We are at the pinnacle of the summer vacation season, and health professionals say taking a break from your daily tasks is just what the doctor ordered. Brooke Thorington explains.
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Enrollment at Louisiana Community and Technical College System schools dropped ten percent for the 2020-2021 school year. Matt Doyle has more.
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A pandemic fueled surge in outdoorsy interest has the state park system closer than ever to being self-sufficient. Matt Doyle has the story.
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As we enter the height of the summer vacation season many people are taking a break from work and school, especially after COVID travel restrictions in 2020. But for some, a vacation is a luxury, not all are afforded. LSU Clinical Psychologist Dr. Michelle Moore says even if you can’t travel, taking a break from work is essential for your health.
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Moore says taking a proper break from daily tasks will help you rejuvenate and refresh your outlook on both your personal and work life.
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The “I don’t have time for a vacation” excuse Moore says is dangerous for your physical and mental wellbeing. She says daily stress can take a toll on your body and heighten depression.
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Moore says students are given a break from school and it’s imperative that adults also take a break from their daily tasks also.
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A Webster Parish deputy was killed Friday night while responding to a call as a Doyline patrol officer. Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker says William Earl Collins, Junior, also known as Billy, was a good officer, father, and husband.
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Collins was a full-time deputy at the Bayou Dorcheat Correction Center but was serving as a part-time Doyline police officer when he was shot.
The shooting happened just off Green Tree Road. Parker says Collins was airlifted to LSU Ochsner Health and died shortly before 8 pm.
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Collins was shot in the head. The two deputies assisting were not injured but, their patrol units were damaged by gunfire.
The suspect reportedly barricaded himself in the home for several hours after shooting Collins but was later taken into custody with life-threatening injuries. Parker declined to give the suspect’s name because he wanted the focus to be on the loss of Collins. Parker says his heart goes out to the Collins family.
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State police are investigating the shooting.
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The Louisiana Community and Technical College System saw a 10 percent drop in enrollment during the 2020-2021 school year.
LCTCS spokesperson Quintin Taylor says many of their students have children and the chaotic situation in K-12 education during the worst of the pandemic made it hard for parents to pursue their own education.
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Taylor says nationally the decline in community college enrollment was closer to 12 percent.
Taylor says another factor was other higher ed institutions temporarily relaxing ACT admissions criteria due to how hard it was to schedule and hold safe testing dates.
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Taylor says the final factor that drove down enrollment was COVID-19 safety concerns.
Taylor says the good news is enrollment seems to be rebounding. For the current summer semester enrollment has increased five to fifteen percent in some places.
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Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser says state parks are having their best year yet and that seems to have the system getting closer and closer to being entirely self-funded.
State Parks Deputy Assistant Secretary Clifford Melius says about six state parks made more money this year than what it costs to operate them.
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Melius says about 70 percent of their traffic is coming from Louisiana residents and at some parks they’re booked up to 13 months out.
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Melius says part of the success has been increasing the number of amenities at each park, adding in attractions like horseback riding, canoe vendors, and other draws…
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