Government & Politics
Jindal will open Legislature’s session with address to both houses Monday | The Lens – Gov. Bobby Jindal’s busy day started with an opinion piece in the National Review criticizing U.S. foreign policy on Russia. He will open the Legislature with a speech at 1:15 p.m., which The Lens’ Tyler Bridges will live-blog. Jindal will wrap up the day talking to CNBC’s Jim Cramer, who is airing a “Mad Money” show on an an oil drilling rig off of Grand Isle.
Lawmakers, Capitol watchers and legislative staffers all agree Common Core will be the dominant legislative issue this year. Around 25 bills related to the tougher math and language arts standards have already been filed, with more likely to come.
Legislators propose various changes to Tulane scholarships program | News | The Advocate – Seven bills have been filed related to the scholarship program: some would improve transparency, others would restrict or eliminate it.
Guest Oped: The end of religious freedom: why everyone should be concerned | The Advocate — University of New Orleans professor Chris Surpenant defends the principles behind a vetoed Arizona legislation that some described as a “religious freedom antigay bill”:
There is a substantial difference between declining to provide services and going out of your way to make miserable the lives of individuals who hold differing moral views. My concern is not simply that we don’t recognize this difference but that we believe it is an appropriate function of government to compel individuals to associate in this way.
Schools
Effective teacher training critical to success of Common Core math | Hechinger Report
“My big worry is that we’re not going support (teachers) and then we’re going to say, ‘See, the Common Core doesn’t work,” said UCLA education professor Megan Franke, who focuses on mathematics education.
The big easy | New York Post – Post editors say the charter experiment in New Orleans is headed in the right direction “despite constant attacks by the satraps of the status quo,” and it should become a model for New York City.
Our Views: The opposite of science | The New Orleans Advocate – The editors call on the Legislature to repeal the Louisiana Science Education Act, which allows educators to use “supplemental materials” to question natural selection and other topics about which there is little serious academic debate.
Environment
Use of coastal fund is at center of state budget debate | Houma Today – Rep. Brett Geymann, R-Lake Charles, wants to ensure that the state can’t dip into its coastal restoration fund to patch the state’s operating budget.
Here comes El Niño; good news for US weather woes | Associated Press – A strong El Niño warming trend is predicted for this year, which may help some drought-stricken areas but create havoc in others.
What makes a community healthy? | Los Angeles Times – The “poorly organized health system” in Baton Rouge has worse outcomes than cities with greater cooperation between doctors and hospitals, which emphasize preventative care. (Via Jan Moller at Louisiana Budget Project)
Land Use
Bill would allow sale of blighted Lower Ninth Ward lots for $100 apiece | WWL-TV – State Rep. Wesley Bishop wants to spur growth in the neighborhood in which he was raised by authorizing the city to sell certain blighted lots there for $100.
New ‘lot maintenance program’ allows city to cut grass on blighted private property, on owner’s dime | Mid-City Messenger – The cost would be added to the owner’s property tax bill.
Rising Rents Force Morning Call To Close Severn Location & Relocate | Canal Street Beat
Criminal Justice
The Cop Who Stayed | New Orleans Magazine – How will the New Orleans Police Department replace officers like William Trepagnier, who retired after 50 years of service on the force?
Critics: Sheriff needs at least $10 million more a year | The Advocate
Orleans Parish Prison remains dangerously understaffed, and Sheriff Marlin Gusman will need at least $10 million added to his budget this year if he hopes to satisfy the terms of a court-ordered overhaul of the jail, attorneys for the U.S. Department of Justice and a group of inmates said in court filings.
Detective hopes ‘The First 48′ improves communication between NOPD, citizens | NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune – Homicide detective Darrell Doucette encourages each resident to find a police officer they feel comfortable with and can talk to.