Louisiana Headlines

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A judge has agreed to postpone the federal racketeering conspiracy trial trial of a former state lawmaker and three relatives of a former congressman. The ruling eliminates a scheduling conflict with a separate case against Mose Jefferson, a brother of former Rep. William Jefferson.

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Louisiana isn't going to have to pick up a share of the cost for FEMA's immediate response and recovery operations after Hurricane Ike. Governor Jindal's office says that will save state and local governments an estimated $15 million to $20 million.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The New Orleans City Council has come up with an extra $1 million for the police department to pay for longer shifts this summer. Superintendent Warren Riley asked for $2 million to extend the shifts of about 900 officers. The 12-hour shifts could begin July 5.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The University of New Orleans is reporting an increase in the number of students applying for admission for the fall semester for the second consecutive year. Freshmen applications have increased to 3,648, or 8 percent more than the 3,368 received at this point in 2008.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)