New Orleans Business News

The latest business news from New Orleans and south Louisiana

Here's what newspapers throughout the state are offering online readers today: The Baton Rouge Advocate: Single anit-gay Protester outnumbered 500 to one at Dutchtown school play. The Shreveport Times: State losing war against giant salvinia. The Lafayette Advertiser: Lafayette Consolidated Government seeks federal grants for Web access. The Monroe News Star: Jindal lauds new company. The Alexandria Town Talk:... Full story »

The U.S. Department of Justice is seeking a permanent injunction against a Gretna alfalfa sprout and mung bean grower for repeatedly ignoring the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's warnings of unsanitary conditions at the processing plant during the past nine years. On behalf of the FDA, U.S. Attorney Jim Letten filed the complaint Tuesday in federal court in New... Full story »

Drywall, plumbing and possibly wiring should be pulled out, it advises Full story »

The Kenner City Council is considering tax incentives to try to lure Target to The Esplanade mall. The council at its Thursday meeting discussed creating three tax increment financing districts, or TIFs, at The Esplanade mall. Legislation creating the districts was introduced Thursday to be voted on at a future council meeting. "That's good news to the city of... Full story »

Property insurance companies that leave the state then want to return to cash in on profitable premiums would have to wait five years to re-apply, according to a proposal being considered by some legislators Thursday. Sen. Troy Hebert, I-New Iberia, circulated a draft bill that would impose the five-year ban during a joint meeting of the House and Senate... Full story »

Officials want engineering and auditing expertise Full story »

Complete 12-hour closures of traffic in one direction are planned for the Huey P. Long Bridge on Saturday and Sunday. The state Department of Transportation and Development said traffic heading to the east bank will be shut down from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday. Traffic heading to the West Bank will be closed from 6 a.m. until 6... Full story »

The picture of an economy growing modestly without producing inflation yet struggling to create jobs emerged from government reports Thursday. The number of newly laid-off workers requesting jobless benefits fell slightly last week for the third straight time. But initial claims remain above levels that would signal net job gains. New claims for unemployment aid fell 5,000 to a... Full story »

Higher oil prices paved the way for a more robust sale of central Gulf of Mexico drilling tracts on Wednesday. Energy companies submitted $949.3 million in winning bids for drilling tract leases, up from the $703 million they spent last year. The auction is conducted annually by the Minerals Management Service, the federal agency that oversees drilling in the... Full story »

The price of gasoline went down 7.4 percent in February, but is headed back up Full story »

Vendors accused of overcharging; Ray St. Pierre picks a golf buddy Full story »

Here's what newspapers throughout the state are offering online readers today: The Monroe News Star: Gov. Jindal announces agreement to keep Lincoln Parish glass manufacturer. The Baton Rouge Advocate: Brookings Institution ranks Baton Rouge economy in top 20 metropolitan areas in the country. The Shreveport Times: Laid-off firefighters get second chance. The Lafayette Advertiser: Salvation Army of Lafayette faces... Full story »

Energy companies made more than $949 million in successful bids on Central Gulf of Mexico drilling tracts this morning. At last year's Central Gulf lease sale, companies placed $703 million in winning bids. The Minerals Management Service, the federal agency that oversees drilling in the Gulf, held the auction of drilling tract leases at the Louisiana Superdome. Roughly 32 percent of the... Full story »

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development will conduct a series of meetings over the next two nights to address repair work that has shut down the Claiborne Avenue Bridge. The bridge was closed around the clock this week as the project began. Tonight's meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. in Chalmette, at the St. Bernard Parish Government Complex on Judge Perez Drive.... Full story »

The average local price of unleaded gasoline stands at $2.681 a gallon this morning, up from $2.677 a gallon on Tuesday, according to AAA. One month ago, the average local price stood at $2.487 a gallon. Full story »