January 2020

Bone density test helpful in diagnosing osteoporosis

Ask The DocTors

Dear Doctor: I just turned 65, and my doctor wants me to have a bone density test. What is it, and how does it work?

Dear Reader: A bone mineral density test, or BMD, measures the strength of one’s bones. It’s an important diagnostic tool for osteoporosis, a progressive disease in which bones become brittle and fragile and can easily break.

Cheers to the morning show

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Cheers to The Morning Show

for getting its act together. After a scattered first season – with a WTF musical bit – Apple TV+’s glossy drama delivered a nerve- shredding, perfectly paced finale that saw feuding news anchors Alex and Bradley (Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon) uniting on-air to take down the toxic men at the top.

Jeers to The MaskedSinger’s off-key eliminations

THIS WEEK’S BEST BETS

Sunday, Jan. 5 The Real Housewives of Atlanta: “Living on the Edge” Bravo, 8pm

After an icy welcome in Toronto, NeNe lays out her standing with each of the girls. NeNe and Eva sit face-to-face and revisit old wounds, while a group trust exercise forces the ladies to live on the edge in an unexpected way. Kenya, Porsha and Kandi team up to find the snake that recorded Cynthia, but before they can get to it, there is a surprise that will shock everyone.

God Friended Me:“A New Hope” CBS, 8pm

Valentino: Hollywood’s ‘Latin lover’ of the 1920s

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Rudolph Valentino was born Rodolfo Alfonzo Raffaelo Pietro Filiberto Guglielmi di Valentina d’Antonguolla in Italy in 1895. He reportedly was a spoiled child because of his looks and easy personality but did badly in school. He immigrated to the United States via Ellis Island in 1913 and, being unable to find steady work in New York, moved to Hollywood.

Don’t overlook this ornamental tree with edible fruit

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Are you looking for a small to mediumsized, evergreen landscape tree that is easy to care for, has fragrant, delicate, white flowers and also makes delicious fruit? Look no further. Loquat is the tree for you. These trees are in full bloom right now, and the penetrating fragrance has called the bees out on warm days.

Also called Japanese plum (Eriobotyra japonica), loquat is native to Southeast Asia. The fruit is said to have been cultivated in Japan for more than 1,000 years, and that country is the leading producer of loquats with an annual crop of 17,000 tons.

La. shrimp season to close Jan. 6 in portions of state outside waters

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries announced the 2019 shrimp season will close at official sunset on Monday, January 6, 2020, in portions of state outside waters between Caillou Boca and Freshwater Bayou Canal:

Eagle Lake crappie regulations to become permanent

Crappie regulations on Eagle Lake, a shared waterbody between Madison Parish, LA, and Warren County, MS, have become permanent. The regulations include a daily creel limit of 30 fish per day and a minimum total length limit of 11 inches. A Notice of Intent to make the experimental regulations permanent was adopted on August 1, 2019 at the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Commission meeting.

LDWF accepting applications for turkey, fishing lotteries

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF) is accepting applications for Wildlife Management Area (WMA) lottery turkey hunts and the White Lake Wildlife Conservation Area (WCA) fishing lottery. The deadline to apply is Feb. 8, 2020.

Letters to the editor

Reader shares hopes for 2020 America

Dear Editor,

Praying that our GOP Party will see clearly that our POTUS is unfit for office. Praying that America will see clearly that we are becoming the Divided States of America instead of United.

Praying for Evangelics to clearly see that this POTUS that claims he is “The Chosen One” is not Heaven sent.

Praying that the POTUS’ followers’ eyes will be clearly opened to the deceptive tactics he delivers to them.

Drinking games and the Mafia: This is 2020

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As a reporter, I have much to anticipate this year. Major local tax issues, major state and national races and of course, all the usual news. In a way, 2019’s news will bleed into 2020’s, so I am still looking back while moving forward. A few things on my mind?