NATIONAL

“Democrats have selected Philadelphia as the site of their 2016 convention. The largest city in the traditional swing state won out over Brooklyn, N.Y., and Columbus, Ohio. The convention will be held the week of July 25, a week after Republicans will hold their 2016 convention in Cleveland.” – The Hill

“The slow-roll implementation of Obamacare threatens to close U.S. commercial ports on the West Coast. The 29 ports, which handle 70 percent of maritime imports from Asia, were closed over the weekend after months of contentious contract negotiations. The ports reopened Monday, but 20,000 longshoremen are still threatening to strike over a new Obamacare tax.” – Breitbart

“The audience for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress on March 3 is shaping up to be largely Republican — and almost completely white. Many members of the Congressional Black Caucus say they’re planning to skip the speech, calling it a slight to President Barack Obama that they can’t and won’t support.” – POLITICO

“Likely 2016 presidential candidate Scott Walker refused to say Wednesday whether he believes in the theory of evolution, dodging that question and several others about foreign policy after delivering a speech about global trade in London.” – Yahoo! News

“But make no mistake: This resolution has nothing to do with defeating the Islamic State — or respecting the constitutional role accorded Congress in war. To the contrary, it’s yet another public declaration of limits President Obama seeks to impose on our war-fighting.” – NY Post

“President Obama’s request that Congress authorize military action against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) was met with skepticism from both parties on Wednesday, raising questions about Capitol Hill’s ability to pass a war measure.” – The Hill

“The Treasury Department said Wednesday the deficit for January stood at $17.5 billion compared to $10.3 billion a year ago. For the first four months of the budget year that began in October, the deficit widened to $194.2 billion from $182.8 billion during the same period last year.” – AP

“The people who created Barack Obama are already working on their next creation — and that is Julian Castro.” – American Thinker

“One of the strange things I’ve encountered in writing about Jon Stewart et al. is that when I criticize progressives for getting their news from a comedy program, the usual answer is ‘Why isn’t there a conservative version of The Daily Show? Huh? Huh?‘ As though that erased the stupidity of relying on a comedy show for news and insight.” – Kevin Williamson/National Review

“Dominique Strauss-Kahn admitted to a French court on Wednesday that he is ‘rougher’ in bed than most men — but claimed he had no clue the prostitutes he slept with hated it so much.” – NY Post

LOUISIANA

“Gov. Bobby Jindal said today his administration is working on a plan to help lessen the blow of next year’s anticipated $1.6 billion shortfall—adjusting tax credits that are in excess of the amount of taxes owed.” – Baton Rouge Business Report

“Gov. Bobby Jindal is looking at at least three ways to try to steer extra money into Louisiana’s higher education institutions next year. He wants to raise tuition for certain expensive degree programs; charge new fees for student services; and develop tax breaks for businesses that donate directly to college campuses.” – NOLA.com

“Jindal is not only playing the victim here, but he also must think rather highly of himself that he supposes that he is important enough of a target to warrant such sustained attack. This is just one more part of Jindal’s sad and disappointing performance that Rod has been pointing out for a while. It is entirely predictable that an embattled and floundering Republican politician would fall back on accusing his critics of seeking to curry favor with elite liberals and the media, but it’s a very old routine that persuades fewer and fewer people every year.” – Daniel Larison/American Conservative

“Capital Area Transit System Board Chairwoman Donna Collins-Lewis released a short statement offering support of CEO Bob Mirabito ahead of a planned press conference by a group seeking his resignation. The press conference was called by Baton Rouge Councilwoman C. Denise Marcelle, who sits alongside Collins-Lewis on the Metro Council.” – Baton Rouge Advocate

“New Orleans landlords came out in force Wednesday to oppose a proposed rental-regulation ordinance that doesn’t officially exist yet but has nevertheless sparked widespread fears in the industry.” – NOLA.com

“It’s all bare earth now, but a big future is envisioned for the property along River Road at Oklahoma Street in Baton Rouge. The Water Campus is expected to be a national and international hub for river, coastal and delta research, and on Wednesday, government and nonprofit officials gathered to mark the beginning of construction for the project.” – Baton Rouge Advocate

“In light of a rising price tag for the ongoing legal battle to halt the construction and operation of an oil wastewater injection well in Houma, Terrebonne Parish officials decided to bow out of the fight.” – Houma Courier

“Alaska officials infamously proposed, without success, using public money for the so-called “Bridge to Nowhere.” Taxpayers, however, now have in Plaquemines Parish what may one day be called a jail for hardly anyone.” – NOLA.com

“State Superintendent of Education John White says his agency has sent out additional guidance on a new special education law aimed at easing worries that it will run afoul of federal laws.” – Lake Charles American Press

“Southeastern Conference coaches picked LSU to win the SEC West by a wide margin, and the Tigers got four players on the two All-SEC teams. Shortstop Alex Bregman and outfielder Andrew Stevenson made the All-SEC first team, while catcher Kade Scivicque and outfielder Mark Laird were on the second team.” – Baton Rouge Advocate