Louisiana news briefs

Software development center planned in Lafayette
LAFAYETTE (AP) — St. Louis-based Perficient Inc. says it will establish a software development center in Louisiana that is expected to create 245 jobs.
The announcement was made Thursday by Perficient CEO Jeff Davis and Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal.
The plan for the center follows earlier announcements of new operations in the Lafayette area by software development and technology companies CGI and Enquero.
Perficient plans to launch its operation before the end of 2014.
Louisiana Economic Development officials say the company has been offered an incentive package including aid under the state’s FastStart workforce development program as well as incentives under Louisiana’s Digital Interactive Media and Software Development Incentive program and the state’s Quality Jobs program.

Bill Clinton raising money for Sen. Mary Landrieu
BATON ROUGE — U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu is getting fundraising help this weekend from a Democratic Party heavyweight, popular former President Bill Clinton.
Clinton is the special guest at a $1,000-per-person fundraiser being held Saturday in New Orleans to drum up campaign cash for Landrieu and the Democratic State Central Committee of Louisiana.
Landrieu, seeking a fourth term, is in a tough re-election fight with main Republican challenger U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy and with Republican and tea party favorite Rob Maness.
GOP leaders have targeted Louisiana’s Senate seat this election, hoping a Landrieu defeat will help them regain control of the U.S. Senate.
Clinton’s star power and high approval ratings could help Landrieu boost her campaign coffers after the most recent finance reports showed Cassidy had slightly more money in the bank.

Ex-Nagin official sentenced in bribery scheme
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal judge Thursday sentenced a former city technology chief to 2½ years in prison for his role in a bribery scheme that ensnared former Mayor Ray Nagin.
Greg Meffert could have been sentenced to eight years under federal guidelines, but U.S. District Judge Eldon Fallon granted a lighter sentence with the blessing of federal prosecutors, who said Meffert’s cooperation was a valuable aid in securing guilty verdicts against Nagin and former city contractor Mark St. Pierre.
Meffert also served as deputy mayor after Nagin took office in 2002. He left city government during Nagin’s second term and was indicted in 2009, months before Nagin’s time as mayor ended.
Meffert pleaded guilty in 2010 to one count of conspiracy and a count of filing a false tax return. His subsequent testimony led to convictions against Nagin and St. Pierre in a series of schemes that involved payoffs including free trips and money. Meffert admitted to accepting about $860,000 in bribes from St. Pierre, whose firms collected millions from the city.

Ethics complaints filed about Cassidy
BATON ROUGE (AP) — A Democratic group has filed ethics complaints against Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy, accusing him of violating state and federal laws by filing conflicting personal income statements.
The American Democracy Legal Fund filed the charges Wednesday with the House Office of Congressional Ethics and the Louisiana Board of Ethics.
Cassidy is running against Democratic U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu.
Copies of the documents show Cassidy reported to the state he earned $39,682 as a Louisiana senator and $322,751 from the LSU Health Science Center in 2008. But he reported to the congressional office that his state Senate earnings totaled $36,706 and his LSUHSC salary was $305,431.
Cassidy’s campaign spokesman John Cummins says the state and federal forms have different reporting requirements, and the filing was done properly.

La. Supreme Court hears arguments on tenure law
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A law toughening teacher tenure requirements in Louisiana is up for arguments before the state Supreme Court.
Today’s high court hearing deals with a Baton Rouge judge’s decision that the 2012 legislation that included the tenure changes was unconstitutional.
State District Judge Michael Caldwell ruled that the legislation bundled together too many items spanning Louisiana’s education laws.

‘Blue Dog’ artist to help LSU
BATON ROUGE (AP) — The work of famed “Blue Dog” artist George Rodrigue will benefit LSU’s School of Music.
Prior to his 2013 death, Rodrigue designed what he termed “Take Five,” a work that features his iconic Blue Dog surrounded by lush vegetation and symbols of the “rich musical heritage of the LSU School of Music.”
His estate has used the silkscreen to create 950 numbered prints that were unveiled Thursday at a private reception in LSU’s Cook Hotel.
From The Associated Press.
The prints then go on sale for $500 online at www.GeorgeRodrigue.com and in Rodrigue Studio locations in Lafayette, New Orleans and Carmel, California.
Proceeds are to benefit the School of Music and the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts.

BESE executive director leaving
BATON ROUGE (AP) — Heather Cope is resigning as executive director of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Cope is becoming chief of staff for the Office of School Performance in the Camden, New Jersey, School District.
Cope has been at BESE for two years. BESE President Chas Roemer says he hopes to have a new executive director hired by October.
BESE sets policies for about 700,000 public school students. The executive director is responsible for administrative and fiscal operations of the board office.
Cope was paid $125,000 per year. She is the fifth person to hold the job since 2008.

Physician loses medical license
BATON ROUGE (AP) — A Baton Rouge doctor has pleaded guilty to illegal touching of female patient at a local clinic and has surrendered his medical license.
The Advocate reports 64-year-old Howard E. Gidden pleaded guilty Thursday to four counts of simple battery. He was accused of inappropriately touching the female patient during office visits between April 2013 and July 2013.
State District Judge Mike Erwin gave Howard E. Gidden a suspended two-year prison term and put him on probation for two years under the terms of a plea agreement.
Prosecutors say the woman told police she was afraid to tell Gidden to stop because she needed the drug that the clinic had prescribed for her.
Gidden had been licensed to practice medicine in Louisiana since 1985. He worked at Gidden Medical Clinic.