Cassidy to challenge Cazayoux

State Sen. Bill Cassidy says he will run against Rep. Don Cazayoux this fall for the 6th Congressional District seat. Cassidy, a Republican, says he was not prepared to make formal statement but intends to run for the seat, which had long been in GOP hands. Cassidy was elected to the District 16 seat in December 2006 to finish the unexpired term of Secretary of State Jay Dardenne. In October, Cassidy was elected to a full term in a landslide, picking up 76% of the vote. Cassidy is a doctor at Earl K. Long Medical Center. Cazayoux, a Democrat from New Roads, won a special election last month to finish the term of Rep. Richard Baker, who retired. Two Republicans who ran in the special election, former Rep. Woody Jenkins (who lost in the general election) and Laurinda Calongne, have indicated they might run again in the fall.--Timothy Boone

Moran plans renovations after Ruth’s Chris sale falls through

A deal for Florida-based Ruth’s Hospitality Group to purchase Ruth’s Chris Steak House on Constitution Avenue has fallen through, clearing the way for an estimated $400,000 facelift scheduled to begin in July, local owner T.J. Moran says. “I wanted to keep it because it meant something emotionally. So now we undertake the planned renovations. It will be a beautification, but not so dramatic,” he says, Plans call for interior and exterior improvements and a long-desired upgrade for valet parking.

One of the city’s renowned restaurateurs, Moran says he didn’t want to sell. The parent company pressed to include the Baton Rouge facility in an eight-restaurant buyout negotiated in 2006, so the parties settled on an option to buy. Ruth’s Hospitality exercised the option last year, but recently said it couldn’t fulfill the $8 million purchase. Moran says he was told it was because of higher beef prices and a struggling investment in a seafood business in Ohio.

Moran will maintain control of Ruth’s Chris and his Italian-themed Ruffino’s on Highland Road. Moran recently announced his son, Burke, had become sole owner of the other two restaurants in his chain, TJ Ribs and Ninfa’s.--Anna Thibodeaux

Chamber says it's not making 'default endorsements'

The Baton Rouge Area Chamber's political action committee is looking for candidates to run in seven Metro Council districts. But that doesn't mean incumbents Ulysses "Bones" Addison, Martha Jane Tassin, Byron Sharper, Mike Walker and David Boneno can count on FuturePAC's support, even though the organization isn’t recruiting people to run against them. FuturePAC has decided to only encourage people to run in districts where the seats are open because of term limits or if the incumbents are not seeking re-election, says Mike Odom, BRAC spokesman. Odom says FuturePAC has had the same policy for Legislative and East Baton Rouge Parish School Board seats. "In no way is this a default endorsement," Odom says. "We're still going to go through the same process before we make endorsements." FuturePAC isn't the only group looking for people to qualify for Metro Council seats when candidates can sign up July 9-11; A6 is also sounding out the call. Metro Council primary elections will be held Oct. 4. -- Timothy Boone

Va. Congressman: Jindal smart VP choice

U.S. Rep. Tom Davis, R-Va., says Gov. Bobby Jindal would be a smart vice-presidential pick for presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain. “It’s a young credential, it’s a good credential, it’s a credential of color,” Davis told The Wall Street Journal. “It doesn’t turn off anyone in particular.” Davis, a former member of the Republican's congressional leadership who has been outspoken about how the GOP needs to turn itself around, also mentioned Florida Gov. Charlie Crist and U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson of New Mexico as good running mates for McCain. Jindal and Crist visited McCain's Arizona ranch over Memorial Day weekend. Read the story here.

Publisher: New LSU chancellor needs to be his own man

The LSU Board of Supervisors could approve New Mexico State University President Michael Martin as chancellor as early as Thursday. Business Report Publisher Rolfe McCollister says while there are some good signs--73 out of 75 LSU faculty members had positive comments about Martin when he visited the campus--there also are troubling signs. LSU System President John Lombardi contacted Martin back in November, while Sean O'Keefe was still chancellor. "Martin claims they did not discuss the chancellor position," McCollister says. "The fact Lombardi made this contact fuels the 'conspiracy theory' suggesting Lombardi wants to basically be president and chancellor and run the whole show." Martin's challenge is to leave no doubt that he is at the helm of Louisiana's flagship university, McCollister says. Also: Louisiana’s image shines with talk linking Gov. Bobby Jindal to the presidential ticket, good riddance to the Stelly Plan and Metro Council candidates need to step up. Read the column here. Send comments to editors@businessreport.com.

Redevelopment Authority to discuss CEO duties

The East Baton Rouge Redevelopment Authority will meet Thursday to talk about what kind of person they want to lead their organization. The Center for Planning Excellence, which is helping the authority as the new body gets on its feet, will present a draft version of the president/CEO job description. The authority was established to help move vacant and blighted properties into productive uses, hopefully revitalizing distressed neighborhoods in the process. The meeting will be held at 9 a.m. in the Baton Rouge Area Foundation office.

State Farm dropping auto rates by 2.5%

State Farm insurance says it's lowering auto coverage rates in Louisiana by an average of 2.5% at the end of the month. The company says that represents an annual savings of $22.4 million to its customers. State Farm insures about one in every three cars in Louisiana. Company vice president Rob Stewart says the reduction is due to a better claims experience in the state. Premiums for collision and comprehensive coverages are decreasing the most. The cost of the liability and medical payments coverages will go up for some and down for others. The new rates are effective June 30.

Poll: Most 'sort of prepared' for a hurricane

Fifty-four percent of the people who responded to a Daily Report online survey say they are "sort of prepared" for a hurricane. Thirty-one percent say they are not prepared for a storm and 15% say they are very prepared. Nearly 1,100 people participated in the survey.

Today's question: Was Hillary Clinton gracious toward presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama in her speech Tuesday night?

News roundup: BJs Restaurant & Brewhouse to open Monday; Dunn receives humanitarian award; Former EBR school superintendent leaves Florida job

Good eats: BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse will open Monday in The Boulevard at the Mall of Louisiana. This will be the first Louisiana location for the California-based chain, which sells bar food, such as deep-dish pizzas, ribs and sandwiches along with handcrafted beer. BJ's has 72 restaurants across the U.S. This is part of a larger restaurant expansion at the Mall of Louisiana; earlier this week, Salad Creations opened inside the shopping center. Honor for one of the good guys: Baton Rouge native and NFL running back Warrick Dunn will be inducted this month into the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame in Boise, Idaho. Dunn, who starred at Catholic High School and is entering his 12th season in the NFL, is the sixth pro football player to be inducted into the hall, which honors athletes for community contributions. Dunn sponsors a foundation that has helped 78 single-parent families buy homes and furnishings. Wilcox departs from St. Petersburg: Former East Baton Rouge Parish School Superintendent Clayton Wilcox has left his job as head of the Pinellas County (Fla.) school system after less than four years, according to the St. Petersburg Times. Wilcox is taking a job with Scholastic Corp. For details on Wilcox's tenure as superintendent, click here.