Louisiana school closures due to winter weather [Video]
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Louisiana school closures due to winter weather [Video]

Southeast Louisiana is bracing for dangerously cold temperatures that could bring icy conditions to the area. It is important to note that all schools are closed Monday for the Martin Luther King Day holiday. However, closures could extend to Tuesday and possibly Wednesday. Latest cold weather forecast | Radar | Download our app | Sign up for weather alerts | Send us your photos | Protect your pipes | Pet safety | Protect your plants The following schools have announced their plans to either close, or monitor the weather before making a final decision. Orleans Parish: NOLA Public Schools (NOLA-PS) is closely monitoring the incoming winter weather and the forecast of significantly low temperatures for the upcoming week. In response to the potential for ice accumulation, which could pose hazardous conditions for bus travel and family commutes, the district will assess the situation and make a decision on Monday regarding any potential closure of schools.We urge our families to please monitor local weather reports, official NOLA-PS communications, and your respective schools communication for the latest updates.Weather Update for the Coming Week: Monday, January 20, 2025: Expect a significant drop in temperatures, with lows potentially dipping into the mid-20s. There is a possibility of light freezing rain or sleet in the evening, which could lead to icy conditions by Tuesday morning. Tuesday, January 21, 2025: Temperatures are expected to remain below freezing, increasing the risk of ice on roads and sidewalks. This could impact school operations and transportation. Wednesday, January 22, 2025: A gradual warming trend is anticipated, with temperatures expected to rise above freezing by midday, potentially alleviating some of the earlier hazards.NOLA-PS, in collaboration with the City of New Orleans Office of Emergency Preparedness and Orleans Parish officials, will continue to monitor weather forecasts and road conditions throughout the weekend and into Monday. The primary focus is the safety and well-being of students, staff, and the school community at large.Decision Making Process:NOLA-PS will make an official announcement by Monday afternoon regarding any changes to the school schedule as a result of inclement weather. This announcement will be communicated through multiple channels including the district’s website, social media platforms, local news outlets, and direct notifications to families will come from their respective schools.For more information on winter weather preparedness, please visit the City of New Orleans’ emergency preparedness page https://ready.nola.gov/home/for winter weather tips and prep guidance. Jefferson Parish: Due to the anticipated below freezing temperatures and therefore potentially unsafe conditions, Jefferson RISE will have async, virtual learning on Tuesday 1/21 and Wednesday 1/22.St. Tammany Parish: All St. Tammany Parish Schools will be closed Tuesday, Jan. 21 due to winter weather. Lake Castle is also closed due to the winter weather. St. Bernard Parish: All schools and offices will be closed on Monday, January 20, 2025 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and will remain closed on Tuesday January 21st. While Tuesday is already a student holiday, the scheduled professional development day for staff has been canceled. As the potential for severe winter weather continues, we will monitor the weather system in the days to come and will provide updates Hancock County: No information provided at this timeWashington Parish: Washington Parish Public Schools will be closed Tuesday. Tangipahoa Parish: Dear TPSS Families, Students, and Employees,We want to assure you that we are closely monitoring the approaching freezing weather conditions. The safety of our employees and students is our top priority. We will communicate updates through email, text messages, and voice messages, as well as, post on our website and social media platforms. Remember, all schools are closed on Monday, January 20th in observance of Martin Luther King Day. Should there be a need for school closures next week due to inclement weather, we will provide timely updates to keep everyone informed. Please continue to monitor social media and your email for the latest updates.Lafourche Parish:: There is no school Monday, Jan. 20, in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; however, we are closely monitoring the approaching arctic air and potential for freezing precipitation that is being forecast for next week. We understand the importance of keeping you informed and prepared, and we want to assure you that the safety of our students and staff and their families is our top priority. If changes to our school schedule are necessary due to freezing precipitation, icy roads or dangerous driving conditions, we will communicate the decision to all families as early as possible through employee email, Facebook and OnCourse Connect, and notifications will be sent through SchoolStatus texts, emails, and phone calls. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we navigate these potential weather challenges together.Terrebonne Parish: TPSD Schools and office buildings will be closed Tuesday, January 21, 2025 due to the predicted frigid temperatures and strong possibility of dangerous wintry-mix weather. We will make a determination about Wednesday, January 22, 2025 no later than Monday, January 20, 2025. Our plans to make up this time will be announced next week.Plaquemines Parish: Plaquemines Parish Schools are monitoring the conditions and will provide an update on closures on Sunday. St. John Parish: No information provided at this timeSt. Charles Parish: In coordination with the St. Charles Parish Emergency Operations Center, St. Charles Parish Public Schools will continue to monitor the winter weather forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday (January 21-22, 2025). The school system is proactively implementing freeze precautions to help protect facilities and prepare for potential impacts.Safety is our first priority when making decisions regarding the opening or closing of schools. At the same time, we strive to strike a balance between prioritizing the well-being of our students and employees and fulfilling our responsibilities to their families and the community.An update will be communicated by 6 PM on Sunday evening via email, phone, and text, as well as the school system’s website and social media channels.As a reminder, all schools and the School Board Office will be closed Monday, January 20, 2025, in observance of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday.Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to make the best decisions for everyones safety and well-being.St. James Parish:With the potential for winter weather conditions forecasted for Tuesday, January 21st and Wednesday, January 22nd, 2025 we are closely assessing the operation of schools in order to maintain the highest level of safety for our school community. We will communicate an update on the operation of schools to all families, staff, and community members by noon on Sunday, January 19th, 2025.Catholic Schools: St. Paul’s and Mount Carmel Academy will be closed Tuesday. The following statement was provided by the Archdiocese: As of now we have asked our school leaders to prepare their school communities for the possibility of school campus closures due to the winter weather situation. All schools are being asked to make necessary preparations for possible virtual or asynchronous learning for students next week. Final decisions and announcements regarding school campus closures will be made on Monday with the most up-to-date forecast. Please understand that the archdiocesan Department of Catholic Education and Faith Formation will act in the best interest of students and faculty and will not make decisions that will endanger ANY member of our school communities. We think that at this time, given the varying aspects of forecasting it is too soon to make final decisions on whether to ultimately close campuses while we encourage all to be prepared for that ultimate decision.Universities: University of Louisiana: The University of Louisiana at Lafayette will transition to remote instruction and operations on Tuesday, Jan. 21, and Wednesday, Jan. 22, in anticipation of the cold weather and precipitation expected early next week. University-sponsored events on these dates are postponed. Updates on Wednesday’s Ragin’ Cajuns basketball game are forthcoming.The campus is set to resume in-person activity on Thursday, Jan. 23. Facilities Management and University administration will inspect campus to assess water and heating systems as well as pathways and roads.The University will continue to monitor weather and road conditions. A follow-up message will be sent next Wednesday.Residents will receive an additional email with information about dining and other campus services.Employees should prepare for remote work by bringing home necessary equipment. University phones must still be answered during this period. If you need to log in to the University’s VPN via UConnect while working remotely, multi-factor authentication is required with your Microsoft 365 credentials. View instructions for accessing the VPN.The drop and add period will be extended to Friday, Jan. 24.Students who are unable to participate in classes remotely should contact their professors. If a student needs further assistance, they can contact the Office of the Dean of Students at [email protected] and staff members who are unable to work remotely should contact their immediate supervisors.For official updates, follow the Universitys website and official social media accounts and check your University email.If you have not signed up to receive alerts via the University’s emergency notification system, please do so. To view instructions for adding or confirming your ENS information, log in to ULinkand search for the Safety & Emergency Notification System card. There, you can view instructions and update your ENS email address, phone number and address. You can also download the UL Shield safety app, if you have not done so already. Southern University Baton Rouge campus: Due to the forecast of inclement weather, Southern University campuses on the Baton Rouge landmass will be closed on Tuesday, January 21. Classes and offices will shift to remote operations. This includes Southern University and A&M College, Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension Center, and Southern University Law Center. Normal operations are slated to resume on Wednesday, January 22.Nunez: Due to the potential for severe winter weather, Nunez Community College will operate remotely on Tuesday, Jan. 21st. Students and employees who require additional accommodations are encouraged to contact their instructors or supervisors, respectively.The college will be closed Monday, Jan. 20th, in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.Please monitor Nunez.edu and official Nunez social media accounts for potential updates.Note: If your school is not listed, contact your school administration office for more information on plans for the winter weather.

Sedentary work linked to 37% higher risk of insomnia-like symptoms, new study finds [Video]
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Productivity

Sedentary work linked to 37% higher risk of insomnia-like symptoms, new study finds [Video]

A restless night may leave you feeling tired at work, but what if your job is the very thing disrupting your sleep?Related video above: Simple daytime hacks for better sleep and more energyPeople with highly sedentary jobs accounting for 80% of the current U.S. workforce face a significantly higher risk of insomnia, according to a new study published January 7 in the Journal of Occupational Health Psychology.”We already know sleep is as close as a magic bullet that we have for employee productivity and well-being, yet the way job design has changed work endangers sleep health,” said Dr. Claire Smith, lead study author and assistant professor of psychology at the University of South Florida.How job design impacts your sleepThe research, which analyzed data from more than 1,000 workers over 10 years from the National Midlife in the United States study, examined how job design impacts employees’ sleep patterns. Job design, as defined by the study, includes elements such as the amount of technology used at work, levels of physical activity and work schedules, specifically the time of day when employees work.Participants reported their sleep habits at the beginning of the study (2004 to 2006) and again a decade later (2013 to 2017) using six sleep health indicators: sleep duration, regularity, insomnia symptoms, napping habits, daytime fatigue and the time it took to fall asleep.To track changes in sleep patterns over 10 years, the study identified three distinct sleep health categories: good sleepers, insomnia sleepers and catch-up sleepers.Good sleepers are those individuals who exhibit optimal sleep patterns, which include regular sleep cycles with low levels of daytime tiredness.Insomnia sleepers experience short sleep cycles and higher levels of daytime fatigue.Catch-up sleepers fall between these two groups and often rely on naps or extra weekend sleep to compensate for irregular sleeping patterns.Workers operating on nontraditional schedules, particularly those working overnight hours, were 66% more likely to fall into the catch-up sleeper category because of their evening shifts. Smith noted that white-collar employees were more frequently categorized into the good sleeper or insomnia sleeper groups, whereas blue-collar workers were more likely to be catch-up sleepers because of their demanding shift schedules.Employees who develop poor sleep patterns because of their job design are also at risk of dealing with these habits for years. Ninety percent of insomnia sleepers saw continuous symptoms up to 10 years later.Insomnia sleepers also face a 72% to 188% greater risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, depression and frailty, according to another study coauthored by Smith.The study’s large sample size and statistical technique, which allows the volunteers’ sleep patterns to be tracked over an extended timeframe, makes the research incredibly valuable, said Dr. Luis Buenaver, director of the Behavioral Sleep Medicine program at Johns Hopkins University’s Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.Unlike other sleep studies, which tend to focus on sleep quantity or quality, Smith said this research considered many factors that could provide a deeper understanding of common sleep problems.”By using this approach, we’re able to gain access to a whole new population of people, (catch-up sleepers) who are having sleep problems that are typically ignored,” Smith said.While the researchers expected extensive computer usage to worsen sleep health, they found little correlation between the two factors.While that’s surprising given that devices are known to emit light that can be disruptive to sleep, Smith said the rise in technology use may offset these negative effects by increasing employee efficiency, ultimately protecting their sleep health.What you can do to improve your sleepSmith acknowledges that switching careers to better align with sleep needs is unrealistic for most people. However, if possible, she recommends job crafting making small adjustments throughout the workday to better align with personal needs to address sleep issues.For sedentary workers, these tweaks could include short breaks throughout the day to move. Quick bouts of physical activity such as briefly walking through the office may help you feel more tired at bedtime and help some people avoid sleep-disrupting musculoskeletal issues, Smith said.To ensure you don’t forget to take breaks, Buenaver advises people to set an hourly alert on their phone as a movement reminder. He added that taking the stairs instead of the elevator is another small way to add some more physical activity to your day.If your job allows it, setting firm boundaries around work hours can prevent late-night tasks from disrupting your biological clock, which can lead to a reliance on catch-up sleep, Smith said.Buenaver recommends unplugging smartphones and computers two hours before bedtime to avoid disturbances and setting up a charging station outside of your bedroom to avoid the temptation.If avoiding screens isn’t an option, Buenaver suggests using the blue-light filter on your device to minimize the impact on your sleep.For those working the night shift, Smith said employees may find relief by using light exposure to readjust their circadian rhythms.Ultimately, Buenaver advises people who struggle with sleeping not to lose hope if they find themselves trapped in poor sleep habits.”I want to send a positive message that you can change,” he said. “Even with little behavioral changes, they can amount to significant change if you’re persistent.”