Burn bans are now in effect in 19 parishes throughout the state. Joe Gallinaro reports.
Cut 1 (28) “…I’m Joe Gallinaro.”
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The Louisiana Department of Health is urging parents and teachers to talk to kids about the dangers of vaping. Jeff Palermo reports.
Cut 2 (34) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”
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Burn bans are now in effect in 19 parishes throughout the state. Most are in north Louisiana, along with Jefferson Davis, East Feliciana, St. Helena (hu-LEE-nah), Tangipahoa, and Washington parishes in south Louisiana. Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain says conditions outside are not conducive to burning anything.
Cut 3 (09) “…firefighters to control.”
Strain says more burn bans could be forthcoming, and they’re always issued at the local level.
Strain says if you live in a parish where there’s not a burn ban in effect at the present time, still use extreme caution, and never leave a fire unattended.
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Now more than ever, be on the lookout for stalled vehicles on the shoulder of the roadway. That’s because the state’s long-standing “move over” law has now expanded. State Police Master Trooper Casey Wallace says whereas the old law applied to emergency vehicles such as police units, fire trucks and ambulances, the new law now includes all types of vehicles, including private passenger vehicles and even motorcycles.
Cut 6 (10) “…broken down, stranded.”
Now, whenever you approach any vehicle on the shoulder, you are required to move to the next lane over as you pass it. Wallace says there is an allowance if that’s impossible given traffic conditions.
Cut 7 (15) “…with extreme caution.”
Wallace says the objective of the expansion of the move over law is to keep everyone safe in case, for example, someone ends up walking into the lane immediately adjacent to the shoulder as he or she is swapping out a flat tire.
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Saints running back Alvin Kamara will miss the start of the regular season with an MCL Sprain suffered during a joint practice with the Cowboys yesterday. The 31-year-old took a pay cut to stay in New Orleans alongside free agent back Travis Etienne this offseason. Locked On Saints podcast host Ross Jackson says his availability was one of the reasons he took that cut.
Kamara missed the final six weeks of last season with a similar knee injury. He has not played in every regular season game since his rookie year.
Jackson says with Kamara out and an injury to running back Audric Estime in the first preseason game, there will be more opportunities for others in the room. He says 2023 third-round pick Kendre Miller and 2025 sixth-rounder Devin Neal both returned form injury yesterday.
Cut 10 (12) “…stay on the field.”
Cornerback Quincy Riley left practice early with a groin injury, and the severity of his injury is unknown. Jackson says it could be a big loss for the Saints if the second-year starter is unable to return.
Cut 11 (09) “…for New Orleans.”
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The Louisiana Department of Health says youth vaping remains a critical public health crisis in the state, and it’s urging parents and teachers to talk to kids about the dangers of vaping. Taylor Reine (“renn”), who oversees the division of chronic disease prevention at LDH, says kids need to know that vaping is no safer than smoking cigarettes.
Cut 12 (13) “…for lifelong addiction.”
According to the 2023 Louisiana Youth Tobacco Survey, 30-percent of high school students vape, making Louisiana the third highest state in the nation for high school vaping. In addition, the survey shows 18-percent of middle school students vape – nearly one out of every five. Reine says two factors which contribute to those high numbers are the marketing of vape products to teens and their ease of availability.
Cut 13 (08) “…and retail stores.”
Reine says there are resources available for teens who want to quit vaping.
Cut 14 (09) “…counseling quit support.”
Teens can enroll in Live Vape Free by texting “VAPEFREE” to 873373.