“Thirty-two died. No one cared. Forty years later, this is their story.”

In a city steeped in history, tales of heroism, triumph and love abound. This weekend, as New Orleans joins the nation in celebrating Gay Pride, the story of an act of arson that killed 32 people takes center stage.

Founded in 1968, Tulane Summer Lyric Theatre has done its part to fight the summer doldrums in New Orleans for 45 years.

This year, the theater offers three classic, and very different, musicals, one in each month of the summer.

On the marquee are Jerry Herman’s “La Cage aux Folles” this Thursday through Sunday; Stephen Sondheim’s “A Little Night Music” July 11-14; and Cole Porter’s “Kiss Me Kate” Aug.

A flurry of gun violence in three separate incidents across the city on Tuesday night killed one man and injured four others, New Orleans police said.

The night’s one fatal shooting happened about 9:15 p.m. in the 12100 block of the Interstate 10 Service Road in New Orleans East.

The victim, whose name and age were not immediately available, was found face up in a parking lot of an apartment complex with a gunshot wound to his face, police said.

An area of low oxygen to form this summer off the coast of Louisiana could grow to the size of New Jersey if forecasts released Tuesday hold true.

That area of low oxygen, also known as the “dead zone,” could be one of the largest scientists have seen since annual monitoring began in 1985, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The 2013 NOAA forecast calls for a “dead zone” of low oxygen to end up covering 8,561 square miles.

“We didn’t expect it to end this early. It’s tough for everybody. This is a great team. To go two-and-out is upsetting. It’s heartbreaking to not be able to come back.” CHRIS COTTON, LSU closer

OMAHA, Neb. — As the records for winning were broken and the championships were claimed, it seemed inevitable that the LSU baseball team would stay a good while at the College World Series.

MIAMI — LeBron James led a title-saving charge, and now his crown will be on the line one more time in Game 7.

James powered Miami to a frantic fourth-quarter rally and overtime escape as the Heat beat the San Antonio Spurs 103-100 on Tuesday night to extend the NBA Finals as far as they can go and keep Miami’s repeat chances alive.

Losing his headband but keeping his cool while playing the entire second half and overtime, James finished with 32 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists, making the go-ahead basket with 1:43 remaining in the extra period.

FRANKLINTON — A pre-dawn gas line explosion shook residents out of their beds in a rural, wooded area of Washington Parish, briefly knocking out power to thousands of people but not injuring anybody.

An 80-foot section of 30-inch pipeline on Lee Road ruptured at 5:30 a.m. Tuesday about 10 miles from Franklinton, Louisiana State Police Trooper Nicholas Manale said.

Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Mike Haley said the blast knocked a woman who lives about 700 feet away off of her couch and the fire melted siding from the front of her mobile home, but nobody was hurt.