| By KASEY BUBNASH | Staff writer |
Good morning and happy Memorial Day. Here are some of the day's top headlines. Hope in the East: The Executive Plaza in New Orleans East has prospered for decades, even as the local economy buckled under pressure from the oil bust, job losses at the NASA Michoud assembly facility and an exodus of many of the area's more affluent residents. Today, the high rise is still at about 80% occupancy. Tony McAuely has this look at the thriving commercial hub that belies the area's reputation for urban decline. Marijuana monopoly? A bill awaiting Gov. Jeff Landry’s signature is poised to transfer the state’s two exclusive medical weed-growing licenses from LSU and Southern University to a pair of private growers the colleges had partnered with. James Finn explains how the change would impact Louisiana’s still-evolving medical marijuana industry. Grand Isle drowning: The same day authorities recovered the body of a 13-year-old boy who drowned off the coast of Grand Isle over Memorial Day weekend, another child was airlifted to a hospital after she was knocked over by a wave in the same area. Joni Hess has the details. Thanks for reading, and check out all the latest news, sports and entertainment coverage from The Times-Picayune. Kasey | 