News

Tool shows 57% of eligible people received taxpayer subsidized food
— A new tool from the Urban Institute shows those who qualify for taxpayer-subsidized programs often not receiving assistance across those major safety net programs. Urban Institute’s State of the Safety Net project allows users to see just how many people in each state across the country utilize taxpayersubsidized programs for housing, food and more.
Burn ban issued for parish
Due to arid conditions, a state of emergency has been proclaimed for Jeff Davis Parish, and officials have issued a parishwide burn ban to reduce the risk of wildfires. The Jeff Davis Parish Police Jury filed the necessary paperwork this week, officially placing the parish under a burn ban.
No price tag on Trump's plan to claim the Strait of Hormuz
(The Center Square) — President Donald Trump says he'll declare the Strait of Hormuz a U.S. territory, but no federal agency has said what controlling the key oil chokepoint would cost taxpayers.
Historic federal land eyed for natural gas expansion
— The U.S. Department of the Interior has transferred jurisdiction of a historic 3-acre parcel located at the mouth of the Calcasieu River to accommodate expansion of the Venture Global LNG export facility in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, according to the Bureau of Land Management.
Louisiana begins overhaul of $4 billion school funding formula
— Louisiana officials began a potentially sweeping rewrite of the state's public school funding formula Thursday, with members of a new task force signaling that teacher pay, declining enrollment and vast differences in local tax bases will be central to the debate.

Community

Spiral gingers have leaves that form a spiral staircase-like pattern. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter , Costus spicatus spiral ginger reaches 3 to 5 feet tall and prefers to be grown in the shade. Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter , Made in the shade: Spiral gingers’ tropical flair brightens gardens
Made in the shade: Spiral gingers’ tropical flair brightens gardens
Tropical plants feel right at home in the hot, humid conditions we encounter during Louisiana summers. Native to regions near the equator, these plants combine the ability to endure our climate with bold foliage and colorful blooms.
EVERYDAY MOMENTS OF CREATIVITY
EVERYDAY MOMENTS OF CREATIVITY
Adults can nurture creativity by weaving simple, creative moments into daily routines. That belief is at heart of efforts like Crayola’s Create More Creative Moments initiative, which has sparked conversations about why creativity matters and how it shapes children’s future success.
Keep your cool at home during summer heat waves
Keep your cool at home during summer heat waves
As heat waves become a regular feature of American summers, you can use these tips and strategies to cool every corner of your home, while keeping energy bills low: 1. Give your AC a wingman. Running a fan alongside your air conditioner lets you set the thermostat 3-4 degrees higher without feeling the difference, since moving air feels cooler on skin. Your comfort stays the same; your utility bill doesn’t.
Encouraging creativity in the age of AI
In an era when machines can generate ideas in seconds, hands-on learning and creativity may be more important for today’s children than ever. In fact, due to the rise of artificial intelligence (AI), 73% of parents believe creativity is an essential trait for their children to develop.
Submitted photo
JDEC honored
Jeff Davis Electric Co-op won the Safety Trophy Award for the best safety record amongst cooperatives in the State of Louisiana for the 2025-2026 ALEC calendar year at the recent Association of Louisiana Cooperatives meeting in Baton Rouge. The award is based on the cooperative’s incident plus severity rate. Those rates consider man-hours worked, non-loss-time accidents, lost or restricted accidents, number of lost days, number of restricted days, miles driven, vehicle accidents and occupational illnesses. This trophy is a representation of every little win JDEC has each day, according to Director of Safety and Member Services Ben Hetzel.

Sports

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The sixth annual Welsh High School Lift-a-Thon went off without a hitch Friday, as the school’s football players showed off their strength by benching and squatting impressive weights at Greyhound Stadium. The event also gave the community its first glimpse of the 2026-27 Greyhound squad as the team prepares for the upcoming season.
RAISING THE
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FROM JERRY SIMMONS STADIUM TO THE SUPERDOME: ETIENNE SET FOR SAINTS DEBUT
FROM JERRY SIMMONS STADIUM TO THE SUPERDOME: ETIENNE SET FOR SAINTS DEBUT
NEW ORLEANS — For Travis Etienne Jr., Saturday’s preseason opener will be another big moment in a football career that began in Jennings. The former Jennings High School standout will wear a New Orleans Saints uniform for the first time Saturday when the Saints host the Jacksonville Jaguars at 3 p.m.
Few things bring the fun to summer parties like a backyard game space.
How to create a dedicated backyard game space
(StatePoint) What distinguishes a good backyard gathering from a great one? More often than not, a little friendly competition. Exmark has partnered with landscape designer, Doug Scott with Redeem Your Ground, on a new video that helps you break down the most common considerations for building a versatile backyard game space suitable for everything from cornhole to bocce to Kubb.
FOOTBALL IS BACK
It’s finally that time of the year again! Fall is definitely not in the air, but football definitely is. All across the United States, high school teams are gearing up and practicing for the upcoming season. Here in Louisiana, it’s no different, as early morning practices will soon end with the ringing of the school bells. Then the teams will have to practice in the not-so-fall-like conditions of afternoon practices. We are fortunate in our parish to have high school coaches who know the dangers of overheating and heat exhaustion, and they are not stingy with water breaks and allowing players to have water and rest any time they need it. Safety is always the overriding factor with our parish coaches. It is really hard for me to fathom that when I cover the next Welsh regular season game, I will be beginning my 57th year of writing sports for the Jennings Daily News. There have been so many changes in the high school game during that time, but there has never been a shortage of athletes from our parish. When you consider the Etienne brothers who played at Jennings High and both are now in the NFL, you can see some of that great talent. Even further back, I remember the exploits of tailback Ricky Hebert as a Bulldog and then at Tulane University. I remember watching Tarius Davis run over defenders at Lake Arthur High. Before that, I recall Ivy and Edwin Woods leading a stout Tiger team.

Editorial

America's small businesses can't aord 340B abuse
Many hospitals are destabilizing small businesses across America by exploiting a littleknown federal charity care program to drive healthcare costs up. The 340B Drug Pricing Program was supposed to help safety-net hospitals serve vulnerable patients by letting them buy prescription medicines at a discount.
Elton adopts golf cart ordinance aligned with state law
ELTON — The Elton Town Council approved a new golf cart ordinance that brings the town's regulations into compliance with Louisiana law and sets local registration fees, following a detailed presentation by Town Attorney Michael Holmes. Holmes explained that the ordinance is based on Louisiana Revised Statute 32:299.4 and establishes the requirements for operating golf carts on public streets within the Town of Elton. Under the ordinance, golf cart owners must register their vehicles with the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles if they intend to drive them on public roads. Operators must also provide proof of registration and liability insurance before receiving authorization from the town.
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A vacation, in 50 words or less
Ihave unpacked the suitcase. I have washed its contents and returned my clean clothes to closets and drawers.
Louisiana lawsuit abuse costs taxpayers, jobs

As a legislator proudly representing Louisiana’s working coast in Terrebonne Parish, the impacts of lawsuit abuse continue to reverberate across not only my district, but the entire state.

A rare reset in the new dietary guidelines — with more work ahead

The Departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture just released the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, resetting the federal nutrition advice that shapes how Americans eat.

Obituaries

Margaret Mallett
Margaret Mallett
Margaret Myers Mallett, a devout Catholic, was the second of nine children born to Luke, Sr. and Mamie Kinney Myers on April 17, 1936 in Jennings in Jeff Davis Parish. As a teen, she cared for her maternal grandparents, Elvina and Leo Paul Kinney. After graduating from Jennings High School, she attended SLI (now UL Lafayette) where she met Joseph “Joe” Mallett also from Jeff Davis Parish. On August 4, 1956, they were one of the first couples married at the newly formed Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jennings, of which her family was a founding member. Margaret and Joe began their family in Welsh before moving to Baton Rouge for Joe’s work. In Baton Rouge, they were a founding family of St. Pius X Catholic Church. Upon moving to Wilson in East Feliciana Parish, they joined Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Jackson where she was active with the Altar Guild and was affectionately known as the “Donut Lady”.
Mary Epperly
Mary Epperly
Mary Epperly passed away on Thursday, August 6, 2026 at the age of 83. She was born in Roanoke and resided in LaPlace.
Mary Epperly
Mary Epperly
Mary Epperly passed away on Thursday, August 6, 2026 at the age of 83. She was born in Roanoke and resided in LaPlace.
Ivy "John" Gary
Ivy "John" Gary
Ivy 'John' Gary, 79, of Jennings passed away peacefully at his home in Lake Charles on July 11, 2026. He was born on Aug.
Dwayne "Durwood" Lewis
Dwayne 'Durwood' Lewis
Dwayne “Durwood” Lewis, 69, of Jennings, died peacefully in his home surrounded by family members on Thursday, July 23, 2026 after a brief battle with cancer. Visitation was held on Sunday, July 26, 2026 at Miguez Funeral Home in Jennings beginning at 3 p.m.

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PO Box 910 | 238 Market Street | Jennings, LA 70546 | 337.824.3011
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