The Democratic primary in the Second Congressional District is getting tighter, and that could be bad news for incumbent Bill Jefferson. The latest independent poll shows Jefferson falling slightly and all of his major African-American challengers creeping upward.

What’s really “new” about the latest poll is that the “undecided” vote is breaking solidly away from Dollar Bill, who also has seen his core base of support dwindle over the past six months.

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The congressional campaign of former TV newscaster Helena Moreno was crowing last week about a poll by Multi-Quest that showed her making the runoff against Congressman Bill Jefferson and beating him in a head-to-head match-up. Indeed, the poll by veteran pollster Jack Grimm showed her running second in the crowded Democratic primary field in the Second Congressional District and leading Jefferson by a margin of 49 percent to 36 percent in a head-to-head match-up. The poll was completed shortly before Hurricane Gustav — roughly five or six weeks before the Oct. 4 primary.

However, the numbers that were released to the media did not include a racial breakdown of either the primary “horse race” or the head-to-head contest between Moreno and Jefferson. 

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From the Jefferson Parish Web site:

As of this morning, Entergy has not restored power to most of Jefferson Parish’s 505 sewerage lift stations which move wastewater from homes and businesses and to the wastewater treatment plants. Residents are cautioned not to flush toilets, wash clothes or dishes, take showers, or allow any water to go down the drains in their homes or businesses. If the system becomes overwhelmed, sewerage wastewater may back up and overflow into homes and businesses.

The state of New Orleans three years post-Katrina is the subject of a special edition of City Limits Investigates, a magazine published by City Futures Inc., a New York-based nonprofit devoted to “rethinking, reframing and improving urban policies in New York and, by extension, other cities throughout America.” Because of the story’s relevance to New Orleans, the special edition of the subscription-based magazine is available free online (www.citylimits.org/neworleans).

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  Louisiana appears to be turning over a greener leaf. The Advanced Biofuel Industry Development Initiative officially kicked off earlier this month. It’s meant to expand fuel supplies in the state without boosting dependence on foreign oil and gas.  Read the rest of this entry »

Some 467 new laws went into effect on Aug. 15, and most of them will impact citizens from every walk of life — even pot smokers.  Read the rest of this entry »

The Louisiana Family Forum, a right-wing advocacy group that promotes faith-based issues, is dropping $250,000 this fall to bring 50,000 people to the polls. The “Ring the Bell” campaign kicked off earlier this month and eventually will complete a tour of 60 cities.  Read the rest of this entry »

Embattled Congressman Bill Jefferson has been a no-show at most public forums for candidates seeking the Second Congressional District seat, which he has held for nearly 18 years. Despite the incumbent’s absence from the public forums, most of his challengers quietly concede that he is likely to land one of the two runoff spots when the Democratic primary votes are counted on Sept. 6.  Read the rest of this entry »

That’s not the only word, but it is the best word I can think of to describe Rising Tide III, from which I have just returned. High fives to the organizers, panelists, and participants for putting together an awesome and altogether memorable experience. And a great big “thank you” to all the bloggers for welcoming Gambit Weekly and blogofneworleans into your growing fold. On a personal note, it was really fun to finally put faces and names to all the local bloggers I’ve started reading in the past year. I would name you all here, but I’m quite sure I’d leave someone out, so forgive me if I acknowledge you collectively. You guys rock.

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  The Orleans Land Bridge Project is just one of the many coastal resources in Louisiana now reaping the benefits of a new federal grant program. The Coastal Impact Assistance Program, also known as CIAP, distributes $250 million annually to six eligible offshore oil- and gas-producing states, including Louisiana. The money is intended to help minimize the effects of oil and gas production in the Outer Continental Shelf. Most recently, the state was allocated $1.3 million to complete part of the Orleans Land Bridge Shoreline Protection and Marsh Creation Project, which will build approximately 50,000 feet of rock breakwater along the Lake Borgne shoreline between Bayou Bienvenue and Alligator Point in hopes of reducing the erosion rate in the area.  Read the rest of this entry »