Detour ahead: Beginning Wednesday, a section of Badley Road between Elm Grove Garden Drive and Wilbur Street will be closed for up to six months so a bridge can be replaced, city-parish officials announced today. Motorists are urged to detour around the project via Harding Boulevard. The $7.6 million project will convert a 6,000-foot stretch of Fairchild Street/Badley Road between Scenic Highway and Veterans Boulevard from a two-lane, open-ditch roadway into a two-lane, curb-and-gutter street with sidewalks. The bridge replacement is expected to take five to six months, with estimated completion on the entire widening project to come in December. Get complete details.
In the bank: U.S. Sen. David Vitter continues to draw hefty sums for his campaign to be Louisiana’s next governor. His campaign announced today the Republican senator brought in $1.1 million so far this year, boosting his fundraising total to $5.2 million. The campaign says it has $4.2 million in the bank for the Oct. 24 election. The Associated Press reports Vitter was the first of four major gubernatorial candidates to announce figures from the fundraising period that ended last week. A political action committee also has raised millions to support Vitter. The Fund for Louisiana’s Future said it has $3.5 million cash on hand. Other candidates include Republican Public Service Commissioner Scott Angelle, Republican Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne and Democratic state Rep. John Bel Edwards. Fundraising reports are due to the state ethics office April 27.
Serving those who served: New Orleans’ success in moving homeless veterans off the streets and into housing is an example and challenge for the nation, first lady Michelle Obama said today. She also said the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will make $64 million in housing vouchers available for veterans and that the CEO of The Blackstone Group LP, which has several hotel chains in its portfolio, has promised to help create “welcome kits” of furniture, appliances and other supplies for previously homeless veterans moving into housing. New Orleans’ work is “a call to action for the entire country,” said The First Lady, who was joined in New Orleans today by Vice President Joe Biden’s wife, Jill. The Associated Press has the full story.
