Ascension Parish Sheriff Deputies find a cache of guns and ammo in the vehicle of a convicted felon. APSO spokesman Donovan Jackson says officers pulled 38-year-old Reginald LeBlanc of Donaldsonville over for driving erratically, and found an AK-47 assault rifle, a fully-automatic pistol and hundreds of rounds of ammunition in his SUV….:

CUT 15(09)      “heavy damage.”

LeBlanc is in jail. Charges include felon in possession of a firearm. Jackson says what he intended to do with that firepower is unknown.

The state Fire Marshal’s office mourns the death of Monty, a retired golden Lab K-9 officer whose nose helped solve numerous arson cases. Spokesperson Ashely Rodrigue says Monty was euthanized, after he was diagnosed with cancer. She says his handler, Fire Marshal’s Lt. Brian Mashon is mourning his partner, the office’s “Top Dog”…:

CUT 11(09)      “…very good friend.”

Louisiana is hosting the annual conference of the National Association of Secretaries of State in Baton Rouge; its first such event since Fox McKeithen was Secretary of State. Current SOS Kyle Ardoin is also president of the National Association of Secretaries of State. He says over 500 people – representing over 40 states are here to discuss election security, cybersecurity and other issues. Ardoin says the event ends Sunday with a big soiree at the Louisiana State Museum…:

CUT 05(12)      “…our state’s culture.”

The Department of Health reports the first confirmed case of monkeypox in Louisiana. The disease is viral in nature and transmitted – mostly – via sexual contact. A person in the Greater New Orleans area tested positive, as did a person visiting the state. Monkeypox is not fatal, but causes painful pus-filled sores that eventually burst, drain and scab over.