Monday, September 06, 2010
   
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  • "Panicked Governor Jindal" Authorized Sand Berms and Disregarded Environmental Consequences

    As Governor Jindal attempts to get permits to expand his controversial sand berm projects, scientists, environmentalists and federal agencies who oppose the berms are weighing in with the Army Corps of Engineers.  Barry Kohl, president of the Louisiana Audubon Council, wrote, "According to a panicked Gov. Jindal, any project that appeared to provide protection should be immediately permitted — no matter the environmental consequences.” Other agencies have said the sand berms threaten wildlife habitat, use scarce sand resources needed for coastal restoration and are generally ineffective.  The EPA, which could have veto power over the berms, is expected to weigh in Tuesday. 

    Written on Sunday, 05 September 2010
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By Kathleen Babineaux Blanco, Louisiana Governor 2004-2008

Where is the Courage and What are the Consequences, Karl Rove?

If Karl Rove’s book, “Courage and Consequence,” is an inside look at the Bush White House, it leaves us standing outside...

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By Pat Brister
Louisiana Republican
State Chair, 2000-2004

Brister Raves About Rove, Says Blanco's TV Appearances Prove Him Right

Having just completed Karl Rove’s book, “Courage and Consequence,” several thoughts come to mind. First, let me say, I have...

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Saturday, 04 September 2010

Jindal Uses New Authority to Shut Down Shreveport Clinic That Performs Abortions

Jindal Uses New Authority to Shut Down Shreveport Clinic That Performs Abortions
Governor Bobby Jindal used new authority granted by the legislature to shut down a Shreveport Clinic that offers pregnancy counseling and testing, counseling and adoption services, but also performs abortions.  The Hope Medical Group for Women said they had received no notice that their license was suspended for failing to properly document procedures when they received word that the state had acted to shut them down.  Under previous law, the clinic could have continued operating while appealing the license suspension. 
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Friday, 03 September 2010

Dardenne Leads Fundraising in Race for Lt. Governor

Dardenne Leads Fundraising in Race for Lt. Governor
Secretary of State Jay Dardenne has passed the $1 million mark in fundraising for the Lt. Governor's race, with Democrat Caroline Fayard emerging as the one who could be his strongest challenger.  With $500,000 raised so far and a fundraiser with former President Bill Clinton scheduled for Tuesday in New York, Fayard will be able to mount a serious media campaign in the final weeks.  "I feel very good about where we are across the state," said Dardenne. "My financial base is in Baton Rouge, but we've been very active statewide.  Read how other candidates for the state's #2 spot are doing in the fundraising game at the link below. 
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Thursday, 02 September 2010

ANOTHER RIG BLOWS ITS TOP

ANOTHER RIG BLOWS ITS TOP
 Early reports show a new rig blowout occurred this morning south of Louisiana in Vermillion Bay with injuries but no deaths reported.  The new explosion follows tight scrutiny of exploration and production regulations in the wake of the BP oil spill that spoiled a large portion of the Gulf of Mexico and ended the life of workers.
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Thursday, 02 September 2010

Speaker of the House Says Jindal, Senate to Blame for Pending Budget Crisis

Speaker of the House Says Jindal, Senate to Blame for Pending Budget Crisis

Speaking to the Monroe Chamber of Commerce, Louisiana House Speaker Jim Tucker laid the blame for a 2011 state budget crisis on Governor Bobby Jindal and the Senate, saying next year's looming $2 billion budget shortfall could have been mitigated if they had been willing to make more significant cuts in the current and previous budgets.  Tucker said the state's colleges and universities will be the hardest hit, pointing to the student protests at UNO this week as a by-product of the deep cuts to higher education. 

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Thursday, 02 September 2010

UNO Students Storm Chancellor's Office Over Budget Cuts

UNO Students Storm Chancellor's Office Over Budget Cuts

Frustration over budget cuts to Louisiana's universities finally turned violent yesterday when UNO students attempted to storm Chancellor Tim Ryan's office to protest cuts to the university.  Almost 200 students were confronted by campus police who attempted to block the entrance to the administration building in a clash that ended with the university police chief going to the hospital.  The school has seen its budget slashed, faculty laid off and services cut as state legislators look to close a massive hole.  

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Tuesday, 31 August 2010

Meet David Melville -- His Under-the-Radar Campaign is Catching On in the 4th District

Meet David Melville -- His Under-the-Radar Campaign is Catching On in the 4th District
Now that the party primaries are over, candidates can take aim at November.  And that's exactly what Democrat David Melville is doing with a very strategic, under-the-radar campaign aimed at Fourth District Congressman John Fleming, who has further divided the district he won by only 356 votes two years ago with fiery rhetoric more aligned with Washington's extreme right activists than the God-and-country conservatives he represents.  Melville's theme of "Congress is broken.  Let's fix it," is catching on with voters who have lost confidence in Washington and could well be the ticket to an upset victory in November.  A Bossier Parish Methodist minister with deep political ties throughout the district, Melville was profiled by CenLamar, an Alexandria-based political website published by Lamar White, Jr.  Read his take on Melville at the link below.
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Tuesday, 31 August 2010

As Test of Presidential Readiness, Katrina, Oil Spill Don't Compare

As Test of Presidential Readiness, Katrina, Oil Spill Don't Compare
Times-Picayune columnist Stephanie Grace takes on those who would suggest that the Gulf oil spill was President Obama's Katrina, which she calls an exaggerated partisan attack, a lazy characterization by the press or a combination of the two.  Grace writes that the recent fifth anniversary of Katrina brought back reminders that lack of action by our federal government cost lives.  "It was an utter, unconscionable and unprecedented failure that cost lives and left thousands in desperate straits for days, that put good first responders in danger and, as we're now learning, put citizens in danger at the hands of allegedly rogue cops," Grace writes.  Read more at the link below.   
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Tuesday, 31 August 2010

State's Party Primaries Hint at "Enthusiasm Gap"

State's Party Primaries Hint at
While both Senator David Vitter and Congressman Charlie Melancon cruised to easy wins in their party primaries last Saturday, it's noticeable that Melancon should have picked up more votes than he did, considering how many more Louisiana voters are registered Democrats than Republicans.  Out-of-state analysts suggest that Republicans in Louisiana may be more motivated to go to the polls than Democrats, something that has been seen in other races around the country. But Kirby Goidel, Director of the Public Policy Research Lab at Louisiana State University said he expects turnout in November to be much higher and doesn't read much into the low-visibility primary turnout.  Read more about the debate at the link below.
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Monday, 30 August 2010

Holden Continues Fight Against Crime with Cameras & Technology

Holden Continues Fight Against Crime with Cameras & Technology
Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holden continues his city's fight against crime using technology, including federal funding for shot-spotters and surveillance cameras which he and Police Chief Jeff Leduff say are making a difference.  While federal funding requests face uphill battles, aides for Senator Mary Landrieu say she will continue to push to fund Baton Rouge's efforts to reduce crime. 
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Monday, 30 August 2010

Comedian Harry Shearer's Documentary "Big Uneasy" Airs tonight in 200 Theatres Nationwide

Comedian Harry Shearer's Documentary

Comedian Harry Shearer's documentary, "The Big Uneasy" will air tonight in about 200 theatres nationwide, some for one night only.  Shearer's wrath is over Hurricane Katrina being called "a natural disaster", so he wants to show that it could have been prevented.  In doing so, Shearer has called on some notable New Orleanians and a couple of controversial whistle-blowers to take on the Army Corps of Engineers and their role in the disaster the followed Hurricane Katrina. 

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Sunday, 29 August 2010

KATRINA ANNIVERSARY DRAWS PRESIDENT

KATRINA ANNIVERSARY DRAWS PRESIDENT
 While network and cable newstime was filled over the weekend with Katrina anniversary stories, the President dropped in for a meal and chat with Xavier University students and big shots to acknowledge that the recovery was still in sight of his Administration.
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Friday, 27 August 2010

Ex-Workers Claim St. Tammany Coroner Served Alcohol During Office Hours

Ex-Workers Claim St. Tammany Coroner Served Alcohol During Office Hours
Former employees of the St. Tammany Parish Coroner have alleged that taxpayers' time and money was used to throw office parties at which alcohol was served.  This is one of several charges that have been taken to the state Ethics Board to investigate.  Dr. Laura King, a former forenics lab manager, has also filed a sexual harrassment complaint against Coroner Peter Galvan.  On WDSU-TV, one employee recounts a grieving family coming to identify a body and having to walk through the middle of a fish fry where alcohol was being consumed during office hours. 
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Friday, 27 August 2010

Former Employee Seeks Restraining Order Against Painter -- Fears for Life

Former Employee Seeks Restraining Order Against Painter -- Fears for Life
A former employee of the Office of Alcohol and Tobacco Control has filed for a restraining order against former Commissioner Murphy Painter, saying she "fears for her life" after being threatened by Painter.  Kelli Suire says she has moved out of her Gonzales home without changing her address on any records to keep Painter from finding her, and reports that her current boss, the Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Secretary, had to ban Painter from contacting any employees or coming to their offices to harass Suire.
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