Louisiana
University of Louisiana at Monroe holds ribbon cutting for first Louisiana Mesonet
MONROE, La. (KNOE) – The University of Louisiana Monroe held a ribbon cutting ceremony for the first installation of the Louisiana State Mesonet, an interconnected network of instrumented weather monitoring stations on Monday, October 15.
. The ceremony was held on the ULM campus at the mesonet site located adjacent to University Park on Bon Aire Drive. It featured special guests such as the Louisiana District 5 U.S. Representative, Julia Letlow, and Brad Bryant, Meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Shreveport.
Congresswoman Julia Letlow secured $2 million dollars for the project through the Appropriations Act of 2023. The purpose of the Mesonet project is to fill coverage gaps across the state where there has been little weather data available.
“This day really isn’t about me; it’s about the incredible work that has culminated in something that is so incredibly inspiring, and I’m just proud to be a small part of it,” said U.S. Representative, Julia Letlow.
The Associate Director of the ULM School of Science and Associate Professor of Atmospheric Science, Dr. Todd Murphy acknowledged the growth that took place due to the hiring of Mesonet Manager Emily Newby and Mesonet Technician Dylan Hall, who have been instrumental in working with landowners across the state to secure mesonet sites.
The project is estimated to be complete by the end of 2025.
For information on Mesonet data visit mesonet.ulm.edu.
Copyright 2024 KNOE. All rights reserved.
BATON ROUGE, La. (KLFY) — Governor Landry has officially declared Louisiana under state of emergency.
The state emergency declaration covers Avoyelles, Lafourche, Pointe Coupee, St. Landry, St. Tammany and Terrebonne parishes.
The declaration was issued Thursday following the impacts of Tropical Storm Arthur, which brough rainfall and strong storms to parts of the state on June 17 and 18.
Officials said the National Weather Service has confirmed three tornadoes tied to the storm system.
Officials also reported record or near-record rainfall totals in Avoyelles and Pointe Coupee parishes over a 12-hour period.
The order allows the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness to coordinate resources and provide assistance to local governments if needed.
Certain state purchasing and bidding requirements have been temporarily suspended to speed up emergency response efforts.
The declaration took effect immediately and will remain in place through July 18 unless it is lifted or extended.
State officials are urging residents to stay weather aware, avoid flooded roadways and follow guidance from local emergency managers.
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MONROE, La. (KNOE) – The North Louisiana Crime Lab released a June 2026 law enforcement bulletin warning of additional cases tied to cyclorphine, a synthetic opioid the lab says can be significantly more potent than fentanyl.
The bulletin, titled “Cyclorphine Update — Additional Cases & Footprint,” notes that drug evidence submissions testing positive for cyclorphine have been received from multiple parishes in North Louisiana.
What is cyclorphine?
According to the bulletin, cyclorphine is a synthetic opioid in the emerging orphine drug class. The lab said current toxicity data are limited, but laboratory studies indicate cyclorphine may be up to 10 times more potent than fentanyl.
Reported effects
The crime lab said cyclorphine can produce effects similar to other narcotic analgesics, including:
- Central nervous system depression
- Lethargy or stupor
- Respiratory depression with slow, shallow breathing
- Pinpoint pupils
The bulletin said Narcan should be administered to someone suffering from cyclorphine toxicity, and that multiple doses may be needed.
What the bulletin says about trends
The crime lab said national data indicate cyclorphine will likely continue spreading through the region, including becoming more common in seized and submitted drug evidence.
Where cyclorphine has been detected
The bulletin includes a “detection timeline and counterfeit tablet types,” showing evidence submissions tied to specific parishes and dates, including:
- Caddo Parish (Feb. 19; April 14)
- Ouachita Parish (March 18; May 13)
- DeSoto Parish (March 25)
- Natchitoches Parish (May 14)
The lab also noted counterfeit pill types associated with these submissions, including tablets labeled “M30,” “M15,” “K56,” “1259,” and “M367.” Officials warned it may be impossible to know what a pill contains, even if it resembles a known tablet.
The North Louisiana Crime Lab said it will continue tracking trends and sharing updates as additional evidence is submitted.
Copyright 2026 KNOE. All rights reserved.
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