Tuesday, June 10, 2008
La. Senate: 38-0 vote for income tax cut
Posted by Kevin Allman on Tue, Jun 10, 2008 at 10:18 PM
From the Associated Press (via WWL-TV):
An income tax break worth up to $1,000 for some Louisiana households, at a cost to the state of an estimated $300 million, has won final legislative approval in the state Senate.Tuesday's 38-0 vote in the Senate sends the bill to Governor Bobby Jindal, who is expected to sign it. The tax cut would take effect January 1.
Barking Up the Right Bill
Posted by David Winkler-Schmit on Tue, Jun 10, 2008 at 10:08 PM
Blue Dog or no Blue Dog, Congressman Charlie Melancon says he supports the Senate version of the emergency supplemental bill. Melancon is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of 47 moderate –to- conservative congressional Democrats who are concerned with balancing the federal budget.
A recent AP story stated that the group was in favor of cutting $73 million from the emergency supplemental bill, which is to be used for housing vouchers for disabled, homeless residents in the Gulf Coast. Melancon disputes this and says the majority of his fellow Blue Dogs are in favor of the voucher program.
"Most of the Blue Dogs support rebuilding New Orleans under the supplemental bill," Melancon says.
Kanye West needs a gift certificate to the MOMA gift shop
Posted by Alison Fensterstock on Tue, Jun 10, 2008 at 9:55 PM
We already knew some things about Essence Fest headliner Kanye West's likes and dislikes. (Yes on Ninth Ward inventor Mr. Quintron's instrument the Drum Buddy. No on George Bush. Yes on outer space-y, futuristic European synth-pop. No on 50 Cent.)
Checking out his blog today, we learned he is also a big fan of artsy chairs. Lots of artsy chairs. Who knew? He may have collaborated heavily with Lil Wayne on Weezy's latest, Tha Carter III (out today), but he's hardly your run-of-the-mill hip-hop blingster. Seriously, could you picture Diddy sitting his bespoke-clad booty on this? Neither can we.
Tuesday afternoon news wrap
Posted by Kevin Allman on Tue, Jun 10, 2008 at 6:59 PM
NAGIN'S CABINET GETS SMALLER: Kenya Smith, one of Ray Nagin's longtime top aides, announced his resignation. He'll be gone next week...
WEATHER MISERY: Floods in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, and Indiana kill at least 15 people. And it's hot in New York and Washington D.C. Like, beyond New Orleans hot. Scattered power outages, suspended service on the PATH trains, etc...
MEDIA MISERY: US News & World Report, its ad sales tanking (down 32%!), announces that it's going from a weekly magazine to a twice-a-month publication schedule...
BILL'S GIRLS: Former French Quarter resident and saloon singer Gennifer Flowers (now relo'd to Vegas) has teamed up with another alleged Clinton inamorata, Paula Jones. Their joint project? A tasteful, not-at-all exploitive website called "Two Chicks Chatting," where you can watch streaming online videos of the two of them discussing the former president's body parts. The vids are all yours for $1.99 apiece, a low, low price for such high, high class.
Creole Tomato Festival to go on as planned
Posted by Kevin Allman on Tue, Jun 10, 2008 at 3:19 PM
The current salmonella outbreak traced back to raw tomatoes will have little effect on this weekend's Creole Tomato Festival at the French Market, according to Kenneth Ferdinand, executive director of the French Market Corporation.
"We may do some signage that we're salmonella-free," Ferdinand said this morning. "I need to get with the [state] Department of Health on that for the exact wording."
No Louisiana tomatoes have been included in the current health warnings, and the U.S. Food and Drug Adminstration yesterday included Louisiana on its list of states where it's safe to buy and eat locally grown tomatoes.
"It was a curve ball," Ferdinand said. "For us, the Creole tomato is not only an important food product, but a symbol and icon for Louisiana farm products in general. When we celebrate the Creole tomato, we also celebrate eggplant, squash, bell pepper, and all the other hand-picked products that make up a considerable part of our local cuisine."
The Creole Tomato Festival takes place all day Saturday and Sunday at the French Market, with music, chef demonstrations, tasting sessions, and 20 food booths selling dishes made from the seasonal delicacy.
Tuesday, Tuesday
Posted by Kevin Allman on Tue, Jun 10, 2008 at 2:17 PM
WORLD SERIES: After cleaning the clocks of the UC Irvine baseball team, the LSU Tigers head to Omaha for Sunday's first game of the College World Series....
YOUR iPHONE IS OBSOLETE: The new iPhone 3G is on the way, and it's faster and cheaper. Mad TV's take on the Apple Store is still the funniest....
EBBERT QUITS: Col. Terry Ebbert, the city's director of homeland security, is leaving at month's end...
WELKER ARRIVES: From the FBI:
David W. Welker has been named Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the FBI’s New Orleans Division. Director Robert S. Mueller, III appointed him to this position to replace former SAC James Bernazzani, who retired in May 2008.
MEET YOUR NEXT FIRST LADY: Cindy McCain wears "size zero jeans." Michelle Obama was "praised by style writers for the violet sheath dress she wore to her husband's Democratic nomination victory rally." You've come a long way, baby....
REMEMBERING ROBIN MALTA: One year ago this week, French Quarter salon owner Robin Malta was slain in his Marigny home. Family and friends are gathering tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. for a candlelight vigil to remember Robin at Salon D'Malta (1233 Decatur St.)
Louisiana tomatoes? They're FINE. Really.
Posted by Kevin Allman on Tue, Jun 10, 2008 at 12:23 AM
The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry wants you to know: Louisiana tomatoes are perfectly safe to eat, despite a salmonella outbreak in 13 other states:
Louisiana Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain, D.V.M. said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has placed Louisiana-grown tomatoes on their approved safe to buy and eat list.“Louisiana tomatoes are at peak season right now but the big supermarket chains were refusing to buy them from our state growers because of a Salmonella outbreak in New Mexico and Texas,” Strain said. “I asked the FDA to include us on the list of safe states to buy and eat locally grown tomatoes and they responded promptly.”
No deaths have been reported from eating diseased tomatoes, but at least 23 people have been hospitalized from eating the fruit. As Tomato Hysteria '08 continues to spread, McDonalds, Taco Bell, and Chipotle Mexican Grill have stopped serving tomatoes for the duration.
But if you were planning to go to this weekend's Creole Tomato Festival in the French Quarter? Go.
