http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/nola/ en-us Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:58:06 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2394804/posts Attempts to locate a statement or press release from Senator John McCain concerning Climategate have, so far, met with negative results. Senator McCain’s website indicates that his most recent press release (Oct 19) was a joint statement issued with Senator Russ Feingold (D.WI) that begins: "A day after a U.S. District Court Judge ruled that the Army Corps of Engineers displayed 'gross negligence' that contributed to the breaching of the levees in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, U.S. Senators Russ Feingold (D-WI) and John McCain (R-AZ), who have led efforts to reform the Army Corps of Engineers, released the following... The American Thinker http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2394804/posts#comment Thu, 26 Nov 2009 10:58:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2349849/posts Note: The following text is a quote: Jury Convicts Defense Department Official of Unlawful Communication of Classified Information and Making False Statements James Wilbur Fondren Jr., was convicted by a federal jury today on charges involving providing classified information to a man working with the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and lying to the FBI about it. Fondren was convicted of one count of unlawfully communicating classified information to an agent of a foreign government and two counts of making false statements to the FBI. He was acquitted of two unlawful communication of classified information, one count of conspiracy to... US DOJ.gov/opa - Press Release http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2349849/posts#comment Mon, 28 Sep 2009 05:16:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2349162/posts Almost nine months into 2009, at least 219 New Orleanians have attempted to take their own lives; 47 of them have succeeded. The number and rate of suicides is higher than in previous years and approaches twice the national rate. NOLA.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2349162/posts#comment Sun, 27 Sep 2009 02:22:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2344447/posts ACORN, a social justice organization with roots in [New Orleans], battles a string of scandals. The announcement stuck to a wall outside the entrance to ACORN's local office in the 2600 block of Canal Street quietly signals the trouble afoot. In English and Spanish, the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now tells walk-up clients that ACORN's housing office has shut itself down for two weeks to immerse itself "in an intensive training program." The sign is a symptom of a tumultuous week in the history of a controversial poor people's social justice movement -- one founded by a New... The (New Orleans) Times-Picayune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2344447/posts#comment Mon, 21 Sep 2009 01:14:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2329852/posts A Florida contractor hired by the Housing Authority of New Orleans to oversee its finances embezzled more than $900,000 during the past three years, according to charges filed Monday by the U.S. attorney's office. Separate public records show that during the same time period the fiscal manager, Elias Castellanos, 43, bought a $1.6 million mansion in Davie, Fla., just north of Miami, and five late-model cars -- including a Lamborghini Gallardo worth more than $200,000, a Ferrari F430, a Porsche 911 and two Mercedes-Benzes. Federal prosecutors charged Castellanos with one count of embezzlement Monday through a bill of information, indicating... The Times-Picayune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2329852/posts#comment Tue, 1 Sep 2009 23:32:37 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2322600/posts President Barack Obama said his administration remains focused on rebuilding New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, that anything less "would be a betrayal of who we are as a country, " and that he plans to visit New Orleans by the end of the year. "Well, keep in mind I've been in New Orleans multiple times, and I intend to be back in New Orleans before the year is out because I want to see first-hand where progress is being made, and where it is not, " Obama said. nola.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2322600/posts#comment Sun, 23 Aug 2009 15:33:28 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2315344/posts Brad Pitt hasn’t thrown his hat in the ring to be mayor of his adopted hometown, New Orleans. Others have done that for him, launching a grassroots campaign complete with nifty T-shirts touting "Brad Pitt for Mayor" But he's more than willing to serve, the actor told TODAY's Ann Curry with a self-deprecating laugh. "If chosen, would you run?" Curry asked in the prerecorded interview that ran Thursday. "Yeah," Pitt said. "Would you serve?" "Yeah. I'm running on the gay marriage, no religion, legalization and taxation of marijuana platform," he joked. MSNBC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2315344/posts#comment Thu, 13 Aug 2009 20:15:05 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-religion/2270264/posts The Vatican for the first time in the city's history today appointed a New Orleans native to head the Catholic church here, naming Bishop Gregory Aymond of Austin, Texas the 14th archbishop of New Orleans. He will replace Archbishop Alfred Hughes, who retires after seven of the most tumultuous years in the 216-year history of the New Orleans church. Aymond, 59, grew up in Gentilly and spent his entire career in New Orleans until his departure for Texas nine years ago. The Archdiocese of New Orleans said Aymond would take office after an installation Mass Aug. 20. The church was... Times-Picayune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2270264/posts#comment Fri, 12 Jun 2009 12:19:40 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2261266/posts Oh and get this one: When I was at ORD (Chicago O’hara) waiting for D----- to clear Immigration we were overrun by a very pushy, b******y demanding lady who had on a t-shirt which said she was with a REFUGEE NGO – who would even approach me and tell me that I was standing in the wrong place – (she was irritating the kind Customs Police and making them crazy) In any event all of the IRAQ REFUGEES which she was HERDING AROUND ( I use this term do to their total lack of English Skills and the large numbers... Email from a friend http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2261266/posts#comment Sat, 30 May 2009 17:09:29 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2246303/posts The French have an odd notion of boycotts. My good friend Scott Johnson at Power Line discovers this video of a “boycott” action in France organized, apparently, by Europalestine.com, or at least publicized by them. Take a look at the uniformed thuggery that takes place in a French grocery store: [video at link] Boycotts are perfectly legitimate free-market forms of protest — but this isn’t a boycott at all. A boycott is an organized effort to stop buying products or services from some offending source. This is an organized theft ring and nothing more. Unless they’re paying for those groceries,... Hot Air http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2246303/posts#comment Thu, 7 May 2009 19:05:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2228873/posts A Metairie resident is recovering after a stranger bit a chunk of flesh out of his arm and swallowed it Saturday afternoon. Joseph Lancellotti, 67, told authorities he did not know the suspect, later identified as Mario Vargas, 48, or why he was attacked in his front yard. Lancellotti was gardening at his home in the 4400 block of Kawanee Avenue about 2 p.m. when he noticed a man walking toward his house, shouting angrily, the report said. Lancellotti said he couldn't understand the man because he was yelling in Spanish. But when the man got within two feet, he... Nola.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2228873/posts#comment Tue, 14 Apr 2009 16:35:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2198105/posts BATON ROUGE -- One out of every 55 Louisiana residents is behind bars, a higher incarceration rate than any other state, according to research released today by a Washington, D.C., nonprofit group. One in 26 Louisiana adults is under correctional control, if probation and parole are included, the group found. The Pew Center for the States study of 2007 U.S. Census data found that Louisiana's incarceration rate spiked by 272 percent since 1982. That rate of increase is far from the nation's highest of 357 percent in North Dakota, and not far from Mississippi's 256 percent increase. Neighbor states Texas... Times Picayune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2198105/posts#comment Tue, 3 Mar 2009 15:07:29 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2194969/posts A man reported to have been kidnapped in Jefferson Parish last night and was being held in a house nearby on Majestic Place in Algiers. He struggled with one of his two kidnappers and shot the man, who ran and later died at the house on Pacifiic. Times Picayune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2194969/posts#comment Thu, 26 Feb 2009 23:54:45 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2193273/posts NEW ORLEANS – A Mardi Gras parade erupted into chaos on Fat Tuesday when a series of gunshots struck seven people, including a toddler. The child was not seriously injured and two suspects were in custody, police said. The shootings happened near the Garden District about 1:40 p.m. after the last major parade of the celebration, Rex, had ended. A stream of truck floats that follow the parade were passing by when gunfire broke out. "It sounded like a string of fireworks, so I knew it was more than one shooter," said Toni Labat, 29, a limousine company manager. She... Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2193273/posts#comment Wed, 25 Feb 2009 01:26:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2193196/posts NEW ORLEANS – A Mardi Gras parade erupted into chaos on Fat Tuesday when a series of gunshots struck six people, including an infant. The infant was not seriously injured and two suspects were in custody, police said. The shootings happened near the Garden District about 1:40 p.m. after the last major parade of the celebration, Rex, had ended. Hundreds of truck floats that follow the parade were passing when gunfire broke out. AP Via Yahoo http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2193196/posts#comment Tue, 24 Feb 2009 23:36:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2193628/posts Toddler among seven people gunned down as New New Orleans Mardi Gras parade descends into violence Seven people were gunned down in a hail of bullets as a New Orleans Mardi Gras parade descended into violence. Witnesses described scenes of chaos in the Garden District as people ran for cover. One of the victims was seen dragging himself along the ground, screaming for help. Police said the people who were shot were a 20-month-old toddler, three men aged 50, 33 and 20, two women 20 and 17 and a 15-year-old boy. Wounded: People help one of the victims who was... DailyMail.uk http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2193628/posts#comment Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:16:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2188676/posts NEW ORLEANS — They are the men still rebuilding New Orleans more than three years after Hurricane Katrina, the head-down laborers from Honduras, Mexico and Guatemala who work on the blazing hot roofs and inside the fetid homes for a wad of cash at the end of the day. But on the street, these laborers are known as “walking A.T.M.’s.” Their pockets stuffed with bills, the laborers are vulnerable because of language problems and their status as illegal immigrants. And as Hispanics have become the prey of choice in crumbling neighborhoods here in one of America’s most crime-ridden cities, racial... New York Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2188676/posts#comment Wed, 18 Feb 2009 23:21:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2186072/posts (HOUSTON) - Linda L. Johnson, 27, of New Orleans, La., has pleaded guilty to making false statements to obtain FEMA disaster assistance benefits following Hurricane Katrina, acting United States Attorney Tim Johnson announced today. Johnson pleaded guilty at a hearing on Feb. 10, 2009 , before United States District Judge Nancy Atlas. Sentencing has been set for April 27, 2009. Johnson altered an Entergy utility bill as proof she resided at a residence on Metropolitan Street in New Orleans, the address she listed as her primary residence in her claim for Hurricane Katrina disaster assistance, when in fact she did... US DOJ NEWS RELEASE http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2186072/posts#comment Sun, 15 Feb 2009 13:12:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2177305/posts Francisco Galicia had to laugh when he noticed that his city tax bill this year included a new line item: $200 for enhanced police protection. In the past 13 months, Galicia has been burglarized five times, each crime dealing a fresh blow to the longtime New Orleans resident's ambition to restore his flooded rental property on South Gayoso Street in Mid-City. He has invested more than half of an $85,000 loan in the property, hoping to turn a profit and pay off Hurricane Katrina-related repairs to his primary residence on Banks Street. But 20 months in, his South Gayoso home... The Times-Picayune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2177305/posts#comment Tue, 3 Feb 2009 12:52:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2175492/posts Kirsten Brydum pedaled away from the Howlin' Wolf club into the darkness of another American city that she didn't know very well. It was 1:30 a.m. She rode a black cruiser bicycle with a basket on the back, borrowed from friends of friends. In nearly every city she had visited on her 2-month-road trip, it seemed someone was willing to lend her an old bike. The Rebirth Brass Band was on the bill that night. Brydum, 25, had danced for a while outside the club in her flip-flops. She thought that the bouncer would eventually let her in for free,... Los Angeles Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2175492/posts#comment Sat, 31 Jan 2009 06:34:55 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2171490/posts About half of last year's 179 murders in New Orleans occurred in daylight, with spikes at the lunch and dinner hours, a fact that officials and experts say underscores the brazen nature of the slayings -- and may indicate that many are executions. Ninety people were murdered between 6 a.m. and 8 p.m., with 19 of them killed between noon and 1 p.m. -- more than any other hour of the day -- and 16 killed between 5 and 6 p.m.District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro said the daylight killings speak to a pervasive lack of respect for the justice system. "They... Times Picayune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2171490/posts#comment Sun, 25 Jan 2009 20:03:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2072607/posts http://www.maroonspoon.com/wx/gustav.html Live coverage...levee is failing 350 feet of wall falling apart as we speak... wgno http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2072607/posts#comment Mon, 1 Sep 2008 21:26:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2071932/posts An Open Letter to God, from Michael Moore Dear God, The other night, James Dobson's ministry asked all believers to pray for a storm on Thursday night so that the Obama acceptance speech outdoors in Denver would have to be canceled. I see that You have answered Dr. Dobson's prayers -- except the storm You have sent to earth is not over Denver, but on its way to New Orleans! In fact, You have scheduled it to hit Louisiana at exactly the moment that George W. Bush is to deliver his speech at the Republican National Convention. Now, heavenly Father,... Michael Moore http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2071932/posts#comment Sun, 31 Aug 2008 19:17:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2071557/posts NEW ORLEANS -- Spooked by predictions that Hurricane Gustav could grow into a Category 5 monster, an estimated 1 million people fled the Gulf Coast Saturday _ even before the official order came for New Orleans residents to get out of the way of a storm taking dead aim at Louisiana. Mayor Ray Nagin gave the mandatory order late Saturday, but all day residents took to buses, trains, planes and cars _ clogging roadways leading away from New Orleans, still reeling three years after Hurricane Katrina flooded 80 percent of the city and killed about 1,600 across the region. The... Washington Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2071557/posts#comment Sun, 31 Aug 2008 01:43:48 GMT