Over a dozen Louisiana public school districts have passed resolutions that ask the state not to enforce penalties for students who decide not take to the Common Core standardized tests. Louisiana School Boards Association executive director Scott Richard says as it stands now, school systems will receive a “zero” for every student who opts out…:
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BESE President Chas Roemer, a supporter of Common Core, is not calling a special meeting, but “opt-outs” could be discussed at the board’s March 5th meeting.

This morning Powerball raised tonight’s big jackpot to $500 million dollars according to the Louisiana Lottery. You have to get your tickets by nine tonight and if you’re going in with a group, the Lottery reminds you that in Louisiana only one entity or person can claim a prize. The odds of winning the big jackpot are one in 175 million.

Research from LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans finds that a psychedelic drug prevents the development of allergic asthma in mice. Scott Carwile reports…:
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State Police say a man who was fleeing Amite police Tuesday afternoon is dead after crashing into a house during the chase. They say 30-year-old Benjamin Zanders of Independence began running from cops on LA 16 in Tangipahoa Parish. Apparently the suspect traveled about 300 feet off a road and crashed into a residence in St. Helena Parish. Troopers suspect he was impaired and not buckled up. Zanders was pronounced dead at the scene.