Louisiana
What Is the Crawfish Crawl?
Lafayette, LA (KPEL News) – Once upon a time, south Louisiana looked forward to the Running of the Ducks. Times change and, now, the non-profit is replacing them with crawfish to help kids develop into the best people they can be.
For more than 50 years, Boys and Girls Clubs of Acadiana has had one mission:
To empower all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.
The charter is headquartered in Lafayette but currently oversees 8 clubs:
- 2 in Lafayette
- 1 in Lake Charles, with 2 more in the works
- 2 in New Iberia
- 1 in Abbeville
- 1 in Opelousas
- 1 in Natchitoches
- 1 in the work in Crowley
The general public knows the name Boys and Girls Club and that they do good work, but it’s difficult to wrap your brain around the impact they have on students and how they achieve such success.
The clubs are open when children agest 6 to 18 are most at risk: after school and all day in the summer.
Broadly, they do the following:
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Provide a safe, impactful and high quality experience for kids in our footprint and beyond.
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Focus on 3 main areas
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Academic Success
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Healthy Lifestyles and Habits
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Good Character & Leadership
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Each club has a full-time director and part-time staff, based on set ratios.
They encourage community support, both financial and in-kind, for the clubs, and they work to fundraise to sustain them.
The Great Acadiana Running of the Ducks served them well for many years, but they have created a new raffle fundraiser that offers a plethora of ways to get tickets.
crawfish crawl 2024
The Inaugural Crawfish Crawl is underway. Instead of purchasing a duck, you purchase a crawfish (or several) for your chance to win a great prize, including a car! Check out the impressive list:
1st Place: 2024 Nissan Sentra Donated by Giles Gives Back
2nd Place: $1,500 Donated by Bradley Beck State Farm
3rd Place: Natchitoches Christmas Festival Experience (Includes 4 Wristbands, 2 Festival T-Shirts, and Free Night at the Holiday Inn)
4th Place: Year-Long Supply of Meals Donated by SONIC
5th Place: Parish Brewing Package Donated by Parish Brewing
6th Place: Louisiana Gift Basket Donated by Louisiana Hot Stuff
7th Place: Ring Cleaner and Holder Donated by EMBARK Jewelers
The tickets are $5 each, 6 for $25, or 25 for $100. They are available through several outlets:
- Online at bgcacadiana.com.
- By texting BGCA to 50155.
- At any Gulf Coast Bank or Evangeline Bank location.
- Visit crawfish restaurants in south Louisiana and look for the QR code.
The deadline to purchase your tickets is March 22, so get to Crawfish Crawling to help children succeed.
Historical Look at Lowest Crawfish Prices
Top 5 Times of the Year When You Can Get the Best Crawfish Prices in Shreveport
10 Steps to Boiling Crawfish Like a Pro
Gallery Credit: JayCee
Louisiana
At least 8 children killed in shooting in Louisiana, US
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.
Louisiana
‘Growth pays for growth’: Entergy’s Fair Share Plus model to save Louisiana customers $2.8 billion
Louisiana
Thinking of retiring in Louisiana? These are 5 best places to do so
Think tank proposes capping Social Security benefits at $100,000
A Washington think tank proposed capping annual Social Security benefits at $100,000 for couples as a way to shrink a looming deficit in the retirement trust fund.
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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