A common lizard across the South is surviving with more lead in its body than researchers previously thought possible — and the toxin doesn't appear to affect it at all, a new study says.

Why it matters: Unlocking their secret could help scientists develop new ways to treat lead poisoning in humans.

The big picture: Brown anole lizards in New Orleans have the highest blood-lead levels ever recorded in any vertebrate, according to new research from Tulane University.

• The lizards are likely being contaminated by breathing and eating lead-contaminated dust, Tulane professor Alex Gunderson tells us.
• Brown anoles are an invasive species from the Caribbean and have been in New Orleans since at least the 1990s.
• They are more common now than the green anole, which is a native species.

What they found: Lead usually affects wildlife in similar ways to humans, Gunderson says, creating problems with balance, speed and endurance.

• But doctoral student Annelise Blanchette and Gunderson discovered that the brown lizards could withstand extreme lead concentrations before showing any decline in performance.

The intrigue: Gunderson doesn't know why the anoles can survive with such high lead amounts, but he says his theory is they are able to store the lead in a way that makes it inert.

• It will take more research to understand the "how," he says, and whether the research can be applied to humans in treating heavy metal exposure.
• "It is a long way off right now," he says.
• There's currently no known antidote for lead poisoning, the CDC says.

Between the lines: Lizard research also led to the creation of Ozempic and other GLP-1s.

• The popular weight-loss drug was discovered while researching the venom of Gila monsters.

What's next: Tulane is studying lead levels in green anoles, with the results expected out next year.

Jefferson Parish is rolling out special license plates to mark its 200th anniversary.

Why it matters: The commemorative tags celebrate the parish's bicentennial while raising money for local projects.

The big picture: The tag costs $61.50, plus registration fees, according to a press release from the parish. Of that, $50 goes to the Jefferson Community Foundation.

• The tags are a way for residents to "show their love for Jefferson Parish everywhere they go," the press release says.
• You can also order Thomas Jefferson busts and Becky Fos' bicentennial poster.

Zoom out: Jefferson Parish was established in 1825 and is named in honor of Thomas Jefferson.

• It is Louisiana's second largest parish, with about 441,000 residents, according to 2020 Census data. East Baton Rouge Parish is the most populous and Orleans is third.
• Jefferson Parish originally extended from present day Felicity Street in New Orleans to the St. Charles Parish line, according to information from the parish.
• As Orleans Parish grew, it annexed the Garden District, Carrollton and other areas. The present boundary was set in 1874.

What's next: The license plates are available at the Office of Motor Vehicle locations in Kenner, Gretna and Westwego.

🎓 The University of New Orleans is moving from the University of Louisiana system back to the LSU system. The change comes amid financial troubles at UNO. (WBRZ)

🏈 LSU climbed to No. 3 from No. 9 in AP's college football rankings after beating Clemson. (Full list)

📆 You've got more time: SWBNO is waiving late fees on water bills through the end of the month. (Details)

• The city is also extending its amnesty program for past-due parking and traffic camera tickets. (Press release)

🎰 Treasure Chest Casino in Kenner has seen a surge in revenue a year after opening its new location. Visitor counts have almost doubled, too. (The Times-Picayune 🔒)

🏛️ Louisiana changed its strategy and asked the U.S. Supreme Court to reject any consideration of race in its ongoing redistricting case. Arguments start next month. (AP)

Louisiana coffee drinkers are among the least likely to ask for their orders to be made with oat milk, according to a recent Square report.

Why it matters: It's just another way we do things differently around here.

Zoom in: The milk alternative became a top choice for coffee drinkers last year, making up a third of U.S. and Canada orders, Square reports.

• But in Louisiana, coffee drinkers are more likely to stick with dairy.
• Just 23.17% of the state's coffee orders went with oat milk, according to May data from Square. Only Wyoming (18.83%) and Mississippi (21.99%) order less oat milk than we do.

Flashback: Louisiana lawmakers passed a "truth in labeling" law in 2019 defining "milk" as the "lacteal secretion ... obtained by the complete milking of one or more healthy cows." Yum!

• In practice, it means that, when sold in Louisiana, products like oat or soy milk can't actually be called "milk."

We're working with Loyola journalism students this month on stories about the mayoral election.

• Stay tuned to see what they find out about Gen Z.

📣 Reply with your story suggestions for them.