The Advocate's Top Headlines

with Jennifer Wadsworth | Assistant metro editor

Before we head into the holiday weekend, let's take a whirl through some of our latest headlines. 

Off track

Sha'Carri Richardson — a former LSU track star — lost her chance to run in the Olympic women's 100-meter race after a positive cannabis test resulted in a month-long suspension. 

As reports swirled about her marijuana use, the 21-year-old athlete took to Twitter to acknowledge the misstep, saying simply: "I am human."

Click here to read more about her predicament and what it means for her Olympic prospects.

'Why are you here?'

Here's a tale about Louisiana and the growth of American football that begins near Sweden's southwest coastline … with a long-traveled Louisianan who spills into the street after another night on the town and is reminded by a shimmering Kattegat Sea that, Oh, that's right, the sun doesn't really set here in Halmstad.

The blazing star is straddling the horizon, battling the 56th parallel as its uncanny light reaches Jay Roth through the shadows of locals bicycling home from the bars, staring at this American as if it's wondering the same thing people have been asking Roth since he decided to spend the summer of 1997 in Scandinavia: 

"Why are you here?"

May the Fourth be with you

The long Fourth of July weekend is overflowing with fun, from fireworks and parades to live music at more places than we can count.

And, if that’s not enough, you can catch “Hamilton” or Summer Fest, a new event taking place over the weekend at the Raising Cane’s River Center.

Thanks for checking in, and have a fun, safe holiday weekend!