“If Congress establishes national rules, individuals and organizations who comply with those rules should not be subject to litigation simply for following the law,” Sankey noted.

SEC teams will play their first nine-game conference schedule this year, the most ever in a single season. Sankey says the conference is the best in the nation with the toughest schedule, but the College Football Playoff Committee has not pledged to reward that extra challenge.

“The fact that our head coaches are here tells me they’re embracing the challenge. I’m actually one who believes competitors want great challenges, and I’m unapologetic about that reality,” Sankey said.

With the expanded College Football Playoff, the importance and scheduling of conference championships have been called into question. While Sankey pointed out the SEC has been the only conference to hold a championship game before, he says the future of the game beyond this year is not set in stone.

“We have contracts and plans in place well beyond that, but we have time for consideration. One of the factors for us is what will happen with that College Football Playoff?” Sankey asked.

Sankey also said there have been real conversations about the SEC breaking away from the NCAA due to frustrations with the governing body.

“The storm is being exposed to some wind shear, and it’s ingesting some dry air off the continent from the southeast U.S.; and that’s going to limit the storm really from becoming a major hurricane,” Keim explained.

According to the National Hurricane Center’s latest forecast, Bertha is expected to make landfall as a tropical storm in Plaquemines Parish sometime Wednesday, but Keim says the far southeast Louisiana coast will start feeling the effects much sooner.

“We should start feeling it here late Tuesday. The wind should start picking up into Wednesday morning, and then the storm should be passing just south of New Orleans on Wednesday evening,” Keim said.

Of course, a lot can change between now and then, and the cone of uncertainty has the path anywhere from north of Baton Rouge to well south of the Louisiana coast; and Keim says while the storm is currently not expected to grow beyond tropical storm strength, that could change if the track shifts south off the coast.

“If it stays offshore and stays over that warm water, I would say that a weak hurricane is not off the table. I’d say that’s not likely, but it’s something we need to watch very carefully,” Keim noted.

Speaking of “watch,” a tropical storm watch is now in effect for Plaquemines and St. Bernard parishes, as well as portions of Orleans and St. Tammany parishes.

“Being inside in air conditioning is one of the greatest inventions in the last 500 years, especially in Louisiana. And we ask people to go ahead and use it,” Greenstein said.

Greenstein says if you absolutely must spend time outdoors in these conditions, there are three basic rules you should abide by:

“If you’re outside, the three most important things is to hydrate, drink water, to get shade and rest,” Greenstein noted.

Greenstein says be sure to listen to your body if you spend any significant time outdoors and seek medical attention at the first sign of distress.

“If you’re feeling odd, maybe your heart is racing, you’re short of breath, you’re dizzy; take immediate steps to cool off and hydrate. If those issues persist, have somebody take you to the ER,” Greenstein advised.

Last month, four people in Louisiana died of heat-related illnesses – three senior citizens and a man in his 40s. Greenstein says all heat-related deaths are preventable; and fortunately, over the last three years, the number of deaths has declined from 88 three years ago, 51 two years ago and 31 last year.

More information and recommendations can be found at lda.la.gov.

“While he was not physically abusing her, he was potentially threatening her life; and there was nothing she could do to move. And so we were able to improve our law that already existed,” Landry said.

To end a lease, a tenant must complete the state’s certified domestic abuse form notifying the landlord of the safety risk. A qualified third party, such as a domestic violence resource center, must also verify the claim.

Landry says she worked with the Louisiana Apartment Association and the Louisiana Realtors Association, and both supported expanding the law to include victims of stalking and cyberstalking.

“Not that just stalking should be in it, but that cyberstalking; that’s something that would not have been considered years ago when this was passed,” Landry explained.

Landry hopes victims learn about the new law, saying it gives people being stalked a way to escape dangerous situations without being trapped by a lease.

“You have someone who feels like they can’t go anywhere because they can’t afford to lose six months on a lease, and then they just don’t know what to do. They think that they’re stuck,” Landry noted.

“Update our patient treatment areas so that our patients get the best treatment possible, in a very nice environment. And our students, while they’re learning how to treat the patients, they’re learning in the best environment,” Gallo said.

The LSU dental school serves over 450 students, from advanced education students to dental hygienists. Gallo says these students will enjoy state-of-the-art classrooms.

“A lot of what they do before they work on patients happens in a pre-clinical laboratory situation. So we need the most modern simulation technology also, which enhances their education,” Gallo explained.

Gallo says the vast majority of funding was awarded by the Louisiana State Legislature. He says lawmakers invested in the future of Louisiana dentistry.

“LSU is the only dental school in the state. If you go to a dentist in Louisiana, there’s a 75%-80% chance you’re going to see an LSU dentist,” Gallo noted.

It’s called cychlorphine, and the NLCL says it’s extremely dangerous.

“We have laboratory studies that show that it looks to be up to 10 times more potent than fentanyl,” says Deputy Director for Toxicology Kenton Leigh.

The crime lab first detected cychlorphine from casework back in February; and since then, Leigh says they’ve detected seven different pill types with cychlorphine.

“You have drugs that were supposed to be Xanax or supposed to be oxycodone or supposed to be hydrocodone. We got those pills in the lab, and they all, instead, had cychlorphine in them.”

The pills that cychlorphine is being mixed into look nearly identical to those common prescription medications, and that’s putting those who take them at great risk.

“They’re taking these pills thinking they’re taking oxycodone. Instead, it’s something much more dangerous.”

Leigh says those who are making these counterfeit pills are getting more and more crafty.

“The biggest problem is that these illicit drug makers are getting very good at pressing
these fake pills, and many times it’s hard to tell the difference between a pharmaceutical oxycodone versus a counterfeit.”

Medical experts say it takes several doses of Narcan to reverse an overdose caused by cychlorphine.

Leigh says protecting yourself against cychlorphine is actually very easy.

“Get your drugs from a pharmacist,” Leigh says. “Just don’t buy any fake drugs off the street and you’ll be fine.”

Investigators have been busy tracking cychlorphine as it moves through the I-20 and I-49 corridors; in fact, a recent seizure in Richland Parish netted 545 pills containing cychlorphine.

Federal officials are working to classify cychlorphine as a Schedule I narcotic, labeling it as having no medical benefit.

That would put cychlorphine on par with narcotics like heroin and LSD.

“If you’re a college football fan, and we care about this game and we’re trying to build our universities, this game has to be played. We’re right down the street,” Vincent said.

The teams played each other every season for 39 years until 1991. They have squared off 43 times total, with Tech leading the series 29-14. Vincent said the renewal of the I-20 rivalry is a can’t-miss game.

“It’s gonna go back down in history, ‘Hey, that was the first time in 25 years that they started the renewal of the rivalry,’ and as a player and a coach, you want to be in that game,” Vincent said.

For Louisiana Tech, bringing back in-state rivalries with ULM and UL Lafayette was one of the biggest reasons to join the Sun Belt. Head coach Sonny Cumbie says he cannot wait to take on the Warhawks every year.

“The environment is gonna be electric,” Cumbie said. “We play over there. We get to stay in our own home hotel and drive over there the day of the game. And our fanbase is excited about going over there, and there’s a lot of bragging rights on an annual basis.

Cumbie said fans on both sides can start creating their own memories and traditions in the historic rivalry.

“I think you’re affording people opportunities to watch, to cheer passionately in meaningful games, that matter within conference play,” Cumbie said.

LA Tech President Dr. Jim Henderson said he has spoken with the Governor’s Office about creating a Louisiana Governor’s Cup between the three UL system schools, modeled after the Commander-in-Chief’s Cup Army, Navy and Air Force play for each year.

The Bulldogs and Ragin’ Cajuns face off in Ruston Oct. 10. ULM hosts the Cajuns Nov. 12 at 8 p.m.

“It will enhance your time and distance to how fast you can stop, how well you can navigate the turn. And if you fall from a bike that’s traveling 20-25 mph, the type of injuries we see are even more substantial,” Micheu explained.

Captain Micheu says when e-bikes aren’t ridden properly, it can lead to disastrous results.

” We’ve seen where an individual didn’t navigate a turn correctly and hit a school bus; didn’t navigate a turn correctly and hit a RTA bus. We’ve seen where some of them lost control, hit a curb and then come to his injuries later,” Micheu noted.

All e-bikes sold in the U.S. are pedal-assist bikes, and those whose motors work up to 20 miles an hour before cutting out can also come with a throttle. Under federal law, pedal assistance with e-bikes may only work up to 28 mph before cutting out. Any assistance beyond 28 mph would make them e-motorcycles, requiring them to be insured and registered as such with the OMV.

Adam Watts with Bicycle World of New Orleans says all bicyclists, whether they’re riding e-bikes or not, need to follow the rules of the road, and there are two in particular that he sees violated regularly: riding on the sidewalk and riding against traffic – that is, on the left side of the road.

“To a lot of people, it may seem safe and counterintuitive; but the fact is, both activities are super dangerous,” Watts said.

“Our hearts remain with the families. They have to carry this loss every single day and have for the last 10 years, and we’ll always stand behind them,” Gautreaux said.

Gautreaux was attending a Sheriff’s Association conference in Lake Charles when Gavin Long opened fire outside the Benny’s B-Quick convenience store and car wash on Airline Highway. Gautreaux and then-State Police Superintendent Mike Edmonson flew back to Baton Rouge by helicopter and met with the victims’ families at a local hospital. Edmonson says it was heartbreaking.

“To see the wounds in the body where the bullets had pierced; to watch a dad actually touch the area where the bullet went in; that was just an emotional time for me to see that,” Edmonson recalled.

State Police determined Long traveled from Kansas City to Baton Rouge with the intent of targeting law enforcement. Investigators say he was motivated by anger over recent police shootings of Black men, including the fatal shooting of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge 12 days earlier.

Gerald, Jackson and Garafola died the day of the attack. Tullier survived for nearly six years before dying in 2022 from complications related to his injuries. Gautreaux says Tullier’s determination inspired everyone around him.

“He was just an inspiration in himself; and he gave me courage to get through this. He fought like a lion; his determination, his grit,” Gautreaux said.

The attack began just after 8:40 on the morning of July 17th, 2016, and lasted less than 10 minutes. Investigators say Long fired 43 rounds before a Baton Rouge SWAT officer shot and killed him. Edmonson says ending the attack required extraordinary courage.

“City police officer shot him from, Good Lord, from over 100 yards away. It was an incredible shot. Had he not, this guy was going to Baton Rouge Police headquarters, and I think he would have done a lot more harm,” Edmonson noted.

The site of the ambush is just down the street from Baton Rouge Police headquarters. Gautreaux says law enforcement agencies are better prepared for similar threats today, thanks in part to intelligence shared through Louisiana’s fusion center.

“It’s almost all skilled trade-related jobs. We do have a little bit of healthcare in there, but it is primarily skilled trades,” Schowen explained.

For the full list of eligible programs, visit the Louisiana Works website, www.laworks.net, or search “Louisiana Workforce Pell.”

Many of the eligible programs deal with skilled AI and energy infrastructure job training, which Schowen says have been a major driver in Louisiana job growth. She says this is a magic moment in the Louisiana economy.

“We have so much growth. We have so much opportunity, and it is such a priority for us in the administration to make sure it’s our people that are benefitting from these great jobs,” Schowen noted.

She says even if you are not planning on seeking a Workforce Pell Grant, the list of eligible programs is a fantastic resource to find training for a skilled, high-quality job. Many of the available programs are offered at Louisiana community and technical colleges. Schowen says Workforce Pell can help people struggling to keep their heads above water.

“If folks are in that situation; if they’re  adults and are looking for to improve their ability to support themselves and their families, this is a great place to look,” Schowen said.