The 60-year mystery of where Louisiana’s 13th governor is buried has been solved. Brooke Thorington talks to one of the amateur historians who made the discovery
Cut 1 (31) “…I’m Brooke Thorington”
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The lineup is in for this year’s fall Jazz Fest. Matt Doyle has more…
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Federally enhanced unemployment benefits are set to expire in just over a month and the Louisiana Workforce Commission wants to help you get back to work before those benefits end. Matt Doyle has more.
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What had been a mystery for 60 years is now solved after local historians located the gravesite of former Louisiana Governor Joseph Walker. Serving from 1850 to 1853, Walker was Louisiana’s 13th Governor. Amateur historian Michael Wynne says Walker was buried in 1856 at his family’s graveyard located on his property in Rapides Parish.
In 1864 the homesite burnt to the ground. Wynne says the land later changed hands, was cultivated and the cemetery destroyed. It wasn’t until Wynne found the first aerial photographs taken of Rapides Parish in 1955 that helped guide him to the gravesite.
Recent rains and a freshly plowed field unearthed buried artifacts that included craved marble from Walker’s tombstone. Wynne would like to see the gravesite preserved and restored to honor the significant governor.
In the meantime, Wynne is hoping a historical marker will be placed at the gravesite.
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The fall Jazz Fest lineup is in and Foo Fighters, Dead and Company, Stevie Nicks, Jimmy Buffet, Lizzo, and other stars are all scheduled to headline the festival’s return after a year and a half off.
Jazz Fest Producer Quint Davis says hotel rooms are already starting to fill up and folks are excited to head to the Fairgrounds October 8th through 17th
Jazz Fest will run for six days, Friday-Saturday-Sunday of both weekends.
The lineup is awful similar to the one we were supposed to have in April of 2020. Davis says those artists were itching to get back to New Orleans.
The full schedule will be available to the public next month.
Festival-goers will be treated to a cool fall breeze but Davis says the plan is to return to the usual spring dates starting next year.
3-day weekend passes are on sale now and single-day passes will be available starting in July.
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The Louisiana Workforce Commission has launched the “Back to Work Louisiana” campaign, an effort aimed at putting people back to work as federally boosted unemployment benefits expire. LWC spokesperson Chris Fiore says the employment drive will culminate with a statewide in-person job fair on August 4th.
Governor Edwards agreed to cut off the 300 dollar federally boosted unemployment benefits five weeks early in exchange for a small bump in weekly state benefits starting next year.
Fiore says there are tens of thousands of good-paying jobs available in Louisiana right now and they want to connect you to employers who are eager to start a post-vaccine hiring spree.
Visit Louisianaworks.net to see a list of job openings statewide or visit one of 62 local offices.
Fiore says the statewide ad campaign is aimed at letting residents know that the LWC isn’t just for dispersing unemployment, it’s for helping you start a career.
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The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2020 will finally get inducted into the Hall on Saturday night during a big ceremony in Natchitoches. The eleven-member class has been waiting for over a year to be inducted. Hall of Fame chairman Doug Ireland says the inductees have been patient and understanding.
Former Ragin Cajun and Chicago Bear Charles Tillman, outdoorsman Phil Robertson and New Orleans native and former NBA player Kerry Kittles highlight the 2020 class. Ireland says the class also features 94-year-old Mackie Freeze. The former football coach at Monroe’s Richwood High School won four state titles in the 1960s and was also a standout pitcher at Grambling State.
Cut 14 (12) “…high school football.”
Four of the inductees are known for their contributions as either media members, sports information, or sports administration. They are former Tennessee athletic director and LSU grad Joan Cronan, Advocate high school sports reporter Robin Fambrough, LSU men’s basketball SID Kent Lowe and broadcaster Tim Brando.
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LSU is expected to name Arizona Coach Jay Johnson as the new head coach of the Fighting Tigers baseball program. Johnson led Nevada to the College World Series twice in six seasons in Tuscon. He’s also been a head coach at Arizona and spent eight seasons as an assistant coach at San Diego. Aaron Fitt from D-1 baseball says Johnson is known as a great hitting coach
Cut 16 (19) “…offensive mind.”
Fitt says one of Johnson’s biggest challenges will be dealing with a passionate fan base who expects a trip to the College World Series every year….
Fitt says what will help with the learning curve is that Johnson takes over a program where there’s plenty of talent…
Right fielder Dylan Crews and first baseman Tre Morgan were freshman All-Americans.