A bridge too far: A campaign over whether to renew tolls on the Crescent City Connection in New Orleans is ramping into high gear and dividing business groups from the New Orleans area on both sides of the Mississippi River, The Times-Picayune reports. Voters in Orleans, Jefferson and Plaquemines parishes are set to decide Nov. 6 whether the tolls, which are scheduled to lapse in December, should be extended for 20 years. More than 80 area businesses, many on the West Bank, have joined the movement against the toll renewal. However, another business coalition on the other side of the river is in favor of extending the tolls. Read the full story here.
Waves of technological advancement: An eel that undulates through coastal waters, powered by batteries and checking for mines. A jellyfish that’s actually a surveillance robot, powered by the atoms around it. And fins that pick up intelligence while propelling a robot bluegill sunfish. The Office of Naval Research is supporting baby steps toward making those visions of the future a reality. For instance, work on jellyfish in Texas and Virginia is focused on how the creatures move in water, and how to mimic or even surpass their abilities—but there’s plenty still to learn about basic hydrodynamics. Read the full feature here.
Talking terms: FuturePAC, the political action committee of BRAC, announced today its support for school board term limits in the upcoming Nov. 6 election. The measure will limit school board members to serve no more than three consecutive four-year terms. There are currently no limits on school board service. Voters in each school district in the state will be able to vote on how they want their district to proceed. The limit would take effect starting with elections after Jan. 1, 2014, which means that board members who are currently serving could do so for an additional 12 years before they were term-limited.
Editor’s note: Daily Report is compiling a list of endorsements for candidates in the East Baton Rouge Parish mayoral, Public Service Commission District 2 and Louisiana Supreme Court 5th District races. You can check it out here; and if your association or organization has an endorsement in one of these races you’d like to share, please email it to ssanoski@businessreport.com.
Today’s poll question: The Metro Council is considering extending the hours that bars can stay open from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. on three nights a week. The fee for a permit to stay open later would cost bar owners $40,000. Do you think the permit price is fair?
