Retired air force colonel and tea party candidate Rob Maness officially joined the US Senate on the final day of qualifying. Jeff Palermo has the story…:
CUT 2 (30) “reporting”

A state law requiring abortion doctors to have admitting privileges at a local hospital goes into a effect next Monday, but the Center for Reproductive Rights yesterday filed lawsuit in federal court challenging the law. They say if the law is enforced starting September 1st, it’s not clear that any abortion doctor in Louisiana could legally provide those services. Similar laws have been blocked by the courts in other states.

The Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s says 5 Louisiana residents are arrested for allegedly being involved in a prostitution operation being run out of Asian massage parlors. Spokesman Matt Vezinot says they got a tip that people were getting sex for cash at this location when the sting operation began…:
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Vezinot says they made three arrests in Lake Charles and also had warrants for people in Lafayette and Bossier City who were connected to the crimes.

State Climatologist Barry Keim says the hottest weekend of the year is underway with high temps in the upper 90s expected and triple digits in some cases…:
CUT 11 (09) “early next week”