“The Orleans Parish District Attorney’s Office is dropping the criminal case against a Marigny homeowner who shot an unarmed teen on his property last summer.” – WWL-TV

“Debate over legislation affecting lawsuits that want oil and gas companies to clean up after themselves became so contentious Thursday that Louisiana House Speaker Chuck Kleckley threatened to send representatives to ‘time out.’ On a vote of 73-18, the House passed Senate Bill 667. Earlier in the day, the House approved another measure, House Bill 854. Both bills head to the Senate for consideration.” – Baton Rouge Advocate

“Louisiana Education Superintendent John White said Thursday that a new federal civil rights complaint alleging discrimination against black New Orleans students was a ‘political farce‘ driven by national teachers unions trying to gain power and discredit a school system where they had little power. ‘The report, from a factual perspective, is a joke,’ White said.” – NOLA.com

“Red tape and bureaucracy are allowing politicians to skirt the law. Current and former politicians owe the state $629,000 in ethics violations fines that are deemed final debt.” – WBRZ

“Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., chair of the Senate Energy Committee and Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee, will host three events in North Louisiana to promote job creation for Louisiana’s cybersecurity and energy sectors.” – Shreveport Times

“Louisiana’s Senate Education Committee advanced a revised $3.6 billion school funding formula Thursday morning (May 15) after turning down a previous proposal brought forward by Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education two weeks ago.” – NOLA.com

“The state senate has overwhelmingly passed a controversial bill that opponents say could freeze abortions in much of the state. House Bill 388, which has been deemed the ‘Unsafe Abortion Protection Act,’ is similar to a controversial new Texas law that supporters say has already shuttered some abortion clinics in that state. The law was challenged in the courts, and upheld.” – WWL-TV

“Louisiana’s budget for next year doesn’t include any money for the state’s ongoing litigation against BP for damages caused by the 2010 oil spill.” – WBRZ

“House and Senate members Thursday released details of a bill that authorizes some $8.2 billion worth of flood-control, navigation and coastal restoration programs. The 552-page bbill, the result of six months of negotiations between House and Senate members, is expected to win approval next week in the House and Senate by large-bipartisan margins. The legislation includes authorization of the $10.3 billion Morganza to the Gulf hurricane protection project. The long stalled project consists of a series of levees, locks and other flood control features that would provide protection for an estimated 200,000 people in Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes.” – NOLA.com

“After starting the session with talk of lowering penalties for dope, legislators appear poised to create a 99-year prison sentence for heroin pushers, spinning the state back to the days when peddling the often lethal drug meant life in prison.” – Baton Rouge Advocate