Louisiana

'Rock Pillows' the Latest Tool to Fight Coastal Erosion
The state of Louisiana is deploying giant 'pillows' of crushed rock to slow coastal erosion.

Measuring the Effect of Blight Remediation Programs
Tulane researchers received major funding support from the National Institutes of Health to study the effects of blight remediation on youth and family violence.

New Orleans Seeking Funds for Big Protected Bike Lane Plans
With a $2.6 million grant already in hand to research the process of planning and developing protected bikes, the city of New Orleans is seeking more funding in the hopes of adding 75 miles of protected bike lanes.

As Temperatures Increase, Maps Show Sea-Level Rise Will Devastate Cities
Data visualizations illustrate the catastrophic consequences of single-digit global temperature increases.

Bike Registration No Longer Mandatory in New Orleans
After a local musician was hit with $1,000 in bike-related fines, advocates were able to achieve some changes in how the city regulates bike use.

More States Preempting Local Regulations in the Name of Housing
California gets most of the attention, but states all over the country are removing some of the vestiges of local control to help spur housing development, require affordable housing, and control the skyrocketing cost of housing.

To Prevent Flooding in New Orleans, Holding Water Rather Than Pumping It
The city plans to use a different approach to tackle its longstanding flood problems.

Subsidy Program Aimed to Bring Homeowners Back to the Lower 9th Ward
The Lower 9th Ward has been slow to return to its pre-Katrina state. A new program by the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority changes recovery strategy in the neighborhood.

Study: Older States Tend to Have Worse Finances
A report suggests that the older a state is, the more likely it is that special interests have entrenched themselves, negatively impacting the public purse.

Five Miles of Temporary Bike Lanes in New Orleans
Volunteers and quick work translated to a total cost of $75,000 for the whole project.
Can New Leadership Deliver New Stormwater and Sewer Systems in New Orleans?
The new head of the Sewage & Water Board of New Orleans comes to the job from Milwaukee, and he already has big ideas about what the city must do to prevent flooding like it experienced last summer.

Short-Term Rentals Too Controversial to Touch in New Orleans
A proposed revision of the city of New Orleans' regulations of short-term rentals was too controversial for the City Planning Commission to approve at a hearing this week.

New Orleans RTA Buses Taking a New, Regional Approach
New Orleans transit planners are working to extend the bus network deeper into the surrounding region, as was always intended.

Not Refugees—Climate Change 'Pioneers'
A change of nomenclature shifts focus to the self-determination of residents relocating from the coast of Louisiana as rising seas inundate their homes.

Nine Highway Expansions Identified as Worst Boondoggles of 2018
In a new report, U.S. PIRG and the Frontier Group describe nine costly highway projects amounting to $30 billion in their fourth annual "Highway Boondoggles" report. All share the theme of induced travel demand.

Interactive Maps Explore Barriers to Opportunity
A pair of interactive maps and a report compare access to opportunity in two very different neighborhoods. In both places, residents confront "friction of distance" and feel their input on public decision-making is limited.

New Orleans Already Rethinking its Short-Term Rental Regulations
New Orleans passed short-term rental regulations into law in October 2016, and launched a permitting process launched in April 2017. By May 2018, some city councilmembers are already proposing change.
No Pay Bus Day in Lafayette, Louisiana
Bus rides will be free to coincide with the city of Lafayette's Bike Safety Festival on June 2.
Louisiana State Senate Votes to Preempt Locals on Inclusionary Zoning
Earlier this week, the Louisiana State Senate approved SB 462, which preempts local authorities from approving inclusionary zoning.

When Coastal States Kill Building Codes, FEMA Pays
Despite the increasing number and intensity of natural disasters, some vulnerable states are relaxing building regulations and leaving the federal government to pick up the tab when tragedy strikes again.
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