Thursday, October 30, 2008 12:22 PM CDT
Unemployment in Tangipahoa Parish is up for the month of September as the nation's economy continues its downturn.
State economist Loren Scott is predicting the parish will steer clear of the national trend, but unemployment continues to rise in the parish, now up to 6.2 percent.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008 9:57 AM CDT
Downtown Hammond presents rides on carriages
…and snowflakes
will fall on Starry November Night
The Downtown Development District is introducing carriage rides during its fourth Starry November Night this year from 5 to 10 p.m. on Nov. 21 in downtown Hammond.
Children age 5 and younger will ride free with a paid adult.
(Read the full post about ‘Downtown Hammond plans carriage rides, snow’…)
NEW ORLEANS — The company that makes an over-the-counter weight-loss product has suspended sales following accusations the product contains — but does not list — an ingredient banned by the NFL.
“We’ve received notice of the problem with the NFL,” the makers of StarCaps said in a statement released by e-mail Thursday.
Last week, WDSU reported three New Orleans Saints players tested positive for the diuretic Bemetanide and faced suspension for violating the league’s steroids policy. In September, a fourth player, Jamar Nesbit, served a four-game suspension.
Nesbit and Saints running back Deuce McAllister both say they used StarCaps. (Read the full post about ‘Company Stops Selling Product In Deuce Substance Scandal’…)
NEW ORLEANS — There’s some good news for a New Orleans landmark destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
The New Canal Lighthouse in Lakeview has won first place in a national restoration contest sponsored by the company Jeld-Wen.
Jeld-Wen will donate 16 new windows and two doors to the building.
The lighthouse has stood on the shores of Lake Pontchartrain since 1890.
NEW ORLEANS — A local man suspected of at least three rapes is among dozens of suspected sex offenders whose faces were in the newspaper Thursday.
CrimeStoppers and the U.S. Marshals service are hoping you can help bring the fugitives to justice.
CrimeStoppers’ newest ad targets 40 men and women suspected of violent sex crimes throughout the Greater New Orleans area.
“Some of these individuals are wanted for forcible rape, some individuals who have other warrants besides the sexual offenses, like battery. All these people should be considered violent and dangerous,” said Darlene Cusanza with CrimeStoppers.
One of those suspects is 40-year-old Aaron Taylor.
“Aaron Taylor, you could describe this guy as a sexual predator,” said U.S. (Read the full post about ‘Feds Hunt For Serial Rape Suspect’…)
NEW ORLEANS — Early voting is complete. Really early voting has just started.
Schools across Louisiana this week are participating in the National Student-Parent Mock Election, with children still in grade school casting their first ballots.
At Harriet Tubman Charter Elementary School, sixth-grade students representing the two presidential campaigns spent Wednesday morning trying to persuade their classmates to vote for either John McCain or Barrack Obama.
The debate played out with questions on the economy, education and national security. (Read the full post about ‘Students Participate In Mock Debate, Election’…)
NEW ORLEANS — A 23-year-old man was found shot to death in east New Orleans on Wednesday afternoon.
New Orleans Police Officer Jonette Williams said officers found the victim at 2:45 p.m. in the 6000 block of Beechcraft Street.
He was lying on the ground next to a vehicle and had suffered multiple gunshot wounds.
There’s no word yet on possible suspects in the case.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008 9:41 AM CDT
PONCHATOULA — The Krewe of Pericles has canceled its annual Mardi Gras parade and ball this year, citing decreased participation due to the economic downtown.
Krewe Capt. Mike Whitlow said the board and members decided participation was insufficient to try to stage the two locally popular events.
“It’s disappointing,” said Whitlow, who was instrumental in founding the krewe.
Many members did not renew their membership, and a certain base is needed to finance and coordinate a parade and ball, he said.
A deposit is required for the parade floats, and the krewe membership did not want to risk going into the red, Whitlow said.
(Read the full post about ‘Pericles cancels events due to economy’…)
Monday, October 27, 2008 10:33 AM CDT
Options, a local agency that helps people with disabilities live and work in the community, will conduct a job fair on Monday from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Options main location, 19362 W.Shelton Road, Hammond.
Shelton Road is the first right turn off of Industrial Park Road, just east of the Hammond Municipal Airport.
Options signs on Hwy 190 point toward Industrial Park Road and a sign is on Shelton Road,” Chief Executive Officer Sylvia Bush said.
“By holding the Job Fair at Options, we can begin processing applicants immediately,” Bush said.
Friday, October 24, 2008 10:27 AM CDT
Popeye’s Chicken & Biscuits will host a grand opening on Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Southeastern Louisiana University’s War Memorial Student Union, said Martin Balisteri, food service director for Aramark.
A rubber chicken toss game, a biscuit stacking contest, prize drawings and more will take place in the Lion’s Den and Student Union mall, he said.
The ribbon cutting ceremony will start at 11 a.m., Balisteri said.