Early voting ends Tuesday, a new Cameron Parish burn ban is in effect, Halloween brings Homecoming football and a stormy Saturday afternoon, and clocks fall back Sunday.

Coverage window: Monday, October 26 – Sunday, November 1, 2026, plus a look further ahead
Published: Sunday, October 25, 2026, for the 6:00 p.m. CT publish
Sources: See the sources list at the end of this article

Calcasieu Parish — What is coming this week

Early voting ends Tuesday
Early voting for the November 3 election runs Monday, October 26, and Tuesday, October 27, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. There is no early voting on Sunday, October 25. The four Calcasieu Parish early-voting sites are: Registrar of Voters Office, 1000 Ryan St., Room 7, Lake Charles; Sulphur Law Enforcement Building, 500 N. Huntington St., Sulphur; Moss Bluff Public Library, 261 Parish Rd., Lake Charles; and Iowa Library Annex, 109 S. Thompson Ave., Iowa. Voters can check their registration, sample ballot, and voting locations through the Secretary of State's GeauxVote voter portal before they go.
Source: Louisiana Secretary of State election dates, via the Calcasieu Parish School Board election-dates page; Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court early-voting list

Burn ban in effect — no outdoor private burning
Calcasieu Parish is under a burn ban covering the whole parish. The Police Jury notice, posted October 14, 2026, says an executive order signed by Police Jury President Brian Abshire prohibits all outdoor private burning of any kind; prescribed burns are not included. The notice states no end date, and the parish homepage still displayed its burn-ban banner on October 25. With a mostly dry week ahead, do not burn outdoors unless the ban is lifted.
Source: Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, October 14, 2026; Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry burn-ban list, October 16, 2026

I-10 westbound: overnight bridge closures continue, PPG Drive ramp closes Monday
Westbound I-10 over the Calcasieu River Bridge closes Sunday through Thursday nights from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m., under updated times posted October 21, with the work running until mid-December, weather permitting, and no closures during the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday weeks. The detour runs via Lakeshore Drive, eastbound I-10, and I-210 West. Starting Monday, October 26, the westbound I-10 entrance ramp at PPG Drive (Exit 26) also closes until February 2027 so crews can build a new permanent roadway, with a detour via U.S. 90 West and LA 108 South. Check 511la.org before traveling.
Source: Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announcements, October 8 and October 21, 2026

DOTD Road Show comes to Lake Charles Thursday
The state transportation department's annual District 07 Road Show — the public hearing on highway construction priorities for Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jefferson Davis parishes — is Thursday, October 29, at 9:00 a.m. in the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury Council Chambers, 1015 Pithon Street, Lake Charles.
Source: Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development

No Police Jury meeting this week
The parish calendar lists no Police Jury meeting or closure for October 26–November 1. The next Police Jury meeting listed is Thursday, November 5, at 5:30 p.m.
Source: Calcasieu Parish Police Jury

No school board meeting this week
No Calcasieu Parish School Board meeting is listed for this week on the board's important-dates calendar. The next board meeting listed is Tuesday, November 10. Schools remain in session through the week.
Source: Calcasieu Parish School Board

Southwest Louisiana — Cameron, Jeff Davis, Allen, Beauregard

Cameron Parish under a new burn ban
Cameron Parish imposed a parish-wide burn ban effective October 21, 2026, for up to 30 days because of drought conditions. The notice, signed by Police Jury President Michael Fewell, will be ratified at the jury's nearest public meeting. Cameron was not on the state's October 16 list, so this is a change from last week.
Source: Cameron Parish Police Jury, October 21, 2026

Beauregard also still listed
Beauregard Parish was also on the state's October 16 burn-ban list, and no lifting notice was found in this check. No new parish actions for Jeff Davis or Allen parishes were found in the sources checked for this week.
Source: Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry burn-ban list, October 16, 2026

Louisiana — Only what affects SWLA readers

The election calendar from here
After early voting ends Tuesday, the next deadlines are for mail ballots: the general deadline to request an absentee ballot is Friday, October 30, at 4:30 p.m., and a voted absentee ballot must reach the parish registrar of voters by Monday, November 2, at 4:30 p.m. Different rules apply to military and overseas voters. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, with polls open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. The ballot includes a U.S. Senate race and ten proposed state constitutional amendments, so check your sample ballot on GeauxVote before you vote.
Source: Louisiana Secretary of State election dates

Weather, fire danger, and roads outlook

Weather: Monday is partly sunny with a high near 82, Tuesday reaches near 83 under increasing clouds, Wednesday is sunny near 85, and Thursday is mostly sunny near 85. Friday stays partly sunny near 84, with only a 20 percent chance of showers Friday night and a low around 68. Saturday is the unsettled day: a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, mostly sunny, with a high near 85 — but Saturday night drops back to a 20 percent chance of showers, partly cloudy, with a low around 68, so the evening looks better than the daytime window. Sunday is mostly sunny with a high near 87 and a 20 percent chance of showers. Recheck the National Weather Service Lake Charles forecast before Saturday plans, since a week-ahead outlook can shift.

Fire danger: The dry start to the week, plus burn bans in Calcasieu, Cameron, and Beauregard parishes, means outdoor burning and anything that throws sparks need extra care — especially around Halloween decorations and bonfires. No Red Flag Warning was in effect for Calcasieu Parish as of October 25, but the National Weather Service's Lake Charles outlook notes elevated fire danger this week from very dry fuels and low humidity. Do not assume a ban has lifted; check first.

Roads: Beyond the I-10 work above, expect extra travel time around McNeese on Thursday evening and Saturday afternoon for Homecoming events. The I-210 West flyover to I-10 West remains reduced to one lane as part of the same bridge project.

Clocks fall back: Daylight saving time ends overnight Saturday into Sunday, November 1. Clocks go back one hour, so Sunday's sunset comes early, around 5:25 p.m.

Day by day — Calendar highlights

• Monday, October 26: Early voting, 8:30 a.m.–6 p.m. — Westbound I-10 PPG Drive entrance ramp (Exit 26) closure begins, through February 2027.
• Tuesday, October 27: Early voting ends, 8:30 a.m.–6 p.m. — SOWELA Fall Grad Fest, 12–3 p.m., Sycamore Student Center Multipurpose Room, for fall graduates picking up caps and gowns — Southwest Louisiana Coastal Summit, L'Auberge Casino Resort, Lake Charles, $100 registration including lunch, on the theme "Our Future Coast: Uniting Science, Industry and Community."
• Wednesday, October 28: No major meeting or event stood out on the official calendars checked; the dry stretch continues.
• Thursday, October 29: DOTD District 07 Road Show, 9:00 a.m., Police Jury Council Chambers, 1015 Pithon Street, Lake Charles — McNeese Homecoming Parade, 6:00 p.m., Lake Charles.
• Friday, October 30: Deadline to request an absentee ballot, 4:30 p.m. — Only a 20 percent chance of showers Friday night.
• Saturday, October 31 (Halloween): Southwest Louisiana Veterans Fest, 11 a.m.–4 p.m., Lake Charles Event Center, free — McNeese Football vs. Nicholls, 2:00 p.m., Navarre Stadium, Lake Charles (Homecoming game) — Haunted Candlelight Tours, Imperial Calcasieu Museum, 7:30–9:00 p.m., plus a late tour 10 p.m.–midnight for ages 13 and up. Note the split: a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms during the day, while Saturday night falls to a 20 percent chance of showers, so afternoon events sit in the storm window while the evening looks better.
• Sunday, November 1: Día de los Muertos Festival, 2–7 p.m., Lake Charles Event Center (Buccaneer Room), 900 Bord du Lac Drive, free admission — Theme: "Catrina de Carnaval," the Culture, Art & Music Association of Louisiana's third annual festival. Clocks fall back overnight into Sunday.

Looking further ahead

• Monday, November 2: Voted absentee ballots must reach the registrar of voters by 4:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, November 3: Election Day, polls open 6 a.m.–8 p.m.
• Thursday, November 5: Calcasieu Parish Police Jury meeting, 5:30 p.m.
• Friday, November 6: SOWELA Fall Fun Fest, 6–9 p.m., SOWELA campus, free and open to the public, with live music, food trucks, a car cruise-in, and a Kid Zone.
• Monday, November 9: Cameron Parish Police Jury public hearing on a proposed fencing ordinance, 11:00 a.m., Cameron Parish West Annex Board Room, 148 Smith Circle, Cameron. Written comments are due Friday, November 6, by 10 a.m.

Sources consulted

• National Weather Service, Lake Charles — https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=30.2266&lon=-93.2174 (read Oct 25 afternoon: Mon 82, Tue 83, Wed 85, Thu 85, Fri 84 with a 20 percent chance of showers Friday night, Sat 85 with a 50 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms, Sat night 20 percent chance of showers, Sun 87 with a 20 percent chance of showers)
• Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, burn-ban notice, October 14, 2026 — https://www.calcasieu.gov/Home/Components/News/News/6104/252?backlist=%2f
• Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry burn-ban list, October 16, 2026 — https://classicrock1051.com/ixp/33/p/louisiana-burn-ban-28-parishes/
• Cameron Parish Police Jury, burn-ban notice, October 21, 2026 — https://cameronpj.org/october-21-2026-notice-of-burn-ban/
• Cameron Parish Police Jury meetings — https://cameronpj.org/category/police-jury-meetings/
• Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, District 07 Road Show notice — https://dotd.la.gov/media/m12if4zk/2027_2028-legislative-public-hearing-ad-letterhead.pdf
• Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, press releases — https://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/home.aspx
• DOTD announcement, October 8, 2026, PPG Drive ramp closure — https://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/announcement.aspx?key=52937
• DOTD announcement, October 21, 2026, updated I-10 West bridge closure times — https://wwwapps.dotd.la.gov/administration/announcements/announcement.aspx?key=53000
• Louisiana 511 — 511la.org
• McNeese State University Athletics, 2026 football schedule — https://mcneesesports.com/sports/football/schedule/2026?grid=true
• SOWELA Technical Community College, graduation information — https://www.sowela.edu/student/graduation/
• Calcasieu Parish School Board, important dates — https://www.cpsb.org/our-district/public-information/26-27-important-dates
• Calcasieu Parish School Board, election dates — https://www.cpsb.org/our-district/bonds/district-30-sulphur-bond/election-dates-to-remember-2025-30
• Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court, early-voting locations — https://www.calcasieuclerk.gov/elections/Election-News/Early-Voting
• Culture, Art & Music Association of Louisiana, Día de los Muertos Festival — https://camlouisiana.org/
• Thrive SWLA, Halloween events — https://thriveswla.com/2026/10/halloween-events/
• Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, Southwest Louisiana Coastal Summit — https://www.crcl.org/swla-coastal-summit/
• Louisiana Secretary of State / GeauxVote voter portal — voterportal.sos.la.gov

Editor’s note

This brief summarizes facts from official releases, agency notices, and organizer listings, in our own words. When a matter is under investigation, we say so. If you spot an error, contact us with the official source or document so it can be corrected. This brief is for general information only and is not legal, medical, financial, or insurance advice.