Podcast appearances and mentions of jefferson parish

On the day Scoot announced bringing an 80s Night to Felix's at West End in an effort to revive partying at West End, the city of New Orleans and Jefferson Parish agree to a plan to redevelop West End as a destination for fun. What do you remember about West End when it was thriving?

On the day Scoot announced bringing an 80s Night to Felix's at West End in an effort to revive partying at West End, the city of New Orleans and Jefferson Parish agreed on a plan to redevelop West End as a destination for fun. What do you remember about West End when it was thriving?

On today's show, Scoot reacts to President Trump's address to the nation. What important things did the president address? On the day Scoot announced bringing an 80s Night to Felix's at West End in an effort to revive partying at West End, the city of New Orleans and Jefferson Parish agreed to a plan to redevelop West End as a destination for fun. What do you remember about West End when it was thriving?

New Orleans and Jefferson Parish leaders have reached an agreement on redeveloping West End. We talk with Councilmember Aimee McCarron about the news.

* President Trump and his family have benefited from a number of trade deals. Is it abnormal? * New Orleans and Jefferson Parish leaders have reached an agreement on redeveloping West End.

Between 1997 and 2006, an overweight pizza delivery man named Ronald Dominique strangled 23 men across rural Louisiana, and almost no one has ever heard his name.A deep-dive article on all of the obscure legends featured in the first section of tonight's podcast: https://weirddarkness.com/obscure-legends/EPISODE BLOG PAGE (includes sources): https://weirddarkness.com/BayouStranglerREAD or DOWNLOAD the full transcript of this episode: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/3fyw74cjFEATURED STORIES IN THIS EPISODE: Spine-tingling ghost stories and eerie myths... come to life! Are any of them actually true? We'll explore the more obscure side of folklore with ghosts and legends that don't get the same amount of attention others do – but are certainly not to be ignored! (Myths And Ghosts You May Never Have Heard Of) *** In the quiet town of Essex, Maryland, the disappearance of nine-year-old Alva Jean Parris shattered the peace of summer 1960. Walking just three blocks to her aunt's house, she vanished without a trace, only for her body to be found days later, hidden beneath a makeshift grave. Decades have passed, but the mystery of who took Alva Jean and why remains unsolved. (Who Killed Alva Jean?) *** He's a little-known serial killer. Ronald J. Dominique, dubbed the Bayou Strangler, went on a decade-long murder spree in rural Louisiana, killing 23 men. (The Bayou Strangler)CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Show Open00:01:49.323 = Myths And Ghosts You May Never Have Heard Of00:33:02.110 = The Bayou Strangler ***00:49:50.242 = Who Killed Alva Jean?00:54:23.489 = Show Close*** = Begins immediately after inserted ad breakLISTEN ON PODCAST APPS: Look for this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, Amazon Music, Pandora, TuneIn Radio, and other podcast apps. Get a list of free listening apps here: https://weirddarkness.com/wdapps*No AI Voices Are Used In The Narration Of This Podcast*SOURCES and RESOURCES:“Myths And Ghosts You May Never Have Heard Of” sources: Cara Duke at ListVerse.com:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/bddryv6h; Mysteries of Canada: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/yckwn5y5; Brendan-Noble.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8audhk; Factschology.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/ycxzdhwa,https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/v7rdp57c, https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/bdfcswwk; InuitMyths.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/puzuc272, TheIrishRoadTrip.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/vj824vwb; DallasTerrors.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8s8crn; NewEnglandHistoricalSociety.com:https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/8r4zmkpt“The Bayou Strangler” by Oliver Mason for The-Line-Up.com, used with permission: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/mt8tnyh4 (BOOK: “The Bayou Strangler” by Fred Rosen: https://amzn.to/49RIiWj) “Who Killed Alva Jean?” source: Robert A. Waters at KidnappingMurderAndMayhem.com: https://weirddarkness.tiny.us/2p8ab932(Over time links may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2026, Weird Darkness.Originally aired: April 23, 2024This episode of Weird Darkness travels from obscure folklore across four continents to a little-known Louisiana serial killer and a Maryland child murder that has gone unsolved for more than sixty years.It opens with a tour through the ghosts and monsters that rarely make the usual lists: the Dungarvon Whooper, the murdered lumber-camp cook named Ryan whose whoops still echo along New Brunswick's Dungarvon River; the strzyga of Slavic myth, a two-hearted, twin-souled demon that takes the form of a barn owl before it feeds; Lady Koi Koi, the red-heeled teacher whose clicking footsteps haunt boarding schools across Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa; the banshee of North Carolina's Tar River, tied to a flour miller named Dave Warner and the Revolutionary War redcoats who drowned him in 1781; the Headless Nun of Miramichi, the murdered Sister Marie who wanders French Fort Cove asking where her head has gone; the Kludde, a chain-rattling shapeshifting dog from Belgian and Dutch folklore; the Inupasugjuk, the rarely-seen giants of Inuit tradition; the Dearg Due of County Waterford, an abused Irish bride who rose from her grave near the Tree of Strongbow to drain the blood of her father and husband; the Goatman of Old Alton Bridge near Denton, Texas, an 1884 iron truss bridge also tied to the lynching of black goat farmer Oscar Washburn; and the Stratford Knockings of 1850, the poltergeist that draped Reverend Eliakim Phelps's Connecticut mansion in funeral crepe and centered on his eleven-year-old stepson Harry.From there the episode turns to Ronald Joseph Dominique, the Louisiana pizza delivery man dubbed the Bayou Strangler, who raped and strangled twenty-three men between 1997 and 2006 while evading police for nearly a decade. Drawing on Fred Rosen's book The Bayou Strangler, the segment follows the killing of Oliver LeBanks, beaten with a tire iron and dumped beneath a highway overpass near Metairie, and traces Dominique's earlier victims across St. Charles Parish, from nineteen-year-old David Mitchell in July 1997 to twenty-year-old Gary Pierre and thirty-eight-year-old Larry Ranson, most of them gay African American men lured with the promise of paid sex. It introduces Detective Lieutenant Dennis Thornton of the Jefferson Parish sheriff's office, who worked the LeBanks scene and set himself the task of linking the killings that DNA evidence would finally tie to Dominique.The episode closes with the June 10, 1960 disappearance of nine-year-old Alva Jean Parris, who vanished walking three blocks to her aunt's house from the Riverdale Apartments in Essex, Maryland. Five days later, searchers found her shoes in a marsh and her body in a shallow grave concealed with linoleum, sod, and twigs beside an abandoned farmhouse, her abdomen and pelvis coated in lye. Assistant Medical Examiner Dr. William Lovitt found decomposition too advanced to confirm a cause of death, though strangulation was suspected, and despite polygraph tests, a solid alibi clearing her mother Fredonia, and tips about a man seen in a sailor's hat, no suspect was ever charged in a case that remains open today.

Looking for different ways to celebrate America's birthday? Check out Freedom Fest at Hope Haven this Friday. State Senator Pat Connick gives us the details.

* President Trump and his family made more than $2 billion from cryptocurrency over the last year. What IS crypto? Is there anything wrong with what he and his family did? * Recapping another Team USA win * Looking for different ways to celebrate America's birthday? Check out Freedom Fest at Hope Haven this Friday

The Shrine on Airline has been getting some major renovations. We get the latest on that, if a new sports franchise could be coming, and how development around Jefferson Parish. Jerry Bologna, Executive Director of JEDCO (Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission), joins us.

* A court ruling has temporarily blocked Gov. Landry's plan to cut the MFP to fund teacher pay. What will state lawmakers do ahead of the Tuesday afternoon deadline to vote on that plan? We'll talk to Senate President Cameron Henry. * The Shrine on Airline has been getting some major renovations. We get the latest on that, if a new sports franchise could be coming, and how development around Jefferson Parish

Full Show 6-23-26: An education mess, finding good deals this week, and answering Saints questions full 5416 Tue, 23 Jun 2026 15:01:00 +0000 MGeOnKyjsTSbB0N4rH7qpOmNVsvautGZ nfl,nba,new orleans,louisiana,jefferson parish,news WWL First News with Tommy Tucker nfl,nba,new orleans,louisiana,jefferson parish,news Full Show 6-23-26: An education mess, finding good deals this week, and answering Saints questions Tommy Tucker takes on the days' breaking headlines, plus weather, sports, traffic and more © 2026 Audacy, Inc. News

Raymond Guedry, Director of Emergency Management for Jefferson Parish, joins Tommy to discuss the impacts of Arthur and how the parish handled it.

Raymond Guedry joins Tommy to talk about how the weather has impacted Jefferson Parish this morning.

Tommy talks with Raymond Guedry, Director of Emergency Management for Jefferson Parish, about the incoming rain, how the parish has prepared, and what resident need to know and do.

Some Jefferson Parish residents have been complaining about what they say are abnormally high water bills. And Councilmember Jennifer Van Vrancken has filed a couple ordinances in response. We'll talk with her about them.

* Some Jefferson Parish residents have been complaining about what they say are abnormally high water bills. And Councilmember Jennifer Van Vrancken has filed a couple ordinances in response. We'll talk with her about them. * Louisiana lawmakers have until 5pm on June 23 to vote on whether to move $168 million from public school operations to fund teacher pay stipends. We'll go over what's going on

Jefferson Parish has a big event to celebrate America 250 this weekend. We'll get all the details on that and the upcoming Uncle Sam Jam with Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng

CASA Jefferson still needs volunteers to help advocate for abused and neglected children, and they'll train you on what to do. We'll get the details on how you can make a difference from Margaret Ether, advocate recruiter for CASA Jefferson.

* The Trump administration warned 27 Louisiana hospitals about a lack of price transparency. What does the law say about what hospitals and doctors are supposed to provide? How are prices even determined in the first place? * Jefferson Parish has a big event to celebrate America 250 this weekend. We'll get all the details on that and the upcoming Uncle Sam Jam * CASA Jefferson still needs volunteers to help advocate for abused and neglected children, and they'll train you on what to do. We'll get the details on how you can make a difference

Full Show 6-12-26: Saints news, hospital costs, hurricane season updates, and more full 5303 Thu, 11 Jun 2026 15:01:22 +0000 fm7g52rHcSt56LbMO2fcoGHYBebJx8qW nfl,world cup,new orleans,politics,jefferson parish,news WWL First News with Tommy Tucker nfl,world cup,new orleans,politics,jefferson parish,news Full Show 6-12-26: Saints news, hospital costs, hurricane season updates, and more Tommy Tucker takes on the days' breaking headlines, plus weather, sports, traffic and more © 2026 Audacy, Inc. News https://play

If you're looking for something you or your kids to do this summer, the Jefferson Parish libraries have a ton of things on tap. We talk with David Johnson, the director of marketing..

* We talked about how to keep fleas out of your home and property…now we'll talk about how to keep them off your pets. We'll get some tips and find out which flea meds work the best * If you're looking for something you or your kids to do this summer, the Jefferson Parish libraries have a ton of things on tap.

* What we know about St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Randy Smith's arrest * How to keep your pets safe from the flea invasion this summer * Summer is the time to experience the culinary riches of NOLA restaurants * Jefferson Parish libraries have a ton to do for kids AND adults this summer * How the National World War II Museum is commemorating the 82nd anniversary of D-Day * Louisiana banned cell phones in public schools two years ago, and more states have been banning cell phones since then. How much do they help?

Today we're bringing you the second part of the latest Sea Change episode, Losing Paradise.As Louisiana's coastal wetlands are claimed by the rising Gulf, fishermen and oil companies disagree over who has the right to the drowned land. Oil companies say they still pay taxes on the drowned property and have a right to keep off trespassers. Meanwhile fishermen say these are public navigable waters.Attempts to pass legislation that would bring clarity have failed, so host Carlyle Calhoun brings us to another battlefront - the courthouse.Billions from opioid settlements are flowing to local governments to help communities devastated by addiction.In Louisiana, one of the hardest-hit areas — Jefferson Parish — is set to receive tens of millions of dollars.But as the Gulf States Newsroom's Drew Hawkins and Verite News' Katie Jane Fernelius report, the parish has spent little of it so far.___Today's episode of Louisiana Considered was hosted by Alana Schreiber. Our managing producer is Alana Schrieber. We get production and technical support from Garrett Pittman, Adam Vos and Aubry Procell. You can listen to Louisiana Considered Monday through Friday at noon and 7 p.m. It's available on Spotify, Google Play and wherever you get your podcasts. Louisiana Considered wants to hear from you! Please fill out our pitch line to let us know what kinds of story ideas you have for our show. And while you're at it, fill out our listener survey! We want to keep bringing you the kinds of conversations you'd like to listen to.Louisiana Considered is made possible with support from our listeners. Thank you!

Tommy talks with Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng about hurricane season prep and about a big event coming up in Gretna on Flag Day.

* LSU researchers are looking to the future and working on how to extract resources from moon dust. We'll talk with Chris Marvel, an assistant professor of engineering, and PhD student Emma McCarthy. * We'll talk with Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng about hurricane season prep and about an event coming up in Gretna in a couple weeks.

Local 1374, Jefferson Parish v. Roberts

Jefferson Parish teachers are concerned about student behavior. They say misbehavior has been getting worse with some students getting aggressive and physical. Sandra Hauer, President of Jefferson Federation of Teachers and a Vice-President of the Louisiana Federation of Teachers, joins us to discuss the problem.

* Jefferson Parish teachers are concerned about student behavior. They say misbehavior has been getting worse with some students getting aggressive and physical. * Bank On It, financial insights you can count on with Jason Shields, the COO of Gulf Coast Bank & Trust

* It's a beautiful weekend. Try these some outdoor dining spots * Using AI to help field 911, 311 calls in New Orleans * Did we overestimate LSU baseball, or have they been underperforming? * A former LSU golfer is tied for the leader after Round 1 of the Masters * Will the Saints add another weapon for Tyler Shough in the first round? * Looking for a new place to get crawfish? Try here * Should college sports agents in Louisiana be regulated like pro agents?

* We go live to Augusta, Georgia and get an update on the Masters * Jefferson Parish secured over $3 million for a food incubator to help small businesses. We'll go over that and see what else the parish has cooking with Jerry Bologna with JEDCO.

Jefferson Parish secured over $3 million for a food incubator to help small businesses. We go over that and see what else the parish has cooking with Jerry Bologna, Executive Director of JEDCO (Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission).

* Why Cynthia Lee Sheng is excited about what's happening in Jefferson Parish * Is President Trump threatening war crimes in the Iran war? * How LSU baseball won a road series against Tennessee * President Trump is trying to reform college sports. Will it hold up? * North Korea has a hacker army stealing BILLIONS of dollars. What?? * Bank On It: How to know when interest rates are right for you * North Korea has a hacker army stealing BILLIONS of dollars. What??

* Have you ever signed up for a subscription and had trouble canceling it? State Representative Vincent Cox wants to make it nice and simple to cancel. * Checking in with Cynthia Lee Sheng for an update on how things in Jefferson Parish are going.

This week, we're talking about traditions, from wacky spring rituals like April Fool's Day and Dyngus Day to funeral bread, New York's little-known history of fairies and a tradition in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, that recently resulted in a court battle over bird poop. Featuring audio from Tommy Tucker out of WWL in New Orleans, KRLD 1080 out of Dallas, WBEN out of Buffalo and to the Adam & Jordana show and Paranormal 360, both out of WCCO News Talk in the Twin Cities.

This week, we're talking about traditions, from wacky spring rituals like April Fool's Day and Dyngus Day to funeral bread, New York's little-known history of fairies and a tradition in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, that recently resulted in a court battle over bird poop. Featuring audio from Tommy Tucker out of WWL in New Orleans, KRLD 1080 out of Dallas, WBEN out of Buffalo and to the Adam & Jordana show and Paranormal 360, both out of WCCO News Talk in the Twin Cities.

This week, we're talking about traditions, from wacky spring rituals like April Fool's Day and Dyngus Day to funeral bread, New York's little-known history of fairies and a tradition in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, that recently resulted in a court battle over bird poop. Featuring audio from Tommy Tucker out of WWL in New Orleans, KRLD 1080 out of Dallas, WBEN out of Buffalo and to the Adam & Jordana show and Paranormal 360, both out of WCCO News Talk in the Twin Cities.

This week, we're talking about traditions, from wacky spring rituals like April Fool's Day and Dyngus Day to funeral bread, New York's little-known history of fairies and a tradition in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, that recently resulted in a court battle over bird poop. Featuring audio from Tommy Tucker out of WWL in New Orleans, KRLD 1080 out of Dallas, WBEN out of Buffalo and to the Adam & Jordana show and Paranormal 360, both out of WCCO News Talk in the Twin Cities.

This week, we're talking about traditions, from wacky spring rituals like April Fool's Day and Dyngus Day to funeral bread, New York's little-known history of fairies and a tradition in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, that recently resulted in a court battle over bird poop. Featuring audio from Tommy Tucker out of WWL in New Orleans, KRLD 1080 out of Dallas, WBEN out of Buffalo and to the Adam & Jordana show and Paranormal 360, both out of WCCO News Talk in the Twin Cities.

This week, we're talking about traditions, from wacky spring rituals like April Fool's Day and Dyngus Day to funeral bread, New York's little-known history of fairies and a tradition in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, that recently resulted in a court battle over bird poop. Featuring audio from Tommy Tucker out of WWL in New Orleans, KRLD 1080 out of Dallas, WBEN out of Buffalo and to the Adam & Jordana show and Paranormal 360, both out of WCCO News Talk in the Twin Cities.

This week, we're talking about traditions, from wacky spring rituals like April Fool's Day and Dyngus Day to funeral bread, New York's little-known history of fairies and a tradition in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, that recently resulted in a court battle over bird poop. Featuring audio from Tommy Tucker out of WWL in New Orleans, KRLD 1080 out of Dallas, WBEN out of Buffalo and to the Adam & Jordana show and Paranormal 360, both out of WCCO News Talk in the Twin Cities.

This week, we're talking about traditions, from wacky spring rituals like April Fool's Day and Dyngus Day to funeral bread, New York's little-known history of fairies and a tradition in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, that recently resulted in a court battle over bird poop. Featuring audio from Tommy Tucker out of WWL in New Orleans, KRLD 1080 out of Dallas, WBEN out of Buffalo and to the Adam & Jordana show and Paranormal 360, both out of WCCO News Talk in the Twin Cities.

This week, we're talking about traditions, from wacky spring rituals like April Fool's Day and Dyngus Day to funeral bread, New York's little-known history of fairies and a tradition in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, that recently resulted in a court battle over bird poop. Featuring audio from Tommy Tucker out of WWL in New Orleans, KRLD 1080 out of Dallas, WBEN out of Buffalo and to the Adam & Jordana show and Paranormal 360, both out of WCCO News Talk in the Twin Cities.

This week, we're talking about traditions, from wacky spring rituals like April Fool's Day and Dyngus Day to funeral bread, New York's little-known history of fairies and a tradition in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, that recently resulted in a court battle over bird poop. Featuring audio from Tommy Tucker out of WWL in New Orleans, KRLD 1080 out of Dallas, WBEN out of Buffalo and to the Adam & Jordana show and Paranormal 360, both out of WCCO News Talk in the Twin Cities.

The 2nd Annual New Orleans Powerboat Grand Prix returns next weekend. We'll get the details from Jefferson Parish Councilmember Hans Liljeberg.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office's drone program has been a huge success. We'll talk to Sheriff Joe Lopinto about it.

* Those pesky stinging caterpillars will be all around before we know it. How many types do we have around here? How do you spot which ones sting? * The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office's drone program has been a huge success. We talk to Sheriff Joe Lopinto about it.

We'll continue our conversation about redeveloping West End and check in with Jefferson Parish Councilmember Hans Liljeberg.

667. Part 2 of our conversation with Kathleen Kass Byrd about her book on the history of Natchitoches. "Kathleen M. Byrd's Natchitoches, Louisiana, 1803–1840 is an examination of one French Creole community as it transitioned from a fur-trading and agricultural settlement under the control of Spain to a critical American outpost on the Spanish/American frontier and finally to a commercial hub and jumping-off point for those heading west. Byrd focuses on historic events in the area and the long-term French Creole residents as they adapted to the American presence. She also examines the effect of the arrival of the Americans, with their Indian trading house and Indian agency, on Native groups and considers how members of the enslaved population took advantage of opportunities for escape presented by a new international border. Byrd shows how the arrival of Americans forever changed Natchitoches, transforming it from a sleepy frontier settlement into a regional commercial center and staging point for pioneers heading into Texas" (LSU Pr.). Kathleen M. Byrd (nicknamed Kass) is a distinguished anthropologist, archaeologist, and historian specializing in the history and prehistory of Louisiana, particularly the Natchitoches region. A native of Connecticut, she earned her B.A. from Marquette University, an M.A. from LSU (focusing on coastal subsistence patterns), and a Ph.D. from the University of Florida. She served as Louisiana's state archaeologist for 15 years before joining Northwestern State University (NSU) in Natchitoches in 1994, where she later became director of the School of Social Sciences for 12 years until her retirement.  Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 222 years. Order your copy today! This week in the Louisiana Anthology. Jim Kjelgaard. Swamp Cat.     Frosty's heritage, in great measure, came from his renegade father. Incapable of fearing anything, he was sufficient unto himself and he'd known that from the first day he'd opened his eyes and looked around the shed. There was not and never would be a situation with which he could not cope or a foe from whom he would run in panic. His self-confidence was almost as vast as his curiosity. He would stand alone, or with kindred spirits. Never would he place himself at the mercy of, or pay homage to, one who was not kindred.     He liked the woman. She was unfailingly kind and gentle. She knew exactly how to pet him and she ' a small point ' brought his food. But he would not, as the gray kittens did, unbend so far as to met her at the door. She was not his superior. This week in Louisiana history. February 27, 1827. New Orleans kicks off its first Mardi Gras. This week in New Orleans history. Mardi Gras Day was cancelled on February 27, 1979 due to the New Orleans Police strike.  Some Orleans Parish parades were rescheduled in Jefferson Parish. This week in Louisiana. Kisatchie National Forest ' Valentine Lake Recreation Area Valentine Lake Road Forest Hill, LA 71430 Open year‑round; February is ideal for cool‑weather hiking and quiet lakeside visits Website: fs.usda.gov/kisatchie Email: KNFinfo@usda.gov Phone: (318) 473‑7160 Valentine Lake is one of Kisatchie's most peaceful recreation areas, offering scenic trails, birdwatching, and lakeside relaxation during the mild late‑winter season: Valentine Lake Trail: A 3.4‑mile loop through longleaf pine forest with excellent wildlife viewing. Picnic & Day‑Use Areas: Shaded spots along the shoreline, perfect for quiet afternoons. Fishing Access: The 46‑acre lake is stocked with bass, bream, and catfish. No fee for entry. There is a small fee for camping. Postcards from Louisiana. Sporty's Brass Band. Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook. 

666. Kathleen Kass Byrd, part 1, joins us to discuss her book on the history of Natchitoches. "Kathleen M. Byrd's Natchitoches, Louisiana, 1803–1840 is an examination of one French Creole community as it transitioned from a fur-trading and agricultural settlement under the control of Spain to a critical American outpost on the Spanish/American frontier and finally to a commercial hub and jumping-off point for those heading west. Byrd focuses on historic events in the area and the long-term French Creole residents as they adapted to the American presence. She also examines the effect of the arrival of the Americans, with their Indian trading house and Indian agency, on Native groups and considers how members of the enslaved population took advantage of opportunities for escape presented by a new international border. Byrd shows how the arrival of Americans forever changed Natchitoches, transforming it from a sleepy frontier settlement into a regional commercial center and staging point for pioneers heading into Texas" (LSU Pr.). Kathleen M. Byrd (nicknamed Kass) is a distinguished anthropologist, archaeologist, and historian specializing in the history and prehistory of Louisiana, particularly the Natchitoches region. A native of Connecticut, she earned her B.A. from Marquette University, an M.A. from LSU (focusing on coastal subsistence patterns), and a Ph.D. from the University of Florida. She served as Louisiana's state archaeologist for 15 years before joining Northwestern State University (NSU) in Natchitoches in 1994, where she later became director of the School of Social Sciences for 12 years until her retirement. Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 222 years. Order your copy today! This week in the Louisiana Anthology. Rida Johnson Young. Naughty Marietta: A Musical Comedy in Two Acts. PLACE: New Orleans. TIME: About 1780. SCENE: The Place d'Armes. A broad open space with the levee at back. There is a path along this levee bordered on both sides by tall trees, some of which are draped with the gray Southern moss. There is just a glimpse of the Mississippi between these trees. Along the levee from time to time as act progresses, people of various nationalities past. Mexicans, Indians, Spaniards, Negroes, etc. At extreme L. is an arcaded street in which are booths for flower sellers, cake and confectionary ' sailors, etc. Over this arcade are the high latticed windows of dwellings in old Creole style. There is a door at L. into one of these houses. At right is the getaway entrance to the St. Louis Cathedral. Up stage in centre is a large fountain. The top of the fountain is in the form of a large urn. The pedestal leading from the basin to the urn must be large enough for a person to stand up in. The fountain is dry. This week in Louisiana history. February 20, 1811. President Madison signed bill providing for Louisiana'a statehood. This week in New Orleans history. February 20, 2013: FEMA Archaeologists Discover One of the Oldest Native American Artifacts South of Lake Pontchartrain. Release Number: DR-1603/07-989, NEW ORLEANS ' Pottery sherds, animal bones and pieces of clay tobacco pipes are among the items recently discovered by a team of archaeologists under contract to the Federal Emergency Management Agency surveying land near Bayou St. John in New Orleans.  'It was a bit of a surprise to find this,' said FEMA Louisiana Recovery Office Deputy Director of Programs Andre Cadogan, referencing a small, broken pottery fragment. 'We clearly discovered pottery from the late Marksville period, which dates to 300-400 A.D. The pottery was nice, easily dateable, and much earlier than we expected." This week in Louisiana. St. Ann Catholic Church Lenten Fish Fry 3601 Transcontinental Drive Metairie, LA 70006 February 20, 2026 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM Website: stannchurchandshrine.org Email: office@stannchurchandshrine.org Phone: (504) 455‑7071 Price: Plates typically range from $10'$15, with combo options available. During Lent, many Catholic churches across Louisiana host Friday seafood dinners as both fundraisers and meatless‑Friday observances. St. Ann's annual Fish Fry is one of the most popular in Jefferson Parish: Plate Options: Fried fish, shrimp, or a combo plate, served with fries, coleslaw, and hushpuppies. Dine‑In or Drive‑Thru: Quick service for families on the go, with indoor seating available. Community Atmosphere: Proceeds support parish ministries, school programs, and local outreach. Postcards from Louisiana. Florida Street Blowhards at LSU. Listen on Apple Podcasts. Listen on audible. Listen on Spotify. Listen on TuneIn. Listen on iHeartRadio. The Louisiana Anthology Home Page. Like us on Facebook.