Government & Politics
Scalise questions the president on energy, deficit and health care — NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune | In a sit down with President Barack Obama, U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise (R-Kenner) requested quick approval of the Keystone XL Pipeline. “On this, Obama made some news. The president told Scalise he’s close to making a decision [on the pipeline], though he disputed as inflated the 25,000 jobs supporters say will be created by the project.”
Louisiana Politics: The next four years will be a wild ride — Something Like the Truth | Blogger Bob Mann overviews the upcoming craziness and understands that the races at the top of the ticket (governor, senator) will create a downward domino-effect in lower federal and state offices. What will ambitious Louisiana pols do to position themselves for these opportunities?
Live blog: Jindal administration unveils tax plan to legislative committees | The Lens – The Lens’ Tyler Bridges gives the play-by-play on the governor’s important policy presentation.
Schools
Disagreements over mergers, leadership raise questions over who’s in charge at charters — The Lens | Are charter schools sufficiently attuned to their communities? What happens when a school makes decisions at odds with the stakeholders in the surrounding neighborhood? Lens education reporter Jessica Williams explores these issues.
The Real Fight — The New Orleans Tribune | The controversial docu-series on John McDonogh High School, now airing on Oprah Winfrey’s OWN network, gets taken to task. The article quotes local educator Frank Buckley, a coach and 1982 graduate of John McDonogh: “It’s like they don’t want to hear the truth. They’re telling the story they want to be told. It’s all about money. It’s not about educating these children. That’s not the John McDonogh I know.”
Criminal Justice
Murder victim’s family urges cooperation with police, not retaliation — NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune | The victim’s family urged members of the community to work with police, and abstain from vengeful street justice. ” ‘I know we all want to retaliate, but that’s wrong,’ said the victim’s father… ‘We can’t keep killing each other like this. What’s one life for another? Nobody wins.’ “
Crime Lab Scandal Leaves Mass. Legal System In Turmoil — NPR | Over thirty thousand Massachusetts crime lab tests were falsified by a chemist on the take. “As a result, lawyers, prosecutors and judges used to operating in a world of ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ now have nothing but doubt.” (What local safeguards are in place to prevent such an epic meltdown?)
The Streetlight of the Future Will Do So Much More Than Light Your Street – The Atlantic Cities | Next generation streetlights can be controlled by nearby police cruisers and brightened on command to illuminate crime scenes or expose fleeing suspects.
Environment
Jindal: Buyouts in line for sinkhole evacuees — The Advocate |
Texas Brine Co. LLC, owner of a failed salt-dome cavern suspected of causing a large sinkhole in Assumption Parish, committed Wednesday to start talks with evacuated residents on optional property buyouts that would be completed “in weeks, not months,” Gov. Bobby Jindal said.
St. Bernard Parish plant admits to ‘lion’s share’ of sulphur dioxide emissions — NOLA.com/The Times-Picayune | The frank announcement from Rain CII’s Chalmette plant manager comes a month after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency told Gov. Bobby Jindal that it intends to formally designate St. Bernard as being out of compliance with federal sulphur dioxide health standards.
Playing with Dirt, Smarter — Gulf Restoration Network | “Newer tools are allowing marshes to be built faster for less money, with small dredges that cost less to mobilize and to operate. ” Photos, examples, at link.
Plaintiffs’ lawyer resigns amid BP oil spill trial — Associated Press | The American Zombie blog had advised us to watch developments relating to lawyer Mikal Watts, whose law offices were searched by the Secret Service last month.
Land Use
Brad Pitt’s Make It Right Houses a Drag on New Orleans — New Republic | A pessimistic article on the status of Pitt’s program, and the future of the uncertain future of the Lower Ninth Ward.
Campanella Assesses Bywater’s Gentrification | WWNO – In an audio interview Tulane professsor Richard Campanella defines “gentrification,” which he wrote about recently.