News in Alexandria, LA

News Leader · Alexandria, LA

Louisiana lawmaker seeks Kennedy’s help in landing military base

By Misty Castile | The Center Square State Rep. Chuck Owen is asking U.S. Sen. John Kennedy to help bring a proposed military installation to central Louisiana as the Pentagon invites states to compete for a base designed to accommodate 15,000 to 25,000 troops. Owens asked a question from the audience during a question-and-answer session at a Central Louisiana Regional Chamber of Commerce event in Alexandria, according to KALB, pointing to federally controlled land at Fort Polk as a potential asset. Kennedy responded, “I will.” The proposal, called the “Next Great American Base,” asks states to offer land and support for a new installation. That creates a fiscal question for any Louisiana bid: What would state and local taxpayers be asked to contribute to secure the federal investment? Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth announced the initiative Sept. 30, inviting governors and state military leaders to make their cases for hosting the installation.

New Orleans Magazine · Alexandria, LA

Manning Family Children's Celebrates First Sickle Cell Cure

A Q&A with Children's Dr. Ben Watkins on the life-changing gene therapy treatement NEW ORLEANS – Last week, the news went wide that Manning Family Children’s celebrated its first cured patient from sickle cell disease. Phillip Mullin is a teenager from Alexandria, Louisiana that has spent most of his life fighting sickle cell while in and out of the hospital. For years, a cure seemed a far away dream, but on Oct. 23, the 15-year-old rang the bell at Children’s. In the announcement about the good news, it was noted that Phillip is the second patient and first child to receive a groundbreaking treatment in Louisiana. Phillip was cured with the use of LYFGENIA, which the announcement noted a one-time gene therapy to treat sickle cell disease in patients 12 years of age or older with a history of vaso-occlusive events. Dr.

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The Daily Iberian · Grant, LA

Nearby: Grant, LA

First buck for Haddon, 8, hits ground on trip with dad, brother

BENTLEY – The hard-hunting, outdoors-loving Hensgens family in Grant Parish has one more deer to its credit following a hunt in mid-October, a meaningful addition because it was the second deer and first-ever buck for young Haddon Hensgens. Haddon, who celebrated his eighth birthday Nov. 5, cradled his .243-caliber Winchester Model 70 lever action rifle, aimed and squeezed the trigger while in a lock-in deer stand after seeing the 6-point buck. In the deer stand with him were his father, New Iberia native Heath Hensgens of Benton, and Eli, the oldest of Heath and Allyson Collins Hensgens’ six children. They settled in to start their deer hunt around 4:30 p.m. Oct. 16, the elder Hensgens said a few weeks later, recalling yet another memorable outing with sons and daughters. Almost two hours passed while the hunters, young and old, appreciated the time to connect with nature, to renew a tradition on the family’s second or third hunt of the season. They saw a few does, then a few spikes.