The Ledger is reporting that team owner George Shinn has killed and buried any rumors about other cities luring the Hornets away from New Orleans.  Shinn said Thursday that the city and the franchise have reached a deal which will see New Orleans release $6.5 million in city money for the New Orleans Hornets' proposed new training center.

"Our goal all along when we moved here was to stay here," Shinn said Thursday. "I know there has been speculation. ... I just want the community to be more secure that we're here. We love it here."

In exchange for Shinn's pledge to help build a proposed multipurpose facility in eastern New Orleans, the city agreed to release money previously set-aside for the Hornets to build a facility housing both practice gyms and corporate offices.

City leaders also gave Shinn their blessing to build wherever he wants - freeing him from a vow to build in eastern new Orleans. He has his sights set on a lot in the central business district, next to the New Orleans Arena, where the Hornets play home games.

The money for a training center was offered by the city as part of city and state inducements that brought the Hornets here from Charlotte, N.C., in 2002.