Nicotine use among teens in Louisiana remains at an alarming rate. A statewide survey finds that one out of every three high schoolers and one out of every five middle schoolers vape. Chrishelle Stipe with the Louisiana Public Health Institute says schools need to ramp up their efforts to warn kids about the dangers of vaping.

Cut 4 (09) “…using vape products.”

Stipe also pins a portion of the blame on manufacturers of vape products, saying they’re specifically marketing their products towards children.

Burn bans are now in effect for several parishes throughout Louisiana, as drought conditions persist. LSU Public Health Climatologist Barry Keim says while October is traditionally the driest month in Louisiana, this October so far has been ridiculous.

Cut 7 (09) “…be considered normal.”

Keim says rain chances will remain very low for the next seven days.

A Baton Rouge-area serial killer has been sentenced to life in prison for a 2017 drive-by murder. Ryan Sharpe killed 48-year-old Brad DeFranceschi, a Boy Scout leader and father of two, while he was trimming weeds at the Avondale Scout Reservation in East Feliciana Parish. 20th Judicial District Attorney Sam D’Aquilla says the penalty for first-degree murder is life imprisonment or capital punishment…

Cut 10 (05) “…life imprisonment.”

Sharpe’s first conviction was thrown out, because it was not unanimous. He’s also accused in the shooting deaths of 62-year-old Tommy Bass of East Feliciana and 66-year-old Carroll Breeden, who was gunned down in front of East Baton Rouge Parish home.

Sean Payton is back in the Superdome, but he’ll coach from the visitor’s sidelines as his Broncos will battle the Saints on Thursday night. Saints analyst Mike Detillier of WWL Radio says Payton knew what buttons to push to produce ten winning seasons in 15 years…

Cut 15 (10) “…motivated them”

Meanwhile, the Saints have lost four in a row and much of the fan base is ready for current head coach Dennis Allen to get fired.