New Orleans CityBusiness articles from June 2003

New Orleans CityBusiness archives from June 2003

Summer heat doesn't wilt all attractions.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Elisabeth Butler The sauna heat of summer slows down many convention and leisure travelers. But the New Orleans Multicultural Tourism Network looks forward to the year's hottest months when the nonprofit organization works overtime...

National sponsorship is key milestone for International Arts Fest.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Elisabeth Butler Like a tyke tagging along with his bigger and faster siblings, the International Arts Festival has been overshadowed by the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Essence Music Festival. It takes place from...

Interview with general mgr. of Windsor Court Hotel.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Elisabeth Butler Born in Manchester, England, Anthony McHale started in the hotel business as an assistant manager at the Thurlestone Hotel in South Devon at age 20. On the first day, his general manager sent him to get a haircut...

Upscale Kenner residential project goes to construction.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Mary Webb One of the last parcels of undeveloped land in Kenner will soon be converted into an upscale 70-acre residential subdivision. LaPlace-based J. Caldarera & Co. will begin construction this summer of the Louisiana Trace...

Northrop Grumman's new apprenticeship program certified by La. Dept. of Labor.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Ellen Boyer New Orleans native Camille Edgerson never thought she'd don leather gloves, put on a mask and weld parts of military ships together. But at age 33, after years of floating from job to job, she finds herself in the midst...

National Finance Center outgrows plans to build on U of New Orleans campus.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Mary Webb Officials at the University of New Orleans have switched gears on the pending National Finance Center expansion. Initially, UNO wanted the agency to be a tenant for its Research and Technology Park. UNO Chancellor...

Safety groups aim to tighten seatbelt laws for youngsters.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Ellen Boyer If House Bill 713 passes the House of Representatives this week, more parents will be required to buckle their children into car booster seats. State law already requires young children to wear seat belts while...

Public radio station WWNO 89.9-FM spotlights New Orleans community.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Keith Pandolfi While the FM radio dial is being gobbled up by media giants such as Clear Channel Communications Inc., public radio station WWNO 89.9-FM is trying to make a name for itself by keeping its microphones trained on the...

Commentary: Weeding out corruption will help N.O.'s blighted housing problem.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Staff The blighted housing situation in New Orleans is being dealt with mainly through the use of programs dealing with abandoned property and blighted property. Neither one works properly if city officials are allowed to shake...

Commentary: N.O. Wine & Food Experience has best year ever.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Terry O'Connor Cause for applause: There was no tourist slump at the 2003 New Orleans Wine & Food Experience. Attendance jumped 25% from the 12,000 people buying tickets in 2002 to an estimated 15,000 in 2003. NOWFE was aided...

New Orleans Nonprofit Briefs June 2, 2003.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Keith Pandolfi The Louisiana Landmarks Society has awarded its Harnett T. Kane Preservation Award to Louise Martin, founder of Relocate New Orleans, an organization that helps market the city as an attractive place to live. She now...

Old church to house program offering alternative care for seniors.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Megan Kamerick St. Cecilia was not an easy woman to kill. The fifth century Catholic martyr allegedly survived suffocation and three beheading attempts. When she was finally decapitated, it is said she lived for three days. ...

Commentary: N.O. could benefit from Regional/Urban Design Assistance Team visit.
June 2, 2003... Byline: D. Singletary I met Joe Champeaux, an architect in Lake Charles, about 10 years ago when we worked on a project sponsored by the American Institute of Architects. The project was part of a program called Regional/Urban Design...

N.O. given second chance at Olympic gymnast trials.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Keith Pandolfi By choosing Boston as the site of its 2004 National Convention, the Democrats may help give the New Orleans economy a $20 million boost. To make way for the convention, Boston was forced to give up the 2004...

Chamber of Commerce lauds oil mogul for military work.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Amber Bethel There was a time when oil mogul Patrick Taylor was unsure of himself. Yet, after enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1957, he knew he could accomplish whatever he set his mind to achieving. "The Marine Corps...

U.S. Attorney announces federal grant money for New Orleans area agencies.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Staff U.S. Attorney Jim Letten announced at least $289,341 in federal grant money will be given to area agencies though the U.S. Department of Justice's Project Safe Neighborhoods 2003 federal grant program. The New Orleans Police...

Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus elects officers for 2003-2004.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Staff The Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus has elected its officers for 2003-2004. Rep. Willie Hunter Jr. of Monroe was elected chairman. Other members include: Reps. Yvonne Welch of Baton Rouge, vice chairman; Michael Jackson of...

Tidewater Inc. declares quarterly dividend of 15 cents per share.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Staff Tidewater Inc. of New Orleans has declared a quarterly dividend of 15 cents per share outstanding common stock. The dividend is payable June 12 to shareholders of record on June 2. Tidewater owns and operates more than 550...

Energy Partners completes drilling at No. 1 exploratory well at East Cameron Block.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Staff Energy Partners Ltd. of New Orleans announced drilling has been completed at the No. 1 exploratory well at East Cameron Block 44 in the shallow waters of the central Gulf of Mexico. The well, located 14 miles off the...

Whitney Holding Corp. declares quarterly cash dividend of 30 cents per share.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Staff Whitney Holding Corp. of New Orleans, the parent company of Whitney National Bank, declared a quarterly cash dividend of 30 cents per share of common stock payable on July 1 to shareholders of record as of June 16.

Carnival Cruise Lines to deploy ship on four- and five-day trips to Mexico.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Staff Carnival Cruise Lines will deploy the Sensation on four- and five-day trips from New Orleans to Mexico. The 2,052-passenger ship replaces the 1,452-passenger Holiday, which expands capacity by 41%. The Sensation now operates...

Northrop Grumman Ship Systems awards $1.2M contract to API Electronics.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Staff Northrop Grumman Ship Systems of Los Angeles has awarded a $1.2 million contract to API Electronics Group Inc. of Hauppauge, N.Y., to manufacture four Visual Landing Aid Lighting Systems. API has begun manufacturing and the...

Port of New Orleans Board of Commissioners awarded grant to enhance security.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Staff The Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans was awarded a $6.4 million grant to enhance security as part of a $700 million allocation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's fiscal year 2003 Supplemental...

Nat'l Institute of Justice to award La. $2.48M to process DNA backlog.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Staff U.S. Rep. David Vitter announced the National Institute of Justice will award Louisiana $2.48 million to help process the state's DNA backlog as part of the south Louisiana serial killer investigation. The Louisiana State...

Japanese-speaking tourists have new hotline for help in emergencies.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Staff Japanese tourists visiting New Orleans now need only to pick up the phone for free help in emergencies. Japanese Assistance Network, a travel company that assists natives as they navigate foreign countries, recently installed...

Crescent City picks crop of summer youth workers.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Staff The city of New Orleans has chosen 1,000 14- to 18-year-olds to take part in this year's Summer Youth Job Program. Selected by lottery from a pool of 3,500 applicants, the teens will receive job assignments after a two-day...

Senate passes loan bill for music industry.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Staff A bill introduced by state Sen. John Hainkel, R-New Orleans, to create a Louisiana Arts and Entertainment Industry Development Fund passed the Louisiana Senate on May 19. The bill would establish a special fund in the state...

Central American trade talks in N.O.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Staff The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has chosen New Orleans to play host to the sixth round of the Central American Free Trade Agreement negotiations from July 28 to Aug. 1. "New Orleans has a long history of...

Watchdog group criticizes $5M cuts to education.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Staff A $5 million budget cut for the state's community colleges could be detrimental to state work force and economic development, according to the Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana Inc. The appropriations committee...

Second conviction results from probe.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Staff Guilty pleas and sentencings are slowly trickling in from last summer's City Hall corruption investigation. Adrenetta M. McGhee was sentenced to 18 months imprisonment and ordered to make restitution of $4,675 after...

New Orleans Hornets names new assistant general manager.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Staff The New Orleans Hornets announced Allan Bristow will rejoin the team as assistant general manager. Bristow spent six years with the Hornets from 1990 to 1996, while the team was based in Charlotte, N.C. He previously served...

March of Dimes to auction celebrity fantasy packages.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Staff The March of Dimes is set for its 17th annual Fantasy Night Auction, which will honor eligible bachelors and bachelorettes in New Orleans. The goal is to raise $85,000, said Pam Cooper, senior community director. Ten men...

Musician blasts music industry's recent 'materialistic' music.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Staff Todd "Speech" Thomas, a leading member of the recently reunited music group Arrested Development, had a lot of good things to say about the International Arts Festival in New Orleans on June 13-15. Arrested Development...

Grammy museum not a done deal.
June 2, 2003... Byline: Staff After more than two years of waiting, the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences seems it is finally ready to move forward on a proposed Grammy Exposition and Hall of Fame in New Orleans. But it's not a done deal yet....

Average New Orleans residents can't afford average New Orleans homes.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Michael Giusti Kate Pika and her husband faced a dilemma familiar to many middle-class families house hunting in New Orleans: Should they settle for a reasonably priced house in a questionable neighborhood or a dilapidated one in a...

Cash infusion should cover DNA backlog.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Mary Webb Money is being poured into state coffers to clear its extensive DNA backlog. The Legislature added $650,000 to the state crime lab budget; the department also awaits a $2.5 million federal grant. Officials say...

CityBusiness names 'Innovator' winners.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Megan Kamerick CityBusiness has selected 22 companies and organizations to honor at the 2003 Innovator of the Year awards. The companies and individuals will be spotlighted at a luncheon July 16 at the Sheraton New Orleans Hotel...

Textron Peacekeeper II offers latest in security.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Ellen Boyer The newest truck in New Orleans is bigger than a Hummer. Its half-inch thick armor can thwart machine-gun fire. And the seven-ton vehicle can quickly cover city streets. Textron Systems Marine & Land Operations in...

Concert series hits high note with downtown cash registers.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Mary Webb The Downtown Development District has turned "Hump Day" into a more exciting part of the week with its Wednesdays at the Square concert series. The series is also an attempt to draw fresh faces downtown while...

Oil giants hunt huge, deep oil reserves in Gulf.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Amber Bethel Louisiana's oil and gas industry isn't dying, it's just diving deeper. That's where companies such as Houston-based BP America Inc. are hunting huge, deep oil reserves known as "elephants." While the hunt is not...

W. Jefferson hospital bulks up with $9.8 million fitness center.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Elisabeth Butler West Jefferson Medical Center wants patients to commit to the hospital in sickness and in health. On July 1, hospital executives will open a $9.8 million wellness center that offers exercise to prevent illness,...

Louisiana aims to increase trade tie value with S. Africa.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Ellen Boyer South Africa is an emerging market to consider for businesses looking to make new international deals, say trade officials. Sherie Conrad and her clients agree. Conrad, president of The Conrad Consulting Group in...

Insulin pump company searches for startup capital in Louisiana.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Elisabeth Butler Stay in New Orleans or uproot for Shreveport? That's the choice developing for Sue Jernigan, founder of Dana Diabecare USA in Metairie, as she searches for capital to boost her insulin pump business. ...

State community colleges spared budget blast by federal tax cut.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Mary Webb Funding for the state's two-year colleges, including Delgado Community College in New Orleans and Nunez Community College in Chalmette, have escaped the chopping block. The House Appropriations Committee restored $5...

Commentary: Jefferson and Orleans Parish public school systems need to work on public relations.
June 9, 2003... Byline: D. Singletary There are public school systems that work quite well. That statement is a fact. There are also public school systems that don't work quite as well. Sadly, that statement is also true. The Jefferson Parish and...

Univ. of New Orleans scientist explains basics of bioinformatics and computational biology.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Ellen Boyer In many industries, it's a big plus if an employee is bilingual. That's happening in technology, with an emerging field combining the expertise of medicine and computer science. Bioinformatics and computational biology...

Commentary: New Orleans' Canal Street project going well but needs accelerated schedule.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Staff Few cities in the nation, if any, can boast of a storied downtown district such as Canal Street in New Orleans. Unfortunately, the promise offered by this once glittering retail stretch has been dulled by years of...

Northrop Grumman Ship Systems delivers last ship in class named after Bob Hope.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Staff As legendary military troop entertainer Bob Hope celebrates the start of his second century of life, Northrop Grumman Ship Systems is delivering the last ship in a class named after him. Benavidez, the seventh Bob...

Bloomberg Wealth Manager Magazine ranks La. high in wealth friendliness.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Staff Louisiana is one of the poorest states in the nation, but, according to Bloomberg Wealth Manager Magazine, it's a great place to live if you have a lot of money. The monthly magazine geared toward financial planners and...

5 New Orleans-based UPS employees sue Teamsters.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Staff Five New Orleans United Parcel Service employees filed federal charges Thursday against the Teamsters Union for allegedly illegally seizing union dues from their paychecks. In December, Danny Mitchell, Lowell Mayo, Jason...

DNAPrint Genomics commends Baton Rouge-based serial killer task force for investigation.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Staff At least one person thinks the Baton Rouge-based serial killer task force did a good job investigating the murders of at least five women. Tony Frudakis, chief scientific officer of DNAPrint Genomics Inc. of Sarasota,...

New Orleans' City Park needs $152,000 for dinosaur exhibit.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Staff City Park is looking for corporate sponsors to pay for a new dinosaur exhibit at Celebration in the Oaks, the park's seasonal light extravaganza. The park needs $152,000 in funding for Dinobration, a light exhibit that will...

New Orleans-based Peter A. Mayer Advertising gives Delta Queen Steamboat Co. another try.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Staff Peter A. Mayer Advertising agency is giving Delta Queen Steamboat Co. a second chance. The agency previously worked for the Delta Queen Steamboat Co. from 1986-2001 under its previous owners, American Classic Voyages, and...

New Orleans City Council announces online publication of city's municipal code.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Staff The New Orleans City Council announced the online publication of the Municipal Code for the city of New Orleans, which includes thousands of laws adopted by the Council. The code can be accessed for free on the Council's...

New Orleans mayor announces two ventures with minority-owned firms and ad agencies.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Staff Mayor Ray Nagin announced two more joint ventures between minority-owned firms and local advertising agencies. Atlanta-based Diversiplex Inc. and Trumpet LLC will marshal an outreach plan for the New Orleans Workforce...

New Orleans district attorney sued by former employees for race and age discrimination.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Staff District Attorney Eddie Jordan Jr. is being sued by several former employees of the DA's office. The federal lawsuit alleges the former employees are the victims of race and age discrimination. Shortly after taking office,...

Orleans Parish Sheriff Charles Foti Jr. announces candidacy for state attorney general.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Staff Orleans Parish Sheriff Charles Foti Jr. announced his candidacy for the state attorney general's seat. Foti has been sheriff for nearly 30 years. He is seeking to replace Richard Ieyoub, who is running for governor.

Jefferson Business Leaders for Governor chose Sen. Ken Hollis as their candidate.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Staff The Jefferson Business Leaders for Governor chose Sen. Ken Hollis, R-Metairie, as its "Favorite Son" candidate for governor. Hollis has stressed the need to strengthen business relations within the state as well as promote...

New Orleans Police Dept. replaces fired district commander with 3rd female commander in NOPD history.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Staff The New Orleans Police Department has fired 1st District Commander Capt. Norvel Orazio for allegedly reducing criminal charges to lesser offenses, to make it appear as if crime was lessening in his jurisdiction. Orazio won...

New Orleans-based art camp to receive visit from NYC-based international recording company.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Staff International recording company Putumayo World Music heads for summer camp in New Orleans this week. Children in the city's Treme Villa Arts Camp will receive literacy and cultural outreach from the New York City-based...

La. and Miss. governors agree to allow La. residents to use both sides of I-59 to escape a hurricane.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Staff Gov. Mike Foster and Mississippi Gov. Ronnie Musgrove agreed to allow Louisiana residents trying to escape a major hurricane to use both sides of Interstate 59 when traveling into Mississippi. The "contraflow" plan will be...

Energy Partners Ltd. of New Orleans announces two new discoveries in Gulf of Mexico.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Staff Energy Partners Ltd. of New Orleans announced two new exploratory discoveries on the shelf of the Gulf of Mexico. The State of Texas Brazos Tract Well No. 1, located four miles off the Texas coast, was drilled to a depth of...

Baton Rouge-based Shaw Group Inc. selected by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Staff The Shaw Group Inc. of Baton Rouge announced its subsidiary, Shaw Environmental Inc., has been selected by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Omaha District to execute its environmental remediation services contract. The...

New Orleans fire dept. receives donation for purchase of decontamination kit.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Staff New Orleans Fire Department Superintendent Charles Parent announced Air Products and Chemicals Inc. of Lehigh Valley, Pa., donated $5,500 to the NOFD to purchase a decontamination kit, which will allow the NOFD to equip 10...

New Orleans and Birmingham banks ranked as two of nation's best in customer service.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Staff Hibernia National Bank and Birmingham-based AmSouth Bank have been ranked as two of the nation's best financial institutions when it comes to online customer service. Rankings by The Customer Respect Group, an international...

New Orleans-based Hancock Holding Co. given Prime-1 rating by international credit service.
June 9, 2003... Byline: Staff Moody's Investor Services, a provider of international credit ratings, has assigned Prime-1 ratings to Hancock Holding Co.'s short- and long-term deposits. Hancock Holding Co. is the parent company of Hancock Bank of...

Commentary: CityBusiness reports on top public companies.
June 16, 2003... Byline: Terry O'Connor The year 2002 was supposed to be so much more. It was supposed to bring a strong recovery from the mild recession in 2001. It was supposed to snap a two-year losing streak for the general market index. It was...

Top Public Companies: Energy Partners Ltd.
June 16, 2003... Byline: Amber Bethel Independent oil and gas exploration company Energy Partners Ltd. wants to make sure this year doesn't turn out like the last. Not that New Orleans-based Energy Partners could have helped the bad luck 2002 brought...

Top Public Companies: Trico Marine Services.
June 16, 2003... Byline: Mary Webb For five consecutive quarters, Trico Marine Services Inc., a Houma-based offshore marine services company, has lost money. For the first quarter of 2003, the company lost $13.5 million, or 37 cents per share, on...

Top Public Companies: Gulf Island Fabrication Inc.
June 16, 2003... Byline: Mary Webb Following a sluggish year industrywide in 2001, Gulf Island Fabrication Inc. regained its footing in 2002, finishing the year with $142.9 million in revenue, a 26% increase over the $113.7 million earned the previous...

Top Public Companies: McDermott International.
June 16, 2003... Byline: Amber Bethel McDermott International has seen progress this year, but it's too soon to call it a turnaround. Company earnings are pulling out of last year's nosedive. Last year, the company reported a net loss of $776.4...

Top Public Companies: Hibernia Corp.
June 16, 2003... Byline: Keith Pandolfi The big story for Hibernia Corp. last year was its expansion into Texas. While declaring its commitment to remain based in its hometown of New Orleans, the parent company of Hibernia National Bank invested about $100...

Top Public Companies: Torch Offshore Inc.
June 16, 2003... Byline: Amber Bethel A larger fleet and more working days helped oil and gas services company Torch Offshore Inc. increase revenues by 15% last year. But higher operating expenses led to an 8% decline in earnings for 2002. Gretna-based...

Top Public Companies: Newpark Resources.
June 16, 2003... Byline: Elisabeth Butler Newpark Resources Inc. of Metairie spent 2002 treading water. Annual revenues were down 21.4% to $321.2 million from $408.6 million. The company's earnings fell 85.6% to $4.6 million, down from $31.9 million. ...

Top Public Companies: Superior Energy Services.
June 16, 2003... Byline: Elisabeth Butler Flat revenues and slashed earnings made for a challenging year for Superior Energy Services Inc. of Harvey. In 2002, Superior Energy reported revenues of $443.1 million, down 1.3% from $449 million in 2001,...

Top Public Companies: Tidewater Inc.
June 16, 2003... Byline: Ellen Boyer Tidewater Inc., an offshore oil and industry supply vessel company in New Orleans, continues to add ships to its 550-vessel fleet. The company paid $79 million in April to buy 27 vessels from Ensco International...

Top Public Companies: Entergy Corp.
June 16, 2003... Byline: Amber Bethel Entergy Corp. stock is charged right now while competitors' shares have short-circuited. The utility's stock rose about 66% to a 52-week high of $53.51 earlier this month from a low of $32.12 last July. The company...

Top Public Companies: McMoRan Exploration.
June 16, 2003... Byline: Ellen Boyer New Orleans oil and gas drilling company McMoRan Exploration Co. streamlined operations last year to trim losses in an uncertain market. The company sold its sulfur operations to Gulf Sulfur Services in May 2002 for...

Top Public Companies: Whitney Holding Corp.
June 16, 2003... Byline: Keith Pandolfi Last year was the first year since 1994 that Whitney Holding Corp. did not acquire another financial institution. But the bank is still expanding, especially when it comes to Houston, Tampa, Fla., and Jacksonville,...

Top Public Companies: Globe Bancorp.
June 16, 2003... Byline: Keith Pandolfi After converting from a small mutual owned by its customers to a publicly traded company in 2001, Globe Bancorp, holding company of Globe Homestead Savings Bank, is seeing increases in revenue and net income as it...

Top Public Companies: GS Financial Corp.
June 16, 2003... Byline: Keith Pandolfi Loan activity at GS Financial Corp. took a hit last year in a record low interest rate environment, said President Donald Scott. The Metairie-based company saw net income decline 25% to $1.2 million in 2002 from...

Top Public Companies: JCC Holding Co.
June 16, 2003... Byline: Amber Bethel JCC Holding Co. of New Orleans has cashed its chips, which is good news for stockholders of the twice-bankrupt downtown casino. JCC Holding formerly owned the Crescent City's only land-based casino although Las...

Top Public Companies: McMoRan Copper & Gold.
June 16, 2003... Byline: Ellen Boyer Greater copper production and higher gold prices helped drive Freeport- McMoRan Copper & Gold's net income up 67% in 2002. The New Orleans company reported $127 million in earnings last year compared with $76 million...

Top Public Companies: International Shipholding Corp.
June 16, 2003... Byline: Ellen Boyer Tension in the Middle East and a weak dollar hurt revenue for shipping company International Shipholding Corp. of New Orleans, but the company managed to set a 52-week stock price high at $10.95 on June 9, nearly double...