The World Health Organization issues its recommendation on how much screen time is appropriate for kids, and it’s not much. Brooke Thorington has the story.
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An LSU entomologist has some good tips for keep your house termite free this season…
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A bill that would establish a statewide framework for rideshare services such as Uber and Lyft is scheduled to for floor debate today in the House. Kevin Barnhart has the story.
Cut 3 (30) “I’m Kevin Barnhart”
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The World Health Organization has for the first time issued guidance on how much screen time is acceptable and it’s not very much. LSU Health New Orleans pediatrician Dr. Kyle Fulton says the recommendations indicate kids ages 2-5 should have their screen time limited to less than one hour per day.
Cut 4 (08) “…quality or educational.”
Children ages 6 and older are recommended to have less than two hours per day, not including homework time at a computer.
Fulton says research shows children who spend too much time in front of a screen tend to spend less time playing, and the less time they are playing, the more likely they are to have health problems later on in life.
The guide is similar to the advice given by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Fulton says he recommends parents spend time reading books with children instead of letting them spend time in front of a screen.
The report adds that children younger than 18 months old should not have any screen time at all other than video chats.
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The Shreveport-based Community Foundation of North Louisiana has started a fund to raise money for relief efforts in Ruston, which is recovering from a deadly tornado. Spokesperson Emily Smith says they are identifying needs and will distribute funds to organizations that can address them.
Smith says their board is familiar with charitable organizations in Lincoln Parish and she says if you’re not sure where to send monetary support, their umbrella fund will direct your money to the most pressing needs.
To donate, drop by C-F-N-L-A.O-R-G slash Ruston and hit the donate now button. Smith says there are also local spots you give checks to.
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It’s termite season in Louisiana and for most folks that means turning off your lights before dusk, but LSU AgCenter Entomologist Karen Sun has a few tips to keep the bugs from damaging your home, but you can’t treat your house for termites yourself…
The swarms begin at dusk and Sun says generally dissipate by 10:30 PM, at which point you should be able to turn back on outside lights.
Another tip for keeping your house termite free is cleaning up any moisture and pipe leakage, so that if a termite does breach your gates, they can’t start a family under your roof.
The bugs will be swarming for roughly the next two to three months, notably starting in early May.
A lot of folks know about clearing dead wood from the perimeter of your home, but Sun says many resident’s don’t realize that gardening mulch can pose just as much of a threat to your foundation.
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The full House is scheduled to hear a bill today creating a statewide framework for ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft. Louisiana is one of only a few states without statewide regulations, meaning some areas do not have access to the services. Lyft Public Policy Manager Carter Stern says passage would be beneficial to drivers who drive in various areas of the state.
Cut 13 (08) “…anywhere in the state.”
Stern says the access to rideshare services not only offer the ability for drivers to put some extra money in their pocket, but also helps people get to and from work, and is helping in keeping intoxicated drivers off the roads.
Cut 14 (09) “…definitely a benefit.”
Stern says Lyft is only available in six cities in Louisiana, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lake Charles, Monroe, Shreveport, and Lafayette.
Cut 15 (10) “…will have access.”
A similar bill was killed in the Senate last year over objections from the taxi cab industry.
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Despite only having one pick in the first three rounds, Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis says the team selected three players rated in the top 70 on their board. New Orleans made two trades during the seven round draft to move up. In round two, they made a deal with Miami to take Texas A&M Center Erik McCoy and in the fourth round they executed a deal with the Jets to take Florida safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson. General Manager Mickey Loomis says they were calculated moves
Heading into the draft, tight end was considered a postion of need and in the seventh round, New Orleans selected Notre Dame tight end Allze Mack. In 2015, he was rated as the number one rated tight end in the nation coming out of Las Vegas, but only caught four touchdown passes during his collegiate career in South Bend. Loomis says they like Mack’s potential
Out of the five member draft class, McCoy has the best chance to start in his rookie season, because of the retirement of starting center Max Unger. Loomis says McCoy is the type of interior O-lineman they were looking for….