Caddo Parish District Attorney Charles Scott died in his sleep last night in Baton Rouge while in town to meet with lawmakers at the Capitol. Shreveport Representative Thomas Carmody announced the news this morning. LSU police say Scott was staying at the Lod Cook Hotel on campus. Captain Corey Lalonde says they were called to Scott’s room around 8:15…:
CUT 11 (06) “was deceased”
He says they believe Scott died of natural causes. Public records indicate Scott was 67.

According to the Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, Louisiana’s labor force continues to grow while the state’s unemployment rate dropped for a third month in a row. Louisiana Workforce Commission Executive Director, Curt Eysink, says the unemployment rate dropped because hiring is catching up with the growth in the labor force…:
CUT 3 (10) “find a job”
Louisiana’s unemployment rate currently sits at six-point-six-percent.

The American Press is reporting a former teacher from Lake Charles Academy is facing charges alleging she was engaging in sexual activity with students. 35-year-old Sommer Nicole Odom of Iowa was placed under arrest Tuesday on three counts of oral sexual battery, four counts of indecent behavior with juveniles and one count of sexual battery the newspaper reports. The Lake Charles Police Department has not released information on this yet.

The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s office says there deputy who was ambushed with gunfire while directing school traffic last week is out of the hospital. They say Corporal Burt Hazeltine, who was hit three times, is continuing his recovery at home.

The Big Easy’s new smoke free ordinance went into effect at midnight. Founding Dean of LSU Health New Orleans School of Public Health, Elizabeth Fontham, says long-term exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke could increase a women’s risk of lung cancer as much as 86-percent…:
cut 14 (06) “the risk became”
Hammond passed a similar ordinance last night and Lafayette is taking up the issue at a May 5th meeting.