Called the "Eat Local Louisiana Challenge", Dr. Strain says finding the local delicacies would be no problem, with farmers' markets and road-side stands all over Louisiana offering the best in fruit, vegetables, seafood, pork, beef, and dairy products.

Dr. Strain adds that finding the appropriate seasonings for any locally-grown dish would be easy, as well, with numerous hot sauces available and the abundance of salt produced in the state.

"Your food will taste better because it's fresher and you'll be proud to support your Louisiana farmers and the local economy," said Dr. Strain. "You'll know your food is coming from your area and not trucked in from hundreds of miles away."

Dr. Strain is also urging residents to learn more about Louisiana products by visiting local farms, farmers' markets, and other production-oriented facilities to see first-hand how food makes it way to dinner tables.

Livingston Sheriff's Office Dep. Perry Rushing reports that 25-year-old Matthew Paul Hanna has been charged with two counts of burglary, possession of schedule II and schedule IV controlled dangerous substances, possession of drug paraphernalia, theft by fraud, being a fugitive from another agency, and on outstanding warrants charging non-support, speeding, and no seat belt.

The incident occurred on Thursday, July 10, at a residence just east of Denham Springs. Dep. Rushing says that deputies met with a witness who described a suspicious pickup truck in the area as they were investigating the theft of medications and the break-in of a nearby van where some carpentry tools had apparently been stolen.

Dep. Rushing says that deputies were able to locate Hanna and recovered crack cocaine in the vehicle and some pills on his person. According to Dep. Rushing, Hanna told investigators that he had just pawned some saws for $50. The saws were recovered and taken into evidence.

Tangipahoa Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Dennis Pevey reports that 31-year-old Tracy Levette Wilson of Kentwood was charged with manufacturing schedule II controlled dangerous substances, operation, creation, possession of a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory, and two outstanding charges for arraignment. He adds that 37-year-old James Wade Weatherford, also of Kentwood, was charged with possession with the intent to distribute controlled dangerous substances, manufacturing schedule II controlled dangerous substances, and operation, creation, possession of a clandestine methamphetamine laboratory.

The incident began on Wednesday, July 9, when TPSO narcotics agents executed a search warrant at a residence in the 22000 block of Smith Road in Kentwood. Chief Pevey says that during the search, agents recovered materials thought to be used to manufacture methamphetamine, methamphetamine, a .357 pistol, and a .22 rifle.

Chief Pevey adds that this is the second time since April that Weatherford has been arrested on a methamphetamine charge. He also says that agents expect more arrests as the investigation is continuing.

St. Tammany Sheriff's Capt. George Bonnett reports that Phase II of Operation Safe Streets, featuring extra traffic patrols in numerous subdivisions, begins this Saturday, July 19, and will continue on Wednesday, July 30, Friday, August 8, and Saturday, August 16.

Capt. Bonnett says that during Phase I, which kicked off the effort back in March, 50 deputies worked in 25 subdivisions throughout St. Tammany and wrote some 919 tickets.

The Phase II locations in District II, eastern St. Tammany, include Eden Isles, Quail Ridge, Ozone Woods, Bel Air, Coin Du Lestin, Magnolia Forest, and Hickory Hills. In District III, western St. Tammany, the areas include Flowers Estates, Ingram Estates, Marigny Trace, Tallow Creek, Madison Farms, Arrowood, and Timber Branch. In District IV, northern St. Tammany, the areas are Lake Ramsey and Penn Mill Lakes.

Capt. Bonnett adds that the increased patrols will run from 6 a.m. until 11 a.m. and from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m.

Dep. Rushing adds that since October, 2007, Livingston Parish deputies and agents have discovered some 29 working meth labs where arrests were made. He says that several other locations were discovered, but no arrests were made as the suspects were not present.

Slidell Police Capt. Kevin Foltz reports that 43-year-old Bertha S. Cloud has been charged with theft over $500 and filing a false police report.

According to Capt. Foltz, the incident was first reported on Thursday, June 12, when Cloud told officers that the night deposit was stolen from the interior of her vehicle. Capt. Foltz says that Cloud maintained that the money was stolen from her vehicle while it was parked near a store on Natchez Street. He says that a surveillance video of the lot showed no one approached the vehicle except Cloud.

Capt. Foltz also says that as the investigation continued, evidence was developed leading them to believe that Cloud took the night deposit money. The amount of money taken in the case has not been disclosed.

In the Northshore region, Dr. Strain says the request includes Livingston, St. Helena, and Tangipahoa Parishes.

"Extreme weather systems with excessive rain, hail, high winds, and tornadoes ripped through the state in April and May," said Dr. Strain. "The rising costs of fuel, feed, fertilizer, and supplies in conjunction with the bad weather caused problems and it will be tough for farmers to stay in business without assistance."

Dr. Strain adds that he's urging the U. S. Department of Agriculture to act quickly so those farmers within the disaster declaration areas will be able to receive the federal aid.

St. Tammany Sheriff's Capt. George Bonnett reports that 24-year-old Brett Ward, 21-year-old Michael Ayo, 19-year-old Derrick Maise, 18-year-old Clayton King, and the 16-year-old female juvenile have been charged with attempted aggravated rape, second degree battery, and sexual battery. He adds that Ayo has also been charged with carnal knowledge of a juvenile and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile in connection with another apparent incident involving the 16-year-old female.

The incident occurred in the evening hours of Friday, June 20, in the 400 block of Pencarrow Circle near Covington. Capt. Bonnett says that the victim maintains that she met King, Maise, and the 16-year-old female at a local restaurant, leaving thereafter to meet Ayo and Ward at his residence, with his parents apparently being out of town at the time.

Capt. Bonnett says that detectives developed information that Ward, Ayo, Maise, King, and the 16-year-old female attacked the 15-year-old female in an attempt to rape her. Capt. Bonnett adds that this apparently happened in the same room where there was another incident involving Ayo and the 16-year-old female.

Capt. Bonnett adds that the victim's mother reported the incident to the sheriff's office on Wednesday, June 25, and the investigation began. According to Capt. Bonnett, Ward and the 16-year-old female were arrested on Tuesday, July 1; Ayo was arrested on Monday, July 7, at the St. Tammany Courthouse, where he was being tried on an unrelated domestic violence charge; and King and Maise were arrested on Thursday, July 10, in Tangipahoa Parish for allegedly breaking and entering into a residence there.

Dr. Crain had also served as the head of the Department of Accounting, chair of the Council of Development Heads, president of the Faculty Senate, director of the Small Business Development Center, and a full-time faculty member for 13 years.

In a related development, the board also gave Dr. Moffett and the UL staff the authority to begin the search for a consultant to review SLU and develop proposals for a national search firm, as the effort to choose a permanent president for the Hammond campus moves forward.

Sheriff Edwards says that Courville had earlier entered a guilty plea to one count of attempting to entice a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity. Sentencing in the case was on Monday, July 14.

Sheriff Edwards says that three simultaneous undercover online investigations had begun with deputies from Tangipahoa and St. Landry Parishes and officers from the Kenner Police Department posing as a "little girl". Sheriff Edwards says that Courville then contacted the "little girl" and discussed sexual matters, asking "her" to perform sexual acts and send him some pictures.

"It is a sad day when one officer has to arrest another officer for wrongdoing," said Sheriff Edwards. "When a police officer violates his oath and breaks the law, it can erode the public's confidence in law enforcement. The successful prosecution of this case was important to us to demonstrate to the public that no one is above the law. Additionally, Courville's ten-year sentence without the possibility of parole serves as a warning to Internet predators that there are serious consequences for preying on our children."

Sheriff Edwards adds that this case was a part of Project Safe Childhood, a national initiative designed to protect children from online exploitation and abuse.

Covington Police Capt. Jack West reports that 37-year-old Kevin Williams, with a last known address in Baton Rouge but has been "living on the street" in Covington, has been charged with first degree murder, two counts of monetary instrument abuse, and forgery. Capt. West adds that more charges against Williams are expected as the investigation moves forward.

The investigation began at around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 11, when Covington Police responded to a call where a landlord said he had found the badly decomposed body of his tenant, later identified as 64-year-old Ileana Lyons, in a rental house at 420 North Vermont Street in Covington.

As the investigation began, Capt. West says that checks from Lyons' bank account were being cashed in Covington. The investigation then led to Williams who, according to Capt. West, has an extensive record of domestic abuse crimes, including attempted rape and other counts of violence against women. Capt. West says that Williams was apparently using money from the stolen checks to buy drugs on the street.

Capt. West adds that as the investigation moves forward, more charges are expected to be filed against Williams, who was described as unremorseful during questioning.

This is the first murder in Covington for 2008 and, according to Capt. West, only the third homicide case involving a female victim in the past 25 years.

Covington Police Capt. Jack West reports that 28-year-old David K. Repath is wanted in connection with allegedly walking away from a drug rehab program, in violation of his parole, and on a theft warrant, for allegedly stealing checks from a local church.

Capt. West says that Repath is either driving a white, Dodge Ram truck with a Georgia License plate and silver tool box or a U-Haul van. He says that Repath is 5'10" tall, weighing 145 pounds, with brown hair and hazel eyes, and last seen with a goatee.

Capt. West adds that Repath, who has an extensive criminal record, tries to get people to believe that he knows them, asks to dump dirt or cut grass on their property, or simply knocks on doors to see if anyone is home to determine whether to break into a residence or vehicle.

Capt. West says that if anyone has any information on the whereabouts of Repath, he or she should call the Covington Police Department at 985.892.8500 or Crimestoppers at 877.903.STOP.

Covington Police Capt. Jack West reports that 25-year-old Jason Allen Crowe, who told police he recently moved from Franklinton to Covington, has been charged with unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling, criminal damage to property, and disturbing the peace.

The incident occurred shortly before 2 a.m. on Sunday, July 13, in the 1100 block of North Polk Street in Covington. Capt. West says that an officer was patrolling the area when he was flagged down by concerned citizens asking for help with a suspect who apparently kicked open a door at 1118 North Polk Street.

Capt. West says that the officer learned that Crowe crashed his vehicle in a nearby yard, apparently kicked in the door of another house, ran inside tearing down curtains and smashing various items, and began growling at a woman and her one-year-old baby.

Capt. West said that after hearing the woman scream for help, neighbors were able to drag Crowe out of the house and hold him until the officer was flagged down. Capt. West adds that Crowe told the officer that he had been drinking before the incident.

Eyewitness News is at the news conference and will provide further updates as they occur.

St. Tammany Sheriff's Capt. George Bonnett reports that the increased waterways enforcement is designed to curb the number of impaired boat operators by actively looking for those under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

Capt. Bonnett adds that in 2007, there were 18 accidents, including one fatality and eight injuries. He says that so far this year, there have been 12 accidents, also with one fatality and eight injuries.

Capt. Bonnett emphasizes that a DWI while operating a marine vessel carries the same penalties and fines as those for operating a motor vehicle.