State

Cypremont Point State Park upgrades opened

BATON ROUGE — Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser and Louisiana State Parks, along with the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, cut the ribbon officially opening a new fishing deck and restored beach at Cypremort Point State Park for public use on Nov. 5.
Citrus trees at the Becnel’s family orchard were killed by a 10-foot storm surge brought by Hurricane Ida. Ben Becnel Jr. estimates that nearly 2,000 citrus trees were destroyed by the storm and 75% of his fruit was lost. (Photos by Craig Gautreaux/LSU AgCenter)

Citrus trees at the Becnel’s family orchard were killed by a 10-foot storm surge brought by Hurricane Ida. Ben Becnel Jr. estimates that nearly 2,000 citrus trees were destroyed by the storm and 75% of his fruit was lost. (Photos by Craig Gautreaux/LSU AgCenter)

Louisiana citrus growers reeling from Ida damage

While Hurricane Ida came ashore more than two months ago, its effect on the Louisiana citrus and vegetable industry will be measured in years.

Fiber optics expanded in Acadia Parish

Louisiana reportedly has about 400,000 to 500,000 households without broadband access, according to the state official in charge of broadband development. But Veneeth Iyengar, executive director of the Broadband Development and Connectivity Office, believes that’s a lowball estimate.

Website connects artists to consumers

A new platform designed to bridge a gap between artists, cultural communities, and consumers is called “Culturalyst” and can be found at culturalyst.com. Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser and the Louisiana Division of the Arts announced that Culturalyst is a software company, based in New Orleans, serving...

Shot For 100 vaccine incentive program extended to Nov. 30

Effective Monday, Louisiana’s Shot For $100 vaccine incentive program is back — and will extend to Nov. 30 for the general public including college students eligible for the COVID vaccine in Louisiana. Pending an anticipated CDC decision, families of 5-to-11-year-olds will soon be eligible.
John Bordelon and Dr. Cindy Courville are the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s 2021 Outstanding Alumni. The honorees were recognized during an Oct. 28, reception at the Alumni Center. (Photo by Doug Dugas / University of Louisiana at Lafayette)

John Bordelon and Dr. Cindy Courville are the University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s 2021 Outstanding Alumni. The honorees were recognized during an Oct. 28, reception at the Alumni Center. (Photo by Doug Dugas / University of Louisiana at Lafayette)

UL Lafayette honors Bordelon and Courville as 2021 Outstanding Alumni

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette Alumni Association has recognized bank president and CEO John Bordelon and strategic policy advisor Dr. Cindy Courville with the 2021 Outstanding Alumni Award.

U.S. energy’s environmental value stressed

U.S. energy was the most obvious and preferred source to combat rising gasoline prices and provide climate-advantaged production at Thursday’s USA Offshore Energy Gulf Coast Webcast.
Strawberries are typically grown on plastic or with a thick layer of pine straw to protect plants from strawberries sitting on the soil and rotting. (Photos by Kiki Fontenot/LSU AgCenter)

Strawberries are typically grown on plastic or with a thick layer of pine straw to protect plants from strawberries sitting on the soil and rotting. (Photos by Kiki Fontenot/LSU AgCenter)

Strawberries are sensational

It’s strawberry planting time! Louisiana has a long history of strawberries dating back to the 1800s, and business really began to boom in the early 1900s. According to the LSU AgCenter’s latest data, the Louisiana strawberry industry has a gross farm value of $8.4 million.

McNeese rodeo returns, Eunice student is on team

McNeese State University’s 67th annual rodeo returns to Burton Coliseum with a special Halloween rodeo at 7:30 p.m. today open free to the public.
LSU AgCenter plant doctor Raj Singh displays a dead boxwood that has been affected by boxwood dieback. (Photo by V. Todd Miller/LSU AgCenter)

LSU AgCenter plant doctor Raj Singh displays a dead boxwood that has been affected by boxwood dieback. (Photo by V. Todd Miller/LSU AgCenter)

AgCenter takes boxwood disease training to Louisiana’s Nursery Capital

Cutlines: The first thing one notices when exiting Interstate 49 to Forest Hill in Rapides Parish is mile upon mile of plant nurseries — the largest concentration in the state, according to one attendee of a boxwood dieback disease identification and management training presentation on Oct. 19.