A Louisiana man convicted of a 1971 kidnapping and rape of a Baton Rouge nurse is set to walk out of prison today as a free man after a judge overturned his conviction. State District Court Judge Richard Anderson called the case against 65-year-old Wilbert Jones weak and authorities withheld evidence that could have exonerated him decades ago. Jones’ family says they’ll have gumbo ready for him when he gets out.

The Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness is holding a large nuclear Prevention Exercise today on the Mississippi River near the Port of Baton Rouge. GOHSEP spokesman Mike Steele says Operation Great River aims to find out how well Louisiana is prepared should we face this type of emergency…:
Cut 6 (10) “the most”
He says the event will test state and federal resources.

The Cost of Living Index shows Shreveport and Monroe are among the lowest cost of living cities in the country. President of the North Louisiana Economic Partnership Scott Martinez says the report shows if you earned 50-thousand dollars in Denver, you’d only need just over 40-thousand in Monroe or Shreveport…
cut 15 (10) “…much difference”
Martinez says having a low cost of living can also encourage economic development.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser is re-engergizing the state’s effort to attract golfers from around North America to play the courses on the state’s Audubon Golf Trail. Nungesser says Louisiana should be an attractive option for golfers in cold weather states….
cut (11) “…in Louisiana”
The Audubon Golf trail was established over 15 years ago.