The State Bond Commission voted today to issue ExxonMobil Corporation $12 million more in tax-free, low-interest bonds to finance an upgrade of the petro giant’s Baton Rouge facility.
Posted inCriminal Justice
Uptown hangout to close after 47 underage patrons found
A popular Uptown college hangout has been shut down temporarily after a police raid that ensnared 47 underage drinkers, including the son of a prominent former state legislator, police said.
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Groups studying jail size may continue work past deadline
Despite having a Monday deadline, Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s Criminal Justice Working Group may well extend its efforts, Chief Administrative Officer Andy Kopplin said today at the first of the two final scheduled meetings.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
Council asked to give public a chance to review budget
The final day of more than three weeks of budget hearings ended today with a final request: that the council pass on the extra time they had to review the budget on to the public.
Posted inSchools
50 years later, schools still effectively segregated
Fifty years after New Orleans desegregated public schools, 90 percent of the city’s public school students are black, and nearly a quarter of public schools have student populations that are 100 percent black, analysis shows.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
“Unacceptably large” number of hotels skip taxes, IG says
Inspector General Ed Quatrevaux is about to release a hotel tax audit covering 26 hotels for 2009.
Posted inEnvironment
Op-Ed: Why public transit matters
We all say we need more retail and business development in New Orleans, but one particular city requirement actually makes it more expensive for developers – and more expensive for all of us.
Posted inGovernment & Politics, Opinion
Talk one way, Walker the other
State Rep. Walker Hines seemed like he was in a hurry this morning as he grabbed a quick beverage at a coffee shop in Broadmoor and drove away in a black Cadillac Escalade. Shortly thereafter, this Times-Picayune news story broke:
Posted inCriminal Justice, Government & Politics
Crowd unleashed frustrations, suspicions about new jail
Amid a tempestuous atmosphere, residents at a public hearing raised serveral concerns about a proposed new jail facility for Sheriff Marlin Gusman.
Posted inGovernment & Politics
9th Ward may not get money for both city swimming pools
A Lower 9th Ward park touted in August as one of Mayor Mitch Landrieu definite 100 recovery projects is being funded at one-third the level initially promised, a top Landrieu appointee said at a City Council budget hearing Wednesday.