Author: Josh

Leaders from hotels, B&Bs and short-term rentals will meet at 3 p.m. Aug. 11 at City Council Chambers to discuss forming a Natchez lodging association to boost tourism. Also, Louisiana’s ban on debit-card surcharges takes effect tomorrow; violations carry fines. Other briefs: Ben Crump on the Nolan Wells case, Paracon in New Orleans and a…

Natchez hoteliers, B&Bs and short-term rental owners will meet Aug. 11 to discuss forming a Lodging Association to boost tourism. Meanwhile, Louisiana’s ban on debit‑card fees takes effect tomorrow, and Attorney Ben Crump says he has obtained audio related to the Nolan Wells investigation.

Natchez aldermen voted 3-2 to reject Alderman Valencia Hall’s proposal to freeze municipal overtime pay, with Mayor Dan Gibson saying it would micromanage Police Chief Lee Best’s staffing and pay decisions. Elsewhere: Louisiana construction is surging, arrests were made in a Centerville mass shooting, a THC–CBD trial eased dementia agitation, and the Mississippi River sits…

Concordia Parish plans to install cameras to catch illegal dumping amid a crackdown on roadside trash. Meanwhile Louisiana bans outdoor balloon releases, unveils a new “I Voted” sticker, and a 50-state AG coalition pushes the FCC to fight robocalls.

Two men, Cameron J. Brown and Jaquarius Davis, were booked in connection with a deadly downtown Shreveport hotel shooting as investigators seek additional suspects. State education officials urged firmer discipline, Mississippi warned schools about heat and head-injury precautions, and a new Meta data center is boosting Northeast Louisiana’s economy.

A heat wave is expected next week; Adams County’s safe room will open Monday at 10 a.m. through Wednesday for residents without cooling (bring medications and pet kennels). In other news, Louisiana AG Liz Murrow criticized a now-dismissed indictment against her, an independent autopsy into Nolan Wells’ death is undetermined, and Tropical Storm Bertha has…

Adams County has approved sheriff’s plans to install license-plate readers on county roads and city streets, prompting privacy concerns from the ACLU. Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Bertha is expected to make landfall near Burris in Plaquemines Parish today, bringing gusty winds and impacts across southern Louisiana.

Performance Dodge Chrysler Jeep in Ferriday is suing after its sewer bill jumped from $60 to $1,200 per month, asking the court to restore the prior rate, refund overpayments and cover legal fees. Also in local news: Tropical Storm Bertha preparations, heat-safety tips for students, and Louisiana’s first West Nile case.

An old oak that split outside Natchitoches City Hall has been cordoned off pending an expert assessment. Temperatures are set to climb and the LDH urges precautions as heat-related risks continue; starting Aug. 1 a new law will let stalking and cyberstalking victims terminate rental leases with third‑party verification.

A fire that destroyed the Delta Fuel building has shuttered the 500 block of Main Street, forcing merchants to adapt while officials assess collapse risks. Meanwhile Louisiana launches Workforce Pell grants for short-term job training, Mississippi reports two cyclospora cases, and New Orleans issues urgent e‑bike safety warnings; the Mississippi River at Natchez Valley is…