By KELLY P. KISSEL | Metro editor Baton Rouge is seeking a way to reward first-responders as a means to improve retention rates. The Attorney General's office recently supported a retention pay plan for New Orleans, and Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome is looking at something similar for Baton Rouge. The city's police officers are among the lowest-paid in the region. A woman stopped by a Baton Rouge cop last year is suing him and the agency he works for. Tramiria Pitcher says officer Donald Steele solicited sexual favors from her last June and also sent inappropriate text messages afterward. A federal lawsuit says BRPD should have done a better job training Steele. Steele is on paid administrative leave, and the police department won't comment on the lawsuit. Just in time for what, so far, is the hottest week of the year, we've put together a list of the area's key sno-ball stands. I suggest you keep the list handy because the weather is sure to get hotter before it gets cooler. Thanks for checking in. Be sure to take whatever steps you can to stay cool, but we really hope it includes sno-balls. | 