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Land Use

Invasion of the parking snatchers: panel to address lawn-paving epidemic | The Lens – The zoning panel hears about safety issues and access for the handicapped, but the overarching reason for a lot of illegally paved yards is less often acknowledged: personal convenience at the expense of neighbors.

Debate on Bourbon St.: Should the Good Times Roll Less Loudly? | The New York Times – Good summary of a complex issue, with representation from all sides of the noise debate.

Letter to the editor: Side streets, school traffic need more attention during Uptown drainage projects | Uptown Messenger – Uptown resident Clark Thompson says the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers should clean up the messy unintended consequences of their sewerage work.

Government & Politics

John Alario and Francis Heitmeier kept spending on stadium suites, pricey meals and more in 2013 | NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune — “The 2013 reports, filed last month, show how state law allowed [state lawmakers] Alario and Heitmeier to spend large amounts, even though neither is facing a campaign in the near future.” Investigative reporter Lee Zurik has a companion report at Fox 8.

Another Jindal appointee above the law | Forgotston.com – Legislative watchdog, blogger and lobbyist C.B. Forgotston questions how the state’s Department of Children and Family can reportedly hire a “lobbyist.” State law prohibits that.

Opinion: Audubon reaches too far for tax support | New Orleans CityBusiness – “The 50-year, 4.2-mill property tax request [for the Audubon Nature Institute] reaches too deep and too long into the pockets of property owners without adequate specificity on the use of the resources.”

Louisiana abortion legislation spurs rumors, misinformation | NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune – Legislation to regulate abortions proposed by Rep. Katrina Jackson, D-Monroe, has gained attention and stirred alarmism, speculation and debate. However:

Little has been said about changes Jackson had proposed that could require doctors who perform the procedure only occasionally to now be licensed as an outpatient abortion provider with the state. Physicians used to only have to register with Louisiana if they performed more than five abortions per month. Now, they would have to acquire a license if they perform more than five abortions per year.

Criminal Justice

New Orleans City Council to consider Orleans Parish Prison transition, mentally ill population and steps forward | NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune

Before officials agree on the size of New Orleans’ future prison population, they still have to decide on what to do with the present one. It’s a four-year-old debate that has been full of twists and turns. The City Council on Thursday (March 13) is expected take up the latest proposal from Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s administration: that the Orleans Parish Prison’s temporary detention center remain open indefinitely after a new, 1,438-bed inmate housing unit opens later this year.

How the Sex Trafficking Industry Works | The Crime Report – A new report interviews 261 pimps and other “stakeholders” in sex trafficking to gather data on the scope of the industry and gain insight on how these lowlifes use others to make high incomes. Times-Picayune opinion columnist James Varney understands the loathsomeness of human trafficking, but wonders if it should be a top priority for Gov. Bobby Jindal.

Schools

Will any of these people be the next Orleans Parish schools superintendent? | NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune – Good run-down of potential candidates to lead schools in New Orleans.

Staying in tune and out of trouble | NolaVie – Make Music NOLA is “a completely free after-school music experience” for students.

Environment

Oil supporters to meet, plan to combat trial lawyers | The Advertiser – The “Give ‘Em the Boot Tour” plans to organize grassroots support for the energy industry’s effort against excessive and frivolous lawsuits.

In Louisiana, an environmental lawsuit brings hope for a new chapter | Al Jazeera America – Al Jazeera looks at former Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority–East vice chairman John Barry’s effort to hold oil and gas companies accountable for coastal damage.

Mark Moseley

Mark Moseley blogs at Your Right Hand Thief. Until mid 2014, Mark Moseley was The Lens' opinion writer, engagement specialist and coordinator for the Charter Schools Reporting Corps. After Katrina and...