With no standardized test in place for the school year that is just around the corner, where does that put Louisiana right now?  Council for a Better Louisiana President Barry Erwin says BESE leaders believe they are the ones who should decide what kind of assessment test is used in public schools, but the Jindal administration believes they should be involved in that process. He says a lawsuit to settle this dispute could be filed by BESE…:
CUT 14 (12) “does have a standing”
He says the judicial system is needed to settle this dispute.

State Police have arrested a Kaplan man in the hit-and-run death that took the life of a Youngsville cyclist two weeks ago.  Last night, 42-year-old Fitzpatrick Doucette of Kaplan was arrested at this home and charged with negligent homicide, felony hit and run, driving under suspension and limitations on passing bicycles.  The victim, 30-year-old Lon Lomas, was riding his bicycle July 7 when he was struck & killed by a car.

State Farm has announced the hurricane deductible for home owner policy holders will go up from 2 to 5 percent. But Commissioner of Insurance Jim Donelon asks that they let policy holders here have the option to buy back down to the 2 percent deductible in their policy by paying a higher insurance premium. He says a typical policy holder with a two percent hurricane deductible on a $150,000 home would pay $3,000 out of pocket before their insurance took effect…:
CUT 5 (08) “kick in”
He says State Farm is considering the request.

I scientist in Shreveport has just gotten a grant that would help her produce a gum that has the potential to prevent cancer. Dr. Cherie-Ann Nathan with the LSU School of Medicine in Shreveport says curcumin is a food substance found in the spice turmeric which could have cancer-preventing qualities. She says curcumin is one of the top selling supplements on the market…:
CUT 11 (12) “anti-oxidant as well”
She was awarded a $50,000 grant from the LSU System’s LIFT2 Program for the study.

We’ve seen a nice steady drop in gas prices over the past month. Louisiana stands at $3.39 a gallon of regular which is down a dime from 4 weeks ago.