Louisiana
Louisiana detected seven new CWD positives since July – Mississippi's Best Community Newspaper
Louisiana detected seven new CWD positives since July
Published 3:15 pm Monday, February 19, 2024
- This map shows the CWD zones for Louisiana and the radius used to place part of Concordia Parish in the CWD management zone. (Courtesy LDWF)
TENSAS PARISH — Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries detected seven new Chronic Wasting Disease positives in the 2023 to 2024 hunting season. Deer Program Manager Johnathan Bordelon said additional sample results are pending so there could be new positives.
Chronic Wasting Disease is a 100 percent always fatal disease to deer and other members of the cervidae family. CWD is caused by an infectious prion, a misfolded protein, shed by infected deer in bodily fluids. Healthy deer contract CWD by direct contact with infected deer or indirect contact with prions in the environment. Prions are known to persist in the soil.
Louisiana hunters submitted more than 2,300 samples in the 2023 to 2024 hunting season for Chronic Wasting Disease testing. Bordelon said surveillance goals were met in northeast Louisiana. All of the 19 positives found in Louisiana were in Tensas Parish.
“All detections have been along the Mississippi River in Tensas Parish. More results to come,” Bordelon said. “Once all results are available, we will assess the distribution of positives to inform future mitigation. At this time, no change in the distribution of detections is welcome news. Continued surveillance and adherence to mitigation efforts are as important as ever.”
It is important to remember areas of Concordia Parish north and east of US 425 and US84 are in the Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zone while portions to the west are not in the zone. A 25 mile radius from a southern positive detected in Tensas Parish placed the north portion of Concordia Parish in the zone last June.
CWD in Mississippi
Across the Mississippi River from Tensas Parish, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks detected a positive in Claiborne County in January. The positive in Claiborne County is considered suspect until it is confirmed by a national laboratory.
Mississippi State University Deer Lab detected CWD prions in a scrape in Claiborne County during a research project last summer.
MDWFP reported the positive deer was not clinical, or showing symptoms. Deer typically show symptoms in the late stages of the disease, which can take 12 to 18 months after infection.
MDWFP’s dashboard map shows the CWD positive was detected west of Port Gibson approximately three miles from the state boundary line of the Mississippi River and about 10 miles from positives in Tensas Parish.
Hunters submitted 8,269 samples for Chronic Wasting Disease testing in FY2024. MDWFP’s dashboard reports 108 positive detections in FY2024. More samples and positives could come in over the next few weeks from southeast Mississippi.
A CWD Update is expected at the MDWFP Commission meeting this Thursday. The meeting will be at Black Prairie Wildlife Management Area in Crawford.
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.
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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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