Government & Politics
Louisiana’s economic success not seen in state revenue collections, lawmakers say | NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune – State officials have touted economic growth in the state, and a sharp drop in the jobless rate. But there is little growth in income tax revenues and corporate tax collections are projected to drop by 17 percent.
Edwin Edwards, are you kidding? | Bayoubuzz – The Lens’ Tyler Bridges discusses former governor Edwards’ announced run for Congress with Bayoubuzz publisher Stephen Sabludowsky, talk radio host Jeff Crouere, and former Insurance Commissioner Jim Brown.
Former fraud investigator joins LouisianaVoice with rare insider’s closeup look at State Auctioneer Licensing Board | Louisiana Voice – Robert Burns, a former member of the licensing board contends it ignores rampant “shill bidding,” an illegal practice that games property auctioning.
Environment
Louisiana shale gas sees a second life | Fuel Fix
The surge in Gulf Coast petrochemicals and natural gas-fired power generation, combined with exports of natural gas, could push up Louisiana’s demand for the fuel and revive a voracious market for Haynesville and Marcellus shale gas, according to a report.
Wastewater could help wetlands | Houma Today – The Terrebonne Parish Council gave preliminary approval to a project that would send millions of gallons of treated wastewater into wetlands, instead of directly into the Gulf of Mexico. The hope is that this will stimulate vegetation and rebuild eroding land.
Louisiana’s shifting coastline makes coastal restoration challenging | Louisiana Sportsman – The rapidly eroding coastline has created uncertainty for communities in the state’s southern bayou areas, which face the prospect of relocation. Via MississippiRiverDelta.org.
Environmental Groups Sue Plaquemines Coal Terminal For Violating Clean Water Act | WWNO
A lawsuit filed Tuesday morning by a coalition of environmental groups says the United Bulk Terminal, a coal export plant in Plaquemines Parish, is polluting the Mississippi River and threatening communities, and wetlands, nearby.
With a number of new coal plants scheduled to come online in the next few years, the lawsuit seeks to bring the plant into compliance with the law and up to the standards of other states.
Schools
Live blog: Lusher holds lotteries to select students for 2014-15 school year | The Lens – The Lens posts lottery results for Lusher’s middle and high schools.
Roemer disputes Jindal’s Common Core comments | The Advocate – Chas Roemer, the president of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, says the governor’s recent complaint about “one size fits all” tests doesn’t apply in this state: “[It’s] neither what we proposed nor what we practice.”
Hilariously, Bobby Jindal Attempts To Use “Science” To Defend His Failed School Voucher Program | CenLamar – Blogger Lamar White fact-checks and criticizes Gov. Bobby Jindal’s recent opinion piece for the New York Post, which is provocatively titled “Bill de Blasio’s war for poverty.”
Criminal Justice
Henry Glover case at center of New Orleans lawmaker’s concerns over coroners bill | NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune – Sen. Karen Carter Peterson, D-New Orleans, referred to the Henry Glover shooting while questioning a bill that would exempt coroners from releasing certain information to the public.
Officials report positive reviews of LAPD’s on-body cameras | Los Angeles Daily News – After a successful pilot program, in which body cameras were credited with defusing confrontations between the public and police, the Los Angeles Police Department intends to purchase about 600 cameras for $1.2 million. Last year, the New Orleans Police Department announced plans to purchase 350 cameras for $1.2 million.
Guest commentary: Time to get rid of the death penalty | The Advocate – Nicholas Trenticosta, a New Orleans lawyer, writes: “If we studied the causes of wrongful convictions, we will learn a leading factor is many prosecutors, especially in high profile capital cases, want a death penalty so badly they are more than willing to hide all evidence that is helpful to the defense, including of course, direct evidence of innocence, as in the case of John Thompson.”
Land Use
New Orleans’ Winning Strategy in the War on Blight | Governing – The magazine claims New Orleans “is considered a national model for blight reduction.”
Cheaper NOLA-BR Rail Service Eyed in Latest Report | NOLA DEFENDER — According to a feasibility study released Tuesday, the long-discussed idea of offering passenger service between the state’s two largest cities “got cheaper by more than $180 million over the last few years.”