BC-LA--Louisiana-News Digest,ADVISORY, LA

Louisiana at 2 a.m. on Tuesday

Good morning, Louisiana editors.

If you have any contributions for or questions about the report, call 1-800-662-7717. To report technical problems: 1-800-469-1362. AP stories, along with the photos that accompany them, can also be obtained from http://www.apexchange.com. Reruns are also available from the Service Desk (800-838-4616). The news editor is Brian Schwaner. The breaking news staffer this morning is Bill Fuller.

TOP STORIES

XGR-LOUISIANA BUDGET

BATON ROUGE, La. — Two women whose daughters were killed in traffic accidents pleaded with lawmakers Monday to spend more on cable median barriers that could have prevented the fatal collisions. Tammy Willson and Kelly Hatfield, two mothers from northwest Louisiana, spoke to the House Appropriations Committee, which was hearing spending requests from the general public after weeks of getting information from state agencies. By Melinda Deslatte. SENT: 602 words.

XGR-PAYDAY LOANS

BATON ROUGE, La. — Now that lawmakers have shot down efforts to cap annual interest rates for payday loans, supporters for stricter regulations of the storefront lenders are rallying behind another strategy. They're backing a bill by Sen. Ben Nevers, D-Bogalusa, that would limit borrowers to 10 payday loans per year. It awaits a hearing in the Senate Finance Committee. By Lauren Langlois. SENT: 513 words.

XGR-COMMON CORE

BATON ROUGE, La. — Eight lawmakers asked Gov. Bobby Jindal on Monday to scrap plans to use tests associated with the Common Core education standards, a proposal that Jindal called "a viable option" if the Legislature won't vote to jettison the tests. The controversial standardized tests are set to be used in third-grade through eighth-grade public school classrooms next year. By Melinda Deslatte. SENT: 419 words.

CATHOLICS-SYNOD

(Information in the following story is from: The New Orleans Advocate, http://www.neworleansadvocate.com)

NEW ORLEANS — Archbishop Gregory Aymond on Tuesday will call together an archdiocesan synod, the first such convocation of Catholics in New Orleans since 1987. The New Orleans Advocate reported (http://bit.ly/1qX23PZhistory) Aymond's call will come after the annual Chrism Mass at St. Louis Cathedral. SENT: 279 words.

AUDIT-DCFS

BATON ROUGE — An audit finds the state agency charged with protecting children in abuse and neglect situations has fewer workers, more cases and has failed to follow its own policies. The Louisiana Legislative Auditor released the report early Monday. The state Department of Children and Family Services, called DCFS, handled 130,186 cases, including 192 child fatalities, during the five-year period, between July 1, 2009 and June 30, 2013. Auditors sought to check the systems used to evaluate cases appropriately and to timely investigate the situations. Auditors made 17 recommendations that DCFS Secretary Suzy Sonnier agreed with some, and took issue with others in a seven-page letter. The report found that 104 cases where the response was slow involved sexual abuse and three involved deaths. SENT: 383 words.

BATON ROUGE LANDFILL

BATON ROUGE — A Baton Rouge official wants to consider suing to block an industrial waste landfill in north Baton Rouge. City-parish Councilman Trae Welch said the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality should appear before the council to explain its approval of the landfill when elected officials opposed it. DEQ granted a landfill permit to Louisiana Land Acquisitions after two previous unsuccessful attempts. Although DEQ has yet to release anything publicly about the permit approval, Sam Phillips, DEQ assistant secretary, confirms the agency approved the permit April 4. The Louisiana Land Acquisitions site was built to accept hazardous waste from the nearby Petro-Processors of Louisiana Superfund site. However, before the pit could be used, the agreement to clean up the site changed and the landfill was no longer needed. SENT: 347 words.

AUDIT-CARTER PLANTATION

SPRINGFIELD — An audit of Carter Plantation Community Development District in Springfield reveals the district is falling further into the red as lot sales lag and bonds remain unpaid. But an attorney for the district tells says it may be able to work out a deal with the investor who holds most of the district's debt and most of its property. An audit finds the district's liabilities exceeded its assets by more than $7 million for the 2013 fiscal year, up from $5.5 million in 2012. The district is a public entity organized under Livingston Parish government to create and finance the infrastructure for the subdivision. SENT: 300 words.

BATON ROUGE TRAFFIC

BATON ROUGE — In an effort to improve the flow of traffic between LSU's campus and downtown Baton Rouge, St. Ferdinand and St. Louis streets will become two-way roads before the end of the year. The project was conceived about six years ago and approved in 2010, but a series of delays have pushed construction into this year. St. Ferdinand Street becomes Highland Road and St. Louis Street becomes Nicholson Drive. However, both streets are one-way, which means drivers are diverted to other streets when heading downtown from LSU. The change will provide a smoother and more fluid connection from LSU all the way to the State Capitol. SENT: 308 words.

PEARL RIVER FLOODING

FLOWOOD, Miss. — Pearl River's waters flooded parts of Jackson and surrounding areas in 1979 in a deluge that paralyzed the city and led to the evacuation of 15,000 people. Now, 35 years later, the river is making a return visit. At the 34-foot stage, water has done little more than flood wooded areas, compared with the 43-foot crest of 1979. But with the swollen Pearl climbing again Monday after heavy rain overnight, it's a reminder that despite decades of study, little has been done to protect Mississippi's largest urban area. By Jeff Amy. SENT: 664 words.

ENTERTAINMENT/LIFESTYLE

FRENCH QUARTER FEST-RECORDS

(Information in the following story is from: The Times-Picayune, http://www.nola.com)

NEW ORLEANS — Nearly 733,000 people attended this year's French Quarter Festival, an increase of nearly 200,000 compared to last year. NOLA.com ' The Times-Picayune reports (http://bit.ly/1jFJ7Ee ) the record numbers were measured by Fess Inc. security workers at entry and exit points of major stage areas. The numbers are adjusted down by percentage to account for repeat entrances and exits. It doesn't include attendance at the festival's Royal, Bourbon, Chartres, Decatur and French Market stages, Battle of the Bands, Dancing at Dusk, Cathedral Concert, and other special events. SENT: 204 words.

NICHOLLS STATE-MASTERS

THIBODAUX — Thirty-six cooking students are returning to Nicholls State University after a week of work at the Masters golf tournament. They left for Augusta, Ga., on April 3 and were expected back in Thibodaux on Monday. They worked in a wide range of support jobs such as pantry assistants and servers at the Augusta National Golf Club. Some had a chance to work in the Champions Locker, where celebrity golfers eat. SENT: 212 words.

LOUISIANA IN BRIEF

Editors: The following brief items moved Monday on AP's Louisiana wire and may be of interest for your Tuesday editions.

CONGRESSMAN-VIDEO

BATON ROUGE, La. — An organizer says Republican U.S. Rep. Vance McAllister canceled an appearance before a tea party group as he continues to stay out of sight after a video showed him kissing a married aide. McAllister was scheduled to speak Monday to the North Central Louisiana Tea Party. But event coordinator Bob Flournoy tells The Associated Press that the congressman scrapped that. SENT: 146 words.

5TH DISTRICT-ALEXANDER

BATON ROUGE — A spokeswoman for Rodney Alexander says the Republican former congressman doesn't intend to run for his old seat, despite a videotape showing GOP Rep. Vance McAllister in a marital indiscretion. Alexander left the job last year to become Gov. Bobby Jindal's veterans affairs secretary. Alexander's spokeswoman Robin Keller said Monday that Alexander is focused on his current job and "has no plans to alter that at this time or in the near future." SENT: 130 words.

TRIATHLETE DEATH-ARREST

NEW ORLEANS — Police have arrested the driver in a fatal crash that killed a triathlete in eastern New Orleans. Thirty-four-year-old Howard Vidrine was jailed Friday after the accident that killed 36-year-old Frank Guinn, who was training for Sunday's Ironman race. SENT: 151 words.

BALD EAGLE-REWARD

(Information in the following story is from: The New Orleans Advocate, http://www.neworleansadvocate.com)

BATON ROUGE, La. — The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Humane Society of the United States are offering a reward of up to $7,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whomever is responsible for killing a federally protected bald eagle. The federal wildlife service and state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries are investigating the killing that occurred near Verret in St. Bernard Parish. The eagle was found April 4 near a fire station. SENT: 183 words.

CHIEF INDICTED

(Information in the following story is from: The Advocate, http://theadvocate.com)

BRUSLY, La. — Police Chief Jamie Whaley says he will step down as Brusly's (BREW-leez) police chief, effective April 25. The move comes in the wake of his recent indictment on charges of theft and malfeasance in office. SENT: 125 words.

VEHICULAR HOMICIDE

LAKE CHARLES — A 75-year-old Tennessee woman pleaded no contest to an amended charge in the 2013 death of a 92-year-old woman on Highway 109 in Vinton, La. Millie Adams Powell, of Michie, Tenn., entered her plea Monday to a charge of negligent homicide, amended from vehicular homicide, in the death of Port Arthur, Texas-woman Rubye Jones. SENT: 127 words.

HOUMA-FATAL FIRE ARREST

HOUMA — Houma police say the father of two toddlers who were left unattended during a house fire on March 15 was arrested over the weekend. Romell Welsh Sr., 20, turned himself in to Houma police Saturday at 12:40 p.m. telling authorities that he "wanted to do the right thing." Welsh was booked with two counts of manslaughter and possession of marijuana. SENT: 122 words.

PARK BODY

LAFAYETTE — Lafayette police are investigating the death of a 21-year-old woman whose body was found early Sunday in a drainage ditch in Girard Park. Cpl. Paul Mouton says the death is suspicious, but detectives have not ruled out foul play in the death of the Alexandria Shelton. SENT: 117 words.

SABINE-FATAL CRASH

FLORIEN — State police say a single vehicle crash involving a pedestrian, killed a woman from Many. Troopers say the accident occurred Sunday afternoon on La. Highway 474 west of Florien. Trooper Scott Moreau says the crash involved an SUV driven by 24-year-old Allison Lynn Alford, of Florien, and a pedestrian, identified as 32-year-old Shelli P. Bozeman. Moreau says the SUV was westbound when it collided with Bozeman. SENT: 99 words.

SYNTHETIC MARIJUANA

GONZALES — Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Tony Bacala says the six men who went to the hospital Thursday night after smoking synthetic marijuana aren't saying where they got the substance and haven't been arrested. Bacala says the six men, who are now out of the hospital, came from Donaldsonville. SENT: 107 words.

BICYCLIST KILLED

NEW IBERIA — Iberia Parish sheriff's deputies say a 38-year-old New Iberia man died after he was struck by a Jeep as he tried to cross East St. Peter Street on his bicycle. Lt. Anthony Green tells said Tony Parker was found lying in the 500 block of East St. Peter Street at about 10:20 p.m. Saturday after he was struck by an SUV driven by a 22-year-old New Iberia man. SENT: 114 words.

STUDY ABROAD

LAFAYETTE — South Louisiana Community College's first study-abroad program will begin this summer in Paris. Program director Olivier Chatelain de Pronville said the session will offer students a culturally important experience. SENT: 67 words.

TUNNEL CLOSING

HOUMA — Authorities in Terrebonne Parish say the Houma Tunnel will close to vehicle traffic Wednesday and Thursday nights for cleaning. Traffic will not be permitted in the tunnel from 9 p.m.-5 a.m. both nights. SENT: 54 words.

BATON ROUGE-CHILDREN'S MUSEUM

BASTON ROUGE — The Knock Knock Children's Museum has received a $100,000 donation from CN Railroad to help fund learning zones at the museum planned at Baton Rouge City Park. A fundraising campaign has been underway to pay for up to 20 activity spaces that will serve as interactive exhibits focused on southeast Louisiana. SENT: 95 words.

ADVERTISING SCHOLARSHIPS

GRAMBLING — Three Grambling State University students have been awarded scholarships by the Houston-based Advertising Education Foundation. The scholarships will go to E'Vonne Gipson, Ninfa Saavedra and Tierra Smith. SENT: 60 words.

BUSINESS

CRAWFISH SUPPLY

LAFAYETTE — Louisiana crawfishermen and the merchants who sell the crustacean to retail customers say the supply should be enough to satisfy appetites during Holy Week and Easter weekend. It's a welcome turn to a season marred by a harsh winter that stunted crawfish growth, limited the catch and made profit forecasts bleak. In the days leading into Holy Week, prices for a pound of live crawfish ran from $2 at Db Seafood in Morgan City to $2.49 at Tony's Seafood Market and Deli in Baton Rouge. The price was somewhere in between at D&T Seafood in Abbeville, where live, small-sized crawfish sold for $1.50 a pound and the mediums went for $2.25. SENT: 367 words.

BUSINESS IN BRIEF

BANCORPSOUTH-LOUISIANA INSURER

TUPELO, Miss. — BancorpSouth Insurance Services Inc., a subsidiary of BancorpSouth Bank, has agreed to acquire the assets of Lafayette, La.-based Knox Insurance Group LLC. Financial terms of the pending transaction were not disclosed. SENT: 134 words.

MINDEN-DIVIDEND

MINDEN — The board of directors of Minden Bancorp Inc. has declared a dividend off 9.5 cents per share on its common stock. The dividend is payable April 29 to shareholders of record on April 18. SENT: 54 words.

SPORTS

THUNDER-PELICANS

NEW ORLEANS — Tyreke Evans scored a career-high 41 points to go with nine rebounds, eight assists and three steals, and the New Orleans Pelicans snapped an eight-game skid by shocking the playoff-bound Thunder 101-89 on Monday night. Evans made 14 of 26 shots while scoring mostly on quick, powerful bursts to the hoop. He also scored 12 points at the foul line and made a 3 that put the Pelicans ahead 90-82 with 4:21 left. By Brett Martel. SENT: 750 words.

AP Photos LAGH107-0414142016, LAGH109-0414142006, LAGH110-0414141944, LAGH104-0414141944, LAGH108-0414141852.

SPORTS IN BRIEF

THUNDER-PELICANS EJECTIONS

NEW ORLEANS — Thunder forward Nick Collison and Pelicans guard Austin Rivers both have been ejected following a brief scuffle in the second quarter of Monday night's game between Oklahoma City and New Orleans. Rivers appeared perturbed about the way he was held up during a prolonged screen set by Collison while on Oklahoma City's offensive end. SENT: 135 words.

THUNDER-PELICANS INJURIES

NEW ORLEANS — Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks says he's sitting Russell Westbrook out of Monday night's game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Brooks says the decision is meant to provide his star point guard with extra rest after the playoff-bound Thunder played in Indianapolis on Sunday. Reggie Jackson is slated to start in Westbrook's place. SENT: 125 words.

PELICANS-MOVES

NEW ORLEANS — The New Orleans Pelicans have waived center Greg Stiemsma and signed center Melvin Ely for the final two games of the season, beginning with Monday night's home contest against Oklahoma City. The 6-foot-10 Ely has appeared in 373 games over eight NBA seasons, including two seasons with New Orleans from 2007 to 2009. He's averaged 5.3 points and 3.3 rebounds in 16.0 minutes per game during his NBA career. SENT: 147 words.

AP Photos SPANOKAA102-0411141919.

BLACK BASS RULES

ALEXANDRIA — The state Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says regulations for black bass on several lakes, including three in Central Louisiana will change on April 20. Slot limits will be rescinded for Chicot Lake in Evangeline Parish, Lake Rodemacher in Rapides Parish and Vernon Lake in Vernon Parish. SENT: 100 words.

LOUISIANA OUTDOORS

LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN FLOUNDER

NEW ORLEANS — If Capt. Kris Robert is right, any day now, as day turns to dusk, you can expect knocks on your front door from little kids dressed like witches, ghosts and pumpkins. Give them handfuls of candy, or they'll light your mailbox on fire or pee on your rosebushes. The calendar says April, and Halloween is in October, but the calendar is wrong. It's got to be. Lake Pontchartrain is loaded to the gills with flounder, and that happens in the fall, not the spring. The fish move out of the estuary en masse to escape the coming cold, and the blitz in eastern Lake Pontchartrain is often legendary. Not in 2013, though. The blitz last fall was only legendary for how bad it was. By Todd Masson, The Times-Picayune. SENT: 825 words.

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