New place to learn: Officials from the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, Dow Chemical and Iberville Parish government gathered today to announce plans for the new Westside Technical College. The school will be built next to Plaquemine High.
Top of the class: Ten high school seniors from the Capital Region are candidates for the United States Presidential Scholars Program. Students qualify for the honor based on standardized test scores, essays and activities. A boy and a girl from each state are selected for the honor, along with 15 at-large students and up to 20 for the performing arts. The finalists will get to attend a ceremony in Washington, D.C., in mid-June. Local candidates are: Nathan R. Blanchard, Parkview Baptist; Katherine E. Herbert, Parkview Baptist; Michael S. Kelly, Catholic High; Colleen E. Kerr, Episcopal; Gerald L. Knapp, University High; Steve H. Monk, University High; Justin J. Moore, Baton Rouge Magnet High; Keller M. Quinn, Episcopal; Paxton M. Turner, Baton Rouge Magnet High; and Ashley E. Willis, Episcopal.
Saving lives: Red light cameras are helping drivers remember that red means stop and are saving lives, according to a new study released today by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The study concludes that the cameras have reduced the rate of fatal crashes by 24% in 14 large cities that introduced red light cameras between 1996 and 2004. Baton Rouge was not included in the study. In cities with the cameras, the study also noted drops in all fatal crashes at intersections with traffic signals, not just those caused by running red lights. The institute claims that the reduction translates into 159 lives saved over five years in those cities. If all large cities had cameras, a total of 815 lives could have been saved, according to the study.
