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…:

CUT 01(28)      “…Southern.”

First Shreveport Mayor Adrian Perkins…and now Ville Platte Police Chief Neal Lartigue has been barred from running for re-election on the November 8th ballot, after the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals ruled he lives outside the city limits. The ruling, if upheld under further appeal, would install Al Perry Thomas as Ville Platte’s next police chief unopposed.

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…:

CUT 07(11)      “…neuronal death.”

Lukiw 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.

Because the Monarch butterfly is on the endangered species watchlist, 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…:

CUT 10(08)      “…and soils.”

Kirk-Ballard says you should also reduce the use of pesticides.