U.S District Judge Patricia Minaldi of Lake Charles is retiring. The federal judge took a medical leave in December to receive alcoholism treatment. According to court records, Minaldi’s drinking got so bad that a colleague asked the court to rule she cannot take care of herself. Minaldi said a few months ago that her alcoholism didn’t impact the outcome of her cases.

The projected starter at right guard for LSU has been suspended….

Voicer 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

In Acadia Parish, an assistant police chief resigned after referring to Muslim women as trash bags on Facebook, plus he posted a racially charged meme. Esterwood Police Chief Ernest Villejoin (Vee-jewan) says Wayne Welsh made the right decision to step down….
cut 14 (06) “…it happened”
Welsh was a police officer for the town for over two years.

The end to the construction on Bourbon Street is moving slower than anticipated. New Orleans Public Works Department Director Mark Jernigan says rain has caused delays, along with poor utility plan depictions. He says they’ve also uncovered that many businesses along the historic street are in violation of the state’s plumbing code.:
Cut 5 (09) “businesses”
He says they are about two months behind and all of the work might not get completed until Halloween.

In Acadia Parish, the Esterwood Assistance Police Chief has resigned after posting racially charged remarks on his personal Facebook page….
voicer 2 (28) “…I’m Michelle Southern”

One person is dead and a Red River Parish Sheriff’s deputy was injured during a shoot out at a home south of Coushatta this morning. A state police spokesperson says the deputy was transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries, while the male suspect died at the hospital. The deputy visited the home in reference to a welfare concern.

The massive construction project on Bourbon Street is two months behind schedule. New Orleans Public Works Director Mark Jernigan blames a rainy June and the exact location of almost all the utility lines underneath the historic street were either missing or inaccurately depicted on their plans…:
Cut 4 (11) “are buried”
It might be until Halloween before all of the work is completed.

The only homeless shelter in the Monroe area will close its doors later this month. On August 26, the Salvation Army will discontinue its overnight shelter services. Spokesperson Jon Kalahar says the shelter serves an average of 30 people each night…:
Cut 6 (08) “for 2016″
Six people will also lose their jobs and it’s unclear where the homeless will sleep once the shelter closes.

The Assistant Police Chief in the Acadia Parish town of Estherwood has resigned for posting racial comments and pictures on his Facebook page. Police Chief Ernest Villejoin (Vee-jewan) says they are extremely sorry if Wayne Welsh’s posts offended anyone…:
Cut 13 (10) “so he resigned”
Welsh referred to Muslim women as trash bags and posted racially charged memes.

Citing ongoing money problems, The Salvation Army homeless shelter in Monroe, the only one in the area, is going to close later this month. Spokesperson Jon Kalahar says church services and weekly prayer meetings will continue, and so will basic social services…:
Cut 7 (10) “care program”
He says seven employees will be laid off when the shelter closes.

Gunfire killed a man and wounded a Red River Parish sheriff’s deputy Wednesday morning south of Coushatta, according to State Police. They believe a gunman and deputies fired at each other when a deputy was hit, and a wounded man taken to the hospital where he died. State Police is investigating.

An arrest has been made in the case of a woman who was found stabbed to death in her home. Baton Rouge Police Sgt. Don Coppola says 42-year-old Miguel Lopez asked someone at the home to call police when he fled the scene. He says the body of the victim was discovered later…:
Cut 10 (09) “12 hours”
The victim is 42-year-old Sara Hernandez. Lopez was booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on a charge of second degree murder.

LSU Head Football Coach Ed Orgeron announced starting right guard Maea Teuhema has been indefinitely suspended for violation of team rules. Orgeron said earlier this week that Teuhema was not at practice, because of academic issues.

Esterwood Assistant Chief of Police Wayne Welsh has resigned from his position amid allegations he posted racists remarks on his personal Facebook page. Chief of Police Ernest Villejoin says this is no reflection of the police department and Welsh has publicly apologized…:
Cut 12 (08) “department”
Welsh posted multiple comments on his Facebook page referring to Muslim women as trash bags, as well as, a racially charged meme.

The end to the construction on Bourbon Street doesn’t look close in sight. New Orleans Public Works Department Director Mark Jernigan says the rain has caused delays, and poor utility plan depictions. He also says many businesses along Bourbon are in violation of the state’s plumbing code.:
Cut 5 (09) “businesses”
He says they are about two months behind.

An arrest has been made in the case of a woman who was found stabbed to death in her home. Baton Rouge Police Sgt. Don Coppola says 42-year-old Miguel Lopez has been charged with murder in the death of 42-year-old Sara Hernandez…:
Cut 9 (09) “girlfriend”
Lopez was booked with second degree murder.

The projected starter at right guard for LSU has been suspended. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 1 (29) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The massive construction project on historic Bourbon Street is about two months behind schedule. The New Orleans Public Works Department says there have been considerable weather delays, and they also found that the exact location and size of almost all the utility lines underneath Bourbon Street were either missing or inaccurately depicted on their plans…:
Cut 4 (11) “are buried”
He also says many businesses along with street are in violation of the state’s plumbing code.

LSU has found a tiger that could become Mike VII. Ginger Guttner with the LSU Vet School says the prospect is a nine-month-old, 160 pound male tiger. She says there’s still a lot up in the air, especially with the tiger habitat on campus still undergoing renovations…:
Cut 25 (08) “in August”
Guttner says the prospective Mike VII is a rescue from a tiger sanctuary in Florida.

The only shelter in the Monroe area is closing its doors later this month. Salvation Army spokesperson Jon Kalahar says a new officer is coming to run the facility, and only one employee will stay on for the transition. He says this was a decision that was not made lightly…:
Cut 8 (12) “their donations”
He says it’s unclear when or if the overnight shelter will reopen.

Officials with the Livingston Parish Sheriff’s Office say the body of 13-year-old Jarrett Varnado of Franklinton was recovered from Gray’s Creek. Officials say the boy was swimming when he disappeared below the water.

Complications with sewage and drainage lines on Bourbon Street have caused extreme delays in construction. The project to rebuild the historic landmark began about three months ago and officials with the New Orleans Public Works Department say they are about two months behind schedule. Director Mark Jernigan says the weather is also making it difficult..:
Cut 3 (09) “weather delays”
He says another problem is major issues they discovered underground.

More and more women are heading to court, as the American Bar Association finds an uptick in the number of female attorneys. President of the Louisiana State Bar Association, Dona Renegar (Doh-na, not Donna) says this is great because women often have to overcome obstacles in the workforce that they’re male counterparts don’t…:
Cut 14 (08) “to have children”
Women account for 35 percent of lawyers in the state, a 7 percent jump since 2004.

After failing to raise the gas tax during this year’s session, Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter says it’s time to look at other options for funding highway construction. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The only homeless shelter in the Monroe area will close its doors later this month. On August 26, the Salvation Army will discontinue its overnight shelter services. Spokesperson Jon Kalahar says the shelter serves an average of 30 people each night…:
Cut 6 (08) “for 2016″

More women than ever are heading to court, as the American Bar Association finds an uptick in female attorneys. Halen Doughty has more…
Cut 3 (31) “I’m Halen Doughty”

The Associated Press reports U.S District Judge Patricia Minaldi of Lake Charles is retiring. This news comes after she took a medical leave for alcoholism treatment in December. Judge Minaldi said in an interview in April that her battle with alcoholism didn’t impact the outcome of her cases.

Today is the first day of school for public school students in Bossier Parish and the start of school is right around the corner for many others. Public Relations Chair for the Louisiana PTA Stacey Simpson says to help improve your child’s academic achievement make sure you stay involved….
cut 6 (10) “…everyday life”
Parents can find some tips at be-a-learning-hero-dot-org.

LSU has located a young tiger that could become Mike Seven. It’s nine months old and he is currently located in a tiger sanctuary in Florida. The facility is rehoming some of its animals, so LSU vet school spokesperson Ginger Guttner says the university would not have to pay for the tiger…
cut 11 (10) “…our tiger”
The new could arrive in mid-August.

Your kid might not be doing as well in school as you thought. That’s according to Louisiana PTA and Learning Heroes. Public Relations Chair for the state PTA offers advice ahead of the upcoming school year…:
Cut 5 (10) “help them”
She says nine in 10 parents believe their children are at or above grade level, but data shows the number is really closer to one-third.

The author of the failed gasoline tax increase proposal says the state needs to look at other ways to repair Louisiana’s decrepit roads and bridges. Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter offers another possibility…:
Cut 8 (10) “the infrastructure”
He says until lawmakers find a way to fund the state’s growing infrastructure needs, the problems will only get worse.

More and more women are heading to court, as the American Bar Association finds an uptick in the number of female attorneys. Women account for 35 percent of lawyers in the state, a 7 percent jump since 2004. President of the Louisiana State Bar Association, Dona Renegar says networking and supporting young women is crucial to continuing the trend…:
Cut 15 (11) “before me”
Renegar is also the fourth female president of the LSBA since 2006.

Lafayette firefighter say a woman died from injures sustained in an overnight blaze. They said 65-year-old Madeline McQuade couldn’t make it out in time, and several pets perished as well.

LSU announces offensive lineman Maea Teuhema, a junior projected to start this year at right guard, has been indefinitely suspended from the Tiger football team for violation of rules.

The Louisiana PTA and Learning Heroes are partnering to provide parents with 2017 Super 5 Back-to- School Power Moves, as parents are showing a disconnect with judging their kid’s academic performance…:
Cut 1 (31) “I’m Emelie Gunn”

Shreveport Police need help in locating a young boy who was believed to have been swept away in a storm drain Tuesday afternoon. Authorities suspect 7-year-old Daysean Combest was carried off his feet and slipped under. He was last seen wearing a gray tank top, black belt and a red and grey stripped shorts.

Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter says since his proposal to raise the state’s gasoline tax didn’t receive support from the legislature, lawmakers must come up with something to repair Louisiana’s roads and bridges. He says until they find a way to fund the state’s growing infrastructure needs, the problems will only get worse…:
Cut 9 (11) “a priority”
He says one way to put more funds to highway construction would be to include transportation in the general budget.

The Bayou Bengals could have their live mascot back by football season. LSU says it has found a tiger that may become Mike VII. Ginger Guttner with the LSU Vet School says the new tiger might be here as soon as a couple of weeks…:
Cut 12 (08) “in August”

A survey finds most parents’ believe their children are performing better than what their test scores actually show. Nine in 10 parents believe their children are or above grade level, but data shows the number is really closer to one-third. Public Relations Chair for the Louisiana PTA Stacey Simpson…:
Cut 4 (07) “at level”
For a full list of the Super 5 Back-to-School Power Moves visit bealearninghero.org.

More and more women are heading to court, as the American Bar Association finds an uptick in the number of female attorneys. Women account for 35 percent of lawyers in Louisiana, a 7 percent jump since 2004. President of the Louisiana State Bar Association, Dona (Doh-na) Renegar credits a more accommodating environment for female attorneys with family duties…:
Cut 13 (09) “that family”

After failing to raise the gas tax during this year’s session, Baton Rouge Representative Steve Carter says it’s time to look at other options for funding highway construction. Jeff Palermo has more…:
Cut 2 (30) “I’m Jeff Palermo”

The Baton Rouge Police Department has made an arrest in the case of the fatal stabbing of a woman located in a home Sunday. They say 42-year-old Miquel Lopez is booked in connection with the death of Sara Hernandez, and investigators believe the incident was the result of a domestic dispute.