‘Together Baton Rouge’ Fought to Take Away BR Metro Council Oversight of CATS Board

On Monday, Together Baton Rouge held a news conference to express its lack of confidence in the current board of the Capital Area Transit System and called for the resignation of board chairman Isaiah Marshall. But last year, Together Baton Rouge sponsored and lobbied hard for House Bill 865 by Rep. Regina Barrow of Baton […]

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Chamber EBR Free Market Should Provide Transportation

Chamber EBR Free Market Should Provide Transportation

After gaining approval of a $165 million tax increase last April from voters in the cities of Baton Rouge and Baker, the Capital Area Transit System (CATS) should find itself “sitting pretty.”  But instead the government-owned bus company finds itself mired in scandal.  The legislative auditor is conducting an audit, the state inspector general has […]

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CATS Officials Can’t Account For Missing Bus Fare Money

CATS Officials Can’t Account For Missing Bus Fare Money

Robert Mirabito, interim chief executive officer of the Capital Area Transit System held a news conference Monday to announce that bus fare money is missing and may have been stolen.  Mirabito said discrepancies between cash deposits and computerized fare collection totals go back three years.  In some months, the discrepancy could be as much as […]

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Who Pushed $165 Million CATS Tax

A review of campaign finance records filed with the Louisiana  Board of Ethics, corporate records at the Louisiana Secretary of State’s office, and the Advocate website provide a picture of who supported or opposed the $165 million CATS property tax increase approved last year. The two main organizations which publicly urged voters to pass the […]

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Read Capital City News for July 25, 2013

TOP STORIES in Capital City News: • CATS Runs Wild: Scandal, Controversy Rock Agency • Possible Bid-Rigging of Contract at CATS Puts Pall Over Urban Socialist Enterprise • CATS Officials Can’t Account for Missing Bus Fare Money for Three Years (and Aren’t Totally Sure It’s Missing!) • Who Pushed FOR the $165 Million CATS Tax […]

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Watson’s ‘Drive-Thru’ Petition Drive

Watson’s ‘Drive-Thru’ Petition Drive

Supporters of the incorporation of Watson, a community of 25,000 people in northwest Livingston Parish, said yesterday they plan a unique twist on their efforts to get enough signatures on petitions to hold a referendum on incorporating as a city. Registered voters will get to participate in a “drive-through” petition drive.  From 7 a.m. to […]

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Central Thru-Way Now Open To The Public

Central Thru-Way Now Open To The Public

The 4.1-mile $65 million Central Thruway opened to motorists today, providing a direct, Interstate-quality link from Sullivan Road to Florida Boulevard.  Eventually, the project is supposed to connect to I-12. The highway was originally pushed by former Metro Councilman Joe Greco. According to David Barrow of the City of Central, the Central Thruway will tie […]

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Statewide Honors for Livingston Parish Duo

Statewide Honors for Livingston Parish Duo

VAN GUARINO — Livingston Parish Literacy and Technology Center’s Automotive Instructor Van Guarino (center) is shown with Forrest Bellue (left) of Live Oak High and Tyler Palmer (right) of Holden High who each won state championship automotive competitions.  Each young man received scholarships and prizes totalling more than $23,000. Van Guarino is a native of […]

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4th Of July On The Levee

4th Of July On The Levee

4TH OF JULY — Families and friends gathered on the Mississippi River levee last Thursday to watch fireworks.

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Crisis in Port Allen

Crisis in Port Allen

The City of Port Allen has had four mayors in the past two-and-a-half years, and a former mayor and a former police chief are serving time in federal prison for racketeering. But that’s just the beginning of Port Allen’s problems, according to City Councilman Hugh Riviere, who told the Ronald Reagan Newsmaker Luncheon Tuesday that […]

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