What Would We Do Without Reports?

New Orleans Leadership Lacking, Report Says.

Virginia Tech

Zurich Classic Starts Tomorrow

They're back at the TPC Louisiana this year.

I Can Save John Edwards $385

Presidential Candidate John Edwards pays $400 for haircuts from Beverly Hills stylist Joseph Torrenueva, using campaign contributions to foot the bill. He could save $385 by visiting the Golden Shears on Magazine Street.

Mitch Landrieu Won't Run for Governor

Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu has decided not to run for Governor. Here is a possible reason why.

John Kerry to Run for President Again?

This John Kerry quote makes it crystal clear, as usual:

"Could that change?" Kerry said. "It might. It may change over years. It may change over months. I can't tell you, but I've said very clearly I don't consider myself out of it forever."

Camellia Grill Reopens Saturday

Good news.

WINO Approved

Wine Institute New Orleans, or WINO, received City Council approval for a zoning change allowing it to remain open.

Mr. B's to Reopen Monday

Mr. B's will reopen on Monday, April 16.

Breaux Backs Out of Governor's Race

Former Senator and current Maryland lobbyist John Breaux, the self-proclaimed savior of Louisiana, has decided not to move to Louisiana and run for Governor after all. He wanted Louisiana Attorney General Charles Foti to issue an advisory opinion rubber-stamping his candidacy, and when Foti declined to do so, Breaux dropped out. When the going gets tough, .... I guess websites such as this -- Lobbyist Breaux is Not Above the Law -- proved accurate in the end. Meanwhile, another website has sprouted up trying to smear Bobby Jindal, this one paid for by the Louisiana Democratic Party -- About Bobby. The Democrats need someone, anyone, to run for Governor.

Cynthia Hedge-Morrell: "Do You Know Who I Am?"

City Councilman Cynthia Hedge-Morrell yells "Do you know who I am?" at a state trooper who pulls her over for going 100 MPH on the shoulder of I-10. If you have to ask someone if they know who you are, you're not that big of a deal.

Bobby Jindal Says John Breaux Not a Louisiana Citizen

Former U.S. Sen. John Breaux is not a citizen of Louisiana and, therefore, isn’t eligible to run for governor, gubernatorial candidate U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal, R-Metairie, said Tuesday in Alexandria. “In my opinion – no – he’s not, but I’m not going to get involved in court challenges. I’m no attorney, and I would rather tell people why Bobby Jindal is the best candidate for governor,” Jindal said after a speech delivered to the Alexandria Rotary Club at Convention Hall in downtown Alexandria.

Eddie Jordan Appellate Argument Over Firing of Whites

Eddie Jordan's lawyers presented oral argument in the Fifth Circuit over Jordan's mass firing of white workers when he was elected. The oral argument went horribly for Jordan, and there appears to be no chance that the multimillion dollar verdict will be overturned. Taxpayers are left holding the bag for Jordan's incompetence.

Nancy Pelosi's Bill Jefferson Problem

From the New York Observer:

It has been three months since the 110th Congress was sworn in, but Ms. Pelosi still refuses to keep her word and seat that district’s duly elected representative on the Homeland Security Committee—despite the obvious value of such a committee assignment to the Second District, which was decimated by Hurricane Katrina.

There are reasons for the Speaker’s reluctance—mainly political, but also very personal.

For starters, there’s the identity of the Second District’s Congressman: William Jefferson. All of Washington has been waiting for his indictment since August 2005, when F.B.I. agents raided his home and found $90,000 in cash stuffed in his freezer.

Now, Republicans are drooling over the prospect of Ms. Pelosi taking Mr. Jefferson’s committee nomination to the House floor—the perfect opportunity for the G.O.P.’s most sanctimonious attack dogs to force a fight and remind Americans of the Speaker’s promise to deliver “the most ethical Congress in history.”

There’s also the grudge factor. Long before that infamous cash began to thaw out, Mr. Jefferson had earned a prominent spot on Ms. Pelosi’s enemies list by seeking to undermine her standing among House Democrats after she refused to appoint him to head the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in 2002. Cross her even once, and Ms. Pelosi will still be twisting her knife in you years later.

So Ms. Pelosi, like a football coach trying to protect a lead by running out the clock, is delaying, hoping that much-anticipated indictment at last materializes and gives her cover for denying Mr. Jefferson his seat. It’s not the worst strategy, considering the damning evidence that has already emerged.

Wednesday at the Square

The Wednesday evening concerts in Lafayette Square start today with The Iguanas. Schedule here.

Houston's Opinion of Evacuees Grows Worse

Nearly two-thirds of Houston residents surveyed said the influx of more than 100,000 evacuees from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 has been "a bad thing" for Houston. Only 11 percent believe the evacuees have had a positive impact. Those numbers reflect a souring in Houston's attitude toward Katrina evacuee since last year, when as many as 36 percent of those surveyed thought the influx was "a good thing."

Profile of Bobby Jindal

Bobby Jindal Saves Louisiana.