Latest news with #MetroCreativeServices
American Press
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- American Press
Secure your spot on the Nice List with Leesville's Christmas in July
Santa will be in Leesville making a list — and checking it twice — during this weekend's Christmas in July at the Leesville Event Center. (Metro Creative Services) The city of Leesville will be hosting its inaugural Christmas in July Friday and Saturday at the Leesville Event Center. The event will be held 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday. Admission is free to this event. According to this year Santa decided to take a break from toy making and headed south to Leesville. He swapped his traditional red suit for a T-shirt, traded in his reindeer for a pick-up truck, and set out to enjoy Christmas in July. Santa will also be updating his Naughty and Nice lists in person at the event. He'll be available for visits 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on both Friday and Saturday to ensure residents have a spot on the Nice List. Each family will get one free keepsake photo with Santa and walk away with an official Nice List certificate to keep. The Vernon Parish Library will also be hosting story hour for children with Ms. Nancy bringing her favorite holiday stories to life. There will be three opportunities to see her read over the weekend — 4 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. There will be plenty for children at this event, including a bounce house zone, temporary tattoo station, a coloring station with Christmas-themed pages, and a letter-writing station for Santa. There will be karaoke and indoor ice skating, as well. Skaters can enjoy 45-minute sessions on the rink. New sessions will begin at the start of every hour. This activity will cost adults $10 and the price is $8 for children 5-12. Tickets will be available for this event and may be purchased using cash, credit or debit cards. There will be a vendor market filled with handcrafted gifts, holiday sweets and unique gifts for shoppers. More than 30 vendors are participating with tables set up in the main area, hallways and parking lot. Come hungry as there will be food trucks as well as a cookie-decorating station and don't forget to take a break and cool off with free lemonade and popcorn while watching a Christmas movie. Once rested, stop by the Christmas in July photo station to take a family photo to remember this Christmas in July for years to come.
American Press
14-07-2025
- American Press
Police investigating homicide on North 1st Avenue
(Metro Creative Services) Lake Charles Police officers are investigating a homicide that occurred over the weekend in the 200 block of North 1st Avenue. Lt. John Russell said officers responded to a shooting report just before 6 p.m. Sunday night. He said upon arrivals, officers discovered a subject suffering from a gunshot wound. At this time, no suspect information is available,' Russell said. 'Detectives are pursuing all leads and conducting a thorough investigation.' Russell said the department is urging anyone who may have seen or heard anything unusual in the area — or who may have relevant video surveillance or information — to come forward. 'Even the smallest detail could assist in solving this case,' he said. Those with information are asked to call Sgt. Ben Randolph at 337-491-1311 or submit tips anonymously through the LCPD mobile app, Tip411. Russell said the shooting 'appears to be an isolated incident, and there is no immediate threat to public safety.'
American Press
10-07-2025
- Business
- American Press
New federal tax credit could expand school choice programs like Louisiana's
(Metro Creative Services) By Nolan McKendry | The Center Square A new federal tax credit program tucked into a broader tax bill passed by Congress could significantly expand private school scholarship options for low and middle-income families nationwide — if states choose to participate. President Donald Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill creates a federal income tax credit of up to $1,700 per year for individuals who donate to certified scholarship granting organizations. These groups, typically nonprofits, use donations to fund private school tuition scholarships for students from qualifying low-income households. Louisiana is well-positioned to plug into the new federal program. For more than a decade, the state has run a similar tax credit scholarship initiative. Organizations like ACE Scholarships Louisiana, Aspiring Scholars, Arete Scholars and Son of a Saint currently operate under the Louisiana Department of Education's oversight, using private donations to fund tuition scholarships for eligible families. But the new federal program, set to begin in 2027, would create a parallel system with national reach. Governors will decide whether their states opt in, and participating states will need to certify which scholarship granting organizations meet federal requirements. 'This could definitely make more choices and more financial assistance available to families — which is always a good thing,' Erin Bendily from the Pelican Institute said. 'But it may be especially beneficial in states that don't already have these types of programs.' Under the federal framework, qualifying scholarship granting organizations must meet strict requirements. They must spend at least 90% of donations on scholarships, verify family income eligibility, avoid earmarking funds for specific students and prioritize current or returning scholarship recipients. To prevent double-dipping, the value of the federal tax credit would be reduced by any state tax credit the donor receives. And contributions claimed under the federal program cannot also be deducted as charitable donations. Additionally, the legislation expands the types of education expenses that can be covered by 529 college savings accounts. Beginning in 2026, families will be able to use those tax-free accounts for private K-12 tuition, tutoring by licensed teachers, dual enrollment fees, and even special education therapies. The annual withdrawal limit for K-12 use will rise from $10,000 to $20,000. Separately, the bill makes permanent a federal tax exclusion for employer-paid student loan assistance and ties it to inflation, making such benefits more attractive for workers and employers alike. The changes are being hailed by school choice proponents, but not without caution. Education policy observers note that the legislation invites deeper federal involvement in K-12 policy — a space traditionally overseen by states. 'There's always excitement when families get more options,' Bendily added, 'but some people do worry about the federal government stepping into what's always been a state-led area.' Bendily mentioned the contentious debate about the federal government's role in education. 'Do we need a federal agency? If so, you know, what power should it have? How can its work perhaps, be done in a different way, maybe through other agencies? How many strings attached should come with federal money that go down to states and schools at the local level. These are all very important questions,' Bendily continued. It's not yet clear how Louisiana will respond. Gov. Jeff Landry has not announced whether the state will join the program Questions also remain about how families currently receiving state-level scholarships would interact with the federal program. Could they receive both? Would they have to choose? 'These are the kinds of questions we'll need to work through — both at the policy level and in conversations with families,' Bendily said. The new federal credit does not require states to already have a program in place, meaning states with no current school choice infrastructure could now develop one with federal backing.
American Press
07-07-2025
- Business
- American Press
Jury: Trust in Preston Marshall case cannot be revoked
(Metro Creative Services) A Calcasieu Parish jury has returned a defense verdict in favor of Preston Marshall, affirming a 2011 gift — valued at $100 million — that would benefit Marshall and his descendants cannot be revoked. Marshall is the grandson of J. Howard Marshall II — a Texas oil tycoon who died in 1995 and who may be better known for marrying Anna Nicole Smith, a former Playboy playmate and reality television star who died of an accidental prescription overdose in 2007. She was 26 when she married the 89-year-old. In 2015, a family member initiated legal action to revoke half of the charitable lead annuity trust, with Preston and his children as beneficiaries. The gift was set to mature in 2031, providing a payout exceeding $100,000,000. The basis for the revocation suit was 'ingratitude,' a legal claim that had never before been tried in Louisiana involving such a significant sum. The case has had years of litigation in Texas and Louisiana courtrooms. Marshall's defense team was led by Hunter Lundy, with assistance from the Lundy Firm headed by Matt Lundy, along with Daniel Kramer, Houston Middleton, and Gary Blanchard. They collaborated with Jeff Chambers and the Susman Godfrey Firm of Houston and New Orleans-based counsel Sher Garner. Hunter Lundy said revoking a trust explicitly designated as 'irrevocable,' especially one that provided the donor with a multi-million dollar tax deduction, is challenging when based on 'unjustifiable claims.' 'Justice was served and I pray that this family can resolve their disputes out of court in the future,' he said.
American Press
04-07-2025
- Health
- American Press
How to care for your dogs for the 4th of July Weekend
(Metro Creative Services) Fireworks to a human means celebration and something to look forward to, while for a dog it can be totally opposite. Dogs have a much more sensitive ear than humans. According to The American Kennel Club, humans typically hear between 20 Hertz and 20,000 Hertz, while dogs can hear sounds up to 50,000 Hertz. Dr. Nicole Ferriss at Gill Bright Animal Hospital has some advice for those with dogs throughout the holiday weekend. 'Most of the time the main trigger is just the loud noise because when you compare dogs and how well they can hear versus humans, they can hear significantly more than humans so anything that's loud for us is super loud for them,' Ferriss said. She also gave advice on some coping mechanisms for your fur babies as well. She said calming chewables and medications such as Trazodone or Gabapentin are good as needed for events like 4th of July or New Year's Eve where fireworks are a main concern. The medications can be given by your family veterinarian. She said the medications are not terribly expensive either for those concerned about price. 'The medications are around $20, if that's not affordable for you at this time then the calming chews are a good option,' she said. You can find various chewable bites at locations including Target, Petco, PetSmart, Amazon and sometimes Sam's Club. The ingredients in these calming bites usually contain chamomile and melatonin. Ferriss recommends name brands such as; Zesty Paws, Vet IQ Health and Wellness and Pet Honesty. She also mentioned the ThunderShirt, a velcro jacket for your dogs to put on and it mimics a hug to make your dog feel more comfortable. 'The jacket doesn't work for all dogs because the velcro noise can be loud and that scares some of them, it all depends on the individual dog itself, same for the chewables,' she said. 'Some dogs will go and find a secluded space, like a bathroom or a closet, areas of the house that usually don't have doors or windows, you can always try to bundle them up in a blanket to keep them comfortable, it all depends on the dog and how far away the fireworks are,' she said. Ferriss recommends keeping your dogs and cats inside during fireworks if possible, that way if they do get scared they don't run off. Gill Bright Animal Hospital will be open until noon on Friday, July 4 and all day Saturday, July 5. Dr. Nicole Hustead at the Lake Area Animal Hospital also recommends the anxiety medications as well as needed. The Hospital carries a calming collar and also calming shoes if you are interested in purchasing for your dogs. You must be a client to purchase. She also gave some at home remedies to try as well. 'You can put cotton balls in their ears and you can also put them in their crate and cover the crate with a blanket to form a den that can help make them comfortable,' Dr. Hustead said. Dr. Hustead would like for owners of dogs to always consider their dogs in advance when it comes to fireworks and prepare to make sure they are taken care of.
