“The Supreme Court this morning denied BP’s request to keep blocking millions of dollars in claims payments to businesses while the oil giant waits to see if the High Court will hear its claims that hundreds of ineligible claims are being approved.” – WWL-TV

“The Louisiana House ‘fiscal hawks,’ a group of fiscal conservatives who created upheaval in budget debates of prior years, dulled their claws in the recently ended legislative session.” – NOLA.com

“A little-known program that gives board members at LSU and Southern University the ability to grant lucrative scholarships to students survived legislative threat this session, but some legislators say they are still eyeing the programs for restructuring — particularly following a legislative audit of the LSU awards.” – Baton Rouge Advocate

“Of cities surveyed in the continental U.S., Baton Rouge, Louisiana, had the lowest average price at $3.33 a gallon. San Francisco had the highest average at $4.14 a gallon.” – KATC

“Under pressure, state officials have taken steps to ensure that motorists are not overcharged by private contractors when they renew a driver’s license and other services, according to an audit released on Monday.” – Baton Rouge Advocate

“A local tea party group is calling on Gov. Bobby Jindal to veto a bill that allows Louisiana to issue driver’s licenses that comply with the security measures of the federal REAL ID law.” – WDSU

“St. Tammany Parish District Attorney Walter Reed was no political novice when he sought re-election in 1996, but some may have expected a competitive race as former U.S. Attorney John Volz ran against him.” – NOLA.com

“In the suit against Abbott, the state alleged Abbott was guilty of misbranding Depakote, an anti-epileptic medication, by promoting the drug without FDA approval to control agitation and aggression in elderly dementia patients. Additionally, the state further alleged that Abbott misbranded Depakote by marketing the drug to treat schizophrenia, also without FDA approval.” – MyArkLaMiss.com

“As chairman of the Sustainable Food Council a few years ago, state Rep. Scott Simon noticed a nagging problem when he visited rural parts of Louisiana. Fast-food options dotted a landscape barren of farmers markets offering fresh fruit and vegetables.” – Baton Rouge Advocate

“Fifteen residents from around the state were convicted of receiving more than $116,000 in ineligible benefits, an investigation by the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services’ (DCFS) Fraud and Recovery Unit found.” – NOLA.com