 BY MATTHEW ALBRIGHT | Staff writer It hasn't been ideal bonfire-building weather, between the cold rain earlier this week and the arctic blast that rolled through last night. But that hasn't stopped the teams and families behind one of Louisiana's great Christmas traditions: The bonfires along the Mississippi River that guide Papa Noel. Here's a look inside the festivities.
One of LSU's most prized new football recruits is offensive lineman Zalance Heard. He's 6'6" and 300+ pounds, with skills to match. How'd he become such a beast? He puts a lot of it down to his small-town upbringing near the Arkansas border. Here's his story.
People watching the Rose Parade this year will get a full dose of Louisiana. The state has a riverboat float and will show off everything from Ponchatoula Strawberries to innovative health research in Baton Rouge. Here's how the extravaganza will look, as described by the Strawberry Queen herself. | 
