The US Army has confirmed that Fort Polk in Vernon Parish will lose 388 soldiers and other personnel over the next two years as part of a reduction plan that will reduce the number of troops nationally by 40-thousand. Fort Polk officials say this is actually good news, because there was a concern that the cuts would be worse.

Parents, teachers and students who want to provide public comments about Common Core can now so at an online portal set up by the state department of education. Lake Charles Representative Brett Geymman says the comments will be used as part of the review process for the controversial educational standards…
cut 4 (11) “…moving forward”
As part of the review process, Geymann says the new governor, legislature and BESE will have a say on what changes could be made.

Tragic story out of Avoyelles Parish as authorities say a seven-year-old was the victim in an apparent murder-suicide. Sheriff Doug Anderson says they believe 28-year-old Ryan Recktenwald killed his young daughter and then turned the gun on himself…
cut 8 (10) “…week or so”
Anderson says the two bodies were found laying in a field in the Vick area.

The investigation continues in East Baton Rouge Parish into the stabbing and strangling of a sex offender in Zachary. Authorities found 47-year-old Robert Noce in a plastic drum. Noce was serving probation for a sex crime involving a child. A 21-year-old man and 17-year-old woman have been charged in his murder. Authorities are not commenting on whether the slaying is connected to the conviction.