The United States is in the grips of an epidemic of drug overdose deaths. Stemming the tide of this crisis is a massive undertaking for the nation’s scientific and health-care communities, with the state of Louisiana being no exception.

‘It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring...

Provenance, located in South Shreveport on the Southern Loop, recently broke ground on Building 1 of Phase II of the Provenance Commercial Village Center. That means more than 5,200 square feet is available for lease, in addition to the seven businesses already open.

I have passed so many visible benchmarks along the way. I can see the number on the scale. I can count the notches on my belt. I know how baggy my jeans have become. All of those things pointed toward a positive test result. That wasn’t good enough, though.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic brought all “nonessential” businesses and events to a standstill. At the same time, the need in our community multiplied overnight. Since the spring of 2020, North Louisiana nonprofits have worked tirelessly to help those who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19.

There was the beaded beauty from the 2010 Rock ’n’ Roll New Orleans Half Marathon, my first distance event. There was the heavy, ornate memento from the Marine Corps Marathon in 2012, my last distance event. In between was a compilation of collectibles from trail runs and road races for which I had trained for hours on end.

ByGeorge provides two picnic menu options. The original menu consists of a charcuterie board, pinwheel and turkey melt sandwiches, Artisan bread with dipping oil, a variety of seasonal fruits, dessert, water and a choice of tea, soda or juice.

The frontlines of the pandemic look different now, 10 months into the COVID-19 battle. In this season of giving and joy, there’s comfort in knowing that a glimmer of returning to some sort of normalcy is so close. For months, the question of when a vaccine will be ready riddled conversations.