Robert E. Stewart,
associate regional biologist for U.S. Geological Surveys' National Wetlands Research Center in Lafayette, has won a second major conservation award this year. Stewart was recently bestowed the Gulf Guardian Award by the Gulf of Mexico Program, commending his work preserving coastal wetlands. This spring, Stewart was named Professional Conservationist of the Year by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation.
Tim Ryan,
University of New Orleans chancellor, shut down the 45-year-old Driftwood student newspaper last week, citing a budget shortfall. The action silences an important campus voice and denies future journalists a crucial means of obtaining career experience. Ryan's office should try to work with the financially struggling paper instead of merely pulling the plug.
Steve Gleason,
special-teams captain for the New Orleans Saints, was yanked from last Sunday's game against the Carolina Panthers -- and later fined $5,000 by the National Football League -- for punching Panthers defensive end Kemp Rasmussen in the groin at the end of a kickoff return. Saints coach Jim Haslett called Gleason's behavior 'terrible' and 'wrong.'
Jefferson Parish school officials
went overboard in their zeal to enforce a no-tolerance drug and alcohol policy when they suspended a Boudreaux Elementary fourth-grader for bringing non-alcoholic gelatin treats to school, saying they resembled spiked Jello shots sold in bars. The girl missed eight days of school during her LEAP test year and faces other penalties.
