Thousands of Louisiana college students receive their degree today and they are now set to enter the workforce. Recruiting consultant with the Eastman Group, Tom Hanson, says hiring for entry level positions has increased since last year.
cut 14 (08) “three months”
Today, LSU will hand out a record number of degrees, with over four-thousand students participating in commencement ceremonies.

Debate continues at the State Capitol today over the 26-billion dollar budget for next fiscal year. On a 49-43 vote, the Louisiana House has decided to shift 72-million dollars from the TOPS scholarship program and put it towards hospitals that provide care for the poor and needy. Also, the House has restored money to fund the Inspector General’s office. More amendments to change funding within the budget are expected today.

The Coast Guard says nearly 90-thousand gallons of crude oil has been released into the Gulf of Mexico from a Shell pipeline about 90-miles south of Timbalier Island. Authorities say the wellhead is now secure.

Health professionals have recommended for some time to wear sun protection while outdoors and now they say it’s also smart to do so while riding in a vehicle. Chair of Ophthalmology at LSU Health New Orleans, Dr. Jayne Weiss, says side windows in cars only block about 65% of the UV rays.
cut 11 (11) “side windows”
She cites a study demonstrating that left-sided skin cancer was more common in those who spent a lot of time driving.