New Orleans CityBusiness articles from February 2006

New Orleans CityBusiness archives from February 2006

30,000 cardiologists coming to N.O.
February 1, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The American College of Cardiology will hold its 30,000-delegate 2007 annual convention in New Orleans at the Marc Morial Convention Center.The medical association, like many other large groups that booked...

Real estate expert: N.O. population will recover slowly.
February 1, 2006... Byline: Deon Roberts The population of Orleans Parish will recover just 40 percent of its pre-Hurricane Katrina population of 444,500 over the next three years, real estate expert Wade Ragas told the Jefferson Chamber this afternoon.Ragas,...

The Historic New Orleans Collection announces new exhibition.
February 1, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The Historic New Orleans Collection today announced the first major exhibition to be unveiled in the city post-Hurricane Katrina."Post-Hurricane Katrina, it is more important than ever before for...

20-year-old Kenner Winn-Dixie restored today.
February 1, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Winn-Dixie formally reopened its north Kenner store at 8 a.m. today with a king cake cutting and a $40,000 donation to Kenner public schools from the grocery store chain and Sara Lee through the Kids in...

Entergy lobbies Congress for LIHEAP funding.
February 1, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Advocates for the poor and elderly from New Orleans are joining Entergy employees and charity representatives today to lobby Congress for increased funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance...

Study: N.O. business owners want levees, customers.
February 1, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report New Orleans business owners want levee protection and an adequate customer base, according to a recent LSU survey.More than half 52 percent of returned Orleans Parish owners are optimistic about the...

Hornets trade for second center in two days.
February 1, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The New Orleans Hornets today acquired center Steven Hunter and cash from Philadelphia in exchange for second-round picks in 2006 and 2007."Steven will bring athleticism and length off the bench," said...

$28M deal boosts N.O. offshore firm.
February 1, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Duffy & McGovern, a leading supplier of deepwater offshore accommodation modules, is expanding its U.S. fleet and increasing staff after securing $28 million in development capital.New Orleans-based Duffy...

Louisiana film complex to be 'unrivaled'.
February 1, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Louisiana Entertainment Associates LLC has acquired a 150-plus-acre plot on which to design Louisiana Cinema City Studios, a state-of-the-art entertainment complex, including eight Hollywood-style...

3 former Louisiana governors urge Bush to reconsider Baker bill.
February 1, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Govs. Mike Foster, Buddy Roemer, and David Treen three former GOP Louisiana state chief executives sent a joint letter to the White House today appealing to President Bush to take a "second look" at Rep....

Senator Vitter pushes $2.2B hurricane protection bill.
February 1, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Sen. David Vitter introduced new legislation today to give the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers authorization to complete projects that will go beyond pre-Katrina levels of hurricane protection for south...

N.O. gains biomedical research boost.
February 1, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center researchers are back in New Orleans.Acting Chancellor Dr. Larry Hollier announced today that scientists are once again conducting research in labs at the...

2,400-passenger 'Sun' cruise ship coming to N.O.
February 1, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Norwegian Cruise Lines is returning service to New Orleans in the fall of 2006 with a larger ship.Norwegian Cruise Lines, one of the three major cruise lines with home-ported ships in New Orleans, will...

Assn. of brokers-freight forwarders to meet in New Orleans.
February 2, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The International Freight Forwarders and Customs Brokers Association of New Orleans, will hold their 28th annual conference at the Royal Sonesta Hotel June 2-4.The conference will "Celebrate the Rebirth of...

La. Governor Blanco preps legislators for special session.
February 2, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco wrote to all state legislators to discuss what is in store Monday when the Louisiana Legislature convenes for its second special session on hurricane recovery legislation....

La.'s U.S. Rep. Jindal's bill sets up $1B for health care providers in Louisiana.
February 2, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The House of Representatives early today passed the Deficit Reduction Act sponsored by Rep. Bobby Jindal, R-Kenner, granting $2 billion in Medicaid support for the Gulf Coast region. Louisiana doctors,...

La. Governor Blanco earned $200,000 in 2005.
February 2, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Gov. Kathleen Blanco and her husband, Raymond "Coach" Blanco, earned about $200,000 in salaries last year, according to financial disclosure records filed with the state.The governor is required to...

Louisiana Community and Technical College System to cut adminstrative spots.
February 2, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report In an effort to supply enough qualified people to help rebuild the hurricane-ravaged areas of the state, the Louisiana Community and Technical College System proposed an overhaul plan Wednesday to...

Peggy Wilson to run for mayor of New Orleans.
February 2, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Republican Peggy Wilson will officially announce her candidacy for New Orleans mayor at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Alphonsus Cultural Center, 2045 Constance St. The center is across from St. Mary's Assumption...

U.S. La. Rep. Baker challenges Powell opposition to his bill.
February 2, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Rep. Richard Baker, R-Baton Rouge, today accused federal Gulf Coast rebuilding coordinator Donald Powell of lying about his proposed House Resolution 4100, commonly known as the Baker bill."That Mr. Powell...

Mid-City homeowners meeting set Saturday.
February 2, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Mid-City residents can receive information on rebuilding post-Hurricane Katrina at a free forum held by the Home Builders Association of Greater New Orleans Inc., Couhig Partners LLC and the Preservation...

La. Attorney General Foti targets Baton Rouge check scammer as 'Most Wanted'.
February 2, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Attorney General Charles Foti Jr. announced today that an alleged ringleader of a major Baton Rouge counterfeit check production and cashing scheme and income tax rapid refund scheme is No. 1 on his "Most...

Coach Sean Payton hires 3 more New Orleans Saints assistants.
February 2, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton has hired three new assistants, including one from the Atlanta Falcons and another who spent a number of seasons with Oakland, the team announced today.This brings to...

New Orleans Chef Paul Prudhomme to work on NY investors.
February 2, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report New Orleans Chef Paul Prudhomme will showcase New Orleans as a prime destination for meetings and conventions at the "Celebrate the Rebirth of New Orleans" event at 6 p.m. Tuesday at InterContinental The...

Federal grand jury indicts two with soliciting FEMA bribes.
February 2, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report U.S. District Attorney Jim Letten said today a federal grand jury has returned an indictment charging two Federal Emergency Management Agency officials with soliciting bribes as public officials while...

Rep. Baker rebuts White House attack on HR 4100.
February 2, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Rep. Richard Baker, R-Baton Rouge, applauded the White House for requesting an additional $18 billion in Gulf Coast recovery funding while outlining deep disagreements between the Louisiana delegation and...

Tulane University Hospital to reopen Feb. 14.
February 3, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Tulane University Hospital & Clinic will re-open its emergency department and other inpatient and outpatient services on Feb. 14, making it the first hospital to re-open in downtown New Orleans since...

N.O. man convicted on weapons charges.
February 3, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report A convicted felon who investigators say was stockpiling guns in preparation for revenge killings was found guilty of multiple federal weapons and drug charges Thursday.Torrey Scott of New Orleans faces...

Commentary: There are true Louisiana leaders if you look for them.
February 3, 2006... Byline: Terry O'Connor I'm dumbfounded a lot these days.Maybe it's just because I'm a poor, simple boy from Nebraska, but there's so much going on beyond my comprehension regarding this recovery that I just have to ask for some help...

Commentary: Legislators fail us all if they do not consolidate levee boards.
February 3, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness It would be hard for us Louisiana residents to make our wishes known any more clearly on the issue of consolidated levee boards.Consolidate them. Not just a few levee boards. All of them.Not just on one side of the...

Dr. Larry Hollier to lead N.O. biomedical research.
February 3, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The LSU Board of Supervisors today accepted LSU System President Dr. William Jenkins' recommendation to name Dr. Larry Hollier permanent Chancellor of LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. Hollier...

Fertel Foundation contributes $1.2M to N.O. education.
February 3, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The Ruth U. Fertel Foundation, a nonprofit established by the founder of Ruth's Chris Steak House, today pledged $1.2 million to public, private and parochial education for this year.The money will be used...

Soaring bids threaten massive state projects.
February 3, 2006... Byline: Deon Roberts West Bank officials in Jefferson Parish unanimously identify their most important economic development project: expanding the notoriously narrow Huey P. Long Bridge.Likewise, no other project is more important to lower...

WWOZ gains Grammy nod.
February 3, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report New Orleans community radio station WWOZ will be honored at a a special Grammy Foundation titled "New Orleans Rising the Eighth Annual Grammy Music on Film Preservation Project."David Freedman, WWOZ...

Teachers Union 'outraged' by closed schools ready to sue again.
February 3, 2006... Byline: April Capochino The United Teachers of New Orleans have filed a lawsuit Tuesday demanding more schools reopen to house what they say is an increasing student demand.Teacher's Union President Brenda Mitchell said she is "outraged"...

Landrieu is ready to run for New Orleans mayor.
February 3, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Lt. Gov. all but announced his candidacy for mayor of New Orleans today with a press release statement."I am humbled by the outpouring of support from citizens all across New Orleans," Landrieu wrote. "I...

Greater New Orleans Inc. wants DC to break housing 'chokehold'.
February 3, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Business representatives of the Greater New Orleans Inc. Housing Task Force met with administration and congressional officials Wednesday to push Rep. Baker's House Resolution 4100 and other housingissues....

Gulf Coast reconstruction still idle.
February 4, 2006... Byline: Deon Roberts Construction employment is leading the nation's economy but not because of the post-hurricane rebuilding in the Gulf South.Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America, said today...

Unemployment insurance claims spike back over 3,000.
February 4, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Initial claims for unemployment insurance increased to 3,232 from last week's total of 2,813, according to the Louisiana Department of Labor. Continued unemployment claims decreased to 57,511 from 58,285.

Holy Cross College to offer hurricane counseling for children.
February 4, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report A new counseling service aimed at helping children deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina will be available beginning March 11 at the Thomas E. Chambers Counseling and Training Center at Our Lady of...

David Lapin announces candidacy for N.O. councilman-at-large.
February 4, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Democrat David Lapin announced his candidacy for a New Orleans City Council at-large seat at 11:30 a.m. today.Lapin, 55, was a manager of trading rooms on Wall Street, taught at Fontainebleau, France-based...

Exhibit spotlights Mardi Gras Indian traditions.
February 4, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report In appreciation of the historical and cultural aspects of Mardi Gras and to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Carnival in New Orleans, the International House hotel, 221 Camp Street, will inaugurate the...

Hurricane survivors to take their plight to Washington.
February 4, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Several hundred hurricane survivors and their supporters will rally at the Capitol and White House Wednesday and Thursday to explain to the nation's leaders the plight of low- and middle-income...

Nervous lenders wait for 'Plan B' in Louisiana recovery effort.
February 6, 2006... Byline: Greg LaRose Nolan Lambert and his family have made a roundabout trip to return to their Lakeview home after evacuating for Hurricane Katrina. Stops included Meridian, Miss.; Memphis, Tenn.; Lafayette, Mandeville and Metairie....

NOPD sweeps City Park for unauthorized campers.
February 6, 2006... Byline: Richard A. Webster The New Orleans Police Department last Wednesday swept Scout Island in City Park more commonly known as Tent City and issued eviction notices to any camper who could not provide proof they had paid rent.Those...

Eastern N.O. airport idea takes flight.
February 6, 2006... Byline: Jaime Guillet Roy Williams, director of aviation at Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, wants to move his facility east of New Orleans.It's not a new idea. Nine months prior to Katrina, Williams and other LANOIA...

New Orleans hospitality industry catering to change.
February 6, 2006... Byline: Fritz Esker The New Orleans economy depends on its hospitality industry, which includes catering services provided by the city's hotels.Most major hotels are clustered downtown and in the French Quarter two areas spared Katrina's...

New Orleans Hospitality Briefs: February 6, 2006.
February 6, 2006... Byline: Richard A. Webster Despite no classroom space or even a university to call home, 19 students from the University of New Orleans Lester E. Kabacoff School of Hotels, Restaurants and Tourism Administration graduated in the fall...

Interview with John Besh, executive chef of Restaurant August and Besh Steakhouse.
February 6, 2006... Byline: Craig Guillot As one of the top chefs in New Orleans, John Besh credits a love for cooking as the top ingredient in his recipe for success. Born and raised in southern Louisiana, Besh's cooking quests have taken him to kitchens in...

Commentary: CityBusiness to give readers a new online outlet.
February 6, 2006... Byline: Mark Singletary We are about to start asking a lot more questions. Good questions.Four months ago, CityBusiness put together an online symposium to help ascertain how and when our city would reconstitute itself. We called the...

Four month moratorium on new building permits being debated in New Orleans.
February 6, 2006... Byline: Deon Roberts The proposed four-month moratorium on new building permits for New Orleans areas hit hardest by Hurricane Katrina has been debated for weeks.Resident and business opponents call it the hijacking of private property...

Port of New Orleans expects 'hot' steel import year.
February 6, 2006... Byline: Jaime Guillet The Port of New Orleans projects steel imports will remain sturdy in the first quarter. But the slow construction recovery after Hurricane Katrina means demand is not increasing much yet.Gary LaGrange, president and...

Katrina's damage shaves barber shop numbers by two-thirds.
February 6, 2006... Byline: April Capochino State officials say Hurricane Katrina took a lot off the top of the New Orleans barbershop population, forcing thousands to set up shop elsewhere.James Adams Jr., president of the Louisiana State Board of Barber...

Young leaders look for role in rebuild.
February 6, 2006... Byline: April Capochino Students and young professionals returning to New Orleans have already boosted the city's morale and economy.Now the question becomes: Can New Orleans continue to attract younger residents? The Young Leadership...

Jefferson Parish consumer spending up 19 percent in December.
February 6, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports Jefferson Parish consumers spent 19 percent more in December 2005 than in December of the previous year, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. Consumers spent about $33.1 million in December...

Commentary: Emeril's bistro Nola continues to impress.(Restaurant Review)
February 6, 2006... Byline: Tom Fitzmorris For my first dinner at Nola since it reopened six weeks ago, I needed my wife and teenage daughter's fine eyes for design and service. I don't think I'm cool enough for Emeril's experimental bistro.It's a...

2005 New Orleans air traffic nosedives 20 percent.
February 6, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport flew nearly 7.8 million passengers in 2005 down 20.1 percent from 9.7 million in 2004.Despite the slowdown following Hurricane Katrina, the airport has...

UNO to reopen Nelson Elementary.
February 6, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The University of New Orleans will reopen Medard Nelson Elementary School Feb. 15.UNO opened Nelson in August 2005 as a Type 5 charter school, which means UNO had an agreement with the state to run the...

Neglected animal numbers dwindle in New Orleans.
February 6, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said the stray population in New Orleans is significantly lower now. The completion of a 10-day intensive canine trapping campaign conducted...

Bureau of Governmental Research study raps N.O. assessors.
February 6, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The Bureau of Governmental Research reports property assessments in New Orleans have become unfair and arbitrary in some neighborhoods.Some owners of undamaged property have received tax cuts while others...

Northrop Grumman reopens New Orleans Marine Center.
February 6, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Northrop Grumman Corp. today announced it has reopened the Sperry Marine North American Support Center in New Orleans."Through extensive disaster and business resumption planningand heroic efforts by...

Stewart Enterprises violates Nasdaq notice rule.
February 6, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Stewart Enterprises Inc. Friday received notice from Nasdaq that the company failure to file a Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended Oct. 31, 2005, by Wednesday was a violation of the continued listing...

Shaw to build $1.3B Xcel coal-fired plant in Pueblo, Colorado.
February 6, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The Shaw Group Inc. today announced its Shaw Stone & Webster unit has been awarded an engineering, procurement, and construction contract by Xcel Energy, for $1.35-billion generating unit at its Comanche...

State Rep. LaFonta upset by Governor Blanco's choice of joint assembly site.
February 6, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report State Rep. Juan LaFonta, D-New Orleans, said Gov. Blanco is making an offensive mistake by bring the state Legislature to the New Orleans Convention Center for a 6 p.m. ceremony tonight. Here's the...

Commentary: CityBusiness readers are getting new outlet.
February 6, 2006... Byline: Mark Singletary We are about to start asking a lot more questions. Good questions.Two months ago, CityBusiness put together an online symposium to help ascertain how and when our city would reconstitute itself. We called the...

Ashton Ryan to address Louisiana chapter of Association for Corporate Growth.
February 6, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Ashton Ryan Jr., president of First National Bank of Commerce, will address the Louisiana chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at the InterContinental Hotel, 444 Saint...

Duplantier to run for New Orleans' District B seat.
February 6, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Michael Duplantier will announce his candidacy for the District B Council seat 6 p.m. Wednesday at his campaign headquarters, 818 Baronne St.Duplantier, a graduate of Loyola Law School, has been an attorney...

FEMA sets flood plain recovery parameters.
February 7, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency is encouraging building back stronger and safer after major disasters in communities nationwide. FEMA announced today its...

Regions Bank names Scott Howard New Orleans president.
February 7, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report A veteran New Orleans banker who's spent the last three years running a flooring company is taking over Regions Bank's operations in New Orleans Scott Howard, CEO and owner of Artemis Floors, was a senior...

New Orleans Saints add four more new coaches.
February 7, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton added four assistants to his staff today, including quarterbacks coach Pete Carmichael Jr., defensive backs coach Tom Hayes, wide receivers coach Curtis Johnson and...

Superdome, New Orleans Arena look for workers.
February 7, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Part-time event positions are now available for activities at the New Orleans Arena beginning with the reopening events in March.Positions include ushers, ticket takers, security officers, box office...

New Orleans-based Bureau of Governmental Research taps James Carville as annual speaker.
February 7, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report James Carville, political consultant, will be the guest speaker at the BGR 2005 Annual Luncheon. Postponed from its usual November date, the luncheon will take place April 6. Hilton New Orleans Riverside...

New Orleans' Downtown Development District Rangers return; four more projects finished.
February 7, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Kurt Weigle, executive director of the Downtown Development District, today announced it has accomplished the following projects:* Debris removal The DDD partnered with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to...

Louisiana's Xavier University holds forum on how to guide community assistance.
February 7, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Xavier University of Louisiana is holding a forum at 3:30 p.m. today in Room 201 of the University Center on how the university should respond to the critical needs of the larger community."In the...

Port of New Orleans projects steel imports will remain sturdy in first quarter.
February 7, 2006... Byline: Jaime Guillet The Port of New Orleans projects steel imports will remain sturdy in the first quarter.But the slow construction recovery after Hurricane Katrina means demand is not increasing much yet.Gary LaGrange, president and...

New Orleans production company and nonprofit to hold encore teen talent show.
February 7, 2006... Byline: New Orleans CityBusiness Staff Reports The New Orleans production company TeenzMatter Productions and nonprofit Youthanasia Foundation will hold an encore teen talent show March 4 in response to the success of the first citywide...

New Orleans artist donates Abraham Lincoln work to president's hometown museum.
February 7, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Crescent City portrait artist Christopher Juge has donated a life-size portrait of Abraham Lincoln to the president's hometown museum, The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield,...

Business groups back Louisiana officials on levee reform.
February 7, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Citizen and business advocacy groups officially endorsed Gov, Kathleen Babineaux Blanco's and state Sen. Walter Boasso's efforts to reorganize southeast Louisiana levee boards into one single authority in...

La. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals schedules 'sweetheart' adoptions.
February 8, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals announced today it is bringing on-site adoption hours back to the LA/SPCA shelter for the first time since it reopened a temporary facility in...

Free mental health seminar being offered by East Jefferson General Hospital.
February 8, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Employers can receive free help with legal and mental health issues involving their employees by attending one of two seminars offered by East Jefferson General Hospital. The two-hour seminars, which begin...

The Krewe of Muses donate $50,000 to defray NOPD overtime.
February 8, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The Krewe of Muses today donated $50,000 to the New Orleans Police Department to help underwrite the costs of staging the city's first post-Katrina Carnival celebration. The gift will help offset officer...

Sen. David Vitter joins the chorus in favor of levee reform.
February 8, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Sen. David Vitter, R-Metarie, today issued the following statement on levee board consolidation: "I strongly support fundamental levee board reform and consolidation like that embodied in the Boasso bill,"...

N.O. City Councilmember Jackie Clarkson to help citizens avoid foreclosures.
February 8, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report New Orleans City Councilmember Jackie Clarkson will conduct a seminar "Avoiding Foreclosures" from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the New Orleans City Council Chambers, 1300 Perdido St. Industry officials...

N.O. resident wins NASCAR trip.
February 8, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report SportsBlast, a producer of animated content, today announced the winner of "The Kellys" Sweepstakes is Jason White of New Orleans.White wins a trip for four to the Daytona 500. White, who moved to New...