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Unemployment rate trends downward

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, August 20, 2021
Preliminary data for July released Friday by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) shows Louisiana added 12,700 seasonally adjusted nonfarm jobs from June. The July estimate of 1,849,200 also shows a gain of 58,200 jobs from July 2020 as the state continues to rebound from the impact of Covid-19.
Pink muhly grass. (LSU AgCenter file photo by Allen Owings)

Pink muhly grass. (LSU AgCenter file photo by Allen Owings)

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Muhly grass adds class, texture to landscapes

Heather Kirk-Ballard / LSU AgCenter horticulturist
Friday, August 20, 2021
Ornamental grasses are some of the best plant selections for an ornamental focus for the landscape, but they are often underutilized. In addition to being an excellent choice for their aesthetic appeal, ornamental grasses are great for wildlife, especially birds.

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‘You don’t go in Mr. Fuller’s yard’

Rachel Mipro / LSU Manship School News Service
Wednesday, August 18, 2021
During the 1950s in northeast Louisiana, future Klansman Robert Fuller was a familiar face to law enforcement. He lived on the outskirts of Monroe. Local police considered Fuller a thug, and the FBI opened a file on him because of his involvement in prostitution.

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Retired teacher wins $1M vaccine shot grand prize

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, August 13, 2021
Gov. John Bel Edwards and the Louisiana Department of Health announced the $1 million grand prize cash winner and the last five $100,000 scholarship winners of the Shot At A Million COVID-19 campaign.
If the plants are showing signs of black spot or mildew, be sure to rinse your pruners in 10% bleach solution then in water before moving onto healthy shrubs to prevent the spreading of any disease. (Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

If the plants are showing signs of black spot or mildew, be sure to rinse your pruners in 10% bleach solution then in water before moving onto healthy shrubs to prevent the spreading of any disease. (Photo by Heather Kirk-Ballard/LSU AgCenter)

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What to do in the garden in August

Heather Kirk-Ballard LSU AgCenter horticulturist
Friday, August 13, 2021
The heat is turned up and the rain is unrelenting. What can you do this month in the garden? As we look forward to cooler fall weather there are things to do to prepare for the fall and still time to tackle summertime gardening tasks.
University of Louisiana at Lafayette Summer 2021 graduates received their diplomas Friday during ceremonies at the Cajundome, capping a historic 2020-2021 academic year during which 3,592 students earned degrees. (Photo credit: Doug Dugas / University of Louisiana at Lafayette)

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Summer 2021 graduates received their diplomas Friday during ceremonies at the Cajundome, capping a historic 2020-2021 academic year during which 3,592 students earned degrees. (Photo credit: Doug Dugas / University of Louisiana at Lafayette)

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UL Lafayette Summer Commencement signals end to historic academic year

Harlan Kirgan
Wednesday, August 11, 2021
LAFAYETTE — The University of Louisiana at Lafayette conferred 332 degrees during its Summer 2021 Commencement on Aug. 6 at the Cajundome, signaling the end of a historic academic year.

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Academic recovery, acceleration program announced

Harlan Kirgan
Wednesday, August 11, 2021
The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) announced the launch of “Louisiana Comeback,” a coordinated campaign to recover and accelerate learning lost due to the previous year’s challenges.
A scene from the UL Lafayette campus. (Photo by Doug Dugas / University of Louisiana at Lafayette)

A scene from the UL Lafayette campus. (Photo by Doug Dugas / University of Louisiana at Lafayette)

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UL Lafayette uses federal COVID-19 funds to erase student debt

Harlan Kirgan
Wednesday, August 11, 2021
The University of Louisiana at Lafayette has erased $2.7 million in student debt. UL Lafayette utilized allocations from the federal Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, part of the American Rescue Plan that was signed into law in March.
Author Robert Mann, left, on a State Police helicopter with the late Gov. Kathleen Blanco and journalist Tyler Bridges in 2004. (Photo Courtesy of Robert Mann)

Author Robert Mann, left, on a State Police helicopter with the late Gov. Kathleen Blanco and journalist Tyler Bridges in 2004. (Photo Courtesy of Robert Mann)

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Kathleen Blanco, ‘Dealt a bad hand, and did the best she could’

Harlan Kirgan
Wednesday, August 11, 2021
As the 16th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina approaches, the following is an excerpt from Robert Mann’s new memoir, “Backrooms and Bayous: My Life in Louisiana Politics,” looking at how the late governor handled the crisis. By Robert Mann Governor Kathleen Blanco’s administration had two periods.

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Review your insurance before peak hurricane season arrives

Harlan Kirgan
Friday, August 6, 2021
TALLAHASSEE, Florida — The peak of hurricane season begins in mid-August and forecasters with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) recently updated their projections to a total of 15 to 21 named storms, including seven to 10 hurricanes of which three to five could reach major...