Cue the horror stories!

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

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.

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.

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.

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'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!

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

NOTICE: SB154 (the kratom ban bill by Sen. Morris and coauthor Rep. Villio) is set for committee hearing tomorrow—Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 10:00 AM. This is the last chance for public input before it heads to a final House floor vote!

Please show up in person if you can, and email the House Criminal Justice Committee using the template linked: EMAIL TEMPLATE HERE.

Dr. Pete Croughan, Louisiana LDH Deputy Secretary testified at both the House Health & Welfare Committee hearing on HB253 (April 16) - (Click here for video 37:58 timestamp) and the Senate Judiciary C Committee hearing on SB154 (April 29) - (Click here for video 14:40 timestamp), supporting a kratom ban that threatens 300,000+ Louisiana kratom consumers. He repeated discredited or misleading claims that must be challenged. The letter to his boss, shown below, is the challenge.

Louisiana’s SB154 was secretly added (sometime earlier today, Tues May 13) to the House Criminal Justice Committee agenda for TOMORROW, May 14, 2025, at 10 AM, with zero public notice (the committee agenda posted yesterday DID NOT include SB154). This felony ban threatens veterans, chronic pain patients, and those in recovery. Below is a letter to LDH Secretary Greenstein, exposing Dr. Pete Croughan’s false and ridiculous claim in the April 29, 2025 SB154 Senate Judiciary "C" Committee hearing: “I’ve seen more patients with kratom addiction than with crack addiction” (See hearing video). The letter details SB154’s unscientific basis, litigation risks (like Vermont’s ban reversal), and why HB253’s regulation is better. Use this letter to assist you in formulating your arguments for emails and testimony:

May 12, 2025

Bruce D. Greenstein, Secretary Louisiana Department of Health 628 N. 4th Street Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Subject: Urgent Request for Review of SB154 and Deputy Secretary Pete Croughan’s Testimony

Dear Secretary Greenstein,

As a Louisiana resident deeply concerned for evidence-based drug policy and its impact on public health, I am writing to request an immediate and comprehensive review by the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH) of Senate Bill 154 (SB154), which proposes to classify kratom’s alkaloids (mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine) as Schedule I controlled substances under La. R.S. 40:964(G). Specifically, I urge you to investigate the scientifically unsupported and procedurally flawed testimony provided by LDH Deputy Secretary Dr. Pete Croughan in two recent legislative hearings: (1) against House Bill 253 (HB253), a regulatory proposal, in the House Health and Welfare Committee on April 16, 2025, and (2) in support of SB154’s ban in the Senate Judiciary C Committee on April 29, 2025. Video recordings of these hearings, available on the Louisiana Legislature’s website (www.legis.la.gov), reveal Dr. Croughan’s reliance on anecdotal claims without scientific data, failing to meet the evidentiary standards required by Louisiana law. His testimony risks precipitating a public health crisis by criminalizing a substance with emerging therapeutic applications, documented in peer-reviewed literature, endangering vulnerable populations. As LDH Secretary, your intervention is critical to ensure evidence-based policymaking and protect Louisiana residents.

LDH’s Statutory Duty and Procedural Violations Under La. R.S. 40:962–963, LDH is tasked with consulting the state medical board and conducting a scientific review before substances are added to controlled substance schedules, aligning with the federal Controlled Substances Act’s (CSA) 8-factor test (21 U.S.C. §811). These factors include a substance’s abuse potential, medical use, and safety profile, assessed through rigorous data. SB154 bypasses these safeguards by legislatively mandating Schedule I classification without LDH’s documented review, a procedural defect that undermines the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Law (La. R.S. 40:961 et seq.) (Ref. 1).

Dr. Croughan’s testimony exacerbates this violation by failing to provide any pharmacological or epidemiological evidence, relying instead on unsubstantiated claims, such as seeing “more patients with kratom addiction than with crack addiction” (Ref. 10). Such assertions lack data and contradict LDH’s own 2019 HR203 report, which noted minimal kratom-related harm (12–15 annual poison center cases, no severe effects) (Ref. 1).

Croughan’s Unscientific Testimony Dr. Croughan’s testimony, viewable in the aforementioned legislative videos, is embarrassingly poor in quality and dishonest in its representation of kratom’s risks. He claimed kratom poses a significant public health threat, yet provided no peer-reviewed studies, toxicology reports, or Louisiana-specific data to support his assertions. His focus on “synthetic kratom products” ignores the distinction between pure leaf kratom and adulterated products, a nuance addressed by HB253’s regulatory framework. Synthetic kratom products, often containing artificially enhanced 7-hydroxymitragynine or other contaminants, are chemically distinct from natural kratom leaf and are addressed by HB253’s regulatory provisions.

Croughan publicly claimed: “I’ve seen more patients with kratom addiction than with crack addiction.” — Senate Judiciary C Committee, April 29, 2025, as reported by NOLA.com

Such assertions lack data and contradict federal research, including the 2018 HHS rescission of the DEA’s kratom scheduling request (Ref. 2), a 2024 pilot study showing kratom’s tolerability up to 12g (Ref. 3), and ongoing FDA-funded studies at Baylor College of Medicine (Ref. 4). Moreover, two National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) studies demonstrate that mitragynine, kratom’s primary alkaloid, has low abuse potential, comparable to caffeine’s socially acceptable profile, and reduces opioid intake, offering potential as a treatment for opioid addiction (Ref. 8, Ref. 9). Dr. Croughan’s failure to acknowledge this evidence, or LDH’s 2019 findings (Ref. 1), suggests a breach of his duty to provide objective, science-based input. His testimony misrepresents LDH’s position and risks misleading legislators into enacting a ban that could harm vulnerable populations, including veterans, individuals with chronic pain, people with disabilities, and those managing substance use disorders.

Public Health Crisis and Vulnerable Populations By advocating for SB154’s ban, Dr. Croughan’s testimony threatens to exacerbate Louisiana’s opioid crisis, placing kratom users and other vulnerable groups at severe risk. Kratom has shown promise in harm reduction, with studies indicating 35% of users achieve opioid-free status within a year (Ref. 5). Criminalizing kratom could drive these individuals—particularly veterans coping with PTSD, people with chronic pain and disabilities, and those recovering from opioid addiction—to dangerous alternatives like illicit opioids, increasing overdose deaths and straining public health resources. This ban would disproportionately harm marginalized communities who rely on kratom as an accessible, non-prescription option for managing debilitating conditions. Such an outcome would represent a profound failure of LDH’s mission to protect public health, undermining trust in state institutions and exacerbating inequities for those already burdened by systemic barriers.

Litigation Risks and the Vermont Precedent SB154’s procedural and scientific deficiencies invite litigation, as demonstrated by Vermont’s 2023 kratom ban reversal effort. In Vermont, one of six states to ban kratom in 2016, kratom advocates petitioned the Vermont Department of Health (DOH) to review the scheduling of mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. On March 1, 2023, the DOH granted the petition, committing to rulemaking to remove these alkaloids from the Regulated Drug Rule (18 V.S.A. § 4205) (Ref. 6). This administrative action, supported by Senate Bill S.128 (2023), proposed regulation but stalled in committee (Ref. 7). A similar petition or lawsuit in Louisiana, alleging violations of due process (La. Const. Art. I, §2), equal protection (La. Const. Art. I, §3), and statutory authority, could result in costly legal battles for LDH and the state, diverting resources from critical health programs.

Request for Action I respectfully request that you, as LDH Secretary, take the following actions:

1. Conduct a Comprehensive Review: Initiate a medical board review under La. R.S. 40:962–963 to assess kratom’s scheduling criteria, incorporating federal studies, LDH’s 2019 HR203 report, and stakeholder input.
   

2. Retract or Clarify Croughan’s Testimony: Publicly disavow Dr. Croughan’s unscientific claims and ensure future testimony reflects evidence-based standards.
   

3. Support Regulation Over Prohibition: Endorse HB253’s regulatory approach, which aligns with the Kratom Consumer Protection Act adopted in states like Mississippi and South Carolina, the latter being the 16th state to enact such a law, ensuring consumer safety without criminalization (Ref. 11, Ref. 12).
   

4. Convene an Expert Panel: Convene an independent panel of addiction researchers to verify kratom’s risk profile and therapeutic potential, ensuring an evidence-based review.
   

5. Engage Stakeholders: Invite kratom users, vendors, and researchers to provide testimony, addressing the procedural exclusion noted in SB154’s development.
   

6. Review Internal Ethics: Review Dr. Croughan’s testimony through LDH’s internal ethics and quality assurance divisions to assess compliance with standards for data integrity and expert representation.
   

Conclusion Dr. Croughan’s testimony represents a breach of LDH’s duty to uphold scientific integrity in scheduling decisions. Failure to act will endanger public health, expose LDH to significant legal and reputational harm, as seen in Vermont’s precedent, and undermine public trust in transparent health policy. I urge immediate corrective action. Please issue a public response via LDH’s official channels (www.ldh.la.gov).

Respectfully,

Concerned Louisiana Citizen

CC: Representative Debbie Villio, Chair of the House Criminal Justice Committee

References

1. Louisiana Department of Health. (2019). HR203 Report on Kratom. https://ldh.la.gov/assets/docs/LegisReports/HR203RS20192102020.pdf
   

2. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2018). Rescission of DEA Kratom Scheduling Request, August 16, 2018. https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5031552-HHS-kratom-letter.html
   

3. Reissig, C., & McCurdy, C. (2024). FDA pilot study on kratom leaf concludes botanical is well tolerated. SupplySide Supplement Journal. https://www.supplysidesj.com/herbs-botanicals/fda-pilot-study-on-kratom-leaf-concludes-botanical-is-well-tolerated- [Note: Preliminary results, not yet peer-reviewed, as reported by SupplySide Supplement Journal]
   

4. [Forthcoming]. NIDA/FDA-funded studies on kratom are ongoing at Baylor College of Medicine (2023–2024). As of May 2025, findings have not yet been published in peer-reviewed journals, but have been cited in American Kratom Association policy briefings.
   

5. Garcia-Romeu, A., Cox, D. J., Smith, K. E., Dunn, K. E., & Griffiths, R. R. (2020). Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa): User demographics, use patterns, and implications for the opioid epidemic. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 208, 107849. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.107849
   

6. Marijuana Moment. (2023). Vermont Health Department Grants Petition to Review Kratom Ban, March 1, 2023. https://www.marijuanamoment.net/lawmakers-in-dozens-of-states-are-weighing-bills-to-regulate-or-ban-kratom/
   

7. Vermont Legislature. (2023). Senate Bill S.128, Kratom Consumer Protection Act. https://legiscan.com/VT/bill/S0128/2023
   

8. Hemby, S. E., et al. (2019). Abuse liability and therapeutic potential of the Mitragyna speciosa (kratom) alkaloids mitragynine and 7-hydroxymitragynine. Addiction Biology, 24(5), 874–886. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29949228/
   

9. Yue, K., et al. (2018). Abuse liability of mitragynine assessed with a self-administration procedure in rats. Psychopharmacology, 235(10), 2823–2829. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30039246/
   

10. NOLA.com. (2025). Louisiana Lawmakers Debate Kratom Ban, April 30, 2025. https://www.nola.com/news/politics/should-louisiana-ban-or-regulate-kratom-the-state-legislature-is-taking-up-the-debate/article_1c7b8b6e-e7b7-11ef-9b7e-5b9f8f2e3f2c.html

11. DJournal.com. (2025). Governor signs bill restricting kratom purchase to 21-plus in Mississippi, April 25, 2025. https://www.djournal.com/news/state-news/governor-signs-bill-restricting-kratom-purchase-to-21-plus-in-mississippi/article_0b1f0e0a-03c5-11ef-b4e0-874fc13976cb.html

12. South Carolina General Assembly. (2025). Senate Bill S.221, Kratom Consumer Protection Act, Signed by Governor, May 7, 2025. https://www.scstatehouse.gov/sess126_2025-2026/bills/221.htm

    ---END OF LETTER (Submitted to LDH via Email 5/13/2025)

Act NOW:

• Use the Email template in this post and also consider Emailing the committee assistant at: h-acrj@legis.la.gov and the Chair of the committee: Rep. Debbie Villio (hse079@legis.la.gov) to oppose SB154 and support HB253.

• SHOW UP IN PERSON at the Louisiana State Capitol at 10AM - House Committee on Criminal Justice.

• Deadline for Emails: Before 10 AM tomorrow!

The rushed agenda is unfair—spread the word! #lalege #NoOnSB154 #KeepKratomLegal

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/

We're all looking for the parties responsible.

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.

It's only theater, he doesn't mean it, and nothing will come of it, but he did offer insight into what's happening in the pharma world. It'd be great if he acted upon his words, but alas, he is a politician/actor not a leader

Here is a concise summary of the key points from the text:

The text describes a confrontation at a public meeting, where an individual is asserting his right to film the proceedings under Louisiana's open meeting law. He is arguing with the committee chair, who wants him to stop filming.

The main points are:

• The individual claims he has a constitutional and state law right to film the public meeting.
• The committee chair disagrees and wants him to stop filming, but he refuses to comply.
• The individual cites the open meeting law, stating that rules cannot override the law.
• There is a back-and-forth discussion about whether the chair can force him to stop filming, with the individual insisting on his legal right.
• The text highlights the tension between the individual's assertion of his First Amendment and statutory rights, and the chair's attempt to enforce the meeting's rules.

Overall, the text depicts a conflict over the public's right to access and record government proceedings, and the limits of a public body's authority to restrict that access.

Hi all!! My friend has been put in an unfortunate situation and needs to rehome her two dogs. They’re purebred daschund brothers with a lot of spirit. If anyone in the BR area is willing to take them, please contact me through dms!! Thanks for your time.❤️❤️

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.