| By KASEY BUBNASH | Staff writer |
Good morning and thanks for starting your week with us. Here are some of the day's top headlines. Opting out: Parents opted out of vaccines for Louisiana’s kindergartners at the highest rate in at least a decade during the 2022-2023 school year, about double the year before. The increase, which represents a total of 1,155 kids, may sound small. But even slight increases of unvaccinated children in a community can raise the risk of outbreaks of preventable diseases, with vulnerable people suffering most. Emily Woodruff has the details. Hogs for the Cause: Hogs for the Cause is a barbecue-based festival that can feel freewheeling and fun, indulgent and even debaucherous, as festivalgoers and cook-off team members pig out and cut loose. But earlier that day, behind the scenes, there is a hushed moment that has become an integral part of the annual springtime event. Find out more here. Four-day week? Despite a growing number of Louisiana schools and districts that successfully operate just four days a week, one state senator wants to restrict which schools can choose do so or mandate five-day school weeks. Sen. Beth Mizell, R-Franklinton, said students can’t afford to miss time in the classroom when many in Louisiana are still recovering from pandemic learning loss. Here's the full story. Thanks for reading, and check out all the latest news, sports and entertainment coverage from The Times-Picayune. Kasey | 