New Orleans' Democrat Mayor LaToya Cantrell promises to return the $30,000 she blew on first-class flights after saying it was 'unsafe' for a black woman to fly economy (but is still using luxury city-owned apartment just three miles from her home)

October 5, 2022

Mayor LaToya Cantrell to repay $30K in city money spent on first-class flights

She had justified the exorbitant flight fees by saying flying economy was 'unsafe' for black women

City policy requires her to find cheapest fare or reimburse the expenses

Cantrell also admitted living rent-free in the apartment located in the city's Upper Pontalba building on Jackson Square just three miles from her house

The apartment, which is owned by the city and managed by the French Market Corp., a city-affiliated agency, has a market rate of $2,991 per month

The city's Metropolitan Crime Commission sent a report to the city council Thursday asking for an investigation into Cantrell's use of the apartment

The MCC report included images of the mayor entering and leaving the apartment and presented witness testimony that she's been spending nights

Both Cantrell and a councilmember who sits on the FMC board for the company managing the apartment say she's done nothing wrong

LaToya Cantrell, the controversial Democratic mayor of New Orleans, has said she will repay the city for $30,000 she claimed in city cash for first class flights after living rent-free in a government apartment just three miles from her house.

The mayor was forced to pay for the flights after a city attorney was brought in who determined that Cantrell, as a city employee, was obliged by policy to seek the cheapest fares or reimburse the city for deluxe expenses.

Cantrell spent around $10,000 on her own flat bed seat and blew a similar amount on a first-class return to France earlier this year - while her aides traveled in coach.

The under fire mayor is already in hot water after admitting to living in a city-owned apartment in the city's French Quarter rent-free, that lies only three miles from her $500K Broadmoor home.

Cantrell had previously caused outrage when she spent taxpayer money on first class air travel to France and Switzerland and excused it by saying economy class was 'unsafe' for black women, adding she had done nothing illegal.

'Based on the policy review, however, I will have to reimburse,' she said of the flights. 'So I'm moving forward to do that,' without specifying when she would do so.

Sauce/more: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11282979/New-Orleans-Democratic-mayor-says-pay-nearly-30k-blew-class-flights.html

Sheboon gone wild, Episode 1001

OPEC and Russia cut oil production by TWO MILLION barrels a day:Saudi ignores Biden's pleas as gas prices get set to soar

October 5, 2022

Saudi Arabia snubs Biden as OPEC CUTS oil production by 2 MILLION barrels a day: Gas prices set to rise HIGHER after White House 'begged middle east nations not to cut output' just five weeks before midterms

The cut is OPEC+'s largest since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic

The White House was 'having a spasm and panicking' over the potential outcomes of OPEC's decision, an unnamed administration official told CNN

Biden aides took victory laps when gas prices fell at a record pace this summer

They have been relatively silent on the issue as they start to creep back up

The president told reporters that he 'needs to see the details' of OPEC+'s announcement when asked for reaction on Wednesday

National Security Council official John Kirby downplayed the likely effects in an interview on Fox News and said the US needs to be less dependent on foreign oil

American drivers could face another increase in gas prices as the OPEC+ alliance announced it is cutting oil production by up to two million barrels a day in what could end up being a massive setback for the Biden administration.

Energy ministers from the OPEC cartel, whose leading member is Saudi Arabia, and allied non-members including Russia are meeting in person at the group's Vienna headquarters for the first time since early 2020.

The announced production cutback on Tuesday is the largest since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It comes after oil barrel prices dropped roughly a quarter in just three months, now around $90, amid fears of a looming global recession.

President Joe Biden was asked about OPEC+'s decision as he boarded Marine One ahead of a visit to hurricane-ravaged Florida but told reporters he 'needs to see the details.'

The announcement's effect on the pumps is not yet certain, but the decision as left the Biden administration scrambling to avoid a 'total disaster' according to a CNN report.

OPEC's decision after their Wednesday meeting could force prices at the pump back up after the White House celebrated them falling at a record pace this summer. They have already begun to inch back up in recent weeks.

But a sudden spike would be an especially concerning setback with the November midterm elections just over a month away.

One official told CNN that the White House is 'having a spasm and panicking' over the potential outcome.

Sauce/more: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11283503/Biden-OPEC-oil-production-gas-prices.html

BANG BANG BALDWIN RETURNS:

Alec Baldwin and Rust producers will CONTINUE filming in January 2023 after reaching confidential settlement with slain cinematographer Halyna Hutchins' husband - and he will serve as executive producer

October 5, 2022

Alec Baldwin will continue filming Rust in January after reaching a confidential civil settlement with slain cinematographer Halyna Hutchins' husband.

Matthew Hutchins will now serve as executive producer during the revival of the western film and said that he, the producers, and Baldwin all agreed that his wife's death was a 'terrible accident.'

Halyna Hutchins was shot on the set of the film in October 2021 in Bonanza Creek Ranch, Santa Fe, New Mexico. Her family filed a wrongful death lawsuit in February.

Baldwin, 64, has always maintained that he did not pull the trigger, and that the blame lies with the stunt handlers and prop managers who should have ensured the gun was not filled with live bullets.

=Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office is yet to charge anyone over Hutchins' death.

Announcing the settlement, Alec Baldwin wrote on social media: 'Throughout this difficult process, everyone has maintained the specific desire to do what is best for Halyna's son.

'We are grateful to everyone who contributed to the resolution of this tragic and painful situation.'

Matthew Hutchins said today: 'We have reached a settlement, subject to court approval, for our wrongful death case against the producers of Rust, including Alec Baldwin and Rust Movie Productions, LLC. As part of that settlement, our case will be dismissed.

Sauce/more: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11283531/Alec-Baldwin-Rust-producers-CONTINUE-filming-January-2023.html