State

A hammerhead worm discovered by a Denham Springs homeowner. Photo provided.

A hammerhead worm discovered by a Denham Springs homeowner. Photo provided.

Hammerhead worms on the rise in Louisiana

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, May 6, 2022
An invasive, wriggling creature with a head that resembles a hammer has been showing up lately in some south Louisiana lawns. They’re called hammerhead worms. LSU AgCenter entomologist Nathan Lord said it is believed they were imported from Southeast Asia in the soil of ornamental plants.
Supertunia Vista Bubblegum is an excellent landscape bedding plant that tolerates the heat. (Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

Supertunia Vista Bubblegum is an excellent landscape bedding plant that tolerates the heat. (Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

Pretty petunias that take the heat

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, May 6, 2022
Are you looking for reliable, easy-care color for the landscape this summer? Look for new and improved petunias that tolerate the heat. Petunias of the past couldn’t handle the heat, but newer varieties have improved tolerance.

TOPS recipients could soon keep family income private

Harlan Kirgan
Wednesday, May 4, 2022
Louisiana might soon remove the requirement that recipients of the state’s popular merit-based TOPS college scholarship provide information on their family income. The end of such disclosure in the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) is proposed in Senate Bill 81, authored by Sen.
Cell phone

Cell phone

Ban on hand-held driver phones fails

Harlan Kirgan
Wednesday, May 4, 2022
Lawmakers on Tuesday narrowly rejected a bill to ban hand-held driver phones after a handful of amendments, debates and product demonstrations. The bill would have allowed law enforcement to ticket anyone caught with a cell phone in hand while driving.

State’s 2006 abortion law ready if Roe v. Wade is overturned

Harlan Kirgan
Wednesday, May 4, 2022
More legal challenges are expected, but an outright ban on abortions would go into effect immediately in Louisiana except in certain instances. If the leaked draft of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling on a Mississippi abortion law overturns the landmark Roe v.
Mushroom compost can add nutrients to soils and potting media. (Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard LSU AgCenter)

Mushroom compost can add nutrients to soils and potting media. (Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard LSU AgCenter)

Timing is everything when applying fertilizer

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, April 29, 2022
Spring is here and the plants are booming. Plants perform best when they are getting the optimum amount of sunlight, appropriate amounts of water and plenty of essential nutrients for good growth and production of flowers and fruit. Optimize plant growth by knowing how and when to fertilize.
Internet.

Internet.

Main barrier to broadband internet is cost

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, April 29, 2022
In the fifth installment of the 2022 Louisiana Survey, released Tuesday, residents say the most common barrier to having broadband internet is the cost of the service.

Views on abortion are split

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, April 29, 2022
A survey released Thursday suggests that Louisiana residents are split almost evenly over whether to maintain legal access to abortions.
Although commonly called a lily, callas are not a true lily. (Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

Although commonly called a lily, callas are not a true lily. (Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

Consider the lilies: A symbol of springtime beauty

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, April 22, 2022
Spring brings many beautiful flowers, but none more beautiful than the lily. Readily found this time of year and often used for celebrations and decorating in the spring, lilies are important to many cultures and mentioned often in literature.