Lafayette, LA (KPEL News) – Facebook users have been hearing chirps every time they swipe through their newsfeeds. We’ve become accustomed to hearing the chirping when we pull down the screen to refresh and see what our Louisiana friends are up to.
Over the weekend, I was scrolling through and nearly every time I touched the screen, CHIRP! What the…?!? I closed the app and reopened it. CHIRP! Thinking my entire phone was freaking out, I powered it off and rebooted it. CHIRP!
I took it as a sign, at the time, that I shouldn’t be on social media. Honestly, I did have more important matters to attend to.
The next morning, I logged on and the chirping continued. ANNOYING!
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I frustratingly kept scrolling, cursing the little bird that had become the bane of my Facebook existence, sure it was user error. Until I ran across a post by a member of my social media community that offered instructions about how to make it stop.
It worked!
Being the curious sort, I had to find out why. Why in the world would Facebook, the company that makes billions off of us mindlessly scrolling and sharing more information about our personal lives than we should, feel it was important to annoy us while cashing in.
In short, to enhance the Facebook experience.
According to Dataconomy, Meta, Facebook’s parent company, decided that we needed to have a more engaging, interesting experience and that adding a “subtle sound” would auditory enhancement.
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Dataconomy writes:
These changes can also serve as attention-grabbing elements, encouraging users to stay active and spend more time on the app. Overall, Facebook is constantly evolving to meet its users’ changing preferences and expectations, and introducing sounds is just one way they’re doing that.
It may just be my opinion, but EPIC FAIL!
The majority of us have turned off all sound when it comes to our handheld devices. Phones don’t ring or ding, and the videos we see are muted.
Whoever thought adding more sound, and an annoying one at that, was a good idea.
The good news is that the platform offers a fix if you want to just make it stop, and it’s pretty easy.
2- Tap on the “hamburger” menu, the three horizontal lines, that are at the bottom right corner of the screen. They may be on your profile pic and hard to see.
3- Scroll through until you get to “Settings & Privacy.” Tap it.
settings privacyTracy Wirtz
4- Go to “Settings.”
5- Tap “Media.”
6- Turn that toggle switch off next to “Sounds- In-App Sound.”
Go forth and live chirp free!
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Newlab New Orleans is deepening its energy-tech ambitions with a new partnership alongside JERA, Japan’s largest power generator, to accelerate next-generation carbon capture solutions for heavy industries across Louisiana and the Gulf Coast, The Center Square writes.
The collaboration brings JERA Ventures into Newlab’s public-private innovation hub, where startups gain access to lab space and high-end machinery to commercialize technologies aimed at cutting emissions and improving industrial efficiency.
The move builds momentum as Newlab prepares to open its fifth global hub next fall at the former Naval Support Activity site, adding New Orleans to a network that includes Riyadh and Detroit. JERA’s footprint in Louisiana is already growing—from a joint venture on CF Industries’ planned $4 billion low-carbon ammonia plant to investments in solar generation and Haynesville shale assets—positioning the company as a significant player in the state’s clean-energy transition.
Federal immigration authorities are keeping a tight lid on key details as “Catahoula Crunch” closes its first week in southeast Louisiana, Verite writes.
The operation—one of Department of Homeland Security’s largest recent urban crackdowns—began with raids at home-improvement stores and aims for 5,000 arrests, according to plans previously reviewed by the Associated Press. While DHS publicly highlighted arrests of immigrants with violent criminal records, AP data shows fewer than one-third of the 38 detainees in the first two days had prior convictions.
Meanwhile, advocacy groups report widespread fear in Hispanic communities, with residents avoiding hospitals, schools, workplaces and even grocery stores amid sightings of federal agents.
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Business impacts are already visible: restaurants and Hispanic-serving corridors like Broad Street appear unusually quiet, with staff shortages forcing menu cuts and temporary closures. School absenteeism has doubled in Jefferson Parish, and protests have spread across New Orleans and surrounding suburbs as local leaders demand transparency around federal tactics.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First) — The Louisiana State Police is opening its doors throughout December, hosting open house events aimed at giving potential applicants a closer look at what it takes to become a state trooper.
Troop leaders said the goal is to recruit men and women who are prepared for the demands of the job and committed to serving their communities.
Troop A Public Information Officer Shelby Mayfield said the open houses are designed to make the application process more accessible.
“One of the reasons we generated these open houses was to allow our applicants to come in and get a look inside the troop, meet some state troopers from across the troop area, and ask whatever questions they may have to the recruiters who are present,” Mayfield said.
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Along with information sessions, Mayfield said the events help future applicants better understand the daily responsibilities of law enforcement and the mindset troopers are expected to bring to the job.
“We want to make sure that that trooper knows how important officer safety is,” he said. “But more importantly, we want to make sure they go out there with a pure heart.”
The Louisiana State Police Training Academy is known for its rigorous curriculum that prepares cadets for real-world situations. From crash investigations to communication skills, instructors focus on developing well-rounded troopers who can serve safely and effectively.
Mayfield said applicants must be ready for a variety of interactions, not just emergencies.
“Not everything is going to be a high-intensity, rapidly evolving situation,” he said. “You need to be able to deal with the public to accomplish your job, and that’s why we preach not just getting the job done, but being able to relate to the public so you can meet their needs.”
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The application deadline for Cadet Class 109 is Jan. 6, 2026. Mayfield encourages anyone who feels called to the profession to take the next step.
“If this is something you genuinely have in your heart to do, reach out to somebody when it’s convenient for you,” he said. “Even if you miss a deadline, never give up because it’s never too late.”
Open house events will continue throughout the month at troop locations across Louisiana. More information on Cadet Class 109 and the application process is available on the Louisiana State Police website.
