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.
Updated: Dec. 6, 2022 at 2:44 PM CST
|By Amanda Johnson
The former Isle of Capri Hotel and Casino will reopen as Horseshoe Lake Charles on Monday, Dec. 12, to be declared “Horseshoe Day” by Westlake Mayor Dan Racca.
Updated: Nov. 30, 2022 at 5:47 PM CST
|By Patrick Deaville and Amanda Johnson
Crime Stoppers is still offering a $500 reward for any information leading to the arrest of Nick Ashworth.
Updated: Nov. 30, 2022 at 2:29 PM CST
|By Amanda Johnson
Small, locally-owned businesses in Lake Charles can apply for forgivable loans of up to $5,000 through the city’s Small Business Stabilization Fund.
Updated: Nov. 29, 2022 at 4:22 PM CST
|By Patrick Deaville and Amanda Johnson
Portions of the canal are currently closed for cleanup.
Updated: Nov. 28, 2022 at 5:21 PM CST
|By Amanda Johnson
The Kansas City Southern Holiday Express is returning to the rails this year, and it has stops planned for five Louisiana cities, including DeQuincy and Leesville.
Updated: Nov. 25, 2022 at 5:46 PM CST
|By Amanda Johnson
Early voting will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Nov. 26 through Dec. 3, excluding Sunday.
Updated: Nov. 16, 2022 at 3:12 PM CST
|By Amanda Johnson
The Cameron Parish Sheriff’s Office is hosting a free two-day hunter education course on Friday, Dec. 2 and Saturday, Dec. 3.
Updated: Nov. 15, 2022 at 9:49 PM CST
|By Amanda Johnson
The 2023 Grammy nominations were announced Tuesday, and a unique album that captures the soul of Louisiana is on the list.
Updated: Nov. 15, 2022 at 9:06 PM CST
|By Amanda Johnson
With temperatures falling lower than usual for this time of year, fire officials are reminding residents to keep safety in mind while using heaters.
Updated: Nov. 15, 2022 at 7:23 PM CST
|By Amanda Johnson
Dozens of pets at the Vernon Parish Animal Shelter are waiting for their forever homes.
Updated: Nov. 11, 2022 at 6:27 PM CST
|By Amanda Johnson
Boombox Frozen Pops and Ice Cream is asking fans to make an extra visit to their Country Club Road shop so their remaining inventory does not go to waste before they permanently close on Dec. 30.
Updated: Nov. 10, 2022 at 9:24 PM CST
|By Amanda Johnson
Out with the old to make room for the new - the demolition has begun on part of our old KPLC building.
Updated: Nov. 8, 2022 at 11:24 PM CST
|By Amanda Johnson
Cameron Parish voters decided on two tax propositions in Tuesday’s election - one consolidation and one renewal.
Updated: Nov. 8, 2022 at 10:32 PM CST
|By Amanda Johnson
Cameron Parish voters decided on two tax propositions in Tuesday’s election - one consolidation and one renewal.
Updated: Nov. 8, 2022 at 10:12 PM CST
|By Amanda Johnson
Cameron Parish voters decided on two tax propositions in Tuesday’s election - one consolidation and one renewal.
Updated: Nov. 4, 2022 at 2:59 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson
McNeese State University received an award recognizing the school’s success in rebuilding its online platform after it crashed in the aftermath of hurricanes Laura and Delta.
Updated: Oct. 24, 2022 at 4:38 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson
Cameron will vote on two parishwide tax propositions in the Nov. 8 election.
Updated: Oct. 24, 2022 at 4:12 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson
Early voting will be available from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Oct. 25 through Nov. 1, excluding Sunday, Oct. 30.
Updated: Oct. 21, 2022 at 10:31 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson
Chuck Fest returns to downtown Lake Charles Saturday with a full day of music, food and fun.
Updated: Oct. 18, 2022 at 3:48 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson
Federal investigators have closed the case on the 2021 SEACOR Power liftboat capsizing, which killed 13 people near Port Fourchon.
Updated: Oct. 17, 2022 at 7:54 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson
A nonprofit summer camp in Vernon Parish is raising money to replace their pelican statue after it was stolen - again.
Updated: Oct. 11, 2022 at 9:37 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson
The American Legion’s Oratorical Contest is coming to Lake Charles this year, providing an opportunity for high school students to win college scholarships up to $25,000.
Updated: Oct. 6, 2022 at 3:04 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson
The deadlines to register to vote in the Nov. 8 Open Congressional Primary Election are quickly approaching.
Updated: Oct. 5, 2022 at 3:07 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson
Construction of the two new ferries is expected to begin early next year with an estimated completion in mid-2025.
Updated: Sep. 30, 2022 at 5:08 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson
The Calcasieu Parish Police Jury’s “Movies Under the Stars” is returning this season with three family-friendly Halloween films.
Updated: Sep. 21, 2022 at 4:56 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson
FEMA is awarding an additional $59 million in public assistance reimbursements for disaster recovery in Louisiana, including $29.3 million for recovery from Hurricane Laura.
Updated: Sep. 21, 2022 at 2:18 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson
A Lake Charles woman died after the car she was riding in crashed into a guardrail on I-10 between Breaux Bridge and Henderson, police say.
Updated: Sep. 16, 2022 at 5:21 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson
Data released this week shows that vehicle crashes in Louisiana killed 972 people in 2021, a 17-percent increase from the previous year, which analysts attribute to an upswing in impaired and aggressive driving.
Updated: Sep. 16, 2022 at 2:12 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson
The City of DeRidder placed all customers under a boil advisory Friday afternoon.
Updated: Sep. 15, 2022 at 2:19 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson
A Carlyss woman was killed and an unidentified driver was seriously injured in an overnight crash on I-10 East through Calcasieu Parish, police say.
Updated: Sep. 7, 2022 at 2:35 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson and Joel Bruce
Residents can learn about available resources for employment, education, housing and more.
Updated: Sep. 6, 2022 at 3:52 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson
Lake Charles Memorial Hospital’s tiniest patients celebrated Labor Day this week with a little dress-up.
Updated: Sep. 6, 2022 at 2:29 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson
A Lake Charles man is jailed in connection with a rape this past weekend, authorities say.
Updated: Sep. 2, 2022 at 3:31 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson
A Lake Charles man was arrested Thursday in connection with the rape of a girl under 14 years old, authorities say.
Updated: Aug. 31, 2022 at 9:50 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson
A Louisiana basketball coach broke not just one, but five trick shot world records - all within 24 hours.
Updated: Aug. 30, 2022 at 10:03 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson
The outage is planned for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and customers will be under a boil advisory for around 24 hours after service is restored.
Updated: Aug. 30, 2022 at 3:58 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson
The candidates for District 4 Public Service Commissioner will hold a forum on Tuesday, Sept. 20 in Lake Charles.
Updated: Aug. 30, 2022 at 1:50 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson
The U.S. Department of Transportation is awarding Louisiana $7.45 million for improvements and modernization to several airports across the state.
Updated: Aug. 25, 2022 at 9:48 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson
Chris Livergood captured video as firefighters prepared to extinguish the blazing truck.
Updated: Aug. 24, 2022 at 4:00 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson
SWLA Center for Health services is holding a community baby shower to celebrate expectant and new parents Thursday, Sept. 1 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Updated: Aug. 23, 2022 at 9:13 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson
Over 20 years after the original Gators on the Geaux fundraiser, more gators are about to start popping up around Southwest Louisiana.
Updated: Aug. 19, 2022 at 2:36 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson
More than 80 mosquito samples statewide tested positive for West Nile virus this week, including one in Cameron Parish, parish officials say.
Updated: Aug. 18, 2022 at 2:48 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson
FEMA is awarding an additional $3.2 million to the Calcasieu Parish School Board in disaster aid grants.
Updated: Aug. 17, 2022 at 4:17 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson
Visitors to the 1st Avenue Walking Trail in Lake Charles can now enjoy a self-guided tour of the solar system.
Updated: Aug. 16, 2022 at 4:21 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson
Calcasieu Parish Waterworks District 1 has lifted a precautionary boil advisory issued Saturday for certain customers in Moss Bluff due to a broken water main.
Updated: Aug. 16, 2022 at 2:44 PM CDT
|By Jade Moreau and Amanda Johnson
The suspect told detectives that she left the child in her small SUV for around five hours while working, Vincent said.
Updated: Aug. 15, 2022 at 8:56 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson and Suzanne Ferrara
A Lake Charles man was arrested Sunday morning after reportedly running over a police officer and dragging him approximately 100 feet, police say.
Updated: Aug. 15, 2022 at 6:21 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson and Andrea Robinson
T.S. Cooley was placed under a precautionary lockdown as police investigate an incident in the area unrelated to the school.
Updated: Aug. 15, 2022 at 6:12 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson
Fox was a lifelong Lake Arthur resident known for advocacy of local tourism and business.
Updated: Aug. 15, 2022 at 4:01 PM CDT
|By Amanda Johnson
The Town of Elton plans to shut off water service Wednesday, Aug. 17 to repair a gasket on the water tower.
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