The hurricane forecast team at Colorado State University continues to predict a near average Atlantic hurricane season. Researcher Dr. Phil Klotzbach says they’re expecting to see 10 named storms and four more hurricanes. But he says given how quiet the last three years have been, this season will seem a lot more active than usual…:
CUT 6 (10) “the storms”
He says there is a 29-percent chance of a major hurricane making landfall on the Gulf Coast.

The body of the pilot of the helicopter that crashed into the Atchafalaya Basin Wednesday has been located. The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries says several agencies worked this morning to locate the aircraft and the pilot. The wreckage site is in the Grand Lake area. The pilot was the only person on board. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

The state Department of Education announced Louisiana students are showing improvement as the results of the 2016 LEAP assessments indicate 38 percent mastered math and English, compared to 33 percent in 2015. Superintendent John White says this is good news but unfortunately some groups are doing significantly better than others that cut across lines of race and income:
CUT 10 (11) “our state”

Louisiana leaders held a news conference Thursday morning to provide information related to a federal grant for transportation infrastructure. Gov. John Bel Edwards said $20-$25 million of savings brought on by the grants will be used to create a new I-10 off-ramp at the Washington Street exit in Baton Rouge.