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Monday, April 30, 2007
UL journalism professor called to Afghanistan  Fifty-nine-year-old UL journalism professor Robert Buckman has been recalled to active duty by the Army Reserve and expects to report to Afghanistan sometime in July. Buckman retired from the Army Reserve nine years ago after 28 years of commissioned service but is still subject to recalls. "They are badly in need of people," says Buckman, who's had two hip replacements and a shoulder replacement in the past ten years but still managed to pass an army physical two and a half years ago.Buckman says he contacted the Army following 9-11 to volunteer but was told he wouldn't be needed. About three years ago, Buckman says the Army began calling back and he was nearly deployed to Iraq last summer. There's still a slim chance Buckman's dispatch to Afghanistan may fall through but he's been issued a G.O. letter, meaning an Army general has signed off on his deployment and he's already contacted the University with the news. Buckman is now awaiting official orders in the coming weeks and expects to report to Fort Benning in June before heading overseas the following month for a year-long tour of duty. Buckman, who is a Lt. Col., says he's been told he will be serving as a deputy director for strategic planning on the joint staff, though he still doesn't know from which base he will be working. Buckman is coordinator of the print journalism sequence at UL, where he has been teaching since 1989. He entered the military at the tail end of the Vietnam War and has never seen duty inside a war zone before. From the 70s through the 90s, he's served in a series of individual training tours and intelligence assignments, mostly in central and South America, due to his ability to speak fluent Spanish. His last service came in 1998 as a reserve attaché to Colombia. "It's kind of ironic that after 30 something years I'm finally going to be going into a war zone," Buckman says. "It's gratifying to know they still think I'm useful at 59. I do things that younger people can't keep up with me. "There are concerns," he adds, "but I'm not upset that I'm going to Afghanistan for a year. I'm concerned about making sure my great dane is going to be well taken care of. They wouldn't let me take him with me. And I got to get my house rented out and things like that." Banner weekend at Festival International and Jazz Fest  Spurred on by glorious weather, Festival International had a banner year, with attendees packing downtown Lafayette throughout the weekend. An informal poll of Independent staffers yielded these favorite picks: sacred steel act The Lee Boys at the Fais Do Do stage (also one of multiple Gov. Kathleen Blanco sightings); Ba Cissoko's members running their koras through effect pedals to create the equivalent of African techno; and The Dirty Dozen Brass Band mixing in lines about the New Orleans Saints winning the Super Bowl during its version of "When the Saints Go Marching In."With FIL now a memory, it's time to gear up for second weekend of The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in New Orleans. Acadiana performers getting props from The New York Times for their first-weekend Jazz Fest performances include Steve Riley and Rosie Ledet. Chief Times music critic Jon Pareles said of Ledet, "Pfizer might want to contact the sultry zydeco accordionist and singer Rosie Ledet, who puts across some rocking, cleverly risqué two-steps. Her 'Pick It Up' is a cheerful endorsement of Viagra." L.A.Times: Cut the red tape The federal government footed 100% of the bill after Hurricane Hugo in 1989, hurricanes Andrew and Iniki in 1992 and the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in 2001. Federal spending on Sept. 11 repairs amounted to $390 per resident of New York state, a historic amount at the time. But that was dwarfed by the $6,700 per Louisiana resident for Katrina and Rita. … Rebuilding New Orleans and other Gulf Coast cities will be enormously expensive, but if the country is in for a penny, it should be in for a pound. There's no point in trying to squeeze more money out of Louisiana for repairs — it has enough problems coping with its fractured tax base and ineffective governance. Doubling the regulatory burden not only creates pointless busywork, it runs counter to Bush's political philosophy. The administration should require Louisiana to spend the aid wisely, but that goal isn't served by tying up the money in red tape. Read also "A post-Katrina doctor drought" about New Orleans' health care crisis. Bill will protect Lake Peigneur Blanco jumping back in? This morning Centanni said she meant Blanco is content with her status as a governor not seeking re-election, a comment that adds even more mystery to the issue. Blanco likely bowed out of the race March 20 to pave the way for former Sen. John Breaux, but some political pundits believe Breaux's disappointing decision not to run may have her rethinking the strategy.
Friday, April 27, 2007
UL formally announces Authement is stepping down  At 2:40 p.m. today, The INDsider broke the story of UL President Ray Authement's plans to step down after 33 years at the helm of the university. The 78-year-old made the surprise announcement at the UL Board of Supervisors regular meeting, held today at Lafayette's LITE center. Authement will stay on until a replacement is named, a process that – if done correctly – should take at least a year. His announcement appears to be more of a retirement rather than a resignation, which is how UL officials initially characterized it. Read the university's formal announcement here, and Gov. Kathleen Blanco's statement here.(photo from today's UL Board of Supervisor's meeting by Terri Fensel) UL Lafayette President Ray Authement resigns Lafayette Marine killed in Iraq  Just after six o'clock this morning, Aporil Celestine wrote to her husband on his MySpace webpage: "I keep sending you messages like you are going to write me back as soon as you get back from your convoy. It just doesn't feel real. I'm praying that this isn't true. I'm praying that you would write me back and tell me that it was a mistake." Willie Celestine Jr. died in Iraq while serving as a U.S. Marine. His MySpace page - which says he was 21 years old and a 2004 graduate of Acadiana High School - has become a place for friends and family to mourn and remember him.
LSU expects banner day at NFL draft Frigg-A-Go-Go tonight at Grant Street  It looks like Frigg-A-Go-Go plans to play an annual gig during the weekend of Festival International. (A year ago, Frigg's Christian Miller asked that we not call the band's performance a "reunion," even though the band had not taken the stage together in over two years.) Tonight Frigg-A-Go-Go headlines at Grant Street Dancehall, with opening acts theTransmission and Morning 40 Federation. Tickets are $15 and doors open at 8 p.m.
Black bear cub back home  An 18 month-old Louisiana black bear was reintroduced to the wild yesterday, after being fed and cared for by the Appalachian Bear Rescue in Tennessee. The cub was found last November in St. Mary Parish by a hunter. He weighed 15 pounds when captured, and was very small and near starvation. Paul Davidson, executive director of the nonprofit Black Bear Conservation Committee told The Advocate that when the cub was rescued, "it was so weak, when it bit you it didn't even hurt."ABR Curator Lisa Stewart says in the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies newsletter: The bear is returning to Louisiana a lot healthier than when he got here. We started him out on a commercial formula and yogurts. Then went to a more normal diet of lettuce, pecans and apples. The last month or so we fed him a lot of food that is found more readily where he will be released such as a lot of greens and corn. When released yesterday in the Red River Wildlife Management Area, the cub was a healthy 90 pounds. Sprung from the steel transportation cage by members of Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries and the Black Bear Conservation Committee, the cub took off for the woods. Large-carnivore program manager of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Maria Davidson told The Advocate: He did exactly the thing instinct told him to do. Find the closest tree and climb it. He looks good, very good. (photo of American black bear from Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies) Boasso's switch hit
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Gulf Coast aid tied to Iraq withdrawal AG, outside counsel to aid Iberia investigation Bayou Bulls tryouts Saturday at Beaver Park Black & Gold Nation readies for the NFL draft One thing's for sure: Black & Gold Nation doesn't like the rumblings coming out of Atlanta. Falcons owner Alfred Blank is supposedly ready to make a play for coveted wide receiver Calvin Johnson at the No. 2 pick. Another unattractive option is Johnson going to the Buccaneers at the No. 4 slot. Jaryd Lane's "really country"  Country singer and Kaplan native Jaryd Lane performed this past weekend on the public radio program Prairie Home Companion. Lane was one of six finalists - out of 740 contestants – featured on the program's "People in Their Twenties" talent search. Lane (host Garrison Keillor quipped that he's "really country") performed his songs "What Are We Fighting For" and "The Wrangler." You can listen to the entire program or individual segments online. (Lane's performances start at around 25 and 54 minutes into the program.)
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Racines kick off Festival International tonight  When Mello Joy's oversized meat smoker shows up right outside The Independent Weekly offices, we know one of our favorite times of the year is here. Festival International 2007 kicks off tonight at 6:30 p.m. with Racines; the Steve Riley-led band is a perfect choice to usher in the festivities, as the band deftly plays choice cuts from the Cajun, Creole and zydeco canon. (Gotta love Kevin Wimmer's occasional bullfrog vocals, too.)Check out this week's issue of The Independent for complete FIL coverage, including profiles on headliners Roddie Romero & the Hub City All-Stars, Dirty Dozen Brass Band and Balkan Beat Box, as well as complete band previews for every FIL performer. Fiber engineering firm has proven track record FEMA's regrettable funding formula "FEMA could have chosen a funding formula that would have granted Louisiana and Mississippi a more equal share. As a consequence of the FEMA decisions, the communities hardest hit by the 2005 hurricanes did not receive the proportionate shares of the $400 million appropriated for the program." Mississippi received 72.5 percent of the $400 million to develop alternatives to trailers and mobile homes. Louisiana got 20 percent. Landrieu, who has characterized Republican Mississippi's lion's share as political, called the discrepancy "inexplicable," in light of the far greater damage Louisiana suffered during Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Willie pleads guilty  Back in September, country music legend Willie Nelson was busted with marijuana and mushrooms while driving through St. Martin Parish. Yesterday, Nelson and his tour manager pled guilty to possession of marijuana, were fined $1,024 each, sentenced to six months probation, and given 90-day jail sentences that were suspended. The Advocate reports:A crowd of about 25 fans gathered outside to see Nelson after his brief court appearance. They waited with cell-phone cameras and scraps of paper scrounged for a signature. He obliged the audience, taking a few moments to shake hands, sign autographs and pose for pictures. "Thank y'all," he said, waving as he climbed into a car waiting in a parking spot marked: "Reserved District Attorney Staff." The small group cheered as Nelson pulled away. One woman yelled out, "Go Willie!" Lafayette Chamber pushing ethics reform
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Council faces another development appeal Mouton adds tonight's decision "ranks up there with one of the issues that I've received the most calls on," mainly from concerned residents. On the other side, Lafayette developer Cecil Trahan, who is serving as the real estate agent on the project, already took out a full page ad decrying the planning commission's opposition to development, and the developers are now offering up a $50,000 donation to the city to help alleviate traffic concerns. "I'm really torn," Mouton says. "This isn't one of those issues where both sides can't win. Somebody's going to leave unhappy tonight."
Levon Helm drums up Civil War hero  Levon Helm, legendary drummer for The Band, will be playing the ghost of General John Bell Hood when In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead by James Lee Burke begins filming in New Iberia tomorrow. He joins Tommy Lee Jones (Men In Black, Cobb, JFK), Kelly Macdonald (Gosford Park, Trainspotting) and Ned Beatty (Deliverance). Helm's most recent appearance is in the just-released movie Shooter with Mark Wahlberg, but his most famous film appearance is as himself in the 1978 rock documentary The Last Waltz which chronicles the final performance of The Band. Notably, one of The Band's signature hits, "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down," a Civil War lament, is based on Helm's Southern roots. New Iberia's Main Street will be closed Wednesday and Thursday while filming takes place in the historic downtown.
Opelousas' all-night party to end In 2003, a law was passed to allow the Evangeline Downs to serve alcohol throughout the night to its customers. A year later, the law was amended to include local bar owners, who argued that Evangeline Downs was being given preferential treatment. Last night, Opelousas' alderman voted to ban liquor sales from 2 until 6 in the morning. (Evangeline Downs is exempted from the new ordinance, since less than 15 percent of its gross sales are derived from alcohol sales.) Police Chief Perry Gallow told The Advocate that since the 24-hour liquor law's been in effect, the city has spent some $50,000 a year in overtime pay to police to patrol The Hill. The new law goes into effect at the end of May. The $5.6 million man in the gov's race Jindal's camp says he's taken in $5.3 million from in- and out-of-state contributors. Campaign reports filed yesterday show the two Republicans with the most money to spend in the October election. Gov. Kathleen Blanco, who is not seeking re-election, has yet to say what she'll do with her $3 million war chest. Rare Marc Broussard show tonight at Blue Moon  It's been about five years since Carencro soul sensation Marc Broussard played the Blue Moon Saloon. Cover charge was only $3, and Broussard drew more than 300 fans. That was before Broussard was signed to a major-label deal with Island Records, released the album Carencro in 2004 and became a steady draw on the national nightclub circuit. Tonight Broussard returns to his old stomping grounds for a special show with limited ticketing and some special guests promised. Tickets are $24; doors open at 7 p.m., guitarist Brian Marshal plays at 8 p.m., and expect Broussard to hit the Blue Moon patio stage around 9 p.m.Broussard could be previewing material from his forthcoming sophomore CD, S.O.S.: Save Our Soul, a collection of classic soul covers like Al Green's "Love and Happiness" and Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues." For an advance taste of the atmosphere at Blue Moon tonight, check out Broussard's video for his 2004 single, "Home."
Monday, April 23, 2007
Katie Holmes "spooked" in Shreveport  Shreveport is awash in Hollywood stars as of late, especially with the filming of the movie Mad Money, starring Diane Keaton, Queen Latifah, Ted Danson and Katie Holmes. And while star sightings are more common than ever, Us Weekly magazine reports that tragedy was narrowly avoided recently while Holmes was on her way to shop at a Target store.After getting spooked by a pair of photographers en route to the store, the actress, 28, had her handlers call the local police, who came to the rescue, escorting Holmes inside and trailing her as she browsed for clothes for herself and daughter, Suri. Who wouldn't be frightened by two Louisiana paparazzi while on the way to shop at Target? But don't worry about Katie. She'll be safe while in Shreveport. Says Holmes' rep, "The production office gave Katie the name of the chief of police and told her to call if she felt she needed it." Holmes didn't talk about the horrifying details of her Target nightmare when she spoke to the Shreveport Times: "I met some really great people, and it was nice," said Holmes, gesturing with a hand sporting a large diamond ring. "They did recognize me, and it was a pleasure meeting them. We had nice chats about kids, and it was lovely." Dueling Bobby Jindal Web sites  Now the lone frontrunner is this year's governor's race, Bobby Jindal is galvanizing both fans and critics, who are either elated or petrified by the Metairie congressman's campaign. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Wild West atmosphere of online political blogs, where two dueling Web sites, jindalisgood.com and jindalisbad.com, have cropped up devoted to all things Bobby. Jindalisgood.com calls Jindal "a modern day Alexander Hamilton" and also features a bizarre chronicle of fictional stories, wherein Jindal is visited by a series of former Louisiana governors dating back to the Sauvole de la Villantry. Jindalisbad aims to expose "the truth about Bobby Jindal" and challenges jindalisgood.com for what it claims are several photo-shopped images, including one of a sneering John Breaux holding a martini. Both Web sites feature online stores, with their own exclusive line of t-shirts and bumper stickers.
LHC Group's buying spree continues In 2006 alone, LHC Group made 27 acquisitions. The company now has 4,000 employees. Langlinais' lawyer takes aim at Iberia DA Hebert sent a letter to Haney stating: It is clear that your office has been directly or indirectly involved in the factual and background events surrounding many of the issues addressed by the Legislative Auditor in his recent report. I believe that our Professional Conduct Rules make it clear that in such a situation you and your office should not be involved in this process. In addition, since the Iberia Parish Distinct Attorney is the legal advisor to the Parish Government, it is also apparent, due to the nature of several of the claims in these proceedings, that actions or non-actions of your office may be or could be viewed as negligent or gross negligent performance of the stated purpose of your office. Hebert concludes that for Haney to continue his investigation would be a serious conflict of interest and strongly recommends that any further investigation be handled by an independent counsel or the Attorney General. Hebert is slated address the council Wednesday, April 25. Louisiana Lightning could be in for long year
Friday, April 20, 2007
NCAA strips titles, scholarships from UL basketball WRDA passes House; White House voices opposition The $15 billion act passed yesterday includes over $2 billion earmarked for South Louisiana, including funds for coastal restoration projects, closure of the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet and a channel deepening at the Port of Iberia. The House bill also includes more than $850 million for construction of the 72-mile Morganza to the Gulf levee, a provision that the White House attempted to strip out of WRDA last week. President Bush is still opposing the bill, wanting states to share in more of the costs of the projects, and limit the total federal price tag to $10 billion. Among Bush's specific objections is a provision the Louisiana delegation fought hard for to lower the state's cost-share in deepening and maintaining coastal harbors and channels. In response, Congressman Charles Boustany has issued a statement noting, "I'm frustrated that the Bush administration is opposed to this provision, but I'm confident that it will not impede this important bill from being signed into law." A week of music and dance On Sunday, Roots Family Day gets underway at noon with a Catholic Mass in French. The music starts at 3:30 p.m. with Don Fontenot et les Amis de la Louisiane, the Lucky Playboys; and Jeffery Broussard and Creole Cowboys. Admission is $5 and free to Friends of Louisiana Folk Roots and children 12 and under. For more information visit Louisiana Folk Roots Web site or call Chicot State Park at (337) 363-2403 or (888) 677-2442. Czech it out A Whole Lotta Lil' Band o' Gold  Lafayette swamp pop supergroup Lil' Band o' Gold got the Led out yesterday in New Orleans. The band was in the Crescent City recording with none other than legendary Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant; the session was for an upcoming Fats Domino tribute record that will benefit Domino and the non-profit Tipitina's Foundation. Lil' Band o' Gold will be joined by The Pine Leaf Boys Saturday night in New Orleans for a Lafayette double bill at Tipitina's, and it just so happens that Plant will still be in New Orleans, too. Who remembers The Honeydrippers' cover of Phil Phillips' swamp-pop classic "Sea of Love"?
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Ridin' for La.'s coast  This weekend Terry Forrette will set off on a 3-month, 12,000-mile motorcycle trip around the perimeter of the continental United States. His sole mission is to raise awareness of Louisiana's disappearing coast. He's dubbed the project "Riding the Rim" and explains the importance of his Louisiana's wetlands on his Web site:… People's lives, homes and jobs are dependent on maintaining the wetlands. Not just for the inhabitants of Louisiana and those states with tidal wetlands, but everyone in the entire country. You experience the importance of the wetlands each time you fill up at your gasoline station, pay a utility bill, or dine on fresh seafood from the gulf. Forrette is partnering with America's Wetland Campaign to Save Coastal Louisiana. For more information on Forrette's mission, to read about his journey as he travels, to make a donation, or to learn how you can help save Louisiana's coast, visit www.ridingtherim.com. With Breaux out, is Chris John in?  In his first interview since ducking out of the governor's race, former Senator John Breaux appeared on the Jim Brown Show to discuss the decision and its implications on the race. Breaux says without a favorable opinion from Attorney General Charles Foti that he does meet the state's "citizenship" requirement to run, he couldn't risk a campaign clouded by questions of his qualifications. "I didn't want to go forward without at least something to point to from a legal standpoint," he says. He also hints that his exit may open the door for his political protégé, former Congressman and fellow Crowley Democrat Chris John. "The fact that I am not in," he says, "I think, that perhaps others will look at it. Former Congressman Chris John, I think, is interested." Listen to the entire interview here.Boasso going Democratic in governor's race? Too early to predict which way Boasso will go, but he has to be giving the move some serious consideration. On a related side note, this could be a notable instance of the national Republican Party's recent struggles subtly filtering into Louisiana; when was the last time you remember a Louisiana Republican switching to the Democratic Party? EatLafayette campaign signing up local eateries Gloria Fiero show opens in Arnaudville  Retired UL history, art history and humanities professor Gloria Fiero has an art exhibit opening Friday, April 20 and Saturday, April 21, 5-7 p.m., at Turtle Cove Gallery in Arnaudville. Fiero taught at the university for twenty-seven years, encouraging students to pursue careers in the visual arts and art history. Once she retired, she took her own advice, setting up a studio in New Orleans and pursuing her fascination with the Crescent City. Her Mardi Gras series reflects the ability of the city and its to culture to thrive, post-Katrina. Art galleries, fiddle shops and the Town Market will also be open for Arnaudville's Potluck rural celebration, April 20, 6-10 p.m. For more info call 739-4749 or 280-9355.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Zachary Richard's new album  Zachary Richard will release his latest compact disc, Lumière dans le noir, at this year's Festival International de Louisiane. With songs like "La Promesse Cassée," recorded with French recording star Francis Cabrel, the album has already been topping the charts in Quebec, New Brunswick and other areas of Canada. Richard takes the Lafayette Stage, along with Cabrel, at FIL on Saturday, April 28 at 7 p.m. The "Franco-American Tribute" follows the hurricane relief effort concert the two hosted in Paris in November 2005, which raised over $100,000 to help displaced Louisiana musicians.
And the Culinary Classic winners are ... A familiar face on the New Orleans Levee Board  The secretary of the newly consolidated New Orleans Levee Board is a familiar face. John Barry, renowned historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the epic 1927 Mississippi flood chronicle Rising Tide, is putting his levee expertise to use by helping the board navigate layers of pre-consolidation holdings. "We're spending an enormous amount of time separating flood assets from nonflood assets," Barry tells The New York Times. "The new board is interested in levees." Barry hopes the new board can overcome the old board's troubled legacy and push to get crucial levee repairs completed. "One thing that is not going to happen is, we're not going to lose our focus," he says.Read The Independent's February 2006 interview with Barry. Inspector General releases horse farm audit Farmer's Market to reopen in Oil Center
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Lourdes closes on $14 million Boustany property  Our Lady of Lourdes finalized its acquisition of a 45-acre tract on Frem Boustany Drive at Ambassador Caffery Parkway that will eventually house a portion of its campus. The property, which Lourdes bought for $14 million, is across Ambassador Caffery from the new Cordoba office complex and Home Bank. Confirming only that he will develop an Ambassador Caffery campus and calling the project "a top priority," Lourdes President and CEO Bud Barrow says he will release more details before the end of the year. Should Lourdes relocate most of its services to Ambassador Caffery Parkway, it will be well-positioned to take advantage of that corridor's growth and expanding population. Plans call for Ambassador Caffery Parkway to be extended south to U.S. Highway 90, opening up a large portion of previously undeveloped real estate.
Mitch Landrieu: Thanks, but no thanks  Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu, widely considered the top Democratic candidate to step into the breach left by John Breaux's abruptly aborted candidacy for governor, wants nothing to do with trying to clean up Breaux's mess. Landrieu released a written statement late yesterday afternoon and declared that he would not run for governor. "I believe I can best serve the people of Louisiana by finishing the job I started four years ago," Landrieu said. With Landrieu declining to enter the race, speculation continues that Treasurer John Kennedy, former Attorney General Richard Ieyoub and former Rep. Chris John are possible candidates. Meanwhile, Public Service Commissioner Foster Campbell remains the last Democrat standing against Republican candidates Walter Boasso, John Georges and Bobby Jindal.
Doctors Without Borders VP to give talk UL satellite in orbit The satellites were launched through a converted intercontinental ballistic missile from a former Soviet facility in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The CAPE team will now be attempting to contact the satellite from their ground station at 146 Madison Hall on the UL campus. The public is invited to attend the first two contact attempts at 10 and 11:45 this morning. Visit the CAPE Web site for further updates. NY Times on Bush's "broken promises" President Bush has reneged on his promises to Katrina's victims. Shamefully, the president has chosen the interests of bureaucracy over those of American towns on the brink of failure. The editorial states there are still 64,000 people in Louisiana living in trailers and 20,000 projects in limbo due to financing problems. These are unacceptable failures. At least part of the problem is a law that requires states to contribute 10 percent of the cost of most federally financed reconstruction projects. Mr. Bush waived that requirement after the Sept. 11 attacks (as his father did after Hurricanes Andrew and Iniki) but he refuses to do so for the Gulf Coast.
Monday, April 16, 2007
The Independent wins Freedom of Information Award  The Independent Weekly won the Louisiana Press Association's coveted Freedom of Information Award for its continuing coverage of the UL horse farm land swap and its lawsuit against the university to protect citizens' rights to public records. Judges of the award called Senior Editor Leslie Turk's coverage of the story "passionate and vigorous." Other contenders for the award included The Advocate of Baton Rouge, The News-Star of Monroe and the Toledo Bend Tribune.On Saturday, at the LPA's 127th annual convention in New Orleans, The Independent Weekly garnered 20 first place honors – in categories as diverse as best investigative reporting (for Nathan Stubb's coverage of former Lafayette Police Chief Randy Hundley), community service, best advertising idea, and best Web site. At the end of the day, The Independent took home 47 awards. Read this week's edition on Wednesday, April 18, for the complete story. Inspector general releasing horse farm audit Michot ramps up fundraising  State Sen. Michot of Lafayette doesn't look like he's taking any chances with financing a re-election campaign. Lafayette Republican and District 23 Sen. Michot is sending out invites to a $500-a-couple fund-raiser on April 26 at River Ranch's City Club. The fundraiser's timing is good for Michot, as his push (along with Rep. Joel Robideaux and City-Parish President Joey Durel) to finance road improvements with vehicle sales taxes recently picked up the endorsement of state Treasurer John Kennedy. Gov. Kathleen Blanco is opposed to the initiative, saying it will divert funds away from health care and education.
Louisiana ranks last in volunteer hours Third in Daspit's architecture series published
Friday, April 13, 2007
Foti punts to courts Read Foti's opinion (in a Word document). Waiting on Foti Report: Corps should acknowledge global warming School board election set for Oct. 20 The school board has already named Mark Cockerham, a 30-year-old UL alum who works with his family's oil field supply business, as an interim replacement. Cockerham was recommended by Thiboduax's family for the post. He is yet to decide whether he will run in the upcoming election, the winner of which will fill out the remaining three years of Thibodaux's term. Qualifying for the race is Sept. 4 - 6. Birds and bears on festival calendars  Louisiana celebrates its lush wildlife with migratory bird festivities and a black bear festival in April.After a hiatus following Hurricane Katrina, the Grand Isle Migratory Bird Celebration is back on track April 13-14. The Celebration offers guided bird watching tours, island history tours, boat tours to Queen Bess Isle, live birds of prey, bird-related arts and crafts, and is fun for families with children. Many Grand Isle families will welcome birders into their yards for leisurely bird watching all weekend. In Lafayette, The Acadian Cultural Center, in cooperation with Vermilionville, will offer 2 special eco-tours of Bayou Vermilion. Join a National Park Service ranger and an ornithologist aboard the Cocodrie as they identify birds by sight and sound on the 1 ½ hour boat tour. "Birds Along the Bayou" cruises at 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. from the Vermilionville Dock. Reservations are strongly recommended. Call 337-233-4077 for reservations and information. A walking tour, activities for children and a discussion about tracking birds with radio telemetry will take place on April 14, 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Acadiana Park Nature Station. Call 291-8448 for info. The Louisiana Black Bear is making a comeback and Franklin is the place where the wild things are. The Bayou Teche Bear Festival will be held Saturday, April 21 in Franklin's historic downtown. Hurricanes still hurting schools The study finds that enrollment has not yet recovered to pre-Katrina levels in most of the districts. St. Bernard Parish is suffering the most, with a decline of 57.4 percent in student enrollment; followed by Orleans Parish, down 54.3 percent; Bay St. Louis/Waveland, down 31.9 percent; Biloxi, down 25.3 percent; and Jefferson Parish, down 21.3 percent. At the opposite end of the spectrum, enrollment has increased 8.3 percent in the East Baton Rouge Parish school districts, leading to schools that are filled to capacity and exacerbating pre-existing shortages in teachers, substitute teachers, and school bus drivers. Read GulfGov Reports: Education.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Joe Broussard inducted into Chef's Hall of Fame Melancon optimistic on Morganza levee Earlier this week, the White House sent shock waves through the Louisiana Congressional delegation when it released a new draft of the WRDA bill that cut the $886 million slated for the Morganza levee. Sen. David Vitter wrote the administration pleading them to reconsider, noting that their opposition "will display a fundamental lack of understanding and commitment to crucial hurricane and flood protection in key parts of southeast Louisiana." Iberia DA to convene grand jury  Iberia Parish District Attorney Phil Haney told the Iberia Parish Council last night that he's working with state police investigators on a criminal investigation of the papers used by the legislative auditor and looking into other possible violations of the law. Actions of Parish President Will Langlinais were the main focus of the audit. Haney concluded that "we believe sufficient evidence exists to convene a grand jury into allegations raised in the compliance audit," which he plans to call within 60 days. In a letter, Haney also urged the council to conduct civil "investigations into the affairs of the Parish Government and conduct of any Parish official. ... The council may subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, take testimony and require the production of evidence."The council voted to begin their own investigation. Langlinais responded in a passionate three-minute speech, calling the audit a "witch hunt." He then asked Haney if the investigation was a "two-edged sword," because "there are some possible improprieties by some council members. I can tell you there are some more (issues) that involve some council members that I feel I should have the opportunity to address." Haney responded that Langlinais should take his allegations to the criminal investigation unit of the state police. (photo of Will Langlinais by Terri Fensel) Congress cracks down on cockfighting Dupuis replaces Chris Williams as LTC regional director In addition to the Lafayette campus, LTC's Region Four includes the Crowley, Ville Platte, St. Martinville, Abbeville, Opelousas and New Iberia campuses.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Vitter shocked by Bush stance on coastal restoration "It will display a fundamental lack of understanding and commitment to crucial hurricane and flood protection in key parts of southeast Louisiana." ... Vitter called the funding limitation "a raw deal for Louisiana and a real mistake that will cause the loss of an environmental treasure to this nation." Sidney Coffee, executive assistant to the governor for coastal affairs called the Bush stance "ludicrous." "It just tells me that the only thing that matters is counting the beans," Coffee said. Read The Times-Picuyane's account. Durel touts state transportation bills Lafayette state Rep. Joel Robidaux and state Sen. Mike Michot are filing a bill that would redirect motor vehicle sales taxes to local governments to use toward road and drainage improvements. Lafayette state Rep. Don Trahan is pushing an effort to build a state mobility fund for major infrastructure projects that would be bankrolled by drunk driving fines and vehicle registration and inspection fees. All told, Robidaux says the proposed transportation bills could mean an additional $600 million a year being dedicated to meet the state's infrastructure needs. District Attorney to address Iberia audit Lafayette's land bank  A new nonprofit spearheaded by Lafayette Consolidated Government could renew economic interest in the the McComb Veazey neighborhood. The Lafayette Public Trust Finance Authority has committed $400,000 to the new organization, dedicated to bringing vacant, abandoned and tax delinquent properties back into use.Read more about the project in this week's issue of The Independent Weekly. Rickey Hardy running for state rep.  School board member Rickey Hardy announced today he is running for the District 44 state Rep. seat being vacated by Wilfred Pierre. Pierre, who has held the seat since 1992, is prevented by term limits from seeking re-election.Hardy, in his fifth term on the school board, joins a crowded field of candidates which already includes City-Parish Councilman Chris Williams, city Planning Commissioner Fred Prejean, former Superintendent of State Police Terry Landry and attorney Derriel McCorvey. In a sign that the jostling has already begun, Hardy's press release takes a not-so-subtle jab at Williams, who has been involved in bitter public disputes with his fellow councilmen, often over racial issues. "Among my goals as a State Representative is to end divisiveness in matters with regard to the public," Hardy states. "Divisiveness that seems to be present, at this time, in our Lafayette Parish Council. This kind of divisiveness cannot be carried over to a state elected office. I pledge to bring a mature level of representation to the people of District 44." iMonelli's Brian Blanchard takes over a la carte
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Cravins and Durand seek UMC answers Last month, LSU closed down an orthopedic clinic at UMC that was seeing up to 150 patients a week. LSU needed to move the program back to New Orleans from Lafayette - where it had moved following Hurricane Katrina – for accreditation. LSU has agreed to send orthopedic residents into Lafayette once a week to continue to see patients, but that won't begin until June. "How do we not see these things coming?" Cravins asks. "The medical school and the medical center should be working hand in hand so that we don't have these shortage problems again." NY Times on NO's recovery chief It is too early to say whether Dr. Blakely will succeed where others have failed, and he recently said he might leave his post in a year. But what is clear is that, perhaps for the first time, a ranking New Orleans official is looking out over the ruins and their complicated context with a clinical, outsider's eye. That awareness of entrenched realities here, racial and economic, is reflected in Dr. Blakely's relatively modest plan: it is not an effort to make over the city all at once. Instead, it revolves around localized attention to promising zones that, if they take off, could have a transforming effect on the whole. "If I could pump life back in these places, you might pump life back into the entire city," he said. Voters undecided in governor's race The check's in the mail, Mississippi Landrieu and other Louisiana politicians have decried the grant program since before the December announcement, arguing that FEMA ignored congressional intent by fashioning a competitive process that did not consider the respective housing needs in hurricane-affected states. More than 200,000 Louisiana homes were heavily damaged or destroyed in the 2005 storms and related flooding, while Mississippi lost about 60,000 residences. And FEMA's top brass have said repeatedly that Mississippi's proposals were better. Scoring summaries obtained by The Times-Picayune show that Mississippi's winning programs scored a 184 and 182, while Louisiana's proposal notched a 176. All three were significantly higher than the remaining proposals. Lafayette architect Steve Oubre, who worked with new urbanist planner Andres Duany to design Katrina cottages during planning charettes in Erath and St. Bernard parish says that "in terms of design, in Mississippi and Louisiana, the cottages are the same plans. They were all done as part of that exercise, the plans are no different." Louisiana's plan calls for as many as 600 Katrina Cottages on sites in New Orleans, Abbeville and Lake Charles--once the money arrives. Road Home lump sums Reuters reports: But the new plan could make it easier for lenders to seize the grants of up to $150,000 to satisfy unpaid mortgages and expose people to contractor fraud because it lacks protections established by the state-designed Road Home program, LRA officials said. "H.U.D. basically said, 'You've got to do lump sum payments.' So if we end up with increased blight, it's because of HUD's policy," Recovery Authority housing task force chair Walter Leger said. Read also coverage from The Times-Picayune and The Advocate.
Monday, April 09, 2007
KADN's 9 p.m. news debuts tonight Washington Post says waive the 10 precent ... Mr. Bush did this for New York after the horrific Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks (damage: $390 per capita). Not so for Louisiana. Not after it was hit by the worst natural disaster in U.S. history; not after it sustained the worst damages in U.S. history ($6,700 per capita). Not after 1.3 million people were displaced from their homes. Not after its economy collapsed. And not after residents of a great American city, New Orleans, experienced what Mr. Bush called "the kind of desperation no citizen of this great and generous nation should ever have to know." ... Speaking from Jackson Square in New Orleans on Sept. 15, 2005, Mr. Bush said, "When communities are rebuilt, they must be even better and stronger than before the storm . . . . We'll not just rebuild, we'll build higher and better." Such progress is being tripped up by thick rolls of red tape. Mr. Bush can clear those obstacles and help turn his far-reaching vision into reality with a stroke of a pen by waiving the 10 percent FEMA match requirement. He should do it now. Breaux's duck stamp: the new smoking gun? Cisco testing new products in Lafayette Iberia may bet on video poker
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Save the Horse Farm not giving up on barn Because local government does not have the money to buy the 100-acre property but is interested in its potential as a community park, Save the Horse Farm is meeting this morning and plans to launch a major fund-raising campaign to purchase the property. McDonald says the barn, which the city's mounted patrol unit wants to use to board its horses, is an important component of the plan. But first McDonald and his group of community activists have to convince Authement to allow them to fence off the barn and address the liability issues. To date, Authement has shown no interest in preserving the barn, which some believe was constructed in the early 1900s, and neither he nor the state believes it is a local landmark with historic value. Port Fourchon lobbies for $63 million road upgrade  Two-lane Louisiana 1 is best known as the path to serious fishing and relaxation on Grand Isle, but 14 percent of the nation's oil lies at the end of that road at Port Fourchon and the Louisiana OffShore Oil Port. If a serious hurricane destroyed or flooded out a significant part of the road, we'd be looking at a major disruption of energy supplies. Gov. Blanco and representatives from non-profit LA 1 Coalition hammered home that point yesterday in demonstrations for lawmakers, in hopes of securing $63 million from the state surplus to raise and secure sections of La 1. "We think this project has evolved into the poster-child for the nation for critical energy infrastructure at risk," Port Fourchon director Ted Falgout told The Times-Picayune.
School Board rejects Trahan Following the vote to eliminate Trahan's contract, which expires June 9, some board members moved to buy out Trahan's contract immediately and to have Chief Academic Officer Bernell Lemoine take over Title funding. Hefner warned the board could be overstepping its bounds and potentially violating state law if it were to appoint someone without a recommendation from the Superintendent. The motion failed to get the required two-thirds vote to be added to the agenda. "With some of the board members the ends justifies the means," Hefner says. "And that's dangerous for an elected body to take that attitude." Spike Lee plans sequel in Mississippi "Next month, we're going back to HBO and discuss how we can continue this," Lee said after presenting three New Orleans residents who told their stories at the closing luncheon of the American Society of Newspaper Editors convention in Washington. "The Gulf Coast will be a much bigger part. We didn't forget about you," he said in responding to a question from Stan Tiner, editor of the Biloxi (Miss.) Sun-Herald, whose paper has crusaded to remind the nation that the Mississippi coast was also devastated by the 2005 hurricane. Lee was also won the Long Island University George K. Polk award for journalistic integrity in the category of documentary television. The awards will be presented Thursday, April 12.No INDsider on Good Friday
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
We hope you're wrong again, Dr. Gray  If it's springtime, it's time for the annual hurricane forecast from Dr. William Gray at Colorado State University's Department of Atmospheric Science. Gray's 2006 forecast of an unusually active hurricane season proved incorrect due to unexpected El Niño conditions. But now those conditions have dissipated, and Gray and his forecast partner Phil Klotzbach are estimating a "very active" 2007 hurricane season with nine hurricanes and 17 named storms. The most unsettling prediction in the report: There's a 49 percent chance of a major hurricane (Category 3, 4 or 5) making landfall on the Gulf Coast from the Florida Panhandle westward to Brownsville, Texas.
Hurricane season begins June 1. Let's hope Dr. Gray's wrong again this year. Beyond funnel cake  When people talk about New Orlean's Jazz Fest, the buzz is usually limited to the music line-up. But some of us enter the Fair Grounds and make a bee line for the food. The cooking is as funky as a five trombone jazz band starring dazzlers like Andouille Calas or Sweet Potato Pone. Two Lafayette restaurants, Prejean's and Creole Lunch House have been long-time cooks at the festival. Catch Prejean's Pheasant, Quail & Andouille Gumbo on the fly, or pick up one of Creole Lunch House's signature Stuffed Breads for noshing to a Cajun beat. With 55 booths to choose from, lines are relatively quick and for the money, you won't find a tastier or more extravagant banquet anywhere else in town.
Daily Advertiser's top sales exec joins Citadel Ruona joined The Daily Advertiser in the early 1990s, left for a brief stint with the Moody family's newspapers and accepted a sales position with The Times of Acadiana in 1994 (when it was owned by Independent Weekly publishers Steve May and Cherry Fisher May). During her tenure with the group of publications now owned by Gannett Co., Ruona at various times served as sales manager for The Advertiser, Times and Daily World but in recent years asked to return to sales, where she says her passion lies. She was handling local major accounts and territory accounts. Tabasco's $5 million, 17-foot levee Instead, the family plans to spend $5 million on something far more urgent: a 17-foot levee on Avery Island and a back-up generator. Construction should begin by April and be ready in time for the 2008 hurricane season. Folk Roots events announced The week-long Dewey Balfa Cajun and Creole Heritage Week is just over two weeks away, April 20-26. Nightly musical acts for Heritage Week will include Balfa Toujours, Ray Abshire, Steve Riley & The Mamou Playboys, Geno Delafose & French Rockin' Boogie, the Pine Leaf Boys and others. Instructors for the week-long event at Chicot State Park include members of those bands, as well as Castille, Al Berard, Jeffery Broussard, Kristi Guillory, Corey "Lil Pop" Ledet and Ann Savoy.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
French class for toddlers begins Schedule a musical spring FIL's new interactive, Web-based Festival Schedule Builder lets you plot out your musical week by time, stage and artist. After adding items to your itinerary, you can save out your schedule and print it for portability during the festival, April 25-29. The New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival has also revealed its lineup and the stages where each act will perform. The Cubes are accessible by clicking on each day or in this PDF form. New Orleans' Hemline coming to River Ranch Lafayette's $55 million man outduels Curt Schilling  Yesterday was opening day for Major League Baseball, and Acadiana High alum and former Seattle Mariners pitcher Gil Meche couldn't have scripted a better start to his season. Matched against 2005 World Series hero Curt Schilling and the Boston Red Sox, Meche helped lead the Kansas City Royals to a 7-1 drubbing of the BoSox in the Royals' home opener. He struck out six and received a standing ovation from a sellout crowd after yielding to the Royals' bullpen in the eighth inning. It was just the kind of performance the Royals were hoping for when they signed Meche to a widely derided five-year, $55 million contract in the offseason. Even Schilling seemed impressed."If [Meche] ever wants to get to that next level and be great, the stuff is there," Schilling told mlb.com. "He'll be worth every penny of that contract and more if he wants to be one of the best guys in the game." |
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