Louisiana officials are trying to put a positive spin on the state Mineral Board’s most recent oil and gas lease sale, which came in at $1.4 million — $1 million shy of last December’s take — and is the lowest year-end sale since 2004. Sliding crude prices and a dismal national economy have been pegged as culprits for the December slump. Read the rest of this entry »

Until recently, the idea of the federal government bailing out financial markets and buying bank stocks was unthinkable. Times have changed. Stop at almost any bank in Orleans Parish, especially those with regional or national names, and the upper brass will attest to that. Read the rest of this entry »

The year 2009 was supposed to be slow in terms of elections, but already there are signs it will be busier than expected. No “big” elections (i.e., mayor, governor, Congress or U.S. Senate) are scheduled for next year, but several special elections for lesser but still very important offices are set for April 4 — and some of them are shaping up to be hotly contested.  Read the rest of this entry »

The April 4 special election for Traffic Court judge could see a war between two prominent Lakeview political families — and the fighting could divide the normally solid bloc of Lakeview votes in that contest. Read the rest of this entry »

Gov. Bobby Jindal’s new initiative to reform the way health care is delivered to the state’s citizenry, entitled “Louisiana Health First,” is focusing first on the regions with the greatest needs. That means places like Acadiana, Houma-Thibodaux and large portions of north Louisiana aren’t part of the picture. Read the rest of this entry »