Contributed by Allen Johnson Jr and Michael Tisserand

Terry Tullier, interim director of the New Orleans Office of Emergency Preparedness (OEP), was scheduled to fly to Seattle on Sept. 19 for a three-day conference on terrorism, sponsored by the federal government. The national meeting, planned for months, has been indefinitely postponed in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on Washington, D.C., and New York City.

Meanwhile, Tullier acknowledged last week that the city has fallen behind schedule in its efforts to select a private contractor for a $600,000 federally funded contract to "develop and implement a Metropolitan Medical Response System to terrorism."

The city wants a private contractor to coordinate the city's medical response following a terrorist attack with chemical, biological and/or nuclear weapons. Three potential contractors have submitted bids.

Tullier and other city officials were scheduled to make a final recommendation of a contractor to Mayor Marc Morial on Sept. 12 -- nearly one month later than the city's formal request for proposals.

Tullier says his office is currently working to wrap up the grant and another $600,000 project for flood mitigation.

Other Stories This Week in News:

News Feature
The Peacemongers
Censoring Satchmo?
Escape From the White House

Bouquets & Brickbats
The Best and the Worst of the Week

Scuttlebutt
Sending Cops to Uncle Sam
Tauzin: No Missiles at Maher
All Over the Map
IOP Sign-up, Fundraiser

Recently in Scuttlebutt:

?40 Under 40? Nominations 09 04 01

Park Protest 08 28 01

Death by the Numbers 08 28 01

Scuttlebutt Archives

Other Stories by Allen Johnson Jr and Michael Tisserand:

The Worst That Could Happen 09 18 01

Levee Board 'Spy' Saga 09 11 01

The Secret Life of Walter Mosley 06 19 01