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The Louisiana Creole Heritage Center at Northwestern State University is asking the Creole community to take part in two bone marrow drives set for Aug. 25 and Oct. 12 in Natchitoches.

More than 500 middle school students from Shreveport, Mansfield and Keithville have completed the LaPREP summer program since it began in the early 1990s. LSU Shreveport math professor Carlos Spaht founded the program to encourage young people to go to college and major in math and science. Spaht says none of the LaPREP participants has dropped out of high school. LaPREP's graduation ceremony begins at 1 p.m. at the LSUS University Center Theater.

More than 12 East Texas churches are involved in the reopening of a women's shelter in New London, Texas. The Son Shine Light House closed more than two years ago to reorganize and gain its nonprofit status. Volunteer Diana Fordham of Henderson says the 77-bed shelter, located at a former nursing home, will reopen Aug. 24.