WVUE Local News Headlines

Gunfire in Irish Channel neighborhood results in one dead.

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 21:55:00 GMT

Mid-day gunfire results in the shooting death of a 42-year-old man. The shooting occured Saturday just after 1:30 in the 3900 block of Annunciation St in the Irish Channel neighborhood. The identity of the man will be released once family has been notified.

According to an NOPD spokesperson, officers arrived on scene and found the victim lying in the street, suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. EMT's arrived and pronounced the victim dead on the scene.

Investigators are currently gathering evidence and information to find the person(s) responsible for this incident. If you have any information that could assist with the investigation, you are asked to call CRIMESTOPPERS at 822-1111 or toll-free, 1-877-903-STOP (7867).

Man shot to death in Algiers neighborhood

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 21:30:00 GMT

Gunfire in an Algiers neighborhood leads to the shooting death of an unidentified male. The incident occurd Saturday at 12:30 a.m. in the 100 block of Eliza St.

According to an NOPD spokesperson, officers arrived on the scene and found the victim lying in the street suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead on the scene by EMT's.

Investigators are gathering evidence and information to find the person(s) responsible for this incident. If you have any information that could assist with the investigation, you are asked to call Crimestoppers at 822-1111 or toll free, 1-877-903-STOP (7867).

Jefferson Parish probe widens to school board

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 23:52:30 GMT

A Jefferson Parish school board member visited a federal grand jury today.

Mark Morgan says the feds are interested in a post-Katrina contract with a Metairie-based company.

In the days right after katrina, morgan authorized "certified cleaning and restoration" to clean-up several westbank schools.

The school board refused to pay the entire $5 million dollar bill saying it was excessive and unreasonable.

The board eventually settled a lawsuit.

Morgan says the FBI questioned him on Wednesday about the contract and the company's owner Danny Haag.

Morgan says it's unfortunate that he is now involved with the ballooning Jefferson Parish scandal.

"When you're involved in politics any time you, the word FBI and U.S. attorney gets mentioned it's hard. Even if all you're doing is appearing as a witness as to where an investigation might go and there's not an allegation against you the public tends to see you being on TV and interpret that as having done something wrong but again, i've been ensured by investigators there is absolutely no allegation that i've done anything wrong," Morgan says.

Morgan says Certified Cleaning and Restoration was referred by Jefferson Parish officials who hired the company to do work at the Yenni building.

The parish received the same subpoena and also returned documents to the grand jury today related to the red light camera project as well as employment records for several current and former employees.

Most of those employees worked in the parish attorney's office.

Also today, FOX 8 confirmed that former CAO Tim Whitmer has a new attorney.

Whitmer replaced former district attorney candidate, Ralph Capitelli with well known criminal attorney Pat Fanning.

Whitmer's insurance business is what started the federal investigation into Jefferson Parish government.

Saints season ticket prices going up

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:43:00 GMT

The Saints are raising ticket prices for the first time in two years starting this upcoming season. The team made the announcement Friday on its website. Fans with season tickets can expect to get their renewal information in the next few days.

Saints officials say more than half of the season ticket holders will have an increase of $10 or less per seat, per game. Some tickets in the terrace, for instance, have gone up from $300 for 10 games to $400.

“As reflected by the NFL’s study, we place paramount value on the relationships that we share with our season ticket holders,” said Saints Vice President of ticket and suite sales Michael Stanfield. “Our goal is to continue to provide strong value and services for our fans and we are deeply appreciative of their support. Our organization is committed to continuing to fielding a championship-caliber product on the field, as well as to continue to rank first overall in customer satisfaction.”

Saints season ticket holders who wish to move their seats may do so through an online request form, while fans without tickets can sign up for the waiting list.

The Saints confirmed Thursday that the team would be eliminating about 1,200 seats from the terrace section to make way for a new press box and luxury suites. Stanfield says he believes those fans will get seats elsewhere in the Superdome.

Health care showdown nears

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 03:52:00 GMT

A showdown is set for Sunday in Washington on what's being called the biggest piece of social legislation in a lifetime.

The health care reform bill is not a done deal, but analysts say President Obama is probably a lot closer to victory than some are acknowledging in public. As a possibly historic vote looms, abortion remains a potential sticking point.

In Virginia Friday, President Obama made an 11th hour pitch for health care legislation. He's hoping to sway undecided lawmakers ahead of Sunday.

Before a crowd at a Virginia college the President said, "starting this year, thousands of uninsured Americans with pre-existing conditions will be able to purchase health insurance."

"Here we are on the cusp of what has been a multi-generational effort on the part of progressives and democrats to expand access to health care to virtually all Americans," said Tulane Political Science professor Thomas Langston.

If the sweeping senate bill passes the House, and Langston believes it will, most Americans beginning in 2014 would be required to purchase insurance. If they refuse, they would face penalties. Also, families with incomes up to $88,000 a year would receive government help to defray costs.

So how do we as a country pay for it?

Langston said Medicare taxes, for example, will increase one percentage point for people who make more than $200,000 a year. The same goes for a couple who brings in $250,000 a year. On top of that, there's also a tax for investment income.

A tax increase is just one hangup for Republicans. "In their heart of hearts they want a single payer.. Canadian-style system of health care, and so you see a breakdown of trust between the two parties and wildly divergent assertions about what this bill contains and what this bill would do," said Langston.

Republican Congressman Joseph Cao, a former seminarian, like many Catholics is committed to health care reform, but disagrees on the language on abortion funding.

"If we are successful in getting strong language back into the bill, the senate bill, then I will reconsider my bill. Whether or not I vote yes or no still has to be determined," said Cao.

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops opposes the bill while 60,000 nuns are in favor. It's that support from the sisters some analysts say conservative Democrats who are on the fence might vote yes.

Langston said while this is no done deal, if it passes, it will be remarkable. He called it the biggest piece of social legislation to win congressional approval in a lifetime, and it's all happening on the heels of a recession.

The unofficial vote count has 215 lawmakers voting yes or at least leaning that way and 216 no votes or lawmakers leaning toward no.

Saints fans who lose seats could still be in dome

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:55:10 GMT

New Orleans - About 1,200 Saints season ticket holders are going to lose their seats this upcoming season because of renovations to the Superdome. The move affects fans in the terrace sections on the Saints' side of the stadium.

But all hope is not lost for the rafter-bangers who think they won't be there when the Saints unveil their Super Bowl banner.

Mike Stanfield, Executive Vice President of ticket and suite sales, said he believes that the Saints will find alternative seats for the ticket holders who are impacted.

The Superdome's press box is being moved to make way for new luxury suites. The work should be completed by next season.

Senator says corrupt public officials should forfeit retirement benefits

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:46:00 GMT

Metairie - A state lawmaker said he has had enough of public servants engaging in corrupt activities, so he will ask the legislature this month to punish public officials and government employees who are convicted of felony crimes by withholding their state retirement benefits.

Senator Conrad Appel of Metairie has co-authored two pieces of legislation that would strip state retirement benefits from public servants, who in the future, are convicted of crimes like extortion, bribery, corrupt influencing and obstruction of justice.

The language is spelled out in a bill that lawmakers would have to approve during the upcoming legislative session and in a constitutional amendment that would have to go before voters statewide.

"I think the voters would heartily support that measure," said UNO Political Scientist Ed Chervenak. Chervenak said the public is tired of the scandals involving elected officials. And he believes the threat of losing retirement money could serve as a major deterrent.

"Certainly that would deter people from putting their hand out and looking for hand outs from other people," Chervenak added.

Body found along I-55 identified

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 01:21:09 GMT

LAPLACE, La. (AP) - St. John the Baptist Parish authorities have identified the body of a man recovered from the water along Interstate 55 north of LaPlace.

Sheriff's spokesman Capt. Dane Clement says a boater navigating waters two miles north of the Ruddock exit on I-55 spotted the body about 7:35 p.m. Thursday. Detectives say the victim is 32 year-old Ron Sterling Jefferson, of Montz, who was reported missing by his family on March 7th.

A cause of death has not been released, but authorities say it is certain foul play was a factor.

Jefferson's death is classified a homicide. Anyone with information about his disappearance or death should call the sheriff's office or Crimestoppers.

Locals weigh in on weekend healthcare vote

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:56:20 GMT

New Orleans - People on both sides of health care reform are sounding off on the streets of New Orleans tonight with a critical vote just days away.

Some say it's too much government, others say it's high time all americans gain access to one of the world's best medical systems.

With a key vote on health care reform expected this weekend, tea party protesters went to the federal building to sound off in protest.

Many say the bill represents too much big government.

Ed Jackson of Houma says, "it scares me to death..scares me to death."

Others worry that it doesn't go far enough to restrict federal funding of abortions.

Many americans say some coverage is better than nothing.

A lot of people without health insurance wind up at University Hospital. They say the treatment is good here, but regular checkups are few and far between.

But insurance providers worry.

Mike Mann with Eustis Insurance says, "my concern is there's very little talk about reducing costs moving forward."

The bill in its current form is expected to cost Americans 94 billion dollars a year. It would require 95 percent of Americans to get insurance, or else pay a fine. It would also make it illegal for insurers to deny coverage to people with medical problems.

The bill also includes a 50% drug discount for seniors. It would also force individuals making more than 200,000 dollars to pay a 3.8% tax increase. It would also ban higher premiums for women.

All eyes are now on the U.S. house where a vote's expected Sunday on a bill that could extend health care coverage to 32 million more Americans.

Moyo conviction upheld

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:23:22 GMT

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A woman serving 20 years in a case tied to a former Louisiana legislator has lost her bid for a new trial.

Gwendolyn Joseph Moyo was convicted in 2008 of fraud, conspiracy and money laundering. She complained that an FBI agent's testimony linking her with former Congressman William Jefferson tainted her trial.

But a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the contention Friday, saying that even if the jury should not have heard the testimony, the error was harmless.

Prosecutors said Moyo sold millions of dollars worth of bogus construction bonds and then laundered some of the proceeds with the help of then-state Sen. Derrick Shepherd.

Shepherd is serving 37 months for his role in the case.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)