Holden says bond issue not coming back

Mayor-President Kip Holden is not planning to bring back another bond issue proposal at this time, making the announcement at the Baton Rouge Apartment Association’s monthly luncheon this afternoon. Holden, who has been out of town at a California technology conference this week, says he plans to wait, watch and turn his focus to issues such as the city-parish budget process. “When you look at what’s happening across the nation, because a lot of those cities stayed in a comfort zone, they are paying a tremendous price,” he says. “I think sometimes you have to show the error of ways in order to move to the next step. You have to have tough love. And we have to understand that nothing is free.” Holden says the infrastructure, public safety issues and drainage projects addressed in his $901 million bond issue still exist and must be addressed to move forward. There is no money in the city-parish budget to do so, and he will not cut city services to allocate funds. Holden compared voter rejection of his bond proposal to a parent refusing to invest in the future of their child. “Think about if our parents had that attitude. We’d be paralyzed,” Holden says. "Paralysis is not Baton Rouge. Paralysis is when we choose not to see a vision that uplifts everybody in this great city and parish.”—Emma James

Chas Roemer suggests closing Department of Education

Former Gov. Buddy Roemer ran on a platform of bricking up the top three floors of the state Department of Education as a means of cutting the bureaucracy. Now his son wants to go a step further and close down the department for a massive restructuring. Chas Roemer, a Board of Elementary and Secondary Education member, sent a letter to State Treasurer John Kennedy, saying that the education department needs wholesale changes. Kennedy sits on the Commission on Streamlining Government and chairs and advisory group to the commission. "To close the Department for reorganization is akin to taking a business through bankruptcy, and I would argue we are bankrupt both financially and in terms of our outcomes," Roemer wrote. Roemer says the size and scope of the BESE should be considered, along with the minimum foundation program, the main method of funding K-12 public schools. Accountability for MFP funds is very limited, Roemer says. Roemer says he and Kennedy have previously talked about some of the reform ideas. Kennedy has criticized the Department of Education's spending on professional services contracts. Over the past five years, the department has spent $616 million on nearly 5,500 contracts. Education Superintendent Paul Pastorek is scheduled to appear before the commission Monday to discuss the contracts. Kennedy says Roemer "brings up some good points" and he plans on sharing his comments with the commission. "People are starting to understand its not about how much we're spending on education, but how we're spending the money," Kennedy says. To see Roemer's letter, click here.—Timothy Boone

Holden's sister charged in court investigation

A sister of Baton Rouge Mayor Kip Holden has been charged in connection with an alleged city-court bribery scheme. Evelyn Holden was charged today with conspiracy. Prosecutors allege she solicited and obtained bribes from people with pending cases. Clerk of Court Doug Wellborn says Holden quit her job with his department Wednesday. Federal authorities also charged two other people today. Kevaria Williams is accused of accepting bribes to get cases reduced or dismissed, while Ann Warr is accused of altering community service records of city court defendants. Four people have pleaded guilty in an investigation of Baton Rouge courts, including Flitcher Bell, a former senior city prosecutor. Investigators say court officials were taking cash in exchange for dismissal of traffic tickets and misdemeanor charges.

Ponchatoula man arrested in alleged Ponzi scheme

The Louisiana Attorney General’s Office has charged William J. Chaucer Jr., of Ponchatoula with operating an alleged $11 million Ponzi scheme that defrauded at least 200 investors. Chaucer was arrested today on 20 counts each of felony theft, being an unregistered dealer in the sale of securities, sales of unregistered securities and making material misrepresentations in the sale of a security, and booked in the Tangipahoa Parish Prison. Chaucer was operating a payday loan company called Chaucer Financial Services in Hammond. He was also the principal of Chaucer Holding Company, American Credit of Hammond, American Credit of Covington and City Credit of Ponchatoula. The attorney general's office says Chaucer used private investments from investors, including several who live in Baton Rouge, to pay for his “extravagant lifestyle.” That included paying for more than $400,000 in New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe membership fees, and more than $58,000 for cosmetic surgery, dental work, jewelry and beauty pageant fees for his wife, Cheryl. Cheryl Chaucer holds the Miss Senior America Louisiana crown and competed in the Miss Senior America Competition 2009 in Atlantic City, N.J. Chaucer closed operations for all of his financial companies in September, according to the attorney general’s office. Since then, investors have not been able to get back any of their original investments, which ranged from $10,000 to $417,000. —Olivia Watkins

U.S. survey shows southern counties most obese

The first county-by-county survey of obesity reflects past studies that show the rate of obesity is highest in the Southeast and Appalachia. High rates of obesity and diabetes were reported in more than 80% of counties in the Appalachian region that includes Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia, according to the new research from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The same problem was seen in about 75% of counties in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and South Carolina. The five counties with the highest rates were Greene and Dallas counties in Alabama and Holmes, Humphreys and Jefferson counties in Mississippi. All are small, rural counties in the west central areas of each state, and each reported obesity rates of around 44% or 43%. The national adult obesity rate is roughly 26%. East Baton Rouge and Ascension parishes had an obesity rate slightly ahead of the national average at 27.5%, while 29.2% of the Livingston Parish population was reported to be obese. The statistics are estimates for the year 2007 — based on surveys, census figures and other information for that and other years — and include a margin of error. To see the full statistics for Louisiana, click here.

Mall parent reaches agreement with some lenders

General Growth Properties the nation’s second-largest mall owner whose properties include the Mall of Louisiana, says it has reached a deal with lenders to restructure $9 billion in mortgages. This means the company, which filed for bankruptcy in April, may be able to partially emerge from bankruptcy next month. The Wall Street Journal says 77 malls may get out of bankruptcy. General Growth brought 166 shopping centers into bankruptcy. The company still needs to reach a deal on another $6.5 billion in debt in order to fully emerge from bankruptcy.

South Louisiana dominates monthly oil and gas sale

Of the 13 oil and gas leases awarded by the state during its November sale, 11 were located in South Louisiana. It’s the first sign in months that action around the Haynesville Shale in North Louisiana might be beginning to cool a bit, prompting land men to look for investments south of Interstate 10. Overall, the state Mineral Board collected more than $2.6 million from 13 leases statewide covering 1,380 acres. That brings the total collected by the board during the fiscal year that began July 1 to $25.3 million. It’s a considerable dip when compared to November 2008, when the board brought in $3.5 million for a year-to-date total of $189 million, which is when national interest in Haynesville was peaking. That natural gas formation in north Louisiana is expected to become the nation’s top-producing field within the next six years. When this month’s sale is compared to November 2007, however, which is a more appropriate contrast, the numbers shake out a bit better. Two years ago, the Mineral Board collected $1.1 million to bring the year-to-date total to $14.4 million.—Jeremy Alford

White Light Night set for Mid City

White Light Night, the Mid City Merchants' annual fall art hop, will be held Friday. Strolling under the strings of white lights that give the event its name, art aficionados from all over the city can enjoy the offerings of the Mid City corridor. More than 150 participating artists will have their wares on display and there will be plenty of eats to nibble on from various local restaurants and caterers. Hop the free shuttle vans from South 14th Street to Florida Boulevard to take in the full scale of this hugely popular event. New Mid City locations, such as Bricks and Bombs, and Gallery Bohemia will be celebrating grand openings. If you want international more than local flair, the Yang Guang Chinese dance troupe and several other artists will participate in a night of demonstrations centered on Chinese culture on Saturday at the Independence Park Theatre. Enjoy the unique and beautiful sound of the erhu, and watch dances that date back thousands of years. Lin He, professor of violin at LSU, will perform traditional Chinese musical selections, and Master Yajun Zhuang, one of China's top martial artists, will demonstrate his considerable skill. For these and other events in and around the Capital City, read this week’s 225 Select by clicking here.

Sports roundup: Tiger Stadium tops 'SI' list ... Brees leads Pro Bowl voting ... Snead shows his skills

LSU also named as having the rudest fans: Tiger Stadium topped a Sports Illustrated survey of SEC football fans as their favorite stadium to visit in the conference. But while 25% of fans that participated in the poll say they enjoy going to Tiger Stadium, 32% say LSU fans were the rudest to visitors. Vanderbilt was ranked as having the most polite fans. LSU was ranked in the middle of the pack for biggest rival. Seven percent of the people who participated in the poll say the Tigers are their main opponent, while Alabama was listed as the main rival by 23.5% of participants -- there must have been a lot of Auburn, LSU and Tennessee fans who took the poll.

Also appearing with Obama: New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees leads the Pro Bowl voting, according to the Times-Picayune. Brees had 539,228 votes, according to the NFL.com, putting him narrowly ahead of Peyton Manning, the Indianapolis Colts quarterback. Brees will also appear in a public service announcement with President Barack Obama, Dallas Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware and Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu. The three players and the president -- wearing a Chicago Bears jacket -- were filmed playing touch football with children on the White House lawn. The PSA, which debuts during the Thanksgiving Day NFL games, promotes the league's Play 60 campaign, which encourages physical activity to combat childhood obesity, and the president's community service initiative United We Serve.

He's a rebel: Ole Miss quarterback Jevan Snead is finding his groove, just in time for the Rebels' game with LSU, notes the Times-Picayune. Snead started off the year with nine interceptions in the first five games of the year; in the past five games, he's thrown five interceptions and completed 59% of his passes. Florida Coach Urban Meyer called Snead, who torched LSU last season "a tremendous player." The Rebels host LSU Saturday, kickoff is at 2:30 p.m. and CBS will televise the game. The Tigers are 4.5-point underdogs to win their fifth consecutive game in Oxford, Miss.

LSU’s Farrer out for the season: LSU senior guard Alex Farrer will miss the rest of the season after surgery on his knee revealed damage that was more severe than originally thought, The Times-Picayune reports. Farrer, a fifth-year senior from Phoenix, suffered a dislocated knee cap in a scrimmage against Houston on Nov. 8. He was expected to miss at least six weeks, but extensive bone and joint damage was discovered during his recent surgery. Farrer will not be able to apply for a sixth season of eligibility. He totaled 153 points and 86 rebounds in three seasons with the Tigers, including career highs of 11 points against Alcorn State and Arkansas in 2008 and six rebounds against Southeastern Louisiana in 2009.