Louisiana
Louisiana considers creating hunting season for once-endangered black bears
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A resurgence in Louisiana’s black bear population has sparked discussion among state officials about a hunting season for the animal, which was taken off the endangered species list in 2015.
“We can certainly have a conservative harvest in limited areas,” John Hanks, manager of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries large carnivore program, said at a public hearing Thursday. The Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission will likely hold a vote in November to create a bear hunting season, The Shreveport Times reported.
A Louisiana black bear hunt in 1902 inspired the iconic Teddy bear toy, when President Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt refused to shoot a bear that was tied to a tree by members of his hunting party. That refusal, when publicized, led to the creation of the teddy bear.
Black bears had all but disappeared from the state by the 1950s and 1960s, but wildlife experts say they’ve counted at least 1,212 bears in just the Mississippi Delta and the Atchafalaya Basin.
However, Hanks said the current estimate is probably 80% to 90% of the bear population, and the animals can be found across the state with the largest population in the Tensas National Wildlife Refuge.
The species’ recovery in Louisiana has been celebrated, but conservation groups filed a lawsuit in 2018 to get the bears back on the endangered list.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service used “false assumptions and shoddy science” to make its decision to delist the bears, according to the lawsuit by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility and Atchafalaya Basinkeeper.
The suit also contends the bears still need federal protection, saying recovery corridors don’t connect true native populations — a requirement for delisting — and that the estimated population is inflated.
Louisiana
Arch Manning’s High School Coach Is Moving From Louisiana to Georgia
A new coach hiring in the state of Georgia has officially taken place. Nelson Stewart from Newman High School in New Orleans is on the move and will be the new head coach at Westminster High School in the Peach State.
Stewart was Newman’s head coach for 19 seasons, winning a total of 162 wins in his time there.
He is mostly known by football fans as the high school head coach of Arch Manning, the nephew of NFL legends Peyton and Eli Manning, and currently a quarterback at the University of Texas. Stewart’s connection to the Mannings runs even deeper as was a high school teammate of Peyton. He has also coached standout wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr who is known mostly for his time in New York with the Giants and his fantastic one-handed catch.
Westminster was in need of a new coach following a below .500 season and the retirement of Gerry Romberg after his 33rd season coaching with the Class 4A team. Westminster finished the 2024 season at 5-6. With the talent of Stewart, one would believe that the record could improve even from the first season.
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Louisiana
Louisiana State Police issues emergency exemption for motor carriers
MONROE, La. (KNOE) – Louisiana State Police issued a temporary emergency exemption from certain federal motor carrier safety regulations ahead of severe winter weather.
The exemption, effective 12:01 a.m. Jan. 20 to 11:59 p.m. Feb. 2, 2025, applies to motor carriers assisting with disaster relief, including power grid repairs and the delivery of essential goods like fuel and groceries.
Motor carriers under an Out-of-Service Order are not eligible for the exemption.
The public is urged to stay informed on weather and travel conditions through 511la.org and LSP’s social media. In the event of ice on bridges, LSP will coordinate with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and local law enforcement.
For assistance or to report hazardous conditions, call *LSP (*577).
Copyright 2025 KNOE. All rights reserved.
Louisiana
Winter storm watch to be in effect in Central, South Louisiana all day Tuesday
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch covering much of central and south Louisiana.
It will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday and will last a full 24 hours.
Meteorologist Donald Jones with the National Weather Service in Lake Charles says we are looking at the biggest snowfall event in decades.
“We’re looking at anywhere between about three to up to seven inches of snowfall (on) Tuesday,” Jones says. “It’s going to begin shortly after midnight and kind of continue through the day. And that’s going to be one of the more significant snowfall seen in recorded history really across parts of this area.”
While snow in Louisiana is rare, all 64 parishes have experienced measurable snow at least once since records have been kept.
The record snowfall event for south Louisiana happened in 1895, when 20 inches of snow was recorded in Lake Charles.
Central Louisiana is looking at the highest snowfall totals.
Alexandria, Leesville, Bunkie, Opelousas and DeRidder could see a half a foot of snow.
“Five to seven inches is our first estimate,” says Jones. “I’m not going to call it a guess, but that’s our forecast for north of the I-10 corridor; and then right along the I-10 corridor in south, three to five inches. That is a significant snowfall for this area and one of the highest we’ve seen in quite some time.”
Jones says because temperatures will be below freezing for a long period, the snow will likely stick around for a couple of days.
“Any snow that falls is going to accumulate, and it’s going to remain on the ground at least through Wednesday afternoon,” Jones warns. “I think we’re going to rise above freezing for a few hours Wednesday afternoon. That may allow it to start to thaw out a little bit. But if it doesn’t thaw out in that few hour period, then we’re going to go into Thursday as well.”
Jones says the probability of snow falling south of I-20 to the coast is 70% to 90%.
“These will likely continue to increase as we go through the next couple of days, but to see a 70% to 90% chance of snow three days in advance in this part of the world, that’s extremely rare,” Jones says. “That’s something I don’t think I’ve seen at any point in my career so far in the 16 years I’ve been a meteorologist.”
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