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The Holy Cross "Tigerbotz,"
the 12 Holy Cross School students (plus teachers and mentors) who designed and built a problem-solving robot, won 'Best Oral Presentation' last week in a national robotics competition at Auburn University. The team's creation, 'Mr. Roboto,' also won 'Best in Show' honors at the recent University of South Alabama Robotics Competition. It's the Tigerbotz's first year entering such a contest; they were the only Louisiana team in national competition.

Harrah's New Orleans Casino
has funded 50 one-year memberships at the New Orleans Music Office Co-Op for qualified musicians and music professionals. The co-op, a project of the Tipitina's Foundation and Mayor's Office of Music Business Development, provides cutting-edge equipment, technology and professional workshops for its members.

Louisiana Worship Hospitality,
owner of the Grand Palace Hotel, is operating a health hazard, say state health officials. The state obtained a court order to shut down the Canal Street hotel immediately, but hotel officials fought the order, saying it had rooms booked for the Bayou Classic. (A decision had not been reached by Gambit Weekly presstime.) Health officials said they found rat droppings and urine throughout the 17-story hotel.

Four Livingston Parish sewage plants
acknowledged violating federal Clean Water Act regulations when they failed to file monitoring reports and to sample and test treated sewage. Intrinsic Inc., 45,000 Inc., and NTL Inc. admitted to federal misdemeanors; The Sewer Company Inc. admitted to knowingly discharging pollutants, a felony. Sewer Company officials John Easterly and Saun Sullivan pleaded guilty to individual negligence charges.

Other Stories This Week in News & Views:

Commentary
Don't Gut NOTMC

News Feature
The Morning After
New Orleanian of the Year

Politics
Survivor: Louisiana Elections

Penny Post
Jeffrey Miller: Forever Good