A Baton Rouge man who is accused of beating to death his 77-year-old roommate then burying him in a tomato garden was indicted Wednesday for second degree murder. The suspect is 54-year-old Douglas Studeman. East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore on the indictment…

cut 14 (06) “proceed forward”

Moore argued Chester Oakley opened his home to the suspect earlier this year in exchange for some help around the house. Police found the victim’s bludgeoned body wrapped in bed sheets under some fresh dirt in a garden at the house.

Forecasters with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center have updated their forecast for the 2014 Atlantic Hurricane Season and now say there is an increased chance it will be below-normal. Lead seasonal forecaster Gerry Bell says the outlook issued today calls for a 70% chance of a below normal season…:

cut 9 (05) “has increased”

He encourages Gulf Coast residents to remain prepared throughout the season.

A 57-million dollar construction project is set to begin on US 90 in Lafayette Parish as crews will expand that highway from four to six lanes from Ambassador Caffery to Albertsons Parkway. Estimated construction time is three years, but State Department of Transportation spokesperson Deidra Druilhet says US 90 will remain open during that time…

cut 7 (12) “as possible”

Druilhet says once construction is completed on the one-point-six mile stretch of roadway, motorists will see less traffic congestion and the wider highway should lead to economic growth.