RSVP: Gov. Bobby Jindal is inviting all four of his living predecessors to his Jan. 9 inauguration. That includes Edwin Edwards, who was released from prison earlier this year and remains on probation for a federal corruption conviction. Jindal spokesman Frank Collins says invitations will be sent to former Govs. Kathleen Blanco, Mike Foster, Buddy Roemer and Edwards for the swearing-in ceremony at the Old State Capitol. He says the invitations will go out later this week. Previous governors are traditionally invited to an inauguration. Edwards, a four-term former governor, was unable to attend Jindal’s first swearing-in four years ago because he was in federal prison for a bribery and extortion scheme to rig Louisiana’s riverboat casino licensing process.
Home is where the Hartley is: Saints placekicker Garrett Hartley has purchased a new home for $1.1 million—a 6,451-square-foot mansion in the English Turn area—that was sold by Jim Bridger, the disgraced former general manager of the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad. The sale went through not long after Bridger pleaded guilty in September to federal charges of misusing a credit card and to state theft and malfeasance charges. He is to be sentenced Jan. 4 in federal court and on Jan. 6 in state court. Hartley’s agent, Erik Burkhardt, said his client’s purchase reflects his newfound financial security and desire to remain in New Orleans for the long haul. Hartley, who kicked the field goal that put the Saints into the 2010 Super Bowl, signed a five-year deal with the team in March. He is currently on injured reserve. Bridger bought the home for just over $1.2 million in 2008 and had taken out a $913,000 mortgage in 2009, records show.
Phony IDs? There was an app for that: After being taken to task by a Pennsylvania senator, Apple quickly removed an app that enables users to make fake driver’s licenses, the Los Angeles Times reports. Sen. Bob Casey sent a letter to Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook requesting that the tech company immediately remove the “License” app from its App Store, saying he believes it “poses a threat to public safety and national security” by allowing criminals to create and steal identities. The app—created by DriversEd.com for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad—enables users to electronically insert a digital photo and personal information into a template for a driver’s license for a state of their choosing; it contains templates for driver’s licenses for all 50 states. The user was ultimately able to create, print and laminate high-quality licenses that were difficult to differentiate from legitimate ones, according to the Coalition for a Secure Driver’s License.
Today’s poll question: In light of the internal investigation of East Baton Rouge Parish Library Director David Farrar by the library board, do you think he should keep his job?
