Jack Richards, a marketing and social media strategist in New York City, shares their painful experience with monkeypox to raise awareness about the outbreak and the difficulties in accessing vaccines and treatment. After initially mistaking the symptoms for jet lag, Richards developed sores and, along with their partner, was diagnosed with monkeypox. The pain from the sores was intense, leading to discomfort in daily activities and requiring over-the-counter pain medication and topical lidocaine for relief. Richards highlights the challenges of isolation, the spread of monkeypox within the LGBTQ community, and the inadequate vaccine supply in New York City. Despite improvements in their condition, Richards emphasizes the need for better public health measures.

A violent incident in Baton Rouge resulted in the deaths of three police officers and the suspect, Gavin E. Long. The community, still reeling from the recent killing of Alton Sterling by police, expressed shock and concern over the safety of their neighborhood. Witnesses described the chaos and quick police response. Despite the violence, local protesters continued their peaceful demonstrations, emphasizing voter registration and community engagement.

The Louisiana Senate voted 36-1 to advance House Bill 264, allowing juvenile offenders sentenced to life without parole a chance for a parole hearing after 35 years. The bill, originally limited to cases before 2012, was amended by Sen. Danny Martini to include all cases. This legislative move responds to the U.S. Supreme Court's Montgomery v. Louisiana decision, which mandates a meaningful chance for parole for juveniles due to the 8th Amendment. The bill now returns to the House for concurrence, with its author, Sherman Mack, considering the Senate's amendment.

A bill to create the Louisiana Governmental Reorganization Commission, which would recommend ways to make the executive branch more efficient, was presented by Lake Charles Mayor Randy Roach at the Task Force on Structural Changes in the Budget and Tax Policy. Authored by Sen. Ronnie Johns, Senate Bill 55 would require a constitutional amendment and obligate the Legislature to act on its recommendations. The bill, which was not submitted for a committee hearing during the regular session, is being refined for potential presentation in the 2017 regular session. The Task Force has not yet made a formal recommendation on the proposal.