This month’s deadly accidents at two chemical plants in Ascension Parish provided stark reminders of a simple but easily overlooked fact: Even in an age of increased automation, the petrochemical industry continues to depend on large numbers of workers who are willing to do challenging and sometimes dangerous tasks. That reality hits deeply in south Louisiana, … Continue reading →

We’re not surprised that Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden is eyeing a possible run for lieutenant governor in 2015. He’s an energetic leader who might be expected to channel his political experience into another role. We’re glad, though, that Holden acknowledged the need to keep Baton Rouge’s ship of state on an even keel if he pursues statewide … Continue reading →

My husband and I went camping with other relatives and friends at Grand Isle State Park from June 5-10. Never, in all the years that we have been going there, was I so very ashamed to have to tell people from out of state that yes, this actually was a state park. It was in deplorable … Continue reading →

When the Russians launched the first artificial satellite into space in 1957, Americans quickly responded by focusing their educational efforts on STEM studies — science, technology, engineering and mathematics. That focus eventually led to a new era during which the United States led the world in engineering and technological breakthroughs. While not nearly as dramatic as … Continue reading →

Anytime a life is lost or workers injured it is a tragedy. I spent 38 years in the chemical industry. Thirty-three in a chemical plant next to the Central Farmers Nitrogen Complex. This company has always been professionally managed by highly qualified managers and always maintained to the highest level on a daily and yearly … Continue reading →

Both are Democrats? Really? What does anyone’s political affiliation have to do with a story about a 21-year-old, or anyone, being booked while driving while intoxicated? If party affiliation is so important, why aren’t other such offenders “politically profiled” in your everyday accounting of local DWIs? Could it be that The Advocate … Continue reading →

If you want to find out how law enforcement policy is being made in New Orleans these days, then there’s a good chance that you’ll start at a federal courtroom. Two federal consent decrees — one outlining reforms at the New Orleans Police Department, and the other detailing required improvements at Orleans Parish Prison — mean … Continue reading →

James Kirylo is upset that the Teach for America program allows college graduates to begin teaching with only a few weeks of instruction the summer before they are thrown into the fray of the classroom (June 10, “TFA teachers are unqualified”). Kirylo believes TFA volunteers are unqualified to teach because they are uncertified. They are uncertified … Continue reading →

Our state Legislature is over for this year, and while many say it was a failure, I feel it was a huge success. Many criticize our governor for his leadership, but I feel he has been one of the best governors our state has had in some time. Everyone want things for themselves, but our governor, Bobby … Continue reading →

Regarding your article by Ben Wallace on “Dream Night at the Zoo,” the people who appeared in costume as Disney princesses were not actresses but zoo employees. The costumes were made by the employees on their own time and at their own expense in order to make this night special for the guests. … Continue reading →

After reading the letter from Wayne Blankenship in the June 12 opinions, I find that I agree. He feels that if we bring backthe Judeo-Christian traditions to our schools, all will be fine. I can go him one better. Bring in all the religions of all the children represented at each individual … Continue reading →

Louisiana’s free college tuition program called TOPS carries a hefty price tag in a state budget that has been throttled with cuts. It is expected to cost $218 million next year and is on track to grow to an estimated $340 million within five years. Lawmakers repeatedly say they’re worried the state can’t … Continue reading →

In the Sunday, June 9, issue you dedicated one-half of the front page, in color, to LSU returning to the Baseball College World Series in Omaha. On Page 2, you reported three Americans being killed in Afghanistan and another killing spree (Santa Monica, Calif.) with relevance to the national debate regarding gun … Continue reading →

Last month, The Advocate published a story about eight women who were arrested because of truancy violations by their children. No fathers in these cases were arrested, authorities said, because there were no men’s names listed on any of the children’s school records. We’ve been haunted by the thought of those absent fathers since that story … Continue reading →

The danger of hyperventilation among liberals and some conservative libertarians is a more clear and present danger than the possibility of unconstitutional searches of telephone numbers and other data points by the U.S. government. We live in an age of terrorism concocted by loose-knit networks of fanatics that communicate with cellphones and computers. The National Security … Continue reading →

One of the small silver linings in every tragedy is the extent to which it prompts all of us to appreciate what’s really important — friends and family. We’ve seen that in the wake of any incident where lives are threatened, whether it be a terrorist attack, mass shooting, big storm or industrial accident. All … Continue reading →

There is more than one way to influence on Capitol Hill, and former Morehouse College standout Cedric Richmond is making the most of his second baseball career. Richmond, perhaps better known as a congressman from New Orleans than as pitcher and hitter, led his fellow Democrats to a lopsided victory over the GOP at Nationals Park. … Continue reading →

Lawsuits often contain exaggerated claims, but not this time. There is no contradicting Mercedes Montagnes when she avers her clients are at risk of death. Perhaps you will find that less shocking when I tell you they all live on death row. You might even figure that’s the whole idea. Continue reading →

U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., was one of the deciding votes for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The “Obamacare” law is the bane of the GOP and Republicans will hang it around her neck at every opportunity leading up to her 2014 re-election effort. But Landrieu is owning her vote and … Continue reading →

Thoughts on Father’s Day from an adoptive dad: My journey into fatherhood was somewhat nontraditional and caught me by surprise. I received a phone call in November 2009 from an out-of-state family member who had invited trouble into his life. He was on his way to prison, and his girlfriend was addicted to … Continue reading →

If you were to purchase $7 worth of Powerball tickets, your probability of winning the Powerball that drawing would be better than the probability of being killed by a foreign terrorist over a one-year period. And if you take 9/11 out of the equation, the chances of you being killed becomes absolutely infinitesimal, that is if … Continue reading →

I concur with the readers who have questioned The Advocate’s expansion of local coverage at the cost of virtually all national and international stories. Though The Advocate has always focused on local news, it has never been parochial. I have depended on the newspaper to alert me to international trends and the evolving national conversation. … Continue reading →

Gov. Bobby Jindal is not known for his hiring of qualified people in key positions, but he sometimes surprises us. By selecting Kathy Kleibert to succeed Bruce Greenstein as Department of Health and Hospitals secretary, Jindal has hit a home run. Kleibert is everything the two previous secretaries were not — she’s honest, … Continue reading →

You’re walking down the street in a downtown shopping area and you come upon someone who claims to be homeless. (You never really know.) What do you do? A. Look away as if they are invisible? B. Look and shake your head? C. Walk clear of them? D. Nervously … Continue reading →

Thursday’s deadly explosion at a chemical plant near the Ascension Parish and Iberville Parish line provided a stark reminder of the inherent dangers in petrochemical processing. That reality looms large in south Louisiana, where a dense corridor of petrochemical plants helps drive a big part of the regional economy. The industry’s local footprint was evident in Thursday’s accident, … Continue reading →

In just three months, Louisiana’s public school system has undergone three huge reversals, with still more upheaval on the horizon. On March 4 a district judge tossed out the state’s tougher rules for how public school teachers earn and retain tenure. Teacher unions praised the decision. Gov. Bobby Jindal vowed to call a … Continue reading →

Louisiana schools have made extraordinary progress in the last year. Graduation and literacy rates are up. Teachers are teaching to higher standards. Families have more choices than ever before. Louisiana Believes, our state’s plan to ensure every child is on track to a college degree or a career, starts with two simple ideas: Continue reading →

Louisiana does not need a new Planned Parenthood center in New Orleans. Planned Parenthood is a heavily taxpayer-subsidized (around 45 percent) organization, so Louisiana citizens should have a voice on whether this happens or not. Planned Parenthood claims the facility will be for “affordable, high-quality health care.” Who are they trying to fool? Planned Parenthood is about … Continue reading →

Since we no longer are afforded the privacy rights allegedly guaranteed by our Constitution, I may get into trouble by expressing this opinion. Our government continues to encroach on our liberties as witnessed by the recent revelation of phone call data bases. Our national politicians tell us that … Continue reading →

Recently while watching a U.S. Congress committee chairperson swearing in a witness, I realized how meaningless this procedure can be. Congress has done about everything to get rid of the word “God” from our lives. Yet, the testifying Congressperson is asked, “Do you promise to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the … Continue reading →

For years I have been concerned about the dogpile celebration after a great victory. I wish it would be discontinued before someone is seriously injured. GO TIGERS! Joan Kostulsky homemaker Morgan City

We’re all in favor of good news, but take with caution some happy projections about the U.S. budget. A Congressional Budget Office report on the deficit has fed some of the amnesia about the crisis in the rising federal debt. The CBO is required to project the deficit by relying on current law, even if just … Continue reading →

For the 16th time, the LSU Tigers go to Omaha to represent their school and Louisiana in the College World Series. The Tigers triumphed in two games over Oklahoma in the Baton Rouge super-regional round, with young pitcher Aaron Nola’s performance in the first game likely to be remembered by fans. In Omaha, the Tigers … Continue reading →

If he has something of a reputation for academic arrogance, then surely this sort-of apology from President Barack Obama is surely worthy of note. Talking about political obstruction — there is no politer phrase — of his nominees for federal judgeships, the president conceded this much: “I recognize that neither party has a perfect track record … Continue reading →

One person’s government reform is another one’s financial burden. Last week, U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., vowed to object to all Republican amendments to a farm bill unless something is done about planned increases in the premiums property owners pay for flood insurance. She wants to enact a three-year delay in National Flood Insurance Program … Continue reading →

Stephanie Grace writes that “Gov. Jindal pursued a policy so nakedly designed to pad his résumé rather than bolstering the state” referring to his attempt to eliminate the state income tax. The states with no income tax lead the nation in just about every good economic category. It sure seemed like a wise economic … Continue reading →

I don’t get it Louisiana! The state is going to shut down the LA Swift bus service because of losing money. An Associated Press article in the The Advocate gives the following data. The state claims that feds will reduce funding, making this service a $750,000 loss each year, so they have to shut … Continue reading →

This is in response to the letter to the editor on June 11 complaining that The Advocate put local news on the front page and national news elsewhere in Section A. My husband and I, and I’m sure other readers, actually prefer local news on the front and who’s bombing whom in … Continue reading →

I read with interest about the lawsuit being brought by three death row inmates regarding the heat on death row. I’m sure the guards may be hot as well, but I read no mention of that. I myself grew up without air conditioning, but have survived for 68 years nonetheless. For subsequent generations, it may seem … Continue reading →

LSU, my alma mater, has one fine baseball team this year, but all is not well on the academic side of campus. The legislative session ended on June 6, but the attack against Louisiana colleges and universities continues. Let me be very clear: your local university is dying, and this session did nothing … Continue reading →

Recent controversies involving selective scrutiny of conservative groups by the IRS and the U.S. Justice Department’s probes of Associated Press phone records underscore the power of the federal government to influence free expression. That reality was evident in an order by a U.S. District Court in Lafayette that forced the shutdown of a website critical … Continue reading →

We’re sorry that the pilot of a private plane lost his life when the aircraft crashed into a Baker neighborhood, but we’re glad that no one else was physically harmed by the accident. Authorities finished clearing debris from the crash this week, but many questions about the accident remain. We hope those questions are answered soon. … Continue reading →

Thomas Jefferson was the Founding Father who was a leader of meetings that led to our Constitution, and he had strong views on the separation of church and state. It is a propitious time to recall these views, since the subject of vouchers and public support for private and/or religious schools is being debated. “Jefferson believed … Continue reading →

Re: “Bills put religion in public schools,” June 5 issue. A New Orleans teacher stated that the Science Education Act and the school voucher program are intended to introduce religion (Christianity) into public schools. He says that the pilgrims and others came to this land seeking freedom of religion. That is true. But they … Continue reading →

There is considerable misunderstanding regarding Louisiana’s participation in the Common Core State Standards Initiative sponsored by the National Governors Association. It is not a conspiracy of the federal government to take over the educational system and circumvent states’ rights, as some would have you believe. These standards were developed by a voluntary collaborative of 46 states, in … Continue reading →