The number of substance-exposed babies born in Louisiana has tripled since 2008, according to the Department of Children and Family Services. DCFS Regional Administrator Michelle Faust says, last year alone, there were almost 15-hundred reported cases of substance-exposed babies. She says DCFS is having a hard time finding foster families for these challenging situations…:
Cut 5 (10) “their behavior”
Faust says over 4-thousand children are in foster care in Louisiana, and DCFS desperately needs more foster parents.

Two people were found dead early this morning in Natalbany in a rare apparent double homicide case in the community, according to the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff’s Office. Authorities are now searching for the killer. They say the victims were shot to death in an SUV in the area just north of Hammond. State Police is assisting in the investigation.

In the latest Southern Media and Opinion Research poll, State Treasurer John Kennedy has a commanding lead in the US Senate race with 32%. Congressman Charles Boustany is second with 10%. Pollster Bernie Pinsonat says
Democratic candidates Foster Campbell with 9 percent, and Caroline Fayard, who comes in at 4-percent, are still unknown to many voters…:
Cut 9 (10) “be for”
32-percent of those polled are undecided.

We’re entering the 100 most dangerous days for teen drivers, and AAA says teens are most commonly distracted by their passengers or their cell phone..:
cut 14 (12) “the wheel”
AAA spokesman Don Redman says it’s crucial for parents to talk to their kids about putting the phone down when they drive.