The Advocacy Center is trying to get to the bottom of claims that some Louisiana inmates are being forced to bark like dogs for food. Attorney Katie Schwartzmann with the McArthur Justice Center says they are concerned about conditions at the David Wade Correctional Center in Homer based on letters they received from inmates.

Cut 3 (12) “suicide watch”

The Department of Corrections has not issued a statement.

Louisiana’s unemployment rate is at a three year low, according to data from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. Executive Director of the Louisiana Workforce Commission Ava Dejoie says the Houma area gained 600 jobs from May, and Lafayette has added jobs in four out of the six months.

Cut 15 (06) “some increases”

More than two thousand soldiers from Fort Polk will complete anti-terrorism operations during a deployment to Iraq this fall. Base spokesperson Kim Reischling says 60 percent of the base will deploy, leaving less than two thousand men and women of the combat team on the base.

Cut 11 (06) “here anyway”

A new trade agreement will allow Louisiana to export rice to China for the first time ever. Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says it took a while for the agreement to be finalized because of safety protocols.

Cut 7 (09) “product”

The US Department of Agriculture predicts China will import 5 million tons of rice in 2017 and 2018.