News for Thursday 032813
By Dave Graichen
More good economic news for the Pelican State today. Governor Bobby Jindal announced IBM will be moving into Baton Rouge and bringing 800 new jobs. About 30-million dollars in state, federal and city money will help construct the office building, which will also include residential units overlooking the Mississippi River. Jindal also announced Louisiana will provide 14-million dollars over ten years to LSU so they can produce more computer science grads.
State Superintendent of Education John White says demand for the state's voucher program is growing. White says they received nearly 12-thousand applications from families seeking state assistance to attend a private school. White says that's up from the 10-thousand applications they received last year, the first year of the statewide voucher program. The Louisiana Supreme Court is expected to rule soon on whether the funding mechanism for the voucher program violates the state constitution. White is not saying how they will fund the vouchers program if they get an unfavorable decision.
The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals is now guesstimating our state could save 368-million dollars by expanding the state's Medicaid program under the new federal health law. The savings would be spread out over ten years. But the governor doesn't like it, calling it an inappropriate growth of a government entitlement program.
The LSU Board of Supervisors has approved a preliminary agreement that allows Shreveport’s Biomedical Research Foundation to negotiate a deal that could lead to the takeover of LSU Health in Shreveport and E.A. Conway Medical Center in Monroe.
The board — minus Supervisor John George of Shreveport — unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding that sets off official negotiations.
LSU has a new system president and chancellor. The Board of Supervisors Wednesday unanimously gave their approval to naming Dr. F. King Alexander to the position. The former president of California State University Long Beach says a great LSU will lead to a great Louisiana for decades to come.
The Louisiana Legislative Democratic Caucus held a press conference yesterday morning to give reasons on why Governor Jindal's tax proposal is bad for the
Bayou State. The press conference came on the heels of a report the Jindal administration is touting that says the tax-swap plan will lead to more jobs and high incomes for residents. But Leesville Representative James Armes (ARMS) says Jindal's attempt to eliminate income taxes in exchange for higher sales will allow the rich to
become richer. The head of the caucus, Amite Representative John Bel Edwards, pointed out the governor’s plan would create the highest sales tax in the nation.
More than 1200 acres have burned since this weekends' wild fires began along the Tangipahoa-St.Tammany parish line. It's created a haze in the air for nearby parishes as well. Firefighters say without significant rainfall they will continue to burn. Authorities believe the cause of the fires maybe arson or people burning debris.
It's being reported the cast of A&E's hit reality show Duck Dynasty which is filmed out of West Monroe want more money -- or no season 4. The Robertson family is reportedly engaged in a salary standoff with the cable network that's delaying the show's renewal.
Total personal income in Louisiana grew at a slower rate than the United States average during the fourth quarter, according to a report released Wednesday.
Total personal income in the state was $183.9 billion during the fourth quarter, an increase of 1.7 percent from the third quarter, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. That’s slightly below the 1.9 percent growth nationwide in total personal income, which is the income earned by individuals from all sources.