New Orleans CityBusiness articles from May 2006

New Orleans CityBusiness archives from May 2006

Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers' new Marrero location records highest store-opening sales volume.
May 2, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, reported its new Marrero location on Lapalco Boulevard has served 46,000 customers in the first 45 days of operation for...

Tidewater Inc. more than doubles its annual earnings.
May 3, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Tidewater Inc. announced today fiscal year net earnings of $235.8 million, or $4.07 per share, on revenues of $877.6 million, an increase of 133 percent over 2005 net earnings of $101.3 million, or $1.78...

New Orleans Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu lauded for MRGO stance.
May 3, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The Sierra Club today applauded New Orleans Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu's amendment to House Resolution 4939, which authorizes the closure of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet."... Landrieu, stepped up...

Murphy Oil looks beyond $100M lawsuit losses.
May 3, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Despite a potentially costly class action suit involving pollution caused by Hurricane Katrina in St. Bernard Parish, analysts at Friedman, Billings, Ramsey & Co., Inc. believe Murphy Oil is poised for...

Ochsner Health System CEO ranked 10th most powerful in nation.
May 3, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Modern Healthcare magazine today named Dr. Patrick Quinlan, CEO of Ochsner Health System, the 10th-most powerful physician executive in the nation.The magazine's second annual ranking of the "50 Most...

NY-based Alvarez & Marsal officials endure criticism to overhaul New Orleans Public Schools.
May 3, 2006... Byline: April Capochino With their tailored business suits and poker face expressions, the top Alvarez & Marsal officials are easy to spot at any Orleans Parish School Board meeting.They normally sit shoulder-to-shoulder at the front of...

Xavier University reinstates its intercollegiate sports program.
May 3, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The athletic programs sidelined by by Hurricane Katrina Aug. 29 will soon return to playing fields on the Xavier University of Louisiana campus.President Norman Francis today announced Xavier's...

Ochsner Health Center's cardio conference in New Orleans draws 600.
May 3, 2006... Byline: Tommy Santora The Ochsner Health System is holding its 15th annual "All That Jazz Cardiology" Conference this week at the Marriott Hotel at 555 Canal Street. The conference ends Thursday. More than 600 cardiologists from around...

Cingular: New Orleans network ready for storm season.
May 3, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report In anticipation of the June 1 start of hurricane season, Cingular Wireless said its digital voice and data network in New Orleans has undergone a rigorous hurricane and emergency preparedness drills to...

International Shipbuilding declares dividend.
May 3, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report International Shipholding Corp. announced today a cash dividend of 75 cents per share payable June 30 to holders of record at the close of business on June 10 of its 6 percent convertible exchangeable...

Holy Cross College professor contests firing.
May 3, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report An Our Lady of Holy Cross College professor claims he was fired without cause after he challenged the university's president on the issue of contract renewals for his fellow employees.Elroy Eckhardt, a...

Rob Couhig endorsment for mayor goes to New Orleans incumbent Ray Nagin.
May 3, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Rob Couhig, a New Orleans lawyer who finished fourth in the April 22 New Orleans mayoral primary, today endorsed incumbent Mayor C. Ray Nagin.Couhig's endorsement follows Ron Forman's endorsement of...

Jefferson Parish Council rebukes state for intervention.
May 3, 2006... Byline: Jaime Guillet Jefferson Parish Council members united today in opposition to a measure in the Louisiana Legislature to give the governor power over Parish President Aaron Broussard during a state of emergency such as a...

National business contingent in Baton Rouge today.
May 4, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco today will welcome more than 30 business leaders from around the country led by U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez and Donald Powell, federal coordinator of Gulf Coast...

Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Garner come to aid of 'Katrina's Children'.
May 4, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Actors Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Garner, Cicely Tyson, Regina King and Deborah Santana be in New Orleans Monday to discuss the mental health, health and education crises of children traumatized by...

Louisiana Department of Revenue warns of possible ID theft and tax fraud scams.
May 4, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The Louisiana Department of Revenue today reported several individuals impersonating department employees are asking taxpayers for personal information that could lead to identity theft. These individuals...

Surprising W&T reports sends stock to high.
May 4, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Oil and natural gas company W&T Offshore Inc. said Thursday its first-quarter profit rose above Wall Street estimates thanks to unexpected production.The company earned $55.8 million, or 85 cents per...

Delay in federal rebuilding dollars sparks frustration in New Orleans.
May 4, 2006... Byline: Deon Roberts Every day of delay in receiving federal rebuilding dollars, John Broggi grows more frustrated.Hurricane Katrina sent floodwater above the attic of his Chalmette home. Broggi, 71, found a new house he wants to buy in...

Welcome Jazz Fest business boost smaller than normal.
May 4, 2006... Byline: Richard A. Webster After the first weekend of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, business operators say they've seen an increase in sales but not at the level of past years.Tom Weatherly, vice president of communications...

Textron Marine & Land Systems to expand N.O. presence.
May 4, 2006... Byline: Deon Roberts Textron Marine & Land Systems, a Providence, R.I.-based manufacturer of military vehicles, is relocating administrative and executive offices from 19401 Chef Menteur Highway to 13801 Old Gentilly Road.The company needs...

Coast Guard, Kenner PD rescue boater.
May 4, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The Coast Guard and Kenner Police Department worked together to locate and rescue a boater in Lake Pontchartrain at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday.Bob Tillman was located by a Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans air...

Ladies' Home Journal and The Hilton help Habitat.
May 4, 2006... Byline: North Shore Report Ladies' Home Journal joins the Hilton Family of Hotels and Habitat for Humanity for a build in Slidell Friday with more than 100 clients and staff."One Life to Live" stars including Robin Strasser ("Dorian Lord")...

President Scott Cowen to leave if Tulane in hurricane path.
May 4, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report All Tulane University departments are required to develop procedures in the event of a hurricane, school officials said today.Tulane President Scott Cowen will leave campus during a hurricane threat.The...

Chevron moving New Orleans HQ to Covington.
May 4, 2006... Byline: Renee Aragon Dolese Chevron is relocating its Gulf of Mexico Business Unit from New Oreans to the North Shore, employees were told today at its Central Business District offices. Plans call for construction of a new office building...

Gov. Blanco reaffirms intent to block lease sales without royalty revisions.
May 4, 2006... Byline: Kathryn Jezer-Morton Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco confirmed today she will deny the planned August Mineral Management Service offshore drilling lease sale unless the federal government approves some form of royalty sharing with...

Post Office pushes big newspaper rate increase.
May 4, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Postal rates could rise nearly 25 percent for in-county newspapers in May 2007 if the U.S. Postal Service has its way, and annual increases are in store for the foreseeable future.USPS announced its intent...

Louisiana lauded for higher education plans.
May 4, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Louisiana has done a good job enrolling, retaining and graduating college students, according to a national study released today by state higher education officials.The "Double the Numbers" initiative, a...

Louisiana aid could total $12B.
May 4, 2006... Byline: Deon Roberts The Senate passed an emergency supplemental appropriations bill to provide $12 billion to Louisiana, including $4.2 billion in housing grants and $3.9 billion for levees and flood control.The bill, which passed...

Hurricanes require backup plans for schools, students.
May 5, 2006... Byline: April Capochino Within days of arriving in Houston after evacuating from Hurricane Katrina last year, Cindi and Mark Stephens signed a lease on an apartment and enrolled their two children in Houston private schools.With the fear...

Rep. Bobby Jindal lauds port security push.
May 5, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Rep. Bobby Jindal, R-Kenner, applauds the passage of legislation to improve security at ports in Louisiana and throughout the country. The SAFE Port Act of 2006 is a plan to strengthen the maritime...

Overheated commodities delay market rally.
May 5, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Speculative buying and unrest in international markets is overheating commodity prices and suppressing stock market gains, said Harry Dent Jr. founder and president of the H.S. Dent Foundation. "April was...

Shula's at the JW Marriott will open May 17.
May 5, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Legendary National Football League Head Coach Don Shula will open his new restaurant in New Orleans May 17 at the JW Marriott, 6145 Canal St.Former Saints players Pat Swilling and Dalton Hilliard and Saints...

Cleco Corp. 1Q earnings power up 30 percent.
May 5, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Cleco Corp. today reported first-quarter net income of $11.7 million, up 30 percent from the $9 million recorded in the first quarter of 2005. "We've had a good start to the year. Site preparation work is...

Commentary: Governor Blanco no quitter despite long odds.
May 5, 2006... Byline: Terry O'Connor A top political analyst in the state capital believes poor polling numbers will push Democratic Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco off the re-election trail in 2007. Conventional wisdom has Rep. Bobby Jindal, R-Metairie,...

H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College taps new leader.
May 5, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report An English professor has been named interim executive director of the new H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College, Tulane University officials announced today.Rebecca Mark, a leader in women's studies, who...

Louisiana bucks national foreclosure trends.
May 5, 2006... Byline: Greg LaRose Louisiana is bucking a national trend of increasing foreclosures, thanks in large part to the grace period lenders have extended mortgage holders affected by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The first quarter report from...

Stephen Rue's 'New Orleans' film tells Ninth Ward story.
May 5, 2006... Byline: Richard A. Webster New Orleans attorney Stephen Rue set out in the summer of 2005 to make a film about Habitat for Humanity's efforts to rebuild parts of the Ninth Ward.The idea was to get his feet wet in filmmaking, Rue said, but...

New Orleans works to get juvenile justice system moving again after Katrina.
May 5, 2006... Byline: Richard A. Webster Word began to spread in late September that more than 6,000 adult inmates evacuated from Orleans Parish Prison after Hurricane Katrina were languishing in a devastated justice system.Thousands sat in jails...

City Council At-Large candidate Arnie Fielkow: N.O. moving too slow on fiscal crisis.
May 5, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report City Council At-Large candidate Arnie Fielkow says New Orleans is moving too slowly in addressing its serious financial plight.Sales tax collections running ahead of projections should not lull people into...

Smokefree Air Act targets restaurateurs.
May 6, 2006... Byline: Greg LaRose and Tommy Santora The state Senate approved the Louisiana Smokefree Air Act Tuesday, sending it to the House for consideration. The measure would ban smoking in restaurants except in enclosed bar areas. The ban also...

To dine for -- new N.O. eateries aim high.
May 6, 2006... Byline: Richard A. Webster Eight months after Hurricane Katrina replaced maitre d's with spray-painted warnings to looters, the Warehouse District restaurant scene is slowly rising back to its feet.In April, restaurateur Vicky Bayley...

Feds approve expansion of Cheniere LNG terminal.
May 6, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has given Houston-based Cheniere Energy Inc. the go-ahead to nearly double the capacity of its Sabine Pass liquefied natural gas receiving terminal, which is under...

Part II: New Orleans works to get juvenile justice system moving again after Katrina.
May 8, 2006... Byline: Richard A. Webster Editor's note: The final installment in a two-part series on how the city and state processed hundreds of juveniles incarcerated in the New Orleans area during Hurricane Katrina. This week focuses on how the...

Experts disagree on New Orleans bankruptcy.
May 8, 2006... Byline: Deon Roberts New Orleans is handling its financial situation like a boxer reeling from an uppercut to the chin.In the eight months since Hurricane Katrina, city government has been staggering along, trying not to land face first on...

Vanished New Orleans manufacturers unlikely to return after storm.
May 8, 2006... Byline: Deon Roberts Eugene Green drove his black Lincoln Navigator through the New Orleans Regional Business Park last week, assessing progress in the eight months since Hurricane Katrina.As he passed businesses in the 7,000-acre park in...

May 8 - 14.
May 8, 2006... Byline: From CityBusiness Staff Reports May 8-14Teacher Appreciation Week, observed nationwide.Debbie Fleming Cafferty: Hurricane Images, Arthur Roger Gallery, 432 Julia St.; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Photographs will be on...

New Orleans Hospitality Briefs: May 8, 2006.
May 8, 2006... Byline: Greg LaRose and Tommy Santora The state Senate approved the Louisiana Smokefree Air Act Tuesday, sending it to the House for consideration. The measure would ban smoking in restaurants except in enclosed bar areas. The ban also...

New Orleans' Warehouse District restaurant scene slowly recovers from Katrina.
May 8, 2006... Byline: Richard A. Webster Eight months after Hurricane Katrina replaced maitre d's with spray-painted warnings to looters, the Warehouse District restaurant scene is slowly rising back to its feet.In April, restaurateur Vicky Bayley...

Interview with Joel Dondis, owner of New Orleans catering and restaurant businesses.
May 8, 2006... Byline: Craig Guillot By January 2007, Joel Dondis plans to have five catering and restaurant businesses operating in New Orleans. Pre-Katrina, Dondis operated independent catering service, Joel, and La Petite Grocery, a restaurant on...

Commentary: East Coast whiners won't solve nation's energy crisis.
May 8, 2006... Byline: Mark Singletary I've lived my whole life in the Oil Patch.The latest talking points from folks living and reporting from the East Coast about the evil people who work for and own our nation's oil companies nauseates me. It's time...

Louisiana cuts funding to higher education; New Orleans-area colleges and universities struggle.
May 8, 2006... Byline: April Capochino The $74.5 million in state cuts to higher education in Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina forced New Orleans-area colleges and universities to eliminate faculty, staff and academic programs.The cuts represent a...

New Orleans-area employees and business owners prepare for hurricane season.
May 8, 2006... Byline: April Capochino For a brief while, Hurricane Katrina promised what seemed like the perfect mini-vacation -- packing three days of clothes, loading up your family and spending the weekend strolling around a different city.However,...

Why stay in New Orleans?
May 8, 2006... Byline: Autumn C. Giusti Ann Yoachim jokes that, unlike most people, she moved to New Orleans for a job.But New Orleans' easygoing attitude and vibrant energy are what brought her back after Hurricane Katrina."The sidewalks talk," she...

U.S. export incentives enhance global trade opportunities.(Company overview)
May 8, 2006... Byline: Jaime Guillet The U.S. Department of Commerce is offering businesses a chance to make international contacts inexpensively by cutting export assistance fees in half.The reduction saves up to $500 in the short run while creating a...

Cash crunch cripples New Orleans arts programs.
May 8, 2006... Byline: Renee Aragon Dolese Dance instructor Celia Taylor admits getting a little depressed driving past the devastation in the Lower Ninth Ward and St. Bernard Parish on her way to teach in Chalmette. "I know what joy music and dance does...

Qatar gives $60M to New Orleans recovery.
May 8, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports The government of Qatar donated nearly $60 million to two universities and three nonprofits in New Orleans, and government officials say more money is coming.Tulane University received $10 million from...

New Orleans airport still limited.
May 8, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport reported "continued growth" in passenger levels and flight traffic in March, though still at only 51 percent of pre-Katrina levels.In March, 470,000...

Murphy Oil absorbs $100M class-action lawsuit hit.
May 8, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports Despite a potentially costly class-action lawsuit involving pollution caused by Hurricane Katrina in St. Bernard Parish, analysts believe Murphy Oil is poised for major earnings growth."While the past...

New Orleans Imax, Aquarium to reopen May 26.
May 8, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports After recovering from the loss of thousands of animals to Hurricane Katrina, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas will reopen May 26.The riverfront attraction spent millions on repairs the past eight...

New Orleans unemployment up to 6.1 percent.
May 8, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports The New Orleans metropolitan statistical area added 5,100 non-farm jobs in March to go from 420,100 to 425,200, the Louisiana Department of Labor reported.There were 613,100 non-farm jobs in the New...

New Orleans Jazz Fest increases business but sales not at level of past years.
May 8, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports After the first weekend of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, local businesses say they've noticed an increase in sales but not at the level of past years.Tom Weatherly, vice president of...

Commentary: Elite Broussard's seats still plentiful post-Katrina.(Restaurant review)
May 8, 2006... Byline: Tom Fitzmorris These are rough times for French Quarter restaurants. For a feel for what a shame that is, go to Broussard's for dinner. You'll find a classic old-line Creole dining palace with great food and many tables from which...

Commentary: Housing juveniles with prisoners is criminal.
May 8, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Editorial Chief Judge David Bell with the Orleans Parish Juvenile Court spent the five days preceding Hurricane Katrina releasing pre-trial juveniles in New Orleans detention centers deemed not to be threats to...

Commentary: Blanco is no quitter despite long odds.
May 8, 2006... Byline: Terry O'Connor A top political analyst in the state capital believes poor polling numbers will push Democratic Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco off the re-election trail in 2007. Conventional wisdom has Rep. Bobby Jindal, R-Metairie,...

$2.2M Deer Park Office Condominium deal in New Orleans attracts 20 businesses.
May 8, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Deer Park Office Condominium will rebuild more than 48,000 square feet of office space in a $2.2-million project at 10555 Lake Forest Blvd.The Deer Park Office Condominium Association hired Harper-Hull...

McMoRan Exploration undeterred by Gov. Blanco veto threat.
May 8, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report McMoRan Exploration Co. today said it will continue to push for approval of its Deepwater Port license application for its Main Pass Energy Hub proposed offshore liquefied natural gas project. Louisiana...

McMoRan Exploration hits on 11 of 22 wells with partners.
May 8, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report NEW ORLEANS -- McMoRan Exploration Co. today announced a discovery at Liberty Canal and a successful drill-stem test at Pecos. McMoRan also updated three additional exploration prospects in progress,...

Intermarine to return headquarters to New Orleans.
May 8, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Intermarine, a leading provider of worldwide ocean transportation, will reopen its New Orleans headquarters June 5, company officials said.The New Orleans-based company, which was founded here in 1990, had...

Cash crunch cripples New Orleans arts programs.
May 8, 2006... Byline: Renee Aragon Dolese Dance instructor Celia Taylor admits getting a little depressed driving past the devastation in the Lower Ninth Ward and St. Bernard Parish on her way to teach in Chalmette. "I know what joy music and dance does...

American Nursing Services founder and chairman, P.K. Scheerle, leaves N.O. post.
May 8, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report P.K. Scheerle, American Nursing Services founder and chairman today announced her resignation. Scheerle founded the privately held nurse staffing company in 1982. Under her direction, the company grew from...

Bureau of Government Research rips New Orleans CityCouncil for handing out no-bid contract.
May 8, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report At a time when resources are scarce, the Bureau of Government Research today issued its latest report taking City Council to task for awarding a $3-million contract without inviting competition.The City...

Commentary: Continued national coverage critical to New Orleans survival.
May 8, 2006... Byline: Mark Singletary It's a huge understatement to say the past couple of weeks helped refocus the nation's attention on our continuing economic recovery.The first round of voting for city and parish officials, married to the Zurich...

Tulane University nets $5M to study HIV impact on children.
May 8, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The National Institute of Child Health and Development awarded Tulane University pediatric infectious disease expert $5 million to study the impact of HIV and prevention strategies on children.Van Dyke...

Gov. Blanco praises Brinkley's 'Great Deluge'.
May 9, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco today praised author Douglas Brinkley for his new book on Hurricane Katrina, which is highly critical of the ineffective government response in New Orleans."I've read...

Energy Partners Ltd. production reaches pre-Katrina volume.
May 9, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Energy Partners Ltd. today announced production has returned to more than 29,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day, essentially the rate it was producing before the 2005 hurricanes. "We are pleased to get...

Shaw Group lands potential $15B Air Force contract.
May 9, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The Shaw Group Inc. today announced its Environmental & Infrastructure business unit has been awarded an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract by the U.S. Air Force Center for Environmental...

Capital One Financial Corp. donates $3M to help New Orleans education.
May 9, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Capital One Financial Corp. announced today it will donate $3 million to help charter schools and nonprofit organizations in the state. The grants include a $1-million gift to help establish the Capital...

New Orleans Police Department denies gay bashing is new French Quarter concern.
May 9, 2006... Byline: Deon Roberts Recent beatings in the Maringy Triangle and lower French Quarter are not anti-homosexual or hate crimes, said Capt. Kevin Anderson, 8th District commander for the New Orleans Police Department."There are no real...

Restaurant community of New Orleans honored with Humanitarian of the Year Award.
May 9, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The 2006 James Beard Foundation Awards honored the restaurant community of New Orleans with the Humanitarian of the Year Award for its efforts to recover and serve its community in the aftermath of...

Weekly jobless claims dip in Louisiana.
May 9, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased to 2,550 from last week's total of 2,551, according to the Louisiana Department of Labor.Claims remain below the April 30, 2005, figure of 3,059.The...

Gulf Coast Bank breaks earnings record.
May 9, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Co. today reported record first-quarter earnings. The bank earned $3.19 million in pre-tax dollars compared with $2.7 million last year -- an 18 percent increase and the best first...

Bollinger deadline delivery brings more work.
May 9, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Bollinger Gretna LLC, a Bollinger Shipyards Inc. company, has delivered a double hull, 80,000-barrel oil tank barge to Bouchard Coastwise Management Corp. of Hicksville, N.Y. Bollinger will also build a...

New Orleans Jazz Fest helps boost Churchill Downs 2Q outlook.
May 9, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Churchill Downs Inc. today reported net first-quarter revenues of $45 million versus $51.9 million during the first quarter of 2005. The net loss during the first quarter was $10.3 million, or 79 cents per...

Multiple Sclerosis Society Louisiana returns to Metairie.
May 9, 2006... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The national Multiple Sclerosis Society Louisiana chapter reopened its Metairie office today.The Louisiana chapter moved into its Fairfield Street office about a year before Hurricane Katrina flooded the...