The reward is now up to 10-thousand dollars for information on two women from the Baton Rouge area who have not been seen for more than a year. Jeff Palermo has the story.
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Health officials are warning residents about a dangerous synthetic opioid that has been found in parishes across Louisiana. Kace Kieschnick has more.
Cut 2 (30) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”
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Fans of the late Dolly Parton may soon have another way to honor her memory and support her signature cause. Andrew Greenstein reports.
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Investigators did not find any human remains during an extensive search of a 15-acre property in West Feliciana Parish for two missing women. Sheriff Brian Spillman says investigators did find potential evidence that may connect Thomas Morris to the disappearances of Madison Allen and Stephanie Hevia (HEE-vee-uh).
The property is where Morris once lived. Allen disappeared in November 2023, while Hevia has not been seen since March 2025. Both women knew Morris, but their exact relationship is unclear. Spillman says the reward for information leading to their whereabouts has been doubled to 10-thousand dollars.
Morris is being held in the West Feliciana Parish jail on 500-thousand dollars bond. He was arrested this summer on an unrelated kidnapping charge. Spillman says investigators are disappointed they did not find more evidence during the search, but they did collect items that could help move the case forward.
Cut 6 (09) “…giant jigsaw puzzle.”
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Health officials are warning Louisianians about the dangers of cychlorphine (sy-CLORE-feen), a synthetic opioid estimated to be ten times stronger than fentanyl. Mark Ryan, the executive director of the Louisiana Poison Center, says it does not take much for cychlorphine to be dangerous.
Ryan says cychlorphine is so potent that the Narcan typically used to counteract fentanyl overdoses may not be enough. He says naloxone works by blocking opiate receptors in the brain.
Ryan says deaths due to cychlorphine overdoses have been recorded in southeast Louisiana, and the drug has been found across parishes in north and central Louisiana as well.
Cut 9 (11) “…United States now.”
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With many considering today to be Dolly Parton Day, 9-25, one lawmaker is using the occasion to announce a bill that he will file in the next session to raise money for her signature philanthropic initiative. Chalmette Representative Michael Bayham is proposing a special license plate in memory of the legendary country singer and actress, with 25 dollars from the registration of each plate supporting her Imagination Library.
Cut 10 (08) “…people across Louisiana.”
Bayham says it’s also a way for Dolly’s fans to remember one of the most iconic singers of our time.
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Bayham is being joined by members of the Krewe of Dolly in making his announcement at 1:30 this afternoon at the Audubon Aquarium and Insectarium in New Orleans. He says he does not expect much, if any, opposition to his bill.
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Tomorrow is National Hunting and Fishing Day; and with Louisiana being “Sportsman’s Paradise,” it should go without saying that the state is very much participating. Trey Iles with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says events will be held at the Waddill Wildlife Refuge in Baton Rouge, Woodworth Shooting Range in Woodworth, the Tom Merrill Recreation Area in Haughton and Black Bayou Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Monroe.
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Iles says they’ll be giving away lifetime hunting and fishing licenses for those 18 and under at all four events; and in Baton Rouge, they will be holding a free fishing tournament.
Iles says through the years, people who attend these National Hunting and Fishing Day events are amazed at how educational they are.
All events are free of charge.
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UL Lafayette visits Charlotte tomorrow. The Cajuns are coming off a 21-14 win over UAB, but the offense struggled and was scoreless in the second half. Head coach Michael Desormeaux says some of his best teams had ugly wins early in the season.
Charlotte is 1-and-2 on the season coming off a close loss to Appalachian State last week. Desormeaux says they have a good defense and an experienced offensive line, but this is a massive opportunity for the Cajuns.
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Tenth-ranked LSU and 23rd-ranked Texas A-and-M face off in Tiger Stadium tomorrow night. Both teams have high hopes for the season but now find themselves 0-and-1 to start SEC play after losses last week. There is a lot of pressure on both teams to get a win and keep their College Football Playoff hopes alive, but LSU safety Ty Benfield says none of that matters on the field.
Cut 18 (08) “…Aggies right now.”
Benefield has ten tackles and a sack this season and has been a leader on the defense since transferring from Boise State. He says games like this are why he transferred to LSU.
Cut 19 (15) “…line up against (2x).”
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The Saints host the Raiders for their home opener on Sunday. The Raiders are 2-and-0 under first-year head coach Klint Kubiak and veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins. Saints defensive coordinator Brandon Staley says Cousins has made a big difference.