Jindal approves new diploma program
Gov. Bobby Jindal has signed into law legislation creating a new public school curriculum with lowered academic standards. Advocates for improving public education have criticized the idea, saying it will produce high school graduates with a poor grasp of basic mathematics and written English. "We fear that this path to a career diploma could well become a 'dumping ground' of sorts for kids," says Barry Erwin, president of the Council for a Better Louisiana. But Jindal says the new program is part of the state's effort to produce a better-trained workforce. He says the new curriculum, focused on training students for blue-collar jobs, would reduce the state's dropout rate.
B.R. looks to set up energy efficiency zone
A bill passed by the Legislature will allow municipalities to create finance zones and issue bonds for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Nick Gautreaux, D-Abbeville, is based on a pilot program in Berkeley, Calif., although the California program is mainly about putting solar panels on homes. The Louisiana program could apply to solar, wind, or energy efficiency retrofits on homes or commercial buildings. In Berkeley, there are more than 40 separate bonds, one for each project, an Alliance for Affordable Energy researcher says. That city is looking for a less cumbersome process, and it is unclear how the funding model would look here. People can pay the bonds back over 20 years on their property taxes, although with Louisiana’s low property tax rate that method may not work in this state. But despite the uncertainty, Wade Byrd, president of Performance Building Consulting in Baton Rouge, calls SB 224 a “fantastic” bill. Byrd says he has been named to the six-person commission that will study the concept in East Baton Rouge Parish, although the commission has not met yet. “This legislation (SB 224) is probably the most forward-thinking piece of public policy the state has implemented in my lifetime,” says Troy Von Otnott, founder and president of South Coast Solar in New Orleans. “I think Louisiana is on the vanguard of renewable energy public policy in the United States.”—David Jacobs
AAA: Gas might be reaching summer plateau
After rising for the much of the spring and summer, gas prices may finally be leveling in time for the long Independence Day weekend, says a spokesman for AAA. The local average price for a gallon of regular unleaded is $2.52, up 13 cents from a month ago. But that's down 5 cents a gallon from a week ago and down $1.44 from what the price was during Independence Day 2007. Michael Right, a spokesman for AAA, says the prices seem to be stabilizing, now that crude oil prices are hovering around $70 a barrel and demand remains down because of the recession. "It's almost impossible to predict gasoline prices, but we may be reaching a plateau in terms of prices for the rest of the summer," Right says. Overall vehicle traffic is expected to be down 1.9% nationwide this weekend from what it was during last year's Fourth of July weekend. That fits with the ongoing trend. Since late 2007 the number of vehicle miles driven in a month has steadily decreased. That trend turned around in April, when the most recent figures show that the number of miles driven in the month was up a modest 0.6% over April 2008.—Timothy Boone
City has multiple options for Fourth of July
The best thing about liberty is having choice, and downtown offers several choices in Independence Day entertainment. From frolicking in the sunshine along the Mississippi River levee to fried chicken on the Shaw Center’s fourth-floor terrace, 225 Select has plenty of options for families, couples and singles. And be sure to catch the post-fireworks musical acts: a Prince tribute band, a 1940s vintage swing act and “Schlittz-a-Palooza.” Start making your plans by clicking here.
Tax revenue drop fuels states' financial crisis
Some states are facing their worst fiscal crisis in decades as a prolonged recession collides with historic drops in tax revenue. Several states are entering the first weekend of the fiscal year and July Fourth holiday without a budget in place. California is set to begin issuing IOUs to vendors because it's out of money. The sputtering economy has ravaged all forms of tax collections. Taxes ranging from sales to personal income to property are all down. Louisiana dealt deep budget cuts to health care and higher education because of a $1.3 billion drop in general fund revenue. New York State's Rockefeller Institute of Government says last year's drop in sales tax revenue was the worst in 50 years and early data this year suggests the problem has worsened. The National Association of State Budget Officers says 42 states wrestled with budget deficits this spring, the most since the organization began tracking budgets 30 years ago.
Sports roundup: Alleva issues letter to Tiger fans ... Bass returning to Hornets? … Williams sisters reach Wimbledon final
Good times, bad times: Joe Alleva, LSU athletic director, has released an open letter to fans, covering everything from the Tigers' success on the field to the impact state budget cuts will have on various programs. LSU will look at raising ticket and parking prices, as well as getting more private donations. Alleva says LSU will also look at "new sources of revenue" such as hosting the Bayou Country Superfest, a major country music festival scheduled for Tiger Stadium Memorial Day weekend. "We will be creative in developing new fans to increase attendance in those sports that are not already sold out and we will entertain fans to keep them coming back," he says. Read the letter here.
Big catch: Former LSU star Brandon Bass may be headed back to the New Orleans Hornets, according to WWL-TV. Bass played sparingly in two seasons with the Hornets from 2005-07, but blossomed with the Dallas Mavericks. Now, he's one of the coveted free agents in the NBA off-season. The Hornets are trying to sign him, along with the Orlando Magic, who made the NBA Finals this year, and several other teams Bass won't name. "When I sit back and think about all the teams looking to sign me now—it makes me feel like I’m coming out of high school as an All-American and having all the colleges after me," Bass says.
Venus vs. Serena: Venus and Serena Williams won in contrasting fashion today to set up their fourth all-sister Wimbledon final and eighth meeting in a Grand Slam title match. Two-time champion Serena saved a match point and overcame Elena Dementieva 6-7 (4), 7-5, 8-6 in 2 hours, 49 minutes—the longest women's semifinal at Wimbledon in at least 40 years. Five-time winner Venus, meanwhile, needed only 51 minutes to demolish Dinara Safina 6-1, 6-0 and reach her eighth Wimbledon final. The sisters—with 17 Grand Slam titles between them—will face each other Saturday in a Fourth of July final.
No Daily Report PM Friday
Daily Report PM will not be published Friday in observance of the Independence Day holiday. The newsletter will return Monday. Have a safe and happy extended weekend.
