State

Virginia buttonweed is easy to spot in lawns because of its small white flowers. (Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter)

Virginia buttonweed is easy to spot in lawns because of its small white flowers. (Photo by Olivia McClure/LSU AgCenter)

Pull those weeds before they drop their seeds

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, September 20, 2024
Gardening isn’t always about the pretty stuff. And today we need to discuss a less-than-glamourous topic: weeds in landscape beds. With summer dragging on, you may have had to limit the time you spend working outside in the heat. Perhaps you decided to let a few things go, like pulling weeds.
NOAA image.

NOAA image.

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Francine rains flooded New Orleans

Greg LaRose / Louisiana Illuminator
Friday, September 13, 2024
For a city that routinely sees flooding, New Orleans residents and business owners were taken aback by the intense rains of Hurricane Francine, which still was at Category 1 strength when it passed over the city Wednesday night.

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Why is our auto insurance so costly?

Wesley Muller / Louisiana Illuminator
Friday, September 13, 2024
Despite many hours of testimony from experts, state lawmakers are still without a solid explanation as to why auto insurance rates are so much higher in Louisiana than in other states — and one organization that might help find answers was noticeably absent last week.

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Louisiana awarded $70M to accelerate student reading

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, September 13, 2024
The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) has been awarded $70 million to help more Louisiana students become strong readers. The Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) program awarded Louisiana more than any of the 23 states to win these competitive grants.

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LABI releases its Legislative Scorecard

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, September 13, 2024
The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) released the 2024 edition of its annual Legislative Scorecard, highlighting the legislators who supported bills that LABI’s 2000+ members considered critical to Louisiana’s business climate.
Vibrant marigolds, zinnias and crotons offer a way to refresh the late-summer garden as we prepare to transition into fall. (Photo by Randy LaBauve/LSU AgCenter)

Vibrant marigolds, zinnias and crotons offer a way to refresh the late-summer garden as we prepare to transition into fall. (Photo by Randy LaBauve/LSU AgCenter)

Refresh the late-summer garden with fall colors

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, September 13, 2024
We’re almost to the finish line: The long, hot summer will be over soon, and fall will officially arrive later this month. You may be itching to replace those warm-season landscape plants that have gone crispy in the summer sun.

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Protect tax records and financial documents from weather damage

Harlan Kirgan
Tuesday, September 10, 2024
As Tropical Storm Francine takes potential aim at the Gulf Coast, the Louisiana Department of Revenue encourages taxpayers to protect their tax records and other financial documents from flood damage and other weather-related threats.

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Louisiana expands tutoring options for K-12 students

Harlan Kirgan
Tuesday, September 10, 2024
BATON ROUGE — The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) is expanding tutoring options available to students who need additional support in reading and math. Families can now apply for $1,500 digital tutoring vouchers as part of a broadened Steve Carter Tutoring Program.
Shell, one of the biggest oil companies in the world, gave $27.5 million to LSU in 2022 to fund the university’s Institute for Innovation in Energy. LSU President William F. Tate IV, second from left, poses with LSU mascot Mike the Tiger. A new paper calls for additional research into the influence of the fossil fuel industry on academia. (LSU photo)

Shell, one of the biggest oil companies in the world, gave $27.5 million to LSU in 2022 to fund the university’s Institute for Innovation in Energy. LSU President William F. Tate IV, second from left, poses with LSU mascot Mike the Tiger. A new paper calls for additional research into the influence of the fossil fuel industry on academia. (LSU photo)

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Colleges with fossil fuel funding can become ‘vehicle of climate obstruction,’ study finds

Miranda Green / Floodlight
Tuesday, September 10, 2024
For decades, oil and gas companies have donated tens to hundreds of millions of dollars to colleges and universities, sat on governing boards, sponsored scholarships and built pro-fossil fuel programming and curriculum — resulting in real or apparent conflicts of interest for universities and their...