Louisiana
Louisiana readies for arctic blast with crop and road safety efforts
NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – An arctic blast is expected early next week. Now, preparations are underway to protect plants and ensure roads stay open.
At Harris Strawberry Farm in Pontchatoula, sheets flap in the wind as workers make sure the 12 acres of crop are protected.
Rachel Harris said harvest has been slow.
“It takes a couple of days to prepare for a freeze like this,” Harris said. “It’s very, very hard on Louisiana farmers.”
Harris is concerned the freezing weather will burn the blooms. Her team is also battling the wind to cover the strawberries.
“You combat that and you pray,” Harris said. “You pray to God that the plants make it, that the blooms, the strawberries make it. It’s a lot. It’s a lot of work.”
After extreme heat this summer and now extreme cold, gardeners are also worried about how stress will impact plants.
“It could stunt growth. It could cause some malnutrition,” said Wayne Soniat with The Plant Gallery. “In order to keep them healthy and promote more growth health, you definitely want to protect your plants going into the winter.”
Soniat says bed sheets can also be used to cover plants, but he recommends removing all coverings when the sun comes up.
“Let them breathe and get that air circulation,” Soniat said.
It’s best to water plants before freezing temperatures; moist soil stays warmer than dry soil. The threshold before plants are damaged or killed by a freeze depends on the type of plant.
In Bridge City, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development is stocked with the material and tools to keep roads open during a freeze.
“We have to respond to the needs of the motoring public and ensure that conditions are safe,” said Scott Boyle, District Engineer Administrator for LA DOTD District 02.
Sand and more than 250,000 pounds of salt are available for the New Orleans region. Boyle said his team is modifying equipment to treat roads.
“These are very similar to a spreader you might use on your lawn where it disperses a material,” Boyle said. “We use dump trucks, very big agricultural spreaders.”
Before temps reach freezing, brine, a highly concentrated mixture of salt and water will be applied to roads.
“If we wait until the ice is on the roads, it is much more challenging to address and mitigate,” Boyle said.
DOTD will begin mixing brine on Sunday. Once the mixture is created, the solution is good for roughly four to five months.
Boyle said, “We keep it in a safe storage location and if it’s determined to not be needed or utilized, we dispose of it properly with consultation with the city or the parish.”
DOTD will continue watching the forecast and will have employees checking bridges and overpasses.
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The Louisiana Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 23, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from Dec. 23 drawing
15-37-38-41-64, Mega Ball: 21
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 23 drawing
3-1-8
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from Dec. 23 drawing
4-6-9-2
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 5 numbers from Dec. 23 drawing
9-0-4-5-0
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.
CBD can help treat various health conditions
A new scientific review highlights CBD’s potential to treat various conditions such as epilepsy, pain, cancer, schizophrenia and diabetes.
unbranded – Lifestyle
CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is a non-intoxicating compound from the cannabis or hemp plant that does not cause a “high,” unlike THC, according to the CDC.
CBD was first approved as a drug for the treatment of seizures in children with severe forms of epilepsy, but now, CBD is used for other purposes like pain relief, sleep and general wellness, says Brown University Health.
Despite CBD’s availability and supposed benefits, CBD products are not risk free, as there are possible side effects and risks associated with CBD use, according to Brown University Health.
What is Louisiana’s state law for CBD in 2025? What to know
Under the Agriculture Improvement Act in 2018, hemp was removed from the federal Controlled Substances Act, which effectively legalized CBD if it comes from hemp, according to the CDC.
Despite hemp-derived CBD being legal at the federal level, some states have not removed hemp from their state’s-controlled substances acts, meaning that the legality of CBD products varies across states, says the CDC.
Following the enactment of this legislation, Louisiana passed Act 164 in 2019, effectively legalizing the cultivation and production of industrial hemp in the state, says Louisiana State Cannabis.
The legislation defined hemp as a cannabis plant containing no more than 0.3% THC, therefore, CBD products derived from hemp are legal in Louisiana. However, marijuana-derived CBD remains illegal for recreational use in the state, according to Louisiana State Cannabis.
Although, Louisiana enacted Act 491 in 2015, which allows the use of medical marijuana, as well as marijuana-derived CBD, to treat certain diseases and medical conditions in the state, says Louisiana State Cannabis.
Presley Bo Tyler is a reporter for the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team for USA Today. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com
Louisiana
‘One suicide is too many;’ Man runs across Louisiana to raise awareness for veteran, teen suicide
La. (KPLC) – A run across Louisiana has come to an end, but the conversation it sparked is far from over.
Jeremy Adams, a Louisiana veteran who served in Afghanistan, completed the run to raise money for a public high school while drawing attention to veteran and teen suicide.
The run began Friday, Dec. 18 at the Texas state line at Bon Weir and stretched more than 100 miles across the state, ending in Natchez, Mississippi.
“Finished around 10 o’clock last night (Dec. 21) in Natchez. I got a police escort by the Vidalia Police Department over the river bridge,” Adams said.
Adams says the run was not easy and hopes this inspires others to keep moving forward, no matter what battle they may be facing.
“I was tired. I ran at night. My feet are hurting; I got screws in my feet. I kept moving forward; I didn’t quit. That’s what I wanted to teach veterans and kids (contemplating) suicide, don’t quit. There’s somebody out there that cares. Don’t end the story before God gives you a chance to show you his plans,” he said.
Adams says the run raised money for East Beauregard High School, the school that Adams says gave him a second family.
“In 2017, a good friend of mine there died of a drug overdose, and that’s what got me running. I quit drinking that year, quit smoking the following May, and then I decided to start running,” Adams said.
Adams is a veteran himself and has overcome his own battles with drug and alcohol addiction, which led him to be interested in running.
“In 2011, the Lord changed everything. I got wounded by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. It shattered both my heel bones. They said it was a 50% chance I would walk again,” he said.
Although the run is over, Adams says the mission continues, urging people to talk, listen, and take action.
“One suicide is too many; there are gentlemen out there who went to battle, saw combat, and came home and still see that combat on a daily basis. If they need help, reach out and get help,” Adams said.
Adams says all proceeds from the run will go toward supporting students at East Beauregard High School.
If you’d like to donate to Adams’ cause, you can do so through his GoFundMe.
Copyright 2025 KPLC. All rights reserved.
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