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SEVERE WEATHER
Storms move across La., Miss.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A line of thunderstorms continues to move across Louisiana and Mississippi bringing with it heavy rain and high winds.
The National Weather Service reports wind damage Tuesday night and early Wednesday stretching from Caddo Parish in northwest Louisiana to the Jackson, Miss. area.
Trees and power lines are down across much of north Louisiana and in Mississippi a building in Vicksburg sustained roof damage. No injuries have been reported as the storms approach the Baton Rouge area and southern Mississippi.
Scattered power outages are reported across both north Louisiana and central Mississippi.
ENTERGY SETTLEMENT
PSC approves settlement with Entergy Gulf States
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - State regulators have approved a settlement that would lower Entergy's profit margin, pay a refund and roll back rates for about 92,000 natural gas customers in Baton Rouge.
Under the terms of the settlement approved Tuesday, Matthew Kahal, the regulatory economist hired to advise the Public Service Commission on the case, says the rate paid for natural gas each month will drop about 2.5%.
In addition, Entergy will refund a modest amount, probably less than a dollar for the typical residential customer. The exact amount depends on when the settlement is implemented.
The Advocate reports the key issue is the profit margin, called return on equity, which was reduced from 10.5% to 9.95% for Entergy Gulf States Louisiana LLC under the agreement.
DRUG SLAYING
Woman pleads guilty to manslaughter
COVINGTON, La. (AP) - A 32-year-old Slidell woman charged with beating and stabbing a 50-year-old woman to death in 2005 during an argument over crack cocaine has been sentenced to 35 years in prison after she pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
The Times-Picayune reports Theresa Marie Hopkins was arrested in June 2005 after Slidell police said she admitted to hitting Tina Smith in the head with an iron, then stabbing her in the neck.
State District Judge William Burris sentenced Hopkins on Tuesday.
DEPUTIES KILLED
Suspect in St. John deputy ambush pleads guilty
EDGARD, La. (AP) - 1 of the suspects charged in the deadly ambush last August that claimed the lives of 2 St. John Parish sheriff's deputies and the wounding of 2 others has pleaded guilty.
The Times-Picayune reports Derrick Smith, the younger brother of suspected gunman Brian Smith and son of Terry Smith, who is also facing accessory charges, is the third suspect to enter a guilty plea in the case.
Derrick Smith pleaded guilty Tuesday to accessory after the fact to attempted first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
Terry Smith is charged as principal to attempted first-degree murder and Brian Smith and Kyle Joekel are each charged with first-degree murder in the deaths of the two deputies.
Their trial is set to begin in mid-2014.
RETIREMENT HOME THEFTS
Slidell retirement home employee booked with theft
SLIDELL, La. (AP) - A 52-year-old Slidell retirement home employee is facing several theft charges after police say she stole jewelry and a digital camera from residents and then sold the items to local pawn shops.
The Times-Picayune reports Stephanie Ducre is being held in the St. Tammany Parish Jail on a $25,000 bond.
Slidell police says 1 of the retirement home's residents contacted police after she noticed several pieces of her late husband's jewelry missing from her room.
Detectives say most of the stolen jewelry has been recovered.
Ducre was booked on four counts each of exploitation of the infirm, theft by fraud and theft of assets of an aged person.
It was unclear whether Ducre has an attorney.
FATAL PUNCH
Suspect in bar-fight death surrenders
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Police say a 27-year-old Baton Rouge man accused of punching a man during a bar fight who later died of his injuries has surrendered to authorities.
Cpl. L'Jean McKneely tells The Advocate that Andres Gonzalez was booked Tuesday on one count of second-degree murder in the death of 39-year-old Raphael Domino Jr.
Authorities say Gonzalez is accused of punching Domino during a May 5 fight at the End Zone Daiquiri & Bar.
Police say Domino was punched and then fell to the ground, striking his head.
East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner Dr. Beau Clark said Domino died May 12.
It was unclear whether Gonzalez has an attorney.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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