http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/la-news/ en-us Mon, 6 Jul 2009 16:13:10 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2286547/posts Baton Rouge Independence Day Tea Party, posted at 9:42 am on July 6, 2009 by Laura The Baton Rouge Tea Party folks did a fabulous job on the Independence Day Rally. In spite of the brain-melting heat there was a turnout of around 500 people, according to an unofficial police estimate. Meaning I asked a cop and he took a wild guess. There wasn’t a good angle to get the entire crowd, but here are a few photos so you can judge the crowd size for yourselves. About 40 yards down from the steps was another crowd of 75-100 people... Hot Air http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2286547/posts#comment Mon, 6 Jul 2009 16:13:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285348/posts The ACLU, not exactly known for being sympathetic to the right to keep and bear arms, is going to bat for a New Orleans man who had his gun confiscated. From the Associated Press: The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana filed the federal lawsuit Thursday on behalf of Errol Houston Jr., who was arrested last year following a traffic stop. The lawsuit says the district attorney's office declined to prosecute Houston but has refused to return his .40-caliber firearm. Why? After all: "Mr. Houston has done nothing wrong. There are no criminal charges against him. His firearm, which he... Gun Rights Examiner http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2285348/posts#comment Sat, 4 Jul 2009 11:39:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284511/posts NEW ORLEANS, LA—WAYNE G. CRESAP, an elected judge of the 34th Judicial District Court for the Parish of St. Bernard, and attorneys NUNZIO SALVADORE “Sal” CUSIMANO, JR and VICTOR J. (V.J.) DAUTERIVE, were charged jointly in a bill of information with conspiracy to deprive the citizens of St. Bernard Parish of their right to receive the honest services of Judge WAYNE G. CRESAP, announced U. S. Attorney Jim Letten and Special Agent in Charge David Welker, Federal Bureau of Investigation. According to the bill of information, CRESAP entered into an illegal agreement with lawyers CUSIMANO and DAUTERIVE, in which CRESAP... Department of Justice http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2284511/posts#comment Fri, 3 Jul 2009 00:19:01 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283679/posts 7/1/2009 - BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. (AFNS) -- One step on May 11 changed the life course of an explosive ordnance disposal technician assigned to the 2nd Civil Engineer Squadron here. Staff Sgt. David Flowers, 28, was deployed with the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing at Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan, when he was wounded by an anti-personnel mine on May 11. "My team was tasked to go out and dispose of a weapons cache that was called in by the Afghanistan National Police," Sergeant Flowers said. "We went out to the location and found a bunch of ordnance." After finding... Air Force Link http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2283679/posts#comment Wed, 1 Jul 2009 23:20:49 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2282236/posts Imagine working at a company that treats every employee exactly the same, irrespective of their individual effort. No matter how hard you work or how much your co-workers slack off, you get exactly the same pay. For millions of people, America's outdated labor laws and one-size-fits-all collective-bargaining agreements make this a reality. Maybe this is why studies show union members are less satisfied with their jobs than are nonunion workers, and many Americans simply refuse to work in union shops. Indeed, just 9 percent of nonunion workers tell pollsters they would like to join a union, and private-sector union membership... The Tahoe Daily Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2282236/posts#comment Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:04:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2280408/posts Who would have thunk...the congressmen of the low state of Louisiana would have voted against H.R.2454? Senator Landrieu will have no choice, lest she loses her perch. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2280408/posts#comment Sat, 27 Jun 2009 01:30:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2280114/posts Tax breaks urged on separate weekendsBATON ROUGE -- The Legislature has passed two bills calling for separate three-day state sales tax holidays on the purchase of guns, ammunition and a wide range of hunting supplies. House Bill 128 by Rep. Cameron Henry, R-Jefferson, creates the Annual Louisiana Second Amendment Weekend Holiday, which will be in addition to the two-day state sales tax holiday in August that covers guns, school supplies and many other retail products costing up to $2,500 per item. Henry's holiday would run on the Friday through Sunday after Thanksgiving and would not put a limit on the... Times Picayune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2280114/posts#comment Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:39:46 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2280024/posts Invest 93 See Infrared Loop Here: http://www.goes.noaa.gov/HURRLOOPS/huirloop.html Statement as of 8:00 am EDT on June 26, 2009 For the North Atlantic...Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico...A tropical wave over the western Caribbean Sea continues to produceshowers and thunderstorms from Cuba and the Cayman Islands southwestward to Honduras. Conditions appear marginally favorablefor some slow development of this system before it reaches theYucatan Peninsula late tonight or early Saturday. There is a lowchance...less than 30 percent...of this system becoming a tropical cyclone during the next 48 hours. Locally heavy rain will continueover portions of Cuba and the Cayman Islands today... NOAA http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2280024/posts#comment Fri, 26 Jun 2009 15:39:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2279868/posts Unparalleled in the history of American political corruption is the backwards collection of scoundrels, scallywags, hooligans, rascals and charlatans collectively known as the Louisiana State Legislature. So seeing a rapper blasting profane lyrics in their chamber is—Very funny! How exactly this happened is still sort of unclear, but the gist of it is that the state decided to honor "Hurricane Chris," a Shreveport, Louisiana native, for all of his recent success by giving him the floor of the state House of Representatives for a few minutes, rather than say, naming a meaningless street after him or giving him the key... gawker.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2279868/posts#comment Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:20:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2279575/posts NEW ORLEANS, LA—In response to press and public inquiries and interest, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and Federal Bureau of Investigation confirm that a federal criminal investigation is and has been underway involving the City of New Orleans Office of Technology and crime camera contracts and related matters. Further, pursuant to that investigation, on Friday, June 19, 2009, FBI special agents, assisted by investigators from the New Orleans Inspector General’s Office, carried out court-ordered searches and seizures of stored computer information at City Hall, announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten and Special Agent in Charge David Welker of the FBI’s New Orleans... Department of Justice http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2279575/posts#comment Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:58:44 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2279573/posts FBI agents have been in New Orleans City Hall since Friday collecting data from computer-network servers and backup tapes, according to a city official familiar with the investigation. Five federal agents have tied up the work of management information systems employees as they comb through the data stored on the servers. The agents are expected to be in City Hall all week, said the source, who wished to remain anonymous because the investigation has not been made public. The agents came bearing federal subpoenas seeking information and met with Chief Administrative Officer Brenda Hatfield, the source said. City spokeswoman Ceeon... The Times-Picayune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2279573/posts#comment Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:57:15 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2279529/posts NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (CNN) -- The five remaining defendants in the racially charged "Jena Six" case will appear in court Friday and are expected to enter a plea, a spokesman for the district attorney's office said. Protesters converged on the small Louisiana town in September 2007 after the "Jena 6" were charged. Bill Furlow, spokesman for LaSalle Parish District Attorney Reed Walters, declined to say whether the defendants will plead guilty. "It's not a done deal until it's a done deal," he said. In December 2006, six African-American teenagers were charged with second-degree attempted murder and conspiracy in the beating... cnn.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2279529/posts#comment Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:47:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2279296/posts Louisiana Legislature Takes Time Out To Honor Rapper on House Floor. The representatives decided to take time out and honor a rapper and play his music on the house floor. Go to the video. Skip to 6:35 if you are interested in getting to the nonsense right away. Youtube http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2279296/posts#comment Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:18:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2279099/posts General Motors Corp. announced Wednesday that it will close its assembly and stamping plants in Shreveport no later than June 2012. "That's devastating news for Shreveport and the entire region," said John Stroud, executive director of the Longview Economic Development Corp. He said the news was a surprise since GM has invested more than $1 billion in upgrading the Shreveport plant in recent years. News-Journal out of Longview Texas http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2279099/posts#comment Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:14:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2278951/posts Today, the Louisiana State House voted to approve Senate Concurrent Resolution 2 (SCR2) which “Memorializes Congress to affirm Louisiana’s sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America and to demand that the federal government halt its practices of assuming powers and imposing mandates upon the states for purposes not enumerated by the Constitution of the United States of America.” The resolution, authored by State Senator Crowe, passed by a vote of 59-12.  It previously passed the State Senate by a vote of 32-0.  (h/t hayestown)Louisiana joins Alaska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Oklahoma, Idaho and... Tenth Amendment Center http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2278951/posts#comment Thu, 25 Jun 2009 05:21:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2278879/posts NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Five of six black teens accused of beating a white high school classmate in a case that led to the biggest civil rights protest in decades will plead guilty in a deal expected to be finalized this week, Louisiana court officials involved with the case told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The six students were initially charged with attempted murder in the 2006 attack on Justin Barker and became known as the "Jena Six," after the town where the beating took place. Charges against Carwin Jones, Jesse Ray Beard, Robert Bailey Jr., Bryant Purvis and Theo... Associated Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2278879/posts#comment Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:41:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2278800/posts “If Charlie Melancon gets in and is well-funded, there’s the potential for a very tight race,” said Pearson Cross, a political science professor at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette. State Democratic Party Chairman Chris Whittington said the prostitute issue will be front and center in the campaign, because Vitter will now be forced to answer questions he otherwise wouldn’t have. “He’s going to have to now,” Whittington said. “And it’s such a strong issue, because he banged that Bible and ran on family values, when in reality he’s completely the opposite of that.” The Hill http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2278800/posts#comment Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:25:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2277518/posts Pro Life Resolutions to Congress and Office of President Approved by Louisiana Senate, 35 to 0 and 36 to 0; House Concurs Approval - Louisiana Senate Concurrent Resolutions (SCR) 101 and 102 to Prohibit Fetal Torture and Dismemberment. The Louisiana Senate approved these resolutions on 6/5/09 and the LA House of Representatives has concurred/approved the resolutions on 6/9/09. Please contact your US senators and representatives to sponsor this bill. America's Independent Party of Louisiana http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2277518/posts#comment Tue, 23 Jun 2009 14:34:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2276808/posts Here is a start-up automobile company involving algore, T. Boone Pickens, and KPCB partners (a "green" venture capital firm). Hold on to your wallets, these guys are good at getting tax subsidies, grants, abatements, mandates, etc. It looks like Gov. Jindal has already bought into it. Anyone willing to put personal money into this venture with an expectation of actually making a profit by selling a real product meeting consumer demand? Louisiana Economic Development http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2276808/posts#comment Mon, 22 Jun 2009 14:43:10 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2276689/posts A project is under way to restore Mollicy Farms, on the left, to a form that will make it look more like the Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuge, on the right. In the 1960s, a group of businessmen bought 16,000 acres of swampy bottomland along the Ouachita River in northern Louisiana and built miles of levee around it. They bulldozed its oak and cypress trees and, when the land dried out, turned it into a soybean farm. Now two brothers who grew up nearby are undoing all that work. In what experts are calling the biggest levee-busting operation ever in... New York Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2276689/posts#comment Mon, 22 Jun 2009 10:37:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2275652/posts Rep. Charlie Melancon (D-La.) confirmed Friday that he is weighing a campaign against Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) in 2010, but he declined to confirm a report that said he was going to run. “Many Louisianans have encouraged me to run for U.S. Senate next year,” Melancon said in a statement. “I am discussing this opportunity with my wife and kids and will be making an announcement in the coming weeks.” LA Politics Weekly reported Thursday, citing anonymous sources, that Melancon had decided to enter the Senate race. The website is run by political analyst John Maginnis. The Hill http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2275652/posts#comment Sat, 20 Jun 2009 02:02:19 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2274187/posts Louisiana governor Bobby Jindal has announced that San Diego-based V-Vehicle will create 1,400 new jobs and assemble an all-new vehicle in the state. This follows days of speculation about a significant auto assembly plant announcement in Monroe, in the northern portion of Louisiana. VVC, as the company is also called, "wants to reestablish American leadership in the global automotive industry," according to a Louisiana Economic Development (LED) info-sheet. V-Vehicle was founded by ex Oracle Corp. executive VP Frank Varasano and is definitely not struggling to gather funds; it's being financed by well-known California venture capitalists—including some also backing Fisker Automotive... http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2274187/posts#comment Thu, 18 Jun 2009 05:09:34 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2272751/posts ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Opening statements are scheduled in the trial of a former Louisiana congressman charged with bribery after federal agents found $90,000 in cash in his freezer. The case is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. Tuesday in federal court in Alexandria, Va. William Jefferson is accused of soliciting bribes, racketeering, money laundering and other crimes. Jefferson represented parts of New Orleans until losing re-election last year. Prosecutors say he received more than $500,000 and sought millions more for using his influence to broker business deals in Africa. AP on Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2272751/posts#comment Tue, 16 Jun 2009 16:12:21 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2271336/posts I have conducted some research into the campaign contributions given to Rep. Rodney Alexander (R-5th-LA). Alexander is one of the leading members of the House in terms of earmark requests. "After investigating Rodney Alexander's campaign filings on the Federal Election Commission website, I have found some information on Alexander's contributions from parties associated with the Greater Ouachita Port Commission." "In all, the parties associated with the Port and the Commission have given $36,500 to Rodney Alexander's campaign. With each passing election cycle, the dollar amounts have increased." "The Port has been awarded at least $1.5 million in earmarks since 2004.... William J. Smith http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2271336/posts#comment Sun, 14 Jun 2009 02:33:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2271236/posts They use forklift in getaway from city lotThieves of the especially brazen variety busted into a New Orleans repair lot for city-owned vehicles Thursday night or early Friday, and made off with two unmarked police cars. The car-lot burglars apparently hopped the fence at the maintenance facility on Alvar Street in the Desire neighborhood, said Bob Young, a spokesman for the New Orleans Police Department. They managed to break into a building and snatch keys to two cars that belong to the Police Department.Then, to get the cars out, the thieves used a forklift inside the compound to knock down... Times Picayune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2271236/posts#comment Sat, 13 Jun 2009 21:39:57 GMT