What will happen with the wildlife near Pecan Island once SpaceX begins construction of the largest spaceport in the world? Jeff Palermo has the story.
Cut 1 (35) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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The State Library offers on-demand virtual tutoring to Louisiana students of every age and learning level through Homework Louisiana. Kace Kieschnick has more.
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”
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In the fall of 1988, Dolly Parton gave players on the marching band at Northwestern State an experience they will never forget. Andrew Greenstein reports.
Cut 3 (47) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”
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Louisiana is set to receive 180-million dollars over the next nine years as part of a landmark multistate settlement with Meta over allegations that Facebook and Instagram were designed to addict teenagers to social media. Attorney General Liz Murrill says she would like to see a portion of the money used to strengthen enforcement efforts aimed at stopping adults from using social media to prey on children.
Cut 4 (08) “…our kids online.”
Murrill says some of the settlement money should also be used to educate young people about the potential dangers of social media.
Cut 5 (13) “…online every day.”
Multiple states sued Meta in 2023, alleging the technology giant designed platforms like Instagram to expose young users to serious mental harm. Murrill says some of Louisiana’s share could also go toward helping children harmed by excessive social media use.
Cut 6 (12) “…have implemented them.”
As part of the agreement, Meta has agreed to implement additional safety features on Instagram and Facebook, including a combined two-hour daily time limit, mandatory pauses after 15 minutes, nighttime restrictions, stronger age-verification measures and more user-friendly parental controls.
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SpaceX’s 100-billion-dollar rocket launch site in coastal Vermilion Parish could bring thousands of jobs to Acadiana. But some are questioning what the massive development could mean for the area’s wildlife. Starbase Louisiana will be built near Pecan Island, a popular destination for fishing, crabbing and duck hunting. SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell says the company will develop only a portion of the 125-thousand acres of marshland it now owns.
Cut 7 (10) “…don’t become infrastructure.”
The surrounding wetlands are home to alligators, deer, and native water birds. Tens of thousands of ducks and snow geese winter in the marshes near Pecan Island, which is also an important stop for migrating birds. Shotwell says rocket launches and wildlife can coexist, based on what SpaceX has seen at its other facilities.
Cut 8 (04) “…they come back.”
But Louisiana Wildlife Federation Executive Director Rebecca Triche has concerns. She says the FAA is proposing rule changes that would waive 13 federal environmental and public health laws for commercial space permits, including projects like Starbase Louisiana.
Cut 9 (09) “…of this site?”
Triche says the possibility of eliminating environmental review requirements is particularly troubling.
Cut 10 (09) “…a permit process.”
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk says Starbase Louisiana will eventually feature more than a dozen launch towers, supporting more than 30 Starship flights per day and making it the largest launch site in the world.
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The State Library is reminding Louisiana students to access live, vetted tutors through Homework-LA-dot-org. Homework Louisiana provides one-on-one tutoring from over four-thousand qualified teachers in nearly 200 subjects. State Librarian Meg Placke (PLAK-ee) says the service is just as accessible as A-I but more effective.
Cut 11 (10) “…do it themselves.”
Tutoring sessions can be scheduled or available on demand seven days a week from 10 a-m to midnight. Placke says students can learn in class during the day, and Homework Louisiana provides extra help at home.
Cut 12 (10) “…real live person.”
Learning sessions occur in a live online classroom with a virtual chat and whiteboard. In addition to covering a multitude of subjects, the service also provides standardized test prep and writing review and assistance. Placke says there is tutoring available for students from kindergarten through college.
Cut 13 (10) “…use for help.”
Placke says students do not need a library card to use Homework Louisiana, and Spanish and Vietnamese language options are also offered.
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We’re hearing from the band director at Northwestern State at the time when Dolly Parton joined the band on the field at Turpin Stadium for a performance of her hit song “9 to 5” in the fall of 1988. Dolly was in Natchitoches that summer filming “Steel Magnolias.” Band Director Bill Brent says the band prepared for a long time for the special performance.
Cut 14 (11) “…it to her.”
Brent says given Dolly’s hectic schedule, she was unable to rehearse with the band, but it didn’t matter – at halftime of the Demons’ 24-8 win over the school then known as Southwest Missouri State, Dolly and the band nailed the performance.
Cut 15 (13) “…talent she was.”
Brent says he wanted to show Dolly his appreciation for what he did for his band and the Northwestern State community, but she had beaten him to the punch.
Cut 16 (11) “…perform with us.”
Dolly’s time in Natchitoches was not her first time in Louisiana. She recorded her very first single, “Puppy Love,” in Lake Charles back in 1959 at the tender age of 13.
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Southeastern Louisiana kicks off its football season tonight in a Southland Conference matchup against Houston Christian. The Lions open the season as the 20th-ranked team in the FCS coaches poll as head coach Frank Scelfo reloads his roster. He says he is relying on talented backups from last season to step up in bigger roles, like senior quarterback Kyle Lowe, who saw the field a lot as the number two QB last year.
Cut 17 (19) “…got that now.”
Kickoff in Strawberry Stadium is set for 6 p-m.
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Northwestern State kicks off year three under head coach Blaine McCorkle against Louisiana Christian tonight. The Demons’ lone win in the McCorkle era came in last year’s opener versus Alcorn State. He says the biggest improvement a team makes during the season is between games one and two.
Cut 18 (15) “…road as well.”
Kickoff in Natchitoches is at 7 p-m.
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Nicholls opens its football season tonight against Mississippi Valley State. The Colonels upset top-5-ranked Incarnate Word in their season opener and went 4-and-1 at home in year one under head coach Tommy Rybacki. This year’s team is led by senior quarterback Ean Rodrigue, who Rybacki says has improved this offseason after making five starts last year.
Cut 19 (18) “…his decision-making.”
The game is scheduled for 6 p-m.