Authorities in Iberia Parish and LA State Police are looking for Paul Stanley Collins Jr. who is accused of shooting to death his estranged wife - the mother of his two children.

The government is doling out $20-million to farmers in eight states, including Louisiana, to create habitats for migratory birds whose usual Gulf wintering spots may be fouled by the massive BP oil spill.

Louisiana is entering the grip of a summer heat wave for the weekend and into next week.

State  biologists  have collected and  disposed  of  more  than  750
derelict crab traps in the Houma area.  Officials say abandoned crab
traps are a nuisance.   They  were  removed  from  portions  of Lake
Mechant, Sister Lake, Lost Lake, Bayou Terrebonne and Little Lake.
 

A former P-E teacher from West Monroe is facing more than just the
loss of her job now. Authorities say getting a termination letter is
what pushed 27-year-old Jamie Lynn Avant to allegedly kidnap a
15-year-old girl.

In order to cut costs, the Recovery School District in New Orleans
has laid off 45 security guards. The RSD is looking at budget cuts
totalling 20 million dollars.

Here's a look at stories making national news.

A new national poll finds former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is currently the Republican with the chance of defeating President Obama in 2012. 

Arizona has filed an appeal in the federal lawsuit which resulted in an injunction against portions of the state's new immigration law.