News roundup: 4 former La. governors to convene for CABL 50th anniversary event … Halliburton says BP's deal with spill victims is unfair … Gun industry thrives during Obama's term in office

Published Oct 19, 2012 at 10:00 am (Updated Oct 19, 2012)

Come together: At an event honoring the 50th anniversary of CABL, former Louisiana Governors Edwin Edwards, Buddy Roemer, Mike Foster and Kathleen Blanco will share the stage for the first time in a public setting in Baton Rouge on Dec. 12 to give their thoughts on where Louisiana stands, where it's come from and where it's going. The event will be recorded for statewide broadcast in partnership with Louisiana Public Broadcasting. The event will be held Wednesday, Dec. 12, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Hilton Capitol Center, 201 Lafayette St. Seating is limited, and reservations are required. You can make reservations by calling Elizabeth Morgan at 344-2225 or by emailing her at elizabeth@cabl.org. Complete event details are available here.

Agree to disagree: Halliburton says BP's proposed settlement with victims of the 2010 Gulf of Mexico spill unfairly creates a "collusive alliance" against the oil field services company in a scheduled multibillion-dollar trial, Bloomberg reports. "The settlement agreements will improperly align the interests of BP and the settling plaintiffs in any subsequent trial on liability in this court," Donald Godwin, Halliburton's lead lawyer, says in a 138-page filing. The company is seeking permission from a judge to submit the filing in federal court in New Orleans. BP's deal creates an incentive for the plaintiffs who settled to change their strategy to minimize any determination of BP's share of liability and argue for greater compensation from the other defendants, including Halliburton, Godwin says. Read the full story here.

Locked and loaded: President Barack Obama has presided over a heyday for the gun industry despite predictions by the National Rifle Association four years ago that he would be the "most anti-gun president in American history." Gun buyers fear that Obama wants to restrict their purchases, especially if he were re-elected. An analysis by The Associated Press of data tracking the health of the gun industry shows sales are on the rise, so much so that some gun manufacturers can't make guns fast enough. Major gun company stock prices are up. The number of federally licensed, retail gun dealers is increasing for the first time in nearly 20 years. The NRA is bursting with cash and political clout. Read the full story here.

Today's poll question: Did the election of President Barack Obama in 2008 lead you to purchase additional firearms you otherwise would not have bought?