New Orleans CityBusiness articles from August 2006

New Orleans CityBusiness archives from August 2006

Former Tulane star pitcher Micah Owings returns to face New Orleans Zephyrs.
August 1, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The return of former Tulane star pitcher Micah Owings has been pushed back one day to 7 p.m. Thursday at Zephyr Field. No reason was given for the change. The right-handed Owings is 7-0 in eight games and...

Alleged Baton Rouge swindler accused in Gulf Coast Bank & Trust case.
August 1, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report A businessman has been accused of defrauding a bank of $230,000 and his company's own retirement fund. James M. Hoffman III, 55, of Baton Rouge, was charged Monday with one count of theft from an employee...

LHC Group Inc. closes on $15M acquisition of KY-based Lifeline Home Health Care.
August 1, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report LHC Group Inc., a post-acute health care services provider, today closed its $15-million acquisition of the Somerset, Ky.-based assets of Lifeline Home Health Care, a privately held company. This is LHC...

20,000 Shriners coming to New Orleans Aug. 18-25.
August 1, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report More than 31,000 conventioneers will occupy nearly 14,000 hotel rooms from Aug. 6-20, according to the New Orleans Metropolitant Convention and Visitors Bureau. The Ancient Egyptian Arabic Order of Nobles...

Mandeville group of women to participate in Avon Walk for Breast Cancer in North Carolina.
August 1, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The "Tigers for TaTas" hope to help in the fight against breast cancer. The Mandeville group of women are participating in the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer to be held in Charlotte, N.C. This multiday...

Commercial construction making up for new home slump.
August 1, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Commercial construction is going to have to carry the building trade for awhile, according to the top ACG expert. "Construction spending rebounded in June after a tiny drop in May and a small increase in...

New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets draw Houston in N.O. home opener Nov. 5.
August 1, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets will open their home schedule in New Orleans against Tracy McGrady, Yao Ming and the Houston Rockets at 6 p.m. Nov. 5. They will open their home schedule in Oklahoma...

Floor de Lis to open in Mid-City New Orleans.
August 1, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report One of the first new big businesses to officially open in Mid-City will be greeted Wednesday by Mayor C. Ray Nagin. The new flooring company will be greeted by other local officials, including Nagin, who...

Fired Orleans Parish Public School employees sue for wrongful termination.
August 2, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Former Orleans Parish School Board employees have petitioned for an injunction declaring the takeover of 107 New Orleans Public Schools unconstitutional. Civil District Court Judge Rose Ledetwill hear the...

New Orleans City Council plans Crime Summit Sept. 16.
August 2, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The New Orleans City Council will hold a Crime Prevention Summit Sept. 16 featuring Lee Brown, former national drug czar and Houston mayor as keynote speaker at a site and time to be announced. The Crime...

Assessor, levy board reforms pushed by Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans.
August 2, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Citizens for 1 Greater New Orleans is lobbying to pass two initiatives appearing on the statewide ballot this fall: -- Orleans Parish assessor consolidation and -- regional levee board reform. The...

Saints deal Bennett to Cheifs for draft pick.
August 2, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The New Orleans Saints today traded running back Michael Bennett to the Kansas City Chiefs for an undisclosed selection in the 2007 National Football League Draft. Bennett, entering his sixth season, was...

Tropical Storm Chris likely to become first 2006 hurricane.
August 2, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Tropical Storm Chris, expected to become a hurricane by Friday, is taking a path similar to the route traveled by Hurricane Rita last year. The Bahamian government today issued a hurricane watch in the...

Japanese fan club donations buoy high school, Satchmo Fest.
August 2, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The Wonderful World Jazz Foundation, a Japanese organization of Louis Armstrong fans, arrives in New Orleans tonight to donate more than 40 instruments to East. St. John High School. The presentation...

Orleans business mail to return to Loyola site.
August 2, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The Business Mail Entry Unit will reopen at 701 Loyola Ave. effective Monday. Hours of operation will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Friday will be the last day the BMEU operates at the...

Murphy Oil Corp. dividend strengthens.
August 2, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Murphy Oil Corp., the oil production company whose Hurricane Katrina-induced oil spill in St. Bernard Parish spawned the largest class action lawsuit in state history, today announced a 60 cent dividend...

Slidell cleanup numbers updated.
August 2, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Federal contractors working in Slidell have carted off 268 truckloads carrying about 1.23 million cubic yards of Hurricane Katrina debris from public and private residential properties, according to the...

N.O. mental health crisis documented in medical journal.
August 2, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Dr. James Barbee, professor and director of the Anxiety and Mood Disorders Clinic at LSU Health Sciences Center at New Orleans, and Dr. Mark Townsend, associate professor of psychiatry and head of the...

Mayor Nagin lauds new Mid-City business.
August 2, 2006... Byline: April Capochino Floor de lis paved the way today for new businesses to come into Mid-City. It is the first new retail business to open in Mid-City. Only 130 businesses have reopened in Mid-City since Hurricane Katrina. "There was...

Finance Authority of New Orleans replenished with $25M for loans.
August 2, 2006... Byline: Deon Roberts It's been a year since the Finance Authority of New Orleans could offer loans for home buyers and renovators. That will all change with a $25-million bond issue FANO closed on last week that will provide 5.6 percent,...

N.J. baseball team pitches 'Britney Spears Baby Safety Night'.
August 3, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness staff report A New Jersey minor league baseball is bringing attention to infant car seat safety with a promotion at Friday night's games. The Newark Bears, members of the independent Atlantic League, will hold Britney...

Venture capital forum seeks growth companies.
August 3, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The Louisiana Purchase Venture Capital Forum is seeking emerging growth companies to present at this year's conference, Oct. 25-26, in Baton Rouge. Ideal candidates should anticipate fundraising in 2006...

Jefferson Council evac plan in works for seniors, disabled.
August 3, 2006... Byline: The Journal Staff The Jefferson Council on Aging is working with the Jefferson Parish Office of Emergency Management to assess the needs of seniors and persons with disabilities for hurricane evacuation assistance. JCOA's Aging and...

Bureau of Governmental Research wants to pull Council's land use powers.
August 3, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The Bureau of Governmental Research, a government watchdog group, has drafted proposed amendments to the city's charter to reform what it calls the "dysfunctional land use decision making process in New...

Old Metairie town meeting to address crime.
August 3, 2006... Byline: The Journal Staff The Old Metairie Road Business Association will hold a town meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday to address crime concerns in Jefferson Parish. Chief Deputy Craig Taffaro of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office will be the...

Cafe Adelaide begins 'Wined Up to the Weekend'.
August 3, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Cafe Adelaide and the Swizzle Stick bar will introduce food and wine enthusiasts to a new tasting event Friday night. Wined Up to the Weekend will introduce new wines each week, each available for purchase...

Survey: Telecommuting best for staff-level employees.
August 3, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Rising gas prices have many professionals considering telecommuting as an economical work option, but spending too much time working from home can mean saying goodbye to the corner office. In a recent...

Fish market faceoff looms in Westwego.
August 3, 2006... Byline: Matthew Penix When Westwego was founded in 1870, many early residents were fishermen, shrimpers and oystermen seeking the fastest route to bring seafood from the Gulf of Mexico to the markets of New Orleans. The Westwego seafood...

Exhibit photos detail Katrina aftermath.
August 3, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report National Geographic magazine and the Louisiana State Museum have partnered to create an exhibit showcasing haunting images by award-winning photojournalist David Burnett, documenting ruined lives and...

East Jefferson General Hospital provides prescription assistance online.
August 3, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report East Jefferson General Hospital's medical staff will become the first in the state trained to navigate an Internet-based program matching free prescription drugs to qualified candidates. The nearly...

Louisiana awards $8.2M for area transportation projects.
August 4, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development announced today that it has awarded $8.2 million in contracts for five transportation projects in Jefferson, Orleans and St. Tammany parishes. The...

N.O. Development Foundation returns.
August 4, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The New Orleans Development Foundation has returned to the city with a new office location at 220 Camp St., Suite 552. It will resume homebuyer training with its next session Aug. 14-17. NODF moved its...

Voter registration drive starts Monday.
August 4, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Secretary of State Al Ater will hold statewide voter drive next week, starting Monday and lasting through Friday. Registrars of voters' offices throughout Louisiana are working with the Secretary of...

The Shaw Group receives power plant scrubber contract.
August 4, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Mirant Corp. has awarded a $900-million engineering, procurement and construction contract to The Shaw Group to retrofit emmissions controls at its three power plants in Maryland. The improved scrubbers at...

Police arrest suspect in four Treme killings.
August 4, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The New Orleans Police Department arrested 18-year-old Raymond Amison on Thursday and issued an arrest warrant for his brother, 21-year-old Kevin Amison for the shooting deaths of four people, including...

Chef Frank Brigsten to represent Louisiana in seafood cook-off.
August 4, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report America's top chefs will show their flair for fish at the third annual Great American Seafood Cook-Off on Saturday at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Earlier this summer, Louisiana Gov. Kathleen...

Jefferson Parish retains teachers to start school year.
August 4, 2006... Byline: Thomas Leggett With classes beginning Aug. 14, enrollment at Jefferson Parish Public Schools remains down compared with pre-Hurricane Katrina numbers, but administrators expect classes to be fully staffed with teachers....

To the moon, Emeril: Chef's recipes bound for space.
August 4, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Astronauts on the International Space Station will know what it's like to eat at Delmonico when recipes from Emeril Lagasse will be served to them Aug. 10. Lagasse is the first celebrity chef to develop...

Black Dragon buys more oil and gas leases in La.
August 4, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Austin, Texas-based Black Dragon Resources Cos. Inc. has acquired several more oil and gas leases in Louisiana. Black Dragon bought six oil and gas leases comprising 914 acres of mineral rights and 19...

Commentary: New approach to Katrina anniversary applauded.
August 4, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff It's no secret the anniversary of Katrina is three weeks from today and some sort of observation of the event is appropriate. The city's first attempt at appropriateness fell way short, but in an extraordinary...

Entergy Corp. declares dividend.
August 4, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Entergy has declared a quarterly dividend of 54 cents per share, payable Sept. 1 to shareholders of record on Aug. 15. Entergy Corp. produces and sells power to 2.7 million customers in Arkansas,...

Ongoing flooding puts Booker T. Washington High School reopening on hold.
August 4, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Booker T. Washington High School in New Orleans will not reopen by Sept. 7 because of mechanical failures that lead to "significant flooding" at the school every time it rains, said Recovery School...

Odyssey Marine Exploration pulls shipwreck attraction from French Quarter.
August 4, 2006... Byline: Matthew Penix The SS Republic, a civil War-era ship that sank 100 miles off the coast of Savannah before being excavated and displayed for French Quarter tourists, is setting sail for another tourism market. Odyssey Marine...

Hurricane Betsy prompts levee upgrades.
August 4, 2006... Byline: Deon Roberts When Hurricane Betsy bore down on Louisiana in 1965, federal levees and floodwalls to block storm surge were rare in the metropolitan New Orleans area. Instead, most residents and businesses put their faith in levees...

N.O. renews policy to waive electrical inspections.
August 5, 2006... Byline: Deon Roberts Despite discovering that shoddy electrical work has put some New Orleans residences at risk of fires, the city is renewing a post-Katrina policy to waive city electrical inspections. The renewal takes effect Monday,...

Wolfman Construction enjoys post-Katrina jolt in business.
August 5, 2006... Byline: Tommy Santora "You can't beat Wagner's Meat," and apparently you can't stop Wolfman Construction from growing in New Orleans' post-Katrina construction boom. Scott Wolfe Sr., CEO of Wolfman Construction, retired two and a half...

Chase donates artwork by Louisiana-affiliated artists to Ogden Museum.
August 7, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Chase is donating eight works by Louisiana-affiliated artists valued at nearly $125,000 to the Ogden Museum of Southern Art. "Donating these works will give more art enthusiasts the opportunity to view...

Business consulting psychologists reach out to storm-affected business.
August 7, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Business consulting psychologists, through the Katrina Aid and Relief Effort, will provide free consulting and seminars for businesses and individuals affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita from 8 a.m. to...

CityBusiness reader poll: Holy Cross should stay in Orleans.
August 7, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness staff report More than two-thirds of CityBusiness poll participants say Holy Cross School should relocate to a new site in Orleans Parish instead of Kenner. The 157-year-old Catholic boys school is considering a move to...

State of Louisiana brings in outside help for New Orleans criminal justice system.
August 7, 2006... Byline: Deon Roberts City and state officials today unveiled a number of strategies to resuscitate the city's criminal justice system, which has been floundering since Hurricane Katrina. The storm created staffing shortages, damaged...

56 out of 124 New Orleans schools remain stagnant.
August 7, 2006... Byline: April Capochino While contractors battle creeping mold, re-tile buckled floors and repair damaged walls at New Orleans Public Schools in time for the start of classes, there are still 56 out of 124 district schools that remain...

Commentary: Bush lags behind LBJ in response.
August 7, 2006... Byline: Richard A. Webster Forty-One years ago on Sept. 9, Hurricane Betsy made landfall and obliterated the small fishing community of Grand Isle. The Category 3 monster then made its way up the Mississippi River until it reached New...

Hurricane Betsy in 1965 prompts levee upgrades.
August 7, 2006... Byline: Deon Roberts When Hurricane Betsy bore down on Louisiana in 1965, federal levees and floodwalls to block storm surge were rare in the metropolitan New Orleans area. Instead, most residents and businesses put their faith in levees...

August 7-14.
August 7, 2006... Byline: From CityBusiness Staff Reports The following calendar of business meetings and events is for August 7-14. The deadline for submissions to the business calendar is 10 days prior to publication date. Aug. 7 Breastfeeding support...

New Orleans City Planning staff shortage slows post-Katrina projects.
August 7, 2006... Byline: Deon Roberts The City Planning Commission's post-hurricane staffing shortages mean developers are waiting longer to get project approvals, a situation that could potentially cost the city projects. The city's former chief...

Number of houses for sale in metro New Orleans area outpacing demand.
August 7, 2006... Byline: Deon Roberts After Memorial Day, Realtor Brooke Arthurs felt the residential real estate market hit the brakes. "The market really slowed down. People are still listing their houses but there's much less demand for the properties,"...

Interview with Metairie-based Prudential Gardner Realtor Carolyn Talbert.
August 7, 2006... Byline: Craig Guillot Prudential Gardner Realtor Carolyn Talbert's insights are based on nearly three decades in the metropolitan residential market. She has sold more than $525 million worth of real estate and has been the top agent in...

Wolfman Construction grows in New Orleans' post-Katrina construction boom.
August 7, 2006... Byline: Tommy Santora "You can't beat Wagner's Meat," and apparently you can't stop Wolfman Construction from growing in New Orleans' post-Katrina construction boom. Scott Wolfe Sr., CEO of Wolfman Construction, retired two and a half...

New Orleans concrete builders plan $15M project.
August 7, 2006... Byline: Matthew Penix A coalition of New Orleans developers has revealed plans on a $15 million project to build more than 1,000 mold-proof, eco-friendly, hurricane resistant homes in the Lower Ninth Ward. The gimmick? They're made of...

Interview with owner of Boh Bros. Construction Co. in New Orleans.
August 7, 2006... Byline: Craig Guillot Founded in 1909, Boh Bros. Construction Co. is New Orleans largest general contractor. The company played a critical role in rebuilding the city after Hurricane Katrina with projects ranging from emergency repairs on...

Commentary: Collective will to define our new national energy policy.
August 7, 2006... Byline: Mark Singletary What is our national energy policy? According to President George W. Bush in 2001, "America must have an energy policy that plans for the future but meets the needs of today. I believe we can develop our natural...

Why former New Orleans resident Trina Aytona came back after being away for ten years.
August 7, 2006... Byline: April Capochino Trina Aytona grew up in eastern New Orleans but left the city the summer after she graduated from Ursuline Academy in 1996. She went to Huntingdon College in Montgomery, Ala., studied music and moved to California...

Southwest Airline's drop in service to New Orleans airport after Katrina affects market share.
August 7, 2006... Byline: Jaime Guillet Since Hurricane Katrina, market shares have been reshuffled for airlines serving Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport. Industry experts attribute changes in the number of passengers and flights to the...

New Orleans entrepreneur wants to create a new airline, DirectAir, with help of state of LA.
August 7, 2006... Byline: Jaime Guillet Local entrepreneur John Miller believes New Orleans' recovery -- beyond even the pre-Katrina era -- lies in molding Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport into a hub. His plan includes creating a new...

New Orleans hotels suffer in post-Katrina summer tourist doldrums.
August 7, 2006... Byline: Richard A. Webster New Orleans hoteliers say the state of the industry during the first summer season post-Katrina can be summed up in five simple facts -- occupancy is down, room rates are static, the loss of the Essence Music...

Fired Orleans school employees sue for wrongful termination.
August 7, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports Former Orleans Parish School Board employees have petitioned for an injunction declaring the takeover of 107 New Orleans Public Schools unconstitutional. Civil District Court Judge Rose Ledet will hear the...

Finance Authority of New Orleans replenished with $25M for loans.
August 7, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports It's been a year since the Finance Authority of New Orleans could offer loans for homebuyers and renovators. That will all change with a $25-million bond issue FANO closed last week that will provide 5.6...

New Orleans to gain biodiesel plant.
August 7, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports The Houston Chronicle reported last week a biodiesel plant will be built in New Orleans by Houston-based Green Earth Fuels. The joint venture with two investment firms will build biodiesel plants in New...

Rapid census count begins in St. Bernard, Orleans parishes.
August 7, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports Teams conducting a rapid population estimate survey went door-to-door in St. Bernard Parish last week and will begin knocking on doors Tuesday in Orleans Parish. The rapid estimate survey of...

Oreck: New Orleans needs infrastructure emphasis.
August 7, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports Business recruitment needs to take a back seat to infrastructure improvement after Hurricane Katrina, according to one chief executive. Tom Oreck, president of the New Orleans-based vacuum cleaner company...

Loyola sues insurer for failing to pay claims.
August 7, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports Due to the approach of the one-year deadline for filing claims related to Hurricane Katrina, Loyola University New Orleans has filed suit against its insurer, Continental Casualty Co., for failure to pay...

Commentary: Juniper dazzles with its consistency, small-town feel.
August 7, 2006... Byline: Tom Fitzmorris The following scenario sounds like something from a 1950s Saturday Evening Post with a Norman Rockwell cover but I saw and heard it happen. A cute family of four steps out of the church at noon Sunday morning....

Commentary: New approach to Katrina anniversary applauded.
August 7, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff It's no secret the anniversary of Katrina is three weeks from today and some sort of observation of the event is appropriate. The city's first attempt at appropriateness fell way short, but in an extraordinary...

Commentary: Well-positioned Shell wants more U.S. refineries today.
August 7, 2006... Byline: Terry O'Connor Shell President John D. Hofmeister said the United States can achieve energy security in a June 20 speech to the Air and Waste Management Association in New Orleans. Hofmeister's talk was designed to comfort...

Commentary: Hollis a potential challenger for embattled Broussard in JP.
August 7, 2006... Byline: Jeff Crouere The political rumor mill is working overtime with news about potential candidates in upcoming races. In the Lakeview New Orleans legislative district held for years by term-limited state Rep. Emile "Peppi" Bruneau,...

Church concert in New Orleans to mark one-year Katrina anniversary.
August 7, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel, 1235 Louisiana Ave., will present a free memorial concert at 3 p.m. Aug. 27 commemorating the first anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. The performance will feature...

Oil field shutdown, Middle East violence fuel oil price hike.
August 7, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Oil prices jumped more than a dollar Monday following a production shutdown at a large oil field in Alaska and the continuing violence in the Middle East, according to market analysis. Light, sweet crude...

Baton Rouge-based Chenevert Architects open up shop in Riverbend.
August 7, 2006... Byline: Kathryn Jezer-Morton Chenevert Architects, a Baton Rouge-based firm specializing in public and commercial projects, has merged with Mark I. Baum Architects with offices at 8200 Hampson St. in the Riverbend. The New Orleans office...

Defunct New Orleans teachers union calls new school system 'dysfunctional'.
August 7, 2006... Byline: April Capochino Characterizing the New Orleans Public Schools as "chaotic" and "dysfunctional," the United Teachers Union of New Orleans today asked that a "centralized body" handle the "essential services needed to open schools in...

First of 7,000 modular homes go up in Treme, Louisiana.
August 7, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Two modular homes were erected in Treme today, which is the first of nearly 7,000 homes Providence Community Housing plans on either restoring or rebuilding over the next five years. The two modular...

New Orleans Police Department searching for two imposter cops.
August 7, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The New Orleans Police Department is asking for the public's assistance in finding and identifying two suspects wanted in connection with a robbery that took place on Interstate 10 eastbound at the I-610...

Man shot dead on St. Thomas Street in New Orleans.
August 7, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The New Orleans Police Department discovered the body of a 27-year-old male, the apparent victim of a shooting, at 12:01 p.m. in the 2700 block of St. Thomas St. The name of the victim is being withheld...

Jefferson Parish sees voter registration surge.
August 8, 2006... Byline: Matthew Penix More than 2,000 new voters have registered in Jefferson Parish since Hurricane Katrina, bringing its total to 279,000. More are expected this week in Secretary of State Al Ater's campaign to register voters in advance...

Lamar Advertising Co. earns $18.4M in 2Q.
August 8, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Lamar Advertising Co., an owner and operator of outdoor advertising and logo sign displays, reported $18.4 million in earnings for the three months ending June 30, a 1.6 percent decrease compared to net...