THE STATE IS MAKING PREPARATIONS TO DEAL WITH EXPECTED RECORD-HIGH MISSISSIPPI RIVER LEVELS. GOVERNOR BOBBY JINDAL SAYS A BRAND NEW BRIDGE ACROSS THE RIVER WILL BE OPENED AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. HE SAYS THE HIGH WATER IS FORCING THE CLOSURE OF THE NEW ROADS-ST. FRANCISVILLE FERRY THURSDAY AT 10A . HOWEVER, GOVERNOR JINDAL SAYS THE JOHN JAMES AUDUBON BRIDGE, CONNECTING ST. FRANCISVILLE TO NEW ROADS, WILL OPEN, RIGHT AFTER THE FERRY'S CLOSURE.

THE HOUSE HEALTH AND WELFARE COMMITTEE APPROVES LEGISLATION THAT WOULD HAVE SIGNS POSTED IN ABORTION CLINICS THAT DESCRIBE THE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO PREGNANT WOMEN. PLANNED PARENTHOOD SPOKESPERSON JULIE MICKLEBERRY SAYS WOMEN SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS WITHOUT GOVERNMENT INTRUSION. SHE SAYS THE SIGNS POST CONDESCENDING MESSAGES. THE LEGISLATION NOW MOVES TO THE HOUSE FLOOR FOR MORE DEBATE.

A SMALL PLANE CRASHED YESTERDAY, DURING THE LUNCH HOUR, JUST NORTH OF SHREVEPORT. AUTHORITIES SAY NO ONE HAD REPORTED A PLANE MISSING UNTIL A MOTORIST CALLED 911 TO REPORT A PLANE WAS DOWN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. POLICE SAY THE UNIDENTIFIED PILOT WAS KILLED IN THE CRASH.

A STATE TROOPER IS RECOVERING AFTER A BULLET GRAZED HIS HEAD EARLY TODAY IN WEST BATON ROUGE PARISH. THE TROOPER WAS SHOT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ARREST A SUSPECTED DRUNK DRIVER. THE TROOPER'S INJURIES ARE NOT CONSIDERED TO BE LIFE THREATENING.

WITH THE MISSISSIPPI RISING TOWARD HISTORIC HIGHS, SHIPPERS, PORTS AND INDUSTRIES ALONG THE RIVER'S SOUTHERN REACHES ARE HOPING THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS CAN KEEP THE SOUTHWEST PASS TO THE GULF OF MEXICO UNCLOGGED. CORPS OFFICIALS SAY FOUR DREDGES ARE CURRENTLY DEPLOYED TO MAINTAIN THE CHANNEL'S 45-FOOT DEPTH.

THE STATE HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED A BILL TO EMPOWER THE STATE'S FIGHT AGAINST THE EXPLOSION IN FERAL PIG POPULATIONS. THE BILL BY NEW ROADS REPRESENTATIVE MAJOR THIBAUT WOULD ALLOW WILD HOGS TO BE TRAPPED YEAR ROUND WITHOUT PERMIT. IT CHARGES WILDLIFE AND FISHERIES TO CREATE RULES FOR TAKING THE NUISANCE ANIMALS AND WOULD EVEN ALLOW NIGHT HUNTING.

THE NAACP WANTS A CONFEDERATE BATTLE FLAG FLYING OVER THE CADDO COURTHOUSE TO COME DOWN. THE GROUP SAYS THE FLAG IS A SYMBOL OF A GOVERNMENT THAT EMBRACED SLAVERY AND HAS NO PLACE IN THE 21ST CENTURY. THE STATE SUPREME COURT WILL HEAR THE ARGUMENT NEXT WEEK.

RIVERBOAT CASINOS ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI ARE LOOKING AT CLOSING UP, WHILE RECORD HIGH RIVER CRESTS RUN THEIR COURSE. IN NATCHEZ, THE ISLE OF CAPRI CASINO SAYS THEY'LL CLOSE THEIR DOORS SUNDAY. TWO BATON ROUGE CASINOS ARE MAKING THEIR HIGH WATER DECISIONS NOW. THE MISSISSIPPI AT BATON ROUGE IS EXPECTED TO CREST WELL ABOVE FLOOD STAGE BY MAY 21ST.