The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a fire weather warning for much of the state due to breezy and dry conditions. The area of Louisiana from Beauregard Parish, eastward to Avoyelles and Concordia parishes and all parishes north of that line have been issued with a Red Flag Warning. According to NWS, the elevated fire danger will last from Friday afternoon and evening. Winds are expected to be 10-20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph and the humidity is expected to drop below 30 percent....

Louisiana Logging Council President John Keith is appealing to U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson for help for loggers. In a letter to Congressman Johnson, Keith is asking for the for temporary suspension of the federal excise tax on heavy trucks, trailers and tires used in farming and logging. He writes that "a heavy truck or trailer pays a 12 percent federal excise tax on the first retail sale ... that's over $21,000 in tax before the truck ever hauls its first load," on a $180,000 log truck....

A Vernon Parish man is accused of timber theft in Rapides Parish following an investigation of Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Enforcement agents, according to LDAF. James R. Fredieu was arrested by Vernon Parish Sheriff's Office deputies Sept. 10. He was later booked into the Rapides Parish Jail on one count of timber theft under $25,000, according to an LDAF press release. The press release said enforcement agents responded to a timber theft complaint Aug. 19 where a...