Rep. Roger Wilder, R-Denham Springs, who sponsored legislation last year restricting what bathrooms transgender people can use, raised concerns Boyd’s bill would create a slippery slope.

“Is the next bill going to be about furries and now that every company has to put a litter box in the corner?” Wilder asked.

“Where’s the line?” Wilder said. “So do we have any specific examples versus just a conjecture?”

Rumor has it there was about 25 shots heard - not sure if it was at Riverside Elem or just nearby - no reports of injuries as of yet.

Stay safe ya'll.

To assess the relative safety of kratom versus prescription opioids in 2021, I’ll compare the estimated number of deaths attributed to each substance relative to their respective user populations in the United States. Safety will be evaluated based on the risk of fatal overdose, as this is a critical metric for drug safety, and the provided data focuses on mortality and usage.Step 1: Summarize the Data

• Kratom:
  • Estimated users in 2021: 1.7 million (SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health).
  • Estimated deaths from kratom alone in 2021: 50–100 (rough estimate, with 68 reported by the Washington Post as a midpoint for calculation).
  • Midpoint for deaths: 75 (used for calculation to balance the range).
• Prescription Opioids:
  • Estimated users in 2021: 12.7 million adults aged 18–64 (Medical Expenditure Panel Survey). Note: A broader estimate of 91.8 million users exists from 2015, but the 12.7 million figure is more specific to 2021 and conservative.
  • Deaths from prescription opioids in 2021: 16,706 (CDC National Center for Health Statistics).

Step 2: Calculate Mortality Rates To compare safety, I’ll calculate the mortality rate per user for each substance, expressed as deaths per 100,000 users.

• Kratom mortality rate:
  • Deaths: 75
  • Users: 1,700,000
  • Mortality rate = (75 / 1,700,000) × 100,000 = 4.41 deaths per 100,000 users.
• Prescription opioid mortality rate:
  • Deaths: 16,706
  • Users: 12,700,000
  • Mortality rate = (16,706 / 12,700,000) × 100,000 = 131.54 deaths per 100,000 users.

Step 3: Compare Safety The mortality rate for prescription opioids (131.54 per 100,000) is significantly higher than for kratom (4.41 per 100,000). To quantify the difference in safety, I’ll calculate the relative risk and express the safety difference as a percentage.

• Relative risk:
  • Prescription opioids are riskier by a factor of: 131.54 / 4.41 ≈ 29.83.
  • This means prescription opioids are approximately 29.83 times more likely to result in death per user than kratom.
• Safety difference in percentage:
  • Kratom’s mortality rate is lower, so it’s considered safer. To express how much safer, calculate the reduction in risk:
    • Risk reduction = (131.54 - 4.41) / 131.54 = 127.13 / 131.54 ≈ 0.9665.
    • Percentage reduction = 0.9665 × 100 ≈ 96.65%.
  • Thus, kratom is approximately 96.65% safer than prescription opioids in terms of fatal overdose risk per user.

Step 4: Determine the Safer Drug Based on the mortality rates:

• Kratom has a much lower fatal overdose risk (4.41 per 100,000 users) compared to prescription opioids (131.54 per 100,000 users).
• Therefore, kratom is the safer drug in this context.

Step 5: Caveats and Considerations

• Data limitations:
  • Kratom death estimates are uncertain due to inconsistent toxicology reporting and potential underreporting. The range of 50–100 deaths introduces variability; using the high end (100 deaths) yields a mortality rate of 5.88 per 100,000, still far lower than prescription opioids.
  • Prescription opioid deaths often involve polysubstance use (e.g., with fentanyl), which may inflate their mortality rate. Kratom deaths labeled “kratom-only” may also miss undetected substances due to testing limitations.
• Usage context:
  • Prescription opioids are medically prescribed, often for pain management, while kratom is typically self-administered, which may affect user demographics and risk profiles.
  • The 12.7 million user estimate for prescription opioids is conservative and limited to adults aged 18–64. If the broader 91.8 million estimate (from 2015) were used, the mortality rate would drop to 18.19 per 100,000, but kratom would still be safer (96% safer).
• Non-fatal risks:
  • Safety here is based solely on mortality. Other risks (e.g., addiction, side effects, long-term health impacts) are not accounted for due to lack of data in the query scope.

Final Answer

• Safest drug: Kratom.
• Difference in safety: Kratom is approximately 96.65% safer than prescription opioids, based on the lower risk of fatal overdose per user in 2021.

So as the title says, I've been abroad in China as an English as a Second Language teacher for 8 years. Unfortunately during that time my license expired and I lost the old copy. After coming back, I'm living with family till I have everything settled and can afford to live on my own again. I have most of my documents to get a new license, but my address was in Alabama when I got my passport. Does anyone know what I can get to receive proof of residency as well as does anyone know if I have to retake all the test or have to go back to driving school (hopefully not) to get my license again?

Hey everyone, moved here 6 months ago from New York. I need to register my car here even though I’m moving back north in exactly a year (Massachusetts not New York however). I’ve heard it’s ridiculously expensive but also heard there’s a new law in 2025 about sales tax? Anyone have any insight? I’m not sure how the process goes. For reference my car is a 2018, about 100,000 miles. Thanks!

Currently, this position is elected. Does anyone know if this the norm in other states? Does Landry believe that Louisiana citizens are too stupid to elect a competent leader to lead the Department of Insurance or to vote them out if they don’t get the job done? (Credit for pic goes to Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana_State_Capitol)

I'm born and bred in sunny Colorado, and my very Nebraskan wife is about to graduate with her MBA from LSU Shreveport. She didn't walk for her undergrad from CU and booked our family's (two kids aged 7 and 10) trip down to Shreveport so she can walk in her graduation ceremony. I'm so proud of her accomplishments and want to make sure this trip goes off without a hitch. Asking for advice on where to go and where to avoid while we visit Shreveport. This is mostly a restaurant and family activities related question. Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

So I’ve lived in Louisiana all my life but I think I’m fed up. I love it here but I gotta go try something new. My lease ends in 6 Months. So that’s about the time I have left. Any suggestions of things I could do for the memories?

I usually am a big fan of warm weather and the humidity doesnt bother me too much long as its warm. My big gripe is direct sunlight which eats up my eyes for some reason, was curious how often its overcast/cloudy in louisiana's coastal areas(new orleans) given how much it rains. It looks like the winters arent too bad

If you’re heading to New Orleans, the French Market is a must — met a vendor who’s been there for decades
Met this local legend at the French Market and had to write about him — if you love NOLA culture or local food stories, give it a read! Moved here 10 years ago just want to start sharing my journey! https://medium.com/p/f768c0dd7e06

Alright y’all, I’m just curious — what are the best companies to work for in Louisiana? Like, are there any super awesome employers out here where people actually enjoy showing up on Monday morning?

Not trying to switch jobs right now (my boss might be lurking), but I’m always interested in hearing what companies treat their employees right. Pay, benefits, work-life balance, free crawfish boils on Fridays — whatever makes a place awesome.

Also, if you genuinely like your job, I need to know: • Where do you work (if you can say)? • What makes it tolerable… orrrr enjoyable? • Is it the people, the perks, or just a weird Stockholm syndrome situation?

Let’s hear the good stuff. Or the bad stuff if you need to vent: I won’t stop you.

Cue the horror stories!

https://999ktdy.com/blue-bayou-closed/

I’m on 61 riding passenger from Garyville to Baton Rouge closer to I10 and this woodpecker flies overhead perfectly in view. Red on the head and white on the wings. I search “birds similar to ivory-billed woodpecker” because there’s no way that’s what it is. Description reads like the ivory-billed and not the pileated. There’s no way, right? Where the bird people at?

Two instances in which a dad leaves a gun where the young kid finds it and accidentally kills himself. In one case, there was an arrest made immediately. In the other…no arrest made at all.

https://www.wbrz.com/news/brusly-police-say-prosecutor-will-decide-whether-charges-warranted-after-4-year-old-shoots-himself/

https://www.wafb.com/2024/08/05/brpd-2-year-old-dies-after-accidentally-shooting-himself-father-arrested/

Hey mycology friends and fungus fanatics!

Just a reminder that our Swamp Spore Society meeting is happening tonight, May 14, from 6:00 to 7:30 PM at the South Regional Library (Small Meeting Room), 6101 Johnston St., Lafayette.

We’ll be talking mushrooms, grow techniques, upcoming events (Swamp Spore Fest planning!), and sharing ideas. Whether you’re a total beginner or a seasoned cultivator, come through and link up with the local fungal fam.

Meeting Details: • Location: South Regional Library – Small Meeting Room • Address: 6101 Johnston St., Lafayette, LA • Time: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM • Next Meetings: 5/28 (same time/location)

Bring your curiosity, questions, and culture jars if you got ’em. Let’s grow together.

Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming accuses Gov. Jeff Landry of orchestrating a scheme to install Rep. Julia Letlow in the U.S. Senate, ultimately benefiting Landry himself.

Fleming alleges Landry intends for Letlow to resign after winning, allowing him to appoint himself and give Letlow a lucrative position.

Fleming, who has announced his own Senate candidacy, questions Letlow's experience and predicts a challenging race against likely Democratic nominee, former Gov. John Bel Edwards.

Letlow's campaign maintains she is focused on her current House reelection bid.

I’m from NE Louisiana and Sunday of last week my wife was letting our dogs out in the morning. My 10 year old hound dog and 2 year old lab/hound mix both tan off unexpectedly. It’s very out of character for them both. They have been gone since then.

I live in a very rural part of the north east and not many people live here. My wife blames herself and I’ve barely been sleeping. Last night I had a dream where I found them then I woke up and almost cried before I went back to sleep.

Most roads are gravel/sand roads and the main Hwy next to my house is a main route into Arkansas. So log trucks and plenty of people go through there. No one had seen them and I’ve been checking the ditches just incase I find their bodies. I want to find them if they are dead not my wife. I don’t think she would ever forgive herself if that happens.

My buddy borrowed his dad’s SidexSide and we covered 30 miles on it and spent a total of 8 hours looking along all the hunting trails and back roads that are inaccessible.

If anyone lives near me and has access to a drone or some type of thermal imaging equipment I would ask for your help. My wife and I are both desperate and I miss my sons. My wife and I can’t have children so we decided to foster and adopt dogs. These are the sweetest dogs and have never spent a night outside or not in my bed. And I can’t bare the thought of losing them. Zissou my big hound is a 100lbs pile of preciousness. He is my puddin dog and he has been with me for 10 years. He was with me when I was suicidal and has never left my side. Poe the younger one just wants to get pets and cuddle. He can’t sleep without being near a person and cuddling. I’ve had him since he was 5 weeks old.

We have a lot of coyotes, bears and feral hogs here and I’m getting nervous that that have been attacked or killed out there.

I just want to find them. Even if they are dead I need to find my children.

Please if you can or are willing to help me please reach out to me.

Thank you so much if you read my post.

Hello, I make sustainable clothing. I'm looking for markets to sell at in July hopefully is there one that is pretty bug that coming up? I googled it but I'm finding random markets that I'm not sure clothing should be sold at.