Perkins Rowe lenders say infrastructure problems exist

Problems with the infrastructure at Perkins Rowe are costing hundreds of thousands of dollars for the lenders that are already out nearly $170 million on the mixed-use development. Janine Metcalf, an attorney for KeyBank National Association, which heads a group of nine banks trying to foreclose on the property, testified at a hearing in U.S. District Court this afternoon that "there is a lot of work to be done at Perkins Rowe … a series of issues that are costing several hundred thousand dollars.” Metcalf says those problems include "fire code violations, problems with a sink hole under an elevator, and parking and lighting problems.” Metcalf went on to say that KeyBank has authorized the keeper that has been managing the property since foreclosure proceedings were initiated last summer—Jones Lang LaSalle Americas—to fix the problems. But Metcalf says delaying the foreclosure suit any further would not be in anyone’s best interest. “People who live and work there deserve this project to be completed,” she says. Read the full version of this story here. —Stephanie Riegel

Yuletide spirit lives on downtown, even during Mardi Gras

We all know who’s responsible for displaying those pink flamingos all around downtown, but most of us can only guess who put up the giant lighted snowflakes and blue LED strands along Third Street. Yet there’s a better question: What are they still doing up now during Mardi Gras season? For his part, Downtown Development District Executive Director Davis Rhorer promptly pointed to the city’s Department of Public Works. When contacted, DPW Director Pete Newkirk gave a hearty chuckle and quipped: “Davis told me not to take them down.” After joking that he better get on top of the situation “before Easter,” Newkirk promised to make some calls. “They’re going to start coming down today,” he says, “and they’ll all be down this week.” So, there you go. But if you act fast, there’s still time to see the joy of Christmas on Third Street before the season’s bead-laced trees become the next aesthetic addenda downtown. —Jeremy Alford

Group advocates chemical safety reform

The recently formed Coalition for Chemical Safety is trying to rally support for a comprehensive rewrite of the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act, which regulates chemicals like those produced in many Louisiana plants. The current law requires manufacturers to report new chemicals they intend to market to the federal government but permits companies to keep many details of their products confidential from all but a few federal regulators. Critics say the secrecy is excessive and makes proper regulation difficult, while industry representatives worry too much disclosure will only help their competition. The council is trying to find a way to balance public safety and innovation, while also protecting the thousands of jobs connected to chemical manufacturing, executive director Joe Householder says. The Louisiana Chemical Association has been supportive, although the LCA is not a coalition member, Householder says. The coalition lists the Louisiana Propane Gas Association, the Louisiana Homebuilders Association, and local real estate firm Southland Properties among its six Louisiana chapter members. About 150 individuals and organizations nationwide have joined the effort, the coalition says. There has been talk in Washington, D.C., about changing the law, but there isn't a proposed bill yet. —David Jacobs

Maginnis: LSU-OLOL deal marks beginning of the end for charity hospitals

Louisiana's charity hospital system made front-page news twice last week, says John Maginnis. The first instance occurred when LSU won the $475 million arbitration award to replace Katrina-damaged Charity Hospital in New Orleans. That sets the stage for a $1.2 billion academic medical center near downtown that will bolster the Crescent City economy. But as big a deal as that is, it was overshadowed by news of a historic agreement between LSU and Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. Under the deal, OLOL will house LSU's medical education and take over its in-patient care. "Huey Long died in the old Our Lady of the Lake Hospital nearly 75 years ago. It's taken that long to begin to lay to rest the charity hospital model that grew from his populist regime; it served the people well for decades but no longer makes sense in a national system anchored by Medicaid and Medicare," says Maginnis. Read the full column here.

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

Baton Rouge General, Humana reach deal

Baton Rouge General Medical Center and Humana have reached a new deal that enables Humana Medicare Advantage and commercial members to receive care at the General's medical facilities. The new contract also covers First Care Physicians, a group of 80 doctors and specialists affiliated with Baton Rouge General. Jeff Fernandez with Humana Louisiana Senior Products, says the deal will offer additional choices to the 22,500 local Humana Medicare Advantage members.

Adams and Reese set to open Tampa office

Adams and Reese, which recently moved into the Florida market, plans to open an office in Tampa March 1. The Tampa law office will have eight attorneys and a land planner. Adams and Reese completed the purchase of Ruden McClosky on Jan. 1, a move that gave the company offices in St. Petersburg and Sarasota. The Tampa office will give Adams and Reese more than 290 attorneys in 12 offices across the South. The firm has offices in Baton Rouge and New Orleans.

Oak Lodge owners open new reception hall

The owners of the Oak Lodge Reception and Conference Center have opened a new facility in Prairieville. Parc 73, located on La. Highway 73 about a mile from Interstate 10, has space for outdoor and indoor events, such as wedding receptions, corporate events and company meetings. Mary Skinner, who serves as general manger of both Oak Lodge and Parc 73, says the venue has room for 300 people. Oak Lodge owners Mike and Dona Stevens bought the 5.6-acre property several years ago with an eye toward expanding in Ascension. "Things have been going really well with the Oak Lodge, so they figured it was time to open a new location," Skinner says.

E-zine ranks La. residents 42nd in looks

An online magazine says that Louisiana residents rank 42nd in overall beauty when compared to residents of all other states and the District of Columbia. The Daily Beast compiled the list, basing its judgments on factors such as the hometowns of more than 300 male and female models, a decade’s worth of results from the Miss USA and Miss America pageants, and overall health-and-fitness rankings. Even though Reese Witherspoon was born in New Orleans and the state has fared well in beauty pageants, Louisiana is positioned low on the list. The magazine deems District of Columbia residents to be the best looking as a group, followed by those in Hawaii, while North Dakotans rank last. See the full list here.

'Real Estate Weekly' has news on downtown deal

Real Estate Weekly is out with news about the state’s purchase of a downtown parking garage, questions looming over the Baton Rouge housing market, new officers serving the Louisiana Association of General Contractors, and the latest columns from Tom Cook and Brian Andrews. To read the newsletter, click here.

Brees’ ties to Purdue divide fan loyalties

Most of Indiana is expected to wear Colts blue on Super Bowl Sunday, but loyalties are split near the Purdue campus in West Lafayette, 65 miles from downtown Indianapolis. Saints quarterback Drew Brees remains an icon in the area since he led the Boilermakers' revival a decade ago. "Around here, Drew Brees kind of walks on water," says Kevin Green, a Purdue graduate who works at the university. "He was the quarterback who led us back to the Rose Bowl (2001), so he can do no wrong in the area. We know that he cares about here and we care about him. That's why most of the people around here are kind of conflicted." Brees is lauded for more than his athletic leadership. In 2007 he gave Purdue a $2 million gift for the Drew and Brittany Brees Student-Athlete Academic Center, constructed right next to Ross-Ade Stadium and Mackey Arena. Brees' history of overcoming obstacles endears him to Purdue fans who recall the days when he led the program past Big Ten bullies Michigan and Ohio State. He had been lightly recruited as an undersized quarterback coming out of Texas; after he finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy balloting in 1999 and third in 2000, he slipped into the second round of the NFL draft. So if the Indianapolis Colts beat the Saints in the Super Bowl, fans in New Orleans may celebrate hometown hero Peyton Manning's second championship; if the Saints win, parts of northwest Indiana may resemble Bourbon Street.

News roundup: Vitter continues to hold fund-raising lead ... Obama pitches aid for struggling small businesses

Money maker: Republican U.S. Sen. David Vitter continues to hold a strong lead over his Democratic challenger, U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, in fund-raising for this fall's Senate race. According to finance reports provided today by the campaigns, Vitter raised $1.2 million in the last quarter of 2009, double the $600,000 raised by Melancon. And Melancon has less than half the cash on hand that the incumbent senator has. Melancon reported a $2 million balance at the end of the reporting period. Vitter reported a $4.5 million balance. The primary election is scheduled for Aug. 28, with the general election Nov. 2.

Lending a hand: Seeking to reconnect with voters and sell his economic agenda, President Barack Obama returned to politically significant New Hampshire today to tour a small business. Obama's visit was meant to draw attention to a proposal highlighted in his State of the Union address last week: funneling $30 billion to local banks so they can lend small businesses money they need to grow their enterprises and create jobs. "Jobs will be our No. 1 focus in 2010," he says. "And we're going to start where most new jobs do—with small businesses. These are companies that begin in basements and garages when an entrepreneur takes a chance on his dream, or a worker decides it's time she became her own boss."