Louisiana
Severe Weather Taking a Toll on Louisiana Residents
While many people living along the Louisiana and Mississippi Coast are accustomed to weathering storms, some said the climate takes a toll on mental health.
23-year-old Dakota Richard was born and raised in Lafayette, yet still recognizes the impact the weather has on how you feel.
“It really just depends,” Richard said. “If you get emotional whenever there’s gloomy weather, I suggest having some chamomile tea.”
Richard said he too, is no stranger to the January blues.
“January blues means that you might not want to get to that last basket of laundry,” Richard said. “Sometimes, you see the dishes piling up a little bit and you know that you should [wash them], but don’t and sometimes, that requires a little bit of personal development and growth…sometimes it’s just being okay whenever everything is not okay.”
While the environment impacts everyone differently, Licensed Professional Counselor Paul Koerner said he tries to teach his patients acceptance.
“The weather probably has an extremely wide variety and range of how it can impact how we feel,” Koerner said. “It impacts everything from waking up and realizing it’s raining outside and having to walk to our car or our truck in the rain, and then we’re wet and stressed out trying to get to work and sitting in a traffic jam.”
While the climate plays a key role in where people work, play, and live, Koerner believes there are ways to help uplift your mood, even if the sun is down.
“Call somebody, text somebody,” Koerner said. “Make sure you’re having contact with somebody daily. I’d also say take a bath or take a hot shower. Do something to take care of yourself, but also to treat yourself as well.”
Louisiana
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A Washington think tank proposed capping annual Social Security benefits at $100,000 for couples as a way to shrink a looming deficit in the retirement trust fund.
When it comes to retiring, the best places to do so often are affordable, have a high quality of life and access to quality healthcare.
If you’re looking for a place to retire, Niche has identified the best places for retirees in Louisiana.
In its list, Niche has taken into account factors like weather, crime rates, housing costs and access to amenities.
The 5 best places to retire in Louisiana according to Niche
These are the top five best places to retire in Louisiana, according to Niche.
1. Oak Hills Place
Oak Hills Place is a suburb of Baton Rouge and is the overall best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb, located in East Baton Rouge Parish, has a population of 9,038 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. The area is highly rated for families, diversity, as well as health and fitness. Here, the median home value is $437,900 and the median rent is $1,422, according to Niche.
2. Westminster
Westminster is another suburb of Baton Rouge and is the second-best place to retire in Louisiana. Located in East Baton Rouge Parish, this suburb has a population of 2,559 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. This area is highly rated for nightlife, diversity, families, health and fitness, as well as commute. The median home value here is $266,100 and the median rent is $1,482, says Niche.
3. River Ridge
River Ridge is a suburb of New Orleans, located in Jefferson Parish, and is the third-best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb has a population of 13,312 and offers residents a dense suburban feel. The area is highly rated for public schools, family, nightlife and diversity. The median home value is $357,400 and the median rent is $1,127, according to Niche.
4. Westlake
Westlake is a town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. With a population of 4,743, this town offers residents a rural feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, jobs, cost of living, nightlife and weather. Here, the median home value is $166,100 and the median rent is $1,049, says Niche.
5. Prien
Prien is another town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. This town has a population of 7,119 and offers residents a suburban rural mix feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, nightlife and weather. The median home value here is $278,000 and the median rent is $1,292, according to Niche.
Presley Bo Tyler is the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team reporter for USA Today Network. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com
A motorcyclist is recovering after a West Monroe crash involving an 18-wheeler, while Chevron won a Louisiana Supreme Court ruling shifting a major coastal lawsuit back to lower courts. Ouachita deputies arrested a suspect and recovered more than a dozen guns, Mississippi passed a new school social-media safety requirement, and Louisiana’s House advanced a unanimous state budget. A new recovery center opened, and multiple weekend events are underway across northeast Louisiana, plus national updates include stock-market stress guidance, a Ford F-150 recall, Spirit Airlines uncertainty, and tax-refund tips.
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