Louisiana’s public schools performed only slightly better on ACT scores compared to last year, but with an average of 19.6 — that’s up from 19.1 since 2013. State Superintendent of Education John White says the number of students who qualify for TOPS also grew at every level of the award this year…:
Cut 10 (10) “than did in 2012″
There were also gains among African Americans who scored an average of 17.5 this year.

NOAA now says there is a 60 percent chance of an above-normal Atlantic Hurricane season, up from May’s prediction of 45 percent. NOAA lead hurricane season forecaster Gerry Bell says wind patterns are conducive for storm development and sea surface temperatures are well above normal…:
Cut 7 (06) “will persist”
The prediction now calls for 14-19 named storms.

Baton Rouge Police say a truck driver from Tennessee was robbed then killed while changing a tire in a parking lot Tuesday morning. They believe 49-year-old Keith Odom, of Jonesborough, was shot after he turned over his possessions to the robber. He later died at a local hospital. No suspect in the killing has been identified…:
Cut 5 (12) “a call”
That’s BRPD’s Sgt. Don Coppola.

South Louisiana authorities are still looking for Lafayette businessman Lawrence Michael Handely, who is wanted in the kidnapping of a woman. Detectives believe two men who drowned when evading West Baton Rouge Parish Deputies were involved in the crime. How all of this connects remains unknown at this time. The Lafayette Police Department has only said that the woman’s abduction stemmed from an ongoing domestic dispute” between her and Handley.