Louisiana State News

	La. monkey owners in hiding urged to return home Wildlife officials have a message for a couple who fled Louisiana with their four monkeys out of fear their animals would be confiscated: Come home and let us inspect your cages and monkeys.
	Visitor to Louisiana penitentiary arrested A St. Tammany Parish woman is free after posting $12,000 bail for allegedly trying to smuggle marijuana into the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola.
	Baton Rouge man wins $1.25 million Lotto jackpot A 58-year-old Baton Rouge man's Christmas holiday came with a little something extra - a lottery ticket worth $1.25 million.
	Inmates accused of possessing marijuana in jail Richwood police have arrested two inmates at the Richwood Correctional Center.
	Mistrial declared in Houma murder trial A mistrial has been declared in the trial of a Houma man accused of fatally stabbing his wife during an argument in July 2010.
	Helicopter maker settles claims over 2009 crash The manufacturer of a helicopter that crashed in Louisiana in 2009, killing eight people, has agreed to settlements with families of several crash victims who sued the company and had a trial set for next month, plaintiffs' attorneys said Thursday.
	Louisiana average ACT scores slightly increase Louisiana's average composite ACT score increased by one-tenth of a point, from 20.1 in 2010 to 20.2 in 2011, keeping pace with the national increase, the state Department of Education said.
	ULL to house some students at Crowne Plaza About 150 students at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette will be checking into a hotel next week instead of a dormitory.
	Feds clear Louisiana education districts Federal officials gave clearance Monday to redesigned maps for Louisiana's top education board, wrapping up the final outstanding statewide redistricting plan awaiting approval.
	Cleanup ongoing of oil spill near Catahoula Lake Crews are working to clean an oil spill in Saint Martin Parish.