New Orleans CityBusiness articles from November 2008

New Orleans CityBusiness archives from November 2008

Work on Highway 21 in St. Tammany progresses.
November 1, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Construction is progressing along Louisiana Highway 21 from Ochsner Boulevard north past Bootlegger Road. The new and existing rights of way have been clear and grubbed in preparation for road widening. Utility...

New Orleans celebrates completed reconstruction of Papania Street.
November 1, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports City officials and residents of eastern New Orleans residents will gather for a ribbon cutting ceremony at 2 p.m. Monday to mark the reconstruction of Papania Street from Chef Menteur Highway to the Dwyer...

Programs helps at-risk children in New Orleans avoid prison path.
November 1, 2008... Byline: Richard A. Webster Youth advocate Renell Gibbs was making the rounds at Alexander P. Tureaud Elementary School when he got the news -- a 10-year old boy he mentors threatened to kill his Spanish teacher. Gibbs sat down the troubled...

Mississippi River Gulf Outlet agreement signed.
November 1, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports The U.S Army Corps of Engineers and the State of Louisiana's Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority signed an agreement Friday regarding the construction of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet closure...

N.O. chamber names Alex Lewis interim director.
November 3, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff The New Orleans Chamber of Commerce board has appointed an interim replacement for its outgoing chief executive. Alex Lewis III, who runs his own consulting firm, will replace CEO and president Sandra Gunner. She...

Louisiana feels falling oil price pinch.
November 3, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff The same falling oil prices that have led to reduced oil production from foreign countries could tighten the spigot on exploration in Louisiana, an industry official said. OPEC said Oct. 24 that it is cutting oil...

Port refutes traffic concerns from N.O. Cold Storage move.
November 3, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Residents of Faubourg Marigny and the Bywater are concerned the Port of New Orleans' plan to relocate New Orleans Cold Storage could send more truck traffic through their neighborhood. Access to NOCS facilities...

Metairie-based GS Financial reverses income slump in 3Q.
November 3, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Loan growth triggered a big earnings bump for GS Financial Corp., the holding company of Guaranty Savings Bank. For the three-month period ending Sept. 30, net income for GS Financial was $270,000, up 291...

Restaurant in Metairie pours Palin wine in 'red state'.
November 3, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff It might not be popular in more Democratic-leaning locales, but Jacques Broussard, owner of Mark Twain's Pizza Landing, said his customers are happy to complement their lunch and dinner with glasses of Palin...

Commentary: La Cote Brassiere in N.O. distinct among hotel restaurants.
November 3, 2008... Byline: Tom Fitzmorris La Cote Brasserie $$$$ French bistro, seafood, oyster bar 700 Tchoupitoulas St. 613-2350. www.lacotebrasserie.com Price ratings are what one person should expect to spend on a meal. Each $ represents roughly $10 ...

Program helps at-risk youth in N.O. avoid prison path.
November 3, 2008... Byline: Richard A. Webster Youth advocate Renell Gibbs was making the rounds at Alexander P. Tureaud Elementary School when he got the news -- a 10-year old boy he mentors threatened to kill his Spanish teacher. Gibbs sat down the troubled...

Nov. 5-Nov. 15.
November 3, 2008... Byline: From CityBusiness Staff Reports Nov. 5 The Metropolitan Republican Women's Club will hold its November luncheon at Colonial Country Club, 42 Colonial Club Drive, Harahan. Registration is at 11 a.m. and the luncheon and program will...

Pasta Poll: Politics gets spicy at Metairie pizza joint.
November 3, 2008... Byline: Emilie Bahr Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is ahead in the official polls, but Republican John McCain appears poised for a trouncing victory in a far-from-scientific contest being held at one Old Metairie...

N.O. Hospitality Briefs: November 3, 2008.
November 3, 2008... Byline: Katie Urbaszewski French Quarter restaurant Cafe Sbisa has reopened for the first time since Hurricane Katrina. The restaurant, which dates to 1899, reopened Oct. 17. New owner and chef Glen Hogh, who also owns Vega Tapas Cafe in...

Off the Clock: Q&A with Raymond Hughes, Felix's Restaurant and Oyster Bar oyster shucker in N.O.
November 3, 2008... Byline: Christian Moises Age: 24 Family: single Education: attended college Hometown: New Orleans Raymond Hughes has been in the culinary industry for about eight years, spending the past three shucking the seafood of the season --...

Full Deck: Gulf Coast casinos riding high while chips are down elsewhere.
November 3, 2008... Byline: Ariella Cohen Even as casinos nationwide feel the pinch of recession, the economic deck appears to be stacked in favor of casinos in New Orleans, Lake Charles and Biloxi, Miss., where smoking hasn't been banned and a booming oil...

Off the Clock: Q&A with Toni Demahy, Treasure Chest Casino general manager, vice president in Kenner.
November 3, 2008... Byline: Christian Moises Age: 43 Family: single Education: bachelor's degree in accounting, Lamar University Hometown: born in Washington state, grew up in Port Neches, Texas Toni Demahy took the long, yet experienced-filled route to...

State of La.'s casinos pull in 6% increase in taxes.
November 3, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Casinos contributed $559.2 million in taxes to Louisiana's government in 2007, an increase of nearly 6 percent over the $527.8 million collected in 2006, according to the American Gaming Association's 2008 survey...

In Other Words: Could the Gulf Coast gaming industry survive another major hurricane?
November 3, 2008... Byline: Jennifer Nall Jim Hoskins Senior vice president and general manager Harrah's New Orleans Casino & Hotel The industry's fortunes are inextricably linked to those of the Gulf Coast community. As a Gulf Coast native, I believe the...

Commentary: Voting - only we can end the waiting game.
November 3, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Nearly 2.9 million registered voters in Louisiana -- about 9 percent -- cast their ballots in advance of Tuesday's general election. With voter participation projections as high as 75 percent, it is very...

Commentary: Informed voting should trump inane ideals.
November 3, 2008... Byline: Autumn C. Giusti It's time for the pettiness to stop. Tuesday may be Election Day, but the partisan name-calling and finger-pointing could extend well beyond Nov. 4. At some point in recent history, Americans stopped paying...

Commentary: Dec. 6 Congressional race is the forgotten election.
November 3, 2008... Byline: Jeff Crouere Because of Hurricane Gustav and the largest evacuation in Louisiana history, the congressional elections planned for early September were postponed for a month. Party primaries were held in October and the runoff was...

Commentary: Voter turnout dictates 'most important' election.
November 3, 2008... Byline: Mark Singletary It seems Tuesday is the most important election of our lifetime -- again. I've been voting since 1972 and paying attention since 1960, and this isn't the first time I've been admonished to pay attention because this...

Louisiana chapter of Certified Commercial Investment Members to hold symposium.
November 3, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff The Louisiana chapter of Certified Commercial Investment Members will hold its annual symposium from 7:30 a.m. to noon Friday at the Pan-American Life Center, 601 Poydras St. The focus of the event is economic...

N.O.-area first-time unemployment claims drop for second week.
November 3, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff The New Orleans area saw a second-straight decrease in initial unemployment claims for the week that ended Oct. 25 to 696 from 819. The area, comprised of Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St....

Louisiana State University teaching hospitals score high in federal survey.
November 3, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Louisiana State University teaching hospitals exceed national norms for patient satisfaction, communication with doctors, pain management and cleanliness. That's according to a survey conducted for the federal...

N.O. to cut ribbon on $3.9M street project.
November 3, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff City officials today will hold a ribbon-cutting to mark the completion of a roughly $3.9 million reconstruction of Papania Street in eastern New Orleans. Mayor C. Ray Nagin and the city's Department of Public...

Commentary: Voter turnout dictates 'most important' election.
November 3, 2008... Byline: Mark Singletary It seems Tuesday is the most important election of our lifetime -- again. I've been voting since 1972 and paying attention since 1960, and this isn't the first time I've been admonished to pay attention because this...

Quick Start school construction provides guidance on rebuilding master plan in N.O.
November 3, 2008... Byline: Stephen Maloney As planners create a blueprint for the future of public education in New Orleans, questions have arisen about where to find $1.2 billion to build it. But education leaders say ongoing construction projects are...

N.O. CityBusiness Question of the Week results: Jefferson Parish business climate the best.
November 3, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff When it comes to the New Orleans metro area, Jefferson Parish has the best climate for businesses, according to CityBusiness' Question of the Week. The online poll, posted a week ago, garnered 323 votes to the...

New link provided for St. Tammany polling locations.
November 3, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff St. Tammany Parish government said it has provided a new link to the secretary of state's Web site for polling locations. This morning, it was reported to the parish that a link from the St. Tammany Parish...

Six New Orleans metro area parishes ranked for health risks.
November 3, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Six parishes in the New Orleans metro area are tops in the state for chronic human health risk, the Louisiana Environmental Action Network said. LEAN said the rankings are based on the Environmental Protection...

New Orleans-based Boh Bros.' resumes Twin Span work.
November 3, 2008... Byline: Angelle Bergeron Just four days after a fatal construction accident on the Interstate 10 Twin Span bridge, Boh Bros. Construction Co. resumed work today on the $803 million project. Boh Bros.' work was halted Thursday after a...

Anti-charter change group in violation of Louisiana ethics law.
November 3, 2008... Byline: Ariella Cohen A group taking out television ads urging New Orleanians to vote against a change in the city charter that will put the force of law behind an as-yet-unwritten master plan is operating in violation of state ethics law...

Learning Curve: Quick Start school construction provides guidance on rebuilding master plan in N.O.
November 3, 2008... Byline: Stephen Maloney As planners create a blueprint for the future of public education in New Orleans, questions have arisen about where to find $1.2 billion to build it. But education leaders say ongoing construction projects are...

504ward: Damon Burns: Profile of a young professional who wants to stay in N.O.
November 3, 2008... Byline: Greg LaRose Damon Burns Age: 26 Hometown: New Orleans Education: bachelor's degree in business marketing, Texas Southern University; master's degree in business administration, University of New Orleans Position: Morgan Keegan...

La. Gov. Jindal pushes for better business climate.
November 3, 2008... Byline: Jaime Guillet Louisiana made great strides this year when legislators removed corporate taxes that were considerable disincentives to companies planting or sustaining roots, but state leaders and the business community say those...

N.O. City Council: Road repair budget may fall short.
November 3, 2008... Byline: Jaime Guillet Mayor C. Ray Nagin has proposed to put more money into New Orleans streets, including implementing a much recommended pavement management system. But some City Council members question whether the amount is enough as...

Last Dance?: Support mounting for proposal that could shutter Bourbon Street strip clubs in N.O.
November 3, 2008... Byline: Richard A. Webster In the recent legislative session Sen. Danny Martiny, R-Kenner, voted to kill a bill proposing new regulations on the strip club industry. Under the legislation, introduced by Sen. John Smith, R-Leesville, exotic...

Homeowners, renters in N.O. share space to trim living expenses.
November 3, 2008... Byline: Emilie Bahr Thomas Ziglar moved to Louisiana from Florida the week after Hurricane Katrina, hoping to cash in on the promise of jobs galore in the storm's recovery. His wife, Shannon, arrived a couple months later. The job...

Seats available for 10th annual N.O. CityBusiness Women of the Year event.
November 4, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report Tickets are now available for the 10th annual CityBusiness Women of the Year program, honoring women whose success in business and contributions to the community set the pace in our region. This year's...

New Orleans area posts highest average weekly wages in 1Q.
November 4, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The New Orleans posted the state's highest average weekly wage in the first quarter of 2008 at $879 -- $1 short of the fourth quarter of 2007 -- and the highest average employment with 504,487, according to...

University of New Orleans to play first football game since 1970.
November 4, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report For the first time in nearly 40 years, the University of New Orleans will play football. The UNO Privateers will face the University of Southern Illinois-Edwardsville Cougars at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Tad...

Support mounting for La. legislative proposal that could shutter Bourbon Street strip clubs.
November 4, 2008... Byline: Richard A. Webster In the recent legislative session, Sen. Danny Martiny, R-Kenner, voted to kill a bill proposing new regulations on the strip club industry. Under the legislation, introduced by Sen. John Smith, R-Leesville,...

N.O. City Council committee OKs using $1.8M from Entergy for energy efficiency program.
November 4, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report The City Council's Utility Committee last week voted unanimously to put $1.8 million of a federally-mandated payment from Entergy Arkansas to use toward a program aimed at improving the energy efficiency...

Harvey woman pleads guilty in Medicaid fraud case.
November 4, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Report A Harvey women and former employee of a Medicaid provided pleaded guilty today to health care fraud, U.S. Attorney Jim Letten said. Crystal Black, 35, worked for A New Beginning of New Orleans Inc., which...

Commentary: Informed voting should trump inane ideals.
November 4, 2008... Byline: Autumn C. Giusti It's time for the pettiness to stop. Today may be Election Day, but the partisan name-calling and finger-pointing could extend well beyond Nov. 4. At some point in recent history, Americans stopped paying attention...

University of New Orleans to open time capsule.
November 5, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff The University of New Orleans, which this year celebrates its 50th anniversary, will open a time capsule that dates to May 27, 1966, at 10 a.m. Thursday outside Kirschman Hall. The capsule was reopened for UNO's...

New Orleans City Council: Road repair budget may fall short.
November 5, 2008... Byline: Jaime Guillet Mayor C. Ray Nagin has proposed to put more money into New Orleans streets, including implementing a much recommended pavement management system. But some City Council members question whether the amount is enough as...

New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival accepting grant applications.
November 5, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and Foundation is accepting applications for its Community Partnership Grants program. Grants of up to $10,000 apiece are available for the category Culture & Heritage...

New Orleans Mayor Nagin, NORA to sign blight-fight agreement.
November 5, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Mayor C. Ray Nagin and the New Orleans Redevelopment Authority on Thursday will sign an agreement to help reduce the number of blighted properties scattered across New Orleans after hurricanes Katrina and Rita....

Seats available for Best Places to Work in New Orleans event.
November 5, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Seats are now available for the sixth annual CityBusiness Best Places to Work program honoring the city's 50 top employers. Honorees include 35 large and 15 small businesses and will be recognized at a noon Dec....

Man pleads guilty to mailing threatening letters to Jordan, Fielkow in New Orleans.
November 5, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff An Orlando, Fla., man pleaded guilty today to mailing threatening letters to former Orleans Parish District Attorney Eddie Jordan and City Councilman Arnie Fielkow, U.S. Attorney Jim Letten said. Robert C....

Go-ahead given for massive IHNC Lake Borgne project in New Orleans area.
November 5, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff NEW ORLEANS - The Army Corps of Engineers today said it has issued a notice to proceed on what it calls the largest design-build civil works project in its history - the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal Lake Borgne...

New rules for lawyer advertising in Louisiana to take effect later.
November 5, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Recently adopted amendments to rules of professional conduct pertaining to lawyer advertising will take effect April 1, later than the previously announced date of Dec. 1, because of constitutional challenges to...

A look at the highest- and lowest-priced homes in the N.O. metro area.
November 5, 2008... Byline: Deon Roberts Online Editor Two New Orleans homes were the highest- and lowest-priced houses to sell in the New Orleans metro area last week. A home at 22 Swan St. in Lake Vista subdivision was the highest-priced sale at $895,000....

FEMA: Still time to register for Gustav, Ike aid.
November 6, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports The Federal Emergency Management Agency is reminding hurricanes Gustav and Ike victims that there is still time to register for FEMA's Individuals and Households Program. At the request of the state,...

Louisiana's Bayou Bend Petroleum hires financial adviser.
November 6, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports Bayou Bend Petroleum Ltd. today announced it has hired Canaccord Adams Inc. of Houston as a financial adviser to assist in review of available strategic and financial alternatives. Alternatives being...

Most N.O. voters leaned toward Obama.
November 6, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports For president-elect Barack Obama, New Orleans was one of the lone bright spots in Louisiana, a state that voted heavily for Sen. John McCain. More than 79 percent of the Orleans Parish electorate voted for...

N.O. average gas price falls 2 cents.
November 6, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports City gas prices dipped again overnight to an average $2.27 per gallon of regular grade, down from $2.29 Wednesday, according to AAA. A month ago, the average price stood at $3.536. A year ago, it was...

Energy Partners posts $34.4M in net income.(Financial report)
November 6, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports Energy Partners Ltd. today reported net income of $34.4 million, or $1.07 per diluted share, for the third quarter of the year, compared with a net loss of $4 million, or 12 cents per share, for the same...

New Orleans officials to provide update on recovery projects.
November 6, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports City officials at 2:30 today are scheduled to provide an update on the status of various recovery projects. The media briefing will be held in the mayor's press room on the second floor of City Hall....

American Heart Association meeting to bring 25,000 to N.O.
November 6, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports The world's largest annual meeting of scientists and health care professionals specializing in cardiovascular diseases and stroke is coming to New Orleans. The American Heart Association's Scientific...

Gulf Coast casinos riding high while chips are down elsewhere.
November 6, 2008... Byline: Ariella Cohen Even as casinos nationwide feel the pinch of recession, the economic deck appears to be stacked in favor of casinos in New Orleans, Lake Charles and Biloxi, Miss., where smoking hasn't been banned and a booming oil...

Group to voice concerns about utility rate hikes to Louisiana Public Service Commission.
November 6, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports The Alliance for Affordable Energy plans to present Louisiana residents' concerns about future utility rate increases to the Louisiana Public Service Commission. Karen Wimpelberg, AFAE board president and...

Hollygrove Market & Farm to open in New Orleans.
November 7, 2008... Byline: Ariella Cohen A new breed of market is coming to New Orleans. After months of tilling soil and tapping funding sources, an unlikely group of barn hands today unveiled the city's first community-run market and farm on the site of...

Louisiana homeowners, renters share space to trim living expenses.
November 7, 2008... Byline: Emilie Bahr Thomas Ziglar moved to Louisiana from Florida the week after Hurricane Katrina, hoping to cash in on the promise of jobs galore in the storm's recovery. His wife, Shannon, arrived a couple months later. The job...

Chef John Besh to open restaurant in renovated Roosevelt Hotel in New Orleans.
November 7, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports Chef John Besh intends to add another name to his growing roster of restaurants with the opening of the Roosevelt Hotel downtown. The restaurateur plans to open Domenica, a casual, Italian restaurant,...

N.O.-area initial unemployment claims drop for 3rd straight week.
November 7, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports The New Orleans area saw a third-straight decrease in initial unemployment claims for the week that ended Monday to 589 from 696. The area, comprised of Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St....

N.O. district attorney-elect names heads of transition team.
November 7, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports New Orleans District Attorney-elect Leon Cannizzaro has named Civil Clerk of Court Dale Atkins and Crescent Bank & Trust President Gary Solomon the chairs of his transition team. My top priority is...

Whitney Holding completes acquisition of Covington-based Parish National Bank.
November 7, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports Whitney Holding Corp. today completed its acquisition of Covington-based Parish National Corp., the parent company of Parish National Bank, which had about $771 million in total assets, $606 million in...

N.O. Borders store nears end of construction.
November 7, 2008... Byline: Emilie Bahr Work is nearing completion on a roughly year-long, $9 million project to turn the former Bultman Funeral Home at 3338 St. Charles Ave. into a 24,000-square-foot book store. Borders is scheduled to open to the public...

Miami construction industry encouraged to invest in N.O.
November 8, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Builders in one hurricane-prone city have been asked to spread their influence in another. Gen. Douglas O'Dell, federal coordinator for Gulf Coast Rebuilding, told investors, builders and key leaders Friday at...

Broad Street Bazaar set for Nov. 22 in New Orleans.
November 8, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports A community group assisting the recovery of lower Mid-City after Hurricane Katrina is planning an event to trigger rebuilding along the once-thriving Broad Street corridor. The nonprofit Phoenix of New...

CPA firm offers free nonprofit tax seminar in New Orleans.
November 8, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Reports Nonprofits trying to navigate new tax forms can obtain free advice from an area accounting firm. LaPorte Sehrt Romig Hand CPAs will hold a free seminar for non-profit organizations on the new Form 990 tax...

Cowen Institute to host education panel discussion in N.O.
November 10, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Tulane University's Scott S. Cowen Institute for Public Education Initiatives will host an education panel discussion on Standards, Assessments and Accountability: Do They Raise the Bar for Educational...

Commentary: All generations must carry Obama's change forward.
November 10, 2008... Byline: Mark Singletary It seems by any standard, by any measure, last week's presidential election was important, perhaps even the most important we've seen in generations. So my tongue-in-cheek commentary is once again upstaged by...

Corps, La. reach agreement on coastal restoration projects.
November 10, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff The Army Corps of Engineers today said it has reached an agreement with the state on a cost-share agreement for coastal restoration projects, a move the corps said will help the projects move forward. The corps...

Bayou Bend Petroleum Ltd. mulls sale, merger.
November 10, 2008... Byline: Emilie Bahr Amid discouraging drilling results, Bayou Bend Petroleum Ltd. is considering a variety of options including putting itself up for sale. "We are set up to be a high-risk, high-reward exploration company and our one major...

PipeStem Energy Group acquires Marrero terminal.
November 10, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff Houston-based PipeStem Energy Group today said it has acquired the former Chevron terminal in Marrero and plans to expand its capacity. The "Marrero Terminal," near milepost 99 on the Mississippi River, primarily...

N.O. CityBusiness Question of the Week results: N.O. area a good place for young professionals.
November 10, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff The metropolitan New Orleans area is a good place for young professionals, according to the majority of votes cast to CityBusiness' Question of the Week. The online poll, posted a week ago, drew 299 votes. Most...

After passage, many still fear an exclusive master plan in N.O.
November 10, 2008... Byline: Ariella Cohen One week after New Orleans voters approved a change in the city charter to give an as-yet-unwritten master plan the force of law, concerns are growing about the city's ability to write the plan without alienating any...

Corps to discuss plans for New Orleans lakefront, 9th Ward.
November 10, 2008... Byline: CityBusiness Staff The Army of Corps of Engineers will discuss proposed plans for the New Orleans lakefront levee and the status of plans to improve levees and floodwalls in eastern New Orleans and the Lower 9th Ward at two...

Planning office seeks break from hiring freeze to increase work with neighborhoods in N.O.
November 10, 2008... Byline: Ariella Cohen One week after New Orleans voters approved a change in the city charter to give an as-yet-unwritten master plan the force of law, concerns are growing about the city's ability to write the plan without alienating any...