First corruption arrest made in connection with Katrina cleanup News
First corruption arrest made in connection with Katrina cleanup

[JURIST] Federal prosecutors have charged an official of St. Tammany Parish [official website] with accepting kickbacks to arrange a debris-removal contract as part of the Hurricane Katrina [JURIST news archive] cleanup. St. Tammany Parish Council [official website] member Joseph Impastato is accused of taking $85,000 from a local businessman who had a site available for dumping. The parish awards contracts every year in order to have sites available to dump storm debris; the complaint alleges that Impastato told the businessman that he could arrange for a sub-contract if they agreed to split the proceeds. Friday's New York Times has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Pope Urban II sparks First Crusade

Pope Urban II threw his support behind what would become the First Crusade on November 27, 1095 during the Council of Clairmont. The Pope urged the council's participants to render aid to the Byzantine Empire, which was being attacked by the Seljuks. Pope Urban called for a wide coalition of rich and poor to combat the threat, which eventually resulted in the conquest of much of the Muslim-controlled Levant by the Crusaders and the establishment of the Crusader States. Read Pope Urban's address.  

Catholic Code of Canon Law revised

On November 27, 1983, the revised Code of Canon Law of the Roman Catholic Church went into effect. Learn more about the history of Canon Law from Professor Kenneth Pennington of the Catholic University of America's Columbus School of Law.

Alfred Nobel creates Nobel Prize in his will

On November 27, 1895, Alfred Nobel signed his will, creating the Nobel Prize. Learn more about the history of the Nobel Prize and the Nobel Commission.