From campaigns to classrooms: Louisiana Department of Education Superintendent John White today announced that Anna Gatlin has been hired as communications director for the department and will be paid $90,000 annually. She replaces Rene Greer, who resigned in June and was paid $111,000 per year. Gatlin most recently served as domestic policy adviser to Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign, providing guidance on education policy, among other issues.
Recovery in progress: As part of its Super Bowl coverage, CBS will air on Saturday morning an interview with Retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré of Baton Rouge, who will be talking about the recovery of New Orleans since he was the commander of Task Force Katrina, in charge of the massive search-and-rescue operation and the restoration of law and order in the city following the 2005 hurricane. Honoré will also be talking about his new book, Leadership in the New Normal, in the interview with CBS News anchor Scott Pelley. Today Honoré is slated to be a guest of the Costa Report radio show; that interview will be available online here starting at 7 p.m.
In the bank: The New Orleans Saints are getting a $5 million payment from the state because the Big Easy is hosting the Super Bowl. The incentive was included in the 2009 deal between Gov. Bobby Jindal and Saints owner Tom Benson to keep the Saints in Louisiana through 2025. The money is owed to the NFL team by June 30. Lawmakers will be asked to budget the payment in their upcoming legislative session. Michael DiResto, a Division of Administration spokesman, says the Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District will use its income from New Orleans area hotel taxes to cover the $5 million payment.
