurepas Swamp Project, slated for completion in 2029. This large-scale restoration effort will reconnect the Mississippi River to the Maurepas Swamp, revitalizing 45,000 acres of forested wetlands by providing vital freshwater, nutrients, and sediment to an ecosystem suffering from saltwater intrusion and land loss. The project also includes the construction of three reaches of the West Shore Lake Pontchartrain levee system, serving as compensatory mitigation for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ West Shore project. Funded through the RESTORE Act’s Spill Impact Component—established in response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill—the initiative is celebrated as a model of science-based restoration and state-federal collaboration. CPRA Chairman Gordy Dove called the grant a “game changer” for the region’s people, environment, and economy, while RESTORE Council Executive Director Mary Walker praised the project as an example of the Council’s mission to deliver impactful, large-scale ecological recovery across the Gulf Coast.
–AN17 reports that while speaking to the Ponchatoula Rotary Club, Senator Bill Wheat raised serious concerns about the potential financial impact of the federal budget bill in its current form, warning that Louisiana stands to lose as much as $4 billion in Medicaid reimbursements. He explained that such a significant reduction in federal support would leave a massive hole in the state budget, potentially affecting critical healthcare services and other essential programs. If the funding gap is not resolved through changes to the federal legislation, Senator Wheat said the Louisiana Legislature would likely be forced to return for a special session to make drastic and potentially painful budget cuts. He emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting that state leaders are already exploring contingency plans but hoping for federal action to prevent a crisis.
–The Town of Springfield is excited to announce that local artist Thomas Cain will be performing at the town’s Fourth of July celebration on June 29 from 6:30 to 8:45 p.m., offering an evening of music and community spirit. The town extends its heartfelt thanks to Cain’s Family Market for sponsoring Thomas Cain’s performance, as well as to Visit Livingston Parish and Cain’s Family Market for their generous support of the event. Their contributions help make this celebration possible and are deeply appreciated by the Town of Springfield.
