Louisiana at 6 p.m. on Wednesday.
Good afternoon, Louisiana editors.
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NEW AND UPDATED
NEWS: Louisiana Vouchers, Sawmill Reopening, Education Superintendent, Louisiana Budget, Legislative Notes, Louisiana Corruption, Gay Discrimination Ban, Ameristar Sale-Vicksburg; Grierson's Raid Marker;
ENTERTAINMENT: Billy The Exterminator-Arrest
BUSINESS: Sawmill Reopening
SPORTS: Bears Moves
TOP STORIES
LOUISIANA VOUCHERS
NEW ORLEANS — Nearly 8,000 students have been approved for state-funded tuition to private schools of their choice under the statewide voucher program that is going into its second year. That's about 3,000 more than last year, and the state said more are expected to be approved in June after a second round of applications.
SAWMILL REOPENING
BATON ROUGE, La. — Gov. Bobby Jindal says an Idaho company has bought a shuttered sawmill in Coushatta and plans to reopen it later this year, creating 90 jobs. The mill closed in 2008 because of the national recession. CEO Ted Ellis says Idaho Timber LLC is renovating the mill bought recently from Hood Industries of Hattiesburg, Miss.
EDUCATION SUPERINTENDENT
BATON ROUGE, La. — A bid to make Louisiana's education superintendent elected by voters, rather than appointed by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, has failed to gain traction in the Senate. The Senate Education Committee voted 4-2 Wednesday against the proposal by Republican Sen. Bob Kostelka — but only after a wide-ranging debate showcasing deep divides between state and local school leaders. By Melinda Deslatte.
LOUISIANA BUDGET
BATON ROUGE, La. — Republican lawmakers seeking to stop the use of patchwork financing in next year's budget lost a legal battle Wednesday in their bid to keep the Legislature from plugging that money into operating expenses. A Baton Rouge judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by two Jefferson Parish lawmakers asking to block the use of money from property sales, legal settlements and other one-time items sought by Gov. Bobby Jindal to balance the 2013-14 operating budget.
LEGISLATIVE NOTES
BATON ROUGE, La. — A bid to give local school districts more freedom to choose the textbooks they use received the backing Wednesday of the House Education Committee without objection. The measure (House Bill 116) by Rep. Frank Hoffmann, R-West Monroe, would establish that the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education can't require local school districts to purchase specific textbooks or instructional materials.
LOUISIANA CORRUPTION
NEW ORLEANS — A lawyer for a former Louisiana lawmaker convicted of plotting to loot more than $1 million from taxpayer-funded charities asked a federal appeals court Wednesday to throw out her racketeering conspiracy conviction. Michael Fawer, former state Rep. Renee Gill Pratt's attorney, told a panel from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that his client's retrial was a "mockery" because of what he called flaws in the jury selection process. By Michael Kunzelman.
GAY DISCRIMINATION BAN
BATON ROUGE, La. — A proposed ban on discrimination against state employees because of their sexual orientation failed to win support Wednesday from the House and Governmental Affairs Committee. The 6-3 vote shelves the proposal by Rep. Austin Badon, D-New Orleans, for the legislative session. He's unsuccessfully pushed similar measures in previous years, always running into strong opposition from religious leaders and conservative organizations. By Melinda Deslatte.
AMERISTAR SALE-VICKSBURG
(Information in the following story is from: The Vicksburg Post, http://www.vicksburgpost.com)
VICKSBURG, Miss. — The sale of Ameristar Casino will mark the second gambling house buyout in Vicksburg in less than a year. The stockholders of Las Vegas-based Ameristar Casinos Inc. last week approved the company's planned acquisition by Pinnacle Entertainment. The all-cash transaction is estimated to be valued at $869 million.
XGR-LOUISIANA SCIENCE
BATON ROUGE — A near-annual effort seeking to get rid of a Louisiana law that allows public school science teachers to use supplemental materials in their classrooms in addition to state-approved textbooks gets a hearing in the Senate Education Committee. The science teachers and students pushing the repeal of the Louisiana Science Education Act say it creates a way for teachers to challenge evolution and teach creationism in classrooms. The repeal is opposed by Gov. Bobby Jindal and Christian conservatives who say the law was designed to promote critical thinking and strengthen education. By Melinda Deslatte.
XGR-EDUCATION SUPERINTENDENT
BATON ROUGE — A bid to make Louisiana's education superintendent elected by voters, rather than appointed by the state education board, became a wide-ranging debate Wednesday showcasing the deep divides between Superintendent of Education John White and local school districts. By Melinda Deslatte.
REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS
WASHINGTON — Many Republicans see their party's governors as innovative policymakers and potential presidential candidates. But some of these governors are struggling with political or ethical problems that might crimp their ambitions. Govs. Bob McDonnell of Virginia and Bobby Jindal of Louisiana suddenly find themselves fending off critics and trying to shore up their legacies. Governorships can be springboards to the White House. But the high visibility also can lead to painful falls. Jindal had to pull back his ambitious plan to replace Louisiana's corporate and personal income taxes with higher sales taxes. His popularity has sagged lately. By Charles Babington and Bob Lewis.
AP Photo WX101-0208130948
ANGOLA FIVE
ST. FRANCISVILLE — The judge presiding over the Angola 5 first-degree murder cases is expected to rule by Friday whether to throw out an inmate's statement against the final defendant facing trial in the slaying of a prison security officer more than 13 years ago. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against inmate Barry Edge in the beating and stabbing death of Louisiana State Penitentiary security Capt. David C. Knapps. Edge's trial is scheduled to begin May 20. Judge Jerome M. Winsberg heard several hours of testimony Monday regarding statements that former Angola inmate Richard Domingue gave to Angola investigators and prosecutors. Domingue claims Edge said he and inmate Jeffrey Cameron Clark did not intend to kill any security officers.
ILLEGAL ALLIGATOR HUNTING
GONZALES — Two men arrested for allegedly trespassing on Alligator Bayou Swamp Tours property in Ascension Parish also were cited on an array of alligator hunting violations. Sgt. Dennis Bueche and Ascension Parish sheriff's deputies arrived at the property in Prairieville shortly after midnight Monday and found two men with a 10-foot alligator that had been shot in the head with a .45-caliber pistol.
NONPROFIT EMBEZZLEMENT
BATON ROUGE — A former finance director for a Baton Rouge nonprofit organization that aids low-income residents admitted in federal court that she embezzled nearly $51,000 from the agency in 2011. Kiamani A. Beasley, 27, of Jeanerette, pleaded guilty Tuesday before U.S. District Judge James Brady to one felony count of embezzlement from a federally funded entity, the Louisiana Association of Community Action Partners.
RANDOLPH-ETHICS
THIBODAUX — State Ethics officials will not rehear arguments about ethics charges against Lafourche Parish President Charlotte Randolph, but they did reduce her fine. Randolph said she is now preparing to take her challenge to court.
MONROE SUPERINTENDENT
MONROE — The Monroe City School Board will not interview educational consultant Mary Guinn and Lafourche Parish Schools Supervisor Charles Michel for the position or superintendent. Board members interviewed three candidates Tuesday, but not Guinn or Michel, who were out of town on previously scheduled business and were unable to interview on Tuesday.
HIGH-RISE WHITE ELEPHANT
NEW ORLEANS — It probably will be at least July before city officials decide which of three redevelopment proposals for the World Trade Center site at the foot of Canal Street they prefer. Negotiating an agreement with the chosen developer is then likely to take several more months.
LOUISIANA IN BRIEF
Editors: The following brief items moved Wednesday on AP's Louisiana wire and may be of interest for your Thursday editions.
GRIERSON'S RAID MARKER
SUMMIT, Miss. — A Civil War raid by Union troops that resulted in destruction of rail lines in southwest Mississippi was unveiled in Summit over the weekend. The Enterprise-Journal reports (http://bit.ly/18cssmu ) that the marker details a raid by Col. Benjamin Grierson and the 6th and 7th Illinois Cavalry to destroy rail lines from Tennessee to Vicksburg. Grierson hoped to distract Confederate Gen. John C. Pemberton, who was defending the city against Gen. Ulysses S. Grant.
PAIN PILL SENTENCING
LEXINGTON, Ky. — A Louisiana businessman serving 15 years in federal prison for distributing oxycodone and methadone illegally through pain clinics in eastern Kentucky has lost his bid for a new trial. U.S. District Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove ruled that there is "sufficient evidence" to support the jury's guilty verdict in the case of 47-year-old Michael D. Leman of Slidell, La.
ORLEANS AIRPORT-DRAINAGE
KENNER — Officials from Kenner, Jefferson Parish and the city of New Orleans have begun discussions on how a new airport terminal planned for New Orleans' airport will affect drainage for nearby residents. Plans for the new terminal at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport were announced with much fanfare two weeks ago. Officials in Kenner, where the airport is located, said officials from the affected areas got together Monday to discuss the drainage issue.
I-49 DRILL
SHREVEPORT — A section of Interstate 49 in Caddo Parish will look as though disaster has struck later this week. On Thursday, the I-49 North Safety Coalition will hold a disaster drill on a closed section of the new interstate near Mira. An announcement from the Caddo Parish Sheriff's Office says the drill will simulate a major crash with mass casualties.
OLD CASE-TRIAL
LAFAYETTE — The jury in Danny Harmon Jr.'s murder trial deliberated late Tuesday before convicting the 42-year-old for the 1989 second-degree murder of Christine Marie Wood, who was raped then shot before her body and bedroom were set on fire. The jury went behind closed doors at 10:23 a.m. after closing arguments on the trial's fifth day and emerged nine hours later with the 10-2 verdict. District Judge Glennon Everett set sentencing for Harmon on May 30.
CADDO SUPERINTENDENT
SHREVEPORT — The company hired by the Caddo Parish School Board to select the next Caddo superintendent plans to start advertising for the job Wednesday. The board has selected the firm of McPherson and Jacobsen to conduct the search. The company's president and owner says 95 percent of the people the firm has placed in superintendent jobs in the last five years are still in the position for which they were hired.
ST LANDRY FATAL
OPELOUSAS — State police say a woman from Sunset died in a traffic accident in St. Landry Parish. Troopers were working to determine the exact time of the Monday night accident, which happened on Louisiana Highway 356.
DRUG PLEAS
BATON ROUGE — A day after his wife and sister pleaded guilty to federal drug charges, a 36-year-old Baker man did the same. John McKneely pleaded guilty Tuesday before Chief U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson to one count of conspiracy to distribute hydrocodone and oxycodone, and another count of possession with intent to distribute hydrocodone.
SEWERAGE FEES
HOUMA — An endeavor by Terrebonne Parish to make it more affordable for Jarvis community residents in Gibson to connect to the public sewer system has been approved. The Parish Council unanimously approved a provision last week to waive a roughly $450 sewerage connection fee for residents of the low- to moderate-income neighborhood of Jarvis.
UNDERAGE-SALES
LAFAYETTE — Employees at six Lafayette convenience stores have been cited for selling alcohol to minors in an undercover operation. The Lafayette Police Department's Youth Services Section conducted its investigation of 35 businesses Monday night with the use of youths under the age of 21.
STUDENT ARRESTED
SHREVEPORT — Police say a Caddo Magnet High School student was arrested after being seen damaging a restroom at the school. Cpl. Marcus Hines said Justin Washer, 18, was escorted to the main office on Tuesday. Upon arrival, Hines says he began to get into a physical altercation with the school resource officer. Hines says Washer allegedly bit the officer.
ENTERTAINMENT AND LIFESTYLE
BILLY THE EXTERMINATOR-ARREST
NEW ORLEANS — William "Billy" Bretherton, star of the A&E reality TV show "Billy the Exterminator," has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of possessing synthetic marijuana, his attorney said. Bretherton was put on probation for a year and prosecutors dropped charges against his wife at a hearing April 19 in Bossier Parish, attorney Allyn Stroud said Tuesday. By Stacey Plaisance.
BUSINESS
SAWMILL REOPENING
BATON ROUGE, La. — Gov. Bobby Jindal says an Idaho company has bought a shuttered sawmill in Coushatta and plans to reopen it later this year, creating 90 jobs. The mill closed in 2008 because of the national recession. CEO Ted Ellis says Idaho Timber LLC is renovating the mill bought recently from Hood Industries of Hattiesburg, Miss.
RICE-BIRDS
LAFAYETTE — South Louisiana farmers have been struggling this year to fight off birds feasting on newly planted rice seed. LSU AgCenter rice specialist Johnny Saichuk said blackbirds and ducks love rice, and it seems the spring weather here has not been hot enough to nudge the birds north for the summer. South Louisiana has both year-round and migratory flocks of various species of blackbirds and ducks. Steve Linscombe, who heads the LSU AgCenter Rice Research Station in Crowley, said all the birds like rice, but much of the migratory population has usually moved on by the time rice season gets into full swing. Jeffery Sylvester said some farmers this year have even delayed planting while waiting for the birds to leave. By Richard Burgess, The Advocate.
EARNS-PINNACLE ENTERTAINMENT
LAS VEGAS — Pinnacle Entertainment's first-quarter loss widened, dragged down by a hefty charge reflecting the reduced value of an investment. Its adjusted earnings beat Wall Street's view and revenue rose 7 percent. The casino operator lost $85.4 million, or $1.46 per share, for the period ended March 31. That compares with a loss of $1 million, or 2 cents per share, a year ago. The current quarter included a $92.2 million impairment charge related to Pinnacle's minority equity investment in Asian Coast Development (Canada) Ltd.
AMERISTAR SALE-VICKSBURG
VICKSBURG, Miss. — The sale of Ameristar Casino will mark the second gambling house buyout in Vicksburg in less than a year. Ameristar spokeswoman Roxanne Kincaid said no change to the brand are in the offing. The deal should be completed this summer.
BUSINESS IN BRIEF
EARNS-AMEDISYS
BATON ROUGE — Baton Rouge-based Amedisys Inc.'s first-quarter earnings slumped to $2.7 million, or 9 cents per share, compared with $5.4 million, or 18 cents per share, a year ago. During a conference, President Ronald Laborde said the company will sell 39 care centers and consolidate 11 others.
INGALLS-COAST GUARD
PASCAGOULA, Miss. — Ingalls Shipbuilding has been awarded a $487 million contract to build a sixth national security cutter for the Coast Guard. The vessel will be called the Munro. Ingalls says construction will begin in October.
SPORTS
SAINTS-ULM
MONROE — Two former ULM players who started their careers together as Warhawks will now try to make the next leap in football together. Receiver Brent Leonard decided this week that he will participate in the New Orleans Saints minicamp next weekend, instead of his previous invitation to the Dallas Cowboys. The Saints invited fewer receivers than the Cowboys, prompting Leonard's decision, and there he will meet back up with tight end Keavon Milton, who signed a free agency deal this past Sunday following the NFL draft. By Tabby Soignier, The News-Star.
SPORTS IN BRIEF
BEARS MOVES
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — The Chicago Bears have agreed to four-year contracts with fifth-round draft pick Jordan Mills and sixth-rounder Cornelius Washington. The deals announced Wednesday make them the first picks to sign with their teams.
NEW ORLEANS BOWL
NEW ORLEANS — The 2013 New Orleans Bowl will be played Saturday, Dec. 21, in the Superdome. Kickoff is at 8 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.
