17:30 Newscast, July 2nd, 2015

Officials in 5 Gulf States, including Louisiana, announce they have reached a settlement agreement with BP for $18.7 billion dollars which resolves litigation over the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Attorney General Buddy Caldwell says this is the largest environmental settlement in history…:
cut 3 (08) “billion dollars”
Caldwell says this finally and fairly resolves all issues associated with the disaster.

Four men accused of raping a 15-year-old girl in Madisonville during a party in 2008 have had their convictions overturned by the Louisiana Supreme Court. The ruling states that new evidence has surfaced and there was also a new witness who had a different story than the victim. The four men were all serving life sentences. They are Derrick Maise, Brett Ward, Clayton James King and Michael Ayo.

The Independence Day “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” campaign began today…:
CUT 8 (05) Q: ‘task of driving’
Louisiana Highway Safety Commission Deputy Director Ken Trull says overtime grants have been given to increase patrols to stop drinking and driving. He says during last year’s 4th of July holiday period, there were 374 fatal and injury crashes in Louisiana.

Fishing kicked off today in the 67th Annual Tarpon Rodeo at Moran’s Marina in Fourchon. The rodeo wraps up with July 4th festivities. Rodeo Admiral Eddie Callais says it’s about the competition, prizes, family fun, cook off AND all for a good cause…:
CUT 11 (10) Q: ‘to go to’
For more information, you can log on to fourchontarponrodeo.com.