The Associated Press

The state is preparing to spend millions of dollars repaving Interstate 10 in Kenner and the Airport Access Road.

The Times-Picayune reports Barriere Construction Co. this week entered the only bid to overlay the highway between the St. Charles Parish line and Williams Boulevard.

Barriere's bid — almost $4.8 million — came in about $500,000 above the state's Department of Transportation and Development estimate of almost $4.2 million.

Construction usually begins two to four months after bids are opened.

Authorities in Terrebonne Parish are on the lookout for thieves who've struck several power substations in search of copper.

The Courier reports someone has been cutting through fences surrounding the substations and stealing copper ground wires, probably for sale as scrap. When the ground wires are cut, electric service generally isn't interrupted.

The thefts began in May, sheriff's deputies said. So far, four substations in Chauvin, Montegut, Dularge and the Houma area have been hit.

Authorities in Terrebonne Parish are on the lookout for thieves who've struck several power substations in search of copper.

The Courier reports someone has been cutting through fences surrounding the substations and stealing copper ground wires, probably for sale as scrap. When the ground wires are cut, electric service generally isn't interrupted.

The thefts began in May, sheriff's deputies said. So far, four substations in Chauvin, Montegut, Dularge and the Houma area have been hit.

Perry Chighizola has been appointed to the Grand Isle Port Commission.

Chighizola owns Blue Water Sports, a recreational fishing company. The appointment was made by Gov. Bobby Jindal.

Jindal also renewed appointments for the following port board members: retired police officer Ambrose Besson; charter fisherman Andy Galliano; commercial fisherman Terry Pizani and Bob Sevin, a retired marketing professional.

BAY ST. LOUIS, Miss. — Two people have been hurt after their truck collided with an eastbound CSX train.

The accident happened shortly after 9 a.m. Saturday at the intersection of City Park Avenue and Toulme Street in Bay St. Louis.

Deputy Chief Christine Johnson told The Sun Herald (http://bit.ly/NoWdUO) that Kenneth and Deborah Kennedy, both 52, from Waveland, were apparently going over the track and possibly tried to back up to get off the tracks when the accident happened.

USA Swimming is partnering with Sigma Gamma Rho, a historically black national sorority, as it continues its campaign to increase participation in the sport and help counter staggering drowning statistics in minority communities.

The new partnership was announced Saturday as the sorority gathered in New Orleans for its biennial conference, meeting through Tuesday.

RUSTON — The 2012 Louisiana Peach Festival pumped a record of about $5.3 million into the Lincoln Parish economy, according to the Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce.

The Daily Leader reports (http://bit.ly/NkX2jt) the economic impact estimate tops the previous high of $4.6 million set in 2006.

Figures released by the chamber, which produces the festival, show attendance rose to 19,837, a slight increase over 2011.

The closing of the Legislature in June was just the beginning for construction crews at the state Capitol.

The Advocate reports workers are ripping up floors, breaking through walls and removing ceilings to give the 80-year-old building a facelift.

The work is expected to be completed in January 2013.

A $14.7 million upgrading of the heating and air conditioning system is well under way as is a $1.4 million project to repair the breezeway under the Capitol's front steps.

The Capitol was authorized under Gov. Huey P. Long and opened in March 1932.

RAMAH, La. — Birders and wildlife enthusiasts have a chance to view endangered North American wood storks on July 21 at the Sherburne Wildlife Management Area between Baton Rouge and Lafayette.

The wildlife management area's south farm is drained each year at midsummer to enhance wetland growth before being flooded in the fall as waterfowl habitat and to stimulate crawfish production.

When the banks are drained, the exposed crawfish attract North American wood storks, which have been listed as endangered since 1984.

The Army Corps of Engineers has awarded an $18.6 million contract for drainage construction in the Industrial Canal area on Jefferson Parish's west bank.

The contract, an element of the Louisiana Urban Flood Damage Reduction Project, seeks to reduce flooding that might result from about 9 inches of rain falling over a 24-hour period.

The contract was awarded to Fleming Construction Co. of Jefferson Parish.

The 36-month project includes removing underground drainage pipes and replacing them with a reinforced concrete open channel.