Louisiana made a good list--and a bad list--this week. First, the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis says personal income in Louisiana rose last year at the fastest rate of any state in the nation for the second year in a row. But LSU economist Dr. Jim Richardson says that doesn't mean much--it's mostly hurricane-related, and could go the other way as soon as this year. And then there's the bad list--unhealthiest states according to CQ Press. We're number two, down from number one last year. Mississippi got the top DIS-honor this time. Barry Erwin with the Council for A Better Louisiana says the list is not yet reflecting recent health care initiatives, which should mean better rankings in Louisiana's future.

The University of Louisiana System schools commit to turning out an additional 2400 graduates annually, to meet the state's growing work- force needs. U.L.System President Dr. Sally Clausen says they've identified several areas where skilled graduates are needed, and presidents of the U.L. System schools are in accord on their plans to produce a good percentage of those needed skilled workers--in business, engineering, health care and education. U.L. is also committing to reduce the average number of years it takes students to graduate, from 6 to 5 years--and track the job performance of its graduates. Dr. Clausen says the many U.L. system schools will meet those goals.

Governor Bobby Jindal has appointed Lt. Col. John LeBlanc as Louisiana's new Highway Safety Commissioner. LeBlanc, who has been with State Police for over 26 years, says he's excited about the opportunity the governor is giving him, and he understands if he's to be more than just a compiler of crash statistics, he'll have to keep grant money flowing for stepped-up enforcement on holidays. LeBlanc has been incharge of LSP's Patrol Division--and its budget--for the past 8 years. LeBlanc had nothing but praise for his predecessor Col. Jim Champagne, but he says don't expect to see him giving fiery speeches or lobbying the legislature--like Champagne did--anytime soon.

The U.S. Department of Education awards a 170-million-dollar grant to a consortium of 26 states, including Louisiana, to develop new common assessments for public school students.

An early morning fire Thursday in the 2200 block of Curtis Street kept Baton Rouge firefighters busy for a while. 

Baton Rouge police report that officers responded to a shooting about 3:30 Thursday morning in the 1500 block of North Marque Ann Drive where they found a black male lying in a parking lot who had been shot. 

A bench-clearing brawl in Miami made news as the Marlins outslugged the Nationals 16-10 Wednesday night. 

The Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Arizona's controversial Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Israelis and Palestinians have now planned to meet for peace talks every two weeks.