Louisiana House Passes Bill To ‘Protect Confederate Monuments’

The bill bars local governments and municipalities from removing plaques and statues for “military figures” and events, without a public vote.

Sabrina Canfield
By Sabrina Canfield
A statue of Confederate Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard is prepared for removal from the entrance to City Park in New Orleans, Tuesday, May 16, 2017. (AP/Scott Threlkeld)

BATON ROUGE  – Still fighting the Civil War, after hours of heated debate, the Louisiana House on Monday night approved a bill to protect Confederate monuments statewide. Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards on Tuesday called the bill “problematic,” impractical and unnecessarily divisive, but he did not say whether will veto it if it comes to

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Trial Begins In Major Trafficking Case Stemming From Hurricane Katrina Clean-up

A series of lawsuits brought by dozens of South Asian workers against an American marine-services company could have major implications across the U.S. immigration system. Experts say they collectively entail one of the largest human trafficking cases in U.S. history.

Carey L. Biron
By Carey L. Biron
Hurricane Katrina

In this Saturday, Sept. 10, 2005 file photo, nearly two weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit, flood-waters still covers parts of New Orleans. Photo: David J. Phillip/AP WASHINGTON --- The first in a series of lawsuits got underway earlier this month in what supporters say collectively entail one of the largest cases of human trafficking ever

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VIDEO: In A US First, New Orleans Finds Homes For All Its Homeless Veterans

More than 300 mayors have vowed to end veteran homelessness by the end of 2015. New Orleans celebrated the new year by becoming the first city to do so.

Noelle Swan for The Christian Science Monitor
By Noelle Swan for The Christian Science Monitor
HOMELESS VETS

Courtesy of UNITY of Greater New Orleans Most people celebrate the New Year by making resolutions. The city of New Orleans rang in 2015 by keeping one. At 6 p.m. on Jan. 2, social workers in New Orleans moved the city’s last known homeless veteran into his new apartment – becoming the first US city to effectively eliminate veteran

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New Orleans Now Home To First All-Charter School District In Country

The shutdowns moved forward despite opposition from local communities.

Sarah Lazare
By Sarah Lazare
Eric Holder, Arne Duncan

New Orleans is now home to the first and only school district in the United States that is all-charter. The Recovery School District on Wednesday shuttered its last remaining traditional public school, meaning that almost all New Orleans schools are now privatized. The shutdowns moved forward despite opposition from local

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Texas Gay Marriage Ban Latest To Be Struck Down

“This is an issue on which there are good, well-meaning people on both sides,” Abbott said in a statement. “The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled over and over again that States have the authority to define and regulate marriage.”

Associated Press
By Associated Press
GAY MARRIAGE STATES

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A federal judge declared a same-sex marriage ban in deeply conservative Texas unconstitutional on Wednesday, but will allow the nation's second-most populous state to enforce the law pending an appeal that will likely go to the U.S. Supreme Court. Judge Orlando Garcia issued the preliminary injunction after two gay couples

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Oil Closes New Orleans Port, Part Of Miss. River

65-mile stretch of the Mississippi River, including the Port of New Orleans, was closed to all water traffic Sunday as crews cleaned up oil that spilled from a barge after it ran into a towboat between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, the Coast Guard said.

Associated Press
By Associated Press
river traffic is halted along the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Vacherie, La.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A 65-mile stretch of the Mississippi River, including the Port of New Orleans, was closed to all water traffic Sunday as crews cleaned up oil that spilled from a barge after it ran into a towboat between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, the Coast Guard said. Officials don't know how much oil spilled, but only a sheen was reported

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