Louisiana

HEART OF LOUISIANA: Louisiana Landscape

Published

1 year ago

March 24, 2025

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – I fell in love with Louisiana’s beautiful landscapes years ago, and I’ve been fortunate to have spent years traveling along bayous through forests and back roads, capturing video and photographs of what I see.

Since I was a child, I’ve seen this painting of a winding road through the woods at sunset. First in my grandmother’s house, then my parents, and now in my home. There is unspoiled nature here. I noticed the large trees, the moss and wildflowers. It was painted in 1926 by my elderly great-great-grandmother, Eleanor Lewis, who lived in Loranger. She signed her initials and the date on the painting,

“I see a painter who’s trying to evoke a feeling, the feeling that the landscape gives to her. I love her dramatic use of lighting and capturing this kind of vibrant sunset here.”

Bradley Sumrall is the curator of collections at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans. The museum has a gallery of southern landscape paintings. When we look at something that was painted in the mid 19th century of a landscape, can we trust that that’s the way that it really looked? Or is there a lot of artistic license that goes into some of these?

“For the most part, painters were painting the reality of the landscape,” said Sumrall.

But these images of bayous, bays, forests, and seascapes have something else that you don’t always get from a photograph.

“A photograph depicts the world as it is, whereas a painting can depict the world as we truly feel it,” Sumrall said.

Sumrall pointed to this painting by Joseph Meeker of Bayou Plaquemine from 1881.

“People that are not from Louisiana, I think they see that landscape with the sky on fire and they think, well, he took artistic license. No sunset is like that. But if you’re from south Louisiana, you do know that we have those sunsets,” said Sumrall.

Those sunsets still exist. I’ve seen them throughout Louisiana, a fiery sky shining through moss and cypress trees reflecting in the water. But does this place still exist? The one seen by my great-great-grandmother Lewis.

I remembered seeing writing on the back before I added a new frame. Someone had written a location. Well, there it is. On the Tangipahoa River, west and north of Dunnington Bridge in the swampland. I found the bridge south of Loranger. And with the landowner’s permission walked through the woods where perhaps my ancestor was inspired by its beauty. As I walked, I found a large old tree that looked similar to one in the painting. And I have to wonder if this, this tree might have been here 99 years ago when my great-great-grandmother was walking through these woods.

For me, this large tree was a connection between a landscape and an artist. And I couldn’t help but think that Eleanor Lewis’s love of our state’s natural beauty, had somehow survived for four generations.

More Louisiana landscapes and places to visit can be found on Heart of Louisiana’s website.

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Louisiana

Louisiana homeowners can apply for grants to upgrade, protect roofs against storms

Published

8 minutes ago

May 31, 2026

Press Room

Louisiana homeowners can apply for grants to upgrade, protect roofs against storms

BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – Louisiana homeowners can get financial help to upgrade their roofs and ensure they can better stand up to strong storms.

According to the Louisiana Department of Insurance, registration for next Louisiana Fortify Homes Program lottery opens at 8 a.m. on Monday, June 1. The registration period will stay open through 5 p.m. on Friday, June 19.

Under the latest round of the program, 3,000 grants of up to $10,000 will go out. After applying, homeowners will get placed into a lottery and will be randomly selected.

There are many specific benefits of having a roof upgraded through the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program. Officials said the roofs have stronger shingles that can protect against hail up to two inches wide, sealed roof decks to help prevent water damage, and stronger edges to keep wind from getting underneath.

Homeowners with a fortified roof can also get a certificate to receive a discount on insurance premiums.

“At the end of the day, this program is about more than just roofs,” said Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Tim Temple. “It is about protecting families, it is about strengthening communities, and it is about putting Louisiana in a stronger position—both physically and economically—to face the challenges ahead.”

Only people living in Ascension Parish, Livingston Parish, Assumption Parish, Tangipahoa Parish, Acadia Parish, Calcasieu Parish, Cameron Parish, Iberia Parish, Jefferson Parish, Jefferson Davis Parish, Lafayette Parish, Lafourche Parish, Orleans Parish, Plaquemines Parish, St. Bernard Parish, St. Charles Parish, St. James Parish, St. John the Baptist Parish, St. Martin Parish, St. Mary Parish, St. Tammany Parish, Terrebonne Parish, and Vermilion Parish are eligible to apply for the latest round of the program.

People living in a newly built home, mobile home, or condominium are not qualified.

For a detailed list of eligibility requirements, click here.

If a person registered for the program previously, he or she must do so again. The person will also need to provide the following information:

A homestead exemption on the primary residence.
A policy of insurance that provides wind coverage for the primary residence.
A flood insurance policy on the primary residence if it is in a special flood hazard area.

For more information about applying, click here.

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Louisiana

How to watch Louisiana baseball vs Cincinnati in Starkville Regional

Published

10 hours ago

May 31, 2026

Press Room

How to watch Louisiana baseball vs Cincinnati in Starkville Regional

For the second day in a row, Louisiana baseball has its back against the wall in the NCAA Tournament Starkville Regional.

The No. 25 Ragin’ Cajuns (40-24) secured their 40th win of the season and kept their postseason dreams alive by beating Lipscomb 10-4 in an elimination game on Saturday, May 30. Now, the pressure is back on for seventh-year coach Matt Deggs and his squad as they face No. 24 Cincinnati (38-21) in another win-or-go-home matchup on Sunday, May 31 in Starkville, Mississippi.

Against the Bisons, UL used four pitchers, and in total has used seven of its arms so far in tournament play. One of the Cajuns’ fresh arms heading into the matchup against the Bearcats is senior Andrew Herrmann. The lefty made his latest appearance during the Cajuns’ Sun Belt Conference tournament run on May 24.

While the Cajuns come into the match with some momentum, Cincinnati enters the match with a chip on its shoulder after losing its first game of the tournament on Saturday against regional host Mississippi State.

Watch Louisiana baseball vs Cincinnati on ESPN+

What channel is Louisiana baseball vs Cincinnati on?

TV: None

Livestream: ESPN+

Radio: Varsity Network, 96.5 FM

Louisiana vs. Cincinnati will be available live on ESPN+ streaming for the first game of Day 3 of the Starkville Regional. Jack Kizer and Jack DeLongchamps will provide commentary from Dudy Noble Field.

What time does Louisiana baseball play Cincinnati?

Date: Sunday, May 31

Time: 2 p.m. CT

Location: Dude Noble Field, Starkville, Mississippi

The Louisiana vs. Cincinnati game starts at 2 p.m. Sunday at Dudy Noble Field in Starkville, Mississippi.

Starkville Regionals schedule

Friday, May 29

Game 1: Mississippi State 10, Lipscomb 1
Game 2: Cincinnati 12, Louisiana 2

Saturday, May 30

Game 3: Lipscomb 4, Louisiana, 10
Game 4: Mississippi State vs Cincinnati, 8 p.m. CT

Sunday, May 31

Game 5: Louisiana vs Cincinnati, 2 p.m. CT
Game 6: Winner G5 vs Mississippi State, 7 p.m. CT

Monday, June 1

Game 7: If necessary, TBD

Shannon Belt covers high school sports and the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow her high school and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ShannonBelt3. Got questions regarding HS/UL athletics? Send them to Shannon Belt at sbelt@gannett.com.

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Louisiana

Louisiana Gov. signs Caleb Wilson Hazing Prevention Act

Published

21 hours ago

May 30, 2026

Press Room

Louisiana Gov. signs Caleb Wilson Hazing Prevention Act

BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — The Caleb Wilson Hazing Prevention Act has been signed into law by Gov. Jeff Landry.

This comes after HB 636, authored by Rep. Vanessa LaFleur (D-Baton Rouge), was signed by the Speaker of the House and the President of the Senate on May 19.

The measure redefines hazing, mandates annual prevention training, and strengthens penalties for student organizations involved in hazing.

The legislation is named after a Southern University student who was killed in 2025 after being punched in the chest with boxing gloves during an unsanctioned, off-campus fraternity hazing ritual.

The law will go into effect on August 1.