| By DREW BROACH | Staff writer |
SAFETY SOLUTIONS: What’s driving the remarkable reduction in New Orleans violent crime this year? Police, school officials, emergency medical technicians, citizen advocates and others cite these concrete steps. CROSS-PURPOSES: The Mississippi River’s dual and sometimes conflicting purposes are (1) providing a source of drinking water for much of southeast Louisiana and (2) conveying big ships in international trade. With saltwater advancing upstream, the region is now at cross-purposes, a predicament foreshadowed in a Corps of Engineers report 33 years ago. Although home to fewer people than Jefferson Parish, New Orleans might spend more than five times as much money combatting saltwater intrusion. Here’s why. Get environment articles in your inbox by subscribing to our weekly Louisiana Coastal Watch newsletter. It’s free. THE SPEAKER’S STROKE: If U.S. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson, is elected speaker of the House, he could use the position’s stroke to direct more federal money to Louisiana. But not as much as some past speakers. VOTERS GUIDE: Need a handy guide to where the leading candidates for governor stand on six major issues? We've got you covered. Thanks for starting your Sunday with Morning Headlines. Check out all the latest news, sports and entertainment coverage from The Times-Picayune. - Drew. | 