On June 11, skywatchers will be treated to the Full Strawberry Moon. It is the final full moon of spring.
However, the best time to see it will be the evening of June 10 when it rises at dusk.
A Full Strawberry Moon only occurs in the month of June. The term comes from Native American, Colonial American, and European traditions, where full moons were often named to reflect the seasonal changes and activities of the time.
The name “Strawberry Moon” was popularized by the Algonquin tribes of North America, and refers to the relatively short season for harvesting wild strawberries, which typically ripen in June in the northeastern United States. The moon itself doesn’t turn red or pink—though it can appear golden or orange when rising or setting due to atmospheric conditions.
Cultural Significance
For many Indigenous peoples, the Strawberry Moon was a time for gathering fruit and preparing for the warmer season.
In Europe, June’s full moon was sometimes called the Honey Moon or Mead Moon, as it marked the time to harvest honey.
Today, the Strawberry Moon is celebrated in various ways, often appreciated for its symbolic connection to abundance, sweetness, and the start of summer.
Nick Bustamante, Tom Futrell, and Dr. Jamie Newman
The VISTA (Visual Integration of Science Through Art) Center at Louisiana Tech University celebrated a decade of innovation and student achievement earlier this month with its annual Scholarship and Award Celebration, marking the occasion with the launch of Louisiana’s first interdisciplinary degree program in scientific communication.
The new Bachelor of Science in Scientific Visual Communication, approved by the University of Louisiana System in December and the Louisiana Board of regents, is set to launch in fall 2025. It will prepare students to enter careers in medical illustration, scientific visualization, biomedical animation, and digital communication. The program builds on the center’s successful minors in pre-medical illustration and scientific visualization and is designed for students who want to bridge the gap between science and art.
“Over the years, we’ve seen many students come to Louisiana Tech with a passion and talent for art who think they have to give it up to pursue a career in science or medicine,” said Dr. Jamie Newman, associate director of the VISTA Center. “This new degree program not only solidifies a curriculum for these students, it also offers a concentration for premedical and predental students, making it that much easier for them to balance their commitment to both art and science.”
This year’s scholarship and awards event featured student showcases, faculty-led tours of the VISTA Labs, and interactive exhibits highlighting the center’s work, from anatomical illustrations and immersive digital models to educational tools used across Louisiana. Attendees included alumni, local educators, nonprofit leaders, and industry partners.
Among the evening’s highlights was the presentation of the Dr. Joseph and Charlotte Barron Endowed Scholarship to Kaylee Davis for excellence in scientific illustration. The newly established Jeanette and Justin Hinckley VISTA Scholarship, funded by Louisiana Tech alumni, was awarded to Teagen Griffin for outstanding work in digital painting and client-based collaborations.
“This event was a vibrant celebration of the VISTA Center’s growth and impact,” said Professor Nick Bustamante, director of the VISTA Center. “It brought together university leadership, alumni, faculty, community partners, student clients, and mentors, each of whom plays a vital role in our journey. It was especially meaningful to see our talented students proudly showcase their scientific illustrations and design work. The evening truly captured the spirit of collaboration, creativity and community that defines the center’s mission.”
“I’m incredibly proud of the scholarships awarded to our students,” said Tom Futrell, director of design for the VISTA Center. “The support from our community has been truly inspiring. These students are blending science and art in ways that are not only creative but also deeply practical, opening doors to careers in scientific illustration, research-driven information design, and more. Projects like the Greenway interpretive signage show just how powerful it can be when data and design come together to tell stories everyone can understand.”
VISTA students have already made a significant impact across Louisiana and beyond. Recent projects include:
A full redesign of the History of Flight exhibit at Sci-Port Discovery Center in Shreveport, incorporating dynamic visuals and interactive storytelling.
An illustrated children’s book for MedCamps of Louisiana to help young campers feel welcomed and confident.
The VISTA Center continues to seek new community partners, project collaborators, and scholarship supporters to help expand student opportunities and increase its statewide reach.
For more information, contact the VISTA Center at vista@latech.edu.
Red River Man Church is June 12 at 6pm at The Shop, 1942 Hwy 507, Coushatta. Bill Britt, founder of Compel Outreach is the speaker. A meal will be provided. Join in for a manly meal, manly music and manly message.
The Chasing Aces Golf complex in Bossier City is slated to open June 16. The complex will include 30 golf bays with luxury seating, a golf academy, pro shop, outdoor putting courses, exclusive VIP private party bays, Wine and Wedge events, a dugout batting bay, sports bar and restaurant.
The NSU Summer Dinner Theatre will present “I Love You to Death: A Speakeasy Mystery” June 17-21 and June 24-28 at The Venue on Front Street located at 530 Front Street in Natchitoches. Doors open at 5:30pm. Dinner and the show starts at 6pm. Tickets are available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/i-love-you-to-death-a-speakeasy-mystery-tickets-1382450068369?aff=ehometext. For more information, call (318) 357-4483.
Red River Junior High will host the 8th from Grade Awards Ceremony June 18 at 8am in the school’s gym. Join in the celebration and recognition of the outstanding achievement of the 8th grade students. Attendees are asked to park in front of the gym.
AtmosClear BR is leading an $800 million energy project at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge. The project will create 600 construction jobs and 75 permanent jobs while supporting Louisiana’s industrial economy and workforce.
Get your bags packed if Italy has been on your travel list! American Airlines now offers direct flights from DFW International Airport to Venice, Italy.
On May 19 and again on May 29, Red River High School EMR students were able to attend two different ambulance operations and helicopter landing zone classes presented by Pafford Air One/Pafford Ground Ambulance and Life Air/Red River EMS.
Topics covered in both classes included: patient care, loading and unloading patients into the ambulance/helicopter, equipment variances, set-up for helicopter landing zone, when to call for a helicopter, radio communications, and safety concerns.
Wednesday, June 4, was the regular monthly meeting of the Red River Parish Police Jury. All members were present.
The CVU report included permit receipts of $44,238 and fines of $5,716 for the month. A discussion was introduced to consider raising permit prices to bring the parish more in line with other parishes. The decision was to gather information and bring it to the next meeting for further discussion.
An update on the new joint construction with the Red River Sheriff informed the members that all core samples have been completed. Initial renderings are complete, and engineers are now working to finalize building plans. Jessie Davis updated everyone on the demolition of the old building on the property and the breaking up of the concrete.
Jury members discussed creating a special committee to approach other municipal entities to create cooperative endeavors for tourism and economic development. The committee includes Ben Taylor, Shane Young, and Brandon Hillman.
All other routine items were approved, and the meeting was adjourned.
Social Springs Baptist Church will host VBS, “Wonder Junction” June 8-13 from 6:30 until 9pm, June 8-13. Family night will be Friday, June 13.
Hickory Grove Baptist Church will host VBS “Camp Firelight” June 9 – 13 from 5:30-8pm for grades PK3-12. Gather ’round the campfire for a week full of adventure, friendship, and discovery. At Camp Firelight, kids will learn how God’s light guides us through every challenge and adventure. Through inspiring Bible stories, fun games, crafts, and music, kids will grow in faith and courage–all while making memories that will shine for years to come. The fire is burning bright, and they’re saving a spot just for your kiddos! Contact Melissa Allen, VBS Director, for more information (318.205.8362).
First Methodist Church Coushatta will take kids on a “True North” adventure from June 23-26, from 5:30-8:00 p.m., for ages 4 years through 5th grade. Join FMC on the ultimate Alaskan adventure where northern lights glow over majestic mountains, racing rivers, and glistening glaciers. True North VBS shows kids that Jesus is a faithful friend we can always trust. He’s our True North! Dinner is provided each night. Register online or in person.
All area churches may share their VBS dates/info with RRPJ at the following email redriverparishjournal@gmail.com
Louisiana State Police and the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) are alerting residents about another text message scam that has the potential to steal personal information and charge unnecessary fees. In the latest iteration of the scam, many Louisiana residents have received text messages claiming the recipient has an “outstanding traffic ticket” and must pay a fee or face repercussions. The OMV recommends that customers ignore and delete such messages.
The Louisiana OMV offers the following tips to help residents avoid scams:
DO NOT click on links in an unsolicited message from an unverified source
DO NOT respond or send your personal information via text
Delete all suspicious texts and emails and report them to reportfraud.ftc.gov
Exercise caution with all communications you receive from anonymous sources
Confirm the message was generated from a legitimate source
Keep an eye out for signs of scams (rewards, vague URLs, incorrect grammar)
The Louisiana OMV does not send text messages or emails threatening prosecution for traffic or fee violations. To process legitimate online services safely and securely, Louisiana residents can visit the official OMV website at www.expresslane.org.
Contact Information: Lt. Jared L. Sandifer Louisiana State Police Public Affairs Section Office: (225) 925-6202 jared.sandifer@la.gov
Louisiana Tech University celebrated its 2024 Spring Commencement on Saturday, May 24, in the Thomas Assembly Center. Graduates crossed the stage as friends and family cheered, marking the culmination of years of hard work and dedication. Photograph by Bailey Green/Louisiana Tech University
At 75 years old, Loretta Wiley walked across the stage at Louisiana Tech University to receive her master’s degree in counseling and guidance with a specialization in human services, completing a goal nearly twenty years in the making.
“I’ve always had a passion to help people and make a positive impact on lives,” Wiley said. “This degree is something I’ve wanted for a long time.”
Wiley first enrolled in the program in 2006 but was unable to finish at that time. Life circumstances forced her to step away from the classroom, but the desire to finish never left her. In 2021, she returned to the College of Education and Human Sciences and began working toward her educational goal.
She first earned an undergraduate certificate in forensic psychology, followed by a graduate certificate in domestic violence. Those accomplishments led her to re-enroll in the master’s program and complete the degree she originally set out to earn.
While balancing school, Wiley continued to work as a substitute teacher in Bossier Parish schools. She says the classroom is where she finds purpose.
“Every day, I try to show the students that there are so many opportunities out there for them,” Wiley added. “I want them to know that with hard work, they can accomplish anything.”
“She has the biggest heart in helping others and has shown great determination in pursuing her graduate work,” Dr. Mary Livingston, professor in the Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, said. “I believe she will always be a great asset to her community.”
Wiley leaned heavily on her faith, family, and support system to push through the tough moments during her education.
“My biggest supporters were God, who gave me the strength and guidance to keep going, and my family, who believed in me,” Wiley said. “I’m especially thankful for Dr. Livingston, my advisor. She gave me courage, wisdom, and support every step of the way. I’m also grateful to the instructors and staff who created an environment where I could learn and grow.”
Wiley’s story made an impact far beyond the classroom. Her determination and perseverance inspired fellow graduates and faculty alike, resulting in a standing ovation as she accepted her diploma at the 2025 Spring Commencement ceremony.
Now, with her degree in hand, Wiley plans to continue substitute teaching while exploring other opportunities to support and guide others through counseling or mentoring.
“I hope others can look at my story and see that it’s never too late to pursue something meaningful,” Wiley said.
On September 12, 2019, Italian conceptual artist Maurizio Cattelan’s 18-carat solid gold work of art with an estimated value of up to $6.5 million was put on display at Blenheim Palace, the English country mansion where Winston Churchill was born. Unlike many art pieces which exist only as a work of art to be admired, Maurizio’s creation had a function. It served a purpose while being a work of art. Maurizio’s creation had already impressed audiences at the Guggenheim Museum in New York where a reported 100,000 people had waited to take their turn using Maurizio’s creation. For two days, the artwork had been impressing the visitors to the sprawling mansion in the same manner when something unexpected happened.
Before daylight on the morning of September 14, 2019, five masked thieves in two stolen cars drove through a wooden barrier fence and onto Blenheim Palace grounds. They sped up to the palace where three of the thieves exited the cars. The two getaway drivers remained in their stolen cars and kept the engines running. The three thieves quickly broke into the mansion and ran directly to Maurizio’s creation. It took the strength of all three men to rip Maurizio’s 215-pound creation from the wooden floor on which it had been mounted and to carry it to one of the waiting cars. They loaded it into the hatchback of one of the cars and the thieves sped away. Blenheim Palace’s security cameras captured the heist on video and their security system alerted police, but the thieves were gone by the time police arrived. Of all of the art on display in the antique-filled mansion, Maurizio’s creation was the only item stolen. The thieves had carefully planned the heist. They knew the palace had a good security system, but no other precautions had been put into place to protect the piece. After the artwork was installed in the palace, Edward Spencer-Churchill, chairman of Blenheim Strategic Partners and direct descendent of Winston Churchill, told the York News-Times that the artwork would not be easy to steal since it was physically connected to the palace, and added, “So, no. I don’t plan to be guarding it.”
Another representative of Blenheim Palace tweeted, “We knew there was huge interest in the Maurizio Cattelan contemporary art exhibition, with many set to come and enjoy the installations. It’s therefore a great shame an item so precious has been taken, but we still have so many fascinating treasures in the Palace and the remaining items of the exhibition to share.”
Several men have been convicted in the theft and disposal of Maurizio’s creation, but the artwork has never been recovered. Most recently, on May 19, 2025, a man was convicted for trying to help a burglar sell scrap gold believed to have been from Maurizio’s creation.
Maurizio intended the artwork to be a pointed satire about excessive wealth. Before the artwork was stolen, Maurizio explained, “Whatever you eat, a $200 lunch or a $2 hot dog, the results are the same.” You see, Maurizio Cattelan’s stolen 215-pound artwork made from 18-karat solid gold was a fully functioning, fully plumbed toilet.
Each year, on June 6, we pause to remember one of the most pivotal days in modern history—D-Day, the Allied invasion of Normandy in 1944 during World War II. This massive military operation marked the beginning of the end of the Nazi occupation in Western Europe and was a turning point in the war.
On that day, over 156,000 Allied troops from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and other nations landed on the beaches of Normandy, France. Facing immense resistance and brutal conditions, these brave soldiers demonstrated incredible courage and determination. Many never returned home, making the ultimate sacrifice in the fight for freedom.
D-Day is more than just a date in history—it is a solemn reminder of the cost of liberty and the power of unity. We remember the fallen, honor the veterans, and teach future generations about the strength of perseverance, sacrifice, and hope in the face of adversity.
Let us take a moment to reflect, give thanks, and ensure their legacy lives on.
The Louisiana Folklife Center at Northwestern State University will present the program “Fiddlin’ with the Finest! A Celebration of Louisiana Folk Fiddling” Saturday June 14 at 11 a.m. at the Many Depot Museum at 750 Highway 171 Bypass in Many. The event is free and open to the public.
Three past Louisiana State Fiddle Champions, Clancey Stewart, Joe Suchanek, and Ron Yule, will discuss the importance of the folk fiddling tradition with Dr. Shane Rasmussen, director of the Louisiana Folklife Center and professor of English at NSU. Live music performed throughout the program will include various regional fiddle styles accompanied by demonstrations of fiddle stick playing and twin fiddling. A Q&A session on participating in fiddle competitions will follow. Fiddlers of all skill levels are invited to bring their instruments for a jam session with the invited musicians.
This year’s Louisiana State Fiddle Championship will take place as part of the 45th annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival, to be held on Saturday July 19 at 1 p.m. in the Magale Recital Hall on the NSU campus. Fiddlers may compete in the championship or non-championship division as well as in the twin fiddle category. Registration is at noon in the first-floor foyer outside the Magale Recital Hall. The Fiddle Championship winner will perform on the Festival main stage in Prather Coliseum at 5 p.m.
The event is sponsored by the Louisiana Folklife Center. Support for the Festival is provided by grants from the Cane River National Heritage Area, Inc., the City of Natchitoches, Cleco, the Louisiana Division of the Arts Decentralized Arts Fund Program, the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, the Louisiana Office of Tourism, the Natchitoches Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Natchitoches Historic District Development Commission, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, the Shreveport Regional Arts Council and the State of Louisiana.
The views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities.
Artist Edgar Cano was selected to receive two significant grants, a regional award and an international award, both created to recognize the talents of visual artists and enable them to devote more time and energy into creative endeavors.
Cano is assistant professor of art at Northwestern State University. He was selected as a 2025 State Fellow for Visual Arts by South Arts for its 2025 State Fellows for Literary Arts and Visual Arts in its flagship Southern Prize and State Fellowships program. He was also selected to receive a 2025 Individual Support Grant from the Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation of New York, which are awarded to artists worldwide.
In addition, Cano was named this year’s recipient of the Shawn and Linnye Daily Endowed Professorship at NSU, which funds faculty research, travel and professional development, as well as a faculty enhancement award from NSU’s College of Arts and Sciences, which provides funding for student and faculty research, travel and collaboration to bridge the liberal arts with several other disciplines.
The funds will allow him to participate in workshops in Iowa and in Veracruz, Mexico, along with activities related to personal learning and improvement as an art professor, he said.
Cano, a native of Mexico, has earned many awards in national and international competitions over the last two decades, and has shown work in solo and group exhibitions.
“These distinctions reinforce my dual role as a committed visual artist and educator devoted to excellence and lifelong learning,” Cano said.
Established in 2017, the Southern Prize and State Fellowships program was created to bring more visibility to the artistic talent to the Southeastern region of the U.S. The program was expanded in 2024 to support literary arts and annually awards a total of $80,000 to nine visual artists and nine literary artists from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Alongside the State Fellowship award, each selected artist has a chance to compete for the Southern Prize awards.
Cano is among the 18 State Fellows to be awarded unrestricted cash prizes of $5,000 each. This year’s fellowship class will now compete for the larger Southern Prize for Literary Arts and Visual Arts awards, which grant an additional $25,000 for the winner and the $10,000 for the finalist, as well as a residency at an artist retreat space. For additional information on the Southern Prize and State Fellowship programs, visit www.southarts.org.
The Adolph and Esther Gottlieb Foundation has been making individual support grants since 1976 to painters, sculptors and printmakers who have been creating mature art for at least 20 years and who are in current financial need. These awards are distributed worldwide intended to recognize the talents of many individuals around the world who have dedicated long careers to making art.
Cano and each of the other 19 artists selected was awarded a cash grant of $25,000 this year. These individuals were selected from a group of 865 applications from 58 countries by a panel of five advisors who are themselves art professionals and who have no affiliation with the Gottlieb Foundation. More information on the Gottlieb Foundation grant recipients is available at https://www.gottliebfoundation.org/2025-grant-recipients-1.
Cano works in many mediums, including colorful large scale works with mythical elements, fine details and ambiguous themes. He routinely participates in juried national and international competitions and won many awards over the past two decades. His sweeping, cinematic compositions reflect his beginnings as a professional artist in Mexico when he was creating backdrops for theatre productions. He has also completed some impressive murals, including an exterior visual titled “Beginning and End” for the Instituto de Investigaciones Jagüey (Jagüey Research Institute) in San Martin de las Piramides, Mexico.
Since Cano came to NSU to complete his master’s degree in 2021 and joined the faculty in 2022, he has immersed himself into the community through portrait work and local exhibitions. He was designer for the mural at the Ben D. Johnson Education Center titled “Seeds of Hope,” a celebration of Natchitoches’ agricultural heritage that was completed by a community of volunteers.
As an athlete growing up, I always heard that practice makes perfect. Now we all know that statement might not always hold true. I’ve had a lot of practice over the years at such things as golf and bass fishing, but I’m still searching to get better at both. Today, we’ll look how practicing for a bass tournament has changed in the last five years.
As former NBA great Alan Iverson stated one time in a press conference when asked about his practice habits or lack thereof, “Are we talking about practice? I mean we’re talking about practice! We’re talking about practice, man!”
While he was obviously frustrated when the media questioned his practice habits, the point he made was that on the NBA level, it’s not about practice but rather what you bring to the floor on game day.
Tournament bass fishing is pretty much the same way. You can go out and catch all the fish you want during practice, but the only thing that matters is what you bring to the scales on tournament day.
Some anglers are great in practice and will tell the world how well they are catching them. But for some reason, when tournament day rolls around, they never seem to have the fish they need to win.
There’s one thing I learned early in my career from a couple of mentors who took a liking to me and were willing to pass along a little of their knowledge that would help me become a better angler. They both told me that it makes no sense to sore mouth the bass two days before the tournament.
They taught me how to cover my hooks with clear IV tubing on my spinnerbaits and jigs in order to make sure I didn’t hook fish while practicing. Because once bass are hooked, in some cases, it may take up to five days before they will bite again.
They educated me about shaking fish off in order to ensure they are not hooked. They taught me how to use a screw lock which allows an angler to fish soft plastic worms without a hook, therefore guaranteeing they would not be hooked before the tournament.
But fast forward to 2025 and you’ll see young anglers today scouting without a single fishing rod on the deck of their boat. They are totally tuned into and observing the electronics on their boats.
Today’s younger generation of anglers simply idle around doing what they call “steering wheel time” while sitting behind the console of their boat looking at two or three computer screens scanning and marking schools of bass and baitfish that they will return to on tournament day.
These anglers are so good with their electronics that they can tell if the fish they are looking at are quality or not. They will never wet a hook or even pull out a rod during practice, which for an old school angler like me, is insane!
But there are still a few old school anglers who will hook and catch every bass that bites during practice. They want to look and see the size of the fish that might be in a certain area they will be fishing on tournament day.
No matter how an angler practices for an event, he or she still must find and figure out how to make those fish bite. But this is what makes practice so important and is how anglers win tournaments. Practice, practice and more practice!
RRHS Lady Bulldog Volleyball is hosting a car wash and bake sale June 7 from 9am until 3pm at Rivertown Market. All donations are accepted.
The Coushatta-Red River Chamber of Commerce will host a Farmers Market Makers Fair Saturday, June 7 from 7am – 2pm on Front Street in Coushatta. Food vendor items include ice cream, bread, cookies, brittle, lemonade, jellies/jams, eggs and plants. Other items are jewelry, candles, hair bows, kitchenware, bath products and face painting.
Castor Methodist Church will host a corn hole tournament Saturday, June 7 from 6-10pm. The event is open to all age groups so bring your friends and family for an evening of fun and friendly competition. Supper will be provided. Contact Brad McCoy at 318.475.9029 or Richard Twyman at 318.564.5160 for more information.
ESPN announced the 12-team College Football Playoff will move to a straight seeding model this fall. The selection committee’s top four teams will get the top four seeds and the first-round byes.
The Women of Courage Woman Church will be held on June 10 at 6pm at The Shop, 1942 Hwy 507, Coushatta. Worship will be led by Tracy Miller. The speaker is Mandi Mills. Dinner will be provided.
Get ready for the first ever Rumble on the Bayou Saturday, June 14 at Grand Bayou Resort. All cars, trucks, motorcycles and Rat Rods are welcome. Registration starts at 10am with awards at 2:30pm. There is a $25 registration fee. Free admission for spectators. Vendors are needed. If you are interested contact Jacqueline Martin 318.471.8370 or Patrice Harper 318.471.4714.
Yashica Turner, Instructor for Red River High School’s CNA program, announced that all students in this year’s class have passed the written and clinical portions of their tests.
“ I am so proud of my girls. They always say that I do too much, and I am too hard on them, but it is because I want them to succeed and be better than they were the day before.”
The RRHS program is governed by the Nurse Aide Training and Competency Evaluation Program (NATCEP), state-approved by the Louisiana Department of Health.
More than 200 hours of classroom time and more than 100 hours of clinical time are completed by each student. They assisted with community service projects and various health education programs as offered by the school and community.
Completing the prescribed requirements are: Cariyah Allen Shaianne Brisker Sha’lyrical Mobley Fa’Dasia Demery Bri’Aunna Taylor Shamiya Henderson Maliyah Hill Shamahni Taylor Ky’Undria Whitaker Angel Bradley
Sunday the Louisiana Senate passed a state budget that includes only $43.5 million for the LA GATOR program, one of Governor Landry’s signature initiatives.
Landry had asked for $93.5 million.
The approved amount will cover the current 6,000 students in Louisiana’s existing school voucher program for the 2025-26 school year.
The scholarship program allocates state tax dollars to cover private school tuition and other expenses, such as uniforms, after-school tutoring, or homeschool education costs.
The state House of Representatives passed a budget with full funding ($93.5 million) earlier in the session. It removed funding for the K-3 High-Dosage Tutoring program in order to fully fund the scholarship program.
Landry proposed allocating $93 million to expand the program, covering scholarships for an estimated 12,000 students.
Senate President Cameron Henry expressed that the Senate prioritizes K-3 tutoring and teacher pay over voucher expansion. The Senate also expressed concern about the long-term financial impact on state finances and the dismal past results of the voucher program.
The House and Senate will have to reach a compromise by June 12 on a final state budget.
The Red River Parish School Board, in accordance with State guidelines, will destroy all special education records of former students born prior to January 1, 2000. These records are no longer needed for educational purposes.
You have an opportunity to obtain these records prior to August 1, 2025. The records can be claimed at Red River Parish School Board Office, 100 Bulldog Dr., Coushatta, LA. 71019 between the hours of 8:00 am and 3:00 pm, Monday through Wednesday and 8:00-12:30 pm Thursday.
Once your request is made, your records will be available for pick up the following business day.
All unclaimed records will be destroyed on Monday, August 4, 2025.
If you have any questions, please call Red River Parish Special Education Department at (318) 271-3138.
LSUS senior catcher Diego Aragon holds up the NAIA national championship trophy as he leads the Pilot baseball players onto the stage at Festival Plaza in downtown Shreveport on Monday. CREDIT: Jakob Rogas/LSUS Media Relations
Diego Aragon stepped off the bus with the NAIA World Series trophy in hand.
The senior catcher led the 59-0 LSUS Pilots through a tunnel of fans and into Festival Plaza, where nearly 1,000 people gathered under the plaza cover to celebrate the only college baseball team in history to put together a perfect season.
The festivities felt like a jubilee fit for the return of the baseball conquerors.
Mardi Gras beads from the Krewe of Gemini hung from the players’ necks as they trekked over a purple carpet to the Festival Plaza stage.
Purple and gold confetti erupted as the players climbed the steps in front of an NAIA and world championship banner – all under a giant American flag hanging from a Shreveport Fire Department truck crane.
“I’m extremely thankful and overwhelmed with emotion,” Aragon said of being the guy to carry the trophy and the fan response on a Monday afternoon. “This was a great showing, and it proved to us that all the hard work paid off.
“We knew from the beginning that we had the talent and everything that we needed, but we had to just take it one pitch at a time and have everybody do their jobs.”
Aragon was one of six players who experienced the disappointment of losing in a home regional each of the last two seasons
Aragon was one of six players who experienced the disappointment of losing in a home regional each of the last two seasons, ending their World Series hopes.
But the 2025 Pilots did do their jobs – every single game.
In a sport where the unthinkable and unexpected always costs a team at some point during a long season, the Pilots lived up to baseball’s basic mantras every time out.
LSUS coach Brad Neffendorf emphasized the togetherness of this team and players not fixated on “the streak” as major factors in accomplishing the historic feat.
“You don’t need the best players – you need the best team – and maybe we had a good mix of both this year,” said Neffendorf, who steered the Pilots to their first-ever national title in any sport. “This is one of the last times that this team will be together, and that makes this bittersweet.
“This is the best team ever assembled in the history of the NAIA, but more than that, these players impacted everyone around them.”
LSUS athletics director Lucas Morgan ducked into a pizzeria in Lewiston, Idaho, on the day of the NAIA World Series championship game, and he said the manager wanted to tell him about the 15 players who had eaten their earlier in the day.
“They said they were the most respectful team they’ve ever had in the history of the World Series being there,” Morgan said. “These aren’t just great student-athletes, they are great people.
“They’ve built on this legacy and will have a season to be remembered forever in college baseball.”
Players stood on the stage as proclamations were read out loud by Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux, Caddo Parish Commission’s Stormy Gage-Watts, and an acknowledgement from Bossier City Mayor Tommy Chandler.
But a special phone call came in from U.S. Congressman Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House of Representatives who serves Louisiana’s Fourth District, which includes Shreveport.
Johnson extended an invitation to the White House on behalf of President Donald Trump.
“President Trump acknowledging us and wanting us to visit the White House is just amazing,” said Ian Montz, an outfielder from Lafayette who hit the go-ahead home run in the championship win. “It’s special to bring back a championship to the city of Shreveport and its people.”
The team can add the Washington D.C. visit to the Louisiana state capitol trip coming up.
Each player had their name called, with one of the biggest cheers coming for the lone Shreveport product Brendan Burns of Northwood High School.
Players sat at long tables signing posters, hats, shirts – and babies?
Montz’s 1-year-old sister Remi had her yellow-striped dress signed by at least 10 players – one more piece of history that will live on.
Fans wound their way through the line for more than 90 minutes as sharpies ran dry, sending people scrambling for a working writing instrument to capture a piece of college baseball history.
But even after most of the fans departed, LSUS players signed away – making sure each player had a signed poster in which to remember the moment.
“We’ve had crazy fan support all year from our fans, so this was awesome to experience today,” said Isaac Rohde, World Series MVP. “When we were 11-0, I thought, ‘Why not? Why can’t we win every game?
“But to do it with these guys is such a special thing. We’ll always remember this.”
LSUS Chancellor Dr. Robert Smith added the all-important “59-0 and counting,” indicating that this historic streak isn’t over yet.
While this year’s roster includes 20 seniors, there is a cadre of juniors in place to help LSUS run it back.
“We’re treating it as a clean slate – 0-0 – coming into next year,” said Draven Zeigler, a junior pitcher. “We can’t think about the winning streak.
“We needed a lot of mental toughness and discipline to go 59-0, and that’s something that we’ll certainly take into next year.”
Which is exactly how LSUS built the streak in the first place.
While I have worked in and observed the U.S. Congress for many years, I have never seen a perfect bill—a perfect piece of legislation. This one is not either, but it’s a great start!
Let’s review relevant portions of the bill that passed the U.S. House last week and is headed for the U.S. Senate, which will likely amend it to some extent but not, I hope, in a way that fundamentally alters the positive policy in it.
Broadly, the bill makes the 2017 Trump tax cuts permanent and institutes no-taxes-on-tips and overtime, includes a large tax deduction on Social Security, and also includes provisions related to U.S. immigration—such as curbing illegal entries and finishing Pres. Trump’s wall along the southern border. It further includes the single largest welfare reform in American history, including requiring that able-bodied males, who were never intended to be on the Medicaid program, get a job to remain on the program; and removes hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants from the Medicaid rolls. It also advances the most aggressive energy exploration in American history which will benefit our beloved Louisiana. All while reducing the deficit.
Specifically, this includes permanently extending for individuals the tax rates and brackets of the 2017 Trump Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), providing greater certainty for households. The bill also permanently extends the larger standard deduction and the alternative minimum tax threshold. These two provisions alone greatly simplify the tax code. (Tax Foundation, May 23, 2025, D. Bunn, A. Muresianu, W. McBride).
There is also now a permanent basis for expensing certain equipment for smaller businesses. Regarding the estate and gift tax, the bill also institutes a permanent (and inflation-adjusted) exemption level of $15 million that begins in 2026.
The bill also makes improvements to cost recovery for U.S. businesses relative to current law. The bill reintroduces expensing for investment in equipment and domestic research and development (R&D). The TCJA’s less restrictive limitation on interest deductions is also brought back. These are important policies that will greatly increase business investment and the economic benefits of the bill if they are made permanent. The bill also reduces some of the tax code’s many tax credits, deductions, and other preferences.
The largest area of reform involves green energy tax credits: the bill cuts about $500 billion over a decade, reducing the cost of these credits by roughly half—like those for electric vehicles (EVs) and residential energy products—while most of the others are restricted or phased out more quickly.
The bill also permanently extends TCJA’s limits on some itemized deductions, such as for mortgage interest, and limits each dollar of itemized deductions for top earners. The bill also increases the TCJA’s $10,000 cap on deductions for state and local taxes (SALT), raising it to $40,000 for taxpayers earning less than $500,000. (Id. Tax Foundation).
Please allow me to address something else.
Elon Musk, to whom the country should be eternally grateful for the DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) team’s discovery of enormous amounts of waste, fraud, abuse and corruption, commented on the House passage of the bill stating “I was disappointed to see the massive spending bill, frankly, which increases the budget deficit, not just decreases it, and undermines the work that the DOGE team is doing.”
Fair enough, Elon. My only response to his concern would be this.
House and Senate Democrats will offer no votes to help pass the bill, so Republicans are left with only one option. To get a typical bill through the U.S. Senate, 60 votes are required to end debate (i.e. break a filibuster) and vote on legislation. Well, there are only 53 Republicans, so Republicans are forced to use a process called “reconciliation”—which only requires a simple majority—to advance the Trump agenda through the U.S. Senate.
That’s what is happening here. Based upon Senate rules a reconciliation bill may only deal with mandatory spending, such as Medicaid, while the cuts that Elon and DOGE have recommended are to discretionary funds. Those cuts are coming next. Speaker Mike Johnson has made clear the House will codify the DOGE-recommended cuts when the White House sends a package of spending that should be rescinded.
Legislating is never easy, but we are on the cusp of very positive economic and tax change for the American people. I think Pres. Trump deserves our support as he grinds through the legislative process.
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