B.R. port sees decline in cargo during recession

The Port of Greater Baton Rouge reports a 5% decline in tonnage from the end of 2007 to the end of 2008, from 5.5 million to 5.3 million tons. The biggest decline was at the port's molasses terminal, where tonnage dropped by 82%. The first quarter of 2009 shows a much larger overall tonnage decline of 29%, though the figure is not necessarily indicative of a trend since many commodities handled at the port are seasonal and can vary substantially month to month. "With the projects planned for this year at the port, we expect 2009 will be a relatively stable business environment," port spokeswoman Karen St. Cyr says.

Tonnage at the Port of South Louisiana dropped even more, with a nearly 10% decline from 2007 to 2008. The Port of New Orleans has suffered a serious decline in traffic. Shipments there fell to slightly under 6 million tons in 2008, the port's worst performance since 1985.—Steve Clark

LaPolitics by John Maginnis: Traylor mentioned as potential Vitter challenger

The hot rumor going around north Louisiana is that retiring Supreme Court Justice Chet Traylor, a Republican, is considering challenging Vitter in next year's fall primary. Last month, Traylor announced he will retire at the end of May, but has not said what he will do next. He did not respond to a request for comment to the court's press office.

-- Looking ahead to next year's congressional races, Republicans are eager to field a challenger to the state's lone Democratic Congressman Charlie Melancon. The National Republican Congressional Committee has approached Rep. Nickie Monica, R-LaPlace, to ask him to run. "I'm still evaluating it, as I have in the past, and I'm looking at other opportunities," says the former St. John Parish president, who passed on last year's race. "The key is money," says Monica, who knows he must raise a substantial sum on his own before the national party starts writing checks.

-- Those who pay don't always get to play. This week, the Department of Environmental Quality rejected a permit application by a Colorado company to open an industrial landfill in Alsen, just north of Baton Rouge. The owners and officers of Louisiana Land Acquisitions, based in Littleton, Colo., gave Jindal $50,000 for his gubernatorial campaign. After a prolonged public comment period and staff review, DEQ rejected the LLA permit, citing a lack of need because of several other landfills in the area.

(John Maginnis publishes LaPolitics Weekly, a newsletter on Louisiana politics, at LaPolitics.com.)

Cassidy leading La. House fundraiser

U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy raised just under $279,000 during his first few months in Congress, making him the leading fundraiser in the Louisiana House delegation. According to federal campaign finance reports obtained by the Times-Picayune, Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, had $292,586 on hand at the end of the first quarter. He benefited from campaign contributions from fellow doctors. U.S. Rep. John Fleming, R-Minden, raised $188,730 during the first quarter, and the third Republican freshman in the state's House delegation, U.S. Rep. Joseph Cao of New Orleans brought in $143,470.

La. ranks in middle for small business taxes

Louisiana finished 26th in a report that ranks the tax burden states put on small businesses. The Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council looked at 16 different tax measures to determine the ranking, including income, property and consumption fees. South Dakota had the most small business-friendly tax system, while the District of Columbia was ranked last. To see the full report, click here.

LWC hires Wright Feigley for campaign

The Louisiana Workforce Commission has hired Wright Feigley Communications to lead its marketing, advertising and public relations efforts. As part of the deal, Baton Rouge-based Wright Feigley will handle a campaign to promote LWC to Louisiana businesses and employees, to help solve the state's workforce crisis. Wright Feigley has worked with LWC before, helping the agency hold a series of workforce summits across the state last summer and fall. Details of the contract were not released.

Gulf shrimp meets Prudhomme in the freezer

A new Louisiana product has hit the frozen food aisle in local grocery stores, featuring Chef Paul Prudhomme’s Magic Seasoning Blends, 225 Dine reports. Sauté Your Way, produced in Westwego via A La Carte Specialty Foods, makes three festive frozen shrimp dinners: Gulf Shrimp with New Orleans Roasted Garlic Sauce, Gulf Shrimp with Key Largo Lemon & Dill Sauce and Gulf Shrimp with Asian Soywabi Sauce. The South Louisiana-style dinner, ready in less than a half hour, goes well with a favorite starch.

225 Dine this week also has news on a second La Carreta location, vegetarian dining survival, the best eats at this year’s French Quarter Festival and a summertime Brazilian cocktail. And LSU economist Loren Scott reveals his dining obsessions. Click here to read.

Poll: Spending main reason for Tax Day anger

Just under half of the people who responded to a Daily Report poll say Tax Day protests were fueled by anger over government spending. Forty-nine percent of the people who responded to an online survey say they are angriest about spending. Twenty-four percent of respondents say they are angry about government intervention in the marketplace, while 15% are most upset with individual political leaders, and 12% are disturbed by high taxes. More than 1,200 people participated in the survey.

Today's question: Do you think it's a wise decision to use $20 million of state surplus to pay for Interstate 12 widening?

News roundup: Workers with disabilities getting Fort Polk jobs ... Lotto transfers $11.7 million to state

Help wanted: Louisiana's Department of Social Services is working with a national nonprofit service company to put more than 60 people with disabilities to work in contract jobs at Fort Polk. The department's Louisiana Rehabilitation Services agency, which helps disabled residents find jobs, is working with California-based PRIDE Industries to fill the jobs at Fort Polk. According to DSS, PRIDE Industries asked LRS to identify clients interested in filling entry-level and journey-level positions such as carpenters, electricians, plumbers, heavy equipment operators and general maintenance workers.

Big winners: The Louisiana Lottery Corp. transferred more than $11.7 million to the state treasury in March. This fiscal year, the Lottery has turned over $99.5 million to the state. By law, the state gets a 35% cut of lottery sales.