A look at the life of Edwin Edwards; new safety rules after explosion kills 14-year-old

The Advocate's Top Headlines

with Matthew Albright | Assistant metro editor

Hello! Let's get you caught up on some of the biggest stories we're working on today.

Edwin Edwards dies

One of the most colorful, controversial and powerful figures in Louisiana history is gone. You won't find a better telling of the four-term governor's complicated legacy and one-of-a-kind personality than this obituary by our veteran political scribe Tyler Bridges.

And check out this photo gallery of Edwards through the years, including pictures with everyone from JFK to Elvis.

Preventing another tragedy

14-year-old Zalee Gail Day-Smith wanted to be a judge when she grew up. But then an oil field tank battery where she and her friends hung out exploded, killing her.

This article tells her heartbreaking story. It also explains what a tank battery is, what went wrong, and what state officials want to do try and stop it from happening again.

A way to stop oil spills?

Right now, the main way that workers look for leaks in oil pipelines is a set of pressure gauges placed at regular intervals. But this LSU professor is researching a better way: Fiber optic cables, which are much more sensitive and could detect smaller spills more quickly.

Check out this story to see how it might work and the high-tech science she's working with.

Thanks for reading, and have a great afternoon.