Louisiana NewsLocal, regional, and statewide news continually updated from thousands of sources on the web.Fugitive hedge fund swindler surrenders- July 2, 2008 Fugitive hedge-fund swindler Samuel Israel turned himself to federal authorities in Massachusetts after nearly a month on the lam, the U.S. attorney's office said Wednesday. Israel, a New Orleans native, turned himself into Southwick, Mass., police between 9:15 and 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, said Suzanne Anderson, police Chief Mark Krynicki's assistant. She said he was being processed at Southwick Police headquarters and referred all further questions to federal authorities. Southwick is 95 miles...http://www.topix.net/state/la/2008/07/fugitive-hedge-fund-swindler-surrenders?fromrss=1 Lawmakers disclose their income sources- July 2, 2008 Forty-two percent of State Representatives and fifty percent of State Senators reported income from government or gambling interests in 2007 according to annual disclosure reports. The reports cover the 2007 income that legislators, their spouses and businesses received from government entities and the gambling industry. Rep. Ernest Wooten, R-Belle Chasse, chairman of the Louisiana House committee with oversight over gambling laws, received $16,000 from video poker interests. Wooten said he was.http://www.topix.net/state/la/2008/07/lawmakers-disclose-their-income-sources?fromrss=1 Legislative recall petitions now six- July 2, 2008 State Rep. John LaBruzzo of Metairie became the sixth legislator targeted for recall with organizers submitting papers to the secretary of state's office Tuesday. All six legislators are Republicans who voted for the more than doubling legislative pay. Gov. Bobby Jindal on Monday reversed himself and vetoed legislation that would have raised base pay from $16,800 to $37,5000. Neither LaBruzzo nor recall petition organizers, Landon Greene and Tammy Famiglio of Metairie, could be reached for...http://www.topix.net/state/la/2008/07/legislative-recall-petitions-now-six?fromrss=1 Jindal vetoes ethics changes- July 2, 2008 Gov. Bobby Jindal vetoed two bills Tuesday night that opponents said would have a chilling effect on people filing ethics complaints against public officials. Jindal struck down House Bill 906, which would have required state ethics officials to disclose to someone accused of wrongdoing the identity of an accuser. He also stopped Senate Bill 53, which would have forbidden ethics officials from investigating anonymous complaints. "I am concerned that this requirement may discourage citizens from.http://www.topix.net/state/la/2008/07/jindal-vetoes-ethics-changes?fromrss=1 Many dropped from State boards by Jindal- July 2, 2008 The only Republican on the state Lottery Corp. board of directors, Sam Caruso was elected chairman for the second straight time in early June. But Caruso was part of one-third of the board removed from office on June 23. He and two other members - including the vice chairwoman - were not put forward for confirmation by the end of the legislative session by the Jindal administration. "The bottom line is I don't know why," Caruso said. "I still wish the governor well, but damn if I can make any...http://www.topix.net/state/la/2008/07/many-dropped-from-state-boards-by-jindal?fromrss=1 Driver, applying makeup, slams into stopped car- July 1, 2008 A rush-hour accident snarled traffic on Louisiana Highway 21 for about an hour as rescue workers extricated a woman from a car that flipped after slamming into the back of an SUV. Investigators say 30-year-old Maria Impastato of Madisonville told officers Monday that she was applying makeup when her car slammed into the back of a Dodge Durango that had slowed to a stop on the highway. Covington police spokesman Lieutenant Jack West says the crash caused the car to roll onto its passenger side,..http://www.topix.net/state/la/2008/07/driver-applying-makeup-slams-into-stopped-car?fromrs... Scores of state, local officials quit over ethics law- July 1, 2008 More than 100 state and local government officials resigned Monday in the wake of a new state law requiring them to disclose their personal finances starting today. The Secretary of State's Office reported receiving 132 resignations, mostly from unpaid members of boards but also including two elected officials. The office expects to process more resignations today, spokesman Jacques Berry said. Those subject to the new ethics law had to resign by Monday night to avoid filing the disclosure...http://www.topix.net/state/la/2008/07/scores-of-state-local-officials-quit-over-ethics-law... JINDAL VETOES PAY RAISE- July 1, 2008 Gov. Bobby Jindal vetoed a legislative pay raise Monday in an abrupt reversal of his week-long stance that he would allow the salary increase to become law. The governor acknowledged that the veto of the raise - a more than doubling of legislators' pay that was supposed to kick in today - means he is breaking his word to legislators. He said he expects them to be angry with him. "I clearly made a mistake by telling the Legislature that I would allow them to handle their own internal affairs....http://www.topix.net/state/la/2008/07/jindal-vetoes-pay-raise?fromrss=1 |