Land Use
Live chat Thursday: Talk to Pres Kabacoff about downtown redevelopment | The Lens – At noon today, chat with real estate investor Pres Kabacoff about his vision to redevelop New Orleans’ urban core.
Gentilly mall still an eyesore years after city started shelling out rehab money | The Lens – Disbursements from the city’s Economic Development Fund totaled $250,000 before the property was slapped with blight citations.
Environment
Ground Gives Way, and a Louisiana Town Struggles to Find Its Footing | The New York Times – Bayou Corne resident Dennis Landry says he “caught a glimpse of hell” when the Texas Brine sinkhole swallowed trees.
James Gill: Graves shows why lawsuit is needed | The Advocate – Gill gives the “treatment”, as I call his wry analysis, to Gov. Bobby Jindal and coastal czar Garret Graves. He says their arguments against the local flood authority’s lawsuit against oil and gas companies actually prove the opposite: that the suit should be expanded and pursued at the state level.
Government & Politics
Health insurance policy costs explained | The New Orleans Advocate – Despite prolonged and intense opposition, health plans available under the Affordable Care Act will soon be introduced. This article breaks down examples of a sliding scale of premium rates based on coverage level and income. Says U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu: “This is great news for the 800,000 uninsured people in Louisiana who will now be able to shop for quality … affordable health care in the new marketplaces.”
SADOW: Louisiana’s Economy Is Surviving Obama Just Fine, Thank You | The Hayride – LSU-Shreveport social science professor Jeffrey Sadow claims liberal economists in Louisiana are in a bind to explain the latest jobs data, which shows an expanding workforce.
Criminal Justice
Rep. Richmond wants to continue investigation into U.S. Attorney | WWL-TV – Rep. Cedric Richmond is disturbed by the remaining unknowns regarding the U.S. Attorney online-comment scandal. (Me too.)
NOPD to wear cameras | The New Orleans Advocate – Cutting edge technology for a cost-strapped New Orleans police force?
Schools
NET school a new policy for alternative schools | The Lens – Schools with students who can’t attend conventional schools are seeking special evaluation criteria.
Beam: Misunderstanding, misinformation surrounding Common Core | American Press – Retired editor Jim Beam opines that Common Core standards have “become a political whipping boy that plays on the fears of many people that the federal government is trying to take over the nation’s school systems.”