BBQ, Texas style: A week after giving his endorsement to Texas Gov. Rick Perry for the GOP presidential nomination, Gov. Bobby Jindal is announcing a “Texas-style barbeque” fundraiser with Perry in Shreveport on Saturday. See more details and an invitation for the $1,000-$2,500 per-plate event here.
Report card: A state audit report released today says Louisiana’s Recovery School District, which takes over failing schools from local districts, has boosted performance at most of its schools. The Legislative Auditor’s report is generally positive for the RSD. For instance, it notes more than 60% of RSD schools were no longer considered failing, based on 2010 scores. Also, graduation rates were up by almost 20%. However, the report also says RSD did not effectively monitor student performance and finances at some of the schools it has turned over to independent charter organizations. The RSD says it is taking steps to improve such monitoring. The RSD oversees more than 80 schools—most of them schools in New Orleans that were taken over following Hurricane Katrina. The complete 56-page report is available here.
Perform your civic duty: East Baton Rouge Parish residents who want to vote in the Oct. 22 election have until Wednesday to register. In Baton Rouge, registration is available in person from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the following locations: main office — Governmental Building, 222 St. Louis St., room 201; southeast office — Court Plaza Building, 10500 Coursey Blvd., room 203; and Baker office — DMV, 2250 Main St. A valid driver’s license, photo ID or birth certificate is required. More information about registration, including online registration, is available here.
