Holden unveils $887 million bond issue

Mayor Kip Holden formally released details of his $887 million capital improvements program this afternoon. "We can talk about becoming America's next great city, now is a call for action to make sure that Baton Rouge and East Baton Rouge can reach the goal," Holden says. The biggest chunk of the bond issue will go toward public safety and protection, with $376 million designated for items such as a new parish prison. Riverfront development, which includes the Audubon Alive! attraction, is in line for $225 million from the bond issue, while $145 million is set aside for drainage improvements and $141 million for economic development and job creation, which includes the River Center convention facility expansion. Holden projects the bond issue will create 4,300 construction jobs and more than 10,000 permanent jobs over the next four years. The bond issue would be paid off by a half-cent sales tax and a 9.9-mill property tax. The outlines of a proposed capital improvement taxing district are set to go before the Metro Council this afternoon, with a public hearing planned for Aug. 12 to determine if the program should go on the ballot. An election on the issue would be Nov. 14.—Emma James

Incentives help B.R. land major studio film

Expanded state tax incentives and the promise of local money helped entice producers of Battle: Los Angeles to base their production in Baton Rouge rather than Georgia, officials say. “It was made very clear to us very quickly that Louisiana would be very competitive with Georgia,” says Jeffrey Chernov, an executive producer for the film. Louisiana just raised the state’s film production tax credit from 25% to 30%. Georgia has had credits of up to 30% available since May 2008.

Mayor Kip Holden will ask the Metro Council today to approve a $175,000 cash incentive, which would top a $150,000 incentive Jefferson Parish offers, he says. From Chernov’s description, Battle: Los Angeles sounds like a cross between War of the Worlds and Saving Private Ryan. Aliens who want Earth’s water have invaded Los Angeles, and a group of civilians are trapped behind enemy lines. Aaron Eckhart plays the leader of a rescue platoon; Michelle Rodriguez and Bridget Moynahan have also signed on, he says. About one-third of the shooting will be in Shreveport and the rest in Baton Rouge, mostly at Raleigh Studios, part of the Celtic Media Centre.

The film’s budget will be in the “high double digits,” Chernov says. Holden says the production will inject about $25 million into the local economy. There may be some additional costs to the city beyond $175,000; for example, police may need to close certain roads for shooting.

The production can also utilize a preferred vendor program, whereby participating local businesses offer a discount of at least 15% to crew members; interested businesses can visit filmbatonrouge.com for more information.—David Jacobs

LSU games with Vandy, ULL set for TV

The first two home games of the upcoming LSU football season will be televised on ESPNU. The Tigers will kick off against Vanderbilt at 6 p.m. on Sept. 12, then play the University of Louisiana at Lafayette at the same time on Sept. 19. Both games fall under the SEC's big deal with ESPN that calls for the network to televise football games across its channel lineup. The Tigers' first game of the season, against Washington in Seattle, will be televised by ESPN at 9:30 p.m. Sept. 5. The television plans for LSU's remaining games will be announced as the season progresses.

N.O. mayor’s race is on, but who's running?

Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu’s recent announcement that he won’t run for mayor of New Orleans leaves the race wide open with no obvious front-runner. Qualifying is less than five months away; the primary is Feb. 6. So who are the contenders? The only officially declared candidate is little-known attorney and housing advocate James Perry, though both State Rep. Austin Badon and Sen. Ed Murray reportedly have confided behind the scenes that they plan to run. State Rep. Karen Carter Peterson, the speaker pro tempore, is also said to be exploring her options.

Gambit Weekly mentions four current and former council members as potential candidates: current at-large councilmen Jackie Clarkson and Arnie Fielkow and former councilmen Roy Glapion Jr. and Eddie Sapir. Republican attorney Rob Couhig, who ran an unsuccessful campaign in 2006, and millionaire John Georges, who lost the governor’s race in 2007, round out the list of mayoral contenders. Read the rest of 10/12 Weekly here.

New director named for LSU MBA program

Ed Watson has been confirmed as the new director of the LSU Flores MBA Program and as interim associate dean for graduate programs. Watson has been a professor of information systems and decision sciences in the LSU E.J. Ourso College of Business since 1994. He replaces David Crary, who retired earlier this month. Watson says the MBA program has a lot to build on. “Our students, faculty and staff are outstanding," Watson says. "While we have in mind continuous improvement of our current programs and services, we also look forward to exploring new opportunities.”

Pet projects remain in budget despite cuts

State spending on legislative earmarks, topping $30 million this year, mirrors the spending levels of previous years, though Louisiana's budget picture is nowhere near as bright. Even as they cut health care and public college spending, lawmakers packed in millions for favored local projects, like museums, councils on aging and small towns and municipalities. Gov. Bobby Jindal left most of those earmarks intact, while talking about the need to "tighten our belt" amid years of projected budget shortfalls. Louisiana spending on so-called "member amendments" is nearly as much as was doled out for such projects last year, before the state's budget woes. And it's more than in the 2006-07 budget year, when the state was awash in surpluses and revenue boosts.

Verizon takes over Alltel stores

Verizon Wireless has completed its takeover of the local Alltel stores. Verizon completed its $28.1 billion purchase of Alltel earlier this year and has spent the past six months integrating operations of the two companies. The deal makes Verizon the nation's largest wireless provider, with more than 86.6 million customers.

LSU tops on Facebook

LSU has more fans on Facebook than any other university. According to officials with Texas A&M, there are more than 56,000 people on Facebook who are fans of LSU’s university-sponsored site. Texas A&M ranks second with more than 47,000 fans, but the Aggies have launched a big push to go ahead of the Tigers. To check out the page, click here.