New Orleans CityBusiness articles from June 2004

New Orleans CityBusiness archives from June 2004

Jennifer Keating Magee succeeds with New Orleans ad agency she founded in 1981.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Richard Slawsky Jennifer Keating Magee said she finally realized she was successful when Keating Magee Momentum Marketing, the advertising agency she founded in 1981, moved into the company's present offices in the French Quarter....

HUD plans to pour $1.58 billion into New Orleans for housing.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Deon Roberts The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development plans to spend at least $1.58 billion in New Orleans from 2000 to 2008, according to a trailblazing HUD report. HUD remains watchful of the funds it sinks into...

La Grand Executive: D.A. Magee fell in love with New Orleans.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Richard Slawsky After graduating from Geneva College near his hometown of Pittsburgh in 1980 with a degree in accounting, D.A. Magee visited friends in Baton Rouge. He never went back. "This was when the steel mills were...

La Grande Executive: 'Hated' first job in Georgia.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Richard Slawsky Jennifer Magee landed a great job after graduating from Georgia State University in 1976. "I was the assistant to the dean of the school of business at Georgia State University. I had a secretary, a good salary...

Ex-CityBusiness editor succumbs to cancer.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Staff Katherine "Kit" Gorman, 49, died Thursday at her home ending a long battle with cancer. "She was the editor who really put CityBusiness on the map," said Lisa Blossman, associate publisher and senior vice president of...

Hip-hop star Andre 3000 sets film in New Orleans.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Staff Hip-hop star Andre 3000, one half of the multi-platinum selling, Grammy Award winning duo Outkast, will shoot a major motion picture in New Orleans later this year. Andre 3000, whose real name is Andre Benjamin, will also...

St. Bernard Parish tour reveals utility theft.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Staff St. Bernard Parish sheriff's deputies, parish government officials and representatives from Entergy Louisiana and Cox Communications utilities toured the Village Square area of Chalmette May 26 to meet with residents, check...

Ritz-Carlton New Orleans Hotel offers low-carb tea service.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Staff The low-carb craze broke new ground in New Orleans last week when the Ritz-Carlton New Orleans Hotel began offering a low-carb high tea. From 1 to 3:30 p.m. every Wednesday, tea devotees counting their carbs can feast on...

Laparoscopic surgery second nature for video game fanatics.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Richard A. Webster Patients can rest easy knowing their laparoscopic surgeons are skilled at Donkey Kong, according to a study by the Beth Israel Medical Center in New York. The study found the skills required for navigating...

Commentary: Louisiana river pilot calls for use of common sense, economics.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Mark Singletary Gov. Kathleen Blanco generated good press last week for her "heroic" stance against the state's river pilot organizations. At the time, I couldn't understand why her decision was such a big deal. Her "bold"...

Louisiana tries to solve shortage of EMTs, paramedics.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Deon Roberts Louisiana's paramedic industry is in need of life support. As many as 800 more emergency medical technicians and paramedics are needed in the state, said Barbara Johnson, senior vice president of workforce and area...

Louisiana's minimum wage boost given a legislative push.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Holly Miller Another bill to raise the state minimum wage $1 above the national rate spurred debate on the Senate floor last week. Supporters of Senate Bill 32 say workers simply can't live on a minimum wage considering the...

New Orleans truckers frustrated by gas prices, delays.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Chris Price Several local truck drivers who service the Port of New Orleans are growing frustrated by low rates and skyrocketing fuel costs coupled with delays of more than two hours at the new Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal....

La. governor and mayor of New Orleans back international banking bill on its second try.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Holly Miller An international banking bill, shot down in its first Legislative committee last year, has passed the House unanimously and was awaiting final passage in the Senate last week. Sources say the difference this year...

Avondale shipyard awaits word on construction location of $100M ship project.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Chris Price The $100.4 million is waiting to be spent. The question is where? The U.S. Navy has already awarded Northrop Grumman Ship Systems $100.4 million to build the San Diego (Landing Platform Dock 22), the sixth...

Louisiana State Mineral Board to study oil and gas incentives in other states.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Staff The newly appointed Louisiana State Mineral Board held its first meeting and mineral lease sale in May in Baton Rouge, immediately adopting a resolution to study oil and gas incentives used in other states. The board...

Louisiana senator wants limits on reckless driving lawsuits.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Staff State Sen. John Hainkel, R-New Orleans, has continued his crusade against reckless drivers who sue the state after causing accidents on public roadways. Drunken drivers and those not wearing seat belts at the time of...

Canal Streetcar Guide details Mid-City tourist spots.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Staff The Mid-City Neighborhood Organization, with the Regional Transit Authority and other businesses on the Canal Streetcar line, has created the "Official Mid-City Canal Streetcar Guide" to highlight neighborhoods and the more...

Jefferson Parish promotes businesses on cable television show.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Staff Jefferson Parish businesses are the star of a new television show on Cox Cable Channel 10. The 30-minute show,"It's Happening Here," consists of segments and interviews highlighting business developments, successes and...

Interview with Ernest Kelly, founder of New Orleans' International Arts Festival.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Holly Miller The International Arts Festival, taking place June 11-13 at Marconi Meadows in City Park, celebrates the 200th anniversary of Haiti's independence and the 10th anniversary of South Africa's independence this year....

First quarter earnings down 79 percent for Boise, Idaho-based Albertsons.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Staff Closing seven New Orleans-area Albertsons stores and a Southern California labor dispute helped drive first-quarter earnings down 79 percent for the nation's second-largest food and drug retailer. The earnings were affected...

SCP Pool Corp. and Gulf Island Fabrication make BusinessWeek's Hot Growth list.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Staff SCP Pool Corp. in Covington and Gulf Island Fabrication Inc. in Houma made BusinessWeek magazine's annual list of 100 fastest-growing small companies. SCP Pool ranked No. 39 on the Hot Growth list with Gulf Island No. 80....

Upper Audubon Assn. files lawsuit to stop Tulane from building satellite campus.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Staff The Upper Audubon Association, a neighborhood group opposed to Tulane University's plans to build a satellite campus at the Uptown Square shopping center, filed a lawsuit against New Orleans and the City Council for approving...

St. Tammany and Lafayette parishes share lowest unemployment rate in Louisiana.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Staff St. Tammany and Lafayette parishes shared the lowest unemployment rate in the state at 3.4 percent for April 2004. The number of unemployed in New Orleans decreased by 200 from March to April, according to the Louisiana...

New Orleans Hornets sign Byron Scott as head coach.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Staff The New Orleans Hornets signed Byron Scott to a $10 million, three-year deal to serve as head coach. Scott spent three and a half seasons as head coach of the New Jersey Nets, where he twice took the team to the National...

IEM Inc. signs contract with Homeland Security/FEMA to develop hurricane disaster plan.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Staff IEM Inc. signed a contract worth more than $500,000 with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency to lead the state's development of a catastrophic hurricane disaster plan. IEM, founded in...

Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. of Lockport awarded Navy contract for new stealth warship.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Staff Bollinger Shipyards, Inc. of Lockport was awarded a contract to complete the final design of the U.S. Navy's new Littoral Combat Ship, a new stealth warship designed to defend coastal waters. The initial contract is valued at...

St. Bernard Parish School Board to offer land for lease to an oil and gas exploration company.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Staff The St. Bernard Parish School Board agreed to offer land the board owns for lease to an oil and gas exploration company. Houston-based Meridian Resource Co. wants to lease land the board owns near the Mississippi River Gulf...

LA-based Sonoran Energy evaluates a re-drilling program for its Louisiana oil and gas properties.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Staff Los Angeles-based Sonoran Energy is evaluating a re-drilling program for the company's Louisiana oil and gas properties. In January, Sonoran Energy purchased an 87 percent working interest in approximately 15,000 acres in...

ERA Stirling Properties of Covington announces new residential office location.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Staff ERA Stirling Properties of Covington announced a new residential office location on the West Bank at 3221 Behrman Place. The new office is the result of purchasing the five-person operations of Crossroads Real Estate of New...

Regional Transit Authority and Six Flags New Orleans to provide transportation to the theme park.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Staff The Regional Transit Authority and Six Flags New Orleans announced a new collaborative venture to provide transportation to the theme park for $2. The Six Flags Express will run between downtown New Orleans and a...

Swanson Correctional Center for Youth in Madison closes ahead of schedule.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Staff The Swanson Correctional Center for Youth in Madison, formerly known as Tallulah Youth Prison, has been closed six months ahead of schedule. Tallulah had been criticized for reports of deplorable conditions. Gov. Kathleen...

Baton Rouge-based AirRover Wi-Fi reaches agreement with Calif.-based Aim Mail Centers.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Staff Baton Rouge-based AirRover Wi-Fi, formerly Air-Q Wi-Fi Corp., reached an agreement with Irvine, Calif.-based Aim Mail Centers to establish one of AirRover's Wi-Fi hotspots in each Aim Mail Center location. Aim Mail Centers is...

Commentary: Time to pay ticket tax to see Saints stay in New Orleans.
June 7, 2004... Byline: Terry O'Connor No one truly believes the state will renege on its contractual commitment to the New Orleans Saints and owner Tom Benson. To do so would invite the team to leave, a prospect far more troubling here in New Orleans...

Kenner-based cargo logistics firm sees profitable potential in rebuilding Iraq.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Chris Price Robert Whittaker keeps a low profile and tries to blend into the crowd as much as possible. He has to. "Americans or anyone who looks like they might be an American is a target," said the 55-year-old Whittaker,...

President of Orleans Parish School Board works to survive controversy over his job performance.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Deon Roberts Two months ago at his first evaluation, the Orleans Parish School Board told Superintendent Anthony Amato he had met or exceeded expectations. Now, as his fate as superintendent is being debated by the state...

Saints provide Louisiana Superdome with cornerstone tenant.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Chris Price The New Orleans Saints have a sweet deal when it comes to playing in the Louisiana Superdome. Last year, the Saints occupied the dome for 10 days, including preseason and regular season games, generating more than...

CityBusiness, CityLife honored by Press Club New Orleans.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Staff The New Orleans Publishing Group, which includes New Orleans CityBusiness and New Orleans CityLife, took home four first-place honors for 2003 coverage during the Press Club New Orleans annual awards ceremony June 5. The...

Boudreaux's Butt Paste approved as team sponsor for NASCAR.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Staff Boudreaux's Butt Paste is joining Budweiser, DuPont and Home Depot as a team sponsor for NASCAR's Nextel Cup Racing Series, the nation's premier stockcar racing league. Covington-based Boudreaux's is backing the Junie...

Florida group's failed merger with Entergy still being felt.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Staff Repercussions from a failed merger between Entergy Corp. and Juno Beach, Fla.-based FPL Group are still being felt more than three years after the deal fell by the wayside. Mediation sessions were held this week in an...

American Meteorological Society to meet in New Orleans.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Staff More than 200 weather forecasters will descend on New Orleans this week for the American Meteorological Society's 33rd Conference on Broadcast Meteorology. The conference will focus on tools and technology for television,...

Former Louisiana Insurance Commissioner writes his first book while in federal prison.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Staff The writer's muse visited Jim Brown while he was in prison, and evidently she's followed him home. Brown's first book, "Justice Denied: How the Federal Court System Failed Former Louisiana Insurance Commissioner Jim...

New Orleans officials hope new regulations will encourage redevelopment of older neighborhoods.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Deon Roberts Developers who want to build homes in older New Orleans neighborhoods expect to face less bureaucracy after recent city zoning ordinance changes. City officials hope the new regulations encourage redevelopment of...

Commentary: Publisher's Notes: Orleans Parish School Board needs to rethink immediate goals.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Mark Singletary Let's get the disclaimers and bona fides out of the way. I attended public schools for 12 years. My children all attended and graduated from public schools. I feel strongly that providing a quality education is the...

U.S. will rely on Venezuela for oil and gas in the future.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Richard Slawsky The solution to much of the U.S. energy problem may be lurking underground in South America. Officials from the Consulate of Venezuela, along with representatives of Petroleos de Venezuela Sociedad Anonima, the...

Summer travel increases number of departures at New Orleans airport.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Chris Price Passenger counts at the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport continue to rise as Americans shake off the after-effects of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Nearly 100,000 more passengers boarded planes in...

Cloning foes in Louisiana Legislature and business sector clash.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Richard A. Webster Human cloning has taken center stage in the Louisiana Legislature. In May, the Senate passed one bill calling for a ban on all forms of human cloning and another bill that would ban only reproductive cloning....

City of New Orleans offers affordable home designs for smaller land parcels.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Deon Roberts Narrow lots characterize many New Orleans neighborhoods where some properties are no more than 30 feet wide and 90 feet deep. Tight dimensions often create a problem for nonprofits and other developers interested...

Eastern New Orleans complex bought by New Jersey company.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Deon Roberts A rundown apartment complex in eastern New Orleans is scheduled to receive a major facelift under new ownership. Michael's Development Co. of Marlton, N.J., is in the process of acquiring and rehabilitating Gulfway...

Owner of New Orleans Fair Grounds counting on appeal of Louisiana Supreme Court ruling.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Richard Slawsky The race to decide the fate of the New Orleans Fair Grounds is entering the home stretch, and so far Bryan Krantz, whose family owns the controlling interest in the track, is lagging badly. However, he's not...

Charity hospital system faces more cuts from Louisiana's state budget.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Richard A. Webster In what has turned into a spring ritual, proposed cuts to the state budget could leave the charity hospital system short millions of dollars in operating expenses and contemplating another round of service cuts....

Interview with Nicole Wright, producer/general manager of Essence Music Festival in New Orleans.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Holly Miller The Essence Music Festival celebrates its 10th anniversary July 2-4 in New Orleans. The festival lineup for three nights of music in the Superdome includes Prince, Mary J. Blige, LL Cool J and many other national,...

Shell Oil Co. of Houston announces plan to repair gas gauges damaged by its high-sulfur gasoline.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Staff Shell Oil Co. of Houston announced the company has made arrangements with nearly 50 service centers in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Gulfport, Miss., to repair gas gauges damaged by high-sulfur gasoline from the Motiva Norco...

Mandeville business woman elected 2004-05 vice chair for U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Staff Maura W. Donahue, president of DonahueFavret Contractors Inc. Holding Co. in Mandeville, was elected 2004-05 vice chair for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce at the June board of directors meeting. Donahue said she will focus on...

TMM Lines to provide new cargo service from New Orleans to Caribbean/South America ports.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Staff Cargo service TMM Lines announced a new service from the Port of New Orleans to Caribbean and South America ports. The service, which will begin in July, will consist of three vessels, each with a capacity of 1,700 20-foot...

Ardent Health Services and Ochsner Clinic Foundation announce ownership of Baton Rouge hospital.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Staff Ardent Health Services announced plans to partner with Ochsner Clinic Foundation in the ownership of Summit Hospital in Baton Rouge. Ochsner and Ardent, which has owned the 201-bed hospital since July 2001, will each control...

18th annual French Market Creole Tomato Festival shortened by one day.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Staff The 18th annual French Market Creole Tomato Festival, put on by the French Market Corp., was shortened this year to one day from two. French Market officials said the success of the Feast of St. Joseph's Day Street Festival...

Director of Tulane University's paralegal program makes USA Today's best seller list.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Staff Nancy Wagner, director of Tulane University's paralegal program, made USA Today's best seller list with her novel "Love: Undercover." The book, written under the pseudonym Hailey North, ranked No. 127 based on sales through...

Bill to raise the La. minimum wage $1 above the national rate sent back to Senate committee.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Staff A bill to raise the state minimum wage permanently $1 above the national rate was sent back to the Senate Finance Committee after the Senate adopted an amendment preventing the exclusion of student employees and employees of...

New Orleans Health Dept. closes district attorney's office after sewage backup.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Staff City Health Department Director Kevin Stephens closed the New Orleans District Attorney's office, 619 S. White St., after sewage backed up into the building June 7. All 180 people moved back into the building June 9 at noon...

New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin announces pay raise for city employees.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Staff Mayor C. Ray Nagin announced the second pay raise for city employees since he took office two years ago. Effective July 1, workers at the New Orleans Police Department will receive an average annual increase of $2,000 as part...

New Orleans Saints and Peter A. Mayer Advertising win award for Saints ad campaign.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Staff The New Orleans Saints and Peter A. Mayer Advertising of New Orleans have been awarded a Gold EFFIE by the New York American Marketing Association for the 2003 Saints advertising campaign, "Don't you wish every day was game...

New Orleans' Job 1 office works with Wal-Mart Supercenter to fill 700 positions.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Staff Mayor C. Ray Nagin announced that the city's Job1 office is working with the new Wal-Mart Supercenter to fill 700 full-time positions. The new Supercenter on Tchoupitoulas Street will hire up to 700 full-time positions for...

Anti-cancer drug unveiled at oncology conference in New Orleans.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Staff Adherex, an Ottawa, Ontario, biopharmaceutical company, released the initial results of its anti-cancer drug at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conference June 7 in New Orleans. During its Phase I study,...

US Dept. of Interior announces eight oil and gas discoveries in Gulf of Mexico.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Staff The U.S. Department of the Interior's Minerals Management Service, the agency that oversees oil and gas production on federal land and in federal waters throughout the United States, announced exploration companies have made...

Demolition clears way for Metairie Whole Foods.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Staff Demolition began June 7 to make way for an $8 million Whole Foods Market and a jewelry store at the site of the former Royal Oldsmobile Mazda across from Lakeside Shopping Center. A large excavator began tearing down...

Bank One changing name to J.P. Morgan Chase in 2005.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Staff Bank One announced it will change its name to J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. in 2005 following the merger of the two banks July 1. Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon said Bank One's consumer and commercial banking businesses,...

Updated New Orleans flood map should cut insurance rates.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Staff The city of New Orleans, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and The Army Corps of Engineers are updating the city's flood-insurance rate maps for the first time in 20 years. Flood maps help determine flood insurance...

Commentary: Orleans Parish School Board majority has done enough harm.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Terry O'Connor Nearly one year ago, CityBusiness called for the resignation of the Orleans Parish School Board. We renew that call today for any and all board members pushing for the ouster of Superintendent Anthony Amato. ...

Editor's Notes: Astor's 'Sleepless Slumber Party' shows inspired tourism flair.
June 14, 2004... Byline: Terry O'Connor Every now and then, an editor must go above and beyond the call of duty. Work well beyond quitting time. Toil deep into the evening. Lose sleep. But I didn't shrink from responsibility when asked to judge the...

New Orleans-area's top public companies.
June 21, 2004... Byline: Terry O'Connor Sixteen of the 22 publicly traded New Orleans-area businesses made money in 2003 - a complete reversal of the year before when 15 of 22 businesses lost money. The strong performance overall befitted strong market...

U of NO takeover gamble has high stakes.
June 21, 2004... Byline: Deon Roberts The University of New Orleans is taking the unprecedented gamble of taking over a troubled school in Orleans Parish. Last week, the university became the first agency to take over a failing Louisiana public school...

$966.5M grant ensures work for 2,000 shipbuilders.
June 21, 2004... Byline: Staff The House Appropriations Committee passed a bill Wednesday granting Northrop Grumman Ship Systems Avondale Operations $966.5 million for the production of the 12-ship Loading Platform Dock-17 series military transport...

WTC new trial decision expected this Tuesday.
June 21, 2004... Byline: Staff The World Trade Center special taxing district case will resume Tuesday when the court will decide whether to grant a new trial to opponents of the project. Plans call for converting the WTC into a $190 million, 653-room...

Oilman, Pat Taylor, gives troops Independence Day gift.
June 21, 2004... Byline: Staff Thanks in part to a donation by oilman Pat Taylor, New Orleans-area soldiers on their way to Iraq will be able to spend the July 4 holiday with their families. Taylor donated $28,000 as part of an effort to raise $35,000...

Hornets promote Bristow to fill GM shoes of Bass.
June 21, 2004... Byline: Staff The New Orleans Hornets promoted Allan Bristow from assistant general manager to general manager. Bristow will assume the position left by the impending retirement of Bob Bass, executive vice president of basketball...

Back half of 2004 looks promising.
June 21, 2004... Byline: Terry O'Connor The economic recovery from the 2002 recession has already energized earnings at most of the 22 Top Public Companies in the New Orleans region. And the back half of 2004 is looking solid. Energy-related...

Entergy remains rock-solid cornerstone of economy.
June 21, 2004... Byline: Richard Slawsky The only Fortune 500 company in New Orleans continues to show strength in the stock market. Last year, revenues and net income mirrored the company's rise in stock price. Revenues totaled $9.2 billion in...

Energy Partners overcomes dismal 2002 performance to post record profits.
June 21, 2004... Byline: Richard Slawsky Energy Partners Ltd. rebounded from a year marred by losses in 2002 to chalk up the highest profits and production levels since the company was founded in 1998. Those record 2003 results, according to the company...

Newpark Resources works at diversification.
June 21, 2004... Byline: Richard Slawsky Metairie-based Newpark Resources Inc. managed to eke out a profit again in 2003 but officials are hoping diversification efforts will enhance 2004's results. Newpark earned net income of $493,000 for 2003, down...

McMoRan reserves run precariously low.
June 21, 2004... Byline: Deon Roberts McMoRan Exploration Co. will spend this year exploring the Gulf of Mexico for deep pockets of natural gas. McMoRan needs to replenish its reserves. Company revenues nosedived last year following the 2002 sale of...

Superior Energy overcomes soft Gulf biz climate.
June 21, 2004... Byline: Richard Slawsky Superior Energy Services Inc. booked record revenues for 2003 in spite of a soft year for the energy sector in the Gulf of Mexico. Revenues rose 13 percent to $500.6 million from $443.1 million in 2002. Net...

Downgraded Trico Marine struggles under $400 million debt load.
June 21, 2004... Byline: Richard Slawsky Another warning flare went up last month for Trico Marine Services Inc. in Houma when Standard & Poor's rating service lowered its debt rating. Trico received a "D" grade as the rating service simultaneously removed...

Houma fabricator pays first dividend after banner 2003 fiscal year nets $15.8 million.
June 21, 2004... Byline: Elisabeth Butler Gulf Island Fabrication Inc. paid its first shareholder dividend when it distributed 5 cents per share in February. Another nickel payout followed in April. "We have no debt and a substantial cash position. We...