Continuing his fight for the environment and his First Nation constituents, Assemblyman Honoré Desprès (FN-Gascogne) presented today his legislation pushing for the abolition of all levees along the Louisiannan banks of the Mizouri River, matching similar efforts in Les Plaines and the Unincorporated Territories of the North American League.

“The channelization and damming of the Mizouri have lead to dire results.  We have seen the worst flooding in  recorded history.  We have seen horrific loss of biodiversity.  When will we understand that the European view of controlling nature is neither manageable nor desirable?”

As part of his arguments in today’s session assemblyman Desprès cited the recent changes of attitude by local governments in both the UT and in Les Plaines and the removal of nearly 85% of all levees along the northern and eastern shores of the great river.

Citing statistics provided by the North American League Parliament, losses from flooding in the unfettered zones along the League river bank have been radically reduced since the efforts to restore the river’s natural course began following the flooding of an CCI (1993).

Further data presented from an Assembly Special Commission report dating to last year suggests that the levees along the Louisiannan side are likely to fail should flood levels of reach that of an CCI.

His presentation today was received coolly by assemblymen and assemblywomen from the farming districts along the river.  It is unclear whether the vote on Friday will ultimately favor or reject this proposal.

(IBAP)

After years of construction and with much ceremony the First President of Louisianne and the Mayor of Paris-sur-Mizouri proudly announced the opening of the Métropolitain, or Métro serving  many of the suburbs of the capital and greatly improving the service of the  Transports en Commun de L’Agglommération Parizot (TECAP).

Construction of the Métropolitain had been anticipated since the founding of Paris-sur-Mizouri by Assembly mandate some 150 years ago. Although careful planning and construction of the Capital Complex and other government installations had included the construction of tunnels for subterranean trains, these were not in large part used during the construction as they were no longer of sufficient size for modern transit needs.

The rail lines as currently designed serve a primarily East-West and North-South corridor.  Plans and construction of a Péripherique line are also in process, and completion is expected before the end of the decade.

Connections with the Northern NALien suburbs have been completed, including access to the Aérodrôme Les Prés, allowing easy access to the largest aerodrome of the region.

Connection to Yonne is expected to be completed by the end of the year, fully completing the East-West line.

Concurrent construction of a tunnel system for the Saint Louis – Paris-sur-Mizouri – Lyons-sur-Mizouri TGV network have created a subterranean station below the Gare National, and have created a number of smokestacks of sorts to allow for the depressurization and repressurization of the tunnel while the train passes at elevated speed.

This tunnel system has allowed the rerouting of the TGV line for better, more timely service to the Capital, as well. Spokespersons for CFL state that this realignment is an integral part of the New Century Plan for Louisianna and allows for further realignment and expected growth in the Capital region.

The investigation into the mysterious death of Mlle Adrienne Martin continues. Police and Gendarmes have begun questioning staff of the Busch Mansion, and toxicology reports are expected to be rendered.

Pègre activity in Louisianne has been at a low ebb since the discovery, and some investigators feel that this may be an admission of guilt.

Only time will tell the true guilty party.

The victim, identified of Adrienne Martin, from nearby S^t Charles was found dead the 29th of Frimaire, CCXX (20/12/2010), but official comment was postponed until today. Due to the sensitive nature of the death, few details have been disclosed. The Gendarmes of Saint-Louis prefecture are investigating the circumstances of the death. An official autopsy has been conducted, and the body of Mlle. Martin has been released to her family who are also conducting a private autopsy.

Local police and pompiers were called to the home located in the affluent banlieu, Frontenac. From the home, Mlle Martin was transported to a nearby hospital in Crêve Coeur, where she was pronounced dead. The forensic administrator announced after conclusion of the autopsy that there were no signs of trauma or illness

Anton Marguis, attorney for Busch and Brasserie Bavaroise spoke publicly to reporters today, where he said Martin was a friend of Busch, and had been visiting the Busch’s home. He further said there was “absolutely nothing suspicious” about Martin’s death.

“It was a tragic death of a young woman.”

Anonymous sources close to Busch and Martin claimed that they were indeed dating. Martin leaves behind her eight-year-old child.

Frontenac police provided an official response via telex to the Etandard of Saint-Louis, but did not say if the death was considered suspicious. Phone messages seeking an interview were not returned. The telexed release did not say why news of the death was not announced until four days after Mlle Martin’s passing.

The telexed statement claimed that a call was received around 1:15 pm, Sunday about an “unresponsive person” at the home. Martin was initially unresponsive when paramedics and officers arrived, the release said. Her condition worsened and she died somewhere en route to the Hospital in Crêve Coeur.

M. Marguis refused to speculate on the steps of the investigation, or the cause of Mlle. Martin’s death. An unnamed law enforcement official averred that the case was considered a possible overdose. M. Marguis would only concur that overdose was among the possibilities.

Friends of Mlle. Martin at a local dance studio said that she had often expressed interest in becoming a nurse or possibly being a model in advertising, in particular, for beer and wine.

M. Busch has been the Director and CEO of Brasserie Bavaroise SA and the International counterpart from 2004. He has overseen a systematic purchase of microbreweries across the plains provinces of the North American League during his tenure as leader of the massive corporation. He divorced his wife of two years in an 216 (2009).

This is not the first woman to have died near M. Busch. In an 192 (1984), M. Busch was travelling across the southern reaches of Tejas with a young tejano woman, when he was involved in a tragic accident, totalling his vintage Dorris Astra, killing the young woman, and giving him a self-proclaimed case of amnesia. He was never charged.

Some pundits have speculated that with recent changes in the Pègre, this was meant as a signal to M. Busch from the newer leadership to comply with their wishes. Investigations are ongoing.

A sinkhole opened under rail lines and traffic lanes in South-Central Toulouse near the Customs station for the Tejan border just at the evening traffic times. None were reported injured, however traffic was snarled across much of Toulouse as Tejans and Louisiannans who choose to reside in Tejas tried to return home using the few other bridge connections with Tejas.

Investigations into the sinkhole have suggested that it resulted from efforts to widen the rail-lines and traffic lanes. With the restoration of the Tejan monarchy, trade has increased across the border, and CFL and EFT (Empresa Ferroviaris de Tejas) had been working to allow TGV train access from Toulouse to Guachita, with possible further connections to Ciudad Las Vacas, San Antonio and Houston. There are also suggestions of an upgraded rail connection to Cimmaròn and Santa Fe, however current projects only account for the Guachita rail connection.

Normal travel is expected to be restored some time on the 14th (4th) for vehicular travel, however rail travel may be delayed until early next week.

Other notable legislation passed includes further support of earth-friendly energies, favoring wind farms throughout New Navarra and New Cornwall, over more productive technology, such as the Tesla Generators. This was largely due to the lobby of the First Nations, who feel that the Tesla Generators are stripping the soul of the Earth – but that the wind power plants are less invasive.

Throughout much of this session, the Council has been required to spend much more time currying favor with Hilary Rodham Claintaun, who has served as a swing vote between the Centrist Republicains Libres and the Center-Left Loi-Naturelle.

For the remainder of the year the members of Council will return to their respective Prefectures to continue into the second legislative session of the year. M. Yager of Nouvelle Cournouaille will face a re-election battle against two Candidates, Chrétien de Beurre and Sous-Prefect of Les Alpes Rocheuses, Gaspard Dupier. It is widely seen that Chrétien de Beurre will serve more to split the conservative base of the region as M. Dupier is seen as a less volatile candidate, but more conservative than M. Yager.

Pundits suggest currently that M. Yager will garner some 70% of the vote, M. Dupier approximately 20% and M. de Beurre, a paltry 5%.

It was confirmed today in a minor news conference by the Camerlengo of Pope John XXIIJ’s household that His Holiness is indeed ill, and suffering from what appears to be the early stages of pneumonia. The prognosis is positive, and under the expert care of his doctors it was affirmed by the Camerlengo that His Holiness is expected to make a full recovery, despite his advanced age of 89 years.

After several legal wrangles extending the initial date for a primary run-off between Jérémy Narbonòsc and Emmanuel Boucher, Fils, a winner has been declared: Jérémy Narbonòsc.

A final election date of 6 Fructidor (August 24) has been set for the final votes to be cast between Jérémy Narbonòsc and Claire Miquasquille for the much contested Prefectoral seat of Osage, one of the most heavily populated regions of Louisianne.

Votes can be cast any time between today and the 24th of August, and the two candidates are now spending quality time with those that have voted for M. Boucher, courting their support for the seat.

by Genevieve Cotillion, L’Étoile de Lyons-sur-Mizouri, Vie Populaire section

The road of courtship has been long and hard for Messieurs Boucher and Narbonòsc as they’ve visited and wooed the Members of Parliament for Osage to win their vote in this unprecedented second primary.

They’ve both come to Baizillac, due south of Lyons-sur-Mizouri today to visit recalcitrant Joseph Moreau, seeking to get his attention and vote in the upcoming primary on Saturday, 1 Messidor CCXVII (20 June 2009).

Their offers brought by assistants and campaign aides have so far been rebuffed and M. Moreau has gone so far as to request the local police to protect his home and prevent the media from turning it into a circus. In a unique interview, M. Moreau accepted our news team into his home and spoke with candor.

M. Moreau has served in the legislatures of Osage since he was a young man, and is now in his 85th year of life. When asked if he would retire after this term, he smiled and said, “I’ll retire when the bon dieu tells me to. Until then, I’ll do my best to serve my neighbors and be their voice, if they’ll have me.”

“I’m not going to be swayed by the presents or flattery these men give me. It’s not a matter of how much they promise me and the people I represent — it’s what their track record has been so far. I’ve seen the work done by M. Narbonòsc for his sous-prefecture of Mizouri as a member of the parliament, and I’ve seen what he’s done for Aurillac as the sous-prefect years ago. I’ve also seen how M. Boucher votes and which legislation he supports.

“My vote isn’t going to be on promises — that’s worth about as much as a fart in the wind, if you’ll excuse the expression. I’m going to vote for the man I feel has done his best for the people of Osage, because if he’s in it for himself, then he won’t care a cornhusk for any of us.” He pointed out the window, toward the street where Messieurs Boucher and Narbonòsc waited. “I’m not the only one that feels this way. We all know that unless we vote for a man of character we’re going to get the same shonatchigammes* we had under Mitterand.”

When asked about his feeling of the changing political climate of Louisianne, M. Moreau smiled. “I’m all for changing more than just the crust of this Helvetian Mince Pie. And if the bon dieu will let me, I’ll do all I can for as long as I can.”

*from the Gaelic sionnachuighim, translated, “I play the fox.”, equivalent of shenanigans or tom-foolery in English.