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NEW YORK (AP) — New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma has been suspended without pay for the entire 2012 season by the NFL. He was one of four players suspended Wednesday. Defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove, now with the Green Bay Packers, is suspended for eight games, while Saints defensive end Will Smith is barred for four games. Linebacker Scott Fujita will miss three games and all of the suspensions are without pay. 

U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu is hosting a three-day conference this week aimed at building trade and economic ties with Latin America. The first of what’s planned to be an annual event is aimed at expanding business with Guatemala.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Port of New Orleans officials say the Florida Avenue Bridge over the Industrial Canal will be closed much of the day on Thursday and Friday for repairs.

The work will require closing the bridge to vehicular traffic between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. both days.

Port officials say marine and rail traffic will not be affected. 

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The Louisiana House has upended Gov. Bobby Jindal's push to create a new retirement plan for rank-and-file workers. Lawmakers narrowly backed a requirement that any new employees put into the revamped retirement plan also be enrolled into the federal Social Security program. 

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Justice Department is urging a federal judge to set a new trial date for this summer for government claims against BP over the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. BP has asked the judge to set a January 2013 trial date. 

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The House budget-writing committee has patched together a $25 billion budget for next year that would cut public colleges and health care services, force state worker layoffs and continue privatization efforts in state agencies. Conservative lawmakers say the cuts included in the 2012-13 spending plans don't go far enough. 

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is asking the Army Corps of Engineers to increase the flow of water through the Old River Control Structure into the Atchafalaya Basin. Jindal says abnormally low water levels in the basin have spawned complaints about their effects on water quality and the wild crawfish harvest. 

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Federal Emergency Management Agency has awarded more than $148 million in additional Hurricane Katrina recovery funding to the St. Bernard Parish school board.

FEMA said the grant award announced Tuesday brings the total amount of federal funds awarded to the school board after the 2005 storm to $500 million.

St. Bernard Schools Superintendent Doris Voitier said in a statement that the money will allow the district to complete its final Katrina recovery efforts.

Civil rights advocates are pushing the Obama Administration to stop deporting labor organizers. Several facing deportation hearings attended a rally outside New Orleans City Hall.