A Shreveport man who forced himself sexually upon a teenaged female family member, and who has a history of such behavior, was found guilty of second degree rape on March 18.

The six-man, six-woman jury in District Judge Ramona Emanuel’s court deliberated about 20 minutes before returning its unanimous guilty verdict against Floyd Lee Cathron, 61. Jurors heard testimony from the victim and her mother, as well as the victim’s counselor, a forensic interviewer and three police officers detailing the January 10, 2024 attack. Jurors also heard testimony regarding four prior instances of the defendant having sexual intercourse with children.

For conviction of second-degree rape, Cathron faces a prison term of up to 40 years at hard labor and lifetime registration as a sex offender. He also faces enhanced sentencing due to his prior criminal convictions for aggravated incest, aggravated rape and two counts of felony carnal knowledge of a juvenile stemming from convictions in the early 2000s.

The state also will seek enforcement of the new Louisiana castration law for sex offenders given Cathron’s prior history and his new conviction.

Cathron will return to Judge Emanuel’s court for sentencing April 7, 2026.

Cathron was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Fernando Grider Jr. and Senae D. Hall. He was defended by Royal Alexander and Dave Knadler.

The case was docket No. 405583.

A Shreveport man was found guilty on March 18 of domestic violence crimes, including strangulation of a dating partner, battery of a dating partner with child endangerment and 15 counts of violating protective orders.

The unanimous verdicts against Lazavieyon Rashad Thomas, 36, returned by the jury after an hour’s deliberation, concluded a three-day trial before District Judge Donald E. Hathaway Jr.

Evidence presented at trial established that on February 28, 2025, Mr. Thomas strangled an intimate partner during a custody exchange. The victim sustained visible injuries, including bruising to her neck and an arm, and hair was torn from her head during the assault, which occurred in the presence of a minor child.
Law enforcement responded to the scene, and emergency medical personnel were called due to the victim’s difficulty breathing. The victim later sought treatment at a local medical facility, reporting neck pain and difficulty swallowing, both consistent with strangulation injuries.
As part of its case, the state presented expert testimony in domestic violence and intimate partner violence to assist the jury in understanding the dynamics of abusive relationships, including patterns of power, control and victim behavior.

Prosecutors also introduced evidence of Mr. Thomas’s prior abusive conduct toward former intimate partners over the period 2012-2015.

Despite the existence of a court-issued protective order prohibiting contact, the defendant repeatedly violated that order while incarcerated. Evidence introduced at trial showed that the defendant made multiple phone calls and sent numerous text messages to the victim, resulting in fifteen separate counts of violation of a protective order.

During the course of the case, the victim submitted five affidavits of non-prosecution and requested that the protective order be lifted. The Court denied that request and the protective order remained in place. The DA’s office proceeded with prosecution despite those requests.

District Attorney James E. Stewart Sr. emphasized that this approach reflects a clear understanding of the realities of intimate partner violence.

“In cases involving domestic violence, it is not uncommon for survivors to later request that charges be dropped or protective orders lifted,” he said. “Those requests often occur in the context of ongoing pressure, influence or control by the offender. Our responsibility is not only to listen, but to protect. We will continue to pursue these cases when the evidence supports it, in order to safeguard victims and the children who are often caught in the middle.”

The prosecution of this case highlights the mission of the Caddo Parish District Attorney’s Special Victims Unit, which is specifically designed to address the unique challenges presented in domestic violence cases. These include victim reluctance or hesitation, recantation and affidavits of non-prosecution and ongoing manipulation or control by offenders.

The Special Victims Unit remains committed to ensuring that offenders are held accountable and that victims—and their children—are protected, even in circumstances where victims may feel unable to move forward.
“Every case matters,” DA Stewart said. “Every victim matters. And every act of violence will be taken seriously.”

Mr. Thomas is scheduled to return to court for sentencing on April 21, 2026. He faces up to three years in prison at hard labor for battery of a dating partner with strangulation, up to three years at hard labor for battery of a dating partner with child endangerment and up to six months incarceration on each count of violation of a protective order. Prosecutors plan to seek consecutive sentences.

Mr. Thomas was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Britney A. Green and Christopher Bowman of the Caddo Parish District Attorney’s Special Victims Unit. Mr. Thomas represented himself at trial.

The case was docket No. 405583.

The ongoing Jimmie Davis Bridge replacement project over the Red River in Caddo and Bossier Parishes has reached a new milestone, according to the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development.

Crews have completed the installation of the first girders on the new Jimmie Davis Bridge (LA 511), marking significant progress in the construction of the structure that will replace the existing crossing over the Red River.

The $361 million project includes building a modernized four-lane bridge directly adjacent to the current two-lane bridge. Once completed, the expanded crossing is expected to double vehicle capacity and improve traffic flow and congestion in the surrounding areas of Caddo Parish, Louisiana and Bossier Parish, Louisiana.

Officials report the project remains on schedule for completion in mid to late 2027, depending on weather and other potential factors.

The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office Posse recently recognized one of its longtime volunteers for his military service and continued commitment to the local community.

During a recent presentation, Posse member Lt. Col. John Storey presented fellow Posse member Kenneth Koval, a retired Chief Master Sergeant, with a United States Air Force Veteran Pin and a Certificate of Honor. The recognition highlighted both his years of military service and his ongoing volunteer work.

Koval served 27 years in the United States Air Force, completing more than 200 combat missions, including participation in Operation Linebacker I and Operation Linebacker II.

Following his military career, Koval continued serving by volunteering with the Bossier Sheriff’s Office Posse for more than two decades. His dedication to community service extends within his family, as his daughter also volunteers with the Posse, continuing a tradition of civic involvement.

Koval’s wife, Shirley, was also recognized during the presentation with a Certificate of Appreciation and a Proud Veteran Spouse Pin in acknowledgment of her support and the sacrifices made during his years of service.

Sheriff Whittington expressed appreciation for the Koval family’s commitment, noting the value of volunteers who continue to serve their communities after their military careers conclude.

The Shreveport Police Department reported a decline in violent crime through the end of February, noting one of the slowest starts to a year for homicides in recent years.

Officials said the downward trend reflects continued efforts by officers, detectives, and partner agencies working to reduce crime and improve public safety across the city. In addition to recent improvements, the department noted that overall serious crimes, including homicides and shootings, have declined over the past several years.

Despite the progress, police emphasized that enforcement and prevention efforts remain ongoing. Current priorities include targeting repeat offenders, recovering stolen firearms, reducing vehicle burglaries and theft, addressing domestic violence cases, and strengthening collaboration with the community to identify suspects.

Authorities are encouraging residents to report suspicious activity and provide information that could assist in investigations. The Shreveport Police Department can be reached at 318-673-7300, while tips can also be submitted through Caddo Crime Stoppers at 318-673-7373.

Officials say continued community involvement remains critical as the department works toward maintaining and improving public safety.

If you ask me, I’m not sure what the problem is.

The 2026 football schedule for Louisiana Tech came out last week and if you put together their Conference USA and Sun Belt Conference schedules, the Bulldogs have 20 games lined up.

I say “Giddyup!”

Oh sure, national headlines loved this one and surely some entity is at fault for this craziness.

What fault? What craziness? Tee it up, boys!

Tech tried to break up with its current sweetheart (Conference USA) with a Dear John letter a few months ago but apparently it didn’t take. C-USA knew that the Bulldogs were falling in love with another and is now refusing to go down without a media fight.

About 4.5 seconds after the Sun Belt published its schedule showing Tech with eight conference games, jilted C-USA did the same.

In reality, Conference USA doesn’t want Tech, but it does want Tech’s debit card. Big surprise, huh? You think they are crying in the C-USA home offices about the loss of that time-honored regional rivalry that is Louisiana Tech vs. Delaware?

But forget all the ensuing court cases and back-room negotiating. There’s a very simple solution, if we may paraphrase Chicago Cub legend Ernie Banks … 

“Let’s play 20!”

Oh, you say they can’t do that because the NCAA limits a school’s schedule (in most cases) to 12 games? The key part to that last sentence is N-C-A-A.

You know, the organization that allllways wins when they take someone to court. The organization that has been without teeth or a spine for a few decades now. What exactly are they going to do about it? Shoot out the tires on the Tech bus? Fill the school’s inbox with spam emails?

Here’s the great part of all of this: Tech could actually play these 20 games with only a minimal amount of finagling. Thanks to the idiotic agreement that C-USA made a few years ago that makes Wednesday games as the centerpiece of the conference schedule (yet another reason Tech wants out), the Bulldogs wouldn’t have a single conflict until November 7.

The first five weeks are standard Saturday games, then it’s time to get jiggy with it — Thursday, Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday, Wednesday, Saturday.

Gas up the bus!

However, there are a couple of challenges. On Nov. 7, the ‘Dogs are scheduled to play at Jacksonville State and Troy State on the same day. The good news? Both of those schools are in Alabama. The bad news? There are still three hours apart. It’s probably asking too much to play a game, jump on a bus for a 3-hour trip and kick it off again.

Same goes for the final week of the season (November 28) when Tech will be playing at Western Kentucky and Georgia Southern. But if you think that’s a problem, think again.

There are 105 guys on a roster in college football, so Tech could just do like baseball does in spring training and have split squad games. The NFL somehow gets by with a 53-man roster, which is basically what you’d have (times two).

Hey, there’s multiple Harlem Globetrotter teams playing every night; why not multiple Louisiana Tech squads as well?

Here’s another bonus: Let’s say the Bulldogs play 20 games and manage a .500 record. Guess what? They’d get to puff their collective chests out and proudly proclaim about having a 10-win season. By the way, Tech has done that only once in the last 40 years.

All those school benefactors would be getting a lot more bang for their NIL buck and think about the ticket revenue from having nine home games. That’s a financial windfall that would put the new Buc-ee’s at Exit 83 in Lincoln Parish to shame.

And there is one final potential benefit. Think about what it would be like if Tech were to win both conference titles. Louisiana Tech could be facing Louisiana Tech in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.

Beaver Nuggets for everyone! 

Contact JJ at johnjamesmarshall@yahoo.com

By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports

BATON ROUGE – Before this season, it’s amazing that fifth-year LSU head women’s basketball coach Kim Mulkey has averaged 30.5 wins with the Tigers while winning the 2023 national championship followed by Elite Eight appearances the last two seasons.

She’s somehow compensated for having virtually no bench play, with maybe at most three reserves playing vital minutes.

That all changed this year. After her first four Tigers’ squads averaged a cumulative 15.2 points and accounted for 18.5 percent of the scoring, Mulkey enters her 24^th NCAA Tournament this afternoon at 5 p.m. vs. Jacksonville armed with one of the deepest benches of her career.

Thanks to an eight-player recruiting class (five freshmen, three transfers) in which almost everyone contributes, LSU leads the nation in bench scoring.

The Tigers’ bench is averaging 39.1 points, accounting for 41.4 percent of LSU’s nation-best 94.5 points per game.

So what’s the secret to getting highly-recruited freshmen and coveted transfers to be satisfied as non-starters?

“I feel like people on this team don’t care who gets to start the game,” said Notre Dame sophomore transfer forward Kate Koval, who has bounced in and out of the starting lineup depending on matchups. “It’s all about how you come into the game and bring something. Embrace your role, get a stop on defense and score a bucket when we need them.

“I feel like everybody has the mentality of embracing whatever their role in that game, and sometimes it changes from game to game.”

Mulkey, who began her storied college career at Louisiana Tech in 1980 off the bench as a freshman point guard, avoids using the word “bench.”

“I don’t really like using the word `bench’ because I remember when I played I came off the bench and I never liked that,” she said. “I’m as good as those out there on the floor. The coach just has to pick five at a time.

“That’s what my approach is. And depending on what we need when I start substituting, I’m confident in all of them that have seen significant minutes this year.”

The leader of LSU’s bench is South Carolina junior transfer guard MiLaysia Fulwiley, who won the SEC’s Sixth Man award for the second time in her career.

In her first season with the Tigers, she leads the team in scoring (14.6 points, compared to LSU’s entire bench average of 18.6 points last season). She’s averaging 22.7 minutes, the most of any reserve in Mulkey’s tenure in Baton Rouge.

LSU is 5-1 in its last six games because Fulwiley is averaging 21.3 points, 5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 1.8 steals and 2.5 blocked shots in that stretch.

Besides unselfishness and Fulwiley’s individual talent, LSU’s bench has excelled because of freshmen Grace Knox (8.9 points, 4.7 rebounds) and Bella Hines (2.1 ppg, 1.7 rebounds).

And don’t forget Zakiyah Johnson (9.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg, an SEC All-Freshman, who has started 20 games and has come off the bench 11 times.

“Sometimes in a program like ours, and a lot of programs that are elite, freshmen usually have to learn new roles and wait their turn,” Mulkey said. “This freshman group didn’t.

“They’re significantly affecting our team from the time they got here. They’ve lived up to their billing.”

Knox said the transition to college for her and fellow freshmen has been less challenging because everyone has a specific role.

“Just knowing what you coaches put in for, whether it’s to rebound or play defense, enables you to be you and just play hard,” Knox said.

The Tigers will be facing a Jacksonville squad that has won 13 of its last 14 games, including the Atlantic Sun Conference tournament, to earn the automatic NCAA bid.

“We’re not a Cinderella team, right?” Jacksonville coach Special Jennings said. “We’re not a surprise. We didn’t sneak up. This didn’t happen by accident.

“We’ve been working hard all season. We’ve played a tough schedule. We’ve competed against multiple top 25 teams. They’ve put in the work. Not only have we won 13 games, but we also have a Player of the Year. I have a Freshman of the Year.”

Dolphins’ guard Priscilla Williams, the ASUN Player of the Year, promises her team won’t fold under the brightest spotlight of the season.

“We’ve been in environments like this before,” she said. “We played TCU. We’ve played Texas Tech and Georgia Tech. We’ve played high major teams before. We’re coming into the game as just another game to us. We’re not about the names.”

LSU is a 52½-point favorite. The winner between the Tigers and the Dolphins will play in Sunday’s second round against the winner of tonight’s second first-round game that matches Texas Tech and Villanova. 

No. 2 seed LSU (27-5) vs. No. 15 seed Jacksonville (24-8), Pete Maravich Assembly Center, Baton Rouge, today, 5 p.m. (ESPN) 

LSU 

Head coach: Kim Mulkey (773-129 in 26 seasons overall, 143-25 in five seasons at LSU). 

Starting lineup: G Flau’Jae Johnson, 5-10, Sr. (13.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg), G Mikaylah Williams, 6-0, Jr. (13.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg), G Jada Richard, 5-7, So. (9.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg), G ZaKiyah Johnson, 6-2, Fr. (9.9 ppg, 5.8 rpg), F Amiya Joyner, 6-2, Sr. (9.2 ppg, 7.4 rpg) 

Top reserves: G MiLaysia Fulwiley, 5-10, Jr. (14.6 ppg, 3.8 rpg), F Kate Koval, 6-5, So. (8.5 ppg, 6.2 rpg), F Grace Knox, 6-2, Fr. (8.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg), G Bella Hines, 5-10, Fr. (4.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg) 

JACKSONVILLE 

Head coach: Special Jennings (49-45 in 3 seasons overall and at Jacksonville 

Starting lineup: G Priscilla Williams, 6-4, Gr. (15.4 ppg, 8.6 rpg), G Comari Mitchell, 5-8, So. (6.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg), F Carmayn Bowman, 5-10, Jr. (6.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg), G Makiya Miller, 5-7, Sr. (9.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg), F Tatum Brown, 5-6, Fr. (10 ppg, 5.3 rpg) 

Top reserves: G Bailey Burns, 5-10, Jr. (6.4 ppg, 2 rpg), F Mariah Knight, 6-1, So. (4.4 ppg, 2.2 rpg), G Aniah Smith, 5-4, Fr. (7.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg)

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

JOURNAL SPORTS

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — March basketball in Memorial Auditorium for the NAIA Tournament brings pressure, opportunity, and a chance to etch another chapter into program history — and LSU Shreveport is right at home in the moment.

The Pilots, in the NAIA playoffs for the 22nd consecutive season, square off with Ave Maria University of Florida in the Round of 16 today at 2:30. LSUS is the regional second seed while Ave Maria is No. 3 and both teams average over 90 points per game.

Fans can follow the action in real time:

Live Stats:  https://prestolivestats.com/ixnvzsvkjb4veits/h8qqayc2vne1nqzq

Live Stream: https://urbanedgenetwork.net/watch/12517

The winner will play again Monday against either regional top seed Grace (Indiana) or No. 4 Cumberlands (Ky.).

Under veteran coach Kyle Blankenship, LSUS has made an Elite Eight run in 2012 and Fab Four appearance in 2013 and 2018.

The Pilots (28-5) enter the matchup after sweeping the Red River Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament titles, carrying one of the most balanced and explosive profiles in the 16-team national tournament Sweet 16 field. LSUS averages 90.6 points per game.

Senior Hayden Brittingham, the RRAC Player of the Year, leads the charge with 17.3 points and 9.7 rebounds per game, while Khi Wallace adds 15.5 points and 8.7 rebounds, giving LSUS a powerful inside-out presence. Alexzaye Johnson continues to be the engine of the offense, averaging 5.2 assists per game pushing the Pilots’ fast-paced attack.

LSUS outpaced Tougaloo and Texas Wesleyan last weekend at home to reach Kansas City.

Ave Maria (28-4) shared the Sun Conference regular-season title and captured the postseason championship. The Gyrenes have surged through the national tournament with wins over Texas A&M-Texarkana (84-62) and Friends (108-102).

Averaging 92.2 points per game, Ave Maria features a dynamic offensive unit led by Michael Klekas (17.3 ppg, 6.5 rpg) and Jonathan Effertz (15.3 ppg).

JOURNAL SPORTS

BATON ROUGE – Just when pitching problems were rising on the list of concerns for LSU baseball in its recent swoon, Casan Evans delivered a masterpiece Thursday night.

The sophomore right-hander fired a career-high 15 strikeouts to lead unranked LSU to a 7-1 victory over No. 7 Oklahoma in Alex Box Stadium.

After losing six of its last 10, LSU improved to 16-7 overall, 2-2 in the SEC, while Oklahoma dropped to 17-5 overall and 2-2 in conference play.

The teams resume the series at 6:30 this evening in a game that will be streamed on SEC Network +.

Entering the night with a 6.52 ERA and not having lasted more than 5.1 innings in any of his five previous starts this spring, Evans (2-0) had total command of the Sooners. He limited Oklahoma to one unearned run on three hits in 7.2 innings with one walk and 15 strikeouts. The 15 punchouts represented the most by an LSU pitcher in an SEC regular-season game since May 5, 2023, when Paul Skenes recorded 15 strikeouts at Auburn.

Evans’ outing marked the longest of his career, and he threw 110 pitches, 76 for strikes.

“Casan is a tremendous pitcher and a tremendous competitor,” said LSU coach Jay Johnson. “I don’t think we’ve lost too many games when he’s taken the mound for us. He’s an absolute winner, one of the best pitchers in the country, and what’s awesome is the best is yet to come for him.”

LSU grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning when catcher Cade Arrambide drew a bases-loaded walk.

The Tigers expanded the margin to 5-0 in the second inning by taking advantage of three Oklahoma errors, and third baseman John Pearson delivered an RBI single.

The Sooners scored an unearned run in the sixth, but LSU added two runs in the seventh when first baseman Zach Yorke lined a two-RBI single.

JOURNAL SPORTS

HOUSTON – Louisiana Tech overcame a 16-point deficit Thursday night but Rice got a tie-breaking 3-pointer with 21 seconds left and ended the Techsters’ season taking a 66-61 victory in the first round of the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament at Tudor Fieldhouse.

Rice, the regular-season American Athletic Conference champion, moved on to a visit to Kansas next Tuesday with a 29-5 record. The Conference USA champion Techsters finished at 26-7 with their second straight five-point defeat after they were upset 43-38 by sixth-seeded Missouri State last Saturday in the CUSA Tournament finals.

After an 11-point halftime deficit that grew to 16 soon afterwards, the visitors began a gradual climb back into contention, briefly taking a fourth-period lead and forging a last-minute 61-all tie.

“Our team came back out at halftime and competed really well,” said Lady Techsters coach Brooke Stoehr. “We got back to who we have been all year long. It was really fun to see that and I am so proud of how we competed. It came down to one shot.”

Sophomore Paris Bradley led the way with 17 points, marking her seventh time in the last eight games to be the leading scorer for the Lady Techsters. Jianna Morris was close behind with 15 points, hitting two triples and grabbing four rebounds.

Rice took charge in the second quarter with a 24-11 edge for a 35-24 halftime advantage. It grew to 16 points soon after halftime, but Tech scrapped back and closed within 50-44 entering the final 10 minutes.

Not long after the start of the fourth quarter, Bradley and Morris nailed back to back triples to give the Techsters a 54-53 lead, their first since the early minutes of the second quarter.

Rice recovered to go up by five with 1:08 to play. Bradley converted an and-one before Morris knifed through for a lay-in, tying the game again with 41 ticks left on the clock. The Owls got a go-ahead 3-pointer from 21-point scorer Louann Battison with 21 seconds left and Bradley was called for traveling five seconds later. Battison iced it on two free throws with nine seconds left.

“That’s a very, very talented basketball team. They’ve won a ton of games this year,” said Rice coach Lindsay Edmonds. “Hats off to them for the game that they played. I’m very thankful to be able to get the win.”

The 26-win total is the best by a Techsters’ team in 20 years.

“I am incredibly grateful for this group and I do not want this to diminish what they have accomplished,” said Stoehr. “Incredible run, and to do it the way they did it in conference, a regular season championship, 19 straight wins.

“When we’re able to look back on this season there will be so much to be proud of,” she said, “what this group was able to accomplish and the journey they took us on this season. “

By PATRICK MEEHAN, Centenary Assistant AD for Communications 

Centenary’s softball team is home for a three-game Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference series with Dallas beginning today after posting a doubleheader sweep earlier this week.

The Ladies took two from the Howard Payne Yellow Jackets by identical 4-1 scores Tuesday evening at the Centenary Softball Complex.

The Ladies improved to 9-11 overall and 7-2 at home while the Yellow Jackets fell to 2-12 and lost their ninth game in a row. Centenary lost two of three SCAC games to LeTourneau last weekend in Longview, Texas.

Centenary welcomes University of Dallas for an SCAC twinbill starting at 4 today. The teams wrap up the series Saturday with a single game at noon. The Crusaders are 1-10 overall and 1-10 in SCAC play as all 11 of their contests this season have been in league play. 

GYMNASTICS: The Ladies and their fellow conference counterparts will compete in the annual Midwest Independent Conference Championships tonight in Normal, Ill. and hosted by Illinois State University.

The Ladies posted a 188.750 team score last Sunday afternoon to finish second in a non-conference dual meet against Bowling Green State in Bowling Green, Ohio. 

The Falcons won the meet with a score of 193.575. Centenary, which finished second to Greenville University with a 187.900 on Friday in Greenville, Ill., has completed its regular season.

Senior Amy Foret had an impressive weekend for the Ladies as she won on beam against the Panthers on Friday, was runner-up on vault, and tied for fourth place on floor with a season-high tying 9.60. In Sunday’s meet at BGSU, she earned two more top-five finishes as she tied for fourth on floor with a season-best 9.80 and tied for fourth on vault (9.525).

WOMEN’S GOLF: Sophomore Amber Shaw was named the SCAC Women’s Golfer of the Week on Wednesday after leading the Ladies to a fourth-place finish on Tuesday in their annual home tournament, the Hal Sutton Invitational, at The Golf Club at Stonebridge in Bossier City. Shaw finished eighth at 24-over par 168 as she recorded her first career top-10 finish. Shaw posted back-to-back 84’s to card a two-round total of 168 and finish as the top SCAC athlete in the field. 

LACROSSE:  The New Jersey Athletic Conference is adding Centenary and Colorado College as affiliate members in t men’s lacrosse beginning in the 2026-27 academic year.   

The NJAC will begin sponsoring men’s lacrosse as a conference championship sport for the first time. The conference will feature six lacrosse teams including Kean University, Montclair State, Stockton and SUNY New Paltz, in addition to the two new affiliates.  

With six sponsoring institutions, the NJAC will be on track to secure an automatic qualification to the NCAA Division III Men’s Lacrosse Championship Tournament beginning in the 2028 season following a one-year waiting period as mandated by NCAA legislation. 

NJAC men’s lacrosse will be comprised of two divisions – a three-team Gold Division and a three-team Blue Division. Centenary and Colorado College will always remain in the Gold Division, while the third Gold Division team will be based on a rotation that will feature one of the NJAC core member programs rotating into the Division for a two-year period.

The two divisional winners will advance to the NJAC Men’s Lacrosse Championship Game which will take place annually on the Saturday prior to the NCAA automatic qualification deadline.

Contact Patrick at pmeehan@centenary.edu

Northwest Louisiana will mark its 43rd annual Holocaust Remembrance Service at 3 p.m. Sunday, April 19, at First Methodist Church Shreveport, with a cello performance, a survivor family story, choir music, and recognition of student artwork.

The free ecumenical observance is open to the public regardless of faith background. Eleven candles will be lit in memory of the approximately 11 million lives lost during the Holocaust, and prayers will be shared in memory and solidarity.

Event Chair Laura Popper Crawford, director of the Centenary Suzuki School and a Centenary College faculty member, has direct family ties to the Holocaust — her father escaped Nazi persecution while her grandparents and other relatives perished.

“If these stories are not passed down through generations, there is a real danger that they will be forgotten,” Crawford said.

The program includes cellist John-Henry Crawford performing on his grandfather’s 200-year-old cello — smuggled out of Nazi Austria before Kristallnacht by Dr. Robert Popper — along with slides recounting Dr. Popper’s escape. The Centenary College Choir, led by David Hobson, will also perform.

Winners of the annual Northwest Louisiana Holocaust Remembrance Literary and Arts Project will be recognized. This year’s competition drew more than 250 submissions from middle and high school students in categories including poetry, essay, visual art, and musical composition.

The service has been held annually since 1984. It falls five days after Yom HaShoah — Holocaust Remembrance Day — observed this year on April 14.

Registration is available at HolocaustRemembranceService.org. For information, contact Barbara Joseph at 318-868-1200 or barbara@jewishnla.org.

Funeral services for Opal Francis Cox Wells, 95, will be held on Friday, March 20, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at the Methodist Church in Hurricane, Louisiana. A visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. until the start of the service. Burial will follow in Hurricane Cemetery where she and her beloved pet, Bendi, will be laid to rest next to her late husband, Robert, and her other pet, Taft. Officiating the service will be Pastor Tommy Davidson. A visitation will be held on Thursday, March 19, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 2500 Southside Dr. in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Opal was born on July 27, 1930 to Jim Ed and Esther Cox. She passed away on Monday, March 16, 2026 at The Guest House Nursing Home with her children by her side. The Guest House had been her home for the last three years where she received excellent care from her nurses, Amanda, Lacy, Kristie and CNA, Rose. They made sure her RC or pop would be on time.

Opal is survived by her daughter, Rita Ledbetter and husband, Danny; son, Ryan Wells; granddaughter, Brenda Rinaudo and husband, Andy; and sister, Eva Merle Hammond. She is preceded in death by her parents; her late husband, Robert; brother, James Olin Cox; and sister, Oneida Hayes.

Opal graduated from Athens High School in 1952. She moved to Shreveport and worked for the Credit Bureau. Rita came to live with Big Mama and Uncle James but Opal never missed a weekend coming to the Hurricane to see her riding that old Greyhound bus.

Opal married Robert later and had Ryan. Opal retired from the workforce to be a stay-at-home mother to Ryan and grandmother to Brenda and later neighborhood day care.

Opal was a plain spoken woman. If she thought it, she said it. Her favorite saying was, “I got news for you. You kids are going to drive me to the moon,” or “I am driving this bus!” Her flyswatter was always handy where they could see it but never used.

Opal’s hobby was gardening. If she had a spare moment, she was digging in the dirt as she called it.

We appreciate Francis Duron for making sure mama got her place reserved in heaven.

Honoring Opal as pallbearers will be Michael Hartman, Ken Ritter, David Diffy, Hank Jett, David Ray Cox, and Ronnie Allen. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Eddy Driskill and Louis Christian.   

With heavy hearts and deep gratitude for a life beautifully lived, we celebrate the life of Sharon Teel Bennett, who passed away on March 18, 2026 at the age of 86, leaving behind a legacy of creativity, compassion, and quiet strength.

Sharon was born in Nacogdoches, Texas and her life’s journey carried her across the state – from Carthage to Brownsville, each place adding to the story she would later tell with joy and a touch of mischief. She often shared memories of her time in Brownsville with a twinkle in her eye, recalling nights spent dancing along the banks of the Rio Grande. It was in south Texas where she met a dashing young airman, Lee Bennett, who would later become her beloved husband.

Life with Lee carried her beyond Texas, including time spent in the Dakotas during his service in the United States Air Force. His orders to Barksdale Air Force Base eventually brought them to the Shreveport-Bossier area. Being close to her parents in San Augustine, Sharon, a Texas girl at heart, chose to put down roots in Shreveport, creating a home and community that would remain central to her life for decades.

An acclaimed artist and devoted advocate for the arts, Sharon lived a life defined by creativity, resilience, grace, and a deep appreciation for beauty. As Chair of the Hoover Watercolor Society, she played a pivotal role in fostering a vibrant artistic community, encouraging expression and connection through her leadership. Her work as the Arts in Education Artist Coordinator for the Shreveport Regional Arts Council reflected her deep commitment to ensuring that the arts continued to inspire and shape future generations.

While she was a talented artist in her own right, her gifts extended far beyond her work. At her core, Sharon was a caregiver, a steady and compassionate presence in the lives of so many. She was the friend who showed up without being asked, the one who made sure others were cared for, often driving loved ones to appointments, tending to their needs, and offering comfort in ways both quiet and deeply meaningful. Her generosity of spirit left a lasting imprint on everyone she touched.

Sharon’s love of art carried her far beyond home. An avid and independent traveler, she explored Europe on her own, wandering through museums and galleries and soaking in the beauty and culture that inspired her work. She also pursued her passion through residencies at art schools in New York, always seeking to learn, grow, and create.

Her devotion to family was unwavering. After the passing of her beloved husband, Lee, in 1994, Sharon carried forward with remarkable strength, remaining a steady source of love, guidance, and support to their three children, Cari, Beth, and Michael. In later years, she once again embodied selfless devotion as she lovingly cared for her daughter Cari throughout her illness, remaining faithfully by her side until Cari’s passing in 2021. Her life reflected a depth of love and resilience that cannot be measured.

Sharon also had a tender and generous heart for animals, especially those in need. Her home was a place of refuge and care, shared with her beloved special needs dogs, Candy and Tex, and her cherished orphaned cats, Bunny, Chang, and Mia. She saw worth and beauty in every living thing, offering patience, kindness, and unconditional love.

To those who knew her, Sharon was a source of warmth, strength, and unwavering compassion. She had an extraordinary ability to care for others in both big and small ways, making people feel loved, offering comfort, and bringing laughter that could brighten even the hardest days. Her legacy lives on in the countless lives she uplifted and the love she gave so freely.

She is survived by her children, Beth (Jimbo) Herring and Michael (Carole) Bennett, and her son-in-law, Pete Bollinger; her grandchildren, Nicolas Bollinger (Sarah), Megan Russell (Rod), Melissa Herring, Ashlie Alexander (Josh), Katie Sippola (Tucker), and Brandon Bennett (Connor); her great-grandchildren, Eli Russell (Gendeling), Mikaela Wilson (Ken), Mercie, Silas, Titus, Zeke, and Zoey Russell, Bryton, Sawyer, Laylah, and Liam Huffty, and Eleanora and Arlo Sippola; her great-great-grandchildren, Daniel and Mikenna Wilson; and special friends Ardis, Deanie, Jacque, Lynn along with a multitude of others. She was preceded in death by her husband, Lee Bennett; her daughter, Cari Bennett Bollinger; and special companions, Al and John.

A celebration of life will be held on Wednesday, March 25th at 10:00 a.m. at Aulds Funeral Home in Shreveport, Louisiana. In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations to Pet Savers Shreveport, honoring Sharon’s lifelong dedication to creativity, compassion, and care.

Her life was a masterpiece, painted with love, shaped by resilience, and forever reflected in the lives she so deeply cared for.

Phonetic: /se·nes·cence/

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition

Shreveport Police Department officers responded to the 2700 block of West 70th Street, outside of O’Reilly Auto Parts, on March 17 around 8:30 pm in reference to a reported shooting.

Upon arrival, officers discovered a chaotic scene where an adult male had been struck multiple times by gunfire. The individual was pronounced deceased at the scene.

The individual who discharged the firearm remained on scene and fully cooperated with responding officers. Initial information was provided through a 911 call made by the shooter, who stated that the deceased had attempted to rob him.

As the investigation progressed, detectives learned that the two individuals were known to one another and had a history of prior verbal disputes, which escalated into a physical confrontation on this date. According to the preliminary investigation, the deceased reportedly threatened the shooter with a firearm and discharged multiple rounds. The shooter then retrieved a firearm from his vehicle and returned fire, resulting in the death of the other individual.

Detectives with the Shreveport Police Department’s Violent Crimes Unit responded to the scene and have been actively investigating the incident. Firearms and shell casings were recovered from the scene as detectives worked to piece together the sequence of events.

While the investigation remains ongoing, preliminary findings indicate that the claim of self-defense may be valid. However, detectives continue to conduct interviews, review surveillance footage, and gather additional evidence. This incident marks the fourth homicide in Shreveport in 2026.

The investigation remains active, and no further information is available at this time. Updates will be provided as they become available.

A former Caddo Parish man who raped and impregnated a female family member, then was convicted in Caddo District Court late last year, was sentenced Tuesday, March 17, 2026, to life plus 50 years in prison.

District Judge Chris Victory sentenced Larry Darby, 61, who on December 18, 2025, was found guilty of aggravated rape, two counts of aggravated incest and sexual battery. The charges stem from prolonged abuse that began in 2005 and led to the birth of a child. The case was reopened after new corroborating evidence came to light years later. The life term was for the rape, and the 50 years were for the other crimes, totaled. The terms are to be served consecutively.

During sentencing, the victim delivered a statement describing years of abuse, including being beaten and strangled into submission. She detailed lasting physical and emotional trauma, including the loss of most of her teeth and a diagnosis of PTSD.

Darby, convicted in Texas in 2022 for assaulting a stepchild, most recently lived in the Lone Star State. But he lived in Caddo Parish at the time of the crimes for which he has been convicted; he also lived in Bossier City earlier.

“This defendant is a serial sexual predator who caused devastating harm over many years,” Caddo Parish District Attorney James E. Stewart said. “This sentence ensures he will never again have the opportunity to abuse another victim.”

Assistant District Attorneys Ron Christopher Stamps and Britney A. Green of the Caddo District Attorney’s Special Victims Unit prosecuted Darby. 

The case was docket No. 396478.

When does art and theatre become something more?

That’s the underlying theme of a special edition of a German peer-reviewed journal that LSUS instructor Dr. Katherine Pollock edited, centering around the work of theatre director Christoph Schlingensief.

The German academic journal “Colloquia Germanica” focuses on special topics in German literacy and cultural studies.

Schlingensief, who also directed films, was known in the theatre world for starting a play in a theatre and then moving the program outside, taking the audience with him.

One of his more famous performances was “Chance 2000, Vote for Yourself” in which he formed the Last Chance Party where anyone could be a candidate in the German federal election in 1998.

“They actually got votes in the German elections,” Pollock explained. “His performances became something that the public couldn’t ignore and something that became real.

“It’s an example of art being transformed into something else. Understanding art as political action is what motivated me to pursue this line of work.”

Schlingensief’s performances also frequented churches, town halls and areas where homeless people gathered, carrying on conversations about art and politics while preparing food and eating with the audience.

This edition (volume 58, book 2) of “Colloquia Germanica” published in December, but it’s a project a long time in the making.

Pollock became part of a German contemporary drama community through her attendance of annual German Studies Association conferences.

She began participating on panels in 2020 as a graduate student and organizing panels in later years, which is where she connected to the majority of scholars who would contribute to the Colloquia Germanica edition.

Pollock wrote a piece about Schlingensief beyond the theatre, co-wrote the journal’s introduction with co-editor Jack Davis (Truman State University) and organized and edited the rest of the journal.

“I’ve been aware of the publication for a long time, and it’s an honor to be able to participate in this way,” Pollock said. “I first started working on this project in 2022 and asked Jack Davis to help.

“It’s a pretty small world of scholars who study in this area, particularly Schlingensief himself.”

Pollock arranged peer reviewers and other authors to contribute feedback as well as assist native German speakers who wrote their pieces in English.

The journal publishes pieces in both English and German with two pieces in this edition written in German.

“Schlingensief has a disparate body of work that’s fragmented and confusing, but we wanted to produce a volume that examined throughline and used modes of analyses that connected his work instead of just a collection of individual pieces,” Pollock said. “We wanted to identify layers and trends.”

Pollock, who teaches English composition and Spanish classes in her third year at LSUS, will take over German classes this coming fall and add a contemporary drama class.

She’s working on a book project centered around humor and sovereignty which will include Schlingensief.

By DOUG IRELAND, Journal Sports

DAYTON, Ohio – When he was leading the state with a 30-point scoring average as an Airline High School senior almost 40 years ago, Byron Smith was known to get on a streak.

Now in his ninth full season as head coach at Prairie View A&M, he’s on another, and this time it’s reached the national stage.

Smith’s Panthers clamped down on Lehigh Wednesday night in a 67-55 NCAA Tournament First Four triumph at UD Arena.

Prairie View A&M (19-17) won its eighth straight, including a 72-66 victory as the SWAC’s eighth seed upsetting second-seeded Southern in the conference tournament final last Saturday.

That eight-game streak is better than anything the Panthers did all of last year, when they finished 5-27 on the heels of a 10-win season in 2023-24. Smith hit the transfer portal and lately, the team has come together at just the right time.

“Losing sucks,” Smith said. “Everything is better when you win, just life is better. Everybody would like to be Coach [Nick] Saban — seven, eight national championships and be No. 1 preseason and in the final poll every year — but that’s just not realistic. When you have seasons like we did the last two years, it really tests you as a coach and how much you really want to be doing this thing.”

Prairie View’s defense was decisive. The Panthers forced 16 turnovers, recorded 12 steals and blocked nine shots while limiting Lehigh’s leading scorer, Nasir Whitlock, to five points.

“Definitely gratifying,” said the 1987 Airline graduate. “A heck of a basketball game. We’re definitely excited to survive and advance and move on to the first round on Friday night.”

Prairie View, a 16-seed, advances to face No. 1 seed Florida in a first-round South region matchup Friday in Tampa.

As for the daunting challenge of meeting the Gators, and in their home state, Smith embraced it.

“They’ve got probably about four or five guys that are going to be playing on ESPN here in about nine months,” Smith said. “But in life, no test, no testimony, right? We’re going to be tested going into the game in Tampa, but we look forward to it.”

Contact Doug at sbjdoug@gmail.com

By RON HIGGINS, Journal Sports

BATON ROUGE – There’s a top 10 nationally ranked baseball team playing in Alex Box Stadium this weekend.

That’s not unusual for eight-time and defending national champion LSU.

Except it’s not the Tigers, losers of six of their last 10 games as the nation’s preseason No. 1 team has dropped out of the DI Baseball Top 25 after losing two of three in their SEC opening series at Vanderbilt.

No. 8 Oklahoma (17-4, 2-1), fresh off a league series win over now No. 21 Texas A&M, opens its trio of battles vs. the reeling Tigers (15-7, 1-2 SEC) here tonight at 7 p.m. on ESPNU.

LSU fifth-year Jay Johnson has more questions than answers after his pitching staff gave up more runs (33) and earned runs (31) and issued more walks (26) than any other staff in the SEC last weekend.

The Tigers are ranked last in the 16-team league in earned run average in conference play (11.07) and for the season (5.04).

The most baffling performances to date have been authored by sophomore Casan Evans, elevated to LSU’s starter for the opener of each three-game series.

His standout relief work on last season’s national title team (5-1 record, 2.05 ERA, seven saves, 71 strikeouts, 19 walks, .228 opponent batting average, 52.2 innings in 19 appearances) has not yet translated to becoming an effective starter.

He’s given up two runs or more in all five of his starts and hasn’t pitched more than 5.1 innings. In LSU’s opening loss at Vanderbilt, Evans was pulled after giving up six runs in three innings. He allowed 10 of 21 batters he faced (five hits, five walks) to reach base.

Johnson has a vastly different view of Evans’ largely unimpressive outings.

“We won the first four games he pitched and we were down to two strikes to win the last game (Vandy’s ninth-inning walk-off homer in last Friday’s series opener),” Johnson said. “Every game that he pitches, and we won the first four, and we were down to two strikes to go to win.

“A job of the pitchers is to give your team a chance to win the game, and he’s doing a great job of that. I think sometimes that gets lost.”

Besides Evans (1-0, 6.25 ERA, 22.1 innings), Kansas transfer Cooper Moore (3-2, 3.21 ERA, 28 innings) and sophomore William Schmidt (3-1, 3.12 ERA, 26 innings) haven’t found their stride yet as Game 2 and Game 3 starters in the pitching rotation.

The starters have put the Tigers in insurmountable holes. In its seven losses, LSU has been outscored 43-7 in the first six innings, including 29-2 in the first three innings.

The offensive firepower the Tigers enjoyed a year ago has yet to develop.

Last season, even with newbies such as transfers Daniel Dickinson and Luis Hernandez in the starting lineup at shortstop and catcher, there were no weak links from top to bottom in the batting order.

This year, after the top of the order featuring returning starters right fielder Jake Brown, center fielder Derek Curiel, shortstop Steven Milam and centerfielder Chris Stanfield, the offense drops off dramatically.

That foursome, even with Stanfield finally healed from a hand injury and back in the lineup, has combined so far to hit .329 with 70 RBI, 13 home runs and 19 doubles.

The back half of the order, mostly featuring transfers Zack Yorke (Grand Canyon), Trent Caraway (Oregon State), Seth Dardar (Kansas State) and Brayden Simpson (High Point), is hitting a combined .254 with 47 RBI, eight homers and 14 doubles.

“This team was maybe a little underprepared for adversity,” Johnson said. “They didn’t have a whole lot (adversity) last year with (all) the returning players.

“Our new players are experiencing a different level of adversity at a place like this.”

LSU (15-7 overall, 1-2 SEC) vs. No. 8 OKLAHOMA (17-4, 2-1 SEC), Alex Box Stadium, Baton Rouge

Game 1: Today, 7 p.m. CT (ESPNU)

LSU – So. RH Casan Evans (1-0, 6.45 ERA, 22.1 IP, 12 BB, 35 SO)

OU – Jr. LH Cameron Johnson (3-0, 3.04 ERA, 23.2 IP, 12 BB, 34 SO)

Game 2: Friday, 6:30 p.m. CT (SEC Network+)

LSU – Jr. RH Cooper Moore (3-2, 3.21 ERA, 28.0 IP, 7 BB, 35 SO)

OU – Jr. RH LJ Mercurius (4-1, 1.59 ERA, 28.1 IP, 8 BB, 41 SO)

Game 3: Saturday, 2 p.m. CT (ESPN)

LSU – So. RH William Schmidt (3-1, 3.12 ERA, 26.0 IP, 7 BB, 39 SO)

OU – Fr. LH Cord Rager (2-1, 4.71 ERA, 21.0 IP, 7 BB, 28 SO)

LSU SERIES VS. OKLAHOMA

LSU leads Oklahoma, 12-5, in a series that began in 1959. LSU swept a three-game SEC series from the Sooners last season in Norman. In the 2013 NCAA Super Regional in Baton Rouge, LSU won two straight over the Sooners to advance to the College World Series. Three other LSU-OU matchups have been in the NCAA tournament, all of which LSU won in Baton Rouge. 

A LOOK AT LSU

LSU is hitting .285 with 41 doubles, four triples, 32 homers and 167 RBI. . .Right fielder Jake Brown is hitting a team-high .400 this season with seven doubles, 11 homers, 37 RBI, 26 runs and six steals. . .The LSU pitching staff has a 5.04 ERA (last in the SEC) with 280 strikeouts in 187.2 innings while allowing a .217 opponent batting average and 18 home runs. 

A LOOK AT OKLAHOMA

Left-hander Cameron Johnson, OU’s game 1 starting pitcher, was a member of LSU’s 2024 team. He pitched 9.0 innings for the Tigers over 13 appearances, recording 16 walks and 13 strikeouts. . . The Sooners are hitting .306 with 44 doubles, eight triples, 23 home runs and 65 steals in 70 attempts. . . Catcher Deiten Lachance is batting a team-high .358 with eight doubles, one triple and 22 RBI. . .The Oklahoma pitching staff has a 3.60 ERA with 223 strikeouts in 175.0 innings while allowing a .209 opponent batting average and 13 home runs.

Contact Ron at ronhigginsmedia@gmail.com

JOURNAL SPORTS

HOUSTON – It’s not the Big Dance but it’s a chance to play postseason basketball, and two regular-season champions upset in their conference tournament finals last weekend will square off tonight trying to get some satisfaction in the Women’s Basketball Invitation Tournament.

Louisiana Tech, the Conference USA champion, visits Tudor Fieldhouse to face American Athletic Conference winner Rice in a first-round WBIT matchup.

Regular-season champions that don’t win their leagues’ automatic NCAA Tournament berths with conference tournament titles, and are bypassed for an NCAA at-large invitation, get automatic berths in the WBIT, which is administered by the NCAA.

Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT and the game can be seen on ESPN+.

Louisiana Tech (26-6) enters the postseason after a 17-1 run through Conference USA play, winning 19 consecutive games during the year — its longest streak in more than two decades. The Lady Techsters were stunned by a 43-38 loss to sixth-seeded Missouri State in the conference tournament championship.

Paris Bradley and Joy Madison-Key were named to the Conference USA All-Tournament Team. Bradley averaged 17.7 points on 54.1 percent shooting during the tournament, including 59.1 percent from 3-point range, while also recording 14 rebounds and five steals. Madison-Key led the tournament with 16 assists, including nine in a semifinal win over Delaware.

Louisiana Tech is making its first appearance in the WBIT and its 38th postseason appearance overall, including 27 NCAA Tournament berths. The Techsters managed to score only 12 points after halftime in the Missouri State loss.

The Lady Techsters lead Conference USA in scoring (73.2 points per game), scoring defense (58.3), scoring margin (14.8), field goal percentage (44.3) and assists (16.1). During the conference tournament, Louisiana Tech held opponents to 44.6 points per game — nearly 14 points below its season average allowed.

Rice (28-5) enters under similar circumstances after finishing 17-1 in American Athletic Conference play and reaching its conference tournament championship game. The Owls fell to UTSA 54-40 in the title game, shooting 27.1 percent from the field and 21.7 percent from beyond the arc.

The Owls rank among the top teams in the AAC on both ends of the floor, finishing fourth in scoring offense (70.0) and second in scoring defense (59.5).

Rice leads the nation in free throw shooting at 81.6 percent, with six players converting better than 80 percent from the line.