Louisiana
Louisiana strawberry farmers hope to rebound after winter storm
SPRINGFIELD, La. (WVUE) – After much of South Louisiana finally thawed out after Tuesday’s historic winter storm, many farmers throughout Livingston and Tangipahoa Parishes are assessing the damage done to their crops.
At Harris Strawberry Farm, co-owner Trey Harris says he’s lucky that 10 inches of snow didn’t destroy his 13 acres.
Sheets on top of his strawberry beds could hold most of the snow and ice and kept conditions warm enough for the plants to survive.
“It’s just something that caught us off guard, but God prevailed here,” Harris said. “(The snow) put insulation under our blankets and kept the heat in.”
Harris says some of the sheets ripped due to the weight of the snow, killing the plants and fruit underneath. His crews spent Friday assessing which plants were unsalvageable and which strawberries didn’t survive days of freezing temperatures.
After that, his team worked in the afternoon to put sheets on all the beds in anticipation of a final round of freezing temperatures this weekend.
“We’re just trying to catch up, clean up and spray. Get ready for the peak of the season,” he said.
Harris exclusively grows strawberries for Rouses Supermarkets and was able to do a regular shipment of crops on Friday despite the weather conditions this week.
He says other farms had trouble recovering after the storm and assessing the damages’ extent.
“Support all of your local Louisiana strawberry farmers. It’s a dying industry right now,” Harris said.
And despite the issues farms faced this week, Harris anticipates a better crop from the region compared to years past, especially for the Ponchatoula Strawberry Festival in April.
“These plants are going to rebound. They are going to come out of this and they’re going to put a lot of blooms on and hopefully they’re going to make it,” he said.
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A private organization entrusted with money intended to protect Louisiana from the cost of abandoned oil and gas wells used funds to make below-market loans benefiting a senior state regulator, his re…
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NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – A driver died from a gunshot wound after a Louisiana State Police car chase in New Orleans Saturday evening (June 20), but troopers say they did not fire the gun.
Troop NOLA confirmed the car chase ended near Franklin Avenue and North Miro Street Saturday. Troopers said they found the driver shot and brought them to the hospital, where that person died.
The driver’s identity has not been released.
A Troop NOLA spokesperson said he could not confirm if anyone else was in the car, if anyone has been arrested, or if troopers found a gun.
A spokesperson said more details will be released as a state police force investigation continues.
Troop NOLA is a special investigation unit tasked with proactive policing, traffic enforcement and crime reduction.
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Copyright 2026 WVUE. All rights reserved.
MONROE, La. (KNOE) – Shelby Bordelon of Iberville Parish was crowned Miss Louisiana 2026 Saturday night in Monroe, earning the title and a $15,000 scholarship. Bordelon, a graduate student at Southeastern Louisiana University, said the role is about more than pageantry, emphasizing the yearlong service mission tied to the crown.
“Part of the mission of this organization is the service behind it,” Bordelon said. “And the service is so important, you are serving your state for a year… having the opportunities to connect with others… to continue making an impact and leaving my mark on others as well.”
Bordelon, who finished first runner-up in last year’s competition, said the moment her name was called as the winner still hasn’t fully sunk in.
“It was every emotion you could think of that was running through my mind at that moment,” she said, adding she focused on preparation and perspective this year. “I really wanted to go into this year with no regrets… just really trusting in that mindset and that plan.”
Bordelon said she hopes to use her platform to raise awareness for her nonprofit, Claire’s Promise, which focuses on combating drunk driving.
You can learn more about the nonprofit here. She will now represent Louisiana at the Miss America Pageant, which begins in late August in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Copyright 2026 KNOE. All rights reserved.
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