You have from now until February 5 to pre-order your Girl Scout cookies! Direct sales at booths will begin March 2 and finish March 18. This year, the cookies come in eight flavors, including a new one: a lemon-flavored cookie called Savannah Smiles. Cost of Girl Scout Cookies are $4 per box.  Full article. 

On January 26, veterans visited the Army Processing Facility at England Airpark for Cenla’s Hire Our Heroes Job Fair. The event was one of about 100 Hiring Our Heroes events being held across the country in a U.S. Chamber of Commerce initiative, co-sponsored locally by the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce. 92 employers participated. Multiple organizers described hiring a veteran as a "win-win proposition" where the veteran gets a job and the employer gets a quality employee and access to federal tax credits. Full article. 

Governor Bobby Jindal will be the featured guest speaker at CLEDA’s Quarterly Innovation Luncheon on February 1. NOTE: Reservations are mandatory. Tickets are $20 each, and a table of ten tickets is available for $175.00. Location: SAI Convention Center, Alexandria, LA. Full information.   

The Baton Rouge Kennel Club's Mardi Gras Cluster AKC Dog Show begins today. This dog show will be followed by The Alexandria Kennel Club's Mardi Gras Cluster AKC Dog Show. More than 160 breeds of dogs will compete. Location: Rapides Coliseum. Full article. 

Insurance Commissioner Jim Donelon recently indicated that an improved fire rating will lower fire insurance premiums for homeowners in Woodworth beginning Feb. 6. The reason: Woodworth's fire protection grading improved from Class 5 to Class 4.  Full article.

The LA Dept of Wildlife and Fisheries will sponsor a "Becoming an Outdoors-Woman" workshop March 23-25 in Central LA at Camp Grant Walker in Pollock. The program cost is $170, and covers classes, program material, lodging, meals, etc. Some of the program subjects include shotgun, rifle, handguns, fly-fishing, kayaking, camping, horseback riding, fishing, compass skills, and outdoor photography.  Full article.

The LA School for Math, Science and the Arts (LSMSA) English faculty will sponsor the fourth annual Young Writer’s Conference on Feb. 17 for students in grades seven through 12. Location: The LA School for Math, Science and the Arts (LSMSA). Sessions include writing poetry, writing fiction and writing non-fiction prose. The registration fee is $5.00.  Full article.

In his annual State of the City Address, Mayor Roy indicated that the City of Alexandria is thriving, and Roy’s administration has several ambitious new goals planned for this year. 2011 accomplishments included the transformation in the city Police Department, aging infrastructure improvements, and online payments for Planning Division utility bills and permits. Full article.

 

The Hiring Our Heroes Job Fair slated for January 26 will have more than 90 employers who signed up for booths. The job fair is designed for military veterans and their spouses. Deborah Randolph, president of the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce: "The Alexandria Hiring Our Heroes Job Fair will include national, regional, state and local employers with open positions."  Full article.

Cenla residents have the opportunity to participate in a national movement through the Souper Bowl of Caring. This movement is comprised of youth working to fight hunger and hunger and poverty in Cenla around the Super Bowl football game. Albertsons and Kroger in Alexandria are participating in the Souper Bowl of Caring by selling pre-filled bags of food to be donated to the Food Bank of Central LA.  Full information.

Families of soldiers and supporters of Fort Polk recently witnessed soldiers in training exercise where they tried to make peace between Afghanistan soldiers and Marghoz villagers.  The purpose of the exercise was to provide a realistic experience to allow soldiers to make mistakes there instead of Afghanistan.   Full article. 

The LA Office of Student Financial Assistance has a new Louisiana Connect college access and career planning Web portal that assists students as they plan for college and/or careers. The free program also helps guidance counselors, parents, teachers and advisers assist students and can send students alerts on key milestones and deadlines for applications for colleges and scholarships. Full article.

Pineville will get a new housing development for senior citizens. The project, located on Shamrock Street is expected to take eleven months. Humanities Foundation, based in Mount Pleasant, S.C., will develop the project, along with commercial real estate developer James Doran Co. The development will feature one and two bedroom units, and will be available to residents 55 or older, with restricted incomes. Full article.

After Gov. Bobby Jindal presented his proposal for K-12 education reform, some area principals have concerns about the plan. The group's concern centered on value-added assessments for teachers and vouchers for students. Principals expressed concern that the proposal presented by the governor too closely resembles a “one size fits all” business model. Full article.

Steps to preserve the historic building that formerly housed Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church in downtown Alexandria are underway by its current owner, Jim Hurst. Hurst purchased the property some eighteen months ago, and considered using the location for a restaurant, but recently indicated that for now he will just maintain the building and make sure it isn't destroyed while considering his options. Full article.  

LA’s Bond Commission recently gave preliminary approval to the funding plan for Sundrop Fuels’ green gasoline facility in Rapides Parish. Full production should begin in 2015, with a smaller pilot plant running in 2013. Plant salaries should average between $55,000 to $60,000. The company also is eligible for tax breaks under the state's Quality Jobs Program.  Full article.

If you want to volunteer, here’s your chance: The Alexandria Museum of Art is looking for volunteers to lead museum tours for groups of all ages. The volunteer workshop will occur on Saturday, January 21 at 10:00 am.  Full article.

A new report from the Humane Society of the United States indicates that Louisiana, Florida and Maryland are ranked No. 15 nationwide for animal protection. The report assessed ten categories, including animal fighting, animal cruelty, wildlife abuse, exotic pets, companion animals, animal research, farm animals, fur trapping, puppy mills and equine protection.  Full article.

The Cenla Medication Access Program’s cancer screening van will visit Leesville on Feb. 7-8. Screenings offered to Vernon Parish residents will include colorectal, breast and cervical cancers. Location: 1603 Boone St.  The screening van is a partnership between The Rapides Foundation, CMAP and the Partners in Wellness Program at Feist-Weiller Cancer Center at LSU-Shreveport. Full article. 

Steve Spagnuolo, former coach for the St. Louis Rams, recently s agreed to take over as defensive coordinator for with the Saints. Before going to St. Louis, Spagnuolo had top 10 defenses with the Giants in the 2007 and 2008 seasons. His 2007 defense led the NFL with 53 sacks and the 2008 unit was sixth in the league with 42.  Full article. 

Fracking is the practice of pumping millions of gallons of high-pressure water, chemicals and sand underground to crack fissures in the rock so oil and gas can flow, and North America accounts for 87% of the fracking market. Spears & Associates Inc., a Tulsa-based firm that advises about 400 oil producers, hedge funds, equipment providers and manufacturers, recently expects the worldwide market for hydraulic fracturing to grow 19% this year, to a record $37 billion. Full article.

The trial in the U.S. District Court in New Orleans over the BP oil spill will start next month. The oil spill affected four gulf coast states, and the trial, to be conducted in three phases, is expected to last three months. Full article

 

The New Orleans Saints recently announced that they signed ten players to futures contracts for the 2012 season. Six were members of the practice squad when the Saints lost their post-season game with San Francisco. Full article. 

Apple's senior vice president for worldwide marketing recently unveiled iBook's 2, Apple’s new digital textbooks experience. Apple also announced iBooks Author, a free tool to help authors create and publish digital textbooks, and a new iTunes U program with a new app that lets professors create full online courses. Books will be priced at $14.99 or less.   Full article.

A proposed new master plan that calls for restoring eroded wetlands, shorelines, headlands and barrier islands that once provided protection from storms is one that can protect the state from further ruin. However, according to Garret Graves, of the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority, the process will take 50 years to complete. The next step is to get community input. Full article. 

Works from eighteen Avoyelles area residents are on display at the second annual Avoyelles Artists' Exhibit, called Les Peintres des Avoyelles, which translates to The Painters of Avoyelles.  The event opened Jan 12 and will end on Feb 13. Works include oil, water, acrylics, photography, pen and ink, and chalk.  Full article.

On Friday, January 20, 2012, there will be a job fair at the Coliseum. An international company is coming to Alexandria to evaluate potential candidates. Location: Rapides Parish Exhibition Hall, 5600 Coliseum Blvd., Alexandria, LA. Time: 10:00am - 6:00pm.   Full article. 

 

Saints Coach Sean Payton recently indicated that free agency will be challenging for the Saints, but said that the idea of Drew Brees leaving the team is “far fetched.” Other key free agents include cornerback Tracy Porter, receiver Robert Meachem, defensive tackles Aubrayo Franklin and Shaun Rogers, and linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar. New Orleans will need to replace Gregg Williams, who will join St. Louis. Full article.  

Approximately 350 Pentecostal pastors, missionaries and their spouses signed up to participate in Talk 21, a three-hour pre-conference session discussing the challenges and opportunities of ministering in the 21st century. "Because of the Times," which has attracted nearly 3,000 ministers -- and more than 200 of their children -- from nearly every state in the country and 30 nations around the world, opened Jan 17 and will run through January 19.    Full article.

Part of LA’s green economy not only includes solar power, but also the business of making and selling wood pellets. Jobs related to the production of biofuels, wood pellets, coastal restoration, hydro-power and wind turbines qualify as a part of the state’s “green economy, and account for 5.3 percent of the state’s employment. Full article. 

School board officials recently announced that the Vernon Parish School District made it through the first round of cuts for a state literacy grant. The board started the application process for the second round. The grant will pay $1 million in the first year to implement the Louisiana Comprehensive Literacy Plan, and chosen districts will receive funding at a reduced rate each year over a four-year period.  Full article. 

Burger King is testing out a home delivery service at several of its Washington D.C. chains, hoping their customers will warm up to the idea. The service isn’t free- Burger King is charging customers a $2 delivery fee in its effort to start a trend that aims at home delivery.  Full article. 

To celebrate Arbor Day, the LA Forestry Assoc will give away 1,200 tree seedlings in Alexandria. The giveaway will include 300 each of yellow poplar, Southern crab apple, flowering dogwood and bald cypress. Limited to the supply on hand, the program will occur Friday, Jan 20, from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. on 2316 S. MacArthur Drive. Full article.

Gov. Bobby Jindal will unveil his education proposals for the upcoming regular session on January 17. He is expected to recommend an expansion of a small voucher program run by the state and an increase in charter schools and online programs. Full article.

A national push for employers to hire military veterans and their spouses is coming to Alexandria. On Jan 26, a “Hiring Our Heroes” job fair will be held at the England Airpark Army Processing Facility. Veterans, military personnel about to complete their service and military spouses are encouraged to attend. Full article. 

The Internal Revenue Service is offering free tax-preparation software, identical to those purchased in stores, plus advice to save taxpayers money. The IRS Free File Program opens Jan. 17. Taxpayers with an adjusted gross income is $57,000 or less can utilize the software for free and electronically file it when completed. Full article. 

The National Federation of Independent Business Optimism Index recently reported that, for the fourth time since September, small-business optimism rose. The index, which surveys small-business owners monthly, stands at 93.8 for December, up 1.8 points from November, and 5.7 points since September 2011. Full article.

The Sabine River Authority recently voted to suspend out-of-state water sales until a comprehensive water plan for Louisiana is developed. Local residents’ opposition to the contract to send water to Texas is one reason for the vote to suspend water sales. Full article.

In recognition of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the U.S. Forest Service will waive all fees at Kisatchie National Forest recreational sites Jan 14 to 16, with the exception of camping at Caney Lakes and camping in the Calcasieu Ranger District. Full article.

 

Kellogg Co. recently approved two rice varieties developed by the LSU AgCenter for use in their products. The varieties, CL151 and CL111, are both Clearfield long-grain varieties. Full article.

Lee J's Restaurant recently moved from downtown Pineville to Shreveport Highway. Restaurant owners reported that the new location will allow them to better serve customers for lunch and dinner. Full article.

Looking to learn about African art? Here’s your chance: Alexandria Museum of Art will feature a lecture on the museum’s current exhibit, Pottery and Textiles from the African Art Collection at Southern University New Orleans. The exhibit is a diverse collection of about 25 pieces collected from Central and Western Africa. David Riep, SUNO assistant professor specializing in African art is the guest speaker. Full article.

The Alexandria City Council plans to discuss and then vote on the city's major budget amendment at its Jan. 24 meeting. Items under discussion include overtime funding for both police and firefighters. Full article. 

The deadline to apply for the "A-HEC of a Summer" program offered to Vernon Parish freshmen, sophomores and juniors is March 1. The "A-HEC of a Summer" program gives students the opportunity to explore health career opportunities through hands-on experience as hospital volunteers. Full article. 

Cenla Work Ready Network’s 2012 Workforce Summit will provide an opportunity for employers, educators and economic development professionals to collaborate and share the benefits of using the National Career Readiness Certificate to build a work-ready region in Central Louisiana. Date: Thursday, February 16, 2012  Time: 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Location: Sai Convention Center  2301 North MacArthur Drive, Alexandria, LA  Full information. 

The National Weather Service in Lake Charles recently issued a hard freeze warning, which is in effect from midnight tonight to 8 Am CST Jan 13. Estimates are that tonight’s low temperature will dip to the Mid-to-lower-20s for several hours in Avoyelles Parish. Full information. 

There's a growing backlash to a proposed contract to sell water from the Toledo Bend Reservoir to a private company in Texas; more than five hundred people have submitted complaints about the project. The Caddo Parish Commission is also against the deal, and the Sabine River Authority Board should vote on the proposal later this month.  Full article.

The alarm first sounded about five years ago when oil and gas industry leaders realized that while energy demands rose, the availability of qualified workers declined. The LA Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association is working with LSU and the Governor's Workforce Investment Council to produce projections of workforce needs that can be shared with four-year universities and vocational technical schools to structure education and training. Full article.

The Cenla Medication Access Program's cancer screening van will visit Marksville on Jan. 24 and Jan. 25 to offer colorectal, breast and cervical cancers screenings. Appointments are required. Full article.

The good news: Lee Willis and Mark McKay from Rozier, Harrington and McKay CPA recently presented a "completely clean" audit to the Pineville City Council. However, the not-so-good news Pineville received: Audit projects revenues will not increase significantly next fiscal year, and the city won’t be able to count on surplus funds to pay for increasing costs. Full article.

With visions of the BP Gulf oil spill etched forever in our memories, the new reality for oil companies seeking leases in the Gulf of Mexico is that nothing is certain. Dec. 14, 2011 marked the day the federal government unsealed winning bids for leases in the gulf. Chris John, president of the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association: “The most important message from the lease sale is that we had it…It means that the industry has met all the new safety requirements.” Full article.  

Alexandria Mayor Jacques Roy is considering potential candidates to replace Lance Harris, who resigned from the England Authority after being elected as a state representative. According to Roy, the appointment to the England Authority is one of the most important appointments he can make. The mayor has at least three and as many as five people under consideration for the position.  Full article.

 

In the world of natural gas exports, LA is emerging as the biggest player. The expanded harvesting of shale formations led to an oversupply of natural gas, making exports more attractive. Cheniere Energy, which owns the Sabine Pass Terminal in Cameron Parish, received the go-ahead from the U.S. Dept of Energy to export liquefied natural gas to any company not prohibited by law. This ruling makes Sabine Pass, the first bidirectional LNG facility in the country, capable of importing and exporting the super-chilled liquid.  Full article. 

U.S. News & World Report recently recognized Louisiana College as being among the "Best Regional Colleges." In addition, American Registry has added Louisiana College to the "Registry of Business Excellence." Full article.  

Some small U.S. clothing manufacturers are catching a tailwind as rising costs for labor and transportation make Asia more expensive. In addition, some small companies also say U.S. manufacturers help them maintain a better grip on the quality of the goods they order.  Full article.

Despite a rocky start that included two fumbles, the Saints regrouped to bet Detroit 45-28. The Saints are still undefeated at home, and now travel to San Francisco to play the 49ers on Saturday, Jan 14, where they will play at Candlestick Park. Full article. 

Nearly 20 months after the BP oil spill, the oil giant is pushing a slick nationwide public relations campaign to persuade Americans that the Gulf region recovered. Now, BP is touting evidence that the Gulf's ecology has not been severely damaged by the spill and highlighting improving economic signs. Full article. 

Governor Bobby Jindal recently announced the appointment of Roy O. Martin III to the Board of Regents, a state agency that coordinates all public higher education in Louisiana. Roy O. Martin III, of Alexandria, is the President and Chief Financial Officer for RoyOMartin, a family-owned, professionally managed forestry and wood-products manufacturing company. Full article.

Gov. Bobby Jindal begins his second term Jan 9, with a focus on improving LA's dismal education statistics. The swearing in ceremony will be on a bluff overlooking the Mississippi River at the Old State Capitol, and will feature cannon fire and an F-15 flyover. The governor also joked that he'll keep his speech short so people can get on the road to New Orleans for the LSU/Alabama championship game. Full article.

For 35 years, the NCAA has taken note of who plays whom, and which team annually navigates the nation's most difficult schedule. If LSU’s tigers can turn back Bama a second time in a little more than two months, and raise the crystal ball-topped championship trophy, they will close out a season for the ages. Full article.   

LED Secretary Stephen Moret recently indicated that LA taxpayers will fund $4.5 million to help with the costs of moving Sundrop's research and development department to Alexandria, and give performance-based grants totaling $14 million. The state will provide industrial property tax breaks to ease the financial burden on the company. Production at the facility is scheduled to begin in late 2014.  Full article. 

Officials from Sundrop Fuels Inc. as well as local and state government and business leaders agree wholeheartedly on this -- they would love hire locally for as many of the 150 jobs as possible. Jim Clinton, President of CLEDA: "We're excited about the early impact, which is the construction impact...We should do very well with that. You're talking about a $450 million project that local companies will be involved in. So just at the first cut, it's a really big hit up front. Then, of course, we're very pleased with the 150 jobs, and all the indirect jobs." Full article. 

The Greater Alexandria Economic Development Authority provided grants to several local organizations, with the largest amount going to the Port of Alexandria for expansion efforts. Other grant recipients include artists' workshops at River Oaks Square Arts Center, CLEDA, Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity at NSU and Friends of the Alexandria Museum of Art.  Full article.