Now that schools are in session across the state, teachers are in classrooms with no idea what assessment test will be given this year. Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Steve Monaghan says most teachers are irritated about being in the middle of a political battle between BESE and the Department of Education and Governor Bobby Jindal over Common Core. He says these political forces need to make this year about teaching…:
CUT 8 (06) “on the backburner”
The two sides head to court this week.

There’s been another death from West Nile in Louisiana according to HDD. The first death was out of Caddo Parish and this latest claimed the life of someone over 75 in an area around the Baton Rouge and Feliciana Parishes. DHH Medical Director in Central Louisiana David Holcombe says the threat of West Nile sticks around until cooler weather arrives…:
CUT 15 (09) “very precipitously”
He urges Louisianians to take every precaution before that time.

Farmers across the state are beginning to harvest another rice crop after a record harvest last year. Eric Gill has more…:
CUT 2 (28) “reporting”

Police in Ponchatoula are investigating the death of a former LSU and UNO basketball player who was found in a friends swimming pool on Sunday. They say foul play is not suspected and an autopsy is being performed to determine the exact cause of the death of Matt Derenbecker who was just 22 years old.