LSUA recently posted its list of continuing education classes that will be offered over the next few months.  Some of the classes listed include Aquacise, Beginning Wildlife Photography, Cooking with Herbs, Excel, Zumba and Notary Public Exam prep.  Full information. 

Boudreaux’s Animal Rescue Krewe (BARK) is a NO KILL animal rescue center. BARK currently has 175 dogs housed at their shelter.  Every dog is spayed or neutered as well as micro-chipped before leaving the center. Full article.  

The annual Veterans of Foreign War mid-winter conference begins Feb 2 in Alexandria, Louisiana. Programs include homecoming meetings, workshops, award ceremonies, and a banquet. Full article.

Northwestern State University’s Office of Electronic and Continuing Education will offer classes on cake decorating, floral design and belly dancing in February. Basic Floral Design will also be offered, and a LA Retail Florist Exam Prep Course begins Feb. 18. Full article. 

Northwestern State University officials recently announced that NSU has more scholarship money available than ever before. The additional funding resulted from private gifts to NSU, particularly a large gift from the Mary Rives Gallaspy estate.   Full article.  

Save a Life—Donate blood today!  LifeShare Blood Center in Alexandria is sponsoring the "Super Bowl for Life" through February 5 at 2051 N. Mall Drive in Alexandria or to mobile blood drives in the area. Blood donors will be entered to win one of many prizes donated by local sponsors.  Full information.  

LA lawmakers are meeting in Pineville to hear from residents regarding highway repairs and improvements.  The Joint Highway Priority Construction Committee "road show," is a program where legislators travel LA to obtain public input on transportation priorities.  Today’s meeting begins at 10:30 a.m. today in Pineville City Hall, 910 Main St. in Pineville.  Full article.  

Louisiana Economic Development officials recently indicated that the U.S. Army expects to complete the purchase of 4,900 acres at Fort Polk that will the base to expand training. The statement also indicated that, with the state's support, the Army continues to pursue a long-term strategy of expanding Fort Polk's physical assets. Full article.  

While extensive testing on Gulf of Mexico seafood assures its safety, the long-term effects on fish species from that oil, and the chemicals used to fight it, are still largely unknown. The federal officials are currently assessing some of the BP spill's potential effect on shrimp, and various states are also conducting toxicity testing to evaluate survival, reproduction, growth and disease responses of representative Gulf species.  Full article. 

The Food Bank of Central Louisiana will offer free classes to teach people how to grow their own food.  The Food Bank of Central Louisiana's class schedule is Feb. 10th @ 3 PM, Feb. 17th @ 3 PM, Feb. 25th @ 10 AM, March 3rd @ 10 AM and March 16th @ 3 PM. Full article.  

Mayor Clarence Fields has a vision for the commercial center of downtown Pineville to become buildings occupied by healthy businesses where people shop, eat and bank. He knows accomplishing this won’t be easy, as Pineville isn't unique in its struggle to find a way to keep its downtown relevant in a business climate where retailers flock to shopping centers and big-box stores. Full article.  

In December, the USDA announced a three-year, $50 million initiative designed to improve water quality along the coast. The project, named the Gulf of Mexico Initiative, is the first concrete step resulting from meetings by the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force. Full article.  

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Gov. Bobby Jindal will be unable to attend the CLEDA Quarterly Innovation Luncheon on February 1.  However, we are pleased to announce that Dr. Loren C. Scott has agreed to be the luncheon's keynote speaker.  Dr. Scott is one of the leading economists in the country and a nationally renowned speaker.  Full article. 

You have from now until February 5 to pre-order your Girl Scout cookies! Direct sales at booths will begin March 2 and finish March 18.  This year, the cookies come in eight flavors, including a new one: a lemon-flavored cookie called Savannah Smiles. Cost of Girl Scout Cookies are $4 per box.  Full article. 

On January 26, veterans visited the Army Processing Facility at England Airpark for Cenla’s Hire Our Heroes Job Fair. The event was one of about 100 Hiring Our Heroes events being held across the country in a U.S. Chamber of Commerce initiative, co-sponsored locally by the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce. 92 employers participated. Multiple organizers described hiring a veteran as a "win-win proposition" where the veteran gets a job and the employer gets a quality employee and access to federal tax credits.  Full article.  

The Baton Rouge Kennel Club's Mardi Gras Cluster AKC Dog Show begins today. This dog show will be followed by The Alexandria Kennel Club's Mardi Gras Cluster AKC Dog Show. More than 160 breeds of dogs will compete.Location: Rapides Coliseum.  Full article. 

Governor Bobby Jindal will be the featured guest speaker at CLEDA’s Quarterly Innovation Luncheon on February 1. NOTE: Reservations are mandatory. Tickets are $20 each, and a table of ten tickets is available for $175.00.  Location: SAI Convention Center, Alexandria, LA.   Full information.   

Cenla residents have the opportunity to participate in a national movement through the Souper Bowl of Caring. This movement is comprised of youth working to fight hunger and hunger and poverty in Cenla around the Super Bowl football game. Albertsons and Kroger in Alexandria are participating in the Souper Bowl of Caring by selling pre-filled bags of food to be donated to the Food Bank of Central LA.  Full information. 

The LA School for Math, Science and the Arts (LSMSA) English faculty will sponsor the fourth annual Young Writer’s Conference on Feb. 17 for students in grades seven through 12. Location: The LA School for Math, Science and the Arts (LSMSA). Sessions include writing poetry, writing fiction and writing non-fiction prose. The registration fee is $5.00.  Full article.