Space Academy Push: Louisiana lawmakers and advocates are pitching the state—especially New Orleans—as the home for a proposed U.S. Space Academy tied to the Space Force, arguing the region’s NASA corridor and SpaceX momentum make it a natural fit. Public Health & Safety: Authorities investigating the deaths of two University of Mississippi students say packaged kratom was found at both scenes and urge people to avoid it while autopsies are scheduled. Education Oversight: Louisiana will appoint a chief operating officer for Bogalusa City Schools after the district missed the state’s 70% spending requirement for instruction and school-level administration for two straight years. Elections & Voting Access: Secretary of State Nancy Landry is kicking off Voter Registration Week, with key deadlines set for Oct. 5 (in person/by mail/OMV), Oct. 13 (online), and Nov. 3 election day. Energy Policy Fight: Gov. Jeff Landry’s proposed 90-day diesel export pause faces pushback from industry, with concerns about storage and supply constraints. Local Governance: East Feliciana’s police jury backed Louisiana’s bid for a federally supported “Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus,” potentially tied to recycling spent fuel. Court & Voting Rights: Alabama AG Steve Marshall urged the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold Arizona’s documentary citizenship check and voter purge rules, as related litigation continues. Maritime Recognition: Marine Log named Jennifer Carpenter its 2026 Lifetime Achievement honoree for decades of leadership in the tugboat, towboat and barge industry.