The great flood of 2016 began 6 years ago today; destroying homes, businesses, and schools, but now thousands of students in Livingston Parish are learning in a 21st Century environment. Michelle Southern reports.
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Research at LSU Health New Orleans establishes a link between Alzheimer’s in your brain and bacteria in your gut. Kevin Gallagher has more…:
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Did you know there are native plants you can plant in your garden to help the endangered Monarch butterfly? Brooke Thorington has more.
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Today marks the 6-year anniversary of the start of the great flood of 2016, but now thousands of students in Livingston Parish have moved into two brand new, state-of-the-art schools. Southside Junior High and Elementary in Denham Springs were torn down after extensive damage from flood waters and have been on temporary campuses until now. Southside Junior High Coach and Teacher Terry Hoover says the new schools are incredible:
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Hoover is one of a handful of teachers who stuck it out in the temporary schools, which were made up of connected modular buildings. He says it wasn’t ideal, but they made the best of it…:
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Hoover says the teachers were told they would only have to be on the temporary campuses for a couple of years, but there was a lot of red tape to get funds from FEMA for the new facilities. He says it was a long ordeal, but they all appreciate the efforts made to finally get it done..:
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Research at LSU Health New Orleans establishes a link between Alzheimer’s in your brain and bacteria in your gut. Neurologist Dr. Walter Lukiw (LOO-key) is one of the research team heads. He says it starts with a bacteria one can have in one’s digestive system, called Bacteroides Fragilis…:
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Lukiw says the bacteria generates a specific type of neurotoxin (called BF-LPS) that can destroy neurons in the brain and trigger the onset of Alzheimer’s. He says the LSU research is first to link that bacteria – from a diet that is too high in sugars – to the toxin settling to the brain…:
Lukiw says research indicates that including plenty of high-fiber food in one’s diet can lessen the presence of the bacteria; lowering the likelihood of the producing the neuron-killing toxin..:
The research data could lead to new dietary practices and even treatments to help mitigate Alzheimer’s before it is too far gone.
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Because the Monarch butterfly is on the watchlist of endangered species there are things you can plant to help them. LSU AgCenter Horticulturist Heather Kirk-Ballard says milkweed is a host plant for butterfly larvae but there are some better suited than others.
In upland Louisiana, she recommends the common milkweed, and in central Louisiana the butterfly milkweed.
But tropical milkweed presents a problem with its extended season and could be contributing to the Monarch’s decline. Kirk-Ballard recommends you cut it back the fall because it sidetracks them on their way to Mexico.
In addition to planting the correct milkweed that’s best for Monarchs, Kirk-Ballard says you should also reduce the use of pesticides.
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She says you can find many of the appropriate milkweeds to help Monarchs at local nurseries, or you can order seeds online.
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The fentanyl overdose death of a Baton Rouge toddler in June is sadly one of 22 juvenile homicides in East Baton Rouge Parish this year. Coroner Dr. Beau Clark says the number of pediatric homicides this year alone is twice as many as from the same time period in 2021.
Clark says what’s even more disturbing is when you break down the statistics and see the numbers for ages zero to five.
And while violent crimes across the nation have increased, Clark says it’s startling to see the number of children in East Baton Rouge who are victims of homicide.
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The Saints will play their first pre-season game this Saturday at NRG Stadium against the Houston Texans. It will be the black and gold’s first live-action under new head coach Dennis Allen, who was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach after Sean Payton announced his retirement. Allen says he’s ready to see how his players perform in a game-day setting.
One player that has made headlines in camp is rookie offensive lineman Trevor Penning, who is competing for the starting left tackle spot. Penning has been in multiple fights in training camp. Allen says Penning has to be more disciplined, but he appreciates Penning’s aggressive style of play.
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LSU had its first fall scrimmage under first-year head coach Brian Kelly. Arizona State Transfer Jayden Daniels took the majority of the first team reps at quarterback while 6th-year senior Myles Brennan ran with the two’s. The third quarterback competing for the starting job is redshirt freshman Garrett Nussmeier, who did not participate due to an injury. Kelly says Nussmeier was held out due to an ankle injury but expects him to return soon.
An area of concern for Kelly and his staff had been the defensive backs after there was very little depth within that position group throughout spring practice causing coach Kelly to bring in a number of transfers. Kelly says that the secondary has really impressed the coaching staff during fall practice.
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