Attorney sentenced: A New Orleans attorney was spared prison Wednesday for fraud involving the generous tax credit program credited with turning Louisiana into “Hollywood South.” The Associated Press reports a federal judge sentenced Michael Arata to probation and a $15,000 fine. Arata was one of three people convicted last April in what prosecutors said was a scheme to get $1 million in state tax credits for a project that turned a dilapidated mansion into a film production facility. The other two defendants, Peter and Susan Hoffman, await sentencing. Authorities says the three used fraudulent documents to obtain credits for work that was not done. Read the full story.
Preserving history: Students from Tulane University and LSU are getting a chance to pitch ideas for preserving and using an old courthouse in New Orleans. The Associated Press reports the Tulane-LSU Design Partnership is a collaboration of Tulane University and LSU landscape architecture students, and the Louisiana Landmarks Society. A Tulane news release says the partnership is set to unveil ideas Thursday night for restoring, preserving and using the city’s old Carrollton Courthouse. The old courthouse was built in 1855 and is on the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s list of 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. The future of the structure has been the subject of much discussion in the city’s Carrollton neighborhood.
Mixed bag: The South Louisiana Economic Council predicts in its 4th quarter business barometer report that economic growth will be in the housing construction, health care, and leisure and hospitality sectors; however, that growth will probably not be enough to offset the oil bust in South Louisiana. The SLEC—the regional chamber of commerce for Lafourche, Terrebonne, Assumption and St. Mary parishes—reports that companies invested $115 million in the region in 2015, bringing in 432 new jobs and retaining 27 jobs. However, the average weekly wage in the region dropped $91 as the oil jobs began drying up. Read the full report.
