A newly formed drug task force in Adams County made arrests on its first official day of operation, according to Sheriff Travis Patton. The arrests followed a traffic stop on North Union Street Wednesday afternoon. Patton said agents noticed suspicious behavior and searched a truck, seizing 18 grams of crack cocaine, 6 grams of meth, and 31 grams of synthetic cannabinoids. Khadija Mosby and Kevin Jones were charged with multiple drug offenses. The driver of the truck was not charged.
A report from the Pelican Institute for Public Policy says Louisiana’s economy grew faster than the national rate during the first quarter of this year. The report cites better-than-average economic growth, including activity and personal income, and notes “reversing out” migration trends. The report attributes the performance to policy changes made by the Landry administration and points to $250 billion in announced new economic activity. The report also says Louisiana’s population still needs to grow.
According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mississippi has the lowest childhood flu vaccination rate in the nation. The CDC data shows 31.7% of children ages 6 months to 17 years received a flu shot last season, compared with a 50.2% national average. Doctors said children, especially those under 5, can be at greater risk for serious complications from the flu. They also said the flu vaccine does not guarantee a child will not get sick, but it can reduce the risk of serious illness. Doctors noted flu immunity can take time to develop, and they said flu cases are already growing.
Construction of the Hyundai Steel plant near Donaldsonville, Louisiana, begins today. The $5.8 billion plant is expected to open in 2029. Industry representatives said locating the plant in Ascension Parish will help reduce reliance on supply chains affected by geopolitics. At a recent air permit meeting, some community members expressed concerns about whether emissions levels would meet current EPA standards. Hyundai representatives said the company is using electricity instead of burning coal to produce materials for automotive steel.
In weather conditions along the Mississippi River, the stage in Natchez-Vidalia is 26.50 feet and falling.
