Louisiana

Advocates: Killing Louisiana’s largest coast project might prove ‘impossible’

Published

2 years ago

March 12, 2024

Advocates: Killing Louisiana’s largest coast project might prove ‘impossible’

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – Supporters of Louisiana’s costliest and most controversial coastal restoration project argue the state would face significant hurdles should it decide to cancel the project.

“Where we live, the water is coming up and the land is sinking and we are so fortunate to have this giant river that we can use,” said Kimberly Reyher, Executive Director of the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana.

For decades, Reyher and other coastal restoration advocates have dreamed of putting the Mississippi River to work, mimicking the power of the river to build land.

The Mid-Barataria Sediment Diversion Project would channel up to 70,000 cubic feet of river water and sediment per second — over 523,000 gallons– into Barataria Bay.

The project aims to build 28 square miles of land over 30 years, though computer models project that total would fall to 21 square miles after 50 years due to factors such as subsidence and sea-level rise.

In December 2022, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers granted the Louisiana Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority the necessary permits to build Mid-Barataria.

However, Plaquemines Parish recently ordered work on the project stopped while a parish lawsuit works its way through the courts.

A separate lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in New Orleans by the International Marine Mammal Project, contends that the Army Corps’ approval of the project violates the National Environmental Policy Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the Administrative Procedures Act.

COAST IN CRISIS

The administration of Governor Jeff Landry has sent mixed signals about its commitment to Mid-Barataria in recent weeks, citing the lawsuits and the project’s estimated $2.9 billion cost.

“There is a better way to do things without sacrificing our fishing industries and our culture and our heritage,” said charter boat captain George Ricks, who has spearheaded opposition to the project from many fishermen who fear the effects of freshwater entering the bay.

“We killed more dolphins during the Bonnet Carre Spillway opening than the BP oil spill,” Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser said at last month’s CPRA board meeting. “Nobody’s ever going to tell you that.”

Nungesser argues the state could spread the money more evenly around the coast without the project’s more damaging effects.

“Everybody who represents a parish at this meeting should be outraged,” Nungesser said.

However, many of the project’s supporters argue the state may find it challenging to re-direct the money.

Funding for the diversion flows, in three large pots of money, from fines and court settlements associated with the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The largest chunk of that money, $2.26 billion, was provided by the federal and state trustees overseeing the oil spill settlement.

The money is aimed at restoring resources damaged during the spill.

For that reason, diversion supporters argue the state would find it difficult to simply wave a magic wand and redirect the funding.

Rehyer said channeling the money into other areas would be, “very complicated, possibly not possible.” Ricks argues that the CPRA could find a way to re-purpose the money.

“You could take that corridor that they built now for the Mid-Barataria Diversion and put a sediment pipeline and pump sediment in,” Ricks said. “We all want the sediment.”

Some critics have suggested building a smaller diversion as a compromise, but even that gets complicated since the Army Corps would have to sign off on any changes.

Through the permitting process, the Corps analyzed alternatives to the diversion, including ones that would send less water into the bay. At 70,000 cubic feet per second, the diversion would carry sediment into the surrounding waters.

However, computer modeling suggests a smaller flow of water might lack the velocity to deliver sediment while producing some of the same negative effects on fisheries and marine life. In other words, a smaller project might produce the same harmful effects without the benefits.

By Nungesser’s estimate, Louisiana has already spent over $300 million on project design, engineering, and early construction.

If it pulls the plug on the project, there has even been speculation the state might have to pay back the boards that control the money.

Louisiana has used hundreds of millions of oil spill dollars to restore barrier islands, and over the last year, the two largest marsh creation projects in history.

“Dredging builds land now. Land you can walk on that protects our communities,” Ricks said.

Reyher argues a diversion would have more lasting power, steadily delivering sediment for decades to come.

“As soon as you turn the dredge off, the land starts to sink,” Reyher said. “So, we can’t dredge our way out of this.”

CPRA Chairman Gordon Dove has said a comprehensive report on the various aspects of the diversion was being prepared for Gov. Landry.

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Louisiana

57-foot-tall homemade Christmas tree lights up Kinder

Published

10 hours ago

December 25, 2025

Press Room

57-foot-tall homemade Christmas tree lights up Kinder

LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) – Two Kinder men decided not to get a tree, but instead to build one of the largest Christmas trees the state of Louisiana has ever seen.

Kaleb Deaton and Donnie Domingue wanted a tree as big as they could imagine.

“Last year, we had a tree we built that was 20 feet, and this year we wanted to bring something special to the table. We came up with this 57-foot tree. We had all the supplies,” Deaton said.

The 57-foot-tall tree is lit up in their backyard, believed to be one of the largest man-made Christmas trees in Louisiana’s history

The tree is dressed with 20,000 bulbs connected to over a mile of wire and topped with an 8-foot star.

“I have some little girls, and I just love putting smiles on their faces,” Deaton said. “It’s just warming, and I wanted to do something special for them this year. Like I said, Donnie is a fabricator, and we put our heads together, and we just made it happen.”

They say they’ve been planning how big they were going to make the tree since last year.

“Our first plan was actually a 150-foot tree,” Domingue said.

It was a work in progress to be able to build the massive Christmas tree.

“It took an army to be able to put this thing up,” Deaton said. “I have a Treco in the back that has a lot of horsepower; it had to lift this baby up and Donnie’s welding machine.”

(KPLC)

They say it looks like lots of welding, cutting, and grinding.

Since the Christmas tree has been up in Kinder, hundreds of people have come out to enjoy the holiday spectacle. They say being able to bring Christmas cheer to the area of Kinder is fulfilling.

“Oh, it’s great seeing people come line up down my driveway. I live on a dead-end road, and it’s awesome to come out and see everybody here with us. Having people talk on Facebook about what joy it’s brought to them, it’s been great,” Deaton said.

They’re already coming up with ideas on how to top next year’s tree

“We got something special, we are not going to let that out just yet, but we got something we talked about earlier. You’ll be here next year,” Deaton said.

The tree will be lit up and on display in Kinder until Jan. 6.

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Louisiana

Cuban families in Louisiana celebrate Christmas with traditional lechon feast

Published

22 hours ago

December 24, 2025

Press Room

Cuban families in Louisiana celebrate Christmas with traditional lechon feast

NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – For many Cuban families in Louisiana, Christmas means gathering for a traditional lechon, a pig roast that serves as the centerpiece of their holiday celebration.

Vivian Nieto, owner of Churro’s Cafe in Metairie, said the Cuban tradition parallels Louisiana’s French Acadian cochon de lait but uses distinct seasonings and preparation methods.

“The Cuban use, basically, is the garlic, the naranja agria, and salt,” Nieto said. “If you don’t add anything else, that would be perfect.”

Traditional mojo marinade starts with citrus and garlic

The marinade, called mojo, always starts with garlic and citrus, specifically bitter orange juice known in Spanish as naranja agria. Nieto adds cumin and oregano to the base mixture.

At her Cuban restaurant, Nieto uses a Boston butt instead of a whole pig and lets it marinate overnight.

“I remember when I was a kid, the night before, they cleaned, they marinated,” Nieto said. “In our family, we exposed our babies early to the big pig that gets seasoned and marinated the night before.”

Pig roasted all day on Christmas Eve

Like the Acadian cochon, the lechon is roasted all day on Christmas Eve. Nieto said the taste testing during preparation bonds families together.

“Not too many people realize how tight is Cuba with New Orleans,” Nieto said. “The food, you respond deeply.”

The pork is served with congri, black beans and rice with onions and garlic, and yuca.

Nieto said she finds deep joy in making food that connects Cuban culture across generations.

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Louisiana

Louisiana Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for Dec. 23, 2025

Published

1 day ago

December 24, 2025

Press Room

The Louisiana Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 23, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from Dec. 23 drawing

15-37-38-41-64, Mega Ball: 21

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 23 drawing

3-1-8

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Dec. 23 drawing

4-6-9-2

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from Dec. 23 drawing

9-0-4-5-0

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Louisiana Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Louisiana Lottery offices. Prizes of over $5,000 must be claimed at Lottery office.

By mail, follow these instructions:

Sign and complete the information on the back of your winning ticket, ensuring all barcodes are clearly visible (remove all scratch-off material from scratch-off tickets).
Photocopy the front and back of the ticket (except for Powerball and Mega Millions tickets, as photocopies are not accepted for these games).
Complete the Louisiana Lottery Prize Claim Form, including your telephone number and mailing address for prize check processing.
Photocopy your valid driver’s license or current picture identification.

Mail all of the above in a single envelope to:

Louisiana Lottery Headquarters

555 Laurel Street

Baton Rouge, LA 70801

To submit in person, visit Louisiana Lottery headquarters:

555 Laurel Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70801, (225) 297-2000.

Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Louisiana Lottery.

When are the Louisiana Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5: Daily at 9:59 p.m. CT.
Easy 5: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.
Lotto: 9:59 p.m. CT Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Louisiana editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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