Natalie McLendon

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Contributor at Freelance

🔎 Southwest Louisiana Independent Journalist. IRE

Articles

ICE, State Police raid Delta Downs in southwest Louisiana

1 week ago | yahoo.com | Natalie McLendon

A police source has confirmed that federal, state and local law enforcement took part in an immigration enforcement raid Tursday, June 17, 2025, at Delta Downs in Vinton. (Jeremy Stevens for Louisiana Illuminator)LAKE CHARLES – Police sources report federal, state and local law enforcement took part in an immigration raid Tuesday morning at Delta Downs Racetrack, Casino and Hotel near Vinton.
Coushatta Tribe’s next generation warns against risk from carbon sequestration

1 month ago | yahoo.com | Natalie McLendon

Coushatta Tribe members Allie Johnson, 20, left, and Marianna Sickey, 16, speak in support of House Bill 4, by state Rep. Chuck Owen, R-Rosepine, during a legislative hearing Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at the Louisiana State Capitol. It would have given every parish the right to determine whether projects focused on carbon capture and sequestration could occu, but a committee rejected the proposal. (Louisiana House of Representatives video capture).
Coushatta Tribe’s next generation warns against risk from carbon sequestration

1 month ago | ktbs.com | Natalie McLendon

Coushatta Tribe members Allie Johnson, 20, left, and Marianna Sickey, 16, speak in support of House Bill 4, by state Rep. Chuck Owen, R-Rosepine, during a legislative hearing Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at the Louisiana State Capitol. It would have given every parish the right to determine whether projects focused on carbon capture and sequestration could occu, but a committee rejected the proposal. (Louisiana House of Representatives video capture).
For these 3 Southwest Louisiana households, storm recovery struggles continue

Mar 28, 2025 | yahoo.com | Natalie McLendon

Terra Hillman replaces a propane tank on the camper trailer where she's lived since Hurricane Laura damaged her Lake Charles house in 2020. (Chris Vinn for Louisiana Illuminator)LAKE CHARLES — Sheriff’s deputies accompanied Federal Emergency Management Agency workers to Terra Hillman’s fenced-in property Jan. 29. They were there to remove the camper she’s lived in since Hurricane Laura plowed through her home in August 2020.
For these 3 Southwest Louisiana households, storm recovery struggles continue

Mar 28, 2025 | ktbs.com | Natalie McLendon

Terra Hillman replaces a propane tank on the camper trailer where she's lived since Hurricane Laura damaged her Lake Charles house in 2020. (Chris Vinn for Louisiana Illuminator)LAKE CHARLES — Sheriff’s deputies accompanied Federal Emergency Management Agency workers to Terra Hillman’s fenced-in property Jan. 29. They were there to remove the camper she’s lived in since Hurricane Laura plowed through her home in August 2020.
ICE raid at Port of Lake Charles results in 11 arrests

Mar 20, 2025 | yahoo.com | Natalie McLendon

Officers with Louisiana State Police and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement escort a man arrested March 13, 2025, at the Port of Lake Charles. ICE reported 11 arrests of people working at the port who did not have legal status to be in the United States (Photo courtesy of ICE).
Local opposition mounts to carbon capture projects in Louisiana

Feb 26, 2025 | yahoo.com | Natalie McLendon

Kinder resident Charles Kingrey speaks at a community meeting on carbon capture and sequestration in Allen Parish on Feb. 24, 2025. (Natalie McLendon/Louisiana Illuminator)OBERLIN — Concerns about the risks of carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects were the main focus of a community meeting Monday night in Allen Parish. We the People, a grassroots movement of Allen Parish community members, hosted the three-hour meeting.
Greenhouse gases from proposed Venture Global site concern Calcasieu neighbors

Feb 19, 2025 | yahoo.com | Natalie McLendon

A map of the CP Express pipeline project planned for Southwest Louisiana. (Venture Global)SULPHUR – Neighbors, both for and against a proposed natural gas facility, had the chance to share their thoughts on the project during a public hearing Tuesday.
Greenhouse gases from proposed Venture Global site concern Calcasieu neighbors

Feb 19, 2025 | ktbs.com | Natalie McLendon

A map of the CP Express pipeline project planned for Southwest Louisiana. (Venture Global)SULPHUR – Neighbors, both for and against a proposed natural gas facility, had the chance to share their thoughts on the project during a public hearing Tuesday.
Lake Charles mayor slams nonprofit leader for online criticism, leading her to resign

Jan 26, 2025 | lailluminator.com | Natalie McLendon

LAKE CHARLES – A batch of emails Lake Charles Mayor Nic Hunter initially sought to withhold from a public records request show he complained to the board of a nonprofit that does work with the city on programs for at-risk youth after the director criticized the city and school system on social media. Then, he rejected a funding request from Erin Davison, who says she was later encouraged to resign by the board of Big Brothers Big Sisters.