The President of the LSU Alumni Association has decided to go on annual leave amidst a lawsuit claiming he paid a former female employee hush money.  Charlie Roberts admits to having sexual relations with Kay Heath.  Roberts attorney Mary Olive Pierson says Roberts is taking time off work so he can concentrate on the lawsuit.  But Heath’s attorney, Jeffry Sanford, calls it “paid leave” and says his client will drop the lawsuit if Roberts resigns or is fired because he is a continuing threat to all women at the Alumni Association…

cut 11 (08)  “in this case”

Pierson says Roberts is not going to respond to Heath’s threats and is focusing on winning the lawsuit.

The Louisiana Department of Heath and Hospitals confirms the state’s second West Nile virus death.  Not much is known of the victim other than it was an individual over the age of 75.  DHH reports 14 new West Nile virus cases this week, which brings this year’s total number of cases to 29.

The Baton Rouge Police Department says a Fed Ex man is under arrest for allegedly stealing packages he was supposed to deliver to businesses.  BRPD spokesman L’Jean McKneely says they believe 50-year-old Nathaniel Smith would lie by saying he delivered goods he’d kept for himself.  He says Fed Ex launched an investigation and that’s when they interviewed Smith and booked him for felony theft…:

cut 5 (05) “make the arrest”

McKneely says Smith was even supposed to deliver two computers to the police department that never arrived.

According to LSU AgCenter economist Kurt Guidry, Louisiana farmers will see minimal impact from Russia’s decision to ban food imports from the United States for one year.  Guidry says over the past five years, Russia has been a relatively minor customer for most US ag products…

cut 6 (09) “US export”

Russia’s “full embargo” on food imports from the US, Europe and other western countries is in response to sanctions over its crisis in Ukraine.