Louisiana

Shell Oil Company Partners With Ducks Unlimited to Support The Mississippi River Delta Splays Project

Grant of $100,000 Will Help Fund Restoration of Wetlands in the Pass-A-Loutre Wildlife Management Area/Mississippi River Delta Crevasse Splays in Louisiana

HOUSTON, March 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Shell Oil Company (Shell) today announced that it has partnered with Ducks Unlimited in The Delta Splays Project, an initiative that will restore 1,300 acres of wetlands in the Pass-A-Loutre Wildlife Management Area/Mississippi River Delta Crevasse Splays. Other project partners include the Breaux Act, Louisiana Department of Natural Resources, National Marine Fisheries Service and Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.    » read more »

Court Bars Louisiana Tax Return Preparers

Two Lafayette Men Used Frivolous “Claim Of Right” SchemeMarch 2, 2005

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Justice Department announced today that a federal court has barred Richard A. Fuselier and Richard J. Ortt and their organization, Compensation Consultants-all of Lafayette-from preparing tax returns for others and from promoting tax evasion schemes. In entering the preliminary injunction, Judge Tucker L. Melancon of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana also ordered the defendants to provide the government their customers’ names, mailing and e-mail addresses, and phone and Social Security numbers.    » read more »

Louisiana Treasurer Kennedy Announces $370 Million in Statewide Bond Commission Approvals

February 22, 2005 -- BATON ROUGE, LA – At its February meeting, the State Bond Commission approved $370 million in funding for projects statewide, according to State Treasurer John Kennedy.    » read more »

Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr. Files Suit Against Florida Company, Global Ventures, Inc.

February 22, 2005: (Baton Rouge, LA)—Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr. announced today that his office has filed a petition for a preliminary and permanent injunction against a Florida company that scammed at least one Louisiana resident out of $11,980. A hearing has been set for February 28, 2005 in the 19th Judicial District Court.    » read more »

Louisiana Conference Participants Learn Diversity Is ‘Right Thing To Do’

February 21, 2005 -- Participants in the LSU AgCenter’s Diversity Conference earlier this month got a healthy dose of advice that respecting, understanding and honoring diversity is the right thing to do.    » read more »

U.S. Transportation Secretary Mineta Announces $33.7 Million in Grants to Expand Capacity, Enhance Safety At Louisiana Airports

Wednesday, February 16, 2005

Federal grants totaling approximately $33.7 million will help to expand capacity and enhance safety at airports throughout Louisiana, U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta announced today.    » read more »

IRS Owes Louisiana Citizens $850,000 in Undelivered Tax Refunds

List of Individuals Owed Money Available on Treasury Website

February 15, 2005 -- BATON ROUGE, LA – The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) was not able to deliver more than 1,100 federal income tax refund checks totaling $850,000 to Louisiana citizens, and a list of individuals that are owed money is available at www.latreasury.com.    » read more »

Federal Court Bars Louisiana Tax Preparer from Inflating Deductions for Mariners

Court Finds So-Called Mariners’ Deduction Is Improper
February 9, 2005

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Justice Department announced today that a federal court in New Orleans has barred Terri P. Dockery, a Houma, Louisiana tax preparer, from preparing returns claiming deductions for non-existent or improper business expenses. The court also directed Dockery to give the Justice Department the names, street and e-mail addresses, phone numbers, and Social Security numbers of all customers for whom she prepared returns or refund claims with improper deductions.    » read more »

Louisiana Strawberries Early This Year

January 27, 2005 -- This year’s Louisiana strawberry crop started coming in a little earlier than usual, and officials say the state’s farmers are hoping for a good crop.    » read more »

Louisiana Rice Growers Urged To Persevere But Brace For Possible Price Support Cuts

January 26, 2005 -- CROWLEY – Leaders of the rice industry this week urged Louisiana producers to persevere but brace themselves for possible price support cuts. The admonition came during Tuesday’s (Jan. 25) joint annual meeting of the Louisiana Rice Growers Association and the Louisiana Rice Council.    » read more »

Treasurer Kennedy Reminds Working Families to Claim Earned Income Tax Credit

Louisiana Families Can Get a Tax Break of Up to $4,300

January 22, 2005 -- BATON ROUGE, LA – Working families and individuals who have lower incomes may qualify this year for an important and often overlooked tax break known as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), according to State Treasurer John Kennedy.    » read more »

Treasurer Kennedy Announces $293 Million in Statewide Bond Commission Approvals

January 21, 2005 -- BATON ROUGE, LA – Citizens statewide will benefit from $293 million in funding for projects approved at the State Bond Commission’s first meeting of the new year, according to State Treasurer John Kennedy.    » read more »

Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr. Attends NAAG Presidential Conference to Address The Costs and Benefits of Prescription Drugs

January 21, 2005: WASHINGTON, D.C. – Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr. will attend the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) Presidential Conference to Address the Costs and Benefits of Prescription Drugs, January 25-26, in Chicago, Illinois. Convened by NAAG President and Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell, this conference will bring together a range of representatives and diverse perspectives from the health care industry, government, academia and consumer groups to consider the causes of rising drug costs.    » read more »

State Refinances $650 Million in Bonds in Record Time to Save $27.7 Million

Treasurer Kennedy Says State Moved Quickly to Capitalize on Low Interest Rates

January 19, 2005 -- BATON ROUGE, LA – The state moved in record time to refinance $650 million in general obligation bonds to take advantage of low interest rates and save $27.7 million over the life of the bonds, according to State Treasurer John Kennedy.    » read more »

Monetary Donations Most Effective In Aiding Tsunami Sufferers

January 14, 2005 -- Americans are opening their hearts and wallets, generously giving millions of dollars to relief effort in the countries pummeled by the recent tsunami in southern Asia.

In this case, experts say monetary donations are the most effective means of getting aid to the people who need it, according to LSU AgCenter family economist Dr. Jeanette Tucker. And recently passed federal legislation will allow donations made this month (January) to still be claimed on your 2004 tax returns, she points out.    » read more »