The next step: The Army has agreed to pay for the burning of 7,800 tons of potentially explosive artillery propellant and 160 tons of other material at Camp Minden, located just east of Shreveport. That should clear the way for the Louisiana National Guard to sign a contract with Explosive Service International of Baton Rouge, the Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday. “This is an important milestone to moving forward” with disposing of the material improperly stored and abandoned by Explo Systems Inc. at Camp Minden, says Ron Curry, regional administrator for the EPA. The Associated Press has the full story.
And then there were three: A search committee is recommending three finalists to serve as president of Southern University and chancellor of the Southern system. The committee held interviews Thursday, and the university’s board of supervisors hopes to name a new leader by July 1. Finalists, according to a news release, are Southern University Shreveport Chancellor Ray Belton, Chicago Family Health Center President and CEO Barrett Hatches and White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities Deputy Director Ivory Toldson. Southern supervisors declined to renew the contract of four-year President Ron Mason. Earlier this month, he was named president of the University of the District of Columbia.
Looking back: In an interview with the Capitol press corps on Thursday, Gov. Bobby Jindal says he didn’t become governor to be a popular politician, but instead to make big changes. The Shreveport Times reports Jindal took questions on Common Core, the state’s budget and his unpopularity in his home state as he makes movements to run for president. “We’ve made big changes,” says the governor. Jindal listed fewer state employees, no increase in taxes and statewide school choice as some of the changes he’s made since becoming governor. “I’m proud of the generational changes that we’ve made and we were elected to make those changes,” Jindal says. “Making changes is tough. It’s easier to be a popular politician.” Read the full story and see a video of the interview.
