New Orleans CityBusiness articles from April 2004

New Orleans CityBusiness archives from April 2004

CEO credited with keeping Touro Infirmary afloat.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Elisabeth Butler Gary Stein didn't expect to stay in New Orleans for long. Touro Infirmary hired him to temporarily run the hospital in 1991, but Stein didn't think Touro would survive its financial troubles long enough to need a...

Advantage Capital raises millions for revitalization.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Deon Roberts Through a federal tax credit program, a New Orleans venture capital firm has invested about $16.5 million in a New Orleans development company and the redevelopment of a Central Business District building. ...

Hospital CEO worries crime, bad schools drive away potential employees.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Elisabeth Butler Resumes with a New Orleans connection automatically go to the top of the pile at Touro Infirmary, said Chief Executive Officer Gary Stein. Although Touro managers try to hire residents to fill vacancies, Stein...

CityBusiness launches new Homebuyers' Guide today.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Staff This issue of CityBusiness contains the newly redesigned CityBusiness Homebuyers' Guide. Formerly the Home & Residential Real Estate publication, the guide was renovated to serve as a better resource for residential real...

New Dept. of Transportation secretary discusses new job.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Staff When state legislators convened Monday for the new session, new Department of Transportation and Development secretary Johnny Bradberry made a few key points about his selection for the job. "I've stayed out of jail and...

Scratch-off lottery tickets scrapped by Louisiana biz.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Staff The corporation that operates scratch-off lottery games in Louisiana announced this week that it would shut down three of the games because of problems with the way some of the tickets were printed. The Louisiana Lottery...

Dillard U. test drives Mazda Day on campus.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Staff Dillard University could have been mistaken for a car lot Thursday. New Mazda vehicles and top executives from the company were scattered around the campus for Dillard's first Mazda Day, a celebration of the corporate...

Greenpeace, Habitat for Humanity home is protest against production of polyvinyl chloride.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Megan Kamerick John Passacantando notes the American flag hanging on a house under construction by the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity. It flies near a banner proclaiming the home near North Prieur and Music streets to be...

Commentary: State of business in Louisiana mirrors our transitioning economy.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Mark Singletary As I was reading through last week's edition of CityBusiness, I was drawn to the dichotomy of promise and peril facing so much of our local business effort every day. From the front page, and continuing...

Harrah's woos food vendors back to casino after failed try.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Richard Slawsky Harrah's New Orleans Casino is betting the Cafes on Canal development will hit the jackpot with a second attempt at leasing space to food vendors inside the casino. Starbucks is now open and a Fuddruckers...

Hornbeck Offshore's deepwater expertise keys IPO.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Richard Slawsky Two years after withdrawing plans for an initial public offering and nearly nine years after its predecessor was swallowed up by a competitor, Hornbeck Offshore Services returned to active trading March 26 as a...

Music retailers hope declining sales have hit rock bottom.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Richard Slawsky Internet downloading has revolutionized the way music is bought and sold. But retailers are facing other hurdles as well. During the past three years, CD sales have plummeted 26 percent, a decline the Recording...

N.O.-area hospitals closely monitor city's tax lawsuit against Touro.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Elisabeth Butler A lawsuit involving Touro Infirmary Uptown and the city of New Orleans has caught the interest of the regional health care industry. City officials filed the lawsuit against Touro in Orleans Parish Civil...

Specifically naming parties is critical WTC lawsuit issue.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Deon Roberts If opponents to the public subsidy for the World Trade Center hotel project get their day in court, the constitutionality of the project's special taxing district will be the key argument. Passed in 2002, Act 47...

Entergy Nuclear applies for new nuke license.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Staff Entergy Nuclear, a subsidiary of New Orleans based Entergy Corp. has joined with six other companies to form a consortium to work with the U.S. Department of Energy to demonstrate and test a new licensing process for advanced...

Educators' proposal shifts homestead funds.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Staff A tax increase to raise public school employees' pay tops the list of requests by the Louisiana Association of Educators during this legislative session. LAE's boldest request is a state constitutional amendment to...

JetBlue, SW Airlines add N.O. flights.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Staff New service at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport is helping the airport continue to rebound from the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. JetBlue Airways has added a nonstop flight to John F. Kennedy Airport in...

Kenner HMO to provide prescription drug deals.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Staff Tenet Choices Inc., a Medicare health maintenance organization in Kenner, will offer its customers an exclusive prescription drug discount program in June. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services approved...

Interview with Ted Mason, managing director of N.O. accounting firm.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Holly Miller As the April 15 tax deadline looms, Ted Mason, managing director of Metairie-based LaPorte Sehrt Romig Hand Certified Public Accountants, offers last-minute tips for small businesses. In addition to the following tax...

Louis Armstrong N.O. International Airport passenger counts increase.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Staff Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport flight and passenger counts were up for February. The airport reported a 10.6 percent increase of 385,635 passengers aboard American aircraft in February compared with the...

Lockheed Martin Space Systems lays off 65 workers.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Staff Lockheed Martin Space Systems Michoud Operations laid off 65 production workers at its eastern New Orleans plant in the tank production division. The facility produces the external fuel tanks for the National Aeronautics and...

National Finance Center employees discuss privatization.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Staff National Finance Center employees met at the New Orleans Business and Industrial District enterprise center, 13801 Old Gentilly Road, to discuss the possible privatization of the Federal Thrift Savings Plan's administration....

United Fire & Casualty to close N.O. regional office.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Staff United Fire & Casualty Co., based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, announced it would close its 81-employee New Orleans regional office this spring to consolidate with a regional office in Galveston, Texas. The company will lay off 18...

House bill introduced to help La. repair bridges.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Staff Rep. David Vitter, R-Metairie, introduced a bill in the House of Representatives to help Louisiana repair its deficient bridges. The Rural Bridge Safety and Repair Demonstration Act would provide grants to Louisiana. Vitter's...

N.O. mayor meets with leaders of Greater N.O. Coalition of Ministers.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Staff New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin met with leaders of the Greater New Orleans Coalition of Ministers at New Zion Baptist Church in Central City to discuss whether Nagin is providing enough public jobs to minorities. Nagin...

Former Chief Administrative Officer suing for discrimination.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Staff After former Chief Administrative Officer Kimberly Williamson Butler's discrimination allegations against members of the Nagin administration were dismissed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Butler filed a...

Piazza d'Italia rededicated.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Staff Piazza d'Italia Development Corp. rededicated the Piazza d'Italia on the corner of Poydras and Tchoupitoulas streets March 31. Before it fell into disrepair, architects regarded the plaza as a high-profile example of...

Renaissance Arts Hotel receives four-diamond rating.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Staff The Renaissance Arts Hotel on Tchoupitoulas Street received a four-diamond rating from the AAA travel association. It is the new hotel's inaugural rating. Its sister hotel, the Renaissance Pere Marquette on Common Street,...

Fidelity Homestead Association names chief financial officer.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Staff Thomas J. Exnicios has joined New Orleans-based Fidelity Homestead Association as senior vice president and chief financial officer. Exnicios resigned earlier as president and chief executive of Metairie-based Globe Bancorp...

New Orleans Zephyrs, Minor League Baseball partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Staff The New Orleans Zephyrs and Minor League Baseball announced a new partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. Zephyrs players will participate in the Philadelphia-based mentoring program. The Houston Astros Triple-A...

The Shaw Group subsidiary to provide technology to Qatar Petrochemical.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Staff Baton Rouge-based The Shaw Group Inc. announced its subsidiary, Stone & Webster Inc., has been chosen by Doha, Qatar-based Qatar Petrochemical Co. to provide technology to revamp QAPCO's ethylene plant in Mesaieed, Qatar. The...

Commentary: 911 bill makes 'emergency' call for foreign banks in Louisiana.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Terry O'Connor It's only coincidence House Bill 911 has the look of an emergency about it. But it's a seriously needed bit of legislation. State Rep. Charles Lancaster, R-Metairie, has revived his attempt to encourage...

Commentary: Bank One boss will be missed after tour de force CEO stint.
April 5, 2004... Byline: Terry O'Connor Cause for applause: Bank One shareholders will no doubt be sorry to see Jamie Dimon go as chairman and chief executive. The proposed merger with J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. will end Dimon's brief but extraordinarily...

Class 'C' office space owners have trouble keeping up with newer buildings.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Deon Roberts Gary "Hap" Hollander owns a 17,000-square-foot building on Veterans Boulevard. Built in 1958, it's perhaps the oldest building on Veterans, he said. Across the bustling six-lane street from Hollander's two-story...

New program certifies worthy nonprofit groups.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Staff The Louisiana Association of Nonprofit Organizations in Baton Rouge recently unveiled a new certification program designed to credential the accountability, effectiveness and efficiency for charitable programs across the...

Flood plan adds protection for two city neighborhoods.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Staff With hurricane season right around the corner, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Sewerage and Water Board has a couple more New Orleans neighborhoods covered. A $61.7 million drainage system in Broadmoor and Uptown,...

Regional free enterprise competition brings aspiring entrepreneurs to New Orleans.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Staff More than 200 college students were expected to compete at a regional free enterprise competition April 8 in New Orleans. Students in Free Enterprise, a nonprofit headquartered in Springfield, Mo., hold worldwide...

Louisiana oilman expands endowment for student awards program.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Staff A program for school children instituted by oilman Patrick Taylor has been expanded to include every junior high and high school student in the state. At an April 7 ceremony at Audubon Zoo, Taylor, chairman, president,...

Louisiana Dept. of Insurance inquiry clears health insurers of favoring large employers.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Elisabeth Butler A statewide inquiry has ended quietly after Department of Insurance analysts decided health insurers weren't discriminating against small employers through agent-commission pay schedules. Louisiana officials...

Louisiana transportation officials concerned about governor's refusal to support gas tax.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Ellen Boyer Last month, Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco dashed the hopes of Louisiana transportation officials by announcing she would not support raising the 20-cent gasoline tax to fund a backlog of road projects. The problem,...

Interview with Secretary of Louisiana's Dept. of Transportation and Development.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Ellen Boyer After five and a half years at the helm of the state Department of Transportation and Development, Secretary Kam Movassaghi has officially retired. For now, he's just taking some time off, but he hopes to eventually do...

Commentary: Jury duty provides an interesting civics lesson for its participants.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Mark Singletary I've been called for jury duty three times in three years. The first time I got the subpoena, I had a business trip planned, wrote a letter of explanation and was excused. The next call from the courthouse...

Dept. of Natural Resources charged with reviving Louisiana's oil and gas industry.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Richard Slawsky Department of Natural Resources Secretary Scott Angelle didn't get a chance to settle into his new office after assuming the post March 23. Within a day of moving into his new digs in Baton Rouge, the former...

Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office reports increased sales tax collections for March.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Staff The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office reported sales tax collections for March. The $31.22 million total was a 17 percent increase from February's collection of $26.64 million. The Sheriff's Office collected $323,048 in...

VP Cheney speaks at Republican fund-raiser for David Vitter's U.S. Senate campaign.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Staff Vice President Dick Cheney spoke April 5 at the World Trade Center's Plimsoll Club. The event was a fund-raiser for the U.S Senate bid of Congressman David Vitter, R-Metairie. Vitter is in the running for the Senate seat...

New Orleans governor supports resolution to restructure Sewerage and Water Board.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Staff Mayor C. Ray Nagin said he would support a resolution to review legislation that would restructure the Sewerage and Water Board or create a Sewerage and Water Board agency. The resolution is being proposed by state Sen....

U.S. Mint releases a nickel commemorating the bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Staff The United States Mint recently released a nickel commemorating the bicentennial of the Louisiana Purchase. The new design features the clasped hands of a soldier and a Native American. Another design marking the 200th...

New Orleans named the 69th most unwired city by Intel Corp.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Staff New Orleans has been named the 69th most unwired city by Intel Corp. In the technology company's second annual "Most Unwired Cities" survey, it ranked the top 100 U.S. cities and regions for best wireless Internet...

New Orleans' chief tech officer named 2004 technology laureate by Computerworld Honors Program.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Staff Greg Meffert, chief technology officer for New Orleans, was named a 2004 technology laureate by the Computerworld Honors Program. The program identifies people, organizations and institutions that are leading the global...

Louisiana Treasurer will not support legislation to increase pay for state's elected officials.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Staff The debate over raises for elected officials continued to escalate as Louisiana Treasurer John Kennedy announced he does not support legislation that would significantly increase pay for all statewide elected officials, a...

VA Medical Center in New Orleans launches a new medical Web site for patients.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Staff The VA Medical Center on Perdido Street in New Orleans, part of the Department of Veterans Affairs' Veterans Health Administration, launched a new medical Web site for its patients. Located at www.myhealthevet.va.gov, the...

Tulane University begins $37 million renovation of its University Center.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Staff Tulane University broke ground March 29 on a $37 million renovation of its University Center. The construction project will add 50,000 square feet to the center, increasing its meeting space and outdoor seating. Scheduled to...

Three new murals by artist Auseklis Ozols unveiled in two New Orleans restaurants.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Staff The New Orleans Grill, the Windsor Court Hotel restaurant at 300 Gravier St., unveiled three new murals by artist Auseklis Ozols. The paintings feature New Orleans characters such as City Councilwoman Jacquelyn Brechtel...

Baton Rouge-based Air-Q Wi-Fi Corp. joins roaming network of Boston-based Airpath Wireless.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Staff Baton Rouge-based Air-Q Wi-Fi Corp. a wireless fidelity, or Wi-Fi, Internet service provider, announced this week that it has joined the Wi-Fi roaming network of Boston-based Airpath Wireless Inc. Through the roaming network,...

Whitney Bank unveils self-service Merchant Banking Center in Metairie mall.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Staff Whitney Bank unveiled what it is billing as Louisiana's first self-service Merchant Banking Center at Clearview Mall in Metairie. The new automated facility will allow customers to make deposits and withdraw coins and...

Commentary: Ford's latest tax idea could drive away his own business.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Mark Singletary Our tax code and all its relatives have a grand tradition of support for parts of the national economy. For instance, the deductibility of mortgage interest stimulates home ownership. There aren't many who have ever...

New Orleans-based Food for Families/Food for Seniors still trying to feed more people.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Elisabeth Butler Food for Families/Food for Seniors is still trying to swallow a bite of responsibility it took last year. The federally funded program in mid-2003 agreed to start feeding 10,000 more Louisiana residents, bringing...

Walking tour in Treme highlights neighborhood's cultural assets.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Deon Roberts Most New Orleans tourists don't think twice about visiting the city's well-known, well-marketed attractions, such as the French Quarter, Audubon Zoo or the St. Charles Avenue streetcar line. A less-likely...

Airport counts up at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport for sixth month.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Ellen Boyer Aviation is taking off again in New Orleans. For the sixth straight month, Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport in February reported increases in passenger traffic. The airport reported a 14.1...

Rail safety questioned after Amtrak wreck.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Ellen Boyer An Amtrak derailment in Mississippi further punctuated a point long known to Louisiana's transportation officials: Our rails are in need of repair. Last week, an Amtrak train that originated in New Orleans derailed...

New Orleans-based Dr. G.H. Tichenor Antiseptic Co. boosts output of Butt Paste.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Deon Roberts The name might make some people giggle, but George Boudreaux said the growing demand for his diaper rash ointment is no joke. Boudreaux's Butt Paste, which since last year has been manufactured and distributed by...

Nolan Ryan buys new AAA ball club, may move it to Round Rock, Texas.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Holly Miller A changeup from Hall of Fame pitcher Nolan Ryan may send the New Orleans Zephyrs' scouting for a new major league affiliate. Ryan bought a new AAA ball club, and plans to move it to Round Rock, Texas for the 2005...

High crude oil prices pinch drivers at pump.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Richard Slawsky While New Orleans drivers may be feeling the pinch at the gas pumps lately, they're still getting off easy compared to many other parts of the country. Gasoline prices in the New Orleans area are running about...

Absence of Acme Oyster House World Oyster Eating champion leaves prize up for grabs.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Staff The race is wide open this year in the third annual Acme Oyster House World Oyster Eating Championship April 17 at the French Quarter Festival. World champion Boyd Bulot from Hammond - who set a new world record when he...

New Orleans students win NASA's moonwalking vessel prize.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Staff A group of New Orleans high school students crafted their own moonwalking vessel and won a trip to space camp for their expertise. Six students from Mt. Carmel Academy, The Academy of the Sacred Heart, Ridgewood...

Artificial reef study targets Gulf's manmade structures.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Staff The U.S. Department of the Interior's Minerals Management Service, in partnership with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Office of Ocean Exploration, has awarded a contract to Lafayette-based C&C...

Louisiana state bill would battle turtle-borne bacteria.
April 12, 2004... Byline: Staff A piece of state legislation is aiming to make turtles safer to put in your mouth. The legislation also aims to help Louisiana turtle farmers sell domestically once again. State Sen. D.A. "Butch" Gautreaux, D-Morgan City,...

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival still jivin' at 35.
April 19, 2004... Byline: Holly Miller Five years ago, bluesman Eric Lindell stood outside the gates of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival handing out OffBeat magazines and merchandise. Lindell, a California transplant, had just moved to New Orleans...

Addicted physicians restored rather than retired by program.
April 19, 2004... Byline: Elisabeth Butler Eric's life contorted when he wrote his first prescription to a phantom patient. He was taking the drugs himself, and after nine years of working as a general practitioner, Eric's addiction became his top...

Sen. Boissiere asks for new TIF to boost port.
April 19, 2004... Byline: Deon Roberts As Port of New Orleans officials wait for state funds to begin building a new cruise-ship terminal at Poland Avenue, the Legislature is considering creating a development district to oversee the economic growth it is...

Bob Dylan's appearance in Victoria's Secret ad increases sales.
April 19, 2004... Byline: Staff A collaboration between a rock music legend and a record producer with ties to New Orleans has led to an increase in lingerie sales throughout the country. The song "Love Sick," written by 1960s icon Bob Dylan and...

Six Flags education days beckon N.O. students.
April 19, 2004... Byline: Staff Roller coasters, carousels and water rides may sound like playing hooky but it'll be just another day at school for some New Orleans-area students. Six Flags New Orleans will be transformed into an outdoor classroom for...

RoboCup U.S. Open 2004 coming April 24-27.
April 19, 2004... Byline: Staff For those who want a peek into the future, an event at the University of New Orleans April 24-27 will feature the latest in robot technology. The event will showcase the machines' abilities to play soccer and perform...

Crew endurance management energizes marine industry study.
April 19, 2004... Byline: Dawn Joseph Piloting a maritime vessel is a 24-hour job and someone always has to be at the helm. That's why Coast Guard senior scientist Carlos Comperatore started studying crew endurance more than 10 years ago, looking for...

Commentary: Mickelson's golfing success to blame for subpar flight experience.
April 19, 2004... Byline: Mark Singletary I don't know how to break the news to Phil Mickelson but he owes me big time. As I hope all of you know, Mickelson broke through last week at The Masters golf tournament and finally won the major golf...

Railroad switch improvements delayed while carriers debate.
April 19, 2004... Byline: Ellen Boyer When the Huey P. Long Bridge was completed in 1935, it was equipped with a railroad signal system in towers at both ends. Today, all six major railroads serving Louisiana cross that bridge, which is known officially...

ThinPrint makes printing from phones possible.
April 19, 2004... Byline: Ellen Boyer A New Orleans company says its new software can lend credence to claims Louisiana is the new "tech capital of the South." A new software package offered by ThinPrint Inc. allows people to use cell phones to remotely...

Diesel prices hit truckers in the wallet.
April 19, 2004... Byline: Ellen Boyer Truck drivers, farmers and other diesel fuel users are feeling the pain of the recent rise in fuel prices. Many companies are resorting to tacking fuel surcharges on transportation bills. Yet many independent...

Commentary: March Madness reflects failing in Division I college classrooms.
April 19, 2004... Byline: Terry O'Connor Basketball's March Madness has come and gone, which means most men's basketball players have fulfilled their true purpose at school this year. And that's wrong. Of the 65 teams competing in the National...

Commentary: It is hard work re-entering city of year-round vacation.
April 19, 2004... Byline: Terry O'Connor Coming back from my first and likely the second-to-last vacation trip of 2004, (Who needs vacation when living in New Orleans?) I was pleasantly surprised to see the top of my desk as bare as I had left it 11 days...

New Orleans Hospitality Briefs April 19, 2004.
April 19, 2004... Byline: Elisabeth Butler Southern shrimpers want their crustaceans to become as well known as Alaskan salmon and Vidalia onions. Restaurant menus and billboards will begin touting Wild American Shrimp this summer, said Eddie Gordon,...

New darkroom gives photogs place to focus on their craft.
April 19, 2004... Byline: Elisabeth Butler The wide focus of a new community darkroom will give it a good shot at success, local photographers say. The Darkroom: New Orleans' Center for the Photographic Arts opened in February at 1927 Sophie Wright...

Basin Street Records releases six in rare day.
April 19, 2004... Byline: Elisabeth Butler The staff at Basin Street Records has been working overtime lately. Six new releases from the New Orleans record company will hit the streets Tuesday. "Certainly for a label our size, with 24 titles on our...

Sports boat maker takes business to N.O. Biz & Industrial District.
April 19, 2004... Byline: Elisabeth Butler A sports boat manufacturer is relocating from Chalmette to the New Orleans Business and Industrial District, where it plans to expand and hire more employees. Avenger Industries, 102 E. Pleasure St., plans to...