One dies as health officials confirm brain-eating amoeba infection in north Louisiana
One day after her birthday, a young girl has died from a brain-eating amoeba. The Ruston girl reportedly was infected while swimming in Lake Claiborne. The Louisiana Department of Health confirmed Naegleria fowleri infection. The amoeba, commonly called a brain-eating amoeba, is found in warm freshwater lakes, rivers, canals and ponds throughout the United States. It can cause primary amebic meningoencephalitis, a brain infection that may result when water containing the amoeba rushes up the nose and reaches the brain. The infection is extremely rare but nearly always fatal.
Winnsboro woman killed in three-vehicle Franklin Parish crash
Mason – On Friday, August 21, 2026, shortly after 5 p.m., Troopers with Louisiana State Police Troop F began investigating a three-vehicle fatal crash on Louisiana Highway 4 at its intersection with Ross Road. The crash claimed the life of 71-year-old Mary Silkowski of Winnsboro.
The initial investigation revealed that a 2025 Cadillac CT4 was stopped in the westbound lane of Louisiana Highway 4 for a tree that had fallen across the roadway. For reasons still under investigation, a 2015 GMC Yukon, which was also traveling west, struck the rear of the Cadillac. The impact pushed the Cadillac into the eastbound lane of Louisiana Highway 4. At the same time, a 2016 Jeep Compass, driven by Silkowski, was traveling east on Louisiana Highway 4. Silkowski steered to the right to avoid the Cadillac, left the roadway, and overturned.
Silkowski, who was properly restrained, suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. The front seat passenger in the Jeep, who was unrestrained, received life-threatening injuries and was transported to an area hospital for treatment.
Alexandria man arrested for child sex trafficking and purchase of commercial sexual activity
Alexandria – On August 21, 2026, the Louisiana State Police Special Victims Unit (LSP SVU), working in coordination with the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office and the FBI, conducted an undercover chat operation in Alexandria and surrounding areas. The operation resulted in the arrest of 37-year-old Esaw Owens III.
During the operation, undercover law enforcement officers communicated with Owens regarding sexual acts in exchange for money. As a result of the operation and information obtained, Owens was arrested for human trafficking of children for sexual purposes and purchase of commercial sexual activity. Owens is employed by the Rapides Parish School Board as a coach and bus driver. He was transported to the Rapides Parish Correctional Facility and processed on the charges.
Louisiana Bureau of Investigation arrests Sulphur Man for distributing child sexual abuse material
Louisiana Bureau of Investigation arrested a Sulphur man for distributing child sexual abuse material. 26-year-old Caleb John Phillips, of W. Mimosa Drive in Sulphur, was arrested on August 20, 2026, for 1 Count of 14:81.1 – Child sexual abuse material (Felony)
Phillips was identified following an investigation by LBI agents into a CyberTip received from NCMEC, which alleged a Kik user was distributing child sexual abuse material.
Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office investigating incident near Plain Dealing Lake
The Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office is investigating an incident near Plain Dealing Lake that resulted in one person being found deceased and another person being transported to a local hospital. Deputies were notified on Aug. 23 that two individuals had been discovered inside a vehicle in the area of Plain Dealing Lake. When deputies arrived, they located one individual deceased inside the vehicle. A second individual was found injured and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Preliminary information indicates the incident may have originated as a domestic-related matter in Caddo Parish before continuing into Bossier Parish. Investigators are working with other law enforcement authorities and License Plate Reading technology to determine the circumstances that led to the incident and how the two individuals came to be in Bossier Parish.
SNAP enrollment dropping as requirements are implemented
Enrollment in the biggest federally funded food aid program in the U.S. dropped by more than 13% in a 12-month span — a decline far steeper than the government estimated as work requirements and other provisions of President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill” take hold.
Those losing coverage in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, include people who don’t meet the tightening requirements to participate, and, advocates say, some who qualify for the help but are rejected because they miss deadlines or don’t have the needed documentation handy. It’s too early to tell exactly how many fall into each group.