BY DOUG GRAHAM | Staff writer In an effort to combat student absenteeism, state officials are pushing districts to make school a place where kids want to be. Baker School District is among those offering rewards for students who come to class. Some districts are making their attendance rates public as “motivating factor” to spur competition among schools. Read about other ways officials are trying to tackle the issue. Deer Run, a roughly 1,300-acre subdivision planned near Denham Springs, has been a lightning rod for controversy amid a fierce debate over new development in Livingston Parish. Now, the saga may finally come to a close next month in federal court. Read more about the battle over the issue. Garrett Nussmeier knows he will face challenges as he fills the shoes of Jayden Daniels as starting quarterback at LSU. Nussmeier has only one career start under his belt, even though he is entering his fourth year in the program. Read why he elected to remain a Tiger as he waited for his chance. | 