Flowers are in bloom, crawfish are boilin, the weather is just right, and Louisianans know, that means festival season. Michael Farrar has more.

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An invasive species of tree frogs has hopped the Gulf and is gaining a foothold in New Orleans. Jeff Palermo has more.

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A Houma Representative’s bill which would require public schools provide 30 minutes of recess passed committee. Matt Doyle has the story.

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Festival season is kicking off in Louisiana, with a busy schedule that’s bound to keep the Bayou State buzzing for months to come. This weekend may be the busiest, with huge celebrations in New Orleans and Lafayette. Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser is calling on folks to “staycation” in Louisiana with a trip to New Orleans this weekend.

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The golf tournament is the Zurich Classic, in Avondale just south of New Orleans.

But New Orleans isn’t the only town throwing down this weekend. Lafayette is hosting the Festival International, and Nungesser says visitors will be treated to a multicultural cornucopia of talent

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Jazz Fest is expected to bring in roughly 300-million dollars. Nungesser says thousands of tourists will be in the state and he hopes their visit will lead to more tourism…

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Cuban tree frogs have moved into New Orleans, and are now threatening to muscle out the locals according to the US Geological Survey. The frogs are invasive, and are suspected to have hopped a ride to the Crescent City on palm trees imported from Florida. Ecologist Brad Glorioso says it’s a threat to the state amphibian, the green tree frog.

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It’s not just the local wildlife that’s at risk, Glorioso says they have a history of terrorizing homeowners.

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He also warned that the frog’s skin causes a burning sensation in people and animals that touch it.

Glorioso has some advice for New Orleanians brave enough to fight back against the foreign threat.

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Cuban Tree Frogs are known to grow as large as a human palm.

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The House Education Committee passed a proposal that would require schools provide a 30 minute recess break to students. Currently schools must have 30 minutes of physical activity, which is covered in many districts by PE class. Houma Representative and sponsor Beryl Amedee says recess is crucial to a child’s educational development.

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But the legislation received opposition from the Louisiana Association of Principles, who raised concerns that it would cut back on classroom time. Executive Director Debra Schum says schools would struggle to accomplish this under current class time requirements.

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Schum says schools have other ways to get students active besides relying on recess

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But Amedee says despite the difficulties that would come with requiring recess, it’s still a worthwhile endeavor.

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A Senate Committee approved a bill that would allow families to put video cameras in the nursing home rooms of loved ones. The legislation was inspired by a Louisiana family who suspected a nursing home staff member was beating a family member in their room. Houma Senator Norby Chabert says the legislation is designed to keep the elderly safe.