SGA approves new budget

SGA’s new budget for this upcoming semester will be $175,000, which is less than last year’s budget of $185,000 a semester.

This budget received each of the three present senators’ approvals.

Cee Lo Green removed from festival due to controversial tweets

GRETNA, La. (AP) — The Gretna Heritage Festival is saying “Forget You” to CeeLo Green after comments the performer made about rape.

A Friday statement from festival Chairman Ricky Templet says Green was dropped from October’s festival lineup because his comments break with the festival’s family environment.

Green pleaded no contest last week to one felony count of furnishing ecstasy to a woman during a 2012 dinner in Los Angeles.

Green was replaced with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts at the festival.

Former mayor goes to federal prison and gets public defender

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin has reported to a federal prison in Texarkana, Texas to begin serving a 10-year sentence Monday.

A public defender in New Orleans is pursuing an appeal of Nagin’s February conviction on charges including bribery and money laundering. The charges stemmed from the Democrat’s two terms as mayor from 2002-2010.

Mayor announces strategy to help job seekers find employers

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu announced a new comprehensive strategy to connect disadvantaged job seekers and businesses.

A City Hall press release said The Economic Opportunity Strategy being announced Tuesday will partner with local training providers, social service agencies and community advocates, as well as anchor institutions across New Orleans.

Those institutions include Louisiana Children’s Medical Center Health, Louis Armstrong New       Orleans International Airport and the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, among others.

Baton Rouge police interested in acquiring body worn cameras

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A Baton Rouge Metro Councilwoman says she wants city police to join the ranks of New Orleans, Thibodaux and other police departments across the country that are using body cameras to increase officer accountability.

Councilwoman C. Denise Marcelle said she grew concerned watching the brutal confrontation between protesters and police in Ferguson, Missouri following the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old man, by a police officer last month.

Corporal Don Coppola Jr., a Baton Rouge police spokesman, said the agency would be interested in reviewing the possibility of acquiring body cameras if the opportunity arose.