Louisiana
Louisiana lends a hand to states affected by Helene
BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) – Local rescue organizations and first responders from Louisiana have headed out to the states affected by Hurricane Helene.
“We’re hearing reports about entire towns being washed away, people being trapped on mountains,” said Brian Trascher, Vice President and Public Information Officer for the United Cajun Navy.
Hurricane Helene destroyed many areas in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina.
“I know right now it seems hopeless, but just know that law enforcement, and local officials, and that the national guard out of those areas, they do know that you guys are out there, they do know you’re stuck, they do know the situation is they’re doing everything they can to get to you,” added Trascher.
The United Cajun Navy has made its way to the damaged states to assist in relief.
”We’re actually getting calls from the national guard, asking if we can assist with extractions because even with all their resources they are overwhelmed,” explained Trascher.
Trascher tells WAFB they have two dozen volunteer crews spanning across the states in Helene’s path. They have crews in Florida, near the Georgia border, and they have crews assisting with lifesaving rescues in the Carolinas and Tennessee.
“We’re getting calls of people saying, ‘Hey I haven’t heard from my grandmother for two days ago and I’m looking for my nephew and his wife.’ There’s a lot of people who have lost touch with their loved ones and they don’t know if they’re alive or dead and it’s really gut-wrenching to hear come in,” said Trascher.
Acadian Ambulance has sent 30 ambulances filled with 62 crew members to South Carolina to assist in disaster relief and lifesaving efforts. South Carolina is also receiving help from an urban search and rescue team consisting of Baton Rouge, Zachary, and East Side Fire Departments, as well as Louisiana Fire Marshal and East Baton Rouge EMS. Their crew consists of 21 people.
“Our team consists of structural collapse specialists, these guys are able to go into structures to get people out, we’re also a wide area search specialist, so we can cover a wide area and do damage assessments,” said Baton Rouge Fire Chief, Michael Kimble.
He says they headed to South Carolina thanks to a partnership between Governor Landry and Mayor-President Broome’s office.
”To go out and help others, it just says a lot about our state, our parish, and our community,’ added Kimble.
Chief Kimble says that they are in Greenville which has had little to no communication since the storm passed through.
”Cell phones are down, technologies down, no internet. So, these folks haven’t even been seen or touched since the impact of the storm,” explained Kimble.
Chief Kimble said anytime devastation has hit Louisiana, South Carolina has assisted, and now it’s time to return the favor. They are looking to be out there until the middle of next week.
If you would like to volunteer or donate to the United Cajun Navy, that information can be found here.
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Copyright 2024 WAFB. All rights reserved.
CBD can help treat various health conditions
A new scientific review highlights CBD’s potential to treat various conditions such as epilepsy, pain, cancer, schizophrenia and diabetes.
unbranded – Lifestyle
CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is a non-intoxicating compound from the cannabis or hemp plant that does not cause a “high,” unlike THC, according to the CDC.
CBD was first approved as a drug for the treatment of seizures in children with severe forms of epilepsy, but now, CBD is used for other purposes like pain relief, sleep and general wellness, says Brown University Health.
Despite CBD’s availability and supposed benefits, CBD products are not risk free, as there are possible side effects and risks associated with CBD use, according to Brown University Health.
What is Louisiana’s state law for CBD in 2025? What to know
Under the Agriculture Improvement Act in 2018, hemp was removed from the federal Controlled Substances Act, which effectively legalized CBD if it comes from hemp, according to the CDC.
Despite hemp-derived CBD being legal at the federal level, some states have not removed hemp from their state’s-controlled substances acts, meaning that the legality of CBD products varies across states, says the CDC.
Following the enactment of this legislation, Louisiana passed Act 164 in 2019, effectively legalizing the cultivation and production of industrial hemp in the state, says Louisiana State Cannabis.
The legislation defined hemp as a cannabis plant containing no more than 0.3% THC, therefore, CBD products derived from hemp are legal in Louisiana. However, marijuana-derived CBD remains illegal for recreational use in the state, according to Louisiana State Cannabis.
Although, Louisiana enacted Act 491 in 2015, which allows the use of medical marijuana, as well as marijuana-derived CBD, to treat certain diseases and medical conditions in the state, says Louisiana State Cannabis.
Presley Bo Tyler is a reporter for the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team for USA Today. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com
Louisiana
‘One suicide is too many;’ Man runs across Louisiana to raise awareness for veteran, teen suicide
La. (KPLC) – A run across Louisiana has come to an end, but the conversation it sparked is far from over.
Jeremy Adams, a Louisiana veteran who served in Afghanistan, completed the run to raise money for a public high school while drawing attention to veteran and teen suicide.
The run began Friday, Dec. 18 at the Texas state line at Bon Weir and stretched more than 100 miles across the state, ending in Natchez, Mississippi.
“Finished around 10 o’clock last night (Dec. 21) in Natchez. I got a police escort by the Vidalia Police Department over the river bridge,” Adams said.
Adams says the run was not easy and hopes this inspires others to keep moving forward, no matter what battle they may be facing.
“I was tired. I ran at night. My feet are hurting; I got screws in my feet. I kept moving forward; I didn’t quit. That’s what I wanted to teach veterans and kids (contemplating) suicide, don’t quit. There’s somebody out there that cares. Don’t end the story before God gives you a chance to show you his plans,” he said.
Adams says the run raised money for East Beauregard High School, the school that Adams says gave him a second family.
“In 2017, a good friend of mine there died of a drug overdose, and that’s what got me running. I quit drinking that year, quit smoking the following May, and then I decided to start running,” Adams said.
Adams is a veteran himself and has overcome his own battles with drug and alcohol addiction, which led him to be interested in running.
“In 2011, the Lord changed everything. I got wounded by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. It shattered both my heel bones. They said it was a 50% chance I would walk again,” he said.
Although the run is over, Adams says the mission continues, urging people to talk, listen, and take action.
“One suicide is too many; there are gentlemen out there who went to battle, saw combat, and came home and still see that combat on a daily basis. If they need help, reach out and get help,” Adams said.
Adams says all proceeds from the run will go toward supporting students at East Beauregard High School.
If you’d like to donate to Adams’ cause, you can do so through his GoFundMe.
Copyright 2025 KPLC. All rights reserved.
Louisiana
Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis arrested on DWI count, State Police say
Louisiana Public Service Commissioner Davante Lewis was arrested on a count of driving while intoxicated over the weekend, a Louisiana State Police spokesperson said.
Lewis, 33, was arrested in West Baton Rouge Parish, officials said.
It is the West Baton Rouge Parish jail’s policy to not book first-offense DWI offenders, therefore Lewis was not held.
First offense DWI is a misdemeanor charge.
State police said Lewis was initially stopped for driving without headlights.
In a statement, Lewis said he “will be working with lawyers to contest the charge.”
“I have great respect for the men and women who serve our community in law enforcement, and I believe everyone, myself included, is accountable to the law,” he said. “I appreciate the professionalism shown during the encounter.”
Lewis said he understands “the gravity of the situation” and why the community is concerned.
“As I always have, I plan to remain accountable through both my words and my actions, not just through my words,” he said in the statement. “My hope is that our focus remains on the consistent, good work we have accomplished advocating for Louisiana’s citizens.”
The five-member Public Service Commission regulates utilities in Louisiana, like electricity, water, gas and some telecommunications. Lewis’ district covers majority-Black communities stretching from New Orleans up to West Baton Rouge Parish.
Lewis, a Democrat, is the first openly gay person elected to state office in Louisiana. Since ousting longtime commissioner Lambert Boissiere III in a 2022 election, he has been a prominent critic of Entergy and other utilities.
Lewis is also a frequent foe of Gov. Jeff Landry. In February, the PSC board voted to remove him from his role as vice chair after he called Landry an “a**hole” on the social media app X in response to a post Landry made mocking a transgender Department of Health Official in former President Joe Biden’s administration. Lewis argued he was being held to a different standard because he is Black.
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