Louisiana

Texas follows Louisiana’s lead to reclassify reproductive care drugs as controlled substances • Louisiana Illuminator

Published

1 year ago

November 15, 2024

Texas follows Louisiana’s lead to reclassify reproductive care drugs as controlled substances • Louisiana Illuminator

A Texas lawmaker has filed a bill that would reclassify two drugs used for reproductive health as controlled substances, which would place further restrictions on their access.

The proposal mirrors a law in Louisiana that went into effect Oct. 1 that treats mifepristone and misoprostol as controlled substances in state law. While the drugs are used in medication abortions, they have other applications such as treating life-threatening hemorrhaging.

Texas state Rep.-elect Pat Curry, a Republican from Austin, has filed legislation, House Bill 1339, that is comparable to the Louisiana law. Some health care providers have criticized Louisiana’s measure over its stricter storage and documentation requirements. Physicians have said the additional steps could place patients’ lives at risk.

Both Louisiana and Texas have strict abortion bans in place. Both states bar the procedure in almost all instances.

The Texas Legislature convenes for its next lawmaking session Jan. 14.

Republican Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry signed the new law, Act 246, in May, despite 270 doctors signing a letter against it. Mifepristone and misoprostol have been pulled off obstetric hemorrhage carts in hospitals and are now stored in passcode-protected cabinets outside of labor and delivery rooms.

Misoprostol is a pill often used to help prevent and treat post-delivery bleeding, especially for patients with hypertension or asthma who might have adverse side effects from using other hemorrhage medications usually administered with hypodermic needles or through an IV.

Doctors and pharmacists in Louisiana have scrambled to come up with postpartum hemorrhage protocols that comply with the law while still providing fast, life-saving care for women.

LCMC Health and Ochsner Health System, which own and operate hospitals throughout Louisiana, keep the drug in a large passcode-protected storage locker on their maternity units. The state health department released guidelines suggesting hospitals modify their obstetric hemorrhage carts to add a locked compartment, but care providers at hospitals have said this isn’t a feasible option.

Louisiana rural hospitals, which have limited resources compared to Ochsner and LCMC Health, expected to see the biggest impact from the law. With fewer pharmacists and OB-GYNs on staff, critics of the new law fear delays will be compounded in such areas.

Reproductive health activists and doctors have warned that the Louisiana law could set a new precedent for how other states will treat mifepristone and misoprostol. Congressional Democrats released a report last month calling the law “anti-science.”

The Louisiana law was authored by state Sen. Thomas Pressly, R-Shreveport, who added the drug reclassifications as amendments to his bill that originally created the crime of coerced abortion. He wrote the bill after his pregnant sister, Catherine Herring of Houston, was given an abortion drug by her then-husband without her knowledge.

Herring’s daughter was born 10 weeks premature, and her ex-spouse, Mason Herring, pleaded guilty to endangering a child and assault against a pregnant person. He was sentenced to 180 days, a punishment Pressly and his sister thought was too light.

“I commend the Texas Legislature for introducing legislation to address the weaponization of abortion drugs,” Pressly said in a text message Thursday evening. “The reclassification of misoprostol and mifepristone as scheduled drugs enables healthcare providers to continue to prescribe them for legitimate healthcare purposes while limiting the ability of bad actors to obtain them.”

“My sister and nieces’s story is a prime example of why the reclassification is necessary and appropriate,” the senator added.

The Texas bill is specifically about rescheduling the drug, and is not connected to a criminal coerced abortion law. If approved, it would take effect Sept. 1, 2025. It also adds carisoprodol, a muscle relaxant, to the Schedule IV controlled substances list for the state.

Last month, Louisiana health care providers and advocates filed a lawsuit that claims Act 246 violates the state constitution. The plaintiffs argue it discriminates against people based on a physical condition. They also believe state lawmakers approved a bill that strayed too far from its original version, which Article III of the Louisiana Constitution forbids.

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Louisiana high school football final scores, results — November 14, 2025

Published

15 hours ago

November 15, 2025

Press Room

Louisiana high school football final scores, results — November 14, 2025

The 2025 Louisiana high school football season continued on Friday, and High School On SI has a list of final scores from this weekend.

Louisiana High School Football Scores, Results & Live Updates (LHSAA) – November 14, 2025

Acadiana 29, Carencro 21

Amite 59, Cohen 20

Archbishop Rummel 24, Holy Cross 0

Barbe 49, Northwood 21

Belaire 42, Patrick Taylor Science & Tech Academy 31

Brother Martin 17, Liberty 16

Brusly 42, Albany 6

Catholic – N.I. 52, Glen Oaks 0

Cecilia 56, Carroll 7

Central 52, Dutchtown 24

Church Point 42, North Webster 7

De La Salle 45, Episcopal 14

Delta Charter 28, St. Martin’s Episcopal 15

DeRidder 36, Eunice 15

Donaldsonville 18, Westlake 0

East Ascension 57, West Ouachita 16

East Feliciana 44, Delcambre 6

Elton 36, LaSalle 14

Erath 56, Bogalusa 0

Ferriday 58, Northeast 0

Franklinton 51, Rayne 14

Franklin Parish 62, Abbeville 6

Grand Lake 61, Montgomery 18

Hahnville 52, Slidell 39

Hammond 61, Captain Shreve 21

Haynes Academy 41, Abramson 0

Holy Savior Menard 47, Thomas Jefferson 0

Homer 21, Franklin 20

Jennings 56, St. Martinville 18

Jesuit 46, McDonogh 35 7

Jonesboro-Hodge 44, North Central 20

Kaplan 34, Pine 18

Kennedy 55, Fredrick Douglass 0

Kentwood 28, Vermilion Catholic 13

Leesville 52, Kenner Discovery 7

Logansport 44, Varnado 0

Loreauville 28, Ville Platte 6

Lutcher 49, Iota 7

Mandeville 48, Thibodaux 27

Mansfield 42, Winnfield 12

Many 35, Red River 27

Marksville 48, Patterson 14

Metairie Park Country Day 56, Beekman 15

North Iberville 53, Arcadia 6

Northlake Christian 59, St. Louis Catholic 20

Northwest 45, South Terrebonne 0

Oak Grove 47, Port Allen 0

Opelousas 13, Pearl River 0

Opelousas Catholic 35, Ascension Christian 7

Ouachita Parish 24, St. Amant 21

Parkview Baptist 42, D’Arbonne Woods 28

Parkway 51, Covington 30

Plaquemine 55, Livonia 0

Richwood 40, Caldwell Parish 20

Slaughter Community Charter 21, Pope John Paul II 17

Southside 52, Prairieville 14

St. Edmund 62, Lincoln Prep 18

St. Frederick 49, Cedar Creek 6

St. Helena College and Career Academy 58, Avoyelles 26

St. Michael 35, Loranger 12

St. Paul’s 56, Pineville 7

St. Thomas More 41, Lafayette 7

Terrebonne 27, Natchitoches Central 24

Union Parish 41, Rayville 18

Vinton 28, DeQuincy 0

Washington 22, Istrouma 14

Welsh 38, Lake Arthur 23

West Feliciana 49, Bossier 6

West Monroe 49, South Lafourche 21

West St. John 50, General Trass 6

West St. Mary 28, Basile 22

Westgate 49, Airline 14

Westminster Christian Academy – Lafayette 26, Sacred Heart 21

Wossman 35, Minden 14

Zachary 48, Salmen 15

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Louisiana

Faimon Roberts: Liz Murrill and the Case of the Ancient Plank

Published

1 day ago

November 14, 2025

Press Room

Faimon Roberts: Liz Murrill and the Case of the Ancient Plank

Just where is that damn board?

Nobody knows. It’s a Louisiana mystery. An ancient cypress plank, 20 feet long and six wide, has gone missing. It couldn’t have been an easy heist. The thing is huge, and certainly weighs hundreds of pounds at least.

This wasn’t as simple as slipping into the Louvre and making off with a few jewels.

No, this was a complex operation. It probably took a group. Maybe Danny Ocean was the mastermind.

This whole story just deliciously reeks of Louisiana. An object that started in a swamp, moved to the State Capitol, then out to the suburbs, is now missing and is the focus of the state’s top law enforcement officer. This is truly one for the “Louisiana is different” genre of political tales.

There’s Attorney General Liz Murrill who, like literary gumshoes Sherlock Holmes or Encyclopedia Brown, doesn’t know where the plank is but has fingered a suspect: former Louisiana House Speaker Clay Schexnayder.

Earlier this week, prosecutors from Murrill’s office persuaded a Baton Rouge grand jury to indict Schexnayder on counts of theft of a rare Louisiana artifact and malfeasance in office.

Murrill’s biggest clue is this: The board was last seen in Schexnayder’s district office in Gonzales.

The mystery is just the latest twist in the board’s long and interesting history. It began its life as part of a cypress tree in Lake Maurepas more than 1,000 years ago. That tree was cut down in the 1930s. The board was extracted and, in the 1950s, it was donated the state and was hung for display in the state capitol.

On it were engraved words describing its origin. It is a one-of-a-kind piece.

Sometime in the last two decades, the plank was moved to Schexnayder’s district office in Gonzales. Schexnayder said the move came in 2013 and was suggested by then-Speaker of the House Chuck Kleckley, of Lake Charles, because it had been cut from a tree in what was now Schexnayder’s district. Kleckley says he has no memory of making that suggestion and it would have been inappropriate for him to do so.

Murrill may have identified the guilty party, but the board’s whereabouts remain unknown. Schexnayder, who once owned an auto mechanic shop, is no Professor Moriarty. He says he has no idea where it is. Nor does the landlord of his office, who said he didn’t remove it when Schexnayder left.

Now, however, Schexnayder is facing two felony counts.

Murrill sleuthing skills might never been engaged if not for the efforts of Julius Mullins, a retired doctor whose grandfather was the one who donated the piece to the state. Mullins asked Murrill to take the case.

I hope Murrill doesn’t stop now and presses until she has found the board, like some sort of Cajun Miss Marple.

But this is a tough one. She may need outside help. Is Nancy Drew available?

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Week 12 – Washington State Cougars vs Louisiana Tech Bulldogs: How To Watch, Preview, Storylines

Published

2 days ago

November 13, 2025

Press Room

Week 12 – Washington State Cougars vs Louisiana Tech Bulldogs: How To Watch, Preview, Storylines

Washington State fell in its first PAC-12 matchup two weeks ago to Oregon State, and now hosts the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. The Bulldogs are coming off a heartbreaking loss to Delaware, and will look to avoid falling to .500 as the Cougars look to even up their record.

Here’s everything you need to know about Saturday night’s contest:

Washington State Cougars (4-5, 0-1 Pac-12) vs Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (5-4, 3-3 C-USA)

Date: Saturday, November 15th

Time: 10:00 p.m. ET // 7:00 p.m. PT

Location: Martin Stadium – Pullman, WA

TV: The CW Network

Radio: TuneIn Radio

Betting Line: Washington State -7.5 on FanDuel

Did Bye Week Help Cougs Fix Mental Lapses?

Washington State’s loss to Oregon State prior to their bye week was as sloppy as a game can get. Their pass protection looked lost, quarterback Zevi Eckhaus took a major step backward, and their missed field goal at the end of the game capped off a messy game that, by all accounts, should have been a victory. A bye week isn’t a magical “cure-all fix”, but it’s shown time and time again to help teams limit their detail-oriented issues.

Bowl contention is still in play for the Cougs, although it’s far from a guarantee. They need to finish the season strong, and that all starts with putting down a Louisiana Tech team that is inferior on paper. Washington State must come out early and get ahead of the Bulldogs quickly, and managing the small aspects of the game will be essential.

MORE: How Washington State’s 2025 Opponents Fared in Week 11

How Does Washington State’s Passing Scheme Develop?

A conservative passing game that came with the introduction of Eckhaus into the QB1 spot gave the Cougars a much-needed offensive boost. However, the playbook was seemingly opened up in recent weeks, but it has seen the opposite effect. It came to a tipping point against the Beavers, as Eckhaus threw two interceptions and the offense as a whole looked quite out of sync.

With Eckhaus banged up but expected to get the start once again, it will be an interesting storyline as to how Head Coach Jimmy Rogers tailors the offense around his experienced starter. A return to their initial ways could be successful, but continuing to develop around their new scheme might end up being a better option. Only time will tell, but they will have to navigate their ever-inconsistent offense to push for a win.

MORE: Two-QB Rotation Expected as Louisiana Tech Faces Washington State

LA Tech’s Rushing Game an Issue

The Cougs have been far from the best defense in the country against the ground game, and the Bulldogs boast a solid multi-pronged rushing approach. Running backs Clay Thevenin and Omiri Wiggins have combined for a total of 907 yards on the ground through nine games, and quarterback Blake Baker has tacked on another 260 of his own.

Their scoring has also been proficient, hitting the end zone a total of 18 times. Washington State will have to shut down its rushing attack to prevent getting overpowered on the ground. If they are unable to do so, it could be a long game for a Cougars defense that has been heavily relied on to this point of the season.