Yesterday,Governor Bobby Jindal sent a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture to request assistance for those farmers in the Morganza Spillway whose crops have been affected by recent rising water levels. The letter is included below:
Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer
U.S. Department of Agriculture
14th & Independence Ave, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250
Dear Secretary Schafer:
Due to flooding and excessive rainfall, Pointe Coupee Parish is experiencing losses on wheat and crawfish. Some producers will also be prevented from planting cotton and soybeans.
These losses are due to a levee breach in the Morganza Spillway. As you are aware, the Mississippi River is very high and it is expected to continue rising. If the Corps of Engineers opens the gates to the Spillway, several thousand additional acres would be affected. The producers in the immediate area are severely affected and will suffer significant crop losses.
Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture & Forestry Mike Strain has been in close contact with the local farmers on this problem. We respectfully request that Pointe Coupee Parish be declared a disaster area and all USDA benefits be made available. We also ask that the following parishes be approved as contiguous parishes: Avoyelles, Concordia, Iberville, St. Landry, West Baton Rouge and West Feliciana.
We have requested Farm Service Agency to submit the Damage Assessment Report (Loss Assessment Report) directly to the National Office.
Thank you for your prompt consideration of our request for a declaration.
Very truly yours.
Bobby Jindal
Governor
Shaw Group
The Shaw Group Inc. announced today that the Nuclear Division of its Power Group and Westinghouse Electric Company, its AP1000™ nuclear power plant consortium partner, have been awarded an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract by Georgia Power Company, a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), for two Westinghouse AP1000 nuclear power units and related facilities. The AP1000 units each have an electric generating capacity of 1,100 megawatts and would be constructed at the existing Vogtle Electric Generating Plant site near Augusta, Ga.
The terms of the EPC contract are currently part of a confidential and competitive solicitation monitored by the Georgia Public Service Commission's (PSC) Independent Evaluator. The value of Shaw’s contract related to a limited notice to proceed is undisclosed and will be added to the company’s backlog of unfilled orders in the fiscal third quarter of 2008, with the balance of the contract being added to backlog upon receipt of the full notice to proceed.
Ad Growth
ZenithOptimedia has downgraded its combined growth forecasts for North America and Western Europe this year from 4.4% to 3.8%.According to the Center for Media Research,” as consumer and business confidence is negatively impacted by current economic conditions. However, says the report, growth continues to strengthen elsewhere, and Zenith increased its 2008 forecasts for the rest of the world from 10.9% to 11.1%.
Other forecast highlights include:
Developing market dynamism will maintain global ad growth above ten-year average despite sluggish growth in the developed world
Developing markets will contribute 63% of ad expenditure growth between 2007 and 2010, and increase their share of the global ad market from 27% to 33%
Asia Pacific will overtake Western Europe in 2010 to become second-largest ad market
Internet will account for 9.7% of world ad expenditure this year and 12.3% in 2010”
Standard Renewable Energy
Standard Renewable Energy, a Houston-based provider of energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions, today announced it has received $7 million in Series B funding, adding to the $8 million it received less than 12 months ago in its Series A round. The Series B funding was led by The Quercus Trust of California, a private trust that has established itself as a leading strategic investor in both the renewable energy and clean energy technology sectors.
“As energy prices continue to rise, more and more home and business owners are turning to renewable energy and energy efficiency solutions to have greater control over their energy use,” said John Berger, CEO of Standard Renewable Energy. “People want to be more proactive in their energy choices, but many haven’t had a resource that offers them easy alternatives. With this new funding, Standard will continue to expand its customer reach throughout its current markets in Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma, and Louisiana, as well as pursue plans for expansion into six additional states within the next 12 months.”
Citigroup
In a recent article by Bloomberg,“Citigroup Inc. is in talks to sell $12 billion of loans at a loss to Apollo Management LP, Blackstone Group LP and TPG Inc. as part of an effort to shrink the bank's balance sheet, a person briefed on the matter said.
A sale to the private equity firms would shield the bank from further declines in the value of the debt, said the person, who wouldn't be identified because negotiations are private.”
Louisiana Education
The Louisiana Department of Education announced the names of organizations that have submitted applications to operate charter schools in Baton Rouge and in Point Coupee. Each of the schools was brought into the RecoverySchool District by BESE in February following the recommendation of State Superintendent Paul G. Pastorek. "It is our desire to see a radical restructuring of these schools," said Mr. Pastorek. "Every child should be able to go to school next fall and know that their school experience will prepare them academically and socially for the global marketplace. Our commitment here is not just to open charter schools, it is to ensure quality. We feel like we have some very strong applications, but if the fit isn't right, we are prepared to operate any of these schools."
Name of Applicant
Schools Applied For:
Pelican Educational Foundation, Inc.
Glen Oaks Middle
Youth Educational Services (YES)
Capitol Boys, Capitol Girls
Advance Baton Rouge
Glen Oaks, Prescott Middle, Point Coupee
100 Black Men Capitol Charter Initiative
Ca! pitol Bo ys, Capitol Girls
"Considering the compressed nature of our timeline, we are very happy with the applications that we received," said Kenneth Campbell, State Director of Charter Schools. "There were more groups out there that were interested in working with us, but just were unable to meet the deadlines."
Rodney Watson , who oversees these RSD schools echoed Mr. Campbell's assessment, "The most encouraging thing we see here is that local, community based organizations have really stepped up to take on a great challenge. These are students in real need and the desire shown to revitalize these schools is something to build on going forward."
The next step in the application process is a review conducted by local and national experts following guidelines established by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers (NACSA). The Department of Education will receive recommendations and submit them to BESE for approval in May.
Mr. Campbell continued, "We want the public to be involved in this process as well, so we're trying to find the right venue for parents and the community to give their input and feedback. We know that they have a lot to share with us and these applicants will be ready to share their visions with them."
Governor Bobby Jindal announced appointments to the Council on Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.).
The council is responsible for developing and evaluating the curriculum of mandatory basic training courses for municipal officers, deputy sheriffs, state police, wildlife agents and all other peace officers defined by state law.
The council is composed of Attorney General James D. “Buddy” Caldwell and members from the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement and Administration of Criminal Justice. Sheriff Jeff Wiley will serve as chair to the council.
Appointments to the Council on Peace Officer Standards and Training:
James D. “Buddy” Caldwell, of Tallulah, is currently serving as Louisiana Attorney General and has been a Louisiana district attorney since 1978.
Larry Deen, of Benton, has served as the Bossier Parish Sheriff since 1988 and is currently a member of Louisiana Sheriffs' Association and Louisiana Peace Officers' Association.
Judy Dupuy, of Baton Rouge, is currently serving as deputy director for the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement.
Gene Durand, of Pollock, is currently serving as the Louisiana National Constables Association President.
Mike Edmonson, of Baton Rouge, is currently serving as the Superintendant of State Police.
Hunter Grimes, of Walker, is currently serving as the Walker Chief of Police and has served in law enforcement for nine years.
Arthur S. Lawson, Jr., of Gretna, is currently serving as the Gretna Chief of Police and has been with the Gretna Police Department since 1975.
Chad Leger, of Scott, is currently serving as the Scott Chief of Police.
Harry J. Morel, Jr., of Hahnville, is currently serving as the St. Charles Parish District Attorney.
Stephen W. Prator, of Shreveport, has served as the Caddo Parish Sheriff since 2000 and is currently a member of the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association and the National Sheriffs' Association.
Jeff Wiley, of Gonzales, has served as the Ascension Parish Sheriff since 1996 and is a former president of the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association. Sheriff Wiley is also a member of the Southern Anti-Terrorist Regional Training Academy Executive Committee.
RE: Applications to operate Charter Schools :::
(100 Black Men Capitol Charter Initiative for Ca! pitol Bo ys, Capitol Girls)
I thought "blacks" were against segregation. What does this mean? Very curious!
Written by LeJebs
on 4/9/2008
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