BY DOUG GRAHAM | Staff writer Candidates seeking the governorship and other statewide offices in the Oct. 14 primary election have officially declared their intention to run. The deadline to officially enter the races was Thursday. Hopefuls trickled through the Secretary of State's Office throughout the afternoon, and by the end of the day the fields for Attorney General, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, open seats on the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and other races had solidified. Also, 11 Baton Rouge-area lawmakers are running unopposed: See the list here. Acquiring tickets to the recently announced October 2024 New Orleans shows of the Taylor Swift Eras tour proved elusive for some. While legions of fans hoping to go to one of the concerts were "wait-listed" by Ticketmaster last week, the chosen few (anointed by the internet) received codes granting them the privilege to buy tickets. The face value of tickets varies and may seem steep. For example, one couple was able to buy four floor tickets for $1,788, which may sound like a lot; however, once the resellers get involved, single tickets can go for thousands of dollars. The National Hurricane Center has boosted its projections for the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season, saying it now expects above-average activity, in part because of record warm Atlantic Ocean surface temperatures. The new forecast calls for 14 to 21 named tropical storms, six to 11 hurricanes, and two to five major hurricanes. The new NHC predictions come after other forecasters have already punched up their predictions. | 