To the Super Bowl referee who ignored the pass interference that occurred on the fourth-down play with two minutes to go: Thank you for blowing that call! New Orleans is truly in your debt, sir. When Baltimore Ravens’ cornerback Jimmy Smith clearly held San Francisco 49ers’ receiver Michael Crabtree, you kept that little yellow flag […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Investigations
Company with family, political ties does big business with OPSO
Metro Business Supplies has done $1.7 million in business with the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office since Hurricane Katrina. The man who landed the job, Richard Schlaudecker, is married to the daughter of Chief Deputy Gerald Ursin.
Posted inCharter Schools
Teacher evaluations in full swing at Harney
Without enough members present to reach a quorum, the board of Edgar P. Harney Spirit of Excellence Academy met briefly Monday night to discuss teacher evaluations and space issues at the school. Principal Eileen Williams said that the school is working on an on-going teacher evaluation project comprised of fall and spring observations and student […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
State says it will use a new, single drug for upcoming execution
Louisiana has found a way around a nationwide shortage of one of the three drugs used to execute inmates.
Posted inCharter Schools
Sci Academy leaders cite numerous reasons for high suspension rate
The board of Collegiate Academies met in January to discuss financial data and an article published in the Advocate, which described the correlation between high suspension rates and low school performance scores in charter schools throughout the New Orleans area. In the article, Collegiate’s Sci Academy is mentioned as having the second-highest suspension rate at […]
Posted inCharter Schools
Lusher grapples with new football rules, grants same-sex benefits
As the rest of the city focused on the Super Bowl this past weekend, officials at Lusher Charter School had their minds on high school football – and potential injuries that their students could face next school year. Recent division changes made by the Louisiana High School Athletic Association pose a “danger” for students at Lusher and […]
Posted inCharter Schools, Schools
Lycée board violated open meetings laws in ousting principal
For days before the charter school board voted to accept the resignation of principal Jill Otis, board members emailed back and forth about how they could force her out. Board president Jean Montes acknowledges that the discussions violated public meetings law but said the board dealt with the problem in a subsequent executive session.
Posted inLand Use
Landrieu Planning appointee has unpermitted parking slab
Kyle Wedberg paved the entire street frontage of a lot next to his home, without securing the required permits.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Central City languishes just a short walk from the glitzy Superdome
The city has spent a lot of money fixing up the parts of the city that Super Bowl visitors will see. But just a short walk from the Superdome, Central City is still dealing with the double-whammy of Hurricane Katrina and generations of poverty.
Posted inEnvironment
Eco vs. econo: 11th-hour dispute over plan to spend $20B in BP fines
Up to $6 billion of BP’s fines for the oil spill was supposed to be spent on ecosystem recovery. A behind-the-scenes drama unfolded when new guidelines added “economic recovery” to the approved purposes.