| BY CHAD CALDER | Staff writer |
First class flap: Mayor LaToya Cantrell and two aides went to South Korea for a climate expo, costing taxpayers more than $32,000. The plane tickets for the domestic legs of their trip included upgrades to first-class seats. Joseph Cranney has their explanation as to why the city doesn't need to be reimbursed for any of it, despite rules saying otherwise. Clearing for Costco: Crews are moving dirt on the site in Covington where the new Costco is going to be built. Joni Hess has the latest on the timeline. Not in my Old Metairie backyard: The Jefferson Parish School Board plans to sell the Haynes Academy school building on Metairie Road, and commercial developers are already salivating. This has nearby residents nervous, but as Blake Paterson notes, it's election season, so the parish council members vying for seats are particularly attentive to the concerns of voters. Thanks for starting your day with us. Catch up on the latest news on NOLA.com. Chad | 