Information provided by LSU

BATON ROUGE, LA - During the week of Aug. 8, LSU Facility Services will be removing the Steele Burden Live Oak located near the natatorium, which was struck by lightning in May 2010 and died despite arborists' efforts to save the historical tree.

"This is a component of the natural cycle of vegetative management that we at Facility Services are engaged in," said Fred Fellner, assistant director of landscape services at the LSU Office of Facility Services. "On average, we plant approximately 50-100 new trees across campus each year.  Unfortunately, each year, some trees have to be taken down due to disease or damage."

The Steele Burden Oak, which is approximately 80 years old, is not the first tree to be hit and destroyed by lightning.

"In fact," said Fellner, "an oak by Efferson Hall was struck the same day as the Burden oak, but it was hit so hard that fist-sized chunks of wood flew more than 360 feet away from the trunk. It was dead within 24 hours."

In the case of the Burden oak, the natural beauty of its low-hanging limbs actually made it more susceptible to lightning.

BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB)- An early morning blaze at a Baton Rouge apartment complex left those who live there searching for a place to stay.

The Baton Rouge Fire Department said it happened at the Cambridge Apartments on Bob Pettit Boulevard in Tigerland around 12:30 a.m.

According to fire fighters, flames were shooting through the roof when they rolled up.

Investigators said the two-alarm blaze was caused by a pot left unattended on a stove.

One person was taken to the hospital with burns, but is expected to be okay.

In all, 12 units were destroyed and the whole building had to be shut down.

Officials said six apartments upstairs were damaged by fire, while six below suffered heavy water damage.

There are 30 apartments in the complex.

The Red Cross responded to the scene to help residents find places to stay.

Copyright 2011 WAFB. All rights reserved.

Louisiana's annual sales tax holiday continues today, August, 6. It was also held yesterday, Aug. 5/p>

During the two days, the first $2,500 of the purchase price of eligible items is exempt from the 4 percent sales tax.

The items are largely for personal, non-business use.

Vehicle purchases aren't covered by the holiday. Neither are most services, tickets for recreational events and restaurant meals.

The state revenue department says expenses for school supplies, uniforms and educational equipment required by schools also are eligible for deductions on 2011 state income tax returns.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)