B.R. continues to rank as one of the strongest-performing metro areas

Baton Rouge was ranked as one of the 20 strongest economically performing cities during the third quarter, according to a report released today by The Brookings Institution. The quarterly report, which looks at factors such as changes in unemployment, gross metro product and housing prices in the 100 largest cities, put Baton Rouge in the same category as metro areas such as Austin, Texas; Dallas; Jackson, Miss.; and Washington, D.C. Brookings says it is no longer ranking how cities are faring individually during the recession, preferring to look at how metro areas fall in groups of 20. Overall, Baton Rouge ranked second for percentage point changes in the unemployment rate from September 2008 to September 2009, going up by 1.3%, sixth in change in unemployment from the peak quarter to third quarter, down 1.5% and 11th in change from the housing-price index from September 2008 to September 2009, up 3.5%. New Orleans was ranked as one of the second-weakest cities, along with Atlanta, Chicago and Salt Lake City. To see the full report, click here.

GOP leadership conference coming together

Every four years, the Southern Republican Leadership Conference chooses a place to conduct a highly anticipated straw poll for the next presidential cycle, and for four days beginning April 8, it’ll be in New Orleans. The locale, however, isn’t the only local hook. Baton Rouge businessman and conservative operative Charlie Davis is serving as the executive director. Moreover, Gov. Bobby Jindal, long rumored to be eyeing the White House, is expected to participate. “Jindal is a huge draw for the conference,” says Davis. “It’s also the first time the conference has been in New Orleans since 1988.” In addition to Jindal, who insists he is running for reelection in 2011, all of the other major presidential candidates will likely be there, along with the national press. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich might participate as well, but Chuck Norris (a conference regular) may not, even though he has been invited. The conference could draw as many as 3,500 people to the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. There is an early bird pre-holiday discount for those who want to attend, but it ends tonight. More information can be found at srlc2010.com. —Jeremy Alford

Lacassine yarn plant goes online

Zagis USA has opened its new $20 million open-ended cotton spinning mill on a 30-acre site in Lacassine. Marion Fox, Jefferson Davis Parish economic development director, says the 128,000-square-foot facility will mean 60-plus jobs and a multimillion investment in the parish. The Lacassine mill is the first of two mills that Zagis USA plans to build in Louisiana. The location of the second mill has not yet been announced. The (Lake Charles) American Press reports the mill can process 50 million pounds of cotton a year, using nearly 20% of Louisiana's cotton crop to spin the yarn. The yarn will be used to make socks and underwear for companies like Hanes and Fruit of the Loom.

Jazz Fest lineup includes Aretha Franklin, Pearl Jam, Van Morrison

Van the Man and the Queen of Soul are headlining next year's New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. Joining Van Morrison and Aretha Franklin will be Pearl Jam, making its inaugural appearance at the fest, as well as Lionel Richie and actor Steve Martin, who plays banjo in his bluegrass outfit, Steep Canyon Rangers. Darius Rucker, former Hootie and the Blowfish front man-turned-award-winning country singer, also is slated to appear. Marking its 41st year, the festival is scheduled for the weekends of April 23-25 and April 29-May 2 and features hundreds of acts in genres ranging from pop, rock and gospel to R&B, jazz and zydeco. Though dotted with major national acts, the festival is made up of more than 80% Louisiana artists such as the Neville Brothers, Irma Thomas, Pete Fountain, Dr. John, rapper Juvenile, Trombone Shorty and Buckwheat Zydeco. Tickets for the festival, which is held at the Fair Grounds Race Course, go on sale Tuesday. For a list of all announced acts, visit the Jazz Fest Web site here.

Poll: IEM move indicates problems

Seventy-four percent of people who responded to a Daily Report poll say IEM's decision to move its headquarters to North Carolina indicated fundamental problems with the Baton Rouge economy and workforce. Twenty-two percent of people who participated in the survey say the move doesn't indicate any deep problems and 4% are unsure. More than 1,100 people participated in the survey. IEM officials say they decided to move the headquarters because of the pipeline of highly educated workers coming out of North Carolina universities.

Today's question: Are you finished with your holiday shopping yet?

News roundup: Mortgage rates inching up ... One-third of workers say office temperature affects productivity … 'Up in the Air' leads Golden Globe nominees

Second consecutive uptick: The national average for a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage increased slightly last week, to 4.72%. That's up from the 4.67% average for the week ending Dec. 6, according to the Zillow Mortgage Rate Monitor. The average for a 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage saw a smaller increase, up from 4.2% for the week ending Dec. 6, to 4.21% for the week ending Dec. 13. Zillow says rates were even higher Monday.

Not too hot, not too cold: One-third of workers say being in an office that is too hot or too cold makes it difficult for them to concentrate, according to a survey. Twenty-two percent of people who participated in the CareerBuilder survey say they can't concentrate when it is too hot, while 11% reported problems when it was too cold. Overall 54% of the nearly 4,300 workers who participated in the survey say the temperature in their office was just right, while 27% say it's too hot and 19% say the workplace is too cold.

Awards season has started: The recession-era tale Up in the Air led Golden Globe film contenders with six nominations, among them best drama and acting honors for George Clooney, Vera Farmiga and Anna Kendrick. Other drama picks were the space fantasy Avatar, the Iraq War tale The Hurt Locker, the World War II saga Inglourious Basterds and the Harlem drama Precious: Based on the Novel 'Push' by Sapphire. The musical Nine ran second with five nominations, including best musical or comedy and acting slots for Daniel Day-Lewis, Penelope Cruz and Marion Cotillard. Also competing for musical or comedy are the romance (500) Days of Summer, the bachelor-party bash The Hangover and two Meryl Streep films, It's Complicated and Julie & Julia. Streep is competing against herself as best actress in the musical or comedy, as chef Julia Child in Julie & Julia and a woman in an affair with her ex-husband in It's Complicated. The 67th annual Globes will be handed out Jan. 17.

Time running out for Business Award nominations

Nominations are being accepted for the 2010 Business Awards and Hall of Fame banquet. The event is presented annually by the Business Report and Junior Achievement. The categories include: Business Hall of Fame Laureate (for a lifetime of achievement), Company of the Year (under 100 employees), Company of the Year (100 or more employees), Young Business Person of the Year (40 or under) and Business Person of the Year. To nominate your company, yourself, a client, vendor or friend, click here or call 928-7008. The deadline for nominations is Dec. 31. The banquet, which will be held April 20 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, is sponsored by Franklin Press Direct Mail & Printing and Capital One Bank.