More than 12,000 expected to attend anti-moratorium rally

The Lafayette Chamber of Commerce and the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association will co-host the "Rally for Economic Survival" Wednesday to protest the federal moratorium on deepwater drilling in the Gulf of Mexico. Lafayette Chamber President Rob Guidry says he is expecting between 12,000 and 15,000 people from across Louisiana and from neighboring states to go to the rally in the Cajundome. "This is the economic future of Louisiana," Guidry says. "But it's also important for our fellow Americans to understand what's in store for them with this interruption of drilling." The event is being emceed by interim Lt. Gov. Scott Angelle. Speakers will include Gov. Bobby Jindal, former Shell Oil president John Hofmeister and locals whose lives have been impacted by the drilling ban. The event will begin at 11 a.m. with doors opening at 9 a.m. The Baton Rouge Area Chamber is also sending a representative on behalf of the Capital Region. "BRAC is wholeheartedly supportive of ending the moratorium," says spokesman Mike Odom. —Rebekah Allen

BP cap stays on, feds call new leaks insignificant 


Oil from BP's blown-out well is again seeping into the Gulf of Mexico, but this time more slowly, and scientists aren't convinced the cap that stopped the flow last week is making things worse. The government said Monday that oil was seeping into the gulf, after days of warning that the experimental cap on the oil well could cause more leaks. Despite this apparent setback, however, the federal government declared the seepage insignificant at present and approves forging ahead with BP's plan for finally sealing the hole in the ocean floor. Ever since the cap was used to bottle up the oil last week, engineers have been watching underwater cameras and monitoring pressure and seismic readings to see whether the well would hold or spring a new leak, perhaps one that could rupture the sea floor and make the disaster even worse. Small amounts of oil and gas started coming from the cap late Sunday, but "we do not believe it is consequential at this time," says retired Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen. Also, seepage from the sea floor was detected over the weekend less than two miles away, but Allen says it probably has nothing to do with the well. Oil and gas are known to ooze naturally from fissures in the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico.

Cassidy raising, doling out campaign cash

U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy has kicked up more than $125,000 to the National Republican Congressional Committee, according to the latest campaign finance reports due to the Federal Elections Commission last week. The group works to elect GOP members to the House. Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, is also injecting cash into campaign coffers of individual candidates around the country, which has been his modus operandi since he was first elected in 2006—money buys influence. Cassidy is also beginning to show the kind of campaign finance savvy that could draw in more loot from outside the state, when and if it's needed. In late March, with the help of Postlethwaite & Netterville, he created a political action committee called Continuing America's Strength and Security PAC, or CASS PAC. Today, it's doing a lot of the heavy lifting for the Republican incumbent on the Hill. CASS PAC raised more than $100,000 for the second quarter and is responsible for sending 66 financial contributions to 54 conservatives in races around the country. As of June 30, the committee also had about $60,000 remaining in the bank. Cassidy, of course, has his own election coming up this fall and is facing opposition from Merritt E. McDonald Sr., a Democrat who also hails from Baton Rouge. By most accounts, Cassidy is expected to hold on to the 6th Congressional District. In fact, following the second quarter of this year, he reported having $924,000 in his personal campaign war chest. —Jeremy Alford

This story has been changed since it was first published

Major Crown Crafts shareholder promoting candidates for board

The Wynnefield Group, the largest shareholder in Crown Crafts, is urging stockholders to appoint two of its candidates to the company's board of directors at its annual meeting next month. Wynnefield, which reports owning 17% of Gonzales-based Crown Crafts, says it has "had enough" with the management of the company. In a press release Wynnefield says shares of Crown Crafts have underperformed when compared to the market and competing children's products; it notes shares of the company have dropped 32% since reaching a 10-year high in February 2007. Wynnefield blames this loss on Crown Crafts' not expanding its investor base and says a recently announced move to start making pet products is "a smokescreen" since it failed to produce any metrics, projections or strategic analysis for the move. Crown Crafts responded to Wynnefield, saying it has outperformed the two competitors it cited over the past five years. The company accused Wynnefield of promoting a "narrow, self-serving, short-sighted agenda." Crown Crafts and Wynnefield have fought over the makeup of the board before, in 2007 and 2008. Crown Crafts notes that the investor group no longer backs two board members it previously supported and who were elected a couple years.

Louisiana Looking Up set for Sept. 16

The seventh annual Louisiana Looking Up program, which showcases successful entrepreneurs, will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Sept. 16 at LSU's Lod Cook Alumni Center. Participants include Randy Ewing, owner and president of Ewing Timber Company; Holly Clegg, president and CEO of Holly Clegg Inc.; Perry Franklin, president of Franklin Industries; Tony Simmons, executive vice president of McIlhenny Company; and Thomas Teepell, chief marketing officer for Lamar Advertising. Louisiana Looking Up is sponsored by the Flores MBA Alumni Association and supported by Baton Rouge Business Report and Stonetrust Commercial Insurance. Admission is $50 for alumni association members, $75 for non-members. To register online or for more information, click here.

U.S. home construction down

Housing construction plunged in June to the lowest level on record since October as the economy remained weak and demand plummeted. The Commerce Department says the construction of new homes and apartments fell 5% in June from a month earlier to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 549,000. May's figure was revised downward to 578,000. Driving the June decline was a more than 20% drop in the volatile condominium and apartment market. Construction of single-family homes, the biggest part of the market, was down slightly. It dropped 0.7%. One bright spot was an increase in building permit applications, which is a sign of future activity. They rose 2.1% from a month earlier to an annual rate of 586,000. Still, the slumping job market and competition from foreclosed properties have forced builders to limit construction, especially after tax credits that spurred sales expired at the end of April.

Poll: Majority don't expect Jindal to be on 2012 ticket

Gov. Bobby Jindal has received widespread praise nationally for his handling of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill disaster, but 72% of respondents to a Daily Report poll don't think that approbation will put him on the 2012 Republican Party presidential ticket. Twenty percent say Jindal will be on the GOP ticket and 8% don't know. Nearly 1,300 people participated in the survey. Jindal has insisted he's focused on running for a second term as governor in 2011.

Today's question: Do you think that as a consequence of the Rally for Economic Survival taking place Wednesday in Lafayette, the federal government will change its plans for an offshore drilling moratorium?

News roundup: BRAC names new communications director … Tiger shares favorite athlete title

Moving over from Houston: Rachel D. Graham has been named director of communications for the Baton Rouge Area Chamber. Graham, a native of Philadelphia, had been working as the manager of marketing communications for the Greater Houston Partnership. She also worked for former Houston Mayor Bill White. Graham replaces Heather Hewitt, who recently left BRAC.

Brees debuts on list: Despite an embarrassing and public sex scandal, Tiger Woods still ranks as America's Favorite Sports Star. The golfing great topped the Harris Poll of most popular athletes for the fifth year in a row. This year, Woods shared the title with Kobe Bryant of the Los Angles Lakers, who moved up from fourth place. Drew Brees made his debut on the list at No. 9, helped no doubt by his leading the New Orleans Saints to a historic Super Bowl win.