State

Edwards OKs trading higher unemployment benefits for ending federal assistance

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards signed into law a bill that will end federal pandemic unemployment in exchange for a long-term increase in state unemployment benefits. The bill passed last week as the state’s regular legislative session came to a close.

Number of employed continues to rise in COVID-19 recovery

Preliminary data for May released Wednesday by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) shows that Louisiana’s seasonally adjusted number of employed individuals rose both over the month and over the year.

Rural revitalization plan cites 4 key issues (Download the report)

The Advisory Council on Rural Revitalization released its Strategic Plan Report on Wednesday.

LSU Board urges mandated vaccines for students

The LSU Board of Supervisors voted 9-2 Friday to urge the Louisiana Department of Health to add COVID-19 shots to a list of mandated vaccinations for college students once federal regulators give full approval to the vaccines.

Protect, promote pollinators

June 21 to 27 is National Pollinator Week, and the focus is “Pollinators, Plants, People, Planet,” according to www.pollinator.org. Protecting pollinators should be popular year-round, but in June, we aim our focus on how these beneficial creatures help our ecosystems and bring food to our tables.

Pearls of wisdom: Unhinging oysters facts

“He was a bold man that first ate an oyster,” said 18th-century Irish satirist Jonathan Swift. Whether enjoyed fried, grilled, in a seafood gumbo or, perhaps most opinion dividing, raw, there is no denying the oyster’s impact on both Louisiana’s culture and seafood industry.

Parish, state honor legendary musician Clifton Chenier

Clifton Chenier, known as the King of Zydeco, is being honored by the St. Landry Parish Council and teh state House of Representatives with resolutions declaring each June 25 through 2025 as Clifton Chenier Day.

St. Landry, Acadia parishes allocated hazard mitigation money

St. Landry Parish is to receive $1,572,046 in FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding for Hurricanes Laura and Delta damage. The grant is among $136 million announced by Gov.

Edwards announces vaccine lottery; $2.3M in prizes

Fourteen vaccinated Louisianans will win scholarships and cash prizes – including one adult who will win $1 million – throughout July as part of the Shot At A Million campaign the state is launching to reward residents who have taken or who choose to get their COVID-19 vaccine, Gov.

On campus: Students honored at colleges, universities

LSUE Chancellor’s List LSU at Eunice named 339 students to the Spring Semester 2021 Chancellor’s List in recognition of their academic achievement. The list, which comprises full-time students who maintained at least a 3.5 grade-point average on a 4.