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Government & Politics

Sharp decline in state tax revenue during Jindal years bucks national trend | The Lens – An excellent article by Lens reporter Tyler Bridges. Here’s an important excerpt, but be sure to read the whole thing:

Louisiana’s sharp divergence from the tax revenue trend in other states raises a question: whether Jindal’s economic policies — which favor lower taxes, less government spending and tax breaks for companies willing to invest in the state — are lifting Louisiana up, as the governor frequently claims.

Rodney Alexander To Join Jindal Administration, Leave Congress Immediately | The Hayride – Hayride publisher Scott McKay provides solid instant-analysis of the surprising resignation of U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander, R-Monroe, and speculates about which candidates will run to replace him.  

Land Use

Residents want low fares for Canal Street ferry | The Advocate – 

Under RTA’s plan pedestrians who now ride the ferries for free would pay a base fare of $2 each way or $75 for a monthly pass. That’s a significant cost for many who use the boats daily, residents said.

“We’re ready to pay, but we want a reasonable fee,” Karen Smoyer said.

Habana Outpost proposal deferred yet again after VCC commissioner leaves meeting | NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune – Approval for a proposed Cuban restaurant on a blighted lot at the edge of the French Quarter is still elusive.

The New Orleans City Council chamber was packed Wednesday afternoon with more than 100 people who thought the seemingly never-ending saga of Habana Outpost might finally be coming to an end… . They were wrong.

Schools

Jefferson Parish’s failing schools show improvement | NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune –

As recently as 2010, Jefferson had 18 failing schools. The latest list includes just four, with only one of them — Woodmere Elementary in Harvey — being a conventional school. The other three are alternative schools, where students who misbehave in their regular school are sent for a few months.

… Of the 18 failing schools from 2010, the school board has closed or combined seven.

New York fails Common Core tests | POLITICO.com – Poor test results by highly touted charter schools in New York City — such as the KIPP network— may complicate the debate about “miracle schools,” according to some education analysts. 

Criminal  Justice

Africk gives lawyers two weeks to pick firm to monitor Orleans jail consent decree | The Lens – The selection process for the jail monitor will differ from the one for the NOPD consent-decree monitor.

Justice Department warns New Orleans on proposed police ordinances | The Advocate –  “The Justice Department warns that proposed regulations governing the new Office of Police Secondary Employment may run afoul of that blueprint because of a series of tweaks added by Councilwoman Cynthia Hedge-Morrell. The Justice Department argues that Hedge-Morrell’s changes violate the terms of the decree by moving some detail work outside of the office’s control, and by creating loopholes that would allow officers who work certain details on a regular basis to avoid being rotated to other jobs.”

Merritt Landry defenders developing narrative of innocence | Legal Insurrection – The legal blog advises us to look at the contrasts rather than the similarities between the Zimmerman/Trayvon Martin case and the recent Marigny shooting.

Environment

BP is ordered to pay $130 million — and more — to run oil spill claims center | Associated Press — BP had stopped funding the court-appointed oil spill claims administrator’s operating budget, due to complaints about unreasonable costs. U.S. Magistrate Judge Sally Shushan ruled that BP must fund the administrator’s third-quarter budget.

Lawsuit over destroyed wetlands to face first tests | The Advocate –

“In rapid succession over the next seven days, the levee board will make its case to the Association of Levee Boards of Louisiana and a joint meeting of the state House and Senate transportation, highways and public works committees.” Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority East vice president John Barry says he is “happy to have any opportunity to explain” lawsuits filed by his board.

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...