Preparations are in full swing for the Louisiana Soul Food & Heritage Festival, scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 1, on the grounds of the old and new East Carroll courthouses in Lake Providence. The event is to begin at 11 a.m. and continue to 7 p.m. at 400 First St. in town. Highlights of the festival will be the fourth annual rib cookoff, a car and motorcycle show, vendors selling homemade wares, and food, food, and more food. Entertainment will be provided by local groups and will continue throughout the day. Anyone desiring to have a booth at the festival can contact Juanita Turner, 318-669-4827 or email her at juanita7216@att.net, or contact Bobbie Facen at facen@ bellsouth.net. You can also leave a message on the Soul Food Festival website – https://www.facebook. com/LouisianaSoulFood-HeritageFestival/, and they will make sure you get an application or answer any questions.

The Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Administration (USDA FNA) has approved a temporary waiver allowing all Louisiana Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants to purchase hot or prepared foods with their SNAP benefits through August 13, 2026, following Tropical Storm Arthur.