When not campaigning for other offices or switching parties, state Rep. Ernest Wooton, I-Belle Chasse, has distinguished himself by leading the effort to allow concealed firearms on Louisiana college campuses. In three of the past four years he has sponsored bills to let qualified students and faculty carry permitted weapons at public universities. Though the […]
Posted inOpinion
City Hall hiring freeze more than just a balancing act
By Karen Gadbois, The Lens opinion writer | Ever played Jenga, the Parker Bros. game where you stack up a bunch of wooden blocks and then take turns easing them out of the middle of the stack, one at a time – until the whole thing falls down? With a hiring freeze on at City […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Child porn sickos deaf to Jindal’s tough talk
For the past three years or so, Governor Bobby Jindal has traveled far and wide bragging about how tough his administration is on child predators. He’s told audiences that violent child rapists deserve the death penalty, and that sexual predators should be chemically castrated. They’re “monsters,” he never fails to say. As he tours beyond […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Schools
Innovative RSD planning process enters final month: public weighs in on needed changes
By Jessica Williams, The Lens staff writer | More transparency, more equity, and greater levels of commitment to non-charter schools were among requests from community members at a public task force meeting Tuesday night with Recovery School District head John White. Members of the task force – comprising representatives from the RSD, the non-profit Orleans […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Land Use
Blight worsened by housing preservation program, Hoffman Triangle residents say
By Karen Gadbois, The Lens staff writer | Hoffman Triangle residents thought they were getting a handle on the blight problem that has gripped their community since Hurricane Katrina. A small neighborhood wedged between Broadmoor and Central City, the Triangle went deeply under water after the levees failed. As a recovery strategy, residents formed a […]
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Tap it, Gramps: Notes on the Roemerlution and sundry tidbits
Today, let’s do a round-up of recent political news stories. 1. The “Roemerlution” continues! Last week former Louisiana governor-turned- presidential-candidate Buddy Roemer took the guest seat on Comedy Central’s “The Colbert Report.” This probably marked the widest exposure Roemer’s struggling campaign has achieved to date. He took the opportunity to appeal directly to “regular folks” […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
NOPD officer accused of off-duty shooting will be retried after jury deadlocks
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | A jury was unable to reach a verdict this evening in the case of a New Orleans Police officer who was arrested after firing his gun during an off-duty altercation in December. The District Attorney’s Office plans to retry Officer Jermaine Lecour in September, spokesman Chris Bowman […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Judge lets stand charges against Eris revelers accused of disturbing the peace
By Matt Davis, The Lens staff writer | Saying she was confused by the facts at hand, a New Orleans judge today did not dismiss charges and set a trial date for two people accused of disturbing the peace at a raucous, unpermitted Eris parade in Faubourg Marigny during Carnival, which was broken up by […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Leadership Forum impresario still hasn't paid contractors left in the lurch from April event
By Ariella Cohen, The Lens staff writer | Nearly two months after globetrotting entrepreneur Bill Loiry told The Lens that he would pay stiffed New Orleans contractors who worked on a Gulf Coast Leadership Summit held here in April, most still haven’t been paid in full. “He’s basically telling me to get in line to […]
Posted inEnvironment, Opinion
Weasel words: BP ‘cleanup’ falls far short of ‘coastal restoration’
By Mark Moseley, The Lens opinion writer | While reading a local news story on the web, I noticed a familiar yellow and green color scheme on the sidebar. Sure enough, it was a BP advertisement: “Gulf Coast Restoration,” the article teased, “Read the latest.” Intrigued, I clicked the link and was sent to the official […]