HEADLINES: The Swine Flu, the Presidential Report Card & More Top Stories

I've been slacking on the headlines lately ... and I apologize :)

With so many news items each day, I kind of compiled them all, but never got to post them ... if you want to see all the stuff you missed (cuz I didn't post them) .. go HERE.

Of course you know (unless you've been under a rock somewhere), the SWINE FLU is the biggest story of the week. The outbreak started outside of the U.S. but has now claimed American lives and made MANY sick. The scare has even shut down schools in East Texas and South Louisiana.

Find out more about the swine flu HERE. Also, check the CDC (Center for Disease Control) website to get the latest on the story.

Now here's a look at what's been making news in the past week:

PREZ REPORT: Obama's First 100 Days Gets Graded by CNN's Political Team, and then America Grades Him ... (check out ALL the stories on the First 100 Days HERE, including a comparison between Obama the Candidate and Obama the President).

GOVERNOR'S REPORT: Jindal receives mostly positive results

EQUAL RIGHTS: Rep Barbara Norton Pushing Bill to Give Women Equal Pay

PAY UP: Shreveport City Councilman Ordered to Pay Damages in Civil Case

CRIME WATCH: Chief Whitehorn considering gun registry to deter crime

NO CAMS: City Council Downs Red Light Cameras in Vote

AT WORK: Louisiana Lawmakers Begin 2009 Legislative Session

UNDER CONSTRUCTION: Work on I-20 in Bossier has begun ... Will continue for months!


BUDGET WOES: Cuts in the state budget could spell trouble for public education


COMPANY CUTS: GM to Slash 21,000 Jobs & Phase Out Pontiac

NFL BOUND: LSU's Demetrius Byrd Drafted (Plus other players) ... also check out CNN's break-down of Draft picks for all the NFL teams

LEGENDARY LOSS: "Golden Girl" Bea Arthur Dies at 86 {in case you hadn't heard :(}

JAZZ FEST: CNN Highlights the Spirit of New Orleans as Jazz Fest takes over the Crescent City



Other stories of interest:

• The cost of higher education has a lot of students swiping credit cards ... see how this could be hurting them HERE.

• Ice-T (of all people) discusses the State of Hip Hop ... go HERE to check it out
  
  
• Holiday in Dixie '09 is over ... but you can still check out pics from the festival HERE.

• The local grad chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho has debuted some lovely young ladies. See the pics HERE.

• The upcoming Katfish & Kocktails event will benefit VYJ (Volunteers for Youth Justice) ... get the details HERE.