BY DOUG GRAHAM | Deputy Metro Editor On June 6, 1944, American, British and Canadian forces braved the punishing defenses of Hitler’s “Atlantic Wall” to secure a beachhead in France, the first step in liberating the country from the Nazis. Now, 80 years later, people from around the globe are congregating in the Normandy region to celebrate the D-Day landings. The National WWII Museum is sponsoring seven World War II veterans — including one from Louisiana — on a 10-day northern European cruise, which coincides with the D-Day commemoration. Read about their meeting with a group of French high school students. "Celebration Gator," a 60-foot alligator float that has rolled along the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade route since 2021, is apparently floating into the sunset after the state of Louisiana didn't renew a contract with parade organizers. The state tourism office says the float generated a publicity value of $24 million. Read about what happens next. Vitex trees can be found blooming across Louisiana this time of year, flashing a stunning display of purple flowers. Also known as the chaste tree, the trees bloom every year for about a month with minimal effort from gardeners. Find out how to include these colorful additions in your landscape. | 