Five major health advocacy groups are coming together to push for a higher cigarette tax in Louisiana. Scott Carwile has the story…

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State Police are investigating a crash in Iberia Parish that killed a Jeanerette Police officer last night. They say 22-year-old Juandre Gilliam died during an apparent high speed chase when his car went off the road and overturned. The officer was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. They say the two suspects in the car Gilliam was chasing, Andre Joseph and an unnamed juvenile, have been taken into custody. Charges are pending at this time.

Louisiana education superintendent John White tells lawmakers he needs more money so the state can provide standardized tests next school year. White says Louisiana will violate state and federal law if it doesn’t have a standardized test…

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White says the budget as it currently exists will prevent students from taking the A-C-T or an assessment test like PARCC. The Jindal administration has said the superintendent will have to decide what to cut from his budget.

A high school in Monroe, which previously told a gay female student that she was not allowed to wear a tuxedo to prom, has now retracted. Carroll High School and Claudetteia Love’s story got national attention. Love was represented by the National Center for Lesbian Rights and Executive Director Kate Kendell says they are happy about this outcome…

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Kendell says forbidding girls from wearing a tuxedo to prom would have served no purpose.