In a recently published report, the MRGO Must Go Coalition—an environmentalist group founded in 2006 whose stated goal is “to ensure that the ecosystem impacted by the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet (MRGO) is restored”—outlined how the MRGO rock dam has positively assisted coastal restoration in recent years.

At an unplanned “Special Council Meeting” on Monday, Sept. 28, the St. Bernard Council unanimously approved an ordinance that would send a grant application for $3 million dollars to the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) Cares Act Recovery Assistance program.

St. Bernard Parish teamed up with Valero Meraux Refinery and Nunez Community College in a true community partnership to collect items for Hurricane Laura victims in Southwest Louisiana. The focus of the drive was to collect baby items to replenish those that families lost during the recent devastation in Lake Charles. Items collected included diapers, formula and other gear parents need to make their babies comfortable during this difficult time. In addition to collected items, some also wrote checks which will be donated to the Community Foundation of Southwest Louisiana in Lake Charles.

St. Bernard Parish could be set to begin two coastal restoration projects in the next year. While these projects have the same goal in mind, they are separate from one another and would be funded by two different government entities. One project will receive a huge sum of money from the Louisiana Trustee Implementation Group (LA TIG), a “joint effort of the State of Louisiana and federal trustees” attempting to “heal Louisiana from the injuries caused by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill,” while the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) will provide funding for the other project.

Andrew Jackson Middle School will keep its name.