BY DOUG GRAHAM | Staff writer Thousands of Louisiana residents — especially college-educated professionals — are leaving the state for better lives and opportunities elsewhere, in a diaspora that has been going on for decades. The departure of so many people — often the state’s best and brightest — feeds a vicious cycle: Having fewer residents makes it harder to grow the economy, which, in turn, further fuels the exodus. Louisiana, with just over 4.5 million residents, has grown by just 1.25% since 2010. Baton Rouge Community College held an anniversary celebration on Friday to acknowledge a significant milestone in its history and celebrate a successful 25 years. Chancellor Willie Smith said he is proud of what the college has become and where he sees it heading over the next quarter century. BRCC is in the midst of record enrollment with 11,120 students signed up for the fall 2023 semester, setting a new high point. LSU's HopKins Black Box Theater exists for students and faculty members to practice and produce performance art within the performance studies area in the department of communication studies. The offerings can range from showcases, to informal workshops, to multimedia installations, to fully staged scripts. Read more about the donation-run theater here. | 