News

New deal for north La. safety-net hospitals worked out

BATON ROUGE (AP) — Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration announced Wednesday that a deal is done to transfer oversight of the state-owned safety-net hospitals in north Louisiana to a new manager, with boosted costs and more direct involvement from Louisiana State University.

After months of negotiations, Edwards’ chief lawyer Matthew Block said contract terms have been reached to shift day-to-day oversight of the Shreveport and Monroe hospitals to a new company jointly operated by southeast Louisiana-based Ochsner Health System and LSU.

US, China probe of fentanyl ring stops international dealer

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — United States and Chinese officials say a joint investigation into a fentanyl ring has dismantled an international supplier.

News outlets report U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Chinese narcotics authorities say the investigation also stopped more than 20 million doses of the drug from reaching the U.S. A Homeland Security Investigations attache in China, Shawn Harwood, said at a Wednesday news conference in New Orleans that this joint investigation is the first of its kind.

State Ed. Dept.: Disadvantaged students progressing

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Economically disadvantaged students, African-American students, students with disabilities and those who are learning the English language — all four groups showed strong progress in academic achievement this year, according to information released Wednesday by Louisiana’s Department of Education.

But the department says progress among those “historically disadvantaged” groups will have to be accelerated to close achievement gaps with their peers.

Brad Pitt foundation faces lawsuit over N.O. homes

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — An attorney plans to sue actor Brad Pitt’s foundation over the degradation of homes built in an area of New Orleans that was among the hardest hit by Hurricane Katrina.

The forthcoming lawsuit against Pitt’s Make It Right foundation will be filed on behalf of some Lower Ninth Ward residents, who attorney Ron Austin told WWLTV have reported sicknesses, headaches, and infrastructural issues.

Trump stands by warning of violence if Dems win midterms

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump urged evangelical leaders this week to get out the vote ahead of the upcoming midterm elections and warned of “violence” by opponents if they fail.

Trump made the dire warning at a White House dinner Monday evening attended by dozens of conservative Christian pastors, ministers and supporters of his administration.

Dad, partner plead not guilty in toddler’s compound death

xx Dad, partner plead not guilty in toddler’s compound death

By MORGAN LEE, Associated Press

TAOS, N.M. (AP) — The father of a 3-year-old boy found dead in a filthy New Mexico compound and his partner pleaded not guilty Wednesday to new charges of child abuse resulting in death after lesser charges were dismissed against them and other members of their extended family as the result of a deadline missed by prosecutors.

Mourners gather for Ariz. church service for McCain

PHOENIX (AP) — Arizonans lined the streets and mourners gathered at a church Thursday as a motorcade carrying Sen. John McCain’s body left the state Capitol for a second day of memorial services for the maverick politician, former prisoner of war and two-time presidential candidate.

People holding American flags and campaign signs with the word “McCain” stood along parts of the 8-mile (13-kilometer) route as the hearse made its way toward the North Phoenix Baptist Church for a commemoration featuring Vice President Joe Biden and other dignitaries.

Pope’s cover-up crisis turns battle lines into first salvo

VATICAN CITY (AP) — The author of the bombshell accusation of sex abuse cover-up against Pope Francis denied Wednesday he acted out of revenge or anger, breaking his silence as his claims continued to divide a Catholic Church already polarized under Francis’ reformist agenda.

Fans stream in for second day of Aretha Franklin public viewing

DETROIT (AP) — Mourners streamed in for a second day Wednesday to pay their respects to Aretha Franklin, who was dressed in a different outfit for her final public viewing, as if making a costume change during a show.

Oil-rich South Sudan to resume production in war-hit region

JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — Emboldened by a new peace deal, civil war-torn South Sudan says it will resume oil production in a key region next month to make up for more than $4 billion of revenue lost during years of fighting.

South Sudan, with Africa’s thirdlargest oil reserves, will renew drilling in northern Unity State for the first time since the fields were destroyed when the conflict began in late 2013, oil ministry officials told The Associated Press.