Baton Rouge bound: A preliminary list of 2015 Miss USA Pageant judges released today does not include Caitlyn Jenner, who pageant officials have confirmed has been made an offer to travel to Baton Rouge to join the panel of judges. The judges announced on Monday include country singer and fashion designer Jessie James Decker; Terrence Jenkins, co-anchor of E! News; Jonathan Scott, designer and star of HGTV’s Property Brothers; former NFL running back Emmitt Smith; and Zuleyka Rivera, actress, TV host and Miss Universe 2006. Thomas Roberts, host of MSNBC Live with Thomas Roberts will return as host of the pageant, and will be joined by Cheryl Burke of NBC’s I Can Do That. The pageant is set to return to Baton Rouge for a second straight year on Sunday, July 12, and it will air live from 8 to 11 p.m. on NBC.
Getting a close up: Baton Rouge filmmaker Travis Dent attended the 19th annual American Black Film Festival in New York City this past weekend, where his short film was screened as one of three finalists for McDonald’s first-ever Lovin’ Video Competition. Richard Fields of Prince George’s County, Maryland, won the competition. Dent was a finalist along with Brian Shackelford of Los Angeles, according to a news release. Film director, Malcolm D. Lee served as a mentor for all three of the aspiring filmmakers, providing advice on film industry best practices. The American Black Film Festival is a four-day event that showcases quality film and television content by and about people of African descent.
Regional tastes: They made it official—north Louisiana has its own menu to distinguish it from the rest of the state. As The Shreveport Times reports, the menu includes fried catfish, greens, purple hull peas, baked sweet potatoes, plum jelly, hot water cornbread and more. It was created by Minden chef Hardette Harris, who says the menu is meant to highlight Louisiana’s signature dishes beyond gumbo, beignets, etouffee and jambalaya. The menu was approved last month as House Concurrent Resolution No. 88, enrolled and signed by the Speaker of the Louisiana House of Representatives and the President of the Louisiana State Senate. Harris’ submitted menu is now recognized as the official meal of north Louisiana. Read the full story.
