Louisiana
HEAR STORIES FROM LOUISIANA’S LATIN AMERICAN ELDERS – OffBeat Magazine
Community Deathcare organization Wake has joined forces with Barro y Luna Media, Arts & Community Care to unveil the debut of Legados de Luisiana (Louisiana Legacies) podcast, featuring oral histories of Louisiana’s Latin American elders. The event, hosted by Puentes New Orleans, takes place Wednesday, May 15, 2024, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Beanlandia (3300 Royal Street New Orleans, LA 70117).
Legados de Luisiana is a groundbreaking oral history series aimed at preserving and raising awareness of the rich experiences of Louisiana’s Latin American elders. The series will debut publicly as a podcast, accompanied by a live listening event with Q&A and refreshments.
The project is spearheaded by Carolina Murriel of Barro y Luna, a trauma-trained immigration journalist and death doula originally from Peru, and Wake, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing access to meaningful, affordable, and environmentally sustainable deathcare.
“It’s important to me to highlight that people of Latin American heritage have been in Louisiana for generations,” said Murriel, “because I don’t see us represented in the narratives about our state. We have been here, contributing to our communities for decades, and in many cases have completely assimilated, or have remained otherwise invisible. I hope our elders’ stories can instill pride in our community, and inspire cross-cultural solidarity.”
The oral histories featured in the Legados podcast also serve as narrative legacy projects, ensuring that relatives stay connected to their ancestry and family stories for generations to come.
“Legacy projects are a powerful tool for bringing peace and acceptance to people who are at the end of their life,” says Executive Director, Liz Dunnebacke. “And they are equally powerful for the family and friends of an older person, who are often hungry for stories, particularly in their loved one’s voice, long after that person has died. Banking these narratives in life is a tremendous gift to children, grandchildren, and future generations, and is associated with a deep sense of satisfaction on the part of the participants.”
The Legados de Luisiana Oral History Project aims to preserve the legacies of Louisiana’s Latin American elders and contribute their experiences to the public domain, destigmatizing discussions about death and dying in the process.
For more information about the event, visit the Legados event page here.
Yasin Gungor
19 April 2026•Update: 19 April 2026
At least eight children were killed and two others were wounded in a shooting in the US state of Louisiana, local police said Sunday.
Shreveport Police Department spokesperson Christopher Bordelon said officers responded to the shooting just after 6 am (1100GMT), following a domestic disturbance call.
The age of the deceased ranged from one to 14 years, he said, adding that the incident involved at least 10 individuals across four separate locations.
The suspect attempted to flee by carjacking a vehicle and driving to neighboring Bossier City, where police located and shot him dead.
Bordelon said Shreveport police officers pursued the suspect’s vehicle into Bossier, where three officers discharged their firearms, killing him. He said investigators believe the suspect was the only person who opened fire at the locations.
Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux described the attack as “maybe the worst tragic situation we’ve ever had,” adding: “It’s a terrible morning.”
No immediate information was available about the condition of the injured.
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
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