SNAPSHOT
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ENTERTAINMENT “Wearin’ the Green” is the largest parade in the state, page 9.
SPRING FORWARD
Fans excited about the beginning of spring football practice today, page 5.
THE DAILY REVEILLE WWW.LSUREVEILLE.COM
Volume 113, Issue 107
EDUCATION
Jindal to use surplus funds for higher ed.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Lenten Lessons
By Kyle Bove Chief Staff Writer
Gov. Bobby Jindal announced at a press conference Wednesday afternoon his plans to use state surplus funds to invest in capital outlay projects for higher education. Joined by legislators and Commissioner of Higher Education Sally Clausen, the governor said he will use $98.4 million in ‘We’re money going to surplus from the 2007have to do 08 fiscal year more with to fund higher education projless ... and ects. “This commake sure to ... that we mitment higher educaare moving tion projects forward.’ is another example that even Bobby Jindal while Louisiana has tightened La. governor our belt from times of decreased revenue, we’re going to continue to invest in priorities to move our state forward,” Jindal said. JINDAL, see page 14
Catholic tradition of sacrifice affects students, businesses By Nate Monroe Contributing Writer
photos by GRANT GUTIERREZ / The Daily Reveille
LSU graduate student Dustin Loveless prepares “The Charbroil” during Wednesday’s lunch shift at Mike Anderson’s Seafood on Lee Drive. The restaurant’s business picks up on Fridays during Lent.
Thomas Kajor is more productive these days. Since Ash Wednesday, Kajor, mechanical engineering sophomore, hasn’t been on Facebook for more than 15 minutes a day — which he attributes to his new-found productivity. Before, Kajor said he easily spent more than an hour a day on Facebook “just wasting time.” And Kendall Voelker, kinesiology freshman, has some extra money — not from saving because of the economic slump, but because she hasn’t had her nails done since Ash Wednesday, and she won’t again until at least Easter Sunday. These sacrifices are part of a familiar tradition in Louisiana. Lent is a time of fasting and prayer. Beginning every LENT, see page 14
AGRICULTURE
Apple snails threatening rice fields in Louisiana By Joy Lukachick Staff Writer
photo courtesy of Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries
Sports ........................ 7 Entertainment ......... 9 Opinion ................... 16 Classifieds ............... 18
Broadcasts
Index
Apple snails have officials worried about invasions of local rice crops and crawfish ponds.
Louisiana rice and crawfish farmers could be in danger of an invasive, applesized species of snails, according to the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries. Apple snails, which can grow to be the 7:20 a.m. 8:20 a.m. Noon 3:20 p.m. 4:20 p.m. 5:20 p.m.
size of an apple, are beginning to spread throughout the state, said Brac Salyers, Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries biologist. Salyers said the snails were first seen in a drainage basin near Gretna in 2006 and have spread to Mandeville and Schriever. “Once [the snails] get established in a waterway, they can produce at such a rate the aquatic vegetation can’t keep up,” Salyers said. The creatures are harmful because they can destroy crops and clean out other species in ponds, ditches and streams and
Weather
Crawfish ponds also in danger of invasion
continue producing at an amazing rate. Apple snails can lay between 600 and 800 eggs every two weeks, he said. The invasive creatures are also plaguing Southeast Asia, where some areas have 100 percent crop failure, Salyers said. In Louisiana, the snails have not destroyed any rice crops, but the department is concerned the creatures will swim into the coastline and spread to rice crops and crawfish farms.
TODAY CLOUDY
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SNAILS, see page 13
FRIDAY SUNNY
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