In transition: The Salvation Army says it’s transitioning from flood disaster relief and response toward long-term recovery. As part of the transition, mobile feeding units will be roving communities through Sunday. The Salvation Army Emergency Social Services Center at Cortana Mall—the Salvation Army’s home for next several months—will continue to provide emotional and spiritual care and social services daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. through Sept. 30, when the Salvation Army will begin the transition to implementing a long-term recovery plan, including the Christmas Assistance Program.
Halted: Helis Oil & Gas Co. has abandoned its plans to drill in St. Tammany Parish, The Associated Press reports. Following a lengthy review of the geologic, engineering and other data from its exploratory well in rural St. Tammany Parish, Helis has concluded that it will not proceed with further operations at the site northeast of Mandeville, the company says in a news release issued Tuesday. The decision means shelving a project that has racked up more than $20 million in production costs and legal fees. At the start of the project, Helis estimated the project’s potential for commercial success—being a viable producer of oil—at up to 35%.
Stalemate: More than 10,000 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana customers in northeastern Louisiana will be shut out of Affinity Health Group clinics unless the two companies reach an agreement on a new contract, The News-Star reports. Affinity, which operates more than 20 clinics in northeastern Louisiana, is the largest primary care provider in the market. “We’ve spent two years (negotiating) with Blue Cross to try to reach an agreement, but we’ve come to a crossroads and realize it’s not going to happen,” says Affinity’s Michael Echols, director of business development. Blue Cross spokesman John Maginnis says Affinity’s reimbursement demands are exorbitant. Read the full story.
