 BY MATTHEW ALBRIGHT | Staff writer Even before COVID, many Louisiana 3rd graders weren't reading at grade level. That's a crucial benchmark, and kids who don't meet it are much more likely to struggle through the rest of school. Then the pandemic threw schools in turmoil. And new data suggests the toll was severe. Here are the numbers, and the dire warning they portray for our state's students.
If you lived in Louisiana during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, you know just how catastrophic it can be when the emergency shutoff valve for an oil or gas pipeline doesn't work. This Port Allen company is a leader in making valves and "chokes" that can withstand the unbelievable strain needed to keep Gulf of Mexico oil operations running safely. Here's a look inside the high-tech operation that makes it happen.
We've got more details for you on LSU's quarterback competition. One of our reporters tracked each of the contenders through a practice Thursday morning; here's what he saw. And here's who our sports columnist thinks is the most likely starter based on what he saw yesterday. | 
