Early voting opens today at four Calcasieu Parish sites and runs through Tuesday, Oct. 27. The People of Hope Museum closes out its Lake Charles stop today, and the parishwide burn ban remains in effect.
Coverage window: Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, plus today's calendar (America/Chicago)
Calcasieu Parish
Early voting opens today
Early voting for the Nov. 3 election runs today through Tuesday, Oct. 27, from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, closed Sunday, Oct. 25. Calcasieu Parish voters can vote early at four sites: the Registrar of Voters Office, 2nd floor of the Historic Calcasieu Courthouse, 1000 Ryan St., Lake Charles; the Sulphur Law Enforcement Building, 500 A Huntington St., Sulphur; Moss Bluff Library, 261 Parish Rd., Lake Charles; and the Iowa Library Activity Annex, 109 S. Thompson Ave., Iowa. The Moss Bluff and Iowa sites may be open limited dates — check your locations and sample ballot on GeauxVote before you go. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Source: Louisiana Secretary of State / GeauxVote; Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court
People of Hope Museum — final day today
Today is the last day of the People of Hope Museum's Lake Charles stop. It is open 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lake Charles Event Center, 900 Lakeshore Dr. (Gill Street parking lot). The traveling exhibit is free and intended for visitors 14 and older.
Source: People of Hope; Catholic Charities of Southwest Louisiana
Burn ban remains in effect
The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury's parishwide burn ban, issued Oct. 14 due to dry conditions, remains in effect. All outdoor private burning is prohibited; prescribed burns are excluded. Fire departments may extinguish fires that violate the ban, and penalties are possible.
Source: Calcasieu Parish Police Jury
SOWELA spring registration is open
Registration for SOWELA Technical Community College's Spring 2027 semester opened Monday, Oct. 19. Spring classes begin Monday, Jan. 11, 2027. Apply at sowela.edu/apply.
Source: SOWELA
Southwest Louisiana
No new government actions were posted for Cameron, Jeff Davis, Allen, or Beauregard parishes in this morning's check. Early voting also opens today in those parishes under the same statewide dates and hours — check your registrar's locations on GeauxVote.
Louisiana
Louisiana voters statewide are deciding 10 proposed constitutional amendments in this election, along with local races and propositions that vary by parish. Read the amendment text and your personal sample ballot on GeauxVote before you vote.
Source: Louisiana Secretary of State
Weather, fire danger, and roads
Weather today: Sunny, with a high near 83. Northeast wind 5 to 10 mph. Tonight, mostly clear, with a low around 57. No weather alerts are in effect for Calcasieu Parish. (National Weather Service, Lake Charles)
Fire danger: The parishwide burn ban remains in effect (above), and no rain is in today's forecast. Avoid anything that could create sparks near dry grass or brush.
Roads: Nightly closures continue on I-10 West at the Calcasieu River Bridge, a DOTD project that began Oct. 19. The I-210 West flyover remains one lane, with an 11-foot width restriction in the left lane, on a long-term project through Oct. 2027. Check Louisiana 511 for live conditions before you travel. (Louisiana DOTD)
Today + tomorrow on the calendar
- Today, Tue. Oct. 20: Early voting — 8:30 a.m.–6 p.m., four Calcasieu Parish sites listed above.
- Today, Tue. Oct. 20: People of Hope Museum, final day — 10 a.m.–3 p.m., Lake Charles Event Center, 900 Lakeshore Dr. Free, ages 14+.
- Tomorrow, Wed. Oct. 21: Great Pumpkin Trail opens — 9 a.m.–7 p.m., Tuten Park, Lake Charles. Runs daily through Sunday, Oct. 25. (City of Lake Charles)
Looking ahead
Early voting ends Tuesday, Oct. 27 (closed Sunday, Oct. 25). Saturday, Oct. 24, brings LCFD Family Day at Millennium Park, 3–6 p.m. — full weekend listings are in the Week Ahead.
Sources consulted
- National Weather Service, Lake Charles — forecast.weather.gov
- Calcasieu Parish Police Jury — calcasieu.gov
- Louisiana Secretary of State / GeauxVote — geauxvote.com
- Calcasieu Parish Clerk of Court — https://www.calcasieuclerk.gov/elections/Election-News/Early-Voting
- People of Hope — https://peopleofhope.us/tour-stops/lake-charles-louisiana/
- SOWELA — sowela.edu
- Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD)
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.