World Cup Watch Parties: New Orleans soccer fans are turning up for Team USA’s 2026 debut with watch parties and jersey pride, even as travel and tickets stay out of reach for many. Mental Health & Community: A Baton Rouge counseling practice is pushing to “connect, not divide” around mental health, aiming to break stigma with private, clinician-led care. Local Schools Leadership: NOLA Public Schools’ superintendent reflects on a tough first year and what comes next for the city’s charter-centered system. Neighborhood Fixes: In Hollygrove, residents are mapping potholes, missing signs, and overgrown lots and lining up grants and partnerships to get repairs moving. Climate Lawsuit Shift: Louisiana has joined other GOP states by making it illegal to sue oil companies in state court over climate-change harms. Higher Ed Pay Confusion: UL Lafayette President Ramesh Kolluru apologized after a biweekly pay rollout sparked anxiety about August paychecks. Public Safety Oddity: A drunk driver fleeing police in St. Charles Parish jumped into a swamp—and was bitten by an alligator before being caught. Sports Spotlight: Times-Picayune All-Metro track honors highlight standout performances from local athletes, including record-setting Grace Keene and two-sport star Easton Royal.