Louisiana
WalletHub ranks Louisiana a bottom 3 state for education. Here’s why
Louisiana’s Childcare Fund at Risk
The Early Childhood Education Fund faces a funding shortfall, threatening access to affordable childcare for thousands of Louisiana children.
For many, education is a priority and a quality education can open pathways for greater career opportunities and potential higher earnings.
Despite this, not all states offer the same quality education, and Louisiana often seems to lack in the education department.
In order to find out which states are the most educated, WalletHub analyzed states based on educational attainment, school quality and disparities in achievement.
Where does Louisiana rank in quality education?
Louisiana ranked 48th on WalletHub’s list of the most educated states in the U.S. for 2026, making it the third least educated state.
Within WalletHub’s study, Louisiana also ranks No. 48 for education attainments and 40th for quality of education.
Additionally, Louisiana had the fourth-lowest percentage of high school diploma holders, third-lowest percentage of Associate’s Degree holders or college-experienced adults and the fourth-lowest percentage of Bachelor’s Degree holders.
In comparison, Massachusetts ranked as the most educated state, as the state has the highest percentage of adults with at least a Bachelor’s Degree and the highest share of adults who have a graduate or professional degree, according to WalletHub.
The most and least educated states according to WalletHub
- Massachusetts
- Vermont
- Maryland
- Connecticut
- Colorado
- New Jersey
- Virginia
- New Hampshire
- Minnesota
- Washington
- Utah
- Maine
- Rhode Island
- Delaware
- Illinois
- New York
- Oregon
- Montana
- Wisconsin
- Pennsylvania
- Florida
- North Carolina
- Hawaii
- Kansas
- Nebraska
- Wyoming
- Michigan
- North Dakota
- California
- Georgia
- Missouri
- Iowa
- South Dakota
- Arizona
- Ohio
- Alaska
- Idaho
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Indiana
- Texas
- New Mexico
- Alabama
- Kentucky
- Oklahoma
- Nevada
- Arkansas
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- West Virginia
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
Gov. Landry declares state of emergency after flooding, severe weather across Louisiana
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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Louisiana
New ATV/UTV task force aimed at reducing the staggering deaths and injuries among young riders
Louisiana
North Louisiana Crime Lab warns of cyclorphine cases, counterfeit pill “footprint”
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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