NEW ORLEANS — Gamblers lost nearly $185 million at Louisiana’s state licensed casinos in October, down from the nearly $199.7 million for September and slightly more than the $181.4 million for October of last year.
Most of the money was dropped at the state’s 13 riverboat casinos. Total revenue decreased to $126 million for October, down from $141.8 million in September, but up compared to the $123.5 million left a year earlier.
Harrah’s land-based casino in New Orleans won $28.5 million in October, up from $25.2 million in September and from the $27 million in October a year earlier.
Slot machine casinos at the four Louisiana horse tracks won $30.3 million, compared to $32.7 million in September and $30.9 million a year earlier.
The five-riverboat Shreveport-Bossier market led the state in gambling revenue with nearly $45.1 million in October winnings; followed by the Lake Charles market, with $35.9 million; the Baton Rouge market with $22.7 million; and the New Orleans riverboat market with $22.2 million.
Among the racetrack slot parlors, Delta Downs, in Vinton, not far from the Texas state line, won more than $13.9 million, almost half the racetrack slot total. It was followed by Evangeline Downs, with just over $7 million; Harrah’s at Louisiana Downs, $5.3 million and the Fair Grounds, $3.9 million.
Coal port facility bond sale OK’d
BATON ROUGE — An Ascension Parish coal port facility has received permission from state officials for a $130 million tax-exempt borrowing plan that will be used to expand the plant.
The Bond Commission approved the bond sale without objection Thursday, despite requests for postponement from New Orleans-based Alliance for Affordable Energy, which said the expansion would boost costs for customers of utility cooperatives.
Impala Warehousing LLC will use the money for improvements at its facility near Burnside to ship coal, primarily to international markets.
Trafigura Beheer BV, a Dutch trading company that owns Impala, says the Ascension Parish site will become a top coal and bulk logistics facility in the United States with the expansion.
Judge: Man who burned girlfriend is
habitual offender
MONROE — A 35-year-old Monroe man convicted of burning his girlfriend with an iron will be sentenced as a habitual offender.
The News-Star reports that state District Judge Wendell Manning ruled Wednesday that Allen Robinson is a habitual offender.
He was convicted Oct. 15 on aggravated second-degree battery and second-degree kidnapping of his girlfriend, who was burned on most of her body with a clothes iron in October 2010.
Accused grandma killer to be tried
LAKE CHARLES — A Calcasieu Parish judge says a 35-year-old man accused of killing his grandmother is competent to stand trial.
Carl Webb is charged with first-degree murder of 75-year-old Helen Webb in February 2009 .
The American Press reports that psychiatrists James Anderson and Garrett Rider both testified they believe Webb is competent.
Anderson said Webb claimed to have hallucinations but his descriptions were vague. Rider said Webb can tell right from wrong and understands the charges and their possible consquences.
Jazz drummer Bob French dies at 74
NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans jazz band leader and drummer Robert “Bob” French Sr. has died after a long illness. He was 74.
French was the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band drummer and band leader and an oftentimes outspoken and controversial deejay at WWOZ-FM.
Afflicted with dementia and suffering from diabetes-related complications, he then moved into an assisted-living facility.
He died on Monday.
Teacher furlough day ruled illegal
NEW ORLEANS — A state appeal court says that the Jefferson Parish Public School System illegally cut teachers’ pay by imposing an unpaid day of leave for every teacher in the district.
The Jefferson Federation of Teachers sued the school board after it ordered the furlough. District Judge Steve Windhorst refused to make a pretrial order against it.
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeal sent the case back to him Wednesday, ruling 3-0 that the furlough violates state law forbidding school boards to cut an employee’s salary below the previous year’s level.
From The Associated Press.
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