Louisiana

COVID variant Cicada detected in Louisiana

Published

3 months ago

April 2, 2026

COVID variant Cicada detected in Louisiana

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – A COVID variant called Cicada has been detected in Louisiana, prompting health officials to monitor its spread.

The variant gets its name from the insect because doctors say it has been lurking underground, surfacing slowly and retreating without triggering a major wave.

“I think it’s just possibly the next surge or wave, but it’s not going to cause any more increased hospitalization or deaths from this variant,” said Dr. Rubin Patel, CEO of Patient Plus Urgent Care.

COVID numbers declining

Patel said COVID numbers have tailed off dramatically over the last two months. The Cicada variant makes up about 10% of all COVID cases in the country.

Researchers are watching Cicada closely. The variant carries 70 to 75 mutations in its spike protein, the part of the virus that helps it enter human cells. That level of mutation raises questions about how well existing vaccines will hold up against it.

“The vaccine hasn’t been created against this variant. The variants previously, that’s what’s in the vaccine. So yes, it’s not going to be as effective, but whether it’s herd immunity, whether it’s vaccine immunity, whether it’s just an individual that’s had multiple versions of COVID, you’ll have some protection in that manner,” Patel said.

Variant affecting children

Health officials are saying the variant seems to be mostly infecting children, but doctors say researchers are still trying to understand why.

The symptoms look familiar: fever, chills, cough, congestion, shortness of breath, nausea, and fatigue — the same signs seen with other variants.

“The biggest thing is it’s not causing any more significant hospitalizations or deaths,” Patel said.

Patel said COVID has a history of spiking around August when school is back in session.

“They’re wondering if this could, with its, like you were saying, with the spike protein and all the mutations within it, could it become that new, that new surge, that new wave that dominates over 50% of the cases?” Patel said.

Doctors say there is no need to panic yet, but they urge people to stay alert, especially when kids head back to school in the fall.

The Louisiana Department of Health recommends staying up to date on all vaccinations, practicing good hand hygiene, and staying home when sick.

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Louisiana

DeRidder man found dead in Sabine River

Published

12 hours ago

July 12, 2026

Press Room

NEWTON COUNTY, Texas. (KPLC) – A DeRidder man reported missing was found dead in the Sabine River Sunday morning, according to the Newton County Sheriff’s Office.

Newton County Sheriff Colton Havard said Jordan Jamal Allen was located around 7:50 a.m. on July 12 with help from Texas Parks and Wildlife game wardens, the Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office, and 409 Search and Rescue.

Authorities say the body was recovered not far from where Allen went under Friday night near the U.S. 190 bridge east of Bon Wier at the Texas-Louisiana state line.

The sheriff said that Allen and a woman were said to be wading across the river Friday when the current began pulling the woman.

The sheriff said Allen tried to help her, but went under around 8:45 p.m. and wasn’t seen again. He said the woman made it back to land safely.

We will have more in this story as it develops.

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Louisiana

Check out the Outdoors calendar for fishing events

Published

22 hours ago

July 12, 2026

Press Room

Check out the Outdoors calendar for fishing events

MONDAY

RED STICK FLY FISHERS PROGRAM: 7 p.m., Bluebonnet Regional Library, 9200 Bluebonnet Blvd., Baton Rouge. Open to the public. Email Brian Roberts: roberts.brian84@gmail.com. Website: rsff.org

WEDNESDAY

FLIES & FLIGHTS: 7-9 p.m, Rally Cap Brewing, 11212 Pennywood Ave., Baton Rouge. Casual fly tying. Open to public. Email Chris Williams: thefatfingeredflytyer@gmail.com

THURSDAY

ACADIANA FLY RODDERS PROGRAM: 6 p.m., Pack and Paddle, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette. Open to public. Email Darin Lee: at cbrsandcdc@gmail.com. Website: acadianaflyrodders.org

FRIENDS OF NRA/SOUTHWEST LA BANQUET: 6 p.m., Riverside Bar & Grill, 3748 Louisiana 3059, Lake Charles. Call Brack Cole 337-912-1620. Email: jbcoleair@yahoo.com

ONGOING

STATEWIDE TOURNAMENT & ANGLERS RODEO/S.T.A.R.: Through Sept. 7, Coastal Conservation Association’s summer-long fishing event. Tagged redfish, coastal/offshore species categories & youth division. CCA membership required. Website: ccalouisiana.com/star

LOTTERY HUNTS

DOVE/TEAL: July 27 application deadline for dove hunt on Elbow Slough Wildlife Management Area and teal hunt on White Lake Wetlands Conservation Area. Website applications only on Wildlife & Fisheries/Louisiana Outdoors License, Permits and Tags webpage. Fee $8.50. Details: dove hunt, David Hayden at dhayden@wlf.la.gov; teal hunt, Lance Ardoin at lardoin@wlf.la.gov

AROUND THE CORNER

JULY 21 — LAFAYETTE KAYAK FISHING CLUB MEETING: 6 p.m., Pack and Paddle, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette. Call 337-232-5854. Website: lafayettekayakfishing.com

JULY 21-22 — GULF COUNCIL SHRIMP COMMITTEE MEETING: Gulf Council office, 4107 W. Spruce St., Tampa, Florida. In conjunction with Scientific and Statistical committees. Website: gulfcouncil.org

JULY 23 — ACADIANA BUGS & BREWS: 6 p.m., Pack and Paddle, 601 E. Pinhook, Lafayette. Casual fly tying and local beers provided. Open to the public. Email Darin Lee: cbrsandcdc@gmail.com. Website: packpaddle.com

JULY 23-25 — International Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo, Grand Isle Marina & Otto Candies Pavilion, Grand Isle. Website: tarponrodeo.org

JULY 24-25—BASSMASTER JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP: Kentucky Lake, Paris, Tennessee. Website: bassmaster.com

JULY 26 — SOUTH LOUISIANA HIGHPOWER CLUB MATCH: 8:30 a.m., Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Range, St. Landry Road, Gonzales. NRA XTC & F-Class match rifle or service rifle, 200-yard/50-rounds match course. Fee $15 members, $20 nonmembers, $5 juniors. $25 annual club (first match free) and Civilian Marksmanship Program membership (allows purchases from CMP). Call Mike Burke, 337-380-8120. Email: SouthLAHighPower@hotmail.com

FISHING/SHRIMPING

SHRIMP: Spring inshore season closed except for Breton/Chandeleur sounds; all outside waters open.

OPEN RECREATIONAL SEASONS: Private recreational red snapper; gray triggerfish; flounder; lane, blackfin, queen and silk snappers and wenchmen among other snapper species; all groupers except closed for goliath and Nassau groupers in state/federal waters.

CLOSED SEASONS: Greater amberjack; bluefin tuna; gag, goliath and Nassau groupers in state/federal waters. Commercial greater amberjack season closed.

LDWF UPDATES

Closed: Roads on Pomme de Terre, Richard Yancey & Bogue Chitto WMAs (flooding)

Drawdowns: Saline Lake (Natchitoches/Winn parishes through Oct. 5); Iatt Lake (Grant Parish through Oct. 5).

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Louisiana

LSP: Ascension Parish resident dies in two-vehicle crash

Published

1 day ago

July 11, 2026

Press Room

LSP: Ascension Parish resident dies in two-vehicle crash

Louisiana State Police reported an Ascension Parish resident died in a fatal crash in Livingston Parish.

According to an LSP Troop A news release, 68-year-old Gwendolyn Blank of St. Amant died in the two-vehicle crash along Highway 1032 near Debbie Lane around 3:30 p.m. July 11.

Per the release, the preliminary investigation found that a 2016 Toyota Avalon was traveling south on the highway when, at the same time, a 2023 Dodge Ram was traveling northbound.

For reasons still under investigation, the Toyota crossed the center line in a left-hand curve and collided head-on with the truck, troopers reported in the realease.

Blank, who was the front seat passenger in the car, sustained serious injuries and was transported to a hospital, where she later died, according to LSP.

Troopers reported the driver of the car sustained moderate injuries, and a juvenile rear-seat passenger had minor injuries, while the driver of the truck received minor injuries.

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