News for Wednesday 112812

By Dave Graichen

A 20-year-old Reginald Harrison of Colfax  faces theft and extortion charges after an investigation by the Grant Parish Sheriff's Office and Colfax Police Department. Authorities were investigating a report of two stolen ATV’s and arrested Harrison after finding the two plus one more ATV in his possession. All of the ATVs have been returned to their rightful owners.  Harrison was on probation at the time of his arrest and is being held in the parish jail.

Governor Jindal's new private school vouchers program, known as Act 2 of  the 2012 Legislature, goes before a Baton Rouge judge today, as a state  teachers union challenges the law. Louisiana Federation of Teachers  president Steve Monaghan says the "omnibus" nature of the bill - doing multiple actions within a single instrument - violates the state Constitution. He says  the LFT also objects to the law's use of public school funding to pay  private and parochial school tuitions.

Have you  bought  your  Powerball  ticket  yet?  Tonight’s estimated  jackpot  was  raised  to $500 million earlier today. That puts the cash value at $327.4 million.  Also  keep in mind Powerball  tickets are now $2 as the rules changed earlier this year. By the way, the odds of winning tonight are about one in about 175-million

First time unemployment claims in Louisiana  for last week were down from  previous  weeks;  from  over  3000  new claims  to  just  over 28-hundred. By comparison, jobless claims for  the same week of last year were over 45-hundred. Continuing claims are  also down by about a thousand from the previous week.

Rumors are running ramped that  Arkansas has an  offer of five-years, 27.5 million dollars on the table for Les Miles to  become the next head coach of the Razorbacks. Tiger Rag Editor Cody  Worsham says Arkansas may be interested in Miles, but Les is likely not  interested in Arkansas. Miles is making three-point-eight million dollars and has not received a  raise since after the 2007 national championship season. Worsham says  Miles could use this offer from Arkansas as leverage.

The Alexandria City Council voted Tuesday to support with up to $50,000 idea from local actress Faith Ford and her director/screenwriter husband Campion Murphy, which the pair said would add a new dimension to their studio and turn their productions into a place where locals can get on-the-job training learning skills needed to work on movie production crews. Ford and Murphy, who live and work here through most of the year now, told the council that they want to provide training to local people. Ford said her ultimate goal is to bring a television series to the area.

A Washington DC think tank says Louisiana tax payers could see their bill  go  up as much as five-percent if Congress and  the  President can't pass legislation by the end of the year to avoid the so-called

fiscal cliff.  Tax  Foundation economist Will MC Bride says tax cuts enacted by Presidents  Bush  and  Obama  are  set to expire December 31st.

A recent survey by State Farm shows an alarming number of people are  surfing the internet while driving. Spokesperson Gary Stephenson  says in a July 2012 survey of 1000 motorists, nearly half of drivers  between 18-29 years old admit to using the internet on their phone  while driving. He says that's startling.

Two semi-finalists in the search for Louisiana Tech's new president will  be interviewed today by the search committee. Search Committee Chairman  and UL System Board Chair Wayne Parker says semi-finalists Dr. Leslie  Guice (GICE) and Dr. Duane Hrncir (HUN-ser) are both well-qualified for  the job.

State  Police and the Webster  Parish  Sheriff's  Office  are  still trying to  figure  out  what  to  do  with  thousands  of  pounds of improperly  stored  explosive powder.  State Police Lt. Julie  Lewis says the explosives were  found   during  a  routine  inspection  of property leased by Explo Systems. Lewis say there is no danger to the public.

The  U.S.  Coast Guard reports a man's body was recovered  from  the Gulf of Mexico  yesterday,  about  three  miles  off  the  coast  of Lafourche  Parish.  The  man was found about 25 miles from the Black

Elk  Energy offshore rig which  exploded  and  burned  earlier  this month. Authorities cannot yet say if the body is that of the missing rig worker, but  they  say  it is possible. A medical examiner will make a positive ID of the remains

The Louisiana  Department of  Wildlife and Fisheries is embarking on an aerial spraying campaign  to  control  an invasive alien water plant  called Giant Salvinia. Aerial spraying  begins today at

Lake Bistineau and Thursday at Toledo Bend where the invasive  plant is  becoming  a  threat.  Giant  Salvinia  was  discovered  in  Lake Bistineau in 2006.

The 2013 talent lineup for the fourth annual Bayou Country Superfest in baton rouge has been revealed.  The  headliners  for the May 25th and 26th shows next  year  are  Lady  Antebellum, Zac Brown,  Luke  Bryan,  Miranda Lambert, Darius Rucker and The Band Perry.