According to Gasbuddy-dot-com, the statewide average price for a gallon of regular gasoline has officially dropped below two-dollars a gallon. Senior Petroleum Analyst Gregg Laskoski says the average price has fallen to $1.99 a gallon. He says this downward pressure on gas prices was something they noticed last month…:
CUT 3 (08) “fall season”
South Carolina, Mississippi, and Alabama also have statewide average gas prices below two-dollars a gallon.

A record number of Louisiana residents have signed up to quit smoking through Quitline and the Smoking Cessation Trust. DHH Assistant Secretary for Public Health J.T. Lane says nearly 2,700 Louisianians signed up for free smoking cessation services in July…:
cut 11 (09) “of the state”

Former state Senator Derrick Shepherd, who was convicted of money laundering, has been disqualified from running for the legislature. Jefferson Parish DA Paul Connick sued in order to remove Shepherd from the ballot citing a 1997 law barring felons from seeking public office. Legal analyst Chick Foret says Shepherd tried to fight the matter…:
CUT 6 (12) “vote on”
He says now Shepherd can appeal but doesn’t think he’ll be successful.

An airman who saved a little girl from a rooftop during Hurricane Katrina has reunited with her after searching for 10 years. Former Air Force Master Sergeant Mike Maroney took a picture with the child following the rescue and it went viral, appearing in ad campaigns and Air Force brochures. He finally found his Katrina girl, LeShay Brown who is now 13, and they were reunited during a taping of The Real TV show.