Schools
State flags standardized test problems at 17 New Orleans schools in 2012-13 | The Lens – Most of the problems were small-scale plagiarism, according to the report by the Louisiana Department of Education.
Among the problems:
- 26 ACT tests were voided at Crescent Leadership Academy because the test was started 15 minutes late, according to school principal Chauncey Nash.
- At the former O.P. Walker Senior High School, four tests were voided for plagiarism and five ACT tests were voided for being incorrectly labeled.
- Four schools were cited for both plagiarism and improper test proctoring: Walker, John McDonogh Senior High School, Walter L. Cohen High School and McMain Secondary School.
Alfred Bonnabel Magnet Academy High in Kenner and West Jefferson High in Harvey were on the problem list for the fifth time in six years. O. Perry Walker High School in Algiers has had security lapses for four of the last six years. Repeated problems have also been found at Glen Oaks High in Baton Rouge, Helen Cox High in Harvey, Garyville/Mount Airy Math and Science Magnet, and John McDonogh, Sarah T. Reed and Walter L. Cohen high schools in New Orleans.
City Study Tracks Transfers by Charter School Students | The New York Times – A study in New York City shows that special education students are more likely to transfer out of charter schools. However, students at charter schools are not more likely than students at traditional institutions to leave their schools.
Land Use
The return to #ProjectBe | Uptown Messenger – Opinion writer Jewel Bush follows up on the story of artist Brandan “BMike” Odums, who turned the walls of the empty Florida housing project into an “organic participatory art odyssey.” Odums is talking with HANO about ways to preserve his project, which became wildly popular before HANO shut it down as it redevelops the area for mixed-use units.
All Hell Breaking Loose | Offbeat – Publisher Jan Ramsey responds to arguments made by environmental lawyer Stuart Smith, who supports a controversial new noise ordinance. Ramsey says Smith is using “backdoor politics” to mute the music in the neighborhood.
Government & Politics
Councilmember Kristin Palmer to be guest speaker at upcoming Newsmakers event | The Lens – New Orleans City Councilwoman Kristin Gisleson Palmer will be the guest speaker at The Lens’ Breakfast with the Newsmakers event on Thursday, Jan. 16 at Basin St. Station.
Historic three-way race to replace Minyard as Orleans coroner draws promises of transparency | NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune – Jeffrey Rouse, the former second-in-command at the coroner’s office, is distancing himself from Coroner Frank Minyard, who announced that he would retire in the spring.
Phil Gramm on Bobby Jindal: Too bad he’s not a Texan | Austin Statesman – On the way to Asia, Gov. Bobby Jindal stopped in Texas to speak about 2014 policy priorities for the Texas Legislature, even though the biannual body isn’t scheduled to meet this year. Lone Star political stalwarts such as former U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm seem to be smitten with Jindal. When Gramm first met Jindal he asked him, “How did somebody so smart come out of the state of Louisiana?”
Environment
Special investigator requests BP court to require return of ‘fraudulent claim’ | Louisiana Record
A special investigator who has been looking into possible corruption in the settlement process for the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill has asked the court to mandate the return of a “fraudulent claim” worth nearly $360,000.
Ex-FBI director Louis Freeh filed his request in U.S. District Judge Carl Barbier’s court asking that a questionable claim which previously led to the ouster of an attorney who is alleged to have taken a referral fee while under the employment of the Court Supervised Settlement Program, the body responsible for overseeing claims payments.
Criminal Justice
Danziger defendants to remain jailed | The Advocate — In denying bond for the former New Orleans police officers accused of shooting unarmed civilians after Hurricane Katrina, U.S. District Court Judge Kurt Engelhardt wrote:
Despite having ordered a new trial because of various acts of governmental misconduct, the court did not dismiss the serious charges pending against the defendants, which include crimes of violence, one or more firearm charges, and obstruction of justice charges.