Cam Jordan is one of the most ebullient, recognizable members of the New Orleans Saints.

Why it matters: With just a few clicks and a credit card, you can hire him on Cameo.

The intrigue: He's not alone.

• Jordan is one of dozens of current and former Saints players and members of the coaching staff whom you can hire on the app, which connects anyone with an internet connection to celebs of all stripes.
• For a rate set by the star, you can hire them to create a video message for a friend's birthday, a parent's retirement or anything in between.

Between the lines: The app, once a $1 billion unicorn, faces serious financial trouble.

• But it still makes headlines for the occasional unexpected persona who becomes available for hire through its platform.

Zoom in: The Saints aren't the only New Orleans locals you can hire on the app.

• Jennifer Hale, the Fox Sports analyst, and TV personality Tamica Lee are also available.

What's happening: To celebrate the return of football season, we're quizzing you on what rates you think current and former Saints players and coaches have set.

• Just like the stars, you'll need to consider strategy.
• Do you think someone like Cam Jordan, whom previous customers praise for his heartfelt enthusiasm, would look to churn out dozens of vids by charging a lower rate?
• And what do you think Archie Manning would charge for a birthday greeting?

Yes, but: It's all in good fun!

• And yes, technically you could just go to the website and cheat, but you're better than that, right?

What's next: Take the quiz, then hit reply to let us know how you score!

Greater shares of Americans now say that extreme heat has affected various parts of day-to-day life compared to just two years ago.

Why it matters: New Orleans is in the middle of another heat wave, with the heat index expected to climb to 110°F today and tomorrow.

The big picture: A report from the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research suggests that people are increasingly aware of extreme heat's impact on their health, budgets, travel plans and more.

• In Louisiana, 11 people have died so far this summer from heat-related causes, according to the state health department's dashboard. There have been hundreds of emergency room visits.
• Nearly 80% of New Orleans residents live in areas that act as urban heat islands, according to Climate Central's 2024 analysis. See the map.
• Officials are working on the city's first "heat action plan," which aims to identify where the heat is the worst, who is most affected and what can be done to keep people safe.

By the numbers: 90% of Americans now say that extreme heat has had at least a minor impact on their lives, up from 83% two years ago.

Between the lines: There's a partisan divide, with Democrats more likely than Republicans to say that heat has had a major impact on the parts of life included in the survey.

Keep reading

Nationally, 6.9% of U.S. households lacked air conditioning as of 2023.

The big picture: Air conditioning is part cultural and part economic.

• Some places — like San Francisco — don't get hot often enough to warrant A/C installations.
• In other places — like Hawaii, where energy rates are often relatively high, or poorer areas — A/C is a costly luxury.

🏈 A lawyer for Jayden Daniels, the former LSU star and current Washington Commanders QB, sent a cease-and-desist letter to LSU after the school gave Daniels' jersey number to sophomore DJ Pickett. (ESPN)

• "Jayden made it clear that he did not want his number given to another player, and he believed his wishes would be respected," the lawyer's statement said.
• Read Daniels' statement and Pickett's statement about why he wears No. 5.

👀 Meta can keep details about its data center secret, the Public Service Commission says, including energy use and job numbers. (Fox 8)

• Meanwhile, records show that Rep. Julia Letlow bought Meta stock after signing an NDA with the company about the proposed Louisiana data center. Her spokesperson says she had no role in directing the stock trades. (WWNO)

🏀 The Pelicans' schedule is out. They start the season Oct. 21 at home against the Indiana Pacers. (Full list)

🧬 Health news:

• Beken Bio, a New Orleans-based biotech startup, won a $1.25 million grant to develop a blood test aimed at detecting ovarian cancer. (Biz New Orleans)
• A new artificial intelligence-driven initiative aims to double hepatitis C cure rates in Louisiana through a partnership involving the OpenAI Foundation. (Axios)

🎉 Second-line season starts next week. Here's the schedule via WGNO.