Last year’s Ash Wednesday was one of the last major religious holidays celebrated before the pandemic struck. Matt Doyle spoke with an expert about how COVID has impacted the religious community since then…
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This historic deep freeze has Wildlife and Fisheries officials worried about the possibility of fishkills in vulnerable populations. Matt Doyle has the story.
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The second punch of a winter storm this week is about to cross the state, and you can trace its origins off the Louisiana coastline. Brooke Thorington has more.
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It’s Ash Wednesday and many Catholics across Louisiana are reflecting on a year of worship under the New Normal.
Ash Wednesday is one of the more prominent Catholic holidays and LSU Religious Studies Professor Michael Pasquier says despite public health limits on church capacity…
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Many churches are offering drive through blessing services today.
Some in the religious community expressed concerns the state ordered limits or earlier closures of churches pushed people out of the faith, but Pasquier says…
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Despite the popularity and ease of virtual services Pasquier expects physical attendance at houses of worship to bounce back strongly once the pandemic ends.
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The Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is warning of the potential for fish kills resulting from this historic cold spell we’re in.
Office of Fisheries Assistant Secretary Patrick Banks says anytime the temperature drops to near or below freezing for an extended period of time, vulnerable species are put at risk.
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Banks says the fish kills can appear just days after a freezing event but many times can take a week or more to start floating to the surface.
Inland freshwater ponds and waters are not expected to be at risk, but Banks says fishing living in coastal marsh areas with shallow waters are at risk right now.
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Banks says redfish, black drum, and white trout are at risk, along with one of the most popular species…
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If you spot a kill please contact LDWF with the details.
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The wintery mix the Bayou State received at the beginning of the week will serve as a genesis for a second system that will eventually move up the east coast. But according to State Climatologist Barry Keim before it exits the state it will leave its mark with lots of rain in the southern half of the state.
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Keim says for north Louisiana its somewhat reminiscent of hurricane season last year with back-to-back systems hitting the state, but instead of a month apart its days apart.
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Once this second-round wintery precipitation leaves the state on Thursday and eventually becomes a Nor’easter, Keim says don’t put away your winter coat away yet.
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While the cold may be affecting road, pipes, plants and pets, there is one thing it’s not damaging and that’s crawfish. While the cold temperatures do cause the crustaceans to go into almost a dormant-like state and bury themselves deep in the water, Ag Commission Mike Strain says it’s alarming.
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As the state’s strawberry crop, Strain says if farmers took precautions ahead of the storm it shouldn’t jeopardize the state fruit.
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Strain says if the freeze did reach the strawberry crops most likely it’s only done only external damage to the plant and farmers should be able to salvage berries.
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