Louisiana

UL Lafayette launches Louisiana’s first applied computing Ph.D.

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2 weeks ago

February 12, 2026

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UL Lafayette launches Louisiana’s first applied computing Ph.D.

The University of Louisiana at Lafayette has launched a new Ph.D. program in applied computing and information sciences.
This program will focus on how users interact with technology and how information moves through organizations.
It will emphasize practical applications of AI, data science, cybersecurity, and machine learning in business contexts.
Courses will be offered both on campus and fully online starting in the Fall 2026 semester.

For those interested in a Ph.D. in applied computing and information sciences, the University of Louisiana at Lafayette announced yesterday the launch of the new program.

According to UL Lafayette, the program is the first of its kind and will prepare students to make strategic, research-based leadership decisions and improve business efficiency.

“Unlike programs that focus solely on computer science or computer engineering, the applied computing and information sciences program examines technology from a user’s perspective — how people interact with systems and how information moves through organizations,” said Dr. Azmy S. Ackleh, dean of the Ray P. Authement College of Sciences, said.

The program also will emphasize the practical application of computing technologies, including artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity and machine learning, with a focus on organizational and business contexts.

UL Lafayette’s Graduate School said it is currently accepting applications for the program. Courses are set to begin with the Fall 2026 semester, both on campus and 100% online.

Dr. Mary Farmer-Kaiser, dean of the Graduate School, said the new Ph.D. program’s online delivery will allow students to enroll from anywhere in the country while maintaining their careers in the field.

Students complete the same curriculum, work with the same faculty, and meet the same degree requirements whether they attend online or on campus, according to Farmer-Kaiser. The program emphasizes advanced research, project management and problem-solving skills that prepare graduates for careers both inside and outside academia, while allowing working professionals to apply what they learn to real-world challenges, UL Lafayette said.

“A Ph.D. is no longer preparation for a single career path,” Farmer-Kaiser said. “It builds the depth of knowledge and transferable skills that are increasingly essential across today’s business, government and nonprofit sectors.”

Learn more about UL Lafayette’s new applied computing and information sciences Ph.D. program on campus and online.

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Louisiana

Best seafood in Louisiana to eat during Lent? Try these 13 restaurants

Published

6 hours ago

February 24, 2026

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Best seafood in Louisiana to eat during Lent? Try these 13 restaurants

Whether it lives in freshwater or saltwater, Louisiana is renowned for its seafood, as the state sits along the Gulf Coast and has an abundance of waterbodies.

Seafood has sustained Louisiana since its beginning, and the state’s most famous food dishes reflect seafood’s significance.

Louisiana cuisine goes deeper than just marine life, though, as blends of multiple cultures have shaped the way food is seasoned and prepared.

13 best seafood restaurants in Louisiana according to TastingTable

If you want to get a real taste of Louisiana, the best way to do so is through famed seafood dishes like gumbo, jambalaya, Atchafalaya, étouffée and more.

There’s no better way to truly understand why Louisiana’s seafood is one-of-a-kind than to dine at some of the best seafood restaurants in the state. Here are the 13 best, according to TastingTable.

1. Parrain’s Seafood Restaurant

Parrain’s Seafood Restaurant in Baton Rouge is a local seafood joint that serves classic Louisiana recipes in a rustic atmosphere. Here, menu items are prepared fresh to order and there are daily special for lunch and dinner. Specialties at this restaurant include dishes like catfish perdu, crawfish étouffée and catfish Atchafalaya.

2. Spahr’s Seafood

Spahr’s Seafood strives to bestow patrons with an authentic Cajun experience, serving traditional recipes using only the freshest local seafood. This restaurant is known for three signature items, “the original” catfish chips, “world famous” bloody marys and seafood gumbo. There are three Spahr’s Seafood locations, they can be found in Des Allemands, Thibodeaux and Galliano.

3. Pêche Seafood Grille

Pêche Seafood Grill, located in New Orleans, serves cuisine inspired by South America, Spain and the Gulf Coast. Focusing on working with local fishermen and farmers, this restaurant creates contemporary dishes, rustic creations cooked on an open hearth, as well as fresh oysters and Gulf fish.

4. Kingfish

Kingfish in New Orleans serves up traditional New Orleans cuisine, but with modern twists. This upscale, casual restaurant pays homage to the late ’20s and ’30s, which was during the reign of former Louisiana Governor Huey P. Long, who was nicknamed “Kingfish.” Notable menu items at Kingfish include the “Every Man a King,” “Governor’s Breakfast,” as well as Kingfish & grits.

5. Trapp’s

Trapp’s in West Monroe serves up Cajun cuisine in a casual setting that offers stellar views of the Ouachita River. From crawfish pies and crawfish étouffée to smothered catfish and seafood platters, Trapp’s has whatever Louisiana seafood dish you could want.

6. Seafood Palace

Seafood Palace, located in Lake Charles, is a laid-back restaurant boasting an extensive menu, with seafood items like alligator, frog legs, fish, crab, shrimp and crawfish. This restaurant features daily specials and you can order your seafood whichever way you like, whether it’s grilled, boiled or fried.

7. Peck’s Seafood Restaurant

Peck’s Seafood Restaurant in Slidell is a casual dining spot that serves only the freshest seafood, salads and sandwiches. This restaurant has an expansive menu featuring a number of creative dishes, such as grouper nuggets, gator puppies and fried shrimp salad.

8. Yakuza House

Yakuza House, located in Metairie, is a casual Japanese restaurant that crafts traditional handrolls and serves various other dishes. This restaurant also offers an Omakase experience, which is where the chef curates a multiple-course tasting menu that consists of only the best dishes and seasonal items.

9. Mansurs on the Boulevard

Mansurs on the Boulevard in Baton Rouge is a white-tablecloth establishment that offers fine creole cuisine. This restaurant is home to award-winning dishes, with menu highlights including the cream of brie and crabmeat soup, chargrilled oysters and lobster tails. Mansurs prides itself on quality and consistency when it comes to exceptional food.

10. Rizzuto’s Ristorante & Chop House

Rizzuto’s Ristorante & Chop House, located in New Orleans, is an upscale eatery featuring a menu built upon generations of the Rizzuto family’s traditional Sicilian recipes. This restaurant uses only the freshest local ingredients and provides a selection of the finest USDA prime steaks and chops.

11. Pat’s of Henderson

Pat’s of Henderson in Lake Charles is a family-owned restaurant that delivers Louisiana Cajun and Creole cuisine with a helping of southern hospitality on the side. Considered the best Cajun seafood restaurant in Lake Charles, this restaurant is dedicated to upholding the rich history and flavors of southern cuisine.

12. Mommie Joe’s

Mommie Joe’s, located in Cut Off, is a casual restaurant that offers views of the bayou along with Cajun cuisine staples like gumbo, softshell crab and seafood platters. This eatery is a beloved spot among locals, as fresh caught seafood and beautiful scenery makes for an excellent dining experience.

13. Middendorf’s Seafood Restaurant

Middendorf’s Seafood Restaurant in Akers is a landmark seafood joint, as the restaurant has been around since 1934. For 90 years, the joint has served its famed house specialty, thin fried catfish. The restaurant’s welcoming atmosphere and mouth-watering food has kept customers steadily coming back.

Presley Bo Tyler is a reporter for the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team for USA Today. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com

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Louisiana

Louisiana Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for Feb. 23, 2026

Published

19 hours ago

February 24, 2026

Press Room

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

Here’s a look at Feb. 23, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Feb. 23 drawing

05-11-23-29-47, Powerball: 06, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Feb. 23 drawing

3-3-7

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Feb. 23 drawing

6-2-4-2

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from Feb. 23 drawing

4-1-4-8-8

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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Louisiana’s Marc Broussard releases double single. See the video for ‘Fever’ here.

Published

1 day ago

February 23, 2026

Press Room

Louisiana’s Marc Broussard releases double single. See the video for ‘Fever’ here.

Prolific Louisiana singer-songwriter Marc Broussard released a double single on Friday from his upcoming “Chance Worth Taking” album, due out April 17.

The first song, “No More,” is described as “a sweeping cinematic blues ballad framing Broussard’s yearning vocal with stately strings and (Joe) Bonamassa’s soaring guitar,” according to a news release. “‘Fever’ delivers a slinky, modern roadhouse groove, driven by funky rhythm guitars, punchy horns, (Josh) Smith’s stinging leads, and an insistent beat.”

The new album, Broussard’s first all-original blues soul project, unites the Carencro native with producer Bonamassa, along with Smith and Calvin Turner. It’s a 14-track collection featuring guitar solos on 10 tracks, including three songs co-written with Broussard.

“The songwriting felt like a fever dream of creativity and inspiration. Joe and his band are among the best musicians in the world, and everything came together seamlessly,” Broussard said. “It was an incredible week with an amazing group of people.”

Broussard’s next Louisiana appearance will be May 1 at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

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