By: Allen Johnson

Jefferson Parish has only two accused killers in its home incarceration program, and both have celebrity status — renowned rap artist Corey “C-Murder” Miller, 37, and former local radio talk show host Vince Marinello, 70. Miller is charged in the shooting death of fan Steve Thomas in a now-closed Harvey nightclub in 2002. He is scheduled to stand trial June 9. Judge Martha Sassone recently denied Miller’s unspecified request for a weekend trip to Jackson, Miss. The rapper has been under house arrest for more than two years as a condition of a $500,000 bond. Meanwhile, Judge Conn Regan will preside over Marinello’s trial in Lafayette next month for the murder of the radio host’s estranged wife, Mary Elizabeth Marinello, 45. She was shot twice in the face on Aug. 31, 2006, in the parking lot of an office tower on Metairie Road. Marinello was arrested a week later. He posted a $750,000 bond, but house arrest was a condition of his release in December 2006. Marinello, who has gone through several lawyers, is restricted to his 94-year-old mother’s condo, which overlooks the parking lot where his wife was murdered.

By: Allen Johnson 

When it rains, it pours — especially on state Sen. Derrick Shepherd, D-Marrero. The Louisiana Board of Ethics has voted to hold public hearings on separate charges that Shepherd violated campaign finance laws by failing to report contributions, expenditures and other campaign activity in a timely manner for two of his campaigns. Shepherd could not be reached for comment at press time. He allegedly failed to file reports on time for his 2007 re-election campaign in Senate District 3 as well as supplemental reports related to his 2003 race in House District 87. Shepherd faces up to $2,000 in fines in each case. The ethics board also may impose up to $10,000 in additional fines. Shepherd’s campaign had $29,185 in “cash on hand,” according to his latest filing. The ethics hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. July 10 in Baton Rouge. Shepherd last week pleaded not guilty to federal money-laundering charges. A day earlier, his colleagues on the Senate Judiciary C Committee killed his signature bill to criminalize the wearing of saggy pants. In early April, Shepherd resigned as chair of the Senate’s Committee on Local and Municipal Affairs after his multi-count federal indictm

After a sodden first weekend of Jazz Fest 2008, I have few memories that did not take place in a tent or huddled under the grandstand.

Still, the Saturday Ponderosa Stomp revue was memorable - of course for the standard soul awesomeness of soul shouter Tami Lynn and for the ten-minute version of “Tighten Up” by Archie Bell that he got through before the 6:30 pm shutdown - but more so for the reliable antics of the Texas singer Roy “Is he on something?” Head. In his 60s, Head’s set is still more acrobatic and lewd than anything Britney Spears can currently muster. One particularly shining moment involved Head straddling Stomp producer Ira Padnos’s wife Sam as she played a sax solo. The best, though, was his repeated near-molestation of piano player Stanley “Buckwheat” Dural. The third time Roy leapt onto the piano bench to throw his arms around Buckwheat and aggressively snuggle him, I leaned over to my frend and said, “I hope they knew each other before this.” Read the rest of this entry »

On Sunday, the rain cleared in time for great sets from Big Chief Monk Boudreaux and many other acts including, Elvis Costello and Allen Toussaint, Michael Doucet and BeauSoleil, Cassandra Wilson and Al Green. Working though his best known material (I’m Still in Love With You, Love and Happiness), Green looked sharp in a glittery turquoise vest and rained red roses on the front row at the Congo Square Stage.

Fest-goers were unphased by rain again on Sunday at the Fair Grounds. Crocs and shrimp boots were the footwear of choice, but the crowds made the best of it.