- Man who impersonated rideshare driver, assaults woman in Tigerland area of B.R.
- Juvenile, 15, shot during attempted auto burglary in the Seventh District
- LSU drops back-and-forth battle to Florida in overtime
- LABI report says LA no. 1 for new business taxes
- Marching Mardi Gras horses up for adoption
- What are the Saints wants, needs & musts this offseason?
- Stocks mostly higher, oil prices on a six-day gain
- Thibodaux man arrested for pornography involving juveniles and other cybercrimes
- Civil rights groups seek maps of NOLA surveillance cameras
- Man gets 40-years for killing teen in Algiers
- What are the Saints wants, needs & musts this offseason?
- Scoot’s exclusive with Duran Duran lead singer Simon Le Bon
- John Brady says Florida basketball playing its best ball coming to LSU
- Gayle Benson's handling of Anthony Davis will begin to define her legacy
- Saints re-sign Michael Ola
- Manny Machado makes more than Drew Brees?
- LSU basketball projected as a 3 seed in NCAA tournament
- Grades for the first weekend of LSU baseball
- Anthony Davis forfeited any ‘right’ to play for Pelicans by leaving mid-game
- Pelicans release statement on Dell Demps departure
- 'Empire' actor goes from victim to accused felon in 3 weeks
- No. 1 Duke, Zion figuring out what's next after knee injury
- USA Football unveils council to oversee developmental model
- Oakland teachers to start strike Thursday
- Oregon on track to be 1st state with mandated rent controls
- GOP's Byrne to challenge Sen. Doug Jones of Alabama in 2020
- Brothers in Smollett case are bodybuilders, aspiring actors
- 'Empire' actor charged with making false police report
- Lawyer likens R. Kelly to Beethoven to explain studio move
- Khloe Kardashian bestie Malika Haqq fierce on cheating front

What is the Saints biggest need in the off season?

Overdose deaths rising in Louisiana
(WWL.com)
New CDC data indicates drug overdose deaths rose 12% in Louisiana from 2016 to 2017. Overdose deaths have contributed to the life expectancy rate declining for three straight years in the United States, a pattern not seen in 100 years. President and CEO of Trust for America’s Health, John Auerbach said this marks the first time that more than 1,000 people died in a single year from overdoses in Louisiana.
"That kind of increase in a single year is extraordinarily unusual and a reminder that this is a very serious epidemic and that we are not out of the woods yet," said Auerbach.
Auerbach said part of the reason for the increase in the deaths last year was the increase in the use of synthetic opioids such as Fentanyl, with Fentanyl deaths up 45% in a single year.
"That's a type of drug that is quite toxic and strong and difficult to determine by a drug user in regard to its strength," said Auerbach.
Auerbach said there are many efforts in the country showing promise in reversing the trend.
"I think that we've got the attention of the public and many people are working to improve this. Among the things we know work is the expansion of Medicaid, as was done in Louisiana," said Auerbach.