A former caseworker at the state Department of Children & Family Services says the environment there is “toxic.” Testifying before the Senate Health & Welfare Committee Tuesday, former Rapides Parish foster care worker Stacy McPherson says supervisors ignored repeated complaints…:

CUT 09(09)      “…is excrutiating.”

DCFS says more money and more hires will help, but offered lawmakers no plan to address problems with child safety. The committee plans more such meetings in the future.

State Police say a pre-dawn single car crash in St. Landry Parish took the life of a Leonville man. Troopers say 59-year-old Philip Gilyard’s pickup ran a stop sign at state Highway 103 and Church Road, and went right into Bayou Teche. He managed to call for help, but drowned before it could arrive. A blood sample was taken to see if impairment played a role in the crash.

In the first month that the 9-8-8 National Suicide Hotline was launched, the Louisiana crisis number center received more than 1,400 calls. And Dr. Robyn Thomas, Suicide Prevention Coordinator with the Department of Health says the response rate for answering local calls increased significantly…:

CUT 03(11)      “…connected to services.”

Next for the crisis hotline is to add even more counselors, and the more local hires they can make the better.

If you know someone who uses home health oxygen, alert them to the dangers of accidental explosions. Last weekend, a St. Martinville woman – a cigarette smoker – died in a fire that firefighters say started with a spark at her oxygen supply. State Fire Marshal’s spokesperson Ashley Rodrigue…:

CUT 06(07)      “…do so outside.”