Amanda Johnson
Digital Producer
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Amanda Johnson is a digital news producer at KPLC. As a native of Lake Charles, she loves writing about the Southwest Louisiana area. She has been writing stories since she learned to hold a pen.
Amanda fell in love with newswriting at McNeese State University, where she majored in journalism and attended conferences with the Society of Professional Journalists. She graduated in 2020. When outside the newsroom, Amanda enjoys traveling, reading, baking and writing fiction.
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Burn bans have been lifted across SWLA as communities have seen more rainfall and a reduction in brush and woods fires.
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Two Southwest Louisiana community colleges were ranked the top licensed practical nursing (LPN) programs in the state by practicalnursing.org.
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T.S. Cooley Elementary School will be closed Thursday, Oct. 19, for the funeral of fifth-grade math and science teacher Kristen Orndoff.
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The Christmas season is quickly approaching, and that means Santa is getting ready to hit the tracks aboard the Holiday Express.
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The 73rd annual Leesville Lions Club Rodeo kicks off Thursday, Oct. 5 with a parade through Leesville.
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A belt on the motor was smoking, but there was never a fire or any danger, according to officials.
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Three rehabilitated sea turtles are set to be released at Mae’s Beach this weekend, including one who was found injured there last summer.
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A Lake Charles man was sentenced to life in prison today after he pleaded guilty to the rape of a young child.
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Around 200 students from Louisiana high schools were named 2024 National Merit Scholarship semifinalists, and three of those are in Southwest Louisiana.
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SOWELA culinary arts students prepared a breakfast in honor of local first responders on the 22nd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
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The Office of State Fire Marshal posted a video of one of the state’s arson dogs, Pablo, and his handler demonstrating how Pablo finds accelerants left behind by arsonists.
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Cameron Parish Beachfront Development Districts 1 and 2 are holding beach sweeps on Saturday, Sept. 16, followed by a luncheon and a turtle release.
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The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry continues to report good news in the fight against wildfires in Southwest Louisiana Saturday morning.
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Two people are dead after a car and an 18-wheeler crashed at the intersection of Big Lake Road and West Tank Farm Road Thursday morning.
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A KPLC viewer shared photos from his game camera showing the progression of the fire burning in Bell City.
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A local business is giving the Lake Area community a way to honor Ben Terry’s memory while contributing to some of his favorite causes.
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Charlie Aucoin, who served in the U.S. Navy from 1967 to 1986, was elected as one of the Legion’s five national vice commanders at its 104th national convention today.
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Fire officials in Southwest Louisiana are reminding residents of the dangers of throwing cigarettes out of vehicles, especially during the hot and dry conditions we are having.
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A highway is closed in Iberia Parish after a train crashed into a semi-truck and derailed.
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Calcasieu Parish officials are searching for commissioners to work the fall elections.
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Voting has opened for the top 10 round of Mullet Champ’s national teen mullet competition, and a local boy is in the running to be the mullet champion.
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A third childcare worker has been arrested as the investigation continues into alleged child abuse at a daycare in Eunice.
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The driver of a log truck was not injured when the truck rolled over on Coward Road near Hwy 27 north of DeQuincy Thursday morning.
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A woman has been arrested for allegedly setting fire to a restaurant in Lake Charles, according to authorities.
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Louisiana children will soon have Summer 2023 Pandemic EBT benefits loaded into their accounts.
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U.S. Coast Guard crews are searching for a 30-year-old passenger who jumped overboard a cruise ship on its way back to Florida Sunday morning.
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The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury is launching a program to give over 100 air conditioning window units to qualifying residents this summer.
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Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries enforcement agents rescued a couple after their boat got stuck in Vermilion Parish Monday.
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Gov. John Bel Edwards vetoed a bill that would have made it a misdemeanor crime to get too close to a law enforcement officer performing their duties.
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The new King of Louisiana Seafood was crowned tonight at the 16th annual Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off, which was held in Lake Charles for the first time.
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Businesspeople around the area are holding a fundraiser tonight in support of a business owner whose restaurant was damaged in a fire.
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Water in the City of Oakdale is safe to drink for the first time in two months.
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A St. Martinville man was arrested on a number of sex charges after a child predator hunting sting, according to police.
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A major road in Lafayette was partially closed after the pavement buckled Thursday evening.
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Deputies are searching for a man who they say stole two small motorcycles from outside a restaurant in Jennings.
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A program put into law this year allows some disabled veterans in Calcasieu Parish to receive additional homestead exemption.
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SOWELA Technical Community College is collecting donations to “Stock the Shelves” of its Tiger Love Food Pantry.
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The LaGrange High School community is mourning the loss of an alum who was killed in a shooting in Lake Charles just four days after graduating.
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It’s nearly time to crown a new King or Queen of Louisiana Seafood, and this year’s competition will be held in Lake Charles for the first time.
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Registration is open for this year’s Juneteenth parade presented by John. G. Lewis Sr. #165 Consistory.
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The Town of Rosepine is inviting Main Street property owners to a public hearing about the reconstruction of the street.
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Some South Louisiana Community College (SLCC) graduates can now seamlessly transfer credits toward a bachelor’s degree at McNeese State University.
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Two teen brothers were arrested after authorities say they tried to carjack a man at gunpoint in LaPlace around 5 p.m. on Friday, May 12.
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Investigators searched his electronic devices and found over 5,000 images and more than 400 videos containing child pornography, according to prosecutors.
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The Louisiana Pirate Festival is returning to the Lake Charles Civic Center this week, and we have the full schedule of events for the 10-day celebration.
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Authorities began investigating the professor after a report of an inappropriate image appearing in the background during an online class in November 2020.
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