Historical foundation applauds decision to delay Capitol Lofts

The Foundation for Historical Louisiana applauds the decision to delay getting approval for the Capitol Lofts apartment complex and says the current plans for the controversial apartment building should be “totally scrapped.” Earlier this week, the foundation came out against Capitol Lofts, but the group used their strongest language yet today against the Spanish Town project. “It is strong language, but we don't feel the design they are showing us is compatible to what is there (in Spanish Town),” says Carolyn Bennett, executive director of the historical foundation. Bennett says the design for Capital Lofts is “out of scale” with the neighboring two or three story buildings and the rest of Spanish Town. David Slaughter, who is developing Capitol Lofts, sent a letter this morning saying he would “briefly delay” bringing the project before the Historic Preservation Commission “until further agreements may be reached.” The commission was set to vote on Capitol Lofts Wednesday.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation sent a letter to the commission today opposing the Capitol Lofts project as designed. The letter offers the city “technical and financial assistance for conducting feasibility and alternative design studies,” but doesn’t elaborate as to what that assistance would entail.

Weekday parking in Spanish Town to require parking pass

Parking on the streets of Spanish Town between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. will be a traffic violation without a parking pass once the neighborhood’s new parking district gets off the ground. Downtown Development District director Davis Rhorer says that will be at least a couple of months away, and says new signage in the same style as other signs already in the neighborhood will be needed. Residents who show vehicle registration and proof of residency will be able to buy a one-year pass for $5 from the city-parish Inspection and Permit Office. Temporary four-month passes will be available for $2.50 for residents or their guests. The policy is meant to discourage state government workers from parking on neighborhood streets instead of in state-owned parking garages.

Zachary company gets $20.6 million for expansion

Novolyte Technologies has received $20.6 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to expand its Zachary facility, which produces electrolytes for hybrid and electric car batteries. U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-New Orleans, who announced the deal, says the stimulus money will create 66 project related jobs and 18 permanent jobs at Novolyte. "If Novolyte is successful, Americans may soon be driving affordable and efficient electric cars powered by rechargeable batteries," says Landrieu. The money will cover the cost of a plant expansion that will increase Novolyte’s capacity to 10,000 to 15,000 tons, enough to provide batteries for approximately 250,000 electric or hybrid cars.

La. weekly unemployment claims drop

First-time claims for unemployment were down 6% for the week ending Aug. 1, according to the Louisiana Workforce Commission. There were 4,747 initial claims, a decrease from 5,033 for the week ending July 25. A noticeable decrease was reported in the number of workers in the woods product industry seeking unemployment, as well as workers in transportation equipment industry. The number of people continuing to receive unemployment increased to 64,477 from 64,151 for the week ending July 25.

What LSU must do to win it all

Football season is just around the corner, and this month's 225 magazine is chock full of college spirit. After a less-than-stellar season last year, what must the Tigers do to win it all in the 2009 season? Lee Feinswog talks to football experts like Mike Detiller and Gary Danielson to get the inside scoop on what everyone hopes will be a Tiger turnaround. Click here to read the whole story in 225. And don't miss LSU Fan Day at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the River Center. Admission is free. You can get autographs and photos with the team and coaching staff and be the first in your tailgating party to grab the new season’s swag. Also in attendance will be the women's soccer and volleyball teams, as well as Mike the Tiger and the LSU cheerleaders.

Amid recession US births dropped 2% 


America's baby boomlet is showing signs of tapering off. U.S. births in 2008 dropped nearly 2% from 2007 -- the first annual decline in births since the beginning of the decade, according to new federal data. It's not clear what caused the decline, but the nation's economic downturn may have had something to do with it.

Since the recession began in December 2007, the economy lost almost 7 million jobs. Housing foreclosures worsened in 2007 too, and fell into a state of crisis in 2008. The largest declines in births in 2008 were in California and Florida, two states hit hardest by the housing crisis. But the downturn's effect on the public psychology -- and families' willingness to have babies -- may not have really hit until the fall of 2008, says Stephanie Ventura of the National Center for Health Statistics, the agency that put out the report.

News roundup: LSU, SU students attend Nobel Laureate meeting ... NASCAR vehicle on display at OLOL

Rubbing elbows: Julianne Audiffred, a student at LSU, and Scott Wicker, a student at Southern University, were selected to attend the 59th annual Nobel Laureate Meeting in Lindau, Germany. The event allows young researchers to meet with Nobel Prize winners. Audiffred was nominated by Oak Ridge Associated Universities, a consortium of major research institutions, while Wicker was nominated by the National Science Foundation.

Racing, racing, racing: Elliott Sadler's Stanley Dodge Charger will be on display at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center Monday to benefit the Children's Miracle Network. The vehicle will be parked in front of the main entrance to OLOL from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Along with the car, there will be fundraising events, such as food sales and a pledge drive.