By KELLY P. KISSEL | Metro editor The backlog of aspiring teachers is growing. Louisiana has eight people working through a backlog of 7,400 people awaiting clearance from the state before they can enter the classroom. (The number was at 6,500 not that long ago.) State senators and education leaders didn't have a meeting of the minds Monday. A man has been convicted of manslaughter in the first killing of an on-duty Zachary police officer. The jurors got the case Monday and took less than a half-day to make a decision. Baton Rouge police have beefed up patrols in parts of the city, fearing an increase in gang violence. Some welcome the attention, but others are worried the push won't necessarily make the city a safer place. | 