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Report: Payton to appeal suspension today

Friday, 30 March 2012 13:02
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A person familiar with the decision says that Saints coach Sean Payton will file an appeal of his season-long suspension with the NFL on Friday.

The person says the appeal will also ask NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for his guidance on the parameters of the suspension. The person spoke to The Associated Press Friday on condition of anonymity because the league nor the Saints have announced Payton's plan to appeal.

Goodell suspended Payton for his role in connection with New Orleans' bounty system.

Goodell said at NFL meetings this week in Florida that Payton could have some contact with the team but did not go into detail.



(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

 

Half a billion Mega-Millions drawing tonight

Friday, 30 March 2012 07:56
New Orleans - People hoping to strike it rich are lining up all around southeast Louisiana to buy Mega Millions lottery tickets today. You can watch the drawing live tonight exclusively on Fox 8 at 10pm.

The record jackpot is $540 million dollars, making it the richest lottery in world history surpassing the former record of $390 million.

If one ticket matches all six numbers for the half-billion dollar mega-jackpot, the winner would have the choice of receiving the full jackpot in 26 annual payments of about $20.7 million, or a cash option of approximately $389.8 million.

Since January 24th, the lottery jackpot has now rolled 18 times without a winner. The odds of winning the jackpot are approximately one in 176 million.

Mathematician Mike Catalona of Dakota Wesleyan University in South Dakota says if you buy 50 tickets, you have just as much of a chance to win as you have being struck by lightning.

New Orleans police discover man shot to death in car

Friday, 30 March 2012 07:01
New Orleans-- Responders were called out early Friday morning to the 6800 block of Cindy Place in New Orleans East.

New Orleans Police Department investigators found the man shot several times inside a silver Nissan around 5 a.m.

They have not released any motive or suspects.

If you know anything information in this case, contacts Crimestoppers at 822-1111.

Take Two: Revised coastal plan wins over some critics

Thursday, 29 March 2012 19:26
Houma, La. -- Some of those most affected by the state's Coastal Master Plan greeted its unveiling two months ago with a loud thud.

However, the Jindal Administration has won over some early critics thanks to changes in the plan.

In Terrebonne Parish, for example, the original plan called for rebuilding barrier islands and ridges, but it envisioned very little in the way of marsh creation.

Since then, the state has taken from projects in southwestern Louisiana and put the resources closer to population centers, such as Houma.

"We see it as a tradeoff," said Reggie Dupre, Executive Director of the Terrebonne Levee and Conservation District.  "We're willing to have a less sustainable project in order to protect communities."

Supporters concede some of the marsh projects in the revised plan might be more vulnerable to salt water intrusion and, over time, could succumb to the same forces that caused land there to melt into the sea.

However, the parish also wants to introduce fresh water and river mud from the Atchafalaya.

That could involve pumping sediment over 30 or 40 miles to the eastern parts of Terrebonne Parish, an effort that state officials fear would drive project costs into the stratosphere.

"It is an expensive project," conceded Parish President Michel Claudet.  "But when you look at the benefits to us in the long run, it's certainly substantially cheaper than many of the projects shown in the master plan.

Claudet points out the state Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority has also agreed to consider an on-going parish study, which aims to show sediment projects can be managed more cheaply than standard estimates today.

"I don't think it's to the point where it's cost prohibitive," Claudet said.

Other parish governments also have warmed to the plan as the state rearranged timetables for projects.

In Jefferson Parish, ring levees for the town of Jean Lafitte, Barataria and Crown point were originally envisioned to be built after 2032, money permitting.

This week, Jefferson Parish President John Young praised the state's decision to move the levees into an early phase.

Young put out a statement saying, "the restoration and preservation of Louisiana's coastline, before it completely vanishes, is essential to the personal safety and economic prosperity of all Louisiana citizens."

In Orleans parish, the central wetlands-- a cypress forest lost to salt water intrusion from the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet-- is now included in the master plan.

All of the projects depend on the state's ability to piece together billions of dollars in funding over the next half century.

"What they're trying to do is narrow down some realistic goals that can be done, assuming that we raise $50 billion over 50 years," Dupre said.

However, he conceded the $50 billion estimate is "very aggressive.  We don't know if that's even close to reality."


More cars being booted after city changes booting policy

Thursday, 29 March 2012 15:56
The city of New Orleans has a new policy when it comes to booting vehicles.

Cars used to be booted after receiving three or more violations, but now, in an effort to increase revenue, city officials are cracking down, saying they'll boot anyone with just one delinquent parking ticket.

It's a story we're working on with our partners at the Lens.

Buck Stother says he struggles everyday to find a parking spot for his delivery truck. “I’m in a freight zone right now but there are some days when you're in a bigger truck and you can’t fit in a freight zone. And you try to park someplace else, and then you're gonna get a ticket,” Stother said.

Stother turns in his tickets to his company, but sometimes, it can take weeks for them to get paid. Now, the city says anyone with just one delinquent ticket, will get booted. “I hope it don't happen, but it could. It’s not right,” Stother commented.

City officials say year to date they've got a 134 percent increase in the number of vehicles booted as opposed to 2011, meaning their efforts are paying off.

But attorney Stephen Rue doesn't agree saying, “I know there’s been discussions with lawyers about perhaps a lawsuit being filed, a class action lawsuit, because of the failure of proper due process.”

Rue says he's been inundated with calls from residents who say their cars have been booted, but they never knew they had gotten a ticket in the first place. “Certainly we know the city is trying to have other vehicles of revenue but at what cost?” Rue asked.

Residents we spoke to, like Eura Jones, say they don't agree with the new policy change. “I think it’s terrible. It’s ridiculous,” Jones said.

Garth Sevdalis added, “It seems kind of a strong penalty."

But despite concerns from residents, the city is moving forward with the new one delinquent ticket policy and hopes to put over 3,000 boots on cars this year.

In order for a ticket to be considered delinquent, the owner must not have responded to notices sent to their home, and there had to have been no payment on it for 120 days.


Final Four brings big programs to Big Easy

Thursday, 29 March 2012 14:29
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Looking for those charming underdog stories? Go find the DVD from last year.

This year's Final Four brings together a conglomeration of big-name schools, all saddled with their typically big-time issues - a reminder that everything in college sports is not as pure as the NCAA and its "student-athletes" would like us to believe.

In the national semifinals Saturday, Kentucky plays Louisville and Ohio State meets Kansas.

All the schools have made headlines for a variety of off-the-court reasons over the last several months, including: the proliferation of one-and-done players, stories about coaches in courtrooms and a handful of financial misdeeds involving recruits, players, coaches and even ticket managers.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Senators debates voucher, teacher tenure

Thursday, 29 March 2012 11:06

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Gov. Bobby Jindal's education officials are seeking to assure lawmakers that a proposed teacher tenure overhaul will be fair.

Education Superintendent John White told senators that teacher evaluations based on student improvement will include consideration on factors including poverty, absenteeism and students' special needs.

The Senate Education Committee began hearings Thursday morning on the House-passed tenure bill and a measure creating a statewide private school voucher program.


(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Prosecutor accused of tainting case with Web posts

Thursday, 29 March 2012 10:15

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A federal prosecutor may have tainted the jury pool for the trial of five current or former police officers convicted in deadly shootings on a New Orleans bridge after Hurricane Katrina by anonymously posting inflammatory comments about the case on a newspaper's website, defense attorneys argued in court filings Wednesday.

The defense lawyers asked U.S. District Judge Kurt Engelhardt to postpone an April 4 sentencing hearing for the officers until after the Justice Department's Office of Professional Responsibility completes an investigation of Assistant U.S. Attorney Sal Perricone's online posts.

Engelhardt didn't immediately rule.

Perricone resigned from U.S. Attorney Jim Letten's office on March 20 after acknowledging he anonymously posted comments on nola.com, The Times-Picayune's companion website, about judges, politicians and cases on which he has worked.

Defense lawyers say Perricone posted numerous comments about the case against the officers before they were tried on charges they engaged in a cover-up to make it appear police were justified in shooting six unarmed people on the Danziger Bridge less than a week after the 2005 storm. Two were killed in the shootings.

All five of the officers were convicted in August of civil rights violations stemming from the shootings and the cover-up.

Although Perricone wasn't assigned to the case, the defense lawyers argue he may have posted the comments "as platforms to inflame the public and to incite anger and disgust."

"The full extent of misconduct in the U.S. Attorney's Office is still unknown, as is its impact on the pool from which defendants' jury was drawn," they wrote.

Lawyers for retired Sgt. Arthur "Archie" Kaufman, who was convicted of participating in the cover-up but wasn't charged in the shootings, said "at least a few of the prejudicial comments coincide with leaks of confidential and/or sealed information to the media."

In commenting on a February 2010 article by The Times-Picayune about target letters sent to three officers, Perricone allegedly made disparaging remarks about one of Kaufman's lawyers and implied Kaufman would be indicted in the case.

Under the pseudonym "legacyusa," Perricone also allegedly commented on Associated Press and Times-Picayune stories about the case against former New Orleans Police Lt. Michael Lohman. The officer later pleaded guilty to participating in the cover-up and cooperated with prosecutors.

Kaufman's attorneys said that comment was "tantamount to declaring Kaufman guilty in the media."

"Even more concerning," they wrote, "Lohman's case was under seal when the article about the expected guilty plea was published and the `legacyusa' comment was made."



(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP source: No decision on appeal, Saints' coach

Thursday, 29 March 2012 09:42
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A person familiar with the situation says decisions are still pending on a possible appeal of Sean Payton's suspension or an interim coach should his season-long punishment be upheld.

The person says Payton, general manager Mickey Loomis and their staffs are in meetings at the team's suburban headquarters and focused primarily on preparations for next month's NFL draft. The person spoke to The Associated Press Thursday on condition of anonymity on Thursday because the Saints have not announced their plans, Payton's suspension in connection with the Saints' bounty scandal is slated to begin on Sunday.

Payton has sought advice on the matter from his friend and retired coach Bill Parcells, who told the New York Daily News he'd consider the interim job if Payton asked him to take over.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Anonymous jury planned for Lil Boosie trial

Thursday, 29 March 2012 09:26

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - Court officials say the rarely utilized practice of an anonymous jury will be used for the high-profile first-degree murder trial of rapper Torrence "Lil Boosie" Hatch.

The Advocate reports the trial of Hatch, accused in an alleged murder-for-hire in 2009, is scheduled to begin April 30.

East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore III said the last time he can recall an anonymous jury being used in a parish case was in 1987 for the trial of three Colombians accused in the machine-gun slaying of drug smuggler-turned-government informant Adler "Barry" Seal.

Moore, who noted that Hatch's attorneys did not oppose his office's request for an anonymous jury, said jurors will be identified only by number.

Hatch's attorneys dismissed any suggestion that threats have been made in the case.



(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Terrebonne Parish looks to increase retail development

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 22:26
Economic planners want to make Terrebonne Parish more of a regional shopping and dining destination. The Houma commercial district serves shoppers and diners in four parishes: Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Mary and Assumption.

Final Four 2012 security measures

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 22:06
The big Final Four weekend starts in less than 2 days, and the city says, it's ready.

Security across the French Quarter will be similar to measures used during the BCS championship game. Final Four events get started on Friday, and safety managers say their security plan is in place, from the Superdome, to the French Quarter.

At the Final Four, the only thing bigger than the big game, is preparing for it.

“Look, nobody does it better than NOPD for crowd control, they use to Mardi Gras, big events,” said Deputy Mayor of Public Safety, Col. Jerry Sneed.

A massive security plan to help tame the thousands of people expected to pack the French Quarter, is already in place.

“We've got more than enough officers, there are going to be 600 or so officers in the area. So NOPD is ready, they've got their plan, they've exercised it, they're ready to go,” said Sneed.

The city's Deputy Mayor of Public Safety hopes all their efforts mean the only news this weekend is about the game, so do visitors from across the country.

“You really don't know what to think, I've heard people say don’t walk anywhere, take cabs anywhere. I'm looking forward to a wonderful weekend, in an historic city, someplace I've never been, and it will be exciting,” said Saul Frankel from New York.

“New Orleans seems to have it under control, and they seem to be pretty secure with things,” said Linda Seagroves from Alabama.

Allen, and Mary Bernard from California, and Candy Bernard from Philadelphia, say they have not missed a Final Four event in 17 years. One of their first final four's, was right here in New Orleans.

“1982 was our first one, Michael Jordan, and then 93 we were here again, and we said hey, we had such a great time last year, came back, and then 2003,” said Mary Jo Bernard.

“You look at the schedule, and go, when are they coming back to New Orleans, and we looked, and said, got to go that year,” said Allen Bernard.

“This is the absolute best city for it, hands down. Atlanta's nice, San Antonio is very very nice, but this is the best, yeah,” said Mary Jo Bernard.

All admit though, safety is always on their mind.

“We ask, if we walk, are there areas where we should stay away from, and they said, well, you know, there's some areas you wouldn't want to go at night certainly without not having a large group,” said Mary Jo.

“I think it's good to have visual, you know to see the people on the street, the police on the street, and the crowd control and everything, that makes people feel more comfortable I think, said Candy Bernard.

The three say 11 more people are joining them in the next few days from Ohio, Denver, and Seattle.

Col. Sneed says state police along with Orleans and Jefferson parish sheriffs deputies will assist NOPD officers this final four weekend.

Chris Rose: Rave on, Trayvon

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 21:47
Perhaps it's no surprise that – when America lost its collective mind – New Orleans would somehow be part of the story.

In Florida, a Neighborhood Watch captain follows a teenager. Words are passed, a handgun blasts.

The teen is dead. The shooter is free.

The teen is black. The shooter is white. The threads of American life unravel.

Into the void of temperance and caution step the righteous and the infallible, the knuckle draggers and fire-breathers.

Jesse Jackson hails a new martyr for our times. Geraldo blames the teen's hoodie.

The New Black Panther Party puts a bounty on the shooter's head.

Spike Lee Tweets the shooter's address. Mobs gather. It's the wrong address.

A retired couple in their 70s fear for their lives, flea from their home.

Somebody, please: Do the right thing.

Students in Miami loot a Walgreen's in protest. A congressman in a hoodie is escorted from the House of Representatives.

Witnessess come forward. 911 tapes are released. Rap sheets are revealed. School records are leaked.

The teen, a fresh-faced kid with Skittles in his pocket morphs into a gold-toothed playa, stoner and truant; Twitter handle UNPRINTABLE.

The shooter gets a make-over from unrepentant racist and vigilante to bloodied protector, misunderstood and afraid for his life, sobbing for days in the aftermath from the horror of it all.

Trayvon Martin and George Zimmerman will forever be defined by others, their identities leached by the raving masses, hand-wringing media, demagogues and apologists.

Our cultural preference for clear villians and heros, for unambiguous storylines, is challenged.  So much gray muddies the black and white.

The more we learn, the less we really know. And the louder we proclaim our ignorance.

Enter New Orleans.

Police veteran Jason Giroir takes to Facebook to suggest the kid deserved it.

Another proud day for the NOPD. Another black eye for New Orleans.

Another moron toying around on the Internet, oblivious to the consequences of hateful words.

That he was involved in a recent police killng of a black suspect; that his MySpace profile lists his occupation as “punisher;” these are details for more than just the prurient appetite.

Jason Giroir's status update: Unemployed.

Another day in the life.

It's the story of Trayvon Martin, George Zimmerman.

It's the story of Rodney King, O.J. Simpson, Richard Jewel and the Duke University lacrosse team.

It's the story of America.

How could New Orleans not be a part of that?

Now – can we all just get along?

Perricone's posts could affect Danziger Bridge case

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 21:26
New Orleans -- Former NOPD Sgt. Arthur Kaufman was convicted of conspiracy, lying to police and falsifying evident in the Danziger Bridge shooting. With his sentencing just a week away, Kaufman's attorney, Bill Gibbens filed a last minute motion to get his clients' sentencing delayed because of controversial comments posted by then-federal prosecutor Sal Perricone.

Gibbens is also the attorney who is responsible for unmasking Perricone in the first place as the man behind the handle, 'Henry L Mencken1951'.

Gibben's motion says Perricone posted about 70 derogatory comments about the Danziger case and the NOPD. It also states that Perricone posted an additional 270 comments about Kaufman and the bridge case under different handles besides ‘Henry L Mencken1951'.

In the motion, Gibbens is asking for more time to evaluate the improper comments.

"Anybody can file anything they want but the object of this is whatever was on the blogs. Did that make a difference? It would have to mean we've got to have a do-over on my case because if it was so prejudice I can get a new bite at the apple," says FOX 8 legal analyst Joe Raspanti.

Perricone was not involved in the Danziger prosecution. Raspanti believes it will be tough to prove that his comments would have changed the outcome of the Danziger case.

"I think it's a pretty high mountain to climb, but they have a right to do it and they're doing it." says Raspanti

Kaufman's attorney may not be the only one who tries to use the Perricone comments as a reason for a motion. Kaufman, right now, is set to be sentenced next week with four others convicted in the Danziger case. So far, though, no one else has asked the Judge to delay sentencing.

"They may take their shot, but it's a pretty high standard especially in the 5th Circuit which is where we are right now. To get this think overturned because somebody said something about you in a blog, I mean, something is said about everybody on a blog, so I think it will be tough.

Ultimately, the final decision will be up to the federal judge.

Kaufman's sentencing is set for next Wednesday. His attorney has asked the judge to hold a hearing before then.

U.S. Attorney Jim Letten had no comment on Wednesday.

Don't spend your Mega Millions winnings just yet

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 19:03
New Orleans, La -- Don't spend your Mega Millions lottery winnings just yet.

It turns out your odds of winning the $500 million plus lottery jackpot Friday night run less than the odds of death by vending machine.

WTXF, the Fox owned-and-operated station in Philadelphia, came up with some comparisons.

The lottery group points out the chances of a single ticket winning the prize are 176 million to one.

Consider the old standard, the odds of getting struck by lighting once in a single year, are dramatically higher at merely 1 million to one.

WTXF found the closest thing to hitting the big lottery ticket would be getting killed by a shark: 251 million to one.

However, beware of vending machines. You actually have a one in 100,000,000 chance of a vending machine tumbling on top of you and crushing you to death, or substantially better than the lottery odds.

The Mega Millions jackpot grew another $24 million overnight to surpass the half billion dollar mark and become the largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history.

Bluegrass pioneer Earl Scruggs dies

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 19:03
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Bluegrass legend and banjo pioneer Earl Scruggs, who helped profoundly change country music with Bill Monroe in the 1940s and later with guitarist Lester Flatt, has died. He was 88.

Scruggs' son Gary said his father died of natural causes Wednesday morning at a Nashville, Tenn., hospital.

Earl Scruggs was an innovator who pioneered the modern banjo sound. His use of three fingers rather than the clawhammer style elevated the banjo from a part of the rhythm section - or a comedian's prop - to a lead instrument.

His string-bending and lead runs became known worldwide as "the Scruggs picking style" and the versatility it allowed has helped popularize the banjo in almost every genre of music.

The debut of Bill Monroe and The Blue Grass Boys during a post-World War II performance on The Grand Ole Opry is thought of as the "big bang" moment for bluegrass and later 20th century country music. Later, Flatt and Scruggs teamed as a bluegrass act after leaving Monroe from the late 1940s until breaking up in 1969 in a dispute over whether their music should experiment or stick to tradition. Flatt died in 1979.

They were best known for their 1949 recording "Foggy Mountain Breakdown," played in the 1967 movie "Bonnie and Clyde," and "The Ballad of Jed Clampett" from "The Beverly Hillbillies," the popular TV series that debuted in 1962. Jerry Scoggins did the singing.

After the breakup, Scruggs used three of his sons in The Earl Scruggs Revue. The group played on bills with rock acts like Steppenwolf and James Taylor. Sometimes they played festivals before 40,000 people.

In a July 2010 interview, Scruggs said in the early days, "I played guitar as much as I did the banjo, but for everyday picking I'd go back to the banjo. It just fit what I wanted to hear better than what I could do with the guitar."

Scruggs will always be remembered for his willingness to innovate. In "The Big Book of Bluegrass," Scruggs discussed the breakup with Flatt and how his need to experiment drove a rift between them. Later in 1985, he and Flatt were inducted together in the Country Music Hall of Fame.

"It wasn't a bad feeling toward each other as much as it was that I felt I was depriving myself of something," Scruggs said. "By that, I mean that I love bluegrass music, and I still like to play it, but I do like to mix in some other music for my own personal satisfaction, because if I don't, I can get a little bogged down and a little depressed."

He said he enjoyed playing because "it calms me down. It makes me satisfied. Sometimes I just need to pick a few tunes."

At an 80th birthday party for Scruggs in January 2004, country great Porter Wagoner said: "I always felt like Earl was to the five-string banjo what Babe Ruth was to baseball. He is the best there ever was, and the best there ever will be."

In 2005, "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" was selected for the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry of works of unusual merit. The following year, the 1972 Nitty Gritty Dirt Band record "Will the Circle Be Unbroken," on which Scruggs was one of many famous guest performers, joined the list, too.

Scruggs had been fairly active in the 2000s, returning to a limited touring schedule after frail health in the 1990s. In 1996, Scruggs suffered a heart attack in the recovery room of a hospital shortly after hip-replacement surgery. He also was hospitalized late last year, but seemed in good health during a few appearances with his sons in 2010 and 2011.

In 2001 he released a CD, "Earl Scruggs and Friends," his first album in a decade and an extension of The Earl Scruggs Revue. Over 12 songs, he collaborated with an impressive stable of admirers: Elton John, Dwight Yoakam, Travis Tritt, Sting, Melissa Etheridge, Vince Gill, John Fogerty, Don Henley, Johnny Cash and actor Steve Martin, a banjo player, were all featured.

Scruggs, born Jan. 6, 1924, in Flint Hill, N.C., learned to play banjo at age 4. He appeared at age 11 on a radio talent scout show. By age 15, he was playing in bluegrass bands.

"My music came up from the soil of North Carolina," Scruggs said in 1996 when he was honored with a heritage award from his home state.

He and Flatt played together in Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys, then left to form the Foggy Mountain Boys in 1948.

Their popularity grew, and they even became a focal point of the folk music revival on college campuses in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Scruggs' wife, Louise, was their manager and was credited with cannily guiding their career as well as boosting interest in country music.

Later, as rock 'n' roll threatened country music's popularity, Flatt and Scruggs became symbols of traditional country music.

In the 1982 interview, Scruggs said "Bonnie and Clyde" and "The Beverly Hillbillies" broadened the scope of bluegrass and country music "more than anything I can put my finger on. Both were hits in so many countries."

Scruggs also wrote an instructional book, "Earl Scruggs and the Five String Banjo."

In 1992, Scruggs was among 13 recipients of a National Medal of Art.

"I never in my wildest dreams thought of rewards and presentations," he said. "I appreciate those things, especially this one."

Louise Scruggs, his wife of 57 years, died in 2006. He is survived by two songs, Gary and Randy. Gary Scruggs says funeral arrangements are incomplete.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Local gang leader sentenced

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 18:26

After Further Review: Tackling this insane offseason

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 18:08
Wildest… Offseason… Ever.

From Drew Brees’ contract, to Bill Parcells and everywhere in between, the last few months have been too bizarre to make up.

I’ll try to make sense of it all in this After Further Review


Bring On Big Tuna

Before I dive into the possibility him being on the sideline, I must acknowledge the sheer brilliance, intentional or not, by Payton/Saints just bringing Parcells’ name in the mix.

Adding Tuna to the possible coaching candidates spun this whole bounty situation in a new direction. With one leak to the national media, Parcells coaching again became the focal point of the story and got the attention off the negativity surrounding the Saints.

Now on to the issue at hand.

The Big Tuna bandwagon is growing, and count me as one of the many who’ve jumped on.

No matter how you slice this situation, dealing with the bounty situation is going to be difficult at least for the first few weeks of the season.

If the season-long suspension of Sean Payton holds up, bringing in a big name and big personality like Parcells makes a whole lot of sense.

One, he has the skins on the wall and bravado to handle this unprecedented situation. He can be the shield of this enormous distraction for the rest of the coaching staff.

Two, as the ultimate tease head coach, he doesn’t have to commit for more than a year.

Three, he would command instant respect. While I don’t think the Saints would have much of a ‘substitute teacher’ syndrome given the character and leadership on the roster, a move like this would ensure there would be none.

Of the assistants mentioned to fill in Pete Carmichael, Jr. would be the right in-house guy. Being a student of the ‘Payton-way’ and his chemistry with Drew Brees would take precedent over the previous head coaching experience of Steve Spagnuolo.

However, with this dark cloud hanging over the organization, I’m not sure this is the ideal situation for Carmichael’s first head coaching opportunity.

If Payton is gone for the entire season, Parcells would be the perfect fit to take over.

Back to Brees

If the bounty situation brought one common feeling from the Who Dat Nation, it’s this: sign Drew Brees and sign him fast.

With Peyton Manning’s new deal in Denver, the framework for the Saints and Brees has never been clearer.

According to several reports, the holdup was what number made Brees the highest paid player in the NFL. Was it $18 million over the life of the contract or $23 million in the first three years?

Problem solved.

That $23 million doesn’t exist anymore; the Colts erased it earlier this offseason. Manning is now a Bronco with a ‘pay as you go’ contract where the only guaranteed money comes in the first year at $19 million dollars. He gets more guaranteed money after passing a physical before his second season.

Quite frankly, Tom Condon and Brees would be wrong and irresponsible (since Condon negotiated Manning’s deal) to still expect $23million. Plus, the Saints simply can’t afford him at that price without cutting and restructuring far too many players.

But still, the Saints should make a statement and make Brees the highest-paid player in the NFL. $20-$21mill a season guaranteed for the first three years would do just that.

To me, the parameters have been set. It’s time to get this deal done.

Staying Guarded on Grubbs

Yes, signing Ben Grubbs softened the blow of losing Carl Nicks. Once Nicks was gone, Grubbs would have been the player I would’ve almost immediately targeted.

But I’m only cautiously optimistic that he will fill Nicks’ role.

Does he have the talent? Absolutely.

But as we saw from Olin Kreutz last season, established veterans from other teams don’t always transition well along the Saints offensive line.

While Grubbs helped pave the way for Ray Rice to rush for three straight 1000+yard-seasons, he was also in a very basic, run-first oriented offense in Baltimore.

The Saints offense is one of the most complex in the NFL that relies on diverse personnel packages and pre-snap recognition. Perhaps more so than other quarterback; interior protection is paramount with Drew Brees because of his height. (Grubbs will go from the the tallest QB in the NFL in Joe Flacco to one of the shortest in Brees.)

Basically it’s one of the most unique offenses in the NFL but not everyone is equipped to be in it.

How quickly Grubbs grasps the intricacies of the Saints offense will be a big factor in determining his success in New Orleans.

One thing is for sure, when it comes to the Saints’ offensive line, they simply can afford to have a weak link in the chain.

Credit for Colston

This was the year to be a free agent wide receiver in the NFL.

Every big-name free agent seemed to cash in, including Marques Colston but at a very Saints-friendly rate.

Here’s a look at the guaranteed money of the players who inked big-time deals:
  • Calvin Johnson $60 mil
  • Vincent Jackson $26 mil
  • Pierre Garcon $20.5 mil
  • Stevie Johnson $19.5 mil
  • Marques Colston $19 mil
  • DeSean Jackson $15 mil
  • Robert Meachem $14 mil
On that list, the only receiver I would take for sure over Colston is Calvin Johnson. Maybe some would take Vincent Jackson, I get that, but I wouldn’t. With every other player, Colston has been more productive for a longer period of time. Yet he’s just fifth in guaranteed money.

By not testing the waters for a bigger paycheck, Colston showed he is a team player. It’s refreshing to see a player, particularly at that position, that doesn’t say he’s team-first, he shows it with his actions.

Great keep by the Saints, he was not as easy to replace as some suggested.


Other Thoughts:

- Love the signing of Broderick Bunkley. The key to Spagnuolo’s defenses is a stout front four. Bunkley gives the Saints one-fourth of that. Great pick-up and at a very reasonable price.

- If I were Spagnuolo I would at least entertain the idea of moving Cam Jordan inside next to Bunkley. He was solid against the run last year, but didn’t have much of an impact on the pass rush. He appears to be more of a 3-4 defensive end or a 4-3 tackle. With Spags strictly running a 4-3 scheme Jordan’s talents would be better utilized on the inside, not on the edge.

- Can Curtis Lofton and Jonathan Vilma co-exist? We shall see.

- On the football side it made perfect sense, but the nostalgic part of me was a little sad to see Tracy Porter go. He joins the quarterback he’ll forever be tied too thanks to his game-clinching pick-six in Super Bowl XLIV. While Porter regressed a little during his tenure and can definitely be replaced, his legacy will live on forever in the hearts of Saints fans.

- Robert Meachem will make fantasy football owners a very happy man/woman as a San Diego Charger. While inconsistent at times, Meachem has the big-play gene and as a Charger he will be the number one receiver he never got the chance to be in New Orleans. Provided he stays healthy, Meachem will have 80+catches, 1000+yards and at least eight touchdowns in 2012. If you see him lingering on your draft board this summer, do yourself a favor and snatch Meachem up.

- It really feels like forever ago that Nicks signed with Tampa Bay. But I have to say I was a bit surprised for how unprofessional he acted about his contract situation. I was even more stunned at how some of my good friends in the local media gave him a pass for his actions. I liked Nicks too, great interview, great player, but that doesn’t mean he should’ve been rattling off hundreds of immature tweets about his contract status. That’s just not the way a professional athlete should act. No other free agent on the team conducted themselves that way.

- All this news and we still haven’t gotten to April. Stay tuned.

Citizens have waning confidence in NOPD training, practices

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 18:08

OPP inmate claims she was gang raped

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 17:28
New Orleans -- An inmate at Orleans Parish Prison claims she was gang raped and denied medical treatment. This, just days after U.S. Marshals pulled all federal inmates out of OPP because of conditions at the jail.

Attorney Katie Schwartzmann works for the Southern Poverty Law Center. Not long ago, Schwartzmann received a call from a terrified inmate. "She called here crying, like you have got to help me," Schwartzmann said.

S.T., as we're calling her, was born a man but identifies as a woman. She's currently in the male population at Orleans Parish Prison, where she says she was raped repeatedly.

"She was gang raped by five male prisoners that had knives and the attack lasted about 40 minutes. She requested medical care for about two days and was denied access to a nurse," Schwartzmann explained.

One of the reasons why Schwartzmann says she believes S.T.'s allegations is because, back in February, when S.T. first came to OPP, she was given a drug test. She tested negative for HIV. But this past weekend at University Hospital, the test was done again, and this time, it came back positive.

Schwartzmann commented, "We know that she was assaulted at the end of February in old parish prison and the average incubation period for the test to come back positive is 25 days and that's right in that window."

The attorney says she considered filing a lawsuit to demand S.T. be moved to a safer location after she says she was raped a second time by a different man. But after sending a letter to Sheriff Marlin Gusman Tuesday, S.T. was relocated.

However, security concerns remain for other inmates. On Monday, U.S. Marshals removed all federal inmates from OPP. In a statement the Marshals said, "We made the decision when we became aware of problems related to the conditions of confinement for state inmates, who are housed separately from federal inmates. We had already reduced the number of federal inmates we house in this facility from roughly 150 to 20 in the past several years due to administrative problems with the facility."

Schwartzmann says the Southern Poverty Law Center is ready and willing to take Gusman to court if things don't improve at the jail. She says no one else should be tortured like S.T. has allegedly been.

S.T. is at OPP awaiting trial on arson and assault charges.

In a statement, Sheriff Gusman said he has a zero tolerance policy for sexual assault at his facility. He also confirmed S.T. was taken to University Hospital to be checked out and told us, "The preliminary results of the examination by LSU's medical professionals indicates no forced sexual assault. Based on the information collected by the LSU trauma center at University Hospital and the Special Operations Division of the OPSP to date, we believe that the Southern Poverty Law Center's allegations are false."

Local police organizations oppose House Bill 685

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 16:48
New Orleans, La. - On Monday Police Chief Ronal Serpas suspended Officer Jason Giroir indefinitely without pay. Giroir was accused of violating NOPD policy by posting racially charged comments online. Officer Giroir resigned from the department on Tuesday.

Investigations of that type of alleged policy violation have gotten low marks in the past. The Department of Justice released a report last year that stating in those investigations policies were not followed. It also found investigations to be lacking in completeness and quality.

In the report, the Department of Justice suggested some of those investigations may need more time. That's when "House Bill 329" was born. Last year the bill stalled in the Senate, but it's getting another look in 2012.

Now labeled "House Bill 685", it proposes a change that would only affect the New Orleans Police Department. Right now the Police Officers' Bill of Rights allows for a maximum investigation of 120 days. The bill proposes 180 days be allowed in some cases for the NOPD.

"We're absolutely against it. It's unnecessary and uncalled for," said Raymond Burkart with the Fraternal Order of Police. "Start off with the Public Integrity Bureau and see what you can do to get them to manage their time better to get them more efficient before you try to make laws when you don't need them."

State Representative Helena Moreno sponsored the bill. However, she referred us to the city saying this is a push by the Landrieu Administration.

A statement from the city reads, "We are simply following U.S. Department of Justice recommendations to help reform the NOPD and root out bad cops."

The Police Association of New Orleans is also speaking out against House Bill 685. In a statement, PANO President Mike Glasser says "PANO vehemently opposes House Bill 685 and suggests that the legislators hold the administration accountable instead of penalizing the officers because their department can't perform."

We requested a comment from the NOPD, but have not received a response.

Teacher at Archbishop Chapelle HS arrested

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 16:27
New Orleans -- The Archdiocese of New Orleans confirms JPSO deputies arrested a teacher at Archbishop Chapelle High School.

In a letter to parents, Chapelle's president says Jeannine Seoane faces charges of prohibited sexual behavior between an educator and a student and purchasing alcohol for someone under 21 years old.

Seoane has been placed on leave during the investigation and the school is making counselors available to students.

OPP inmate claims gang rape

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 16:27
An inmate at Orleans Parish Prison claims she was gang raped and denied medical treatment. This, just days after U.S. Marshals pulled all federal inmates out of OPP because of conditions at the jail.

Attorney Katie Schwartzmann works for the Southern Poverty Law Center. Not long ago, Schwartzmann received a call from a terrified inmate. “She called here crying, like you have got to help me,” Schwartzmann said.

S.T. as we're calling her, was born a man, but identifies as a woman. She's currently in the male population at Orleans Parish Prison, where she says she was raped repeatedly. “She was gang raped by five male prisoners that had knives and the attack lasted about 40 minutes. She requested medical care for about 2 days and was denied access to a nurse,” Schwartzmann explained.

One of the reasons why Schwartzmann says she believes S.T.'s allegations about the gang rape is because back in February when S.T. first came to OPP, she was given a drug test. She tested negative for HIV. But this past weekend at University Hospital, the test was done again, and this time, it came back positive. Schwartzmann commented, “We know that she was assaulted at the end of February in old parish prison and the average incubation period for the test to come back positive is 25 days and that’s right in that window.”

The attorney says she considered filing a lawsuit to demand S.T. be moved to a safer location after she says she was raped a second time by a different man. But after sending a letter to Sheriff Marlin Gusman Tuesday, S.T. was re-located.

However, security concerns remain for other inmates. On Monday, U.S. Marshals removed all federal inmates from OPP. In a statement the Marshals said, "We made the decision when we became aware of problems related to the conditions of confinement for state inmates, who are housed separately from federal inmates. We had already reduced the number of federal inmates we house in this facility from roughly 150 to 20 in the past several years due to administrative problems with the facility."

Katie Schwartzmann says the Southern Poverty Law Center is ready and willing to take Gusman to court if things don't improve at the jail...because she says, no one else should be tortured like S.T. has allegedly been.

S.T. is at OPP awaiting trial on arson and assault charges.

In a statement, Sheriff Gusman said he has a zero tolerance policy for sexual assault at his facility. He also confirmed S.T. was taken to University Hospital to be checked out and told us, "The preliminary results of the examination by LSU's medical professionals indicates no forced sexual assault. Based on the information collected by the LSU trauma center at University Hospital and the Special Operations Division of the OPSP to date, we believe that the Southern Poverty Law Center's allegations are false."

Convicted Danziger cops want sentencing delayed

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 15:48
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Lawyers for five current or former police officers convicted of civil rights violations stemming from deadly shootings on a New Orleans bridge after Hurricane Katrina claim a federal prosecutor may have tainted the jury pool.

A court filing Wednesday says Sal Perricone anonymously posted inflammatory comments about the case on a newspaper's website.

Defense attorneys want U.S. District Judge Kurt Engelhardt to postpone an April 4 sentencing hearing for the officers until after the Justice Department completes an investigation of Perricone's online posts. Engelhardt didn't immediately rule.

Perricone resigned from U.S. Attorney Jim Letten's office March 20 after acknowledging he anonymously posted comments on nola.com, The Times-Picayune's companion website.

Defense lawyers say Perricone posted dozens of comments about the Danziger Bridge shootings before the officers' trial. 


(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Richmond objects to recovery money shift to Dome

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 15:47

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A New Orleans congressman is objecting to a Jindal administration plan to redirect federal hurricane recovery money from housing aid programs to Superdome upgrades.

U.S. Rep. Cedric Richmond sent a letter Wednesday to federal officials and Gov. Bobby Jindal asking for the money shift to be scrapped.

The Jindal administration has proposed moving $6.6 million from several recovery programs, including fisheries assistance, small business loans and housing aid, to another program that would help pay for improvements to the Superdome, where the New Orleans Saints play.

The proposal needs federal approval.

Richmond says that is not the best use of the money and would send the wrong message to local communities and people who are still struggling to rebuild more than six years after Hurricane Katrina.


(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

SWAT roll in Metairie ends with suspect's arrest

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 15:47
Metairie -- Jefferson Parish deputies called in a SWAT team Wednesday to help end a standoff in the Airline Park neighborhood.

Deputies blocked off several streets surrounding the 1400 block of Bullard Avenue.

The Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office says the incident stems from a weekend dispute between 39- year-old 39-year-old Kevin James and his girlfriend, who claims he kidnapped her from her Bullard Avenue home.

Neighbors say James returned to the home and when deputies tried to question him, he refused to come out.

The SWAT team was finally able to arrest James shortly after 4:00 p.m. He faces arrest warrants for kidnapping and domestic abuse.

House panel moves to subpoena Obama Admin. over oil moratorium

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 15:12
Washington, DC -- A House Committee voted Wednesday to clear the way to subpoena the Obama administration over the deepwater drilling moratorium, the Fox News website reports.

The 23-17 vote along party lines allows GOP Rep. Doc Hastings, chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, to issue the subpoenas, which will go to such agencies as the Interior Department and the Environmental Protection Agency.

The House investigation centers on an administration report following the April 2010 explosion off the Louisiana coast.

A panel of experts said it recommended that drilling in the Gulf resume. However, the final report from Interior Secretary Ken Salazar to President Obama called for a six-month moratorium and was edited to suggest the panel's support of that recommendation.

Salazar apologized in June 2010, saying he and the president made the decision to impose the moratorium.

House Democrats said Wednesday the change was a result of hectic deadline editing by multiple authors.

Democrats on the committee objected to the approval of the subpoena request.

"The subpoenas are a blank check for an investigation that has been shooting blanks,” complained Rep. Markey, D-Mass.

“Just because (the committee) discusses streams and rivers doesn’t mean we should go on a fishing expedition."


After complete failure, "Bird Island" shows signs of life

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 14:16

New Orleans, La -- Consider them pioneers, or perhaps refugees, returning to the roost.

Along the Audubon Park walking trail, a few Great Egrets have gathered on a small, roughly acre-sized island in the park lagoon.

For a number of years, hundreds of Great Egrets, Night Herons, Snowy Egrets and other species delighted bird watchers, joggers, walkers and other park goers.

Audubon boasted arguably one of the great urban rookeries in all of America, a small slice of the Louisiana marsh placed smack dab in the middle of the city.

Then last spring, overnight, the birds mysteriously vanished, abandoning hundreds of nests.

In the last couple weeks, a dozen or so Egrets could be seen gathering sticks to build nests, and in at least one case, tending to an already completed nest.

"I have no idea why they flew," said Rick Atkinson, curator at the Audubon Zoo Swamp Exhibit.

Atkinson said the lagoon surrounding Bird Island has never had a huge stock of fish, which means the loss probably had nothing to do with a food source.

The various theories for the birds' disappearance range from predators scaring them off to construction repairs along the island's shore, or the racket from a motion picture filmed nearby last spring.

However, similar activities over the course of several years never seemed to bother the birds.

Another theory involves a virtual invasion of thousands of Whistling Ducks, which Atkinson describes as bad neighbors and "loudly gregarious."

Atkinson estimates the ducks, which showed up in southeast Louisiana just a few years ago, now number roughly 5,000 in the zoo and the park.

At first, Atkinson said he old boss at the zoo was "tickled to death" when the ducks made appearance.

As they grew in number, their presence become more imposing.

"Some mornings you don't see any ground at all."

As for the egrets and other herons, "they really don't seem to like the whistling ducks," Atkinson said.

The rookery may also simply have been a victim of its own success, as more and more birds crowded onto a limited piece of real estate.

Their reappearance comes as no surprise to zoo curators.

"The great likelihood is that something will decide to set up shop," Atkinson said.

Payton, Saints have decisions looming this week

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 13:19

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Saints owner Tom Benson left the NFL meetings Wednesday and headed back to New Orleans, where his team's top brass had major matters to discuss during what could be Sean Payton's last week of work in 2012.

Team spokesman Greg Bensel said no decisions had been made on an interim coach after a meeting Tuesday with Bill Parcells. Payton has made it clear he is hoping Parcells can help New Orleans move forward whether he wants to get back into coaching or not.

Payton considers Parcells his mentor, and has spoken with him several times since learning last week that the NFL intended to suspend him for all of the coming season - starting this Sunday -for his role in New Orleans' bounty program. Payton said most of those conversations concerned how Parcells might handle a similar situation, not whether he was interested in returning to the sideline in the Big Easy.

Yet when asked why Parcells, a finalist for the Hall of Fame this season who turns 71 in August, would make a good fit as interim coach, Payton had some definite ideas.

"He's a great teacher," Payton said Tuesday at the NFL owners meeting in Palm Beach. "Certainly I'm biased, having worked with him. But he's a Hall of Fame head coach. And I would also say there's some things probably set up in the framework of our program that would be exactly how he would have set those things up had he been the head coach (in New Orleans) in `06. So there's some carry-over that way."

The Saints' bounty system overshadowed much of the business discussed at the NFL owner's meetings.

"It's definitely necessary to mention it," said Ron Rivera, whose Carolina Panthers play the Saints twice a year in the NFC South. "The precedent has been set by the commissioner and they need to understand that and it is not to be broached again. Going forward, we won't have to go over these things again."

The Saints are still trying to figure out to regroup from the fallout.

It could be a few days before Saints, who are looking to make the playoffs for a fourth straight season, decide on an interim coach.

Payton said he has not decided whether to appeal and has until Monday to so, a move that could give him a little more time at work. However, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has said he would expedite such an appeal, meaning Payton's suspension might not be delayed for long.

Should there be an appeal, the Saints would want to see whether it results in a reduced penalty before deciding whether to look within or outside of the organization for Payton's stand-in.

"It would just be considering all options, to be fair and really trying to do our homework on each option before making a decision," Payton said. "There's a lot of small steps here before we would get to that point of having to make a decision."

If Parcells does decide to come to New Orleans, he would take the reins from a coach he hired as an offensive assistant in Dallas back in 2003. Payton worked under Parcells for three seasons before getting his first shot as a head coach in 2006, when the Saints returned to the city after being displaced for months by Hurricane Katrina.

There are also three strong candidates among Saints assistants to take over as interim coach: offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael, defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo and offensive line coach Aaron Kromer. Payton expressed confidence in the abilities of his own assistants to compensate for his absence, but also voiced some misgivings about saddling those coaches with additional responsibilities.

"We feel like we've got a number of good candidates" on the staff, Payton said. "The trick then is what it does to affect their roles that they currently have."

Payton spent only Tuesday at the NFL meetings and planned to be back at work in New Orleans on Wednesday, trying to tie up as many loose ends as he could in the next few days.

"I've got a lot of to-do things right now specific to football," Payton said. "The offseason calendar, all of that has been laid out already. Everything has been basically planned all the way up to the Hall of Fame game. ... Between now and then, there's a lot of little things that I'll try to make sure we get covered and handed over to our coaches so that they have a pretty good understanding as to what I'm looking for."

General manager Mickey Loomis will be able to oversee the draft and work up until the season starts. Then he is slated to serve his eight-game suspension for failing to put a stop to the bounty system in a timely way. Assistant head coach Joe Vitt, who also coaches linebackers, is facing a six-game suspension.

The NFL's investigation in New Orleans found that Payton initially lied to league investigators about the existence of a bounty and instructed his defensive assistants to do the same. Payton twice apologized for his role in an enterprise that offered payouts for knocking out opponents, saying he takes "full responsibility" for a system that operated for three years under his watch.

As many as 27 players also could be sanctioned for their role in the scandal.

Payton said he didn't want the scandal to "taint or tarnish" his team's recent success.

"We'll get through this," he said. "This will be a challenge. ... You know, we've gone through a lot of adversity and we've won a lot of games in really a short window of time. And I know our players are leaders both within the locker room and the coaching staff will look at this as a challenge and a little bit as an opportunity."

In addition to the penalties for Payton, Loomis and Vitt, Goodell also fined the Saints $500,000 and took away second-round draft choices in 2012 and 2013.

---

AP Pro Football Writer Barry Wilner and AP Sports Writer Tim Reynolds contributed to this story from Palm Beach, Fla.




(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

2011 personal income up in Louisiana

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 12:45

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Personal income rose 4.8 percent last year in Louisiana as the petroleum and manufacturing industries enjoyed a strong 2011.

That's according to a Wednesday report from the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Personal income is the income received by all people from all sources - job earnings, investment income, property income and government payments.

Louisiana's personal income rose from $168.4 billion in 2010 to $176.5 billion in 2011. On a per-person basis, that translated to $37,039 in 2010 to $38,578.

On a per-person basis, Louisiana ranked third in the 12-state southeastern region, behind Virginia and Florida. That was unchanged from 2010.


(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Boil Water Advisory in effect in lower Plaquemines

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 11:32
Belle Chasse - Plaquemines Parish officials have issues a Boil Water Advisory for residents living in lower Plaquemines.  The advisory is in effect from the Empire Bridge to Venice until further notice.

It is recommended that residents living in this area disinfect their water before consuming it (including fountain drinks), making ice, brushing teeth, or using it for food preparation or rinsing of foods by the following means:
Boil water for one (1) FULL minute in a clean container. The one minute starts after the water has been brought to a rolling boil. The flat taste can be eliminated by shaking the water in a clean bottle or pouring it from one clean container to another.

Residents with any questions are asked to contact the Director of Public Service at 504-297-5560

Lawmakers scrap bid to cap TOPS tuition payments

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 11:14

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A near-annual proposal to put a cap on the amount of tuition paid through the TOPS program has been rejected by state lawmakers.

The House Education Committee voted 12-4 against the bill Wednesday to limit the awards given through the free college tuition program, the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students.

TOPS is a popular program across the state, but its costs are growing annually - to an estimated $168 million next year.

Republican Rep. Joe Harrison, sponsor of the cap proposal, says the state can't continue to afford such an increasing price tag. A higher education study commission earlier this year recommended a cap on TOPS awards.

Opponents say any cuts to TOPS could limit students' ability to go to college.


House Bill 294 can be found at www.legis.state.la.us


(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Mega Millions jackpot largest ever at $500M

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 11:13
ATLANTA (AP) - The Mega Millions jackpot is now the largest in U.S. lottery history.

Georgia Lottery officials say the jackpot reached $500 million on Wednesday. It has rolled 18 times since Marcia Adams of College Park won $72 million in the Jan. 24 drawing.

A winner could get $19.2 million a year for 26 years or a single payment worth $359 million. The next drawing is Friday at 11 p.m.

Previously, the largest jackpot was $390 million, won by two players in Georgia and New Jersey in March 2007.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Cocaine dealer sentenced to 23 years in prison

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 10:55

THIBODAUX, La. (AP) - A Raceland man has pleaded guilty to distributing cocaine and sentenced to 23 years in prison.

The Comet report 33-year-old Juanches Shelby was originally charged with seven drug crimes. Assistant District Attorney Rene Gautreaux said the Lafourche Parish District Attorney's Office dismissed all but one and agreed not to charge him under the habitual-offender law.

Shelby took the plea deal Tuesday while a jury was being selected for his trial.

Shelby's most dramatic arrest was in April, when Lafourche deputies said he rammed a police vehicle with his car, ran over a fence and drove through lawns in Galliano, all with an unbuckled 18-month-old in the car.

The arrest was part of an investigation into crack cocaine in south Lafourche. Gautreaux said police did not find drugs on him during that arrest.



(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Lawyer: Prisoner is HIV positive after jail rapes

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 09:22

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The Southern Poverty Law Center accuses New Orleans jail officials of failing to protect a transsexual prisoner from being repeatedly raped.

In a letter Tuesday to Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman, SPLC attorney Katie Schwartzmann claims the prisoner was gang-raped at knifepoint in February and tested positive for the HIV virus after another alleged rape.

On Wednesday, Schwartzmann said the Sheriff's Office has moved the prisoner to a different part of the jail.

Schwartmann said the center is pleased with the move but isn't ruling out suing on behalf of the prisoner, who was born with male anatomy and is housed with male prisoners but identifies herself as a woman.

Gusman disputes the group's allegations and says a medical exam indicates the prisoner wasn't sexual assaulted.


(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

CEO: Avondale shipyard still on track for closure

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 09:07

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The head of Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. says the company is still on track to close its Avondale shipyard in 2013.

During a Wednesday conference call with investment analysts, company CEO Mike Petters indicated Huntington Ingalls is still open to find a joint venture partner to find a new use for the Jefferson Parish shipyard.

But Petters said that Huntington Ingalls will have to find "a credible partner" who can deliver products to a sustainable market.

The Navy has cleared the yard for new commercial uses.

The state has offered Huntington Ingalls a $214 million incentive package to keep the yard open. State officials say the yard could be used for oil and gas rigs, offshore wind, generators, commercial nuclear energy and commercial shipbuilding. Avondale currently has about 3,300 workers.


(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Sean Payton absent at NFC coaches breakfast

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 08:32
Palm Beach, Fla. - The NFL owners meetings are wrapping up Wednesday morning and Saints head coach Sean Payton was not in attendance for the NFC coaches breakfast. Payton's absence was expected after he addressed the media at length Tuesday about his year long suspension from the NFL because of his involvement in the alleged bounty program.

Fox 8's Fred Hickman who has covered the meetings spoke with some of the NFC South coaches at the breakfast. Hickman asked Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera about the NFL report which said his Quarterback Cam Newton was a bounty target. Rivera said he noticed no unusual roughness by the Saints against Newton in their two games.

Rivera says he didn't know of the bounty activity until the league issued its report. One of the Saints most heated rivalries is with the Atlanta Falcons. Over the years, it's one of the most physical battles in the league and Falcons Coach Mike Smith told Hickman the same thing as Rivera.

As far as former Saints Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams, who was suspended indefinitely from the league, Rams Coach Jeff Fisher said he has yet to talk to Williams since the league's decision.

NFL Commissioner will conclude the meetings Wednesday morning with a press conference.

Sean Payton absent at NFC coaches breakfast

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 08:32
Palm Beach, Fla. - The NFL owners meetings are wrapping up Wednesday morning and Saints head coach Sean Payton was not in attendance for the NFC coaches breakfast. Payton's absence was expected after he addressed the media at length Tuesday about his year long suspension from the NFL because of his involvement in the alleged bounty program.

Fox 8's Fred Hickman who has covered the meetings spoke with some of the NFC South coaches at the breakfast. Hickman asked Carolina Panthers coach Ron Rivera about the NFL report which said his Quarterback Cam Newton was a bounty target. Rivera said he noticed no unusual roughness by the Saints against Newton in their two games.

Rivera says he didn't know of the bounty activity until the league issued its report. One of the Saints most heated rivalries is with the Atlanta Falcons. Over the years, it's one of the most physical battles in the league and Falcons Coach Mike Smith told Hickman the same thing as Rivera.

As far as former Saints Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams, who was suspended indefinitely from the league, Rams Coach Jeff Fisher said he has yet to talk to Williams since the league's decision.

NFL Commissioner will conclude the meetings Wednesday morning with a press conference.

3 students arrested after gun sale in school parking lot

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 08:09
SCOTLANDVILLE, La. (AP) - Three Scotlandville High School students have been arrested and are accused of buying and selling a gun in the school's parking lot.

Casey Rayborn Hicks, a spokeswoman with the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office, sa6ys a 15-year-old 9th-grader Tuesday bought a loaded, .22-caliber handgun from a 15-year-old 10th grader. She says a 16-year-old 10th grader supplied the $50 to buy the gun. The students involved in the transaction gave no reason for the exchange.

The Advocate reports an officer with the School Drug Task Force found the weapon in the 9th grader's waistband after a student reported the gun to administrators.
All three were booked with one count of illegal possession of a handgun on school property and transported to the East Baton Rouge Parish juvenile detention center.

(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Big Boys only in the Big Easy

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 07:49

It's going to be big boys only in the Big Easy.

After a couple years of mid-majors breaking into the party and little guys leading their teams to titles, the Final Four will feature power players from power conferences.

The players are as good as it gets when it comes to big men: Kansas' Thomas Robinson, Ohio State's Jared Sullinger and Kentucky's Anthony Davis. They're all first-team All-Americans, and Louisville's Gorgui Dieng isn't bad, either.

The teams, traditionally strong: Kentucky, Kansas, Louisville, Ohio State. Every one of them has won a national title, been to at 10 or more Final Fours - all at least once in the past seven years - and have coaches who have won titles or coached in the title game.

Did we mention Louisville and Kentucky are playing each other?

Yeah, this is going to be big.

THE STARS

You know college basketball, you know these guys. We're going to tell you about them anyway.

Robinson, Kansas. Big, strong, athletic, a double-double waiting to happen. Hard to believe this unanimous All-American wasn't much more than a bit player last season.

Davis, Kentucky. The 6-foot-10 forward has had as much an impact as any of coach John Calipari's recent run of freshmen phenoms. Athletic and with a pterodactyl-like wingspan, he scores, he swats, he disrupts.

Sullinger, Ohio State. The AP's first repeat All-American in three years, Sullinger is the prototype of today's big man: Big and physical, yet with good touch away from the basket and agile enough to get to the rim. Didn't play when Kansas beat the Buckeyes on Dec. 10 because of a sore back.

Peyton Siva, Louisville. The point guard can take over games with his scoring, but it's his ability to get everyone involved that makes him so dangerous. Quick enough to get around a lightning bolt, he'll keep probing the defense until he finds the best shot for himself or a teammate.

THE SIDEKICKS

Not the stars, but not far behind.

Tyshawn Taylor, Kansas. Ty is the guy when it comes to running Kansas' offense.

Deshaun Thomas, Ohio State. Sullinger gets all the attention, but Thomas has been the Buckeyes' leading scorer in the postseason, averaging 21.8 points per game.

Kyle Kuric, Louisville. The Cardinals' leading scorer barely needs to touch the ball to get a shot off.

Terrence Jones, Kentucky. The Wildcats have an NBA team in the making, so it was hard to pick just one player. We went with Jones, the super sophomore with the multidimensional skills who creates so many matchup problems.

THE COACHES

Rick Pitino, Louisville. The first coach to take three different schools to the Final Four, he's put together one of the best coach-'em-up jobs of his career this season, leading a team that had some big stumbles during the season into his sixth trip to the Final Four.

Calipari, Kentucky. Became the second coach to take three teams to the Final Four when he got the Wildcats to Houston last season. Only thing missing for this master recruiter is a title.

Thad Matta, Ohio State. Has the Buckeyes in the Final Four for the second time in six years after reaching the title game with Greg Oden in 2007. Kicking the team out of practice after a rough stretch in February, which prompted a team meeting, helped kick-start OSU's run to New Orleans.

Bill Self, Kansas. Solidified his reputation by winning 2008 national title with Jayhawks, led a team that was supposed to be rebuilding to the Final Four this season.

NUMBERS

2.5 - Ohio State's line over Kansas.

8.5 - Kentucky's line over Louisville.

13 - Combined national championships by this year's Final Four teams: Kentucky (7), Kansas (3) Louisville (2) Ohio State (1).

52 - Years since Ohio State's lone national title.

77.9 - Points per game by Kentucky, most of the Final Four teams.

SUBTLETIES

The natural inclination is to follow the ball. After all, whoever scores the most wins. But there are countless subtle things that lead to the ball going in the basket or, in the case of the defense, not going in.

Here's a few to watch this weekend:

Dieng's anticipation. It's one thing to see Louisville's Senegalese shot blocker swoop in at the last minute and swat a shot away, but watch before the shot goes up, the way he sets himself up and figures out when to jump. And that coil - he's like a cobra waiting to strike.

Sullinger's footwork. Satch Sullinger, Jared's father and high school coach, had the Ohio State forward working on his footwork from an early age and now he's like Chris Brown dancing around the basket. Pay particular attention to the way he uses his pivot foot to face up to the basket.

Taylor's first step. The Kansas point guard can blow past pretty much anyone. That quick first step is what does it; watch how quickly he gets it even or past the defender's leg to shoot by him.

Aaron Craft's off-the-ball defense. The Ohio State point guard has tap-dancer-quick feet and is like a second jersey while following an opposing guard. If he doesn't want his man to get the ball, he's probably not going to get it.

DID YOU KNOW?

Kansas forward Justin Wesley's two older brothers, Keith and Kevin Langford, both played in the NBA. Freshman guard Christian Garrett is the cousin of former NFL player Mike Garrett and New York Yankees great Chris Chambliss.

For the inroads mid-majors have made in recent years, the national champion will come from one of the six power conferences for the 22nd straight year. UNLV in 1990 was the last smaller-conference school to break through.

Louisville's Chris Smith is the younger brother of J.R. Smith of the NBA's New York Knicks and Mark Jackson Jr. is the son of former NBA guard and current Golden State Warriors coach Mark Jackson.

Calipari played point guard at Clarion State from 1981-82, leading the team in assists and free throw percentage.

The Superdome is expected to hold more than 74,000 fans after the lower bowl was reconfigured. Attendance was 54,524 when it last held the NCAA title game in 2003.

Ohio State guard Shannon Scott's father is former Boston Celtics star Charlie Scott.

Marquis Teague's brother, Jeff, plays for the Atlanta Hawks and Kentucky teammate Terrence Jones is the cousin of former NBA player Damon Stoudamire.

Ohio State has finished national runner-up four times: 1939, 1961, 1962, 2007.



Man acquitted of shooting death of 3-year-old

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 07:48

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A man accused of second-degree murder for leaving an unattended gun that killed a 3-year-old-boy has been acquitted.

The defense contended that Brashaun Blue was shot in the face in November 2010 after finding the gun in a couch. Tyrone Brown was his caretaker that night and told police that he did not awaken when the shot was fired. He said he found the mortally wounded boy the next morning when we went to answer the doorbell.

The Times-Picayune reports that Criminal District Judge Frank Zibilich ruled Tuesday that nothing Brown did amounted to a crime and acquitted him.

Brown had opted to have the judge, rather than a jury, hear his case.



(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

RSD, Urban League hold enrollment event in Orleans

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 07:34

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The state agency that oversees most public schools in New Orleans has joined with the Urban League of Greater New Orleans for one last promotion of the new single-application process for New Orleans schools.

The "one-app" process allows parents to fill out a single application where they can list their top choices of schools for their children to attend. It's promoted by the state Recovery School District as a simpler process than has been in place in past years - and a means of ensuring that as many students as possible get enrolled in the school they want most.

Saturday's event takes place from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. in New Orleans' City Park and will include music, refreshments and activities for kids.


(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

RSD, Urban League hold enrollment event in Orleans

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 07:34

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The state agency that oversees most public schools in New Orleans has joined with the Urban League of Greater New Orleans for one last promotion of the new single-application process for New Orleans schools.

The "one-app" process allows parents to fill out a single application where they can list their top choices of schools for their children to attend. It's promoted by the state Recovery School District as a simpler process than has been in place in past years - and a means of ensuring that as many students as possible get enrolled in the school they want most.

Saturday's event takes place from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. in New Orleans' City Park and will include music, refreshments and activities for kids.


(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

Man who led violent N.O. gang faces life in prison

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 07:33

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A man who pleaded guilty to leading a violent, drug-dealing New Orleans gang and participating in a 2005 murder is facing life in prison.

Michael Anderson is scheduled to be sentenced Wednesday by a federal judge. His plea deal calls for a life sentence.

Anderson pleaded guilty in March 2011 to drug, murder and racketeering conspiracy charges. He will be the last of eight defendants charged in the case to be sentenced.

Anderson also pleaded no contest last year to state manslaughter charges for a case in which he was accused of gunning down five teenagers in New Orleans. He maintained his innocence in that case, which prompted the governor to bring National Guard troops back to New Orleans to help curb violence in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.



(Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

NOPD investigate Wednesday morning murder in Dixon area

Wednesday, 28 March 2012 07:09
New Orleans-- Investigators for the New Orleans Police Department found a man shot to the head in the 3800 block of Cambronne Street.

Responders first got the calls around 5 a.m. of a man suffering from his injury. An NOPD spokesman later confirmed the victim died at the scene. 

Investigators have yet to release possible information on a suspect or motive.

If you know anything, you are urged to call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.

Who Dat Nation wants Payton to challenge punishment

Tuesday, 27 March 2012 22:50
New Orleans - Local musicians T-Bone and 5-Star have created a new song in support of Sean Payton. They say the song "Free Sean Payton" is now available on i-Tunes. Saints fans are hoping their coach challenges the NFL's punishment.

Coach Payton has until Monday to file an appeal. Sports analyst Mike Detillier says an appeal could give Payton a few more days with the team. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said he would "probably" allow him to continue working during the appeal process.

"I really believe the sentence will be through the 2012 season," explains Detillier. He says if the Payton does get a break, it would likely be on the back end of the suspension. "If everything goes fine, I could see the commissioner stepping in and saying, we'll let you come back early. Have your team ready for 2013 and you're involved."

There is one ray of hope according to Detillier. He says Commissioner Goodell hasn't really defined how much communication Coach Payton would be allowed to have with the team during the suspension. He says the commissioner has left the door open about Coach Payton being contacted regarding possible personnel moves and happenings within the organization. He says if that communication is allowed, it's great news for the Saints. Detillier says the coach shines when it comes to handling those issues.

10-year-old girl, two others shot over the weekend

Tuesday, 27 March 2012 22:49
New Orleans - The NOPD is investigating the shooting of a 10-year-old girl and two others. It happened in New Orleans East over the weekend in the 4800 block of Rhodes Drive.

People who live nearby say the gunfire sent several people running Saturday night around 10:00. It happened near Robert Playground. Investigators say four males walked up to the victims and started a conversation with them. At some point, the four males pulled out guns and started shooting.

A 16-year-old girl, an 18-year-old man and a 10-year-old girl were shot. FOX 8 spoke with the 10-year-old's mother by phone. She said her daughter is feeling a little better but is still recovering in the hospital.

People who live in the neighborhood are very upset.  One woman, who did not want to be identified, says she's living in fear.  "It's children being hurt, night after night and I am really disgusted and something needs to be done."

People who live near the playground say all of the street lights in the area are broken and at night, it's extremely dark.

They say several shootings have happened there in the past few months and they believe having lights would stop at least some of the crime.

So far, no arrests have been made in this case.  If you know anything about the attack, please call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111.

Heart of Louisiana: Abita Opry

Tuesday, 27 March 2012 20:27
The town of Abita Springs celebrates its famous water and embraces the slower pace of a country lifestyle. And down the street on a Saturday afternoon, a front porch jam session is drawing a crowd.

The music on the front porch is just the warm-up. The real show takes place inside the old Abita Springs town hall.

They call it the Abita Springs Opry. And folks here have been enjoying this style of old-time music for the past 20 years.

“It’s the ambiance, it’s this hundred-year-old building, it’s the quality of the musicians,” says Bryan Gowland, a former mayor who produces the show.

Gayle Christenson and her friend Mel Cannon have season tickets, center stage and front row.

“The hardest thing of the Opry is staying in your seat and not jumping up on the stage,” says Christenson.

“Go back of the curtain, they got food back here, gumbo, bread pudding, and all kind of goodies back there, which is why I like it too back there, with the food,” says Cannon.

Steve Anderson leads the Abita Opry house band. “I guess a lot of people grew up on the music, you know, they heard it when they were kids, and we fill the house up every time we have a show.”

It’s a tight two-hour long show – four different groups each get 30 minutes to entertain the packed house. The mood shifts to rockabilly with the Abita Stumps, and the variety continues with a visiting act from Nashville.

“You’re not going to hear it on the radio but I mean it ain’t died out,” says musician Leroy Troy. “If you want to hear this type of stuff, you just have to get out and go look for it.”

“It’s local, its Abita Springs, but they bring in acts from all over the world,” says music fan Ethel Henderson.

It’s folk, old-time country, bluegrass, a little rock’n’roll and a whole lot of fun. And it’s the perfect fit for a small town that likes to keep things just the way they are.

You can go to the Abita Opry on the third Saturday of the month during the spring and fall. The next show is Saturday night, April 21.  For more information, go online to http://abitaopry.org.

Icebreaking ship leaves Port Fourchon for Alaska

Tuesday, 27 March 2012 19:12
PORT FOURCHON - She sailed out of Port Fourchon for sea trials in the Gulf of Mexico, though the MV Aiviq is designed for much colder waters. The ship can break ice up to three feet thick and will be used by Shell to search for oil in the Arctic Ocean.

Workers at Edison Chouest Offshore built the $200 million ship in Lafourche and Terrebonne Parishes.

"I feel as though we just starting a marriage and it's a marriage between the people of South Louisiana and the north slope of Alaska," says Gary Chouest.

The Aiviq is bringing new attention to Port Fourchon and its role in the nation's oil and gas industry.

"We service about 18% of the nation's entire oil supply," says Chett Chiasson, executive director of the Greater Lafourche Port Commission. "We are a critical hub, intermodal hub of activity for this nation's energy needs."

This hub was booming in April of 2010 when the Deepwater Horizon exploded offshore. Port Fourchon saw a 60% drop in business following the oil spill and moratorium.  That business is rebounding, though, as the port expands to meet the needs.

A pump runs 24 hours a day, building up sediment in what used to be open water. The area will eventually become a slip with deep water access. Right now, the port has no available waterfront property.

Chiasson says that's a good problem to have.  "In the next year we should see a considerable amount of new construction here in the port that is going to service the oil and gas industry and the needs that are necessary," he says.

Bracket Town to host family fun activities during Final Four

Tuesday, 27 March 2012 18:51
The NCAA Final Four is more than world class basketball games. Crews are transforming parts of the Convention Center into something you can't imagine. Nancy Parker has more.

Plenty to do for Final Four fans

Tuesday, 27 March 2012 18:18
March Madness comes to a head this weekend with the NCAA Men's Final Four. Jacqie Carpenter with the NCAA sits down with Nancy Parker to discuss the events and concerts planned this weekend.  
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