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Environment

Still Counting Gulf Spill’s Dead Birds | The New York Times – The Times picks up the story about the potential undercount in bird deaths from the BP spill, which The Lens’ Bob Marshall reported three weeks ago.

Abita Springs mayor comes out against proposed fracking operation | NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune – Mayor Greg Lemons said he can’t jeopardize the town’s reputation for clean water and air.

Criminal Justice

Third burglary case tied to teen shot by Marigny homeowner | The New Orleans Advocate

Marshall Coulter, the teenager who was shot in the head last year by a Marigny homeowner after jumping a fence into the man’s yard, and who was arrested Friday for entering a residence in the same neighborhood, also was booked Friday for a 2012 burglary in which he allegedly broke into a home on Frenchmen Street and wrested a gun from a resident, police said Monday.

Government & Politics

Use our calculator to see how much property tax increase would cost you | The Lens – Bill could double the portion of property taxes for police and fire protection.

Which statement from Landrieu’s speech do you want The Lens to fact-check? | The Lens – We’ve selected five factual claims Mayor Mitch Landrieu made in his inaugural address on Monday. Tell us which one we should investigate.

MAGINNIS: Jindal Copes with Rejection from Feds | LaPolitics

The administration contends that if the feds remain pig-headed it can pursue other [hospital] financing alternatives. Yet, most likely, other options are going to be more expensive, with the only question being by how much. The long term looks even worse, as the Affordable Care Act mandates a steep reduction, between 2015-2018, in the Disproportionate Share Hospital program that is the state’s chief source of federal Medicaid dollars. Once again, the Jindal administration sees no problem, but it will be long gone by then.

Jindal, LSU Board, Civil Service Commission must share the blame for LSU Hospital debacle, but legislature not culpable | Louisiana Voice – Blogger and journalist Tom Aswell offers an in-depth review of the officials involved in the state’s hospital privatization contract.

Schools

Common Core Testing Clears Another Hurdle | LaPolitics – “Supporters of Common Core turned back an attempt Monday to give legislators oversight on the national assessment test linked to the new standards.”

Louisiana House OKs constitutional amendment on college tuition | The New Orleans Advocate – State Rep. Walt Leger, D-New Orleans, said the bill would ensure that students get more value for their tuition dollars.

Louisiana Senators approve Tulane scholarship tweaks | NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune – The Senate passed legislation that puts modest limitations on legislators’ ability to award full scholarships to Tulane University.

Land Use

City panel splits on Tulane request to demolish Newcomb Institute building | Uptown Messenger – The City Council will need to approve demolition of a 100-year-old home currently used by the Newcomb College Institute. Tulane wants to replace it with a new building.

Company Leaves Jefferson For Orleans Due to Zoning Dispute | Canal Street Beat – From Jefferson to Orleans Parish — because of zoning? That’s such a rarity I had to read the article twice.

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...