| By Drew Broach | Deputy metro editor CIRCLING BACK: New Orleans' most prominent remaining tribute to Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee is no more. Capping a process that lasted almost two years and produced three leading contenders, the City Council voted 5-0 Thursday to rename the park inside the traffic circle where St. Charles Avenue, Howard Avenue and Andrew Higgins Boulevard intersect. TECH TIES: The New Orleans City Council opened a formal investigation Thursday into the City Hall employees involved in the controversial "smart city" technology contract, as one of the administration's information technology staffers defended his ties with a winning bidder through an outside company he cofounded. Council members voted unanimously to begin the inquiry, which will let them issue subpoenas and take testimony under oath on the procurement process for a pending contract with a private consortium, known as Smart+Connected NOLA. BILLIONS IN BUDGET: The Louisiana House approved pay raises for public schoolteachers and college faculty Thursday but not for local police and firefighters, as it passed the fiscal 2023 budget bill. Though it took all day, the House made fairly quick work of the 10 bills that move money around, assign surplus dollars and authorize spending for the Legislature and judiciary and the $38.6 billion to operate state agencies for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The 94-4 vote on the main budget measure sends the spending plan to the Senate. Thanks for starting your Friday with us. Check NOLA.com for more news throughout the day. D.B. | 