A major vote on short-term rentals at the City Council. Asbestos in New Orleans schools. And an interview with Brian Knighten of the Broad Theater about flooding and drainage in the city.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Short term rental overhaul takes major step forward, but still plenty of work left
Final vote on proposals should come within 90 days. The City Council has yet to address caps on commercial licenses, affordability measures or improved enforcement.
Posted inSchools
Friends of King charter group to move to four-day school week
Advocates of four-day school weeks say the schedule can save money and attract teachers. Critics worry about an extra day of childcare for working parents.
Posted inSchools
Ongoing asbestos cleanup forces two schools to spend another year in temporary campuses
One charter group alleges the state-run Recovery School District and its contractor withheld a report detailing asbestos problems.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Report sheds light on how often threat of habitual offender sentence may factor into guilty pleas
Multiple bills are way down in New Orleans. But they still offer prosecutors leverage as a threat. Court Watch volunteers saw prosecutors reference the habitual offender law in 16 percent of plea-deal cases in 2017, 13 percent in 2018.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Report: New Orleans criminal court drug testing methods unconfirmed, may lead to false positives
At least 59 people were jailed for contempt in 2018 based on questionable drug tests, watchdog group says.
Posted inSchools
Judge’s order allows Sophie B. Wright students to walk at graduation, but it may have come too late
The order came down 15 minutes before graduation was set to begin, according to a civil rights attorney who represented six students.
Posted inInside the News Room
Week in Review: Entergy New Orleans could face $2 million fine over frequent outages
Entergy New Orleans could face $2 million fine over frequent outages The New Orleans City Council’s utility advisers are recommending a $1.5 million to $2 million fine against Entergy New Orleans for failing to adequately maintain the city’s aging electrical distribution system — the poles and wires that run down New Orleans streets to connect […]
Posted inBehind The Lens
Behind The Lens episode 31: ‘We apologize for this inconvenience’
Marta Jewson on the resignation of a charter school network’s CEO. Michael Isaac Stein on the latest recommended fines against Entergy New Orleans. And some highlights from The Lens’ most recent public records workshop.
Posted inLand Use, Opinion
Lower Nine faces 13 years of hell if canal project rolls forward
Stunning indifference to community resistance