Jefferson Parish: Blog of New Orleans, Gambit

A failure to lead

Clancy DuBos — Fri, 10 May 2013 13:52:00 -0500

Imagine yourself the manager of a local grocery store. Now imagine that you forgot to order king cakes in time for Carnival season.…

Jeff Parish officials to state leges: Cancel new toll referendum

Kevin Allman — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 12:41:00 -0500

Jefferson Parish Council Chairman Chris Roberts and Councilman-at-large Elton Lagasse have sent an open letter to state representatives, asking them to call off the special election in May that would have voters (again) determine the fate of the now-suspended tolls on the Crescent City Connection.

Roberts and Lagasse also announced that the council would act on a formal resolution requesting the state legislature to "save the cost of the election which would be incurred by the State of Louisiana."

Letter under the jump.…

Metairie Family Gras lineup announced

Kevin Allman — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 11:00:00 -0600

If you want a taste of Carnival during Super Bowl weekend, you'll have to leave Orleans Parish and head to Jefferson, where there are three parades on the East Bank and one on the West Bank. Or you can go to the Veterans Memorial Boulevard neutral ground in front of Lakeside Shopping Center, where the parish's annual Family Gras festival will be held Fri.-Sat.…

Broussard's ministry

Clancy DuBos — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 22:51:00 -0500

The latest rumor about former Jefferson Parish president Aaron Broussard is that he has decided to form a prison ministry in anticipation of his conviction on federal criminal charges. He faces several dozen felony counts, including conspiracy, fraud and bribery, among others.…

Broussard co-defendant has charges drastically reduced, may be cooperating with feds

Charles Maldonado — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 14:56:15 -0500

Court filings indicated that former Jefferson Parish Attorney Tom Wilkinson, who last month pleaded not guilty to more than 20 counts of fraud and conspiracy for his alleged role in the ongoing corruption case centered around former parish president Aaron Broussard, may be cooperating with federal investigators.

U.S. Attorney Jim Letten today filed a superseding bill of information against Wilkinson.…

Broussard, Wilkinson plead not guilty (again)

Charles Maldonado — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 12:53:00 -0500

Former Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard and former parish attorney Tom Wilkinson today pleaded not guilty to more than twenty federal charges including payroll fraud, theft of federal funds, conspiracy and, as of a second superseding indictment released by the U.S. Attorney's Office this week, bribery. Broussard, who has been receiving treatment for prostate cancer since March, revealed to federal Magistrate Judge Frances Stacy that he has recently been diagnosed with skin cancer.…

Aaron Broussard, Tom Wilkinson face new charges

Alex Woodward — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 14:30:01 -0500

Former Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard and former parish attorney Tom Wilkinson face new charges from federal prosecutors, according to this morning's indictment, which adds six new charges to the duo's pending fraud charges. (Read the Aaron Broussard/Jeff Parish scandal FAQ here.)

Today's superseding indictment charges Broussard and Wilkinson with conspiracy to commit bribery, and Broussard was additionally charged with five counts of substantive bribery — unrelated to the 2003 conspiring to hire Broussard's then-girlfriend Karen Parker as a paralegal supervisor (despite not having any experience) and bumping up her salary significantly.…

Mitt, Bath and Beyond

Kevin Allman — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 10:46:00 -0500

In Louisiana's GOP primary race, Rick Santorum may be leader of the pack coming up to Saturday's election, but Mitt Romney's going to be putting forth his best effort in Metairie Friday morning when he holds a mini-rally against President Barack Obama's health care plan at Clearview Mall's Clearview Room. The name of the rally: "Repeal and Replace Obamacare."

For Romney fans, this will be a great chance to get a close-up look at the candidate; the Clearview Rooms are two modest meeting spaces that are normally the home of baby and bridal shows.…

Broussard, Wilkinson plead not guilty

Charles Maldonado — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 12:53:00 -0600

Former Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard and former parish attorney Tom Wilkinson pleaded not guilty to 38 counts — in theory carrying maximum sentences totaling 695 years each if convicted for all of them — of conspiracy , wire fraud and theft of programs receiving federal funds today in U.S. District Court before Magistrate Judge Frances Stacy.

According to the indictment, Broussard and Wilkinson in late 2003 improperly hired Broussard's then-girlfriend, now-ex-wife Karen Parker as paralegal supervisor for the parish attorney's office, despite the fact that Parker was unqualified for the position and was actually working in ID management for parish employees.…

Jefferson Parish bombshells

Clancy DuBos — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 11:45:00 -0600

When the feds indicted former Jefferson Parish president Aaron Broussard, former parish attorney Tom Wilkinson and Broussard’s ex-wife Karen Parker for payroll fraud on Dec. 2, some courthouse observers wondered if that was all that the government had against Broussard.

Wonder no more.…

Metairie dog park opens Saturday

Kandace Graves — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 22:54:00 -0600

Lafreniere Bark, a new five-acre dog park, opens Saturday, Jan. 7, on the north side of Lafreniere Park (3000 Downs Blvd., Metairie) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and event from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Everyone is welcome to attend the free event, and pet owners are encouraged to dress their dogs in Saints or LSU gear (You can choose another team if you dare.) and enter them in a pet sports costume contest.…

Press release: Former Jefferson Parish president indicted for conspiracy, wire fraud, theft

Charles Maldonado — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:43:00 -0600

According to the indictment, ex-Jefferson Parish President Aaron Broussard, who resigned last year, allegedly overpaid his then-wife Karen Parker — who worked as a paralegal for the parish even though she wasn't qualified — by more than $20,000 per year.

The indictment says Parker earned over $320,000 working for Jefferson Parish from 2004-2010.…

Nungesser, Vitter plan Election Eve state blitz

Kevin Allman — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 13:39:27 -0500

Lieutenant governor hopeful Billy Nungesser and his Senate champion, David Vitter, are planning a seven-city blitz of the state that will take them from Shreveport and Monroe all the way down to New Orleans in 10 1/2 hours. The duo (along with entertainer and former lieutenant governor candidate Sammy Kershaw) will begin at 8 a.m. in Shreveport ("Corner of Bert Kouns and Youree Dr. [look for the giant elephant with Nungesser signs on it]") before hitting Monroe, Alexandria, Lake Charles, Lafayette, Baton Rouge and finally "New Orleans" (actually, Metairie).…

"Save Our Shipyard" demands jobs and future at Avondale Shipyard

Alex Woodward — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 13:41:15 -0500

Avondale Shipyard, Northrop Grumman's sprawling West Bank shipbuilding facility, is set to close in 2013. Rolling layoffs will impact thousands of workers.…

WWL-AM: We stand behind Garland

Kevin Allman — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:23:00 -0500

Those hoping for a complete explanation by WWL-AM radio host Garland Robinette were no doubt disappointed this morning, as the host punted on explaining the details of a $250,000 personal loan he and his wife received from River Birch landfill owner Fred Heebe — a friend of the family whose Waggaman landfill, co-owned by stepfather Jim Ward, was the subject of a $160 million contract from Jefferson Parish.

"I would like nothing more than to respond to each and every allegation, because I have answers for each and every allegation,” Robinette said at the top of his popular "Think Tank" morning show on "The Big 870."…

Steven Seagal sued over Arizona cockfighting bust

Will Coviello — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 14:24:00 -0500

Following accusations of sex trafficking by a personal assistant, Steven Seagal's stint with Jefferson Parish law enforcement was terminated. Seagal headed to Arizona to work with controversial Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio and film the third season of his reality show Steven Seagal Lawman.…

Heavy rein: Horse cruelty cases in Jefferson Parish

Alex Woodward — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 11:51:00 -0500

Meet Promise.

Promise was rescued in 2010 with "one foot in death's grave," says veterinarian Allison Barca.…

River Birch goes on offense

Clancy DuBos — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 09:56:00 -0500

River Birch landfill and its owners, including Fred Heebe, apparently are tired of taking a beating in the press.

Sources at the company tell Gambit that the firm, which operates one of the largest and most successful landfills in the region, has hired a Texas PR firm to help tell River Birch’s side of the story in response to an ongoing federal criminal investigation and claims by some in Jefferson Parish government that the firm’s contract with Jefferson was not a good deal for the parish.…

Rev. Grant Storms Apologizes

Kevin Allman — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 16:50:00 -0600

Grant Storms, the former pastor who has led charges against the annual Southern Decadence festival in the French Quarter, broke down at times this afternoon as he explained his arrest in Lafreniere Park by the Jefferson Parish sheriff's department on obscenity charges.

On the afternoon of Feb. 25, a mother unloading her children from a car to take them to a nearby playground alerted authorities to a man in a Ford Windstar van parked near the playground.…

Steven Seagal Lawman is coming back for a 3rd season ... in Arizona

Kevin Allman — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 09:15:00 -0600

The terror of Terry Parkway, the marshal of Manhattan Boulevard ... call him what you like, but Steven Seagal provided plenty of rootin' tootin' sheriffin' action for two seasons as the star of A&E's Steven Seagal Lawman, which was filmed on the mean streets (and alleys, and backyards) of the West Bank. Seagal is gone from these here parts, but A&E just announced a third season of bad-guy bustin', this one set in Phoenix, Ariz.

Production on his COPS-style A&E reality show Lawman may have been shut down last year when the actor was accused of illicit behavior, but now Deputy Seagal has now landed a new beat: Phoenix, Ariz., where controversial Sheriff Joe Arpaio has welcomed the actor to resume shooting.…
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A family affair

Kandace Graves — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 23:06:51 -0600

The Jefferson Convention and Visitors Bureau is staging its fourth Family Gras and announced the musical lineup for the three-day event Feb. 25-27. Musical acts range from local favorites to national acts covering genres ranging from country to rock to dance music and pop.…

Sarah Palin's gettin' mavericky in Metairie

Kevin Allman — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 13:36:00 -0600

Former Alaska governor and current Fox News commentator Sarah Palin will hold a booksigning Nov. 29 at the Metairie Barnes & Noble for her newest book, America By Heart: Reflections on Family, Faith and Flag. Palin’s last appearance in New Orleans was a headlining spot at the Southern Republican Leadership Conference in April.…

The Lawman Returneth

Kevin Allman — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 13:41:00 -0500

Steven’s love for the blues and blues musicians gave him the ‘Mojo’ and his time spent in Asia and his study of Buddhism gave him the ‘Priest’ — that’s how Steven is known to many as the Mojo Priest. — From the A&E promotional site

He eats Jefferson Parish sushi. He wears sunglasses at night.…

"Island Aid" for Grand Isle

Kevin Allman — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 22:07:26 -0500

One of Grand Isle's biggest events of the year, the Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo, was nixed this year due to the ongoing oil disaster on the coast. (The annual rodeo -- the oldest fishing competition in the U.S., had been held every year since 1928.)…

Sources: Broussard's exit linked to St. John the Baptist Parish dealings

Kevin Allman — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 21:17:08 -0600

The following is a staff report by Clancy DuBos, David Winkler-Schmit and Kevin Allman.

When embattled Jefferson Parish president Aaron Broussard abruptly announced his intention to resign this morning, the announcement caught people off guard at the highest level of Jeff Parish politics. Councilman Chris Roberts said he’d received a call from Broussard shortly before the news leaked, while councilwoman Cynthia Lee-Sheng said she'd been told the news by her staff, who had heard it from the media.

Just yesterday, Broussard had announced that the parish’s public works director, Jose Gonzalez, would be filling out the remaining term of parish CAO Tim Whitmer, who had resigned Jan. 4.…