State labor officials say Louisiana’s unemployment rate dropped from 7.2 percent in December 2014 to 6.1 percent last December. Emelie Gunn has more on why…

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An Opelousas Police Department reserve officer has been suspended following his arrest on a charge of cruelty of a juvenile. Shaid Khan Swati has been with the department only a few months before his arrest. Details of what exactly happened have not been released, but the alleged victim is Swati’s son. The St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office is handling the investigation since the alleged incident occurred at Swati’s home outside the Opelousas city limits.

You have one week to register to vote in Louisiana’s March 5th presidential preference primary. In the closed primary, Democratic voters are only allowed to vote for Democratic presidential candidates and Republican voters for Republicans. Secretary of State Tom Schedler says registered independent voters are not allowed to take part in Louisiana’s presidential primary…

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He says you can register or change your party affiliation at your local registrar of voters office or online at geauxvote-dot-com.

How the football playoffs will be structured is the big issue at this year’s Louisiana High School Athletic Association convention, which begins today. LHSAA president Vic Bonnaffee says discussion ramps up today as principals and coaches try to reach a consensus before a vote on Friday…

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It was learned earlier this month that the association did not use proper procedures in enacting the public-private school split in 2013.