Labor department restructuring nearing final passage

Gov. Bobby Jindal's proposal to make the state labor department the coordinating agency for worker training programs is nearing final passage in the Legislature. The Senate agreed unanimously to the proposal this morning; it returns to the House for approval of minor changes before heading to the governor's desk. Supporters say the state's workforce training efforts are woefully uncoordinated, and Jindal’s proposal would better match workers with businesses and fill an estimated 100,000 vacant jobs. The bill would replace the Department of Labor with a reorganized Louisiana Workforce Commission, which would have duties that include overseeing and coordinating many of the state's worker training programs and services needed by those seeking employment.

Breland hired as WAFB-TV general manager

Former longtime WWL-TV news director Sandy Breland has been hired as vice president and general manager at WAFB-TV. Breland left the CBS affiliate in New Orleans in 2006 to become executive news director for independent station KTVK-TV in Phoenix. “Sandy's multi-market experience and track record in New Orleans and Phoenix makes her one of the best people to lead one of Raycom's most successful and talented group of managers and stations,” Raycom Group Vice President Marty Edelman said in a statement on WAFB’s Web site. Breland spent nearly two decades at WWL, moving from the producer desk to assignment desk to news director. She has been honored with Peabody, DuPont and Murrow Awards for her planning and execution of WWL's coverage during Hurricane Katrina. Breland replaces Nick Simonette, who left WAFB in April to become president and general manager of WBTV-TV, a CBS affiliate in Charlotte, N.C.

Developers buy Walker site for shopping center

A 1.77-acre tract in Walker has been sold for $1 million to a group of developers who plan to build a 16,000-square-foot shopping center on the site. Kimble Development bought the land on Walker South Road from Alex and Loretta Theriot in a deal that closed Thursday. Kent Walker of Donnie Jarreau Companies, who represented Kimble Development, says the undeveloped land is between the Wal-Mart Supercenter and Stine Lumber. Construction on the shopping center should start in the next month or so and should be finished by the end of the year, Walker says. Hibbett Sports will take up 5,000 square feet of the center; Walker could not disclose additional tenants.—Timothy Boone

Two new WBR hotels set to open in early 2009

Two hotels—a Holiday Inn Express and a Hampton Inn and Suites—are scheduled to open near the Interstate 10/La. Highway 415 exit during the first quarter of 2009. An 89-room Holiday Inn Express will be located near the interchange and should open by February, says Deborah Biggs, executive director of the West Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce. An 83-room Hampton Inn and Suites will be located on Commercial Drive and should be open by March, Biggs says.

Five Louisiana companies make Hispanic business list

Prairieville roofing contractor Garcia Companies was one of five Louisiana-based companies on this year’s Hispanic Business 500 list, an annual list of the largest Hispanic-owned companies in the United States. Garcia Companies ranked 492nd, down from No. 342 last year. New Orleans-based Pan American Life Insurance ranked 23rd; Ferriday-based petroleum company Delta Fuel ranked 152nd; Metairie-based lubricant distributor Atlantis International ranked 382nd; and Kenner gasoline station operator Three-Plus ranked 438th. The same five businesses made last year’s list. To view the full list, click here.

LaPolitics by John Maginnis: Veto heat on Jindal

Gov. Bobby Jindal is trying to keep intense public opposition to the legislative pay raise directed at legislators. But the volcanic controversy is turning into a test of character: his own. With editorial and public pressure mounting for a gubernatorial veto before the July 8 deadline, some Fourth Floor staffers, with gallows humor, are calling the next three weeks "the 20-day death march." Jindal has to decide if a hostile relationship with the Legislature if he vetoes the bill would be worse than his loss of public stature if he doesn't. Veto supporters say he can overcome the anger of the Legislature and its future opposition to his agenda if he gets the public back squarely on his side.

—Zeroing in on the most prominent pay raise proponent, a former legislative candidate is organizing a recall drive against Speaker of the House Jim Tucker, R-Algiers. John K. Roberts III, who lost a state Senate race to Democrat John Alario, has launched a Web site and is seeking volunteers to gather signatures in Tucker's district. Once papers are filed with the secretary of state, the recall drive will have 180 days to get signatures from one-third of about 25,000 registered voters in the district.

—This has been a far better legislative session so far for Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu than any he had under former Gov. Kathleen Blanco, a fellow Democrat. Two bills have passed and await the governor's signature that would give Landrieu control over three significant boards central to his office's mission: the State Museum Board, the Tourism Development Board and the State Library Board. The governor currently makes those appointments.

John Maginnis publishes LaPolitics Weekly at Lapolitics.com.

Publisher: Baton Rouge looking for leaders

The Capital Region has been going through a leadership transition over the past few months, with new chancellors being hired at LSU and Southern University and a new CEO for the Baton Rouge Area Chamber. Business Report Publisher Rolfe McCollister says one of the key leadership changes will happen next year with the retirement of East Baton Rouge School System Superintendent Charlotte Placide. "If our schools are to have any chance to rebound and regain public support and respect, board president Jerry Arbour and the board must hire the very best superintendent available," McCollister says. "This hire and its results will be this board’s legacy." Plus: Congratulations to women business leaders; deadline looms for Metro Council seats; at-large seats are needed for the Metro Council; wishing the Tigers continued success in the College World Series; congratulations to The Advocate; and ideas for summer fun. Read McCollister's column here. Send comments to editors@businessreport.com.

News roundup: New head for UL system could be picked by Wednesday; 'Flip Flop Day' to benefit Loranger boy; PJ's back in the hands of franchisee

Will oversee eight colleges: The University of Louisiana System Board of Supervisors will hold a special meeting Wednesday and could name a new president after interviewing the three finalists earlier in the day. The finalists are University of Louisiana at Monroe President James Cofer, Southeastern Louisiana University President Randy Moffett and UL System Executive Vice President Kim Hunter Reed. The new president will replace Sally Clausen, who will become Commissioner of Higher Education at the end of the month. Event set for Saturday: Tropical Smoothie Café on Coursey Boulevard will mark "Flip Flop Day" on Saturday by handing out free smoothies and raising money to send a Loranger boy to camp in Maine. The drink and sandwich shop will sell paper flip-flops for $1 to send Levi, a 3-year-old who has a kidney disorder, to Camp Sunshine, which was established for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Move will lead to more locations: Raving Brands of Atlanta has sold PJ’s Coffee to New Orleans Roast and New Orleans Brew—the largest existing PJ’s franchisees who plan to expand the company’s roasting and franchise operations. Paul, Scotty and Steven Ballard, along with a group of New Orleans business leaders, were the buyers.