BY DOUG GRAHAM | Staff writer Culex nigripalpus, a species of mosquito that has made its way to the Baton Rouge area, is causing headaches for mosquito control workers who have discovered no matter how many times they wipe out the pests, they keep coming back. What sets the species apart is its ability to wait weeks at a time to lay hundreds of eggs, unlike most mosquitoes that lay eggs within a week of getting a blood meal, according to Kristen Healy, a medical entomologist at LSU. The mosquitoes have been concentrated mostly in the southeast area of the parish. The owner of a Zachary medical diagnostic lab faces possible prison time after he was accused of defrauding Medicare and Medicaid of more than $148 million. Federal prosecutors say the company billed Medicare and Medicaid for the testing of 15 substances in all urine samples it received, regardless of the patient's medical history or what their medical providers had ordered. Among the expenses the money went toward: the renovation of the owner's pool and pool house. Our 2023 holiday gift guide is filled with locally made products, including everything from handmade soap and honey made by local bees to toothpick art and custom notebooks. Find ideas for everyone on your list here. | 