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Eligible Louisiana residents can now request to have a seizure indicator added to their driver’s license or identification card. This new designation aims to promote health awareness and provide critical information to law enforcement and other first responders.

The seizure indicator is optional and available to individuals who have been diagnosed with a seizure disorder by a qualified medical or mental health professional. The indicator can be added to any class of driver’s license or identification card except handicap and voter ID cards. Please note that a license or ID card with a seizure indicator can only be combined with the Needs Accommodation and Autism indicator and may be removed at any time upon the applicant’s request.

In a victory for Black voters and democracy in Louisiana, the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals today affirmed in full the district court’s ruling that the state’s legislative maps violate Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The court agreed that the maps dilute the voting power of Black Louisianians by unfairly dividing communities into state districts with the goal of reducing a group’s voting power, otherwise known as packing and cracking, denying them an equal opportunity to elect candidates of their choice.

The ruling affirms the outcome of a seven-day trial in late 2023, where expert witnesses, data analysis, and firsthand accounts from Black voters across Louisiana exposed the discriminatory effect of the current maps and their impact in places like Shreveport, Baton Rouge, and Natchitoches.

You may notice a slight difference in uniform when you see the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Patrol Deputies out and about, and the new look isn’t as much about style as it is about the health and well-being of our deputies.

Sheriff Jayson Richardson and his team recognize how challenging it can be for our deputies to work long hours in the intense summer heat, and in response they took to a bit of research.

While black shirts in the summer heat could make one think we have perhaps lost our minds. the patrol deputies wearing them are already praising the change. These particular shirts have 5X more cooling and drying power, are super thin, lightweight, and extremely durable!

So if you should notice the slight change from our previously green and heavier material shirts, know that the deputies are loving the change. Patrol deputies are grateful to Sheriff Richardson and his team for the well spent time and research that went into this awesome change!

In the mid-morning hours of Wednesday, August 13th, Shelby County Sheriff’s Office alerted DeSoto Sheriff’s Deputies to a need for assistance in locating two suspects that had been involved in a vehicle theft the night before.

Prior to arriving, one male suspect who had fled on foot was located and taken into custody by Shelby County Deputies. Shortly after DPSO arrived on scene, deputies learned of a second suspect with a possible location nearby. DeSoto Sheriff’s Deputies then assisted Shelby County Deputies to the nearby residence where the second suspect was also taken into custody without incident.

At the regular meeting of the DeSoto Parish School Board, DeSoto Parish Superintendent Cade Corley and representatives had the privilege of celebrating and recognizing the Division II Non-Select North DeSoto High School Softball and Baseball State Champions. Congratulations to the coaching staff and athletes!

July 1 is the one-year anniversary of Lisa Lobrano Burson being sworn in as the new Clerk of Court for DeSoto Parish, Burson said, “ As I look back over the last year, I can say it has been an honor to represent the parish. I want to give a special thank you to our staff at the Clerk’s office, as they have truly made this last year an amazing one! Without them, our office would simply not be what it is today.”

“As to my promise to be fiscally responsible with the public’s funds and despite office revenues falling 5.12% below the original budget (likely due to interest rates remaining high and home sales remaining low), expenditures have been cut an estimated 42%, without cutting our service to the courts, attorneys, or the public. What that means, practically speaking, is that the Clerk’s office is not operating in a deficit, for the first time in several years,” continued Burson.

The UM Share School Uniform Ministry, a cooperative ministry of DeSoto Parish United Methodist Churches, offers free school uniforms to all in the parish who have need. Parents are invited to bring their child(ren) to the distribution sites to help pick their favorite style and size. This organized group of Methodist is excited and happy to help those who need a little assistance in getting ready for school. This annual project is a ministry of UM Share: DeSoto Parish United Methodist Churches.

Logansport and Stanley Schools uniform distributions are Monday, July 28 and Tuesday July 29 at 4:00 p. m. until 6:30 p. m. (both days) at First United Methodist Church, located at 401 Gum Street in Logansport.

Mansfield and North DeSoto Schools uniform distributions are Thursday, July 31 and Friday, August 1, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:30, both dates. The distribution will be held at First United Methodist Church in Mansfield, located at 502 Polk Street in Mansfield.

When the name Raymond Edward Powell is mentioned many adjectives and terms of endearment come to mind. First and foremost, he was a beloved father to two children, Robert and Carolyn, and their spouses Susie and Don, six grandchildren and nineteen great children. Our dear friend for sure left a legacy of love and service. His grandson, Rev, Ben Mc-Gehee helped conduct his grandfather’s funeral.

Raymond’s late wife, Evelyn, preceded him in death in August 2023. They were happily married for 74 and one-half years. They were not only a perfect couple that supported each other but were also very active in parish and state projects and various philanthropy services. They met while both were teachers at Mansfield High School. Raymond also taught at Grand Cane High School and later became a supervisor within the DeSoto Parish School system. He also served as a Principal for both Mansfield and Grand Cane High Schools. They also had a beloved four-legged child, a cute little pug.

Recently, the DeSoto Parish Sheriff’s Office shared information regarding a call that took place where Dy. Tristan Reed and Sgt. Angela Jordan were able to provide life-saving assistance to a member of the public who had suffered a gunshot wound. Our office received a letter from the VW Louisiana State Convention stating that they would also like to honor both for those efforts as well.

The letter stated: “On behalf of more than 10,000 members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and over 5,000 members of the VFW Auxiliary, I would like to extend an invitation from State Commander Debbie McElhannon for you and your family to attend the VW Department of Louisiana’s Annual State Convention Joint Opening. The event will take place at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at the Randolph Riverfront Convention Center in Alexandria, LA. During this time, it will be our privilege to present you with your Outstanding Life Saving Safety Award.”

Sheriff Jayson Richardson is pleased to announce another Narcotics Roundup for the month of May, as part of an ongoing effort to hold accountable those who aim to distribute dangerous drugs among our communities. These arrests turned up various amounts of Meth, Cocaine, Crack Cocaine, and other illegally possessed prescription pills. We thank our Narcotics Agents, Street Level Interdiction Unit, K-9 unit and SWAT Teams for their steadfast dedication to keep the streets of DeSoto Parish safe!

On 04/29, Taylor R. Burns (White Female of Bossier City, DOB05/28/93) was taken into custody by DeSoto SLIU on charges of Possession of Meth, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

On 04/29, Hunter J. Burns (White Male of Benton, LA, DOB07/25/94) was taken into custody by DeSoto SLIU on charges of Possession of Schedule IV, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Second or Subsequent Offense, and Expired Registration.