The North Louisiana Criminalistic Laboratory is urging Louisianians only to take medications dispensed by a licensed pharmacy. Kace Kieschnick explains why.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

The speed limit on parts of U.S 167 in Rapides Parish has gone from 50 to 60 miles an hour.  Erin Buchanan with DOTD says the increase should actually make the drive there safer.

Cut 15 (13) “…risk for crashes.”

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Flood victims in and around St. Landry Parish are getting a helping hand from the volunteers with Minuteman Disaster Response as they begin the gut-wrenching process of putting their lives back together. One of those volunteers, Eric Burkes, says the hardest part is handling their personal possessions.

Cut 7 (11) “…can be removed.”

Burkes says the fact that it’s been raining nearly every day has made the recovery process a lot more difficult, mainly on two fronts.

Cut 9 (15)  “…high-humidity environment.”

Volunteers from eight different states will be assisting as many as 12-hundred homeowners, and they will be in St. Landry Parish through July 18th.

The North Louisiana Criminalistic Laboratory found that nearly one in three tablets with legitimate drug imprints bought on the street were counterfeit. Kenton Leigh (“lee”), the lab’s deputy director of toxicology and chemistry, says it is impossible to tell what a pill contains just by looking at it.

Cut 4 (11) “…tell the difference.”

Leigh says the only way to be certain about the medication is by getting it from a licensed pharmacy with a valid prescription.

A parasitic infection known for causing explosive diarrhea is surging in the U.S, including Louisiana.  Louisiana Department of Health officials say there have have been 23 reported cases of Cyclosporiasis in our state this year.  Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded one to ten cases from a period spanning from early May to Mid-June. The parasitic illness is contracted by eating food or drinking water contaminated with feces.
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Governor Jeff Landry is encouraging athletes between the ages of 14 and 17 to participate in the 2026 Patriot Games. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

There’s a new Louisiana law that requires agents who represent college or high school athletes in negotiating NIL deals, to register with the state.  And there’s a portal on the Attorney General’s website where they can register.  AG Liz Murril…

Cut 11 (11) “…require this registration.”

Volunteers from Minuteman Disaster Response are in St. Landry Parish are helping flood victims get back on their feet. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

Republican Monroe state Senator Stewart Cathey officially launched his bid for Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District yesterday.  The 45 year old, who’s a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserve and combat veteran who joins a growing field of candidates vying to replace Julia Letlow who’s running for senate.

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A new state law requires agents to register with Louisiana if they are representing college or high school athletes in negotiating NIL deals. Attorney General Liz Murrill says the Athlete Agent Registration portal went live on the AG’s website July 1st.

Cut 10 (09) “…through some training.”

Those of you who drive U.S. 167 in Rapides Parish can now legally drive a little faster. That’s because DOTD has raised the speed limit along that stretch of roadway between I-49 and just north of the State Highway 28 East interchange from 50 to 60 miles an hour. Erin Buchanan with DOTD says the change is a result of a routine review.

Cut 13 (11)  “…made some adjustments.”

The North Louisiana Criminalistic Laboratory is urging Louisianians only to take medications dispensed by a licensed pharmacy. Kace Kieschnick explains why.

Cut 1 (30) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

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Volunteers from Minuteman Disaster Response are in St. Landry Parish helping flood victims get back on their feet. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (33) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.”

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Governor Jeff Landry is encouraging athletes between the ages of 14 and 17 to participate in the 2026 Patriot Games. Jeff Palermo has the story.

Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Jeff Palermo.”

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The North Louisiana Criminalistic Laboratory found that nearly one in three tablets with legitimate drug imprints bought on the street were counterfeit. Kenton Leigh (“lee”), the lab’s deputy director of toxicology and chemistry, says it is impossible to tell what a pill contains just by looking at it.

Cut 4 (11) “…tell the difference.”

Leigh says the only way to be certain about the medication is by getting it from a licensed pharmacy with a valid prescription.

Leigh says the most commonly counterfeited pills were blue M-30 tablets.

Cut 5 (11) “…it’s fentanyl.”

Counterfeit pills have been found throughout the 29 parishes the lab services in North Louisiana. Fentanyl was the most common substance found in the fake pills. Leigh says any pill obtained outside of a pharmacy should be considered lethal.

Cut 6 (09) “…overdose and worse.”

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Flood victims in and around St. Landry Parish are getting a helping hand from the volunteers with Minuteman Disaster Response as they begin the gut-wrenching process of putting their lives back together. One of those volunteers, Eric Burkes, says the hardest part is handling their personal possessions.

Cut 7 (11) “…can be removed.”

Burnes says as mold starts to grow, items become more unsalvageable, so time is of the essence.

Cut 8 (12) “…really takes over.”

Burnes says the fact that it’s been raining nearly every day has made the recovery process a lot more difficult, mainly on two fronts.

Cut 9 (15)  “…high-humidity environment.”

Volunteers from eight different states will be assisting as many as 12-hundred homeowners, and they will be in St. Landry Parish through July 18th.

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A new state law requires agents to register with Louisiana if they are representing college or high school athletes in negotiating NIL deals. Attorney General Liz Murrill says the Athlete Agent Registration portal went live on July 1st.

Cut 10 (09) “…through some training.”

You can get to the portal by logging on to the Attorney General’s website.

Cut 11 (11) “…require this registration.”

Universities and high schools are encouraged to share information about agent registration requirements and athlete rights as a result of Senate Bill 389 that was approved earlier this year.

Murrill says that legislation gives her office the tools to ensure those who seek to profit from athletes are held to rigorous standards of conduct.

Cut 12 (09) “…in this state.”

Murrill plans to have more on this new legislation as we get closer to the college and high school football seasons.

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Those of you who drive U.S. 167 in Rapides Parish can now legally drive a little faster. That’s because DOTD has raised the speed limit along that stretch of roadway between I-49 and just north of the State Highway 28 East interchange from 50 to 60 miles an hour. Erin Buchanan with DOTD says the change is a result of a routine review.

Cut 13 (11)  “…made some adjustments.”

Buchanan says the result of that review found that most drivers were comfortable driving 60 miles an hour along that stretch of the Pineville Expressway.

Cut 14 (14) “…that’s occurring already.”

Buchanan says not only will raising the speed limit along that stretch of 167 not result in more crashes; but if anything, it should result in fewer crashes.

Cut 15 (13) “…risk for crashes.”

The new speed limit is in effect right now.

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LSU welcomed its third transfer outfielder commit in Oregon freshman Angel Laya last weekend. Laya hit .296 with 14 homers this season, but LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson told Tiger Rag Radio all three of the newcomers can do more than just swing the bat.

Cut 16 (17) “…high-end hitters.”

The MLB Draft is this weekend. Johnson says up to 13 players in his incoming freshman class of 23 commits could head to professional baseball, but he hopes as few as six decide not to come to campus.

Cut 17 (17) “…high school ranks.”

LSU unexpectedly lost freshman righty pitcher Marcos Paz to the transfer portal. Paz posted a 9.20 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 17 appearances, including six starts, but Johnson believed he had the tools to be a weekend starter next year. He says he was surprised when Paz decided to leave.

Cut 18 (17) “…entitled to that.”

Baton Rouge State Senator Larry Selders died at the age of 44 after a suspected heart attack last night. Kace Kieschnick has more.

Cut 1 (34) “…I’m Kace Kieschnick.”

We’re getting reaction to the death of Senator Selders from those on the other side of the political aisle. Governor Landry said Selders was respected by all. Senate President Cameron Henry said Selders’ light and his heart will be missed in the Senate

Federal assistance is now available to homeowners and renters in four parishes who suffered damage from Tropical Storm Arthur. Nate Custer with FEMA says people will be considered on a case-by-case basis based on an inspection of the damage to their homes.

Cut 7 (09) “…personal property losses.”

Colorado State University is once again lowering its hurricane forecast for 2026, now predicting eight additional named storms, including four hurricanes, with one of them being a major hurricane. Senior Research Scientist Phil Klotzbach says the main driver is a strong El Nino event for the peak of the season.

Cut 10 (15) “…apart the storms.”

State Senator Larry Selders passed away unexpectedly of a suspected heart attack suffered at an event last night. The Baton Rouge Democrat was 44 years old. Fellow Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says she is still in disbelief.

Cut 3 (10) “…serving the people.”

Selders had surgery for a heart aneurysm in May.

Federal assistance is now available to homeowners and renters in four parishes who suffered damage from Tropical Storm Arthur. Nate Custer with FEMA says those parishes are Avoyelles, St. Landry, St. Tammany and Terrebonne.

Cut 6 (10) “…considered for that.”

To apply, either download the FEMA app, go to disaster assistance-dot-gov, or call the FEMA helpline at 800-621-FEMA.

Colorado State University is once again lowering its hurricane forecast for 2026. Senior Research Scientist Phil Klotzbach says the forecast now calls for nine named storms, including Arthur, including four hurricanes, with one of them being a major hurricane.

Cut 9 (09)  “…normal hurricane season.”

He says the primary cause for the below-average season is a strong El Nino.

According to the latest labor market report, Louisiana tied for the nation’s largest increase in labor force participation. Louisiana Works Secretary Susie Schowen says nearly 33-thousand additional Louisianans entered the labor force, meaning they are either employed or actively seeking work…

Cut 21 (12) “…things happened together”

Schowen believes the state is doing a better job connecting people with education, training and employment opportunities.

A state lawmaker has passed away. Baton Rouge Senator Larry Selders collapsed and died while attending his son’s football practice last night. The 44-year-old Democrat served in the state legislature since 2020, starting in the House and moving over to the state senate in 2025 to replace Cleo Fields Baton Rouge Senator Regina Barrow says Selders’ was a social worker when not representing his district……

cut 5 (11) “…and outcomes”

The Colorado State hurricane forecast team is now predicting a well below normal season with nine named storms.  Senior Research Scientist Phil Klotzbach says in April they were predicting 13 named storms, in June they dropped that total to eleven and now they believe this year will produce nine named storms and that includes Tropical Storm Arthur…

Cut 11 (12) “…ocean look like”

Klotzbach says they have more confidence an El Nino will reduce storm activity.

Federal assistance is now available to homeowners and renters in four parishes who suffered damage from Tropical Storm Arthur. Andrew Greenstein reports.

Cut 2 (35) “…I’m Andrew Greenstein.

Here’s a story that you might only hear about in Louisiana. LDWF has cited a Eunice woman for illegally selling turtles in St. Landry Parish. Thirty-two-year-old Sydney Broussard was allegedly selling red eared slider turtles for eight dollars a piece and an alligator snapping turtle for 30-dollars. She faces up to a 350-dollar fine.