The Best and the Worst of the Week
Kiwanis of Greater Covingtonrecently coordinated distribution of gifts to 14 families recovering from the wrath of Hurricane Katrina. Truckloads of household items arrived through the generosity employees at Los Angeles television stations FOX 11 and UPN 13, both of which initiated the "Welcome Home" distribution project. Employees at the TV stations collected more 400 items and contacted Kiwanis of Greater Covington to help distribute the gifts to six families in St. Tammany, one family in New Orleans, and seven families in St. Bernard Parish.
The Idea Village
has awarded $54,000 in "triage" grants to more than 40 local musicians and artists affected by Hurricane Katrina. The grants came from The Idea Village Business Relief Fund, an emergency grant program that has given more than $250,000 to qualified small businesses and entrepreneurs. The lead sponsors for the grants were businesswoman and BESE member Leslie Jacobs and Strategic Staffing Solutions S3. The Tipitina's Foundation helped identify candidates for the latest grants.
The New Orleans Zephyrs
minor league baseball team was recently honored by Baseball America for displaying courage and contributing to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. The honor came during Major League Baseball's winter meeting in Dallas. Zephyr Field was used in hurricane-relief efforts, and the team has announced its plans to stay in New Orleans Ñ and expand its youth baseball programs Ñ despite Hurricane Katrina. The Zephyrs open at home on April 6 against the Round Rock Express.
The Bush Administration
has said it will not support Entergy New Orleans' request for special federal assistance in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The local electric and gas utility filed for bankruptcy shortly after the storm, citing severe and widespread damage to its electrical system. In light of previous federal bailouts (Chrysler, private entities in NYC after 9/11), it's hard to understand why the federal government — which caused the flood that knocked out Entergy — would not help get the utility (and the city) back on its feet.
