An annual statewide survey from LSU finds that consumer confidence in Louisiana has fallen below the nation for the first time in recent years. Michael Henderson, research director of the LSU Public Policy Research Lab, says the Louisiana Consumer Sentiment Index fell by six points from the end of the third quarter of 2014 to the end of the first quarter of 2015…:
CUT 3 (06) “six months earlier”
While Louisiana’s consumer confidence was falling, consumer sentiment grew nationally by nearly 10-points.

Same-sex couples who want to change their last name on their driver’s license to reflect the same name as their spouse can do so starting today. State Police Lieutenant JB Slaton says you must bring a certified marriage license and social security records to the OMV..
CUT 10 (08) “social security level”

The St. Helena Parish Sheriff’s office says a 12-year-old boy died on the 4th of July when riding on a utility terrain vehicle and the adult driver is arrested. Detective Joe Chaney says 36-year-old Joshua Tharpe of Baton Rouge and the juvenile were riding the UTV on a wet sand bar and took a sharp sudden turn…:
CUT 12 (10) “on the child”
Chaney says Tharpe was charged with vehicular homicide and has since been released on a $100,000 bond. The invesitgation is ongoing.

The Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office is invesitgation an apparent accidental shooting which claimed the life of an unidentified woman. Cops say they were told by the victim’s estranged husband that the two were handling a firearm when it discharged by mistake and struck the woman. She was dead when deputies arrived. The investigation is ongoing.