MONROE, La. (AP) - The Ouachita Parish School Board has voted to suspend all sabbatical leaves except for catastrophic medical leave for the upcoming school year. The News-Star reports board members voted unanimously Thursday to suspend the leave as a way to cut costs for the 2012-13 school year. To... more »
WELSH, La. (AP) - A Welsh police officer accused of not following policy and procedures has been reprimanded. The American Press reports the town council unanimously upheld Police Chief Tommy Chaisson's recommendation to suspend Officer Debbie Robbins for seven working days after a 50-minute executive session on Tuesday. After the... more »
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - New Orleans police say they have suspended an officer accused of driving drunk in an unmarked city vehicle while off duty. Police spokesman Remi Braden says Causeway Police pulled over 33-year-old Ryan Aucoin shortly after 3 a.m. Thursday on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, the 24-mile-long bridge... more »
MATHEWS, La. (AP) - The Lafourche Parish Council has decided to hold off on hiring an internal auditor to oversee parish government's finances and spending. The Courier reports a search committee comprised of three council members recommended three finalists. Some council members have questioned the need for a fulltime auditor... more »
MOBILE, Ala. - The U.S. Coast Guard has suspended its search for a missing diver at approximately 3 p.m., Saturday.
Coast Guard crews searched more than 37 hours, covering approximately 1,700 square miles, in an effort to locate a male diver. The Coast Guard launched the search Friday after... more »
PORT ALLEN, La. (AP) - Liquid bulk cargo operations at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge have shut down because of the rising Mississippi River. Port Director Jay Hardman said water has submerged electrical equipment and pipes used to bring in molasses, petroleum and specialty chemicals. Westwary Terminal Group and... more »
BERLIN (AP) - Chancellor Angela Merkel says Germany is suspending for three months a decision to extend the life of its nuclear power plants. Merkel's Monday announcement follows opposition calls to scrap the extension altogether in the wake of explosions at a nuclear plant in Japan. Her government last year... more »