Latest News

Lafourche Parish President Charlotte Randolph said today that Lafourche Parish Government offices will close to the public from Monday, August 27 through Wednesday, August 29, 2012 because of Tropical Storm Isaac.

However, all field offices will be open and fully staffed in order to prepare drainage ditches, storm drains and sandbags. All other parish government employees will remain on a standby status through Wednesday.

New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu says the city is ready to face Tropical Storm Isaac.

Noting that Isaac should arrive at the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Landrieu said Monday that officials feel very good about the ability to cope with Isaac.

Landrieu, who declared a state of emergency on Sunday, urged about 900 residents who live outside levee protection in eastern New Orleans evacuate. The remainder of the city is not under an evacuation order.

He told residents to hunker down and make due with supplies on hand.

Louisiana's Republican elected officials are scrapping or delaying Florida travel plans for the GOP's national convention. Some who had arrived in Tampa quickly turned around and headed home to wait for Tropical Storm Isaac.

Gov. Bobby Jindal hasn't officially canceled his plans to speak at the convention, but says he won't leave Louisiana "as long as we're in harm's way."

Mayor Donald Villere of Mandeville has issued a voluntary evacuation of all low-lying areas of the city in advance of Tropical Storm Isaac, according to a statement posted to the city's website.

The city says it expects to be directly affected by Isaac on Tuesday afternoon, with hurricane-force winds and rain increasing through Wednesday.

Mandeville has also issued a series of special announcements to its residents:

Loyola University has determined that they will not evacuate their campus, but will be canceling classes and suspending normal operations through Wednesday.

The full text of Loyola's press release:

The World War II Museum has reported they will close at 2:00 p.m. today in advance of Tropical Storm Isaac.

The museum anticipates it will reopen at 9:00 a.m. Thursday, and resume normal business hours.

U.S. Sen. David Vitter says he's canceled Vitter two town hall meetings in north Louisiana because of Tropical Storm Isaac.

The Louisiana Republican said meetings today in Lake Providence and on Tuesday in Winnsboro have been canceled.

The opening of Baton Rouge's new $368 million casino has been delayed because of Tropical Storm Isaac.

L'Auberge Baton Rouge was scheduled to open Wednesday, but Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. announced Monday that it was postponing the grand opening. No rescheduled date was immediately announced.

Pinnacle says the storm has scrapped plans to do a mock cruise and diverted Louisiana State Police employees needed for the final inspection and for issuance of the final regulatory approval to open the casino.

Louisiana's 60,000 public school teachers are about to face their first job evaluations under a new review system that continues to spark controversy and questions.

The overhaul stems from a 2010 law pushed by Gov. Bobby Jindal. It is supposed to improve teacher quality, in part by linking annual job reviews to student performance.

Classroom observations by principals and others, which have been used for years, have also been revamped.

The Advocate reports now teachers will face two-part job reviews that are causing some nervousness.

Criminal fines are allowing the state Department of Environmental Quality and state police to buy air monitoring equipment, vehicles, clothing, safety goggles and first aid kits.

Tim Knight, administrator of DEQ's assessment division, tells The Advocate the $1 million in fines allows the state to purchase the items.