Louisiana

Here’s how to protect the Baton Rouge bat population, plus how they benefit Louisiana yards.

Published

9 months ago

June 7, 2025

Here’s how to protect the Baton Rouge bat population, plus how they benefit Louisiana yards.

Bats are all around, but due to their nocturnal nature, Baton Rouge residents do not see them often. Misconceptions about the flying mammals abound, despite their significance to ecological systems.

Aaron Ashbrook, an assistant professor for the LSU Entomology department, specializes in urban entomology. He recently hosted a seminar series at LSU AgCenter’s LaHouse Research and Education Center for state sanitarians who expressed interest in the local bat population. Ashbrook’s lecture focused on correcting misinformation about pollinator support, mosquito management and bat conservation.

After the interest and success of the sanitarian lecture, Ashbrook and Christine Gambino, an extension associate for the entomology department, joined forces to plan a “Bats in Our Ecosystem Day” for the public.

Full lecture hall in the Howe-Russell auditorium to hear Teague O’Mara at the “Bats in Our Ecosystem Day.”

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Ashbrook and Gambino planned a two-part event on May 24 that included a lecture on different bat species, their benefits and a demonstration on how to build a bat house.

Initially, the presentations were supposed to take place at LaHouse, but due to the large amount of interest and turnout, the event was moved to LSU’s Howe Russell Auditorium.

Gambino said that 405 people registered and 85 attended. She has noticed an increase in similar events that focus on gardens, pollinators and conservation efforts.

“We had people drive in from all over the state to attend,” she said. “We wanted to get the word out about bats, and we got lots of interest. People who couldn’t attend asked for the presentation to be recorded.”

bats 4.jpg — From left: Teague O’Mara, Christine Gambino, Aaron Ashbrook and Mike Meyers after the bat conservation event.

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Ashbrook and Gambino were pleasantly surprised at the registration and the turnout.

Teague O’Mara, director of conservation evidence at Bat Conservation International and adjunct professor of biological sciences at Southeastern Louisiana University, presented the lecture on bat diversity, Louisiana bat species, bat abilities, the benefits of bats for humans, threats to the bat population and solutions to protect bats.

O’Mara shared that there are 12 bat species present in Louisiana, all of which are insectivores and protected by law. Mexican free-tailed bats reside in the state year-round and primarily feed on moths, beetles, flies and ants.

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Bat house that Mike Meyers, the Boy Scout Master who demonstrated building a bat house at the bat conservation event.

Joy Holden

Beneficially, bats consume agricultural pests and insects, which positively affects farming economies. They also disperse seeds and pollinate commercially and ecologically valuable plants like agave, which flowers at night.

O’Mara included threats to bat populations, which include white-nose syndrome, wind turbines, land use change like deforestation and human diseases. The more natural separation between bats and humans provides a buffer, which means the less chance of viral spillover between the two species.

There are multiple ways Louisianans can help protect the local bat population, including building and setting up a bat house — which Mike Meyers, a Boy Scout Master in Metairie, demonstrated at the “Bats in Our Ecosystem Day.”

bats 2.jpg — Mike Meyers, Boy Scout Master, demonstrates building a bat house at the bat conservation event.

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The bat houses must be attached to a structure that could be inhabited by bats and need to be built with specific dimensions, distance from a house and height for the bats, to allow them to find the space comfortable and appealing to live in. Meyers even recommends a specific color, nutmeg, to paint the houses.

Other ways people can protect bats are planting bat-friendly pollinator gardens, using less pesticides and standing up for bat conservation.

For more information, visit batcon.org.

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Louisiana

State Treasurer John Fleming accuses Jeff Landry of interfering in Louisiana Senate race

Published

2 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

State Treasurer John Fleming accuses Jeff Landry of interfering in Louisiana Senate race

BATON ROUGE (KNOE) – Louisiana State Treasurer John Fleming is accusing Governor Jeff Landry of interfering with the state Senate race, which Fleming is a part of.

Fleming took to social media to accuse Landry of working “behind the scenes” to get Congresswoman Julia Letlow elected to the Senate.

According to Fleming, Dr. Ralph Abraham offered him the position of Deputy Director of the CDC shortly before announcing he was stepping down. Fleming said he politely declined.

A week later, news broke that Abraham is now leading Letlow’s Senate campaign.

“We know that Jeff has been heavily lobbying the Trump campaign team for the endorsement, he is pressuring the Republican Party of Louisiana and the Republican Executive Committees to support and endorse Letlow as well,” Fleming wrote on Facebook. “And, he is personally calling his donors to raise big money to save the Letlow campaign.

Landry formally endorsed Letlow for the U.S. Senate on March 4. Letlow also has the endorsement of President Donald Trump.

“We need a warrior who stands with the President to Make America Great. And there’s no greater warrior than a Louisiana mom,” Landry wrote on Facebook.

Fleming continued his commentary, asking when Landry will stop interfering with the state’s Senate race.

“Who is best to decide who represents you in Washington? Jeff Landry, or YOU?” Fleming asked.

Also in the heated race is incumbent Bill Cassidy, M.D.

Party primary elections in Louisiana are set for May 16, 2026.

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Louisiana

Louisiana Lottery Mega Millions, Pick 3 results for March 3, 2026

Published

14 hours ago

March 4, 2026

Press Room

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

Here’s a look at March 3, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Mega Millions numbers from March 3 drawing

07-21-53-54-62, Mega Ball: 16

Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from March 3 drawing

6-8-3

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from March 3 drawing

3-6-7-4

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 5 numbers from March 3 drawing

0-8-3-2-0

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

Brother of Louisiana mayor accused of raping 16-year-old has a hauntingly similar criminal past

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

Brother of Louisiana mayor accused of raping 16-year-old has a hauntingly similar criminal past

The brother of Louisiana mayor Misty Roberts — accused of raping her son’s teenage friend — is facing child sex crimes of his own.

Brandon Lee Roberts, 39, was accused of raping a teen girl and assaulting a young woman over the course of several years, KALB reported.

Brandon Lee Roberts, 39, is accused of raping a teen girl and assaulting a young woman over the course of several years. Beauregard Parish Sheriff’s Office

The alleged sexual abuse began when one of the victims was as young as 13, according to Beauregard Parish Sheriff Mark Herford.

He was arrested in October.

Booking photo of Misty Clanton Roberts. — Brandon’s sister, Misty, the ex-mayor of DeRidder, Louisiana, allegedly raped her son’s teenage friend. AP

That comes years after his big sister – ex-mayor of DeRidder, 43-year-old Misty Roberts – allegedly got hot and heavy with her son’s 16-year-old friend at a drunken party at their home.

Roberts was allegedly caught in the tryst by her own kids.

She was arrested months later, and is currently on trial for rape charges.

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