Naming names: The task of appointing two interim members at the Monroe City Council has fallen to Gov. Bobby Jindal. The (Monroe) News-Star reports the council did not add an item to Tuesday night’s regular council meeting agenda to vote on possible candidates to fill the seats of districts 3 and 4 because any decision made wouldn’t have occurred by the state’s required deadline to fill the posts. The positions became vacant when Councilmen Arthur Gilmore and Robert Stevens were removed from their positions March 29 after a federal judge reinstated bribery and racketeering charges against them. Jindal will be given a list of recommended names that will include Glenda Starr for District 4 and Ellen Hill for District 3. That’s according to a letter Council Chairman Jay Marx sent to the governor’s office on Tuesday.
Colorful commentary guaranteed: LSU football coach Les Miles will be an expert analyst during the NFL Network’s coverage of the NFL Draft on Saturday, April 28, in New York and will appear in an interview featured on the network in the days preceding, Michael Bonnette, LSU Sports Information director, confirmed today to Louisiana Gannett News. Miles knows something about the NFL Draft. He has coached eight players at LSU who became first-round picks. Former LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne of Shreveport is expected to be a top 10 pick of the first round of the draft, which takes place on Thursday, April 26. Another former Tiger expected to go in the first round is defensive tackle Michael Brockers, while wide receiver Rueben Randle also has a chance to crack the first round. Miles attended the NFL Draft last year and was planning to go again this year as Claiborne invited him, Bonnette says. Miles will join NFL Network host Rich Eisen and analyst Michael Irvin on the network.
Mother dear: A schedule of events for the Louisiana Earth Day celebration on Sunday, April 22, in downtown Baton Rouge—which Mayor Kip Holden says is one of the nation’s largest environmental festivals—were rolled out today. The celebration will take place from noon until 8:30 p.m. The theme for this year’s festival, “Live Green, Live Long,” ties together issues pertaining to the environment, health and the economy through exhibits and activities created by over 400 volunteers. Featured performers include Marcia Ball, Tab Benoit, and Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie. For a complete events listing, map and music schedule, click here.
