| BY CHAD CALDER | Staff writer |
Past and present collide: New industrial development and expansion between Baton Rouge and New Orleans is increasingly brushing up against Louisiana's painful history of slavery, as sites eyed by multinational corporations are found or suspected to be locations of slave graves. The latest example involves Air Products' plans for a $4.5 billion blue hydrogen plant in the Darrow/Burnside area of Ascension Parish. David Mitchell has the story. Jazz Fest Fare: The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is going cashless this year, and Ian McNulty has the rundown on what it means for festgoers and vendors. He's also checking in with past vendors who aren't going to make it this year and finds a mix of reasons for their absences. And for those of you still in denial about the fact that crawfish bread won't be in the festival food line-up this year, you'll find some alternatives here. Infrastructure matters: A four-alarm fire destroyed two houses, damaged two others and displaced at least a dozen people in Central City late Sunday night, and residents say the fire department's ability to bring the blaze under control was hampered by broken fire hydrants. The NOFD confirmed a broken hydrant, but says wind was the main factor. Missy Wilkinson has the story. Also, Georges Media Group, parent company of The Advocate and The Times-Picayune, is expanding into northwest Louisiana this summer with a digital news outlet called the Shreveport-Bossier Advocate. You can read all about it here. Thanks for starting your day with Morning Headlines. Catch up on the latest news on NOLA.com. Chad | 