No Date Set For DA Chuck Rosenthal's Contempt Hearing

Attorneys for Chuck Rosenthal abruptly halted a contempt hearing Friday after Harris County's district attorney acknowledged giving conflicting sworn statements that some observers think exposed him to possible perjury charges.

U.S. District Judge Kenneth Hoyt granted the request for a recess and admonished lawyers on both sides against discussing the case with reporters. Hoyt did not say when the hearing, which has already taken up the better part of two days, might resume.

Study Finds Glacier Sediments Adding To Louisiana Coast's Sinking

A science team led by Erik Ivins of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., hypothesized that Earth's very slow gravitational flow response to the weight of the sediments, combined with a 130-meter (427-foot) rise in sea level that took place thousands of years ago, are contributing to the sinking of a 199,000-square kilometer (77,000-square-mile) section of coastal Louisiana.

To test their theory, the team developed a physical model of sinking caused by both the weight of the sea level rise and the flow of glacial sediments into the Gulf of Mexico following the retreat of the great ice sheet that covered much of North America some 22,000 years ago. The model spanned the past 750,000 years. Results were compared with actual global positioning system measurements and other geophysical data for southern Louisiana and the Gulf, collected from multiple sources over the past 60 years.

The scientists found the model results were in good agreement with the actual geophysical data, predicting sinking of between 0.1 centimeters (0.04 inches) and 0.8 centimeters (0.3 inches) a year. The highest sinking rates were observed where coastal land loss is greatest, near the center of the Mississippi and Atchafalaya River Delta complexes. The sediments pose a particular challenge for New Orleans, causing it to sink irreversibly at a rate of about 0.4 centimeters (0.17 inches) a year, according to data from a network of global positioning system stations and a model of sediment data collected from the northern Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi Delta.

Rosenthal's Emails Become Subject Of Hearing

Although civil rights' activist and various ministers have called for embattled DA, Chuck Rosenthal, to resign; he has still managed to hold onto his job. Will this be the end of Chuck Rosenthal?

Since 9:30 a.m. Thursday, the director of information technology for Harris County has been on the stand, facing detailed questions about the disappearance and reappearance of roughly 3,500 e-mails.

Gary Zallar said he first discovered Nov. 21, 2007, that those e-mails were no longer in District Attorney Chuck Rosenthal’s e-mail account.

A federal judge had ordered Rosenthal’s office to allow examination of those e-mails the day before. An Oct. 31, 2007, supoena in a civil rights lawsuit had called for Rosenthal’s emails, sent from his county account, between July 1 and Oct. 15, 2007

Although the controversial DA's actions have once again been called into question, he still manages to hold onto his post. What do you think it will take for Chuck Rosenthal to step down?

Edwards Drops Out

John Edwards has decided to drop out of the presidential race. He has decided to focus more on poverty issues. Edwards is here in New Orleans today. He first announced his campaign in December 2006, In New Orleans.

This is a good thing for New Orleans and we wish him all the best.

Roger Clemens' Son Speaks Out

When Roger Clemens was accused of using steroids by his former trainer, it stunned and angered a lot of his supporters here in Houston. Now his oldest son Koby is speaking out to tell others how this accusation has impacted him and his family:

“It kills me that this is happening to my dad,” Koby Clemens, an Astros’ prospect, said after Monday’s workout. “What he’s done for the game and what now is being turned back to him for what he’s done for the game is tough. It’s hard on me, but you can’t imagine how hard it is on my dad.”

Koby Clemens, the pitcher’s oldest son, said the ordeal has made his family stronger and brought its members closer together.

Sometimes we forget the effect situations have on a family member. If the allegations are later proved false, that will not erase the damage it has caused.

NOPD Officer Shot and Killed

This is such a sad story coming out of New Orleans today:

A New Orleans Police officer was shot and killed this morning in a parking lot in the 2000 block of Earhart Boulevard betrween Simon Bolivar and Calliope, according to police.

Police said the injured officer is female and from the 6th District. No information is available on the identity of the officer. The officer was rushed to University Hospital, but died shortly thereafter.

Police have blocked traffic in the vicinity of the shooting as they search for the assailant. The parking lot is located outside of a food store, laundromat and clothing store. Police Chief Warren Riley will hold a press conference shortly after 11 a.m. at the hospital to discuss the shooting.

Let's hope they catch those responsible real soon. My heart and prayers go out to her family.

Houstonians Protests Gaza Blockade

Some Houstonians are demanding Israel end its blockade of the Gaza Strip. Demonstrators took to the streets in the Galleria area Saturday in protest. They say Palestinians in the Strip are being forced to live without electricity, water and functioning medical facilities.

Israel closed the borders about a week ago after Hamas militants fired rockets into the area. The protesters wanted Israel investigated for crimes against humanity.