Councilman tries to make it tougher on fracking ~WWLTV

Legislature should protect Southeast Louisiana residents, keep levee reforms in place: Editorial

Federal government rejects Jindal hospital plans ~Marsha Schuler, New Orleans Advocate

Avoyelles state representative blasts Jindal on Charity hospital scheme

Teen arrested in Marigny burglary is same teen shot by homeowner in 2013 ~WVUE

Decades old eyesore coming down in Algiers ~WDSU

Freelancer’s lament: When will the news biz figure out how to pay us? ~Sam Tabachnik, The Lens

Fracking opponents pack two St. Tammany meetings ~Faimon A. Roberts III, B.R. Advocate

New levees could knock down the next Katrina, but are they enough? ~WVUE

Could wind power knock down hurricane strength? ~WWLTV

Subsea 7 Wins More Work from BP in the Gulf of Mexico ~Rob Almeida, gCaptain

Fiya Fest Today! ~NOLA DEFENDER

Deal would derail coastal lawsuit ~Mark Ballard, New Orleans Advocate

Prospective St. Roch Market tenants say city too slow to act ~WWLTV 

I-Team: Perricone, Mann surrender federal licenses ~WDSU

Lee Zurik Investigation: Questions abound in Alario's campaign spending reports ~WVUE

Art at the intersection ~Sharon Litwin, NolaVie

Fruit-based drink gives entertaining, healthy alternative ~Keyle Peveto

John Barry keeps sending me emails. Oil & Gas Industry wants to settle with Louisiana!

Always watching, never wavering.

Dear Editilla,

Two important pieces of news:

First, last week Louisiana’s Attorney General Buddy Caldwell made public something I've hinted at in my talks: there are on-going conversations about a statewide settlement. On the Jim Engster radio show last week (listen here), Caldwell announced that because of the SLFPAE lawsuit, major oil companies have come to him seeking a statewide settlement. 

We've always hoped that the lawsuit would spark a statewide deal. Conversely, we’ve recognized that if the legislature kills the lawsuit, there's no reason for the oil companies to compromise. There is a solution if the state would simply seal it. The governor has turned his back on that possibility. As citizens, lets make sure the legislature does not.

Which brings us to the latest news from Baton Rouge:

You almost did it! 

Thanks to your engagement, we were today on the verge of crushing SB 531—a huge victory—in Senate Judiciary Committee A, when its sponsor,  Senator Bret Allain (R-Franklin), asked that it be deferred. He knew he didn't have the votes—had there been a roll-call vote, we’d have beaten SB 531 by a vote at least of 5-2 and possibly 6-1.

Rather than accept defeat, Sen. Allain did something highly unusual. He gutted an entirely different (and as yet unknown) bill currently scheduled to be heard on Thursday, May 1, by the Senate Natural Resources Committee—and substitute in its place what he couldn’t get passed by Judiciary-A.  It's even possible that our old friend Senator Robert Adley will use one of his bills as a vehicle for this Trojan horse.

At of this writing, we do not know which bill to target—we’ll let you know as soon as we do—nor do we know what the language of the bill will be. That's hardly my idea of sunshine in the legislature.

All we know is that it will be called up in the Senate Committee on Natural Resources on Thursday, May 1.

Please contact the members of this committee. Tell them, “Let the courts decide.” Let the roughly one million people within the jurisdiction of the Southeast Louisiana Flood Protection Authority keep their rights to go to court. 
 

Name	ADDRESS	EMAIL	PHONE
Senator Gerald Long (Chairman)	P.O. Box 151 Winnfield, LA 71483	longg@legis.la.gov	(318) 628-5799
Senator Rick Ward, III (Vice-Chairman)	3741 Highway 1 Port Allen, LA 70767	wardr@legis.la.gov	(225) 246-8838
Senator R.L. "Bret" Allain, II	600 Main Street Suite 1 Franklin, LA 70538	allainb@legis.la.gov	(337) 828-9107
Senator "Jody" Amedee	2109 S. Burnside Ave. Suite A Gonzales, LA 70737	amedeej@legis.la.gov	(225) 644-1526
Senator Norbèrt N. "Norby" Chabert	P.O. Box 2417 Houma, LA 70361	chabertn@legis.la.gov	(985) 858-2927
Senator Jean-Paul J. Morrell	6305 Elysian Fields Ave. Suite 404 New Orleans, LA 70122	morrelljp@legis.la.gov	(504) 284-4794
Senator Dan "Blade" Morrish	119 W. Nezpique Street Jennings, LA 70546	morrishd@legis.la.gov	(337) 824-3979
Senator Page Cortez (Interim Member)	101 W. Farrell Road Bldg. 5, Suite 100 Lafayette, LA 70508	cortezp@legis.la.gov	(337) 993-7430

You’ve defeated this bill once. Let's beat it again. As I’ve said before, history doesn't just happen. 

People make history. 

Let's make some history. Let's take back control of our state. Let's demonstrate that no one is above the law—not even the oil industry in Louisiana.

Thanks,
John Barry
Restore Louisiana Now

Still Parading: Second-line shooting survivor returns to the route ~Nancy Parker, WVUE

Inmate advocates want Gusman held in contempt over fire safety shortfalls at OPP ~Jim Mustian, New Orleans Advocate

Mayor Mitchmo seeks special riverfront tax district to pay for decrees and pensions ~Tyler Bridges, The Lens

French Quarter bar cited for having crime cameras, flood lights ~Paul Murphy, WWLTV

Fair Grounds pledges upgrades for license renewal ~Ted Lewis

West Bank levee authority to get new director ~Jeff Adelson, New Orleans Advocate

May is American Wetlands Month!

~Hat Tweet fo'da fine pic @EDF_Louisiana

Morganza levee project inches forward in Congress ~Amy Wold

Agrico Sales announces expansion in New Orleans ~AP, via The Modesto Bee

Read more here: http://www.modbee.com/2014/04/30/3316626/agrico-sales-announces-expansion.html#storylink=cpy

An Operational Check-List for Flying UAVs in Humanitarian Settings ~Patrick Meier, iRevolution

Terminally ill man, on last visit to Jazz Fest, throws a wake for himself in New Orleans ~Mark Waller

Tornadoes tear through South, add to US death toll ~WWLTV

Advertising in Louisiana’s U.S. Senate race: A look at the (very big) numbers ~Stephanie Grace

Mayor Mitchmo Landrieu nominates new slate of water board members ~Andrew Vanacore, New Orleans Advocate

Energy company with fracking plans eyes 60,000 acres in St. Tammany Parish as St. Tammany residents, officials resist fracking ~Faimon A. Roberts III, B.R. Advocate

St. Bernard Project Receives $3 Million for Disaster Recovery Lab ~Philanthropy News Digest

Bill to protect Louisiana’s Coastal Fund moves to House floor

Oyster reefs can outpace sea-level rise ~Nature.com
450lb gator trapped on Pass Christian beach ~WLOX

Community gardening utilizes students' studies, teaches community ~WDSU

Tonight, Nick Spitzer's American Routes live at the Civic Theatre ~NOLA DEFENDER

Restore Louisiana Now: Stop SB 531!
Dear Editilla,

SB 531 is in Louisiana Senate Judiciary Committee A and will be brought up for a vote on Tuesday, April 29, at 9 AM. If approved, it will be a first step in stopping not only the New Orleans Flood Authority lawsuit against 97 oil, gas and pipeline companies, but also granting the industry virtual immunity from prosecution in Louisiana -- for violations of state and federal law! 

PLEASE CALL THESE COMMITTEE MEMBERS TODAY!  

If we stop SB 531 in Judiciary A, it will signal a victory for our entire cause and change the political landscape in Louisiana. We can't do it without your help.

Name	Address	EMAIL	PHONE
Senator Ben Nevers (Chairman)	724 Avenue F Bogalusa, LA 70427	neversb@legis.la.gov	(985) 732-6863
Senator Dan Claitor (Vice-Chairman)	7520 Perkins Road Suite 160 Baton Rouge, LA 70808	claitord@legis.la.gov	(225) 765-0206
Senator Conrad Appel	721 Papworth Avenue Suite 102A Metairie, LA 70005	appelc@legis.la.gov	(866) 946-3133
Senator Jack Donahue	3030 East Causeway Approach Mandeville, LA 70448	donahuej@legis.la.gov	(985) 727-7949
Senator Daniel "Danny" Martiny	131 Airline Highway Suite 201 Metairie, LA 70001	martinyd@legis.la.gov	(504) 834-7676
Senator Edwin R. Murray	1540 N. Broad St. New Orleans, LA 70119	murraye@legis.la.gov	(504) 945-0042
Senator Rick Ward, III	3741 Highway 1 Port Allen, LA 70767	wardr@legis.la.gov	(225) 246-8838

Thanks for all that you do. Only together can we stop this bill and ensure that the lawsuit goes forward.

John Barry,
Restore Louisiana Now 

CABL opposes anti-levee board legislation ~The Advocate

Tornadoes kill 16 in Arkansas, 1 in Oklahoma

Slight risk of severe weather through Tuesday for southeastern Louisiana ~Mark Schleifstein

Trial to begin for family of inmate suing Sheriff Gusman ~Meg Gatto, WVUE

Diocese accepting bids on 9th Ward senior complex ~N.O. City Business

Good Eggs! 
~Good Eggitilla!~ Looking forward to my 1st delivery!

Pastured Eggs from Heath Hill Farm
Oyster Mushrooms from Screaming Oaks Mushroom Farm
Ground Pork from Hollywood Livestock
Red Spring Onions from Perilloux's Produce
White Spring Onions from Perilloux's Produce
Seasonal Produce Bundle from Simone's Market *

‘Ladies in red’ back in Capitol to fight for independent levee boards ~Jeff Adwlson, New Orleans Advocate

Signs of healing left at New Orleans St. Roch cemetery ~WDSU

Brian Blade Finds A 'Landmark' In His Shreveport Roots ~NPR

Tipitina’s “Instruments A-Comin’” benefit Monday keeps the music playing for children in N.O. ~Jessica Taylor, Uptown Messenger

JazzFest Food: The Classics ~NOLA DEFENDER

Why are Louisiana’s universities suddenly out of money? ~Robert Mann

CBD window washers pulled to safety after cable snaps ~New Orleans Advocate

Decisions just weeks away on re-opening Bayou St. John’s sea gate to the lake ~Sam Tabachnik, The Lens

Crawfish Pie ~Saveur

“Get ready for the First Annual Shamarr Fest at Shamrock 2014″

City Hall warns Jazz Fest vendors, parking lots to get permits

Venues across N.O. cash in on Jazz Fest with 'after shows' ~WVUE

Guest commentary: Levee board reforms could be washed away ~New Orleans Advocate

Jefferson Chamber condemns efforts to put governor in control of levee boards~Ben Meyers

New Coastal Index Measures Population Shifts, Economic Opportunity In Changes To Land And Water ~WWNO

Viewpoint: What's a coastline worth? ~Mary Rickard, Holy Cross resident, NolaVie

N.O. Public Library faces $3 million deficit, no money for operations ~WWLTV 

The “Louisiana Miracle” or another Jindal lie? ~Forgotston.com

Oil and Gas lobbyist Senator Robert Adley makes changes to levee board bill, expects opposition ~Mark Ballard, The Advocate

Government Report Slams Senator Adley’s SB 79 ~Levees.org

Bill to derail parish 'big oil' lawsuits stalls ~Kevin McGill, AP via SF Gate

The Sunshine Squad ~Website will expose the deceptions that Governor Jindal and other allies of the oil and gas industry have been spreading in the Capitol and in the news media. It will do so on a real time basis, so that journalists, legislators, stakeholders and the people of Louisiana can spot these deceptions as they occur, then check them against the truth. For the rest of this session, every time someone in the legislature makes a misleading statement about the set of bills concerning the flood protection authority, an email will go to interested parties, and that false statement, as well as the truth, will appear in on the website for all to see.

Stephanie Grace: Bills aim to short-circuit judicial system

West Bank levee authority considering eight applicants for director ~Andrea Shaw

State ethics staff says Cedric Grant can’t take water board job ~Andrew Vanacore

The Economic Impact of Coastal Restoration and Hurricane Protection ~Timmothy Ryan, Restore Louisiana Now

Support HB 490: Legislation to protect Louisiana’s Coastal Protection and Restoration Fund

The Listening Post Answers: Your Questions About Coastal Erosion ~Kate Richardson, WWNO
'Times-Pic' cries Alligator Tears in war of words with the 'Advocate ~BR Business Report

Festival International de Louisiane!

New Orleans Saints 2014 Schedule 

Thoughts on the Saints 2014 schedule ~Andrew Juge, Saints Nation

Honoré Rallying Troops, Planning Press Conference ~Jeremy Alford, LaPolitics

Mission accomplished: Landrieu administration promises one thing on blight, delivers another ~Charles Maldonado, Lens  ~Live chat: How well has the Landrieu administration dealt with blight in New Orleans?

Harahan sewer line blocking work on Pump to the River ~Jeff Adelson, New Orleans Advocate

City Park board votes to change park hours; may open gate between garden and amusement park ~Della Hasselle, Midcity Messenger

Virginia: vandals dig up grandmother's grave on Easter Sunday ~WVUE

World's Largest Crawfish Boil to benefit 2nd Harvest Food Bank!

Guardians of the Groove: Ellis Marsalis on his start in music ~WWLTV 

WWOZ Piano Night!

As Louisiana’s coast disappears, so does landowners’ money~Peter Moskowitz, Aljazeera
~Editilla Crowtellas~ I did predict this: No Land = No Stand!

For all the breast-beating about diversions, decision to build them has yet to be made ~Bob Marshall, The Lens

Oil and gas industry looking to kill lawsuits from Jefferson, Plaquemines over wetlands ~Tyler Bridges, The Lens

Our Views: Don’t gut storm reforms ~New Orleans Advocate

Report: Saints pick up option on Cam Jordan ~WDSU

A Broken Window Never Closes ~The Angry Who Dat

Valero Energy Corp.'s Meraux refinery had problem with its benzene unit, and residents report strong odors ~Mark Schleifstein

Telltale Rainbow Sheens Show Thousands Of Spills Across The Gulf ~Bob Marshall, WWNO

Lawmakers eye several marijuana sentencing reforms this week ~WWLTV

Musicians get serious during entertainment conference ~The Advocate

Cyclist injured in deadly crash making strides ~WVUE 

Goat's Milk Chèvre, The Big Squeezy Juicery & Earth Day! ~Good Eggs

Mississippi River will carry enough sand needed to build new Louisiana wetlands for at least 600 years, new study says ~Mark Schleifstein

MAGINNIS: Green Army Absent from Capitol Battle ~LaPolitics

Global Green Models How To Reduce Pumping In New Orleans ~Eve Abrams

Bill to lessen crime of marijuana possession backed by liberals, libertarians ~Tyler Bridges, The Lens

Federovitch: New Orleans Saints most intriguing NFC South team

New Orleans ranks high for bicyclist deaths, report says ~Naomi Martin

Levees.Org Third Annual Levee Disaster Bike Tour

Long-term health effects unclear in wake of 2010 Gulf oil disaster

New Orleans Police Monitor Tackles Police-Community Relations ~Mallory Falk, WWNO

Flood work to close Prytania Street

N.O ladies arm-wrestle their way to glory ~Dan Lawton