B.R. company now offering health insurance to foreign workers

Lohengrin Group, a Baton Rouge-based financial services company, is now offering health insurance to foreign workers participating in hurricane recovery efforts. The coverage is open only to legally documented immigrants, says Edward Clarke of Lohengrin Group. Clarke hopes to sell the insurance to construction and hospitality workers or businesses that hire those workers. Lohengrin, which is offering the service through a partnership with Global Medical Insurance, is also offering coverage to Americans traveling abroad, such as missionaries or executives. "We have the finest health care system in the world, and we want to make sure that U.S. citizens can access it," Clarke says. --Timothy Boone

Last-minute maneuvers in District 68 race

The three Republicans beating the drums in Baton Rouge’s House District 68 are Kyle Ardoin, Steve Carter and Jay Lyles. By far, it has been a friendly contest—until this week. Carter’s campaign dropped a direct mail piece drawing direct comparisons between Carter and Ardoin. Carter is described as a lifelong Republican and small business owner against a party swapper and a former drug company lobbyist. To be certain, Ardoin’s professional and political experience stretch far beyond that, but it’s a clear effort on the part of Carter’s campaign to put the two face-to-face. It’s either an attempt to knock off and pick up votes, or it could be something entirely different that Carter’s internal polling suggests. Carter, meanwhile, leads spending this cycle with $91,000 on the streets and he has another $88,000 in the bank. Not far behind, Ardoin spent nearly $85,000 out of the $155,000 he has raised thus far. Both of these figures will probably be reflected as higher once Election Day forms are filed. As for Lyles, he has struggled to keep pace on spending. Campaign finance reports reveal he has already went through his entire $13,200 war chest. Lyles' campaign did send out a number of direct mail pieces recently, though. A few make no mention of party affiliation, however, which could assist Lyles in picking up smaller pockets of anti-GOP voters in the district, although there aren’t many. He has also worked the neighborhoods diligently, making multiple passes in a few areas. Largely, however, local voters will likely remember Lyles as the candidate who co-opted the campaign theme and colors of Jay Dardenne, a Republican who dominated the district and much more while in the Senate. Lyles even put out signs this fall declaring himself a “New Jay” for Baton Rouge. --Jeremy Alford

Monday deadline to apply for Tech Park U.

The Louisiana Technology Park is looking for rising entrepreneurs to participate in its second class at Tech Park U. The nine-month program, created in connection with Business Report, is designed for promising technology businesses. Applicants receive training on how to develop a business plan, along with a discount on space at the Tech Park and access to all of the office's resources. After the program is completed, the applicant with the best business plan will receive a $2,000 grant and possible acceptance into the park's business incubator. The deadline to apply for the classes is Monday. Applications can be obtained at TechParkU.com .

New York Times features Jindal campaign

The New York Times takes a look at U.S. Rep. Bobby Jindal, who could be elected governor Saturday. The newspaper notes that Jindal would make history by becoming the nation's first Indian-American governor and the first non-white governor of Louisiana since Reconstruction. But the hard work will just be starting: Jindal is running on a platform of bringing change to the state and ending corruption. "Past governors have charged into Baton Rouge promising reform only to founder in the change-resistant Legislature," the article says. "Mr. Jindal will most likely face long odds too, if he fulfills the near-universal prediction that he will come out on top." Read the profile here.

Two Cents: Speak up on Saturday at the polls

The polls open in about 18 hours, and Louisiana, thanks to term limits, will change. How that change will play out is yet to be determined, but if you vote, you have a say in it. Voters will be choosing numerous state and local leaders, as well as considering changes to our parish plan of government and the state constitution. I have made my endorsements on the candidates and the amendments (you can read them here). Two issues I did not address in my original column are: 1) an amendment the citizens of Central will vote on, transferring taxes already paid by them from the parish to the City of Central. It is a shift of current taxes, not new taxes. YES, this move needs to happen. 2) a tax renewal for the St. George Fire Department. St. George has done a good job and they deserve a show of support on this renewal. YES. Get out early and vote long before the football festivities begin. Your future depends on it. --Rolfe McCollister

La. Politics by John Maginnis: Attacks raise turnout concerns

The onslaught of attacks from John Georges and Walter Boasso raises concerns for Bobby Jindal that likely voters will be discouraged from going to the polls, thus keeping him from gaining the magic 50%-plus-one vote for victory Saturday night. The flip side of the turnout equation is a predicted relatively low turnout by African-Americans, who are so split up that Jindal gets the most black support in some polls.

—Beyond the governor's race, a lower black turnout could have major impacts on some close state Senate races, particularly in north Louisiana. Rep. Taylor Townsend, D-Natchitoches, will need a healthy African-American vote (23% registration) to get past Republican Gerald Long in a race that is neck-and-neck in the polls. Other Democrats who will be counting on black turnout are Rep. Charlie McDonald, D-Bastrop, in a tight race with Rep. Mike Walsworth, R-West Monroe, and Democrat Bryant Hammett running against Republican Neil Riser.

—Republicans don't expect to win an outright majority of House seats, but their candidate for Speaker of the House thinks he can win the gavel anyway. "My election doesn't hinge on Republicans taking the majority. It hinges on taking a conservative majority," said Rep. Jim Tucker, R-Terrytown. "A number of Democrats say they are supportive of my being speaker." "I don't think that's correct," said the leading Democratic candidate, Rep. Don Cazayoux of New Roads. "We've always been pretty much philosophically the same. The Democrats are a bit more optimistic" of keeping the speakership.

John Maginnis publishes the Louisiana Political Fax Weekly and Lapolitics.com

Poll: Most agree with Scott's forecast

Daily Report readers said they agreed with LSU economist Loren Scott's healthy forecast for the Baton Rouge. Seventy-seven percent of the people who responded to an online survey say they agree with Scott's predictions, which were made as part of Business Report's 25th Annual BizTech Expo. Twenty-three percent say they don’t agree with Scott. More than 750 people participated in the survey. Scott predicts metro Baton Rouge will add nearly 15,000 jobs by the end of 2009, making it the fourth fastest growing part of the state.

Today's question: After the governor's race, what other statewide race are you most interested in?

Former WBRZ anchor writing Edwards biography

Leo Honeycutt, the former morning anchor for WBRZ's 2une In, has spent the past three years working on the authorized biography of former Gov. Edwin Edwards. Honeycutt has spent dozens of hours interviewing Edwards, who is now being held in a federal detention center in Oakdale after his conviction on racketeering charges. “The most difficult question I think you can ask a person is: Tell me who you are,” Honeycutt says. “Don’t tell me what you do or what your career is, where you live, where you go to church. Just tell me who you are.” Read the 225 magazine story about Honeycutt here.

News roundup: Chrysler getting ready to cut models, dealers; Census Bureau looks at moving

Getting lean: Chrysler officials are signaling that several models could go out of production in the next year, including the Chrysler Pacifica wagon, the Dodge Magnum wagon and the PT Cruiser convertible, reports The Wall Street Journal. The automaker is also looking at trimming the number of dealerships, as a way of reducing inventory and the amount of discounts. Chrysler, which has 3,700 dealerships, was recently acquired by Cerberus Capital Management. Why do people go?: The U.S. Census Bureau has released a report on the nearly 40 million Americans who move between 2005 and 2006. Housing related reasons, such as wanting a bigger or smaller place, were the most common causes of a move. Renters, Westerners and Hispanics were the most likely to move.

Celebrity tennis tournament set for Sunday

An exhibition match featuring local celebrities will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday to kick off the Baton Rouge Pro Tennis Classic. The event at the Lamar Tennis Center at the Paula Manship YMCA will feature Mayor-President Kip Holden, local musician Benjy Davis, Nashville Starfinalist David St. Romain, Lamar president and CEO Kevin P. Reilly, 2une In anchor Whitney Vann, WAFB meteorologist Steve Caparotta, WGMB anchor Jeff Beimfohr and attorney E. Eric Guirard. Admission is $5 for adults.