Louisiana

Merry Christmas: good luck with right gift

Published

1 year ago

December 22, 2024

Merry Christmas: good luck with right gift

Ho, Ho, Ho oh no, it’s time to get that last-minute gift for your favorite hunter and fisher.

It’s a challenge, if only because most of these folks are particular about the things they use to pursue game and fish — “persnickety” was the way old folks described this trait decades ago.

What it means is unless you know — and really know — your outdoors recipient then don’t presume the guy or gal at the local or big-box store will know anything more about them than you do.

What it means is don’t buy fishing line, or lures, or shotgun shells, or bullets, or rods, or reels, or firearms cases, or those silly T-shirts with a stunned-looking bass and “Fish Fear Me” written underneath.

That T-shirt thing only makes your favorite angler the target for his sharp-tongued fishing buddies, who will tell him the thing he feared most was being afraid to tell his gift-giver that the T-shirt was going to be a target for barbed comments. Oh, he’d wear it for you, but not around his buddies.

So, what’s left?

Size matters, and it’s important when trying to make a gift of the just-right hunting jacket, warm boots, cooling fishing shirts and shorts, warm gloves and hats.

And don’t buy that tackle box because it “looks big,” unless you were with your fishing-frenzied, Christmas-present target and he or she admired it with piscatorial lust in their eye.

That leaves us with gift cards. Sure you can go shopping and make a reasonably good guess about hunting things and fishing things, and here’s where you find prices and buy a gift card for that amount.

It’ll send them to a store where they can get the just-right fit, the just-right style, the just-right camo pattern, the perfect handle, weight and length for a fishing rod, and things like the fishing line, lures and boxes they want.

What’s best is you’ll send them to a Christmas-night rest with all kinds of sugared thoughts that will turn into dreams of that hopefully marked-down shopping spree.

Merry Christmas!

Under the tree

An important bill awaits President Biden’s signature to take hold for our country’s anglers, and another is moving forward after passing a committee vote.

ACE — America’s Conservation Enhancement Reauthorization Act — passed a U.S. Senate vote last week and sits on the president’s desk.

This act continues the National Fish Habitat Partnership, a voluntary, non-regulatory, and locally driven program that has funded more than 1,300 on-the-ground aquatic habitat improvement projects throughout the country.

“The $230 billion sportfishing industry and America’s 57.7 million recreational anglers applaud Congress’ efforts to advance fish habitat restoration and conservation,” American Sportfishing Association spokesman Mike Leonard said.

Included in its many pages is reauthorization of the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and a provision that traditional tackle will not be banned by the Environmental Protection Agency for five years.

The second bill, EXPLORE — Expanding Public Lands Outdoor Recreation Experiences — had the backing of more than a dozen hunting and recreational organizations. This new bill is designed to expand recreation opportunities, improving infrastructure and removing barriers to allow more access to federal lands for hiking, camping, fishing and hunting.

Striped bass

Yes, Louisiana waters, mostly from the Mississippi River east into the Pontchartrain Basin and to the Pearl River, has an annual fall-winter run of sea-run striped bass.

Now, Wildlife and Fisheries wants fishermen taking to those waters to help collect striped bass samples.

More than 20 years ago, a mid-fall trip to the Mississippi River produced three striped bass among the largemouth, spotted and white bass and redfish caught near Fort Jackson.

This project is one of four main items currently listed on the agency’s website.

To get details, description of this species and instructions, go to the LDWF website: wlf.louisiana.gov

Expertise needed

The Committee on National Statistics has a call-out for nominations for “experts” to review the standards and evaluate the survey and data standards of the Marine Recreational Information Program, the long-debated federal fisheries data collections and reporting plan.

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine has formed the committee and has a Dec. 31 deadline for nominations. Google this organization for details.

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Louisiana

Knicks championship win brings celebration home to Chalmette

Published

3 hours ago

June 14, 2026

Press Room

Knicks championship win brings celebration home to Chalmette

Chalmette, La. (WVUE) – The New York Knicks won it all in San Antonio, but the real celebration is happening in Chalmette, home of the team’s 7-foot tall back-up center, Mitchell Robinson.

The Knicks won their first NBA title since 1973, defeating the San Antonio Spurs 94-90 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Saturday. Jalen Brunson scored 45 points, including 13 straight for New York in the fourth quarter.

Robinson is now the first basketball player from St. Bernard Parish to become an NBA champion.

After Saturday night’s performance, Mitchell Robinson is a household name across the nation, but the people of St. Bernard Parish can say they knew him first, back from his days as a star on the basketball court of Chalmette High School.

Parish pride is on the national stage as the Knicks won the championship. The team has not won a title in 53 years. Robinson has the total backing of his alma mater.

“He was a string bean when he was here, but he filled out,” one resident said.

The Knicks drafted Robinson in 2018, one year after he walked the graduation stage. Eight years later, Robinson and the team made history.

“They should’ve done it in four, but they did it in five so we’re happy,” a fan said.

The Knicks won the series 4-1, rallying from double-digit deficits in all four victories.

Robinson’s path to Chalmette

Robinson is a native of Pensacola, Florida, who transferred to Landry-Walker College and Career Preparatory High School in New Orleans as a sophomore. He didn’t appear in any games and transferred to Chalmette High in time for his junior and senior year campaigns.

Before his junior season at Chalmette, Robinson grew from 6-foot-2 to 7-feet. He was named a starter and averaged 21 points, 13.6 rebounds, 8 blocks, and 2 steals per game while leading the Owls to their first postseason win in 19 years.

He averaged 25.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, and 6 blocks per game in his senior season.

Other local connections

There were other formerly local standouts catching attention, too.

“Josh Hart and Jose Alvarado, and we love seeing them with all their babies after celebrating. It was wonderful. We thoroughly enjoyed it,” one woman said.

For these parish people, the win hits different with a local connection.

“He played great when he came in. He represented Chalmette real well,” another said.

Bond with former coach

Robinson’s old high school coach, Butch Stockton, was right by his side leading up to the trophy. The two have an inseparable bond, with Robinson inviting Stockton to live with him in New York after his wife passed.

The former Fighting Owl turned world champion has never forgotten where he came from.

“He’s a happy guy, he really is. He’s always laughing. He’s genuinely a good guy. He really is from his heart. He does a lot for people,” a resident said.

He makes it back to his high school court regularly to host a youth basketball camp, where one local’s grandson discovered what he wants to be when he grows up.

“He wanted to be a basketball player like Mitchell Robinson,” the grandmother said.

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Louisiana Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for June 13, 2026

Published

13 hours ago

June 14, 2026

Press Room

The Louisiana Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at June 13, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from June 13 drawing

03-13-44-50-53, Powerball: 02, Power Play: 4

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from June 13 drawing

2-8-0

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from June 13 drawing

3-7-7-4

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from June 13 drawing

6-0-7-3-1

Check Pick 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Easy 5 numbers from June 13 drawing

04-10-16-23-31

Check Easy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto numbers from June 13 drawing

02-03-08-16-18-33

Check Lotto 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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Louisiana

High School Graduate, 18, Who Died While Tubing in Louisiana ‘Wanted to Make the World a Better Place,’ His Mother Says

Published

23 hours ago

June 13, 2026

Press Room

High School Graduate, 18, Who Died While Tubing in Louisiana ‘Wanted to Make the World a Better Place,’ His Mother Says

NEED TO KNOW

Jonis Warren Jr., 18, recently graduated from high school and died in a Bogue Chitto River accident in Louisiana on June 6.
Following his death, his family and community are honoring his memory with a GoFundMe
“He was my sunset,” his mother, Shaneika Spicer, said of her late son

Jonis Warren Jr.’s family is paying tribute to the recent high school graduate, days after he died in a Bogue Chitto River accident in Louisiana on June 6.

The 18-year-old was reported missing after he “went under the water and did not resurface” while he was tubing on the river, according to a statement by the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office (WPSO). Divers and sonar equipment were used to locate his remains, which were recovered and taken to the coroner on Monday, June 8.

“That was my sunrise, he was my sunset,” his mother, Shaneika Spicer, told WWL 4.

“When he told me he went under, all I could tell the detective was bring my baby home,” Spicer said. “My heart knew my baby wasn’t coming home the way he left.”

“We cannot compete in no form or fashion with nature,” she said.

Jonis Warren Jr.
Credit: gofundme

The teenager recently graduated from Mandeville High School and had plans to become an aerospace engineer. The second-eldest of five was known for his affinity for anime and Icees.

“In his words, Jonis is a legend. He is a legend, that is my legend,” Spicer said of her caring and protective son.

“He wanted to make the world a better place,” Spicer told WWL 4, adding, “I said, ‘son– it’s just you.’ He said, ‘Yeah, mama– but it starts somewhere.’ “

Stacy Gernhauser, the mother of his girlfriend Scarlet’s friend, created a GoFundMe page to help Spicer with the funeral and memorial costs. Although she “never really met” Jonis, Gernhauser told WWL 4 that she felt creating the fund was “my way of contributing.”

The GoFundMe page described the high school football player as a teen who was “loved by so many people, friends, and family.”

The memorial for Jonis Warren Jr.Credit: gofundme — The memorial for Jonis Warren Jr.
Credit: gofundme

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“His smile lit up every room he walked into, and he brought so many people together,” the donation page read. “Everyone loved Jonis deeply, especially his beloved girlfriend, Scarlett. Their love for each other was beyond words.”

A memorial for Jonis was created by the scene of the accident, with people leaving small objects reflecting who he was. Jonis’ funeral will take place on June 18.

Read the original article on People

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