Stanford receiver files detailed list of venture capital investments

A more comprehensive list of investments made by the Stanford Financial Group has been released. The SEC-alleged Ponzi scheme of Stanford companies, headed by Robert Allen Stanford, invested in, according to the latest count, 35 companies and 11 indirect investments. According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, several of these companies are known as venture capital funds. To read the story, click here. (Registration required)

Included in the list of indirect investments is Louisiana Ventures -- a company that works in conjunction with VCE Capital Partners -- with two offices in the region, one in Bossier City lead by Ross Barrett and one in New Orleans led by Richard Montgomery. The Business Report contacted the Louisiana offices of Louisiana Ventures for a comment on the dates and nature of Stanford’s investment and left a voicemail that was not returned immediately for Montgomery and spoke with a staff member in Barrett’s office.

Four of the 11 indirect investments made by Stanford, including Louisiana Ventures, made offers to the receiver, according to court filings.

According to its Web site, Louisiana Ventures serves as a "generalist fund as far as industry preference, and invests opportunistically in high-growth equity opportunities." Louisiana Ventures is part of the same investment capital collective, which includes TVP, a venture capital fund that invests in the Pennington Biomedical Research Center. To read the full list of Stanford’s investments, click here.—Olivia Watkins

Report: Shell considering job cuts at refineries, plants

Shell is considering eliminating jobs at its refineries and chemical plants along the Gulf Coast because of the current recession, a move that could affect facilities in Convent, Geismar and Norco. According to Reuters, the total number of jobs that may be eliminated has not been determined, but salaried, hourly and contract employees could be affected. "It's going to be different at every site," Shell spokeswoman Anne Peebles told Reuters. "We're going to do this on a site-by-site basis." Officials with the Louisiana Workforce Commission say they have not heard anything official about potential layoffs at the area plants. Read the full story here.

LaPolitics by John Maginnis: Senate hopefuls talking

Call it the silent Democratic primary as Congressman Charlie Melancon and Shaw Group chairman Jim Bernhard continue to talk about who should step aside for the other in next year's U.S. Senate race. Sources have described the conversations proceeding on "very good terms," but so far they have been inconclusive. One source said, "Both of them have their own polls that say they would do better" in a challenge to U.S. Sen. David Vitter. Though Melancon has not made an official announcement, he is pressing ahead with fundraising, particularly on a national level, with the aid of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

-- Compared to the stink caused last year by the governor's veto of 30% of legislators' pet projects, this time he nixed only 10% of a smaller pot of items for lawmakers. The governor's 53 spending vetoes nullified $3.46 million of the $34 million in member amendments added to the supplemental appropriations bill. Last year, he red-lined $16 million of $53 million, or 30% of local projects. Legislators say they were more careful this year in submitting projects that followed the governor's criteria for funding non-governmental organizations. Yet, a number of items vetoed were similar enough to others that were allowed that legislators claimed retribution from Jindal, a charge he has denied.

-- Nine members have been selected for the commission to recommend how to restructure higher education, but the governor's naming of his appointees already has caused a stir in the university community. For his two picks, the governor chose the chairmen of the LSU and the Southern Boards of Supervisors: Blake Chatelain and Tony Clayton. The Board of Regents, which will administer the commission, has one board seat and named two others, as set out in the statute. That leaves the University of Louisiana System and the community college system without official representation. The governor giving LSU and Southern seats surprised some legislators and college officials, who expected a "non-partisan" board, in the words of one. Their concern is that when school or program mergers are discussed, Chatelain and Clayton will be inclined to protect their systems' turf.

(John Maginnis publishes LaPolitics Weekly, a newsletter on Louisiana politics, at LaPolitics.com.)

Editor: Parochial over parish

East Baton Rouge Parish officials talk nonstop about the power of regionalism, Business Report Executive Editor JR Ball says. But in reality, the parish is an uneasy alliance between the northern cities of Baker, Central and Zachary, and Baton Rouge. The latest example of these tensions is the proposed bond issue that cuts out the northern cities. "Once again, our 'separate unless it’s all equal' philosophy is on full display," Ball says. Read his column here. Send comments to editors@businessreport.com.

Four Obama cabinet members heading to La.

Four of President Barack Obama's cabinet members are going Monday to Reserve in St. John the Baptist Parish to host a forum about rural health as part of a national tour. The meeting will be at 11:30 a.m. at the Army National Guard Readiness Center. At the meeting will be Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, Labor Secretary Hilda Solis and Kathleen Sebelius, head of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Pope leaves hospital after breaking wrist

Pope Benedict XVI has left the hospital where he underwent surgery after breaking his right wrist in a fall in his Alpine vacation chalet. Benedict, 82, smiled broadly and waved to the crowd with his left hand as he climbed into his car outside the hospital in the northwestern Italian town of Aosta. His right arm hung by his side, the cast hidden by his white vestments.

Surgeons performed a 20-minute operation today to reduce the fracture, a procedure to realign the broken bone fragments. The surgery was performed under local anesthesia. A Vatican statement said the pope fell in his room in a nearby chalet overnight and despite the accident, celebrated Mass and had breakfast before going to the hospital.

Concert set to raise money for handicapped stadium

A benefit concert featuring top country music performers to raise money for a "miracle league" baseball field will be Oct. 12 at the Baton Rouge Marriott. Lonestar's Richie McDonald, Shenandoah's Marty Raybon, Restless Heart's Larry Stewart and John Conlee will perform at the benefit, which will help build a field for handicapped children at the Cypress Mounds baseball complex. Hollywood Hal & Rhinestone Al -- also known as WYNK radio personality Scott Innes and singer/songwriter Jim Hogg -- are hosting the event, and LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri will be the emcee. The concert will be covered by the Great American Country cable network and Country Weekly Magazine. VIP tickets are available along with a limited number of standing-room-only tickets. For details, e-mail halandallive@hotmail.com.

Fixed-price menus a must-have trend for restaurants

To adjust to a decrease in dining business, most upscale restaurants are relying on a price-fixed menu to keep the doors swinging. Fleming's features "5 for $6 until 7" with five cocktails, wines and appetizers at the bar; Galatoire's Bistro offers a summer menu for $29.95. Even Ruth's Chris Steakhouse now has a $29 power lunch. "You can tell everyone's frightened about shrinking restaurant consumers," says Kevin Kimball, manager of the members-only Camelot Club, which came up with a $5 stimulus package lunch special. "People are trying to get creative."

Also in 225 Dine this week: Kona Grill has a clean slate and a new chef; Chicago’s Grillroom hosts grand opening this week; and how Diane Baringer of Pinetta’s got the family's blessing to revive an old tradition. And which menu is Christy Reeves obsessed about? Find out by clicking here.

A different look for Day 2 of the British Open

Steve Marino can thank his dad for making sure he got to the British Open. Marino, a 29-year-old American who scuffled to qualify for the PGA Tour, looked right at home at Turnberry with a 2 under 68 today -- a most impressive score in windy conditions that put some bite in the course. He had the lead all to himself at 5 under, safely in the clubhouse while most everyone else surrendered ground with the breezes whipping off the Firth of Clyde.

Tom Watson, 59, the star of Day 1, followed a 65 with bogeys on four of the first six holes. Japan's Kenichi Kuboya had the lead for a while, but lost it -- along with his ball -- when an errant tee shot at No. 13 led to double bogey.

First-round leader Miguel Angel Jimenez struggled to a 73. The 2003 Open champion, Ben Curtis, took an even bigger hit, going from challenging for the lead (he opened with 65) to possibly missing the cut (he soared to an 80 in the second round).

Overwhelming favorite Tiger Woods started today's round with a couple of pars, desperately needing to make up ground after facing the largest 18-hole deficit of his Open career. Two-time defending champion Padraig Harrington plodded to a 74 and had a lot of work to do in his quest to keep the claret jug for a third straight year. He was at 3 over 143.

Poll: Majority think higher ed cuts will hurt

Fifty-two percent of people who responded to an online survey say the layoffs and furloughs planned for state colleges and universities will affect educational quality. Forty-two percent of people who participated in the online poll say the budget-cutting measures will not hurt the quality of education, and 6% are undecided. More than 1,150 people participated in the survey.

Today's question: With the recent murder spree and Baton Rouge's ranking as one of the nation's deadliest cities, is it time for the city to change police chiefs?

News roundup: Company plans to drill in Pointe Coupee ... Shaw Center a model for Mississippi arts center

Black gold: Portrush Petroleum Corporation says it has entered into an agreement to drill for oil and gas in Pointe Coupee Parish. The Canadian company says it will develop a 1,200-acre site right between Baton Rouge and Opelousas. Plans are to drill down to 11,600 feet.

Trip-paying dividends: Officials from Jackson, Miss., are using the Shaw Center for the Arts as a model for proposed downtown mixed-use development, The (Jackson) Clarion-Ledger reports. About 60 officials from Jackson made a canvass trip to Baton Rouge last week, collecting ideas for the redevelopment of the Arts Center of Mississippi. Ben Allen, president of Downtown Jackson Partners, which spearheaded the trip, told the newspaper he was impressed with the Shaw Center. "It's got the coolest restaurant in the city. They've got apartments," he says. "They've got the (LSU) Museum of Art, black-box theaters." Read the story here.