New Orleans To Pay For More Jail Guards, Medical Upgrades

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The city of New Orleans will put up $1.88 million this year to pay for extra security and medical personnel and to raise base pay for staff at the city's jail under an agreement announced Monday during a brief hearing in U.S. District Court.

The money covers jail improvements required under a federal court order — the result of an agreement between lawyers for inmates and Sheriff Marlin Gusman, who runs the jail.

The payment covers funding of the agreement's provisions for 2013. The city and the sheriff still must work out budgets for future years to fund the improvements.

Monday's agreement comes after months of legal and political arguments between Gusman and Mayor Mitch Landrieu, who had opposed the reform order because of potential costs to the city