Author: Emily Gautreaux

Lake Charles TV Station Set to Rebuild Downtown

Nearly two years after being destroyed by a hurricane, KPLC is set to rebuild, according to this article. In the early morning hours of August 27, 2020, Hurricane Laura made landfall on the southwest shore of Louisiana. At Category 4 strength with sustained winds of 150 miles per hour, Laura was the strongest hurricane to hit that corner of the state since storm records began in 1851. As Laura’s eyewall passed over Lake Charles and its metropolitan area, the storm was still a devastating Category 4. The damage inflicted on homes and businesses was nearly incomprehensible.

One such hard-hit business was the KPLC news station. In a worst-case scenario event, the station’s 400 foot transmission tower snapped in half, causing the top portion to crash down into the station’s broadcast studio, which was housed below, knocking the news station off the air. Station staff had evacuated the studio a mere 12 hours before.

John Ware, KPLC-TV’s general manager, went out to inspect the damage to the station later that morning. “To see the tower sticking through the studio roof into the room that we would have been broadcasting from was absolutely sickening,” said Ware.

Despite the fact that their studio was in ruins, the station and its staff still found ways to get important and desperately sought after information to the people of the Lake Charles area. This included assistant news director and anchor Jillian Corder and a group of KPLC journalists reporting on the ground while their colleagues worked from the WAFBstation in Baton Rouge. Many residents view these journalists’ actions as heroic for never giving up and finding creative ways to show them what things looked like in their neighborhoods and for letting them know when it was safe to return home. “In a lot of stories, you attempt to relate to your subject matter, to your viewer, you try to deliver what you think is important to them,” Corder said. “In the moments after the storm, after Laura, you knew what was important to them — because you were going through it, too.”

The KPLC station has been housed downtown in Lake Charles for its entire 65 year history. A decision had to be made on whether to rebuild in the same location or to move the station elsewhere. Gray Television, KPLC’s parent company, along with KPLC, has spent the last two years creating a plan to move forward. They recently announced their decision to keep the station at its Division Street location. The multi-million dollar project will include expanded television production facilities, two new broadcasting studios, a larger parking lot, and a new building entrance with lots of glass and natural light. “We think it will be a great facelift for the area,” said Ware. “We worked with the city to make sure it reflects the architectural significance of the area.”

The biggest challenge for the rebuild will be the fact that the station will continue to broadcast from the location throughout construction. As a result, the construction will have to be done in phases. But keeping the station downtown is worth this inconvenience, according to mayor Nic Hunter. “We got to a point today where there was a group commitment to come back and reinvest in what has been a historic location and a very important anchor for downtown Lake Charles,” said Hunter. “KPLC has been a trusted source of news and updates in this community since 1954. It’s an important thing when new companies come into Lake Charles; it’s also an important thing when existing companies make the decision to reinvest and retain jobs in Lake Charles.”

Pat Williams Construction, a local company, is leading the project and construction is slated to begin in the first half of August. The building should be completed in about 18 months, weather permitting. “When something’s good for downtown Lake Charles, it’s good for the entire city of Lake Charles.” Mayor Hunter said. “This reinvestment not only affects KPLC, but the bigger picture is the spin-off benefits it has for the surrounding businesses and the surrounding communities.”

For more Louisiana-related articles, click here.

 

 

 

 

 

Louisiana Students Rank Highest on FAFSA Completion

Once again, the National College Attainment Network (NCAN) has determined that Louisiana holds the top spot in the nation for the amount of high school seniors who have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), according to the Louisiana Department of Education.

FAFSA is a free application that provides the federal government with the financial information needed to determine what loans and grants a student qualifies for. It’s the only way a student can receive federal funding. Included in the FAFSA are all forms of financial aid provided by the federal government, like Pell grants, federal student loans, and work-study programs. Louisiana graduates wishing to receive priority consideration for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) scholarships must also complete the FAFSA. Aside from this, many colleges and states, and even private financial aid providers, use the information from FAFSA to determine eligibility for aid.

Despite how important the FAFSA is, an analysis of federal student aid data conducted by the National College Access Network (NCAN) estimates that over $3.75 billion of federal aid was left unclaimed by the high school class of 2021 across the nation, which is a direct result of not completing the FAFSA. NCAN estimates that 813,000 of the 1.7 million students who didn’t submit the FAFSA would have been eligible for financial aid, in particular Pell grants, if they had only completed the application.

According to Bill DeBaun, NCAN’s director of data and evaluation, many students think college is out of reach because they can’t afford it. However, they may not realize how much federal aid they qualify for and they won’t unless they complete the FAFSA. “Requiring the FAFSA for high school graduation puts it more prominently on the radars of district and school practitioners, and also students and families; it’s a clear signal states are sending that FAFSA completion is important, and also that considering a postsecondary pathway is also important,” said DeBaun.

 In light of how important the FAFSA is, Louisiana was the first state to make completing the application a graduation requirement. Since making this change in the 2017-2018 academic year, several other states have done the same. In order to graduate, seniors must complete one of four forms: the FAFSA, an opt-out form, a waiver, or a state merit scholarship form that requires no information about family finances.

 A completed FAFSA application isn’t just important to students; the information gathered from them is used to determine a significant amount of postsecondary funding. Because of this, Louisiana’s Office of Student Financial Assistance (LOSFA) runs monthly error reports on submitted applications. The reports can identify missing information so that the office can notify students of the errors and can then help them to fix them.

To make filling out a tedious and boring form more “fun,” some Louisiana state officials have turned the completion of the FAFSA into a friendly competition among high schools.  The state has taken to providing FAFSA workshops and seminars and have even set up tables to fill out the forms at various social events, like sports tournaments. Every month, the school with the most FAFSA gains is announced and those students have bragging rights until the next month’s winner is determined.

Getting students excited about paperwork isn’t enough though, so Louisiana provided trained staffers to guide and support school counselors. Louisiana also sent state workers from the Department of Education and the Office of Student Financial Assistance to all corners of the state to help with any events that might increase the amount of applications completed. They also held virtual workshops via Zoom during the pandemic.

All of this hard work paid off when it was determined that 66.5 of Louisiana’s Class of 2022 had submitted the form, the highest percentage in the country. This was determined by NCAN, who uses a tracker to count applications that are fully completed and processed. More completed applications mean more financial aid reaching the students who need it most.

For more education-related information, click here.

Summer Salad With Corn Za’atar Dressing

Summer is hands-down the perfect season to cook fresh produce, and let it stand out alongside seafood as a lightweight culinary treat. Luckily, this delicious summer salad recipe from Epicurious for a zesty salmon salad with summer corn, heirloom tomatoes, arugula, and a one-of-a-kind za’atar dressing is just the treat for your dinner table this summer.

Ingredients

  • 4 salmon fillets, skinless and 5–6-ounce each
  • 5 ears of corn-on-the-cob, washed and husked
  • 2 whole lemons
  • 3 tablespoons of freshly-squeezed lemon juice
  • ½ a red onion, thinly sliced
  • 3 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed
  • 4 teaspoons of za’atar, plus more for serving
  • 3 whole bay leaves, preferably fresh
  • 3 sprigs of fresh thyme
  • 2 medium heirloom tomatoes or even creole tomatoes if you still have some, cut into wedges (about 1½ pounds)
  • A few sprigs of baby arugula or other baby greens (for serving)
  • ½ cup of extra-virgin olive oil
  • A few dashes of kosher salt, for boiling water

Directions

  1. You’ll want to begin this recipe by taking a large pot, filling it ¾ full with water, and generously salting the water. The recipe author at Epicurious suggests that the pot of water “should taste like the ocean,” so don’t skimp on the salt. Then, thinly-slice half of 1 lemon, and add it to the water along with your crushed garlic cloves, sprigs of fresh thyme, and fresh bay leaves. Place your pot of herbal, salted water on a stove burner and bring the pot to a boil. Allow the water to boil for at least 3 minutes but no more than 10 minutes in order to properly infuse the water with the lemons, salt, and herbal flavors.
  2. While your water is boiling or your pot of boiling water is infusing, you’ll want to whisk your extra-virgin olive oil, 3 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice, 4 teaspoons of za’atar, and 1 teaspoon of kosher salt into a small bowl.
  3.  Once your water is properly infused and at a satisfyingly rolling boil, you’ll want to add your ears of corn-on-the-cob to the pot of boiling water and cook the husked ears of corn until they each become bright yellow in coloration and tender. This cooking process should take about 6 minutes in total for the 5 ears of corn, and you’ll want to transfer the ears to a nearby plate, allowing them to cool.
  4. After the ears of corn-on-the-cob are transferred out of the pot of boiling water, you will go ahead and reduce the burner’s heat to low and gently add your skinless salmon fillets to the water with a cooking utensil. Be sure to be careful and not add the salmon too harshly to the water. You’ll only want to poach the salmon fillets just until they are cooked through, which should take about 5 minutes. Afterward, transfer the fillets to a cutting board with a slotted spoon or a spatula and flake them into bite-sized chunks.
  5. Meanwhile, use a sharp kitchen knife and slice the corn off of the cob into a large mixing bowl. Add your heirloom tomatoes and red onion to the loose corn kernels. Using a mixing spoon, toss these vegetables with ½ a cup of the salad dressing you made and set aside earlier.
  6. Add the flaked salmon to your corn mixture, and toss the salad very gently just to coat it with dressing. Afterward, transfer pieces of your summer corn, tomato, and salmon salad to a serving platter or divide the salad among individual plates for serving. Top the salad(s) with the baby arugula and drizzle with the remaining za’atar dressing. Consider serving alongside additional za’atar for a better presentation, and enjoy.

For more delicious recipes, click here.

Ash Industries to Expand and Bring New Jobs to Lafayette

A molding company in north Lafayette will soon be expanding the size of its manufacturing facility to be twice the size that it is currently, and with the new space will be a need for 85 additional jobs, according to this article from The Acadiana Advocate.

Currently, Ash Industries employs 67 people at its West Willow Street facility where the company specializes in making customized injection molds for a variety of industries. Some examples of the type of industries that these specialized molds are made for include both military and electronics firms.

According to Louisiana Economic Development, the expansion of the Ash Industries facility’s manufacturing floor by an additional 20,000 square feet will create 85 new jobs, each with an average salary of $40,600, plus benefits. Additionally, according to LED, the expansion of the facility will also result in the creation of 120 indirect jobs inAcadiana. Expanding the manufacturing floor by 20,000 square feet will also involve the installation and adding of a chiller, expanse crane, and water cooling equipment, all of which will make day-to-day processes more streamlined and efficient.

Company President Hartie Spence said of the expansion, “Ash Industries is optimistic about the future of manufacturing in Louisiana and so far has launched phase one of a three-phase program to invest in jobs in our community. The ingredients of economic development in our industry are manufacturing space, a solid employee base, and the latest in cutting-edge manufacturing equipment. ASH’s current expansion will directly support and increase the services that we can provide customers who appreciate the benefits of having their products manufactured in our state.”

The state of Louisiana initially offered an incentive package that included the services of LED FastStart, a workforce development program. LED FastStart is noted as being the top workforce development program in the state of Louisiana, as it’s been recognized for its “innovation, effectiveness, flexibility and efficiency” by Business Facilitiesmagazine.

LED FastStart is a program that provides customized employee recruitment, screening, training, development, and training delivery for eligible, new, or expanding companies all at no cost. In fact, The Economist has described the program in the following manner: “probably the most notable statewide workforce-development initiative comes from Louisiana. Its FastStart program, which launched in 2008, helps companies recruit and train workers.”

By partnering with the LED FastStart program, Ash Industries will be able to benefit from a workforce development team that strives to ensure high-quality, flexible workers who are prepared “one day one and beyond.” In fact, according to LED, “the FastStart team includes dozens of experienced professionals from a range of businesses — manufacturing to corporate headquarters, digital media to customer support centers and R&D. FastStart has designed and delivered comprehensive workforce solutions for a wide variety of Fortune 500 companies, as well as high-tech companies funded by leading venture capital firms.”

In addition to FastStart, Ash Industries is also expected to participate in the Enterprise Zone (EZ Program) and the Industrial Tax Exemption programs. The Enterprise Zone Tax Credit program, as described by Louisiana Economic Development, is a jobs incentive program that provides Louisiana income and franchise tax credits to a new or existing business that is located within Louisiana. This business must also be creating permanent, net new full-time jobs and hiring at least 50% of those net new jobs from one of four targeted groups.

In addition to the EZ Program, Ash Industries will also be taking part in the Louisiana Industrial Ad Valorem Tax Exemption Program (ITEP), which (according to LED), is an original state incentive program, which offers an attractive tax incentive for manufacturers who make a commitment to jobs and payroll in the state.

 For more Louisiana-related articles, click here.

AHEAD Program Gives Louisiana High Schoolers Inside Look at Health Careers

For two years now, Louisiana high school students have been able to participate in a week of educational activities pertaining to the healthcare field thanks to the School of Allied Health Professions at LSU Health Shreveport, and according to this feature article from The Shreveport Times, this second year of the AHEAD program was twice as successful as last year’s program when it premiered.

AHEAD, also known as the Allied Health Education and Discovery program, is an annual five-day opportunity for Louisiana high school students to engage in the various types of health, health science, and medical programs available at the School of Allied Health Professions at LSU Health Shreveport. According to the Director of admissions for the school Madeline Barclay, “this is a program for Louisiana high school students to learn about all the different academic health programs we have at the School of Allied Health Professions.”

Despite this annual tradition having only completed its second year, enrollment numbers have doubled from when the program premiered in 2021. According to Barclay, “we had one session with 20 students in 2021, and it was so popular that we expanded it this summer to two sessions, 25 per session.”

The AHEAD program is a 5-day experience that is free to Louisiana high school participants in which the students engage in full-day sessions that include hands-on, interactive activities within each medical or health-aligned discipline. According to LSU Health Shreveport, “students will receive tips for success in college and guidance on how to pursue a professional career in healthcare. Our emphasis will be on recruiting students from underrepresented backgrounds with the primary goal of contributing to a diverse educational environment.”

Students participating in the AHEAD program are able to choose from several medical and health-aligned disciplines to study and observe during the week-long sessions. The high school student participants are able to participate in field trips and career-focused activities that give participants specific insight into the following health professions: Medical Laboratory Scientist,

Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist, Physician Assistant, Public Health Professional, Respiratory Therapist, and Speech-Language Pathologist.

While last year’s camp of 20 students was large enough to populate a single session in June for the nearly two dozen participants, this year’s doubling of the program’s capacity warranted two summer sessions, which is certainly encouraging for the AHEAD program, as it’s projected to be an annual tradition. This summer, 50 total students from 13 separate Louisiana high schools attended the summer program, which was hosted by the School of Allied Health Professionals as two separate week-long camps.

Makenzie Boucher from The Shreveport Times spoke to local high school students participating in the AHEAD program this summer. One local high schooler who was interviewed about her experience participating in AHEAD was Elizabeth Gaspard, a Haughton High School graduate of the Class of 2022. Gaspard commented on her experience engaging in the medical programs available at AHEAD by saying, “it’s just so cool to go around and learn about the different occupations and how important they are. It just inspires all of us in the class to consider it and be open-minded.”

Madison Evans, an AHEAD program participant from the inaugural summer session in 2021 reflected on her experience by saying, “participating in the AHEAD program was truly a life-changing experience. Throughout the program, we had daily hands-on-learning experiences. We were given the opportunities to visit the cadaver lab, tour parts of the hospital, and learned about many Allied Health Professions that I never knew existed. This program taught me so much about the different health professions. Before the AHEAD program, I did not know about Respiratory Therapy, however, I now know how important respiratory therapists are to helping people recover from illnesses.  The program provided us with a visual map and outlined the steps to take in college to achieve these careers. Attending the AHEAD program gave me more confidence in pursuing a career in the healthcare field. I am truly thankful to have had this experience.”

For more education-related information, click here.

Outdoor Getaways to Take in the Fall

The fall season will soon be upon us and that means it’s time to get out into the world and enjoy all that the great outdoors has to offer.  Thankfully, this handy article from Southern Living details the best, family-friendly vacation spots to plan for this upcoming fall season. As the summer starts to wind down, it’s nearly time to step up, grab your gear, and get outside, because before you know it the leaves will be changing, the days will shorten, and the nights will become cooler. So, you better start planning for that fall vacation now and check out the exciting options that the South has to offer.

Blue Ridge, Georgia

If you’re looking for a fun way to enjoy the beautiful weather without having to bundle up too much, consider visiting this gem of Northern Georgia this fall. With its quaint towns, beautiful hiking trails, and unforgettable waterfalls, there’s no better place to enjoy the crisp air and beautiful views than Blue Ridge.

Hands-down, one of the best ways to familiarize yourself with the scenery of Blue Ridge is by engaging in a trip to Lake Blue Ridge. Supplied with gorgeous, crystal-clear waters, Lake Blue Ridge is one of Georgia’s most picturesque mountain lakes that’s complete with a full-service marina, available campsites, and several picnic areas and boat ramps for your enjoyment. Blue Ridge is also home to some truly treasured hiking trails that you should explore, as areas such as Long Creek Falls or the Toccoa River Swinging Bridge offer some of the best trails and sights in the entire state, and the hiking trails are complete with a diversity of options for all skill levels. Whether you’re looking for a quick walk through the woods or a challenging hike that will take you higher up into the mountains, Blue Ridge has something for everyone!

Williamsburg, Virginia

Williamsburg, Virginia is a city that offers a wide variety of outdoor activities for the whole family, because whether you’re looking for a quiet weekend getaway that’s filled with history to explore or an adventurous week-long vacation with a wide array of outdoor activities, Williamsburg has something for everyone. From hiking and biking to kayakingand horseback riding, there are plenty of ways to explore the outdoors in Williamsburg. Consider taking advantage of Virginia’s temperate climate by heading outside to explore one of the many scenic walking trails around town or if you prefer not to get your feet wet, you can try taking a tour through one of the many historical sites located about.

Williamsburg is part of Virginia’s “Historic Triangle,” a title that it shares with the towns of Jamestown and Yorktown, as they are the focal points of American history. In order to learn more about colonial America, consider spending your time at the historic district and living museum that is Colonial Williamsburg, as there’s truly no better way to learn all there is to know about colonial living than from actors who are dressed in period-accurate costumes completing daily tasks of colonial life. Outside of the historical features of Williamsburg, you visit the highly-popular Busch Gardens theme park where everyone on your vacation can enjoy exhilarating roller coasters, virtual reality rides, and much more.

Boone, North Carolina

If you’re ready to take advantage of the autumn season of beautiful weather before winter sets in, then look no further than Boone, North Carolina, as this small town is full of things to do and sights to see, making it a perfect destination for your next fall vacation. This western North Carolina town is perfect for those seeking wonderful sights and the scent of  sensational, fresh mountain air. Once in Boone, you’ll want to head out to Grandfather Mountain State Park, as this national park offers hiking and walking trail opportunities as well as panoramic views of surrounding mountains. Other excellent hiking trails can be found in Price Lake, and Elk Knob State Park, so you have plenty of options, depending on your level of skill.

For more travel-related news and information click here.