State police have released the names of those involved in an incident in which a Lafayette Police officer shot and killed a car theft suspect. State Police Trooper David Anderson says the man shot by the officer is identified as 37-year-old Shane Damond of Lafayette. The officer is identified as Michael Milazzo, a four-year veteran of the department. Authorities say Milazzo shot Damond in the parking lot of the Circle K on Mudd Avenue as Damond tried to flee in a stolen vehicle. Police say as Damond began to drive off, Milazzo grabbed hold of the vehicle and was dragged for a few feet before he shot Damond. Damond died later at a hospital. Milazzo has been placed on paid administrative leave pending completion of the investigation.

Police have arrested three men and a juvenile after they were accused of robbing a Lafayette man at gunpoint. Authorities say the victim invited the three suspects to his home after meeting them at a bar. After arriving at the residence, the suspects are alleged to have pointed a gun at the victim and emptied his pockets before leaving the premises. Police say the victim told officers the perpetrators would likely be in a room at a motel. Authorities say the suspects were found there and apprehended. Facing charges are 19-year-old Dwayne Lathers of Zachary, 17-year-old Alex Smith of Baton Rouge, and a juvenile male from Lafayette. All three face charges of armed robbery.

It's not cheap, but gas is becoming a little less expensive. According to Triple-A, the average price of unleaded regular fell below three-89 a gallon today in Louisiana. That's a penny lower than yesterday, but no big deal when you consider that a gallon of regular was averaging two-80 a gallon last year on this date. Checking some of the metro areas, regular is averaging three-87 in Baton Rouge, three-94 in Lafayette and three-89 in New Orleans.

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.