| BY BOB WARREN | Staff writer |
Another escape: After an escape and a riot at the Bridge City Youth Center several weeks back, Jefferson Parish officials called on the state to shut the juvenile jail down. They railed about security lapses and warned it would happen again. Well, it did — there was another escape this weekend. This time, six prisoners found their way out. DA on trial: Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams and a law partner are inside the federal courthouse in New Orleans today for the start of their trial on tax fraud charges. Reporter Jillian Kramer has the latest. Latest on the abortion issue: Speaking of the DA, Williams has said his office won’t prosecute abortion providers. He joins other New Orleans law enforcement officials in saying they won’t enforce the state’s abortion ban. But reporter Sam Karlin says abortion access still appears likely to disappear across the state. Sam is also at a pivotal court hearing today. For more politics news, please sign up for our Political Rundown newsletter. Opioids and St. Tammany: The number of fatal drug overdoses in St. Tammany has skyrocketed in recent years, tripling to 150 in 2021 from five years earlier. It’s trending below that historic high so far this year, but two fatal overdoses from the same kind of pills last week show just how formidable the region’s opioid problem is. For more health care coverage, please sign up for our The Checkup, our health care newsletter. Rolling out a green welcome mat: Finally, if small(er) town life interests you, take a gander at Faimon Roberts' story today about an incentive program one north Louisiana town has started to attract more residents. With some great pix from David Grunfeld. Maybe just the place for you. Hope you enjoyed today’s Lunch Line. Thanks for reading – and remember, you can keep up all day long on NOLA.com. BW | 