BATON ROUGE, LA (WAFB)- Louisiana Family Forum, a non-profit organization based in Baton Rouge, is searching for Louisiana's longest married couple; in fact, they're looking for the top 10 longest married couples.

The top 10 will receive an official statement of special recognition from the Governor's office and will be entered into the Louisiana Family Forum Marriage Hall of Fame.

The longest known married couple will be honored at a dessert reception in the Governor's Mansion on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2013 and will be joined by family, friends and media to celebrate the occasion.

Couples married over 65 years are encouraged to apply before February 8th, 2013. To apply, send your name, the names of the couple if different, your address, email address, phone number and wedding date to info@lafamilyforum.org. For more information, call 225-344-8533 or toll free at 800-606-6470.

Copyright 2013 WAFB. All rights reserved.

BATON ROUGE – It has been more than 25 years since tragedy struck the United States space program when seven crew members were killed in the space shuttle Challenger explosion January 28, 1986. One of those aboard the Challenger was physicist Ronald Erwin McNair, America’s second African-American astronaut.

Although McNair’s death and those of his crewmembers were a national tragedy, this is not what distinguished them. McNair exemplified a life that knew no obstacles. He excelled academically despite the racial discrimination he experienced growing up in the South during the 1950s and 1960s.

To commemorate his lifetime of accomplishments, the U.S. Department of Education, with funding from Congress, established the Ronald E. McNair Post-Baccalaureate Achievement Program to encourage minority and low-income first-generation college students to enroll in graduate studies and acquire a doctorate degree.

One of the most successful Ronald E. McNair Research Scholar programs in the country is found at LSU, and this year, the program celebrates its 20th anniversary.

BATON ROUGE – The HopKins Black Box theatre at LSU invites patrons to experience “Sacred Waste,” an interactive eco-performance that takes a playful look at people’s complicated relationship with plastic trash.

Taking the form of a parodic ritual, the show features a talented cast of dancers, actors and musicians.

“This show is seriously ridiculous,” said director Bonny McDonald. “It speaks through movement and materials. The audience is encouraged to touch and wear items, but won’t be forced to join in. It will be just as fun to sit back and watch as to play with the cast.” 

The show features live music, dance numbers and elaborate costumes featuring “up-cycled” plastic materials. 

“I’ve been working with local artists and high school students to design the set and props out of single-use plastic items. The whole effect is pretty wild,” McDonald said, “especially the dragon.”

Despite the fact that plastics are not biodegradable, pollute watersheds and contain chemicals highly toxic to humans and animals, Americans throw away 1,500 plastic water bottles alone every second.