The end of the Coach O era; ethics questions in Hurricane Ida cleanup

The Advocate's Top Headlines

with Matthew Albright | Assistant metro editor

Good morning. Let's get you caught up on some of the biggest stories from yesterday.

Coach O out

After weeks of speculation after a disappointing start to the LSU football season, the university and head coach Ed Orgeron reached an agreement: He'll finish this season, then step away from the program. You can read the details here.

Our sports team has plenty more information and analysis. Check out this list of potential replacements for Orgeron, and get a sense here of how Tiger fans reacted to the news.

Ethics questions raised in Hurricane Ida cleanup

After a big hurricane, federal and state governments spend millions of dollars on cleanup and recovery efforts. Since Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana has put restrictions on how state lawmakers and other officials — and their families — can benefit from that spending.

But, after Hurricane Ida, a state senator's family is being paid to help pick up debris. And it hasn't been reported to the state ethics commission.

This story looks at what's going on, and what it says about Louisiana's ethics laws for hurricanes.

Do scenic river laws make it harder to fight floods?

When Scott and Arlene Poston bought the Hidden Oaks Campground in Tangipahoa Parish, they expected the Tangipahoa River would occasionally overflow its banks. But they never expected their property would flood 17 times.

The Postons are among a group of residents who say the river needs to be dredged and otherwise maintained to lessen flooding. One of many complicating factors: the Tangipahoa is considered a scenic waterway, which limits the scale of the work that can be done.

This story looks at an area known for its natural beauty, but where it seems to be ever more difficult to live.

Thanks for reading, and have a great week!