New Orleans might be the only place where a pair of giraffes, a velociraptor and Dr. John can co-exist peacefully. The Krewe of House Floats, started by a casual suggestion on the internet to decorate one’s house as a Mardi Gras float, quickly sprang into a full-blown movement. Within a short time, 2,600 homes across New Orleans as well as homes around the country and as far away as Australia, Europe, and Asia displayed the creativity, pageantry and joie de vivre of Mardi Gras. Megan Boudreaux, founder of the Krewe of House Floats, said that the almost overnight response to her suggestion was “mind-boggling.” She is grateful for the many enthusiastic and talented folks who helped make her idea a reality. Boudreaux is scheduled to receive a key to the city from the New Orleans City Council for helping New Orleanians remember their “collective ability to keep the good times rolling.” She’s recognized for fostering commerce between residents and local merchants and art
Six Fraternities and Sororities Suspended at Tulane
Classes have barely resumed for on-campus learning at Tulane University in New Orleans, and already they are in the middle of the second-largest jump in COVID cases to date. And university officials are not playing around with the health crisis.
After the school learned of recent huge gatherings at nearby bars and various off-campus parties, they have reinforced public health restrictions for students. University President Michael Fitts told NOLA.com that All in-person student programs – including student organization events – outside of classes will be canceled, rescheduled or redesigned in light of these new restrictions. Students will now be asked to limit themselves to staying in their on-campus dormitories and off-campus residences when not actually in class, or at the dining hall. In addition, no visitors will be allowed in campus dormitories for the time being. Ouch.
Amid a global pandemic, Tulane University has shattered institutional records with over 45,000 applications received for the Class of 2025, which will enter Tulane in the fall. Tulane has now seen a 55 percent increase in total applications over the past five years. A record number of those students (4,000) indicated the university is their first choice by participating in Tulane’s Early Decision admissions program.
Tulane launched its Early Decision program in 2016. In that inaugural year, 1,000 students applied to the program. In just five years, that number has tripled, and for the second straight year, half of the students who will enroll in Tulane’s upcoming class are Early Decision applicants.
Changing tiers, cross-border vaccines, contingency plans: News from around our 50 states From USA TODAY Network and wire reports, USA TODAY
Alabama
Montgomery: A state hotline for COVID-19 vaccination appointments has been overwhelmed with calls after Alabama announced Friday that the state will begin giving the shots to people 75 years old or older, as well as first responders, later this month. The Alabama Department of Public Health said Saturday that the telephone number received 1.1 million calls in the first day of being open to the public. The Health Department pleaded with people not to call unless they are in the eligible groups. “Due to the overwhelming amount of calls, our target population cannot get through to schedule their appointments,” the health department wrote in a social media post. The state health department said the free vaccinations can be made by appointment only. Eligible people can call the ADPH toll-free phone number at 1-855-566-5