WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Internal Revenue Service has announced inflation adjustments for the 2027 tax year, including increases to federal income tax brackets, standard deductions and certain tax credits.
The adjustments are intended to account for inflation and will generally apply to income earned in 2027, with tax returns filed in 2028.
Under the new guidelines, the standard deduction for single taxpayers and married individuals filing separately will increase by $500 to $16,600.
For married couples filing jointly, the standard deduction will rise by $1,000 to $33,200. The standard deduction for heads of household will increase to $24,925.
The IRS also announced increases to income thresholds across federal tax brackets. The top federal income tax rate will remain at 37%, applying to single taxpayers with taxable income above $661,375 and married couples filing jointly with taxable income above $793,650.
Other tax brackets will also be adjusted upward to account for changes in the cost of living.
The maximum Child Tax Credit will increase by $100 to $2,300 per qualifying child in 2027. The maximum refundable portion of the credit will rise to $1,800.
The Earned Income Tax Credit will also see adjustments, with the maximum credit for qualifying taxpayers with three or more children increasing to $8,496.
The annual adjustments are designed to help prevent inflation-related income increases from pushing taxpayers into higher tax brackets without corresponding increases in purchasing power.
The new figures will not apply to 2026 income tax returns filed in 2027.
Additional information about the 2027 tax adjustments is available at irs.gov.
NATCHITOCHES – In continuing its tradition of honoring those who serve in the nation’s Armed Forces, Northwestern State University recognized the military service of Staff Sergeant (SSG) Rebecca Maurer as the honorary captain during its football game against the University of Texas – Rio Grande Valley Nov. 7.
Maurer was born and raised in Bossier City and enlisted in the Louisiana Army National Guard in 2020. Following Basic Combat Training at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, she then successfully Advanced Individual Training as a 68W, combat medic specialist at Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
Her first assignment was to 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment in Shreveport, where she served as a Squadron Aid Station medic, responsible for daily medical operations, emergency trauma and medical readiness.
In 2023, SSG Maurer was selected for the competitive Active-Guard-Reserve (AGR) program and was assigned to Detachment 2, A Company, Recruiting and Retention Battalion as recruiter for the Louisiana National Guard. Currently, she supports her battalion as a National Guard Recruiting and Retention Noncommissioned Officer focused on recruiting the best candidates Louisiana has to provide from Northwestern State University.
SSG Maurer:
Staff Sergeant (SSG) Rebecca Maurer, center, was guest captain at the NSU Demons’ Nov. 7 football game. She was escorted on field by U.S. Army Captain Armando Lopez, head of NSU’s Department of Military Science, and NSU President James Genovese.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — More than 10,000 children’s slide playsets sold online through Amazon and Walmart are being recalled due to head and neck entrapment hazards that could result in serious injury or death.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Arlopu is recalling approximately 10,318 slide playsets after identifying openings where a child’s torso could pass through but the child’s head could become trapped.
The recall affects Arlopu slide playsets with model numbers KT-CS17 and LY-31.
The playsets are designed for indoor and outdoor use and feature multiple activities, including slides and basketball hoops. They were sold in tan, red, blue, yellow, gray and green.
Federal safety officials also warn that basketball nets on model KT-CS17 can detach from the rim and form a loop large enough to pose an entanglement or strangulation hazard.
Arlopu has received one report of a child becoming trapped in a playset, resulting in abrasions to the child’s neck.
The recalled products were sold on Amazon.com and Walmart.com between April 2023 and August 2026 for approximately $90 to $130.
Consumers are urged to stop using the recalled playsets immediately and keep them away from children.
Arlopu is offering free repair kits containing redesigned panels, basketball hoops and installation instructions.
Consumers can contact Arlopu at 800-657-9218 or email [email protected] for information about obtaining a repair kit.
Additional recall information is available through the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission at cpsc.gov.
NATCHITOCHES, La. — The St. Mary’s Tigers have earned the No. 5 seed in the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s Division IV Select football playoff bracket, securing a first-round bye.
The LHSAA released its playoff brackets following the conclusion of the regular season.
With the first-round bye, St. Mary’s will advance directly to the regional round, scheduled to begin November 19.
The Tigers will face the winner of the bi-district matchup between No. 12 Ascension Episcopal and No. 21 Central Catholic.
Bi-district playoff games are scheduled for November 12-14.
St. Mary’s enters the postseason following a 42-36 victory over district opponent Montgomery in its regular-season finale.
The Tigers will now have an additional week to prepare as they look to advance in the Division IV Select playoffs.
NATCHITOCHES, La. — Members of the Krewe of the 9 recently donated educational and art supplies to the Natchitoches Parish Library as part of the organization’s ongoing efforts to support the local community.
The donation was delivered Tuesday, November 3, as part of the Krewe’s “Our Parish” campaign, which focuses on investing in the future of Natchitoches.
The Krewe of the 9 is a Natchitoches-based Mardi Gras organization representing nine historically Black fraternities and sororities, collectively known as the Divine Nine. In addition to Mardi Gras activities, the organization participates in community outreach and service projects throughout the year.
The donated supplies will support the library’s free educational and creative programs, providing materials for children, teenagers and adults.
The Natchitoches Parish Library offers a variety of free programs and resources, including in-person and online tutoring, art classes and self-paced online professional development courses.
Information about library programs and services is available at natlib.org.
Linda Lavetta Weaver, born Linda Dean on January 12, 1941, in Sarepta, Louisiana, passed away on November 6, 2026, in Creston, Louisiana, surrounded by her loving family. She lived a long life centered on devotion to those she loved, and she will be remembered with deep affection by all who knew her.
Linda gave much of her life to education, teaching in the elementary public school system for 53 years. After retiring once following 32 years of service, she returned to the classroom because of a teacher shortage, continuing the work that meant so much to her. She loved all of her students, but held a special place in her heart for children with a troubled history. Through patience, compassion, and commitment, she touched the lives of many students who had the honor of learning from her. She was always busy with life, and that energy and dedication were felt by everyone around her.
In her younger years, Linda enjoyed playing basketball, and that love for the game stayed with her throughout her life. She never passed up a chance to watch a game. She was always busy with life, bringing energy and presence to her days and to the many people who shared in them.
Those who knew Linda will remember the strength of her faith and the way she shared it so naturally with the people she loved. Her family treasures her deep love for Jesus and the example she set in teaching them to love and cherish their own relationship with the Lord. Her prayers were a sustaining force across the years, and her loved ones hold close the comfort and guidance they found in them. She was also a long-time member of Oasis of Love, where her faith and fellowship were woven into the life she lived.
Above all, Linda cherished her family. She is survived by her husband of 65 years, Charles Thomas Weaver. She also leaves behind her children, Chris Alan Weaver, Sr. and his fiancée Sheila, Barry Eugene Weaver and his wife Cindy, and Melinda Sullivan and her husband Tracy. Her legacy continues through her grandchildren, Chris Alan Weaver, II and his wife Casey, Landon Charles Weaver and his wife Mary Anne, Wyatt Sullivan and his wife Taylor, Emily Berry and her husband Levi, Josh Williams, Morgan Rachal and her husband Kirk, Dyllon Weaver, Sara Thomasee and her husband Dalton, Weston Sullivan, Melanie Alexander and her husband Jake, Kyleigh Chandler and Nadleigh Chandler. She is also survived by her great-grandchildren Heidi, Lydia, Kipton, Robby, Lane, Presley, Luke, Caylee, Crystin, Layla, L.J., Wade, Kole, Brylee, Easton, Hailynn, Hailsey, and Hadlee, each of whom was part of the family circle she treasured. Linda is also survived by her brother, Harold Dean and his wife Ramona; her nieces Janet Bailey and her daughter Sarah, and LaDonna; and her nephews Kenneth Dean and Rodney Dean. Her family will continue to hold close the love, strength, and steady presence she gave so generously.
She was preceded in death by her great-grandchild, Taylor; by her parents, Griffin Gray Dean and Lola Gertrude King Dean; and by her sister, Vera Lowe, and Vera’s husband, Kavet. Their memories remained part of the story of her life and family.
Visitation will be held on Monday, November 9, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Oasis of Love Fellowship, 7681 LA-1, Natchitoches, Louisiana 71457. Funeral services will be held there on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Burial will follow at L.C. Weaver Memorial Cemetery, on Cloud Crossing Road, Louisiana 71411.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers include her grandsons Chris Weaver, II, Landon Weaver, Wyatt Sullivan, Dyllon Weaver, Josh Williams, and Weston Sullivan. Honorary pallbearers will be Don Kelly, Keenan Kelly, Louie Bernard, Ricky Harper, Victor Jones, Merlin Squires, Jake Alexander, Willie Jackson, Ronnie Rogers and Michael Longino.
Linda Weaver will be remembered for her love of family, her teaching career, and the full and active way she lived her life. Her memory will remain a blessing to those who knew and loved her.
The Natchitoches Police Department has arrested the following individuals over the past week:
Lenny Bobb – Monetary Instrument Abuse
Shanika Bretell – Animal Running at Large
Rakia Burton – Possession of Marijuana
Marcus Demease – Unlawful Ownership of a Dangerous Dog
Rufus Evans – Animal Running at Large
Chanard Johnson – Bank Fraud and Possession of Schedule II
Ronsheka Matthews – Battery of a Dating Partner
Victaygiah Taylor – Possession of Marijuana
Catherine Tousant – Unlawful Ownership of a Dangerous Dog and Animal Running at Large
Jamal Walker – Second Degree Battery
If you would like to report suspicious activity please contact the Natchitoches Police Department at (318) 352-8101. Remember all information given shall remain confidential.
How to report an anonymous tip via Natchitoches Crime Stoppers:
You can also report a tip anonymously by downloading the P3 Tips app on your smart phone or by calling Natchitoches Crime Stoppers at (318) 238-2388. All tips remain confidential and the caller can receive a cash reward up to $5,000 for the arrest of an offender.
NATCHITOCHES – Approximately 100 Northwestern State University nursing and radiography students participated in a disaster preparedness exercise at Alexandria International Airport on Nov. 5, portraying victims of a simulated aircraft collision and gaining firsthand experience with mass-casualty response procedures.
The exercise was part of the airport’s federally required triennial emergency preparedness drill. The drill brought together airport personnel, first responders, health care professionals and other community partners to test emergency response procedures, communication and coordination during a simulated disaster.
Students from NSU’s Cenla campus participated in a simulated collision involving an aircraft and a smaller commuter plane. Students portrayed injured passengers with simulated injuries identified on individual role cards, giving emergency personnel an opportunity to practice assessing, prioritizing and treating patients during a large-scale emergency.
The exercise also provided opportunities for students to observe triage procedures, emergency medical care and the coordination required among first responders and health care organizations during a mass-casualty incident.
Dr. Kari Cook, associate professor and director of NSU’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Allied Health program, said the experience offered students an opportunity to develop compassion and prepare for emergency situations.
“Hopefully today what they’re going to learn out of this is compassion for the patient and become better caregivers,” Cook said. “They’ll learn a little bit about emergency preparedness to be better prepared when an actual emergency does happen.”
Donald Nolen, a senior radiography major from Pitkin, said experiencing the exercise from the patient’s perspective would influence how he approaches patient care.
“I think it will make me be more compassionate to the patients,” Nolen said. “It’s just a different world to see it from being in the hospital to the patient side of it.”
Genevieve Wilson, a fourth-level student in NSU’s associate degree in nursing program from Natchitoches, said the exercise provided insight into how emergency personnel respond to unexpected situations and coordinate care.
“I think it’ll give us a good insight on how to respond to the casualties and how to work in the organizations to follow the chain of command,” Wilson said.
Dr. Donald Johnston, associate professor in NSU’s College of Nursing and School of Allied Health, said the exercise helped students better understand the responsibilities of firefighters, paramedics and other professionals involved in emergency response.
“You learn to respect other professions,” Johnston said. “I think it makes a better hospital practitioner because you are dealing with a whole bunch of professions that you don’t get to play around with.”
The exercise allowed participating agencies to evaluate emergency response procedures, strengthen communication among organizations and identify potential gaps in resources or personnel needed during an actual disaster.
For more information about NSU’s College of Nursing and School of Allied Health, visit nursing.nsula.edu.
Airport disaster drill: Annie Broadway, a Northwestern State University radiography student, portrays an injured passenger as firefighters respond during a simulated mass-casualty emergency at Alexandria International Airport Nov. 5.
NATCHITOCHES –Northwestern State University staff in Recruiting, Admissions and Enrollment Management facilitated four educational sessions during the 75th annual Louisiana Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (LACRAO) conference in Lake Charles. The NSU team shared best practices and highlighted the university’s work in enrollment management, student success and related areas with higher education professionals from across Louisiana.
The conference marked the conclusion of Director of Enrollment Management Van Erikson’s year as LACRAO president.
“During the year, LACRAO continued to strengthen statewide collaboration, professional development, communication and engagement among admissions, recruitment, registrar and enrollment professionals,” Erikson said.
Director of Recruiting Emily Miller McPherson was recognized with LACRAO’s Mid-Level Professional Award, an outstanding recognition of her leadership and contributions to the profession.
Northwest Louisiana Recruiter Danielle Cabrera was named to LACRAO’s executive board and will serve as vice president of Administration and Finance while Erikson will continue to serve as past president.
Personnel who represented NSU at the LACAO convention were, front row from left, Taquita Bell, director of Admissions; Abigail Ramos, enrollment specialist; Danielle Cabrera, northwest Louisiana recruiter; Payton Noe, assistant director of Recruiting; Abigail Chevalier, Mikaela Sarpy, admissions coordinator; Chasity Tousek, Admissions records analyst, and Lora Hayes, assistant director of Admissions. On the back row are Kris Simon, southeast Louisiana recruiter; Kolbe Burrell, southwest Louisiana recruiter; Jordan Williams, enrollment specialist; Max Sander, central Louisiana recruiter; Zoe Johnson, coordinator of marketing and events for Recruiting; Emily Miller McPherson, director of Recruiting; Van Erikson, director of Enrollment Management, and Lisa Fortenberry, Admissions coordinator.
Emily Miller McPherson:
Northwestern State Director of Recruiting Emily Miller McPherson, left, earned LACRAO’s Mid-Level Professional Award during the organization’s 75th annual conference. Director of Enrollment Management Van Erikson is the organization’s immediate past president.
Photo: Antonio Hall returned a kickoff 93 yards for NSU’s lone touchdown against UTRGV on Saturday.
Credit: Chris Reich, NSU Photographic Services
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NATCHITOCHES – Northwestern State struggled to overcome an early deficit and a series of costly turnovers Saturday as UTRGV turned three interceptions into a pair of defensive touchdowns on its way to a 52-7 victory at Turpin Stadium.
The Vaqueros (5-5, 3-4) entered the game ranked third nationally with 12 interceptions and added three more against the Demons (0-10, 0-7), returning two for touchdowns. UTRGV scored 24 points off Northwestern State turnovers, using the takeaways to maintain control throughout the afternoon.
“It was a bad day at the office,” head coach Blaine McCorkle said. “We came out flat and I didn’t have us ready to play. That’s on me. Gave up too many big plays early, got in a big hole fast and that hole was too big to get out of even when we did start to recover a little bit. Turnovers for the second time in four weeks have really killed us.”
The Vaqueros needed just two plays to take the lead. Safety TJ Neal intercepted a pass and returned it 53 yards for a touchdown less than a minute into the game, giving UTRGV an early 7-0 advantage.
NSU held the ball for more than six minutes on its ensuing possession but managed just 37 yards before punting. The Demons’ next two drives also ended in punts as UTRGV added three consecutive offensive touchdowns to build a 28-0 lead just 12 seconds into the second quarter.
The second interception proved especially costly. After moving into UTRGV territory, a deflected Zach Wilcke pass landed in the hands of safety Alijah Prosser, who returned it 90 yards for another defensive touchdown.
The Demons answered with their biggest play of the game on the ensuing kickoff.
Antonio Hall returned the kick 93 yards for a touchdown, giving Northwestern State its first points of the afternoon and its first kickoff return for a score since Myles Ward accomplished the feat in 2018.
“He’s a talented athlete and capable of making those plays,” McCorkle said. “He’s been out of the lineup for a few weeks with injuries and he’s finally getting his body back and ready to go. When he’s healthy he’s fully capable of that, so that wasn’t a surprise to any of us at all.”
The NSU defense forced a punt on UTRGV’s next possession, but another interception halted the Demons’ following drive. The Vaqueros turned the takeaway into a 40-yard field goal as time expired in the first half, taking a 38-7 lead into the break.
Northwestern State’s defense opened the second half with two stops, keeping UTRGV off the scoreboard in the third quarter. The Demons also put together one of their longest drives of the afternoon, moving 88 yards on 12 plays before an incomplete pass on fourth down ended the possession at the Vaqueros’ 3-yard line.
An errant snap on the next NSU possession resulted in the Demons’ fourth turnover of the game and another opportunity for UTRGV to capitalize.
Five Demon drives lasted at least 10 plays, including three in the first half and two after halftime. Two ended with interceptions and two more ended on failed fourth-down attempts, leaving NSU without points on any of those possessions.
Despite the difficult afternoon, McCorkle said he continues to see growth in his players beyond the results on the field.
“Our guys are disciplined and they’re growing up and they’re becoming men,” McCorkle said. “At the end of the day that’s what we want to do. Everybody wants to hear ‘you’ve got to win,’ and you do. My job is to win football games. The guys know that. We’re not right now, but we’re getting a lot of things done other places that will help us win football games eventually.”
Northwestern State closes its regular-season home schedule next Saturday when it hosts HCU at 1 p.m. at Turpin Stadium.
