Today's Headlines / Mon, Aug. 25, 2008
News Alert: Traigle criticizes Jindal for failing to renew discrimination order
Former Louisiana Secretary of Revenue Joe Traigle blasted Gov. Bobby Jindal today for failing to renew an executive order prohibiting discrimination against state workers based on race, religion, gender, political affiliation, disability, or, most controversially, sexual orientation. Traigle, a Baton Rouge businessman and gay rights activist, released a statement saying more than 90% of Fortune 500 companies and 21 states have such a policy. “Under Jindal’s change in Louisiana policy, a state employee can be fired simply for being gay, and that is viewed as wrong by all fair-minded residents of Louisiana,” Traigle says. Jindal says he chose not to renew the order because it could potentially affect nonprofit groups who contract with the state. “I’d want to make sure we weren’t driving out faith-based providers from state government from providing state services,” Jindal said last year, as reported in The Times-Picayune. He expressed similar sentiments last week before the order expired.
News Alert: Black chambers form state group
The leaders of four business organizations are joining together to form the Louisiana Black Chamber of Commerce in order to better serve as advocates for black entrepreneurs. The group, made up of the Baton Rouge Black Chamber of Commerce, Greater Southwest Louisiana Black Chamber of Commerce, New Orleans Regional Black Chamber of Commerce and Shreveport/Bossier African American Chamber of Commerce, will hold its first statewide meeting Oct. 13-14 in Baton Rouge. Zazell V. Dudley, chairwoman of the Shreveport/Bossier Africa American Chamber and head of the LBCC, says the group is committed to working together in order to offer competitive, sustainable advantages to businesses across the state and fostering economic opportunity.
News Alert: Tropical Storm Gustav forms in central Caribbean
Tropical Storm Gustav formed this afternoon in the central Caribbean, and is heading for the Dominican Republic and Haiti. At 1 p.m., Gustav had maximum sustained winds of near 60 mph and was located about 225 miles southeast of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Forecasters say the center of the storm would be moving near or over southwestern Haiti on Tuesday. The storm is moving toward the northwest at about 14 mph. Hurricane warnings have been issued for the southern and western parts of the island shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti. A hurricane watch has been issued for Haiti from north of Port-au-Prince to the northern border of the Dominican Republic.
Development groups hold forum for Metro Council candidates
A regional development forum for Metro Council candidates will be held at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Lyceum Dean. More than 30 candidates are expected to attend the event, hosted by members of the American Planning Association, American Society of Civil Engineers, American Society of Landscape Architecture, American Public Works Association, American Institute of Architects Baton Rouge and the Louisiana Engineering Society. For more information, contact kgoodin@c-pex.org.
Existing home sales rise nationally in July
Sales of existing homes rose 3.1% in July, easily beating Wall Street's expectations, as buyers snapped up deeply discounted properties in parts of the country hit hardest by the housing bust. The number of unsold properties hit an all-time high, however, the latest indication that the worst housing market slump in decades is far from over. The National Association of Realtors reported today that sales rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5 million units. Sales had been expected to rise by only 1.6%. But home sales were 13.2% lower than a year ago and prices were down dramatically. The median price for a home sold in July dropped to $212,000, down by 7.1% a year ago. Despite the third monthly sales jump this year, the number of unsold single-family homes and condominiums rose to 4.67 million, the highest number since 1968, when the Realtors group started tracking the data. Sales were up in all regions of the country except the South, which posted a 0.5% decline. Analysts say that until the inventory level is reduced to more normal levels, the housing slump is likely to persist. The inventory level is being driven higher by a massive wave of mortgage foreclosures.
Coastal restoration office under new leadership
Louis Buatt has been picked from the Department of Environmental Quality to run the state office of coastal restoration and management, an agency charged with protecting, maintaining and restoring wetlands. Prior to taking over the office as assistant secretary, Buatt had more than 14 years of public service as general counsel for DEQ and as an attorney for the state office of environmental assessment. DNR Secretary Scott Angelle says the administration of Gov. Bobby Jindal has framed coastal erosion as environmental problem, and Buatt’s background compliments that mind-set. “I believe Lou is perfectly suited with his years of environmental experience to play a major role in reversing this problem as a member of the coastal team,” Angelle said. Buatt wouldn’t go into detail about possible operational changes, but says he is exploring different ideas to improve permitting, management and other areas.
Buatt replaces Dave Frugé, who was the office’s acting assistance secretary before he moved under the employ of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority. DEQ Secretary Harold Leggett says Paul Miller has been named as Buatt’s successor as assistant secretary of the office of environmental assessment. Miller has more than 11 years of experience in the electric utility industry, six years of experience at DEQ and has previously worked in the timber and wood products industries.—Jeremy Alford
LSU ranks No. 7 in New York Times poll
LSU ranked seventh in the New York Times preseason college football countdown. The newspaper says the Tigers have staked their claim as the best SEC football team in the past decade thanks to two BCS championships and 76 victories. The paper forecasts another strong season, with the Tigers winning the SEC West and posting double-figure victories for the fourth consecutive season. "I don’t think the Tigers can top Florida or Georgia, both of whom they get this fall," says the Times' Paul Myerberg. "But that’s OK: A top 10 finish on the heels of a national title—especially with their losses—is nothing to feel bad about, especially in the SEC." Read the preview here.
Meanwhile, Glenn Guilbeau of Louisiana Gannett News predicts LSU will finish 9-3 and play in the Capital One Bowl. Guilbeau, who correctly predicted the Tigers would win a national championship at the start of last season, says the team will lose games to Florida, South Carolina and Ole Miss. Read his preview here.
BizTech Expo set for Oct. 8-9
More than 200 companies will gather at the River Center on Oct. 8-9 and display the latest products and services at the BizTech Expo. The show, sponsored by Business Report, is the largest business show in the Gulf South. On Oct. 8, economist Loren Scott will present his predictions for the economy in 2009-10 at the Top 100 Luncheon. New this year is a Louisiana Leadership Symposium, which will feature five influential figures in state government. That event will be held Thursday, Oct. 9. The show will feature seminars on Wednesday and Thursday. For information or to buy tickets to the expo, luncheon or symposium, go to businessreportexpo.com.
Poll: Readers overwhelmingly against Vitter using funds
Ninety percent of Daily Report readers think U.S. Sen. David Vitter shouldn't be allowed to use his campaign funds to pay for legal expenses associated from the "D.C. Madam" scandal. Just 9% think the Republican should be allowed to use campaign money to cover his more than $160,000 in legal fees and 1% were undecided. Nearly 1,500 people participated in the survey. The Federal Election Commission was split last week on if Vitter could use the money for his defense.
Today's poll: What's your prediction for the 2008 LSU football season?
News roundup: Kansas bank closed by regulators … Popeyes gets new look
Ninth bank to fail this year:Federal regulators shut down Topeka, Kan.-based Columbian Bank and Trust Company, which was struggling with losses on soured real estate loans. The FDIC did not give a reason for the closure, but Columbian reported $92 million in delinquent loans in the second quarter, citing a "volatile real estate market." The bank set aside $9.2 million for loan losses in the first quarter, up nearly 30% from the $7.1 million it set aside in the first quarter of 2007. It was the ninth failure this year of an FDIC-insured bank. That compares with three failures for 2007. More banks are in danger of failing this year, agency officials have said. Love that chicken: Popeyes chicken is launching a new advertising campaign that stresses its Louisiana heritage, The Atlanta Business Chronicle reports. The fried chicken chain, which has experienced flat profits for the past two quarters, will now bill itself as a "Louisiana kitchen" that provides slow-cooked food "Louisiana fast". A new red and orange logo, featuring fleur-de-lis, was selected to remind diners of the spices that go into the chicken.
