The Associated Press

A Jefferson Parish sheriff's deputy has resigned after allegedly crashing his patrol car while drunk.

Col. John Fortunato, a department spokesman, tells The Times-Picayune (http://bit.ly/OmyXsI) that 27-year-old Christopher Hyer resigned July 12.

A New Orleans rapper who pleaded guilty to illegally possessing a firearm and conspiring to obstruct justice has been sentenced to 14 years in prison.

Christopher Dorsey, known as "BG," also was sentenced Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Helen Berrigan to three years of supervised release following his prison term.

The 28-year-old pleaded guilty in December to being a felon in possession of a firearm in 2009. Prosecutors say Dorsey had three felony drug convictions between 1998 and 2003.

Gov. Bobby Jindal traveled to Ohio to campaign for Republican presidential contender Mitt Romney, as speculation continues that the Louisiana governor is a possible vice presidential pick.

Jindal's office said the governor headed Tuesday to Columbus for the presidential campaign event and to attend a fundraiser for Republican state treasurer and U.S. Senate candidate Josh Mandel.

Jindal was scheduled to return to Baton Rouge the same day as the events.

Houma police say a 24-year-old man is accused of driving a shopping scooter while drunk.

Police say Thomas J. Phillip's breath tested at more than double the amount considered legal proof of intoxication under Louisiana law when he was pulled over Sunday.

Police say they got a call about a motorized scooter pulling a wheelchair, and found Phillip on the scooter and a friend of his in the wheelchair. They say Phillip was arrested after allegedly telling police he'd been at a Wal-Mart store and decided to take the scooter for a joyride.

The attorney general's office will pay up to $50,000 to Gov. Bobby Jindal's former executive counsel to defend the governor's signature education revamp in court.

Amanda Larkins, spokeswoman for Attorney General Buddy Caldwell, said Tuesday that the contract with lawyer Jimmy Faircloth hasn't been completed. But she described its terms, saying Faircloth is being paid $195 an hour, with a cap of $50,000.

Larkins said the contract runs through the current budget year, which will end June 30.

Local advertising agencies that held the New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corp. contract for more than a decade failed to win a new deal with the tourism promotion organization.

The Times-Picayune reports (http://bit.ly/Q6WU9Z) the work will go to a New York company.

The marketing corporation's board voted unanimously Tuesday to hire Dentsu America as its advertising agency of record. Dentsu will work with a local company, Spears Consulting Group.

MONROE — An internationally recognized University of Louisiana at Monroe toxicology professor has settled a lawsuit he filed against the university alleging he was harassed and discriminated against after he suffered a stroke five years ago.

The News-Star reports (http://tnsne.ws/OG813H) that the university announced Tuesday that it had reached "an amicable settlement" with Harihara Mehendale in the College of Pharmacy.

The Louisiana Legislature's top financial adviser is retiring.

Legislative Fiscal Officer Gordon Monk has worked in state government for 33 years. His last day will be Aug. 8. Monk told The Advocate (http://bit.ly/NztEFS) a contentious legislative session convinced him it was time to go.

The Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget plans to name a temporary replacement on Monday. Lawmakers will pick a permanent fiscal officer when they are next in session, likely not until 2013.

Lake Charles city officials are taking a new look at alternative fuels for public vehicles. City Councilman Rodney Geyen has been pushing Lake Charles City Hall officials to research the costs and savings of using natural gas to run vehicles.

Geyen points to the Lafayette Consolidated Government as an example of what can be done. Lafayette officials have told Geyen that a $25,000-a-month fuel bill for five city buses was reduced to $1,800 a month using compressed natural gas.

An Orleans Parish criminal court judge who has been criticized for her backlog of cases is resigning.

Orleans Parish Criminal District Judge Lynda Van Davis submitted a letter of resignation from the bench on Tuesday. Davis, a former state and federal prosecutor who was elected in 2003, said her resignation is effective Dec. 31.

Davis says she's resigning because she's getting married.