Morgan Babineaux Named New KPLC Evening Anchor

Lake Charles, Louisiana - You will now see a new face behind the KPLC evening news desk. KPLC-TV announced that Morgan Babineaux has been named as the successor to longtime anchor Cynthia Arceneaux.

As we reported a few weeks ago, evening news anchor Cynthia Arceneaux is retiring after a career that has spanned more than 40 years at KPLC and 45 years in television news. For generations of viewers across Southwest Louisiana, she has been a trusted voice during some of the area’s biggest moments.

Arceneaux joined KPLC in 1982 after graduating from Louisiana State University with a degree in broadcast journalism. During her career, she became the first African American anchor in Lake Charles and helped guide viewers through major events, including hurricanes and other emergencies.

Now, she passes the torch to a familiar face in Morgan Babineaux.

Babineaux joined KPLC in 2023 as a newsroom intern. Since then, she has quickly made an impact as an investigative reporter, anchor, and storyteller. She is a Louisiana native and has already covered many important stories across Southwest Louisiana, including hurricanes, wildfires, community issues, and inspiring stories about residents.

In her time at KPLC, her work has already earned major recognition. In 2025, Babineaux was named Reporter of the Year by the Louisiana Association of Broadcasters. In 2026, she was honored as the organization’s Young Professional of the Year.

Cynthia Arceneaux said knowing Babineaux would continue the tradition at KPLC helped make her retirement decision easier. “When Morgan joined us, I immediately saw something special in her,” Arceneaux said. “She has a passion for news which is so necessary in this business, and being a home-grown Louisiana girl, I am confident Morgan will carry on the tradition of trust and stability.”

KPLC News Director Jillian Corder said Babineaux’s talent goes beyond what viewers see on television.

“Morgan is an excellent journalist whose work speaks for itself,” Corder said. “But it’s her performance off camera that truly makes her invaluable to our team. She mentors others in the newsroom while continuing to hone her craft.”

With KPLC officially announcing the move, Babineaux is set to take over the evening anchor role in the coming days.