By Drew Broach | Deputy metro editor REUNION: Kristian Fulton and Ja’Marr Chase both grew up on the west bank, where they played biddy football. Both starred at Archbishop Rummel High School in Metairie, teammates for one season, and both went to LSU. They'll meet again Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at the AFC divisional round playoffs in Nashville, Tennessee, when the Tennessee Titans, for whom Fulton plays cornerback, host the Cincinnati Bengals and wide receiver Chase. 'CULTURE OF DISTRUST': An investigation into the New Orleans Department of Safety and Permits found that almost every inspector thinks his or her colleagues have been taking bribes and the department is overrun by a “culture of distrust.” It says inspectors were encouraged by supervisors to ignore policies and procedures implemented by former Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s administration to ensure inspections were done completely and correctly, a critical step in determining whether construction projects are safe and up to code. SCHOOL SECRETS: Louisiana’s accountability system for public schools is under review behind closed doors by a five-member “workgroup” of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, sparking questions and criticism on why taxpayers are being shut out. Board officials say they have been assured by their attorney the review is legal and not an attempt to get around the state's Open Meetings Law, which would allow the public access to the gatherings. But critics are asking why the study has to be held in private, especially because how public schools and students are rated is a volatile topic that sparks lots of interest from parents and others. Welcome to a chilly weekend. Keep up with the news all day on NOLA.com. D.B. |