News for monday 102212

by dave graichen

The Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure in Alexandria saturday was another major success. large crowds turned out not only to participate, but to cheer on friends who were taking part in the race. survivors ranged from one who had been cancer free to another who was on day 80. crowds were somewhat smaller this year due to the fact the alexandria event is now a local rather than a regional race, as is has been in the past. Seventy-five percent of the money raised stays local to be granted out through non-profit organizations. Twenty-five percent goes to research.

Unemployment in Louisiana fell to 7% in September, according to federal  Labor Department numbers. That's down from 7.4% in August and lower than  it was one year ago. LSU economist Dr. Loren Scott says he believes  upturns in the chemicals and oil & gas industries are largely behind the  surge.

Sundrop Fuels Inc. has hired some plant managers and has started preliminary site work north of Alexandria, where construction on the company's $450 million synthetic gasoline plant is to begin early next year with completion in 2014. The Colorado company, which chose Central Louisiana for its first commercial plant, continues financing negotiations with lenders. The company, plans to use natural gas and woody biomass to produce car-ready synthetic gasoline.

We know the New Orleans Times Picayune is now only delivering three  days a week, but now Newsweek magazine has announced it will stop printing all together in order to concentrate on online publication. Is print becoming a thing of the past? LSU Mass Comm Dean Jerry Ceppos he isn't at all surprised by the Newsweek move. Ceppos says, though it depends on the situation, but using paper  journalism as a legitimate news source is essentially dead. in big and struggling markets like New Orleans, scaling  back daily delivery is what makes the most economic sense. However he  says smaller market newspapers are still steady on their feet.

Ten years ago today, former Governor Edwin Edwards woke up to his first  full day as a federal prisoner, after his conviction for conspiring to  fix casino licenses. U.L.-Lafayette political science professor Pearson  Cross says a decade ago, it must have seemed like rock-bottom for  Edwards...but things have dramatically changed for him. While in federal prison Edwards met Trina Scott, who is some 50 years  younger than he. The two were married in 2011, and are planning to have  a child. Cross says Edwards has found happiness in his senior years.  Edwards served 8 & 1/2 years of his ten-year sentence, and was released  in early 2011, with time off for good behavior.

Sixth ranked LSU enters the bye week with just one loss after a come  from behind win over Texas A-and-M, 24-19.

Louisiana-Monroe is all alone in first place in the Sun Belt Conference  after a dramatic 43-to-42 overtime victory over Western Kentucky. U-L-M is 3-and-0 in the Sun Belt and the Warhawks will host South  Alabama this Saturday.

After starting the season with a four-game losing streak, the Saints  have now won two in a row. New Orleans fell behind 21-7 to Tampa Bay  yesterday, but rallied for a 35 to 28 victory.