The Louisiana Department of Transportation says a major step forward in constructing a new I-10 Lake Charles Bridge has been completed. DOTD says the two-point-three billion dollar project has officially reached a financial close and the contractor, Calcasieu Bridge Partners can begin work. Construction could begin later this year and take seven years to complete.

Some of Louisiana’s educators will be evaluated under a new system this school year: It’s called LEADS. Mel Bridges has more.
Cut 3 (29) “…I’m Mel Bridges.”

Louisiana Treasurer John Fleming is encouraging state lawmakers to approve legislation next year to phase out of the state’s personal income tax. This tax provides the state with five-billion dollars to pay for higher education, public safety, health care and other programs. But Fleming says the state spends too much on things that do not help the state’s economy…
cut 9 (12) “…and voters”
Lawmakers will hold a fiscal regular session next year, so legislators can vote on proposed tax changes.

An eleven-year-old from Long Island, New York will attend online classes at LSU this fall, majoring in sports leadership. Joe Petraro has an IQ of 168 and it only took him two years to graduate middle and high school. Joe got a jump start on his college career, by taking a couple of online class this summer…
cut 5 (10) “…but it was awesome”
Joe says he decided to attend LSU because of its sports teams.