New Orleans CityBusiness articles from December 2005

New Orleans CityBusiness archives from December 2005

AM 690 returning to the New Orleans airwaves on Monday.
December 1, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Radio station AM 690 will return to the New Orleans airwaves at 6 a.m. Monday with a new set of call letters. The station, now WIST-AM, was knocked off the air after receiving extensive damage to their...

Picking up the pieces after Hurricane Katrina is an all-day job.
December 1, 2005... Byline: Amy Ferguson Crews of workers are laboring to clear the tons of debris left by Hurricane Katrina street by street.The Hampton family, owners of Algiers-based Hamp's Construction LLC, is among the foot soldiers. Owner Charlie...

Two-thirds of Gulf oil production back online.
December 1, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Nearly 64 percent of Gulf oil production is back online today three months after being knocked out by hurricanes Katrina and Rita, according to the Minerals Management Service.About 547,000 barrels of daily...

Fitch downgrades $1.8B in Louisiana bonds.
December 1, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Fitch Ratings has downgraded the rating of $1.8 billion of Louisiana general obligation bonds. The rating service believes the state will have difficulty paying off the loans used to pay for the bulk of...

Feds establish temp wage offices in N.O., Biloxi.
December 1, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The U.S. Department of Labor today announced it is reopening new temporary locations of the Wage and Hour Division's New Orleans district office and Biloxi, Miss., field office. Following Hurricane...

NO/AIDS Task Force selected as beneficiary of online auction.
December 1, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report NO/AIDS Task Force, one of the oldest and largest AIDS service organizations in the Gulf South, was chosen by LIFEbeat as a beneficiary of the Bid 2 Beat AIDS online auction. NO/AIDS will be awarded money...

Little Rock scoops up N.O. basketball tourney.
December 1, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report A national AAU basketball tournaments knocked out of New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina has landed in Little Rock, Ark.The Amateur Athletic Union's Division I 16-and-under National Basketball Tournament will...

FEMA issues new flood plain guidelines.
December 1, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report To help Louisiana coastal communities make prudent rebuilding decisions, the Federal Emergency Management Agency today released Flood Recovery Guidance documents for 11 parishes in southern Louisiana. The...

Record construction spending spree ignites inflation.
December 1, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report "Construction spending set another record in October, reaching $1.13 trillion at a seasonally adjusted annual rate," said Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America, a...

Emeril's two N.O. restaurants to reopen.
December 1, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Renowned New Orleans chef Emeril Lagasse is about to be back in buiness in his hometown. Emeril's Restaurant reopens at 800 Tchoupitoulas Dec. 8 and NOLA Restaurant returns at 534 St. Louis St. Dec. 13....

Belle Chasse to gain California aid.
December 1, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The city of Calabasas, Calif., and the Spirit of Calabasas Foundation will deliver a 22-foot truck filled with relief supplies to Plaquemines Parish.The supplies, including school materials and computers,...

Most Xavier University students will return.
December 1, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Nearly 75 percent of Xavier University students confirmed they will be returning to the mid-town campus in January, university officials say.More than 4,000 students were enrolled before Katrina. A total of...

FEMA plans pre-proposal conferences.
December 1, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The Federal Emergency Management Agency will hold a series of pre-proposal conferences for the companies bidding on 15 contracts with a value up to $100 million each for temporary housing maintenance and...

Bargeload of Habitat homes arrives Friday.
December 1, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report A barge carrying core materials for Habitat for Humanity homes is arriving in the Port of New Orleans Friday from St. Paul, Minn. The barge is carrying pre-framed panels for houses and building supplies to...

Swedish contingent eyes N.O. partnerships.
December 1, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Fifteen Swedish companies will visit next week to showcase new products and technology they say may help revitalize Louisiana. The companies are interested in partnering with Louisiana companies,...

S&P downgrades Louisiana's credit rating.
December 1, 2005... Byline: Greg LaRose Standard & Poor's credit rating service says Hurricane Katrina will hamper Louisiana's ability to repay its debts for the foreseeable future.S&P downgraded Louisiana's rating on its credit watch from A+ to A with a...

Tulane reopens primary care center.
December 1, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report In the first step toward reopening Tulane University Hospital and Clinic in downtown New Orleans, a primary-care clinic has opened on the first floor of the LaSalle Street parking garage at the corner of...

Toca natural gas plant back online.
December 1, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Houston-based Enterprise Products Partners announced today that its Toca natural gas processing facility in St. Bernard Parish has returned to service after repairs of damage caused by Hurricane Katrina...

N.O.'s La. Recovery Authority member: Recovery is premier planning plum.
December 2, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report In what Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco calls a major step toward rebuilding hurricane-ravaged south Louisiana, the Louisiana Recovery Authority announced Thursday it has engaged three nationally recognized...

'Got Gumbo?' event is cooking tonight.
December 2, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The United Way for the Greater New Orleans Area is holding its sixth annual "Got Gumbo?" cook-off from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the Chateau Sonesta Hotel on Iberville Street to benefit the nonprofit's...

Entergy to bid for power on open market.
December 2, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Entergy Corp. will seek bids to buy power on the open market.The Public Service Commission ordered Entergy to see if the utility can buy electricity at a cost lower than generating it. The New Orleans...

Tulane-Lakeside Hospital offering free mini-health fair.
December 2, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, many people are experiencing cough, asthma and allergies more intensely than ever before. To assess your unique needs and answer your questions, Tulane-Lakeside Hospital...

Commentary: Ruth's Chris exec hungers for return to N.O. diners.
December 2, 2005... Byline: Terry O'Connor Monday is the first day Ruth's Chris will operate a steak house in the New Orleans metro area it left following Hurricane Katrina. More than 78 employees will have jobs at the Metairie eatery on Veterans Memorial...

Pre-holiday layoffs infuriate N.O. teachers.
December 2, 2005... Byline: April Capochino The news of the nearly 7,500 layoffs in the New Orleans Public School District did not surprise many of the teachers Wednesday it infuriated them."This is how they treated us before the storm so it's no surprise,"...

Citadel launches 'martini' music station.
December 2, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Citadel Broadcasting officials say they are really "shakes things up" by launching radio station Martini 106.1. Playlists will feature swing, lounge, blues and jazz. The soft adult contemporary format of...

Storm-torn Tournament Players Club of Louisiana golf course will reopen.
December 2, 2005... Byline: Tommy Santora Despite the PGA Tour moving the 2006 Zurich Classic of New Orleans to English Turn Golf and Country Club, officials at the Tournament Players Club of Louisiana, plan to win back the event for 2007.The course incurred...

Louisiana rig counts plunge by 10.
December 2, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The Baker Hughes Inc. rig report shows Louisiana and Texas losing double-digit rigs this week.Texas lost 13 rigs and Louisiana lost 10 to account for the bulk of the 31-rig decline in rigs exploring for oil...

Commentary: Repairing blacked-out N.O. too much to bear solo.
December 2, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Hurricane Katrina survivors have a new reason to tremble: opening an electricity bill from Entergy New Orleans.Even "levelized" bills ordered post-Katrina have risen two consecutive months and are now roughly 30...

Ruth's Chris executive hungers for return to N.O. diners.
December 5, 2005... Byline: Terry O'Connor Today is the first day Ruth's Chris will operate a steak house in the New Orleans metro area it left following Hurricane Katrina. More than 78 employees will have jobs at the Metairie eatery on Veterans Memorial...

Commentary: Fahrenholtz adds interest to unsettled mayoral race.
December 5, 2005... Byline: Jeff Crouere Outspoken and colorful Orleans Parish School Board member Jimmy Fahrenholtz will run for mayor of New Orleans. According to Fahrenholtz, "I have been in the business world. I've been a union leader. I'm an attorney....

Commentary: Letters to the Editor: December 5, 2005.(Letter to the Editor)
December 5, 2005... Byline: New Orleans CityBusiness Staff Students, parents, faculty members, alumni, advocates for high-performing public schools, supporters of the Arts and Entertainment industry, neighbors and friends of the New Orleans Center for the...

N.O. power outage repair too much to bear solo.
December 5, 2005... Byline: New Orleans CityBusiness Staff Hurricane Katrina survivors have a new reason to tremble: opening an electricity bill from Entergy New Orleans.Even "levelized" bills ordered post-Katrina have risen two consecutive months and are now...

Low enrollment worries Head Start program officials in New Orleans.
December 5, 2005... Byline: April Capochino Last Monday, life almost felt normal for the preschool students returning to their Head Start classroom at St. John the Baptist Community Center in Central City.They read stories, studied the alphabet, colored and...

New Orleans Business Briefs: December 5, 2005.
December 5, 2005... Byline: New Orleans CityBusiness Staff More than 38 percent, or 96 of the 250 Louisiana teachers who passed the National Board Certified Teacher program this year, were from the New Orleans area. The largest amount came from the Jefferson...

Consolidation key to survival for many small N.O. nonprofits.
December 5, 2005... Byline: April Capochino Before Hurricane Katrina struck Aug. 29, New Orleans-area nonprofits wanted more bang for their buck.With more than 3,500 nonprofits in the area, the fund-raising pie was cut into tiny pieces with each nonprofit...

Underappreciated Muriel's in N.O. features great site, prices.
December 5, 2005... Byline: Tom Fitzmorris The notion that the best restaurants are all hidden on the corner of a side street and an alleyway tickles us so much that some of us cast a doubtful eye on restaurants in prominent locations. Fronting Jackson...

French Quarter retailers look for ways to target local shoppers.
December 5, 2005... Byline: April Capochino The decline in tourism is forcing French Quarter retailers to think of new ways to target local shoppers. Retail experts say many businesses would not survive without Louisiana shoppers."It would be nice for...

N.O. coffee biz perks up.
December 5, 2005... Byline: Richard A. Webster Nearly three months after Hurricane Katrina made landfall, locally owned New Orleans coffee shops such as Rue de la Course, Puccino's, PJ's Coffee and Cafe Luna are packed with espresso-happy New Orleanians. Only...

Clearing New Orleans of its debris is long haul.
December 5, 2005... Byline: Amy B. Ferguson Crews of workers are laboring to clear the tons of debris left by Hurricane Katrina street by street.The Hampton family, owners of Algiers-based Hamp's Construction LLC, is among the foot soldiers. Owner Charlie...

Upcoming events scheduled in New Orleans.(Calendar)
December 5, 2005... Byline: New Orleans CityBusiness Staff Dec. 5Family Night, stories and craft activities for children and parents, West Bank Regional Library, 2751 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey, 6:30 p.m. For information call the Jefferson Parish Library at...

Businesses wanting to return to N.O. facing higher lease rates.
December 5, 2005... Byline: Richard Slawsky Businesses trying to return to New Orleans face a tight squeeze finding office space. Damaged buildings have forced many businesses to seek alternate work spaces and federal contractors have upped the ante in the...

Interview with Ivan Miestchovich Jr., Univ. of N.O. Real Estate Market Data Center director.
December 5, 2005... Byline: Jaime Guillet Ivan Miestchovich Jr. is in his first year as director of the University of New Orleans Real Estate Market Data Center, the department responsible for publishing the annual New Orleans and South Central Gulf Real...

Realtors look for post-Katrina market rebound in dry areas.
December 5, 2005... Byline: Deon Roberts Despite Hurricane Katrina, residential sales in New Orleans increased nearly 2 percent from January through Sept. 30 compared with the same period in 2004. According to the New Orleans Metropolitan Association of...

Commentary: Shopping for daughters' tech toys rekindles holiday memories.
December 5, 2005... Byline: Mark Singletary One of the great things about having daughters is that Dad doesn't have to be a great thinker, especially when it comes to Christmas gifts.I have four daughters two singles and a set of twins. The twins are the...

Flood reports determine fate of N.O. homes.
December 5, 2005... Byline: Deon Roberts Most New Orleanian homeowners have been in limbo the past three months, unsure of whether they will be required to elevate their homes in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.For more than 120,000 homeowners, the wait for an...

Former N.O. residents contacting food dealers for a taste of home.
December 5, 2005... Byline: Deon Roberts When Barry Breaux, owner of Breaux Mart supermarkets, goes through e-mails, his inbox is peppered with messages with the same theme: Send us food from home."I saw one the other day, I think it was Minnesota, and they...

Tulane law clinic to attract nation attention.
December 5, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Tulane University Law School's Corporate Law Institute today announced it will hold its annual conference in New Orleans for the 18th consecutive year. The conference will be held March 23-24, 2006, at...

CityBusiness unveils 'Best Places to Work' post-Katrina.
December 5, 2005... Byline: Tommy Santora CityBusiness will honor the Top 20 Best Places to Work in New Orleans at an awards breakfast 8 a.m. Dec. 16, at the downtown Sheraton hotel.Best Places to Work highlights New Orleans companies that stand out in terms...

New music venue celebrates New Orleans 'golden age'.
December 5, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Republic New Orleans, a lounge, music venue and nightclub, will open its doors to the public Dec. 16 in the former location of Howlin' Wolf, 828 South Peters St.Project partner Robert LeBlanc said Republic...

Mid-City Art Market in New Orleans City Park set to open Saturday.
December 5, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The Mid-City Art Market in New Orleans City Park will reopen Saturday during the Celebration of the Oaks festivities.The art market showcases work by local and regional artists, including pottery,...

Stone Energy announces reserve review findings.
December 5, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Energy company Stone Energy today announced the findings of an independent review by Stone's audit committee concerning the downward revisions to its proved reserves. The committee had engaged the New...

New Orleans student receives Louisiana's first Distance Diploma.
December 5, 2005... Byline: April Capochino An eastern New Orleans high school senior who evacuated to Texas following Hurricane Katrina is the first displaced student to receive a Louisiana diploma using the Distance Diploma program, state education...

Declining check volume downsizes N.O. Federal Reserve Bank.
December 5, 2005... Byline: Greg LaRose About 50 employees in the check processing department of the New Orleans branch of the Federal Reserve Bank have been working at the Atlanta head office since Hurricane Katrina. The bank announced today it will keep the...

$200M HUD program to offset mortgage payments for 20,000.
December 5, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced today it will pay mortgages for up to 20,000 families affected by hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma.Under the Mortgage Assistance Initiative,...

JEDCO, University of New Orleans team on major conference.
December 6, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report "Jeff '007 Revisited Post-Katrina," will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday at the Alario Center, 2000 Segnette Blvd. in Westwego.As Jefferson Parish gets back to business, its elected officials want...

Crescent City Brewhouse in New Orleans reopens.
December 6, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The Crescent City Brewhouse has reopened with hours from 4 p.m. 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, noon to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. The menu includes: Tuna Orleans, Red Fist St....

Port of New Orleans to consider $12M deal, FEMA contracts.
December 6, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The Port of New Orleans Board of Directors have three major action items to consider at a special meeting scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at 1350 Port of New Orleans Place.Gary LaGrange, Port of New...

Global ratings agency expects treight transports to remain healthy in 2006.
December 6, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Following an exceptional year for the U.S. land-based freight transportation industry, global ratings agency Fitch Ratings expects a strong showing from the industry again in 2006. This year, continued...

PricewaterhouseCoopers back in New Orleans.
December 6, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report PricewaterhouseCoopers reopened its New Orleans office Monday at 639 Loyola Ave. The 43 New Orleans-based staff members and partners had been working since Katrina struck from the firm's Houston office and...

Staffing tops energy costs as No. 1 CEO concern.
December 6, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report After reaching a survey low last quarter, the Q4 TEC Confidence Index rebounded slightly, demonstrating improved economic confidence for 2006 from CEOs in small and mid-sized businesses...

Blue roofs still available for hurricane stricken residents.
December 7, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Blue tarps for hurricane-damaged roofs are available starting today for Orleans Parish residents.Residents with a home labeled green or yellow by city inspectors can apply for tarps at collection sites...

Canal Barge brings 80 jobs back to N.O.
December 7, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Canal Barge Company Inc., a New Orleans-based inland marine transportation company, will resume full operations in New Orleans Monday. CBC has offices in downtown New Orleans and in Belle Chasse.Canal...

Candlelight vigil recognizes Katrina victims.
December 7, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Covenant House New Orleans is having its annual Candlelight Vigil and tree-lighting ceremony beginning at 5:30 p.m. today with an expanded "community mission" to include hurricane-affected New...

'Sci High' opens in New Orleans Jan. 9.
December 7, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The New Orleans Charter Science & Mathematics High School will open Jan. 9."Sci High is contributing to the economic rebirth of the city," said Barbara MacPhee, the principal who founded the school 13...

Rep. Jindal's bill would ease trucking regs for sugar haulers.
December 7, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Rep. Bobby Jindal, R-Kenner, today introduced legislation designed to help keep sugar trucks on the road, sugar cane in mills, and Louisiana's sugar industry on its feet after hurricanes Katrina and Rita....

ISeatz lands Southwest Airlines deal.(Company Profile)
December 7, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report ISeatz, a New Orleans-based company that helps internet travel sites organize client's vacations, has reached a deal with Southwest Airlines to provide technology enabling their customers to reserve ground...

Inventory bulge weighs on energy prices.
December 7, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Oil prices slipped below $60 a barrel today as supplies of oil, gasoline and heating oil rose last week.Light sweet crude for January delivery fell 14 cents to $59.80 a barrel in morning trade on the New...

Latin American Forum chooses N.O. for meeting.
December 7, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The fourth annual Latin American Leadership Forum "Taking it to the Next Level: Financing and Building the Best Projects in the Region" will be held March 28-29, 2006, at the The Hilton Riverside in New...

Gulf Coast Recovery Act passes key hurdle.
December 7, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The U.S. House committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, which has jurisdiction over Stafford Act disaster-response policy, today passed the "Gulf Coast Recovery Act," including provisions sponsored...

Major new Rouse's outlet opens Thursday.
December 7, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Rouses will open its new upscale Market in Mandeville Thursday, said Donald Rouse, managing partner of Rouses. The 62,000-square-foot outlet is the company's 15th store and its second in St. Tammany...

'Windsor Court Cares' program designed to help N.O. recovery.
December 7, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The Windsor Court today announced a series of initiatives designed to provide an opportunity for those who want to contribute to the rebirth of one of America's favorite cities. "The Windsor Court Cares"...

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honore to speak in New Orleans.
December 7, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honore will be the featured guest speaker for the "Vision for the Future" event being held at 2 p.m. Dec. 15 at the Marriott New Orleans.Honore is expected to address business...

Christmas tree industry on pines and needles.
December 7, 2005... Byline: Richard Slawsky Hurricane Katrina took peoples' homes, possessions and jobs, but it's not going to take away our traditions, said Clarke Gernon, owner of the Shady Pond Tree Farm in Pearl River.Despite widespread damage to his crop...

Next round of 'Bring N.O. Back' meetings set.
December 7, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The next round of Bring New Orleans Back Commission meetings were announced today.The BNOBC is working to connect residents with planning meetings affecting their neighborhoods. CityBusiness will post all...

Courts coming back to N.O.
December 8, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The state civil district court for New Orleans and a city court will return Jan. 4, officials said.The civil court has operated since Hurricane Katrina in Gonzales but will start packing Dec. 23 to return...

House of Blues Foundation Room reopens tonight.
December 8, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The House of Blues will reopen its Foundation Room Lounge Bar at 5 p.m. tonight, said General Manager Jim Sugarman. The Lounge Bar will be open Thursday through Saturday during December and the dining room...

700 homes planned for Houma development.
December 8, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report At a Northpark Development 200-acre tract of land in north Houma, 700 homes are planned for development. Elevations range from 8' to 11 feet above sea level. "We are helping rebuild New Orleans by...

FEMA knew of levee breaks on Aug. 29.
December 8, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report A State Police document released Wednesday by Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco confirms federal officials were notified early on Monday, Aug. 29, that a breach in the 17th Street Canal was flooding New...

FEMA: Destroyed doesn't mean destroyed.
December 8, 2005... Byline: Deon Roberts Ever since Hurricane Katrina destroyed more than 200,000 New Orleans-area homes, residents have worried about whether the federal government will have a say in whether damaged homes should be demolished.A Federal...

Pierre A. Capdau-UNO Charter School to reopen Jan. 9.
December 8, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness staff report Pierre A. Capdau-UNO Charter School will reopen Jan. 9 as a a kindergarten through eighth-grade school on its original Franklin Avenue, campus, school officials said Wednesday.The school has been closed...

Lt. Gov. Landrieu extols Mayor Nagin's Mardi Gras move.
December 8, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu today said holding Mardi Gras is the right decision for New Orleans. "Louisiana's tourism industry is a pivotal piece of our overall economy, and we cannot rebuild and diversify our...

Chevron ramps up 2006 spending plans to $14.6B.
December 8, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Chevron Corp. said today it will increase its capital spending by 35 percent next year, with most of the $14.8 billion budget to boost the future supply of oil and gas.The San Ramon-based company made the...

Tulane Univ. president: Tulane will be recovery role model.
December 8, 2005... Byline: April Capochino To help rebuild the city along with eliminating a $65 million budget shortfall, Tulane University presented a plan this afternoon to realign its curriculum and programs to meet the needs of the city while cutting...

Sen. Vitter to release levee plan Friday.
December 8, 2005... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Sen. David Vitter, R-Metairie, said he will discuss with business leaders the need to push the Bush administration for stronger, more reliable hurricane and flood protection at a 10:30 a.m. press conference...