The latest LEAP test results show that overall student proficiency among students in grades three through eight is up a percentage point, with 35-percent achieving Mastery or above. Erin Bendily, the senior vice president of the Pelican Institute, notes, however, that when students through high school are factored in, the results are flat.
Fireworks will be popping tonight and tomorrow as America celebrates its 249th birthday. State Fire Marshal spokesman Ken Pastorick says there are more than 600 fireworks stands, with all needing to be properly licensed by the State Fire Marshal’s office.
Cut 10 (07) “…fireworks stand.”
Pastorick says you can report suspicious or illegal fireworks sales to the state.
A three-year-old West Baton Rouge Parish girl drowns in a neighbor’s swimming pool. The sheriff’s office says Jacie Lee walked out of the garage of her home while her family was inside, and a deputy found her in the pool unresponsive. Sergeant Landon Groger reminds you to always have a designated person watching children at all times.
Cut 8 (12) “…in your prayers.”
This year’s Fourth of July barbecue is going to cost you a little more money. State Agriculture Secretary Mike Strain says beef is up seven-percent and ground beef is up ten-percent. And he says other meat prices have been up year over year as well.
Cut 13 (06) “…ham over 4-percent.”
The American Farm Bureau Federation estimates that an average cookout for ten people will cost about 70 dollars.