LSU, Mary Bird Perkins team up on cancer treatment

LSU and Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center announced plans today to develop a proton therapy program for cancer patients, and intend to open a treatment and research center by 2012 at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, LSU says. Proton therapy allows doctors to deliver higher doses of radiation while sparing the surrounding healthy tissues and organs. “Improving outcomes for cancer patients while advancing medical research and cancer treatment leverages the academic power of the university and the private resources of Mary Bird Perkins,” LSU System President John Lombardi says. Historically, proton therapy has only benefited a small segment of cancer victims, mostly those with isolated solid tumors found on the brain, spine, head, neck or eye, but researchers believe the technology can benefit a wider range of patients. Dr. Kenneth Hogstrom, chief of physics at Mary Bird Perkins and chair of medical physics at LSU, leads the partnership. There are five proton therapy facilities in the United States, all affiliated with universities, and six more programs are under development, LSU says, not counting the new local program.

Holden, Wicker announce outreach efforts

Mayor Kip Holden and Metro Councilwoman Tara Wicker both announced plans for town meetings in order to receive public comments on what's going on around Baton Rouge. Holden and top administration officials have planned a 12-stop “listening tour” in February, inviting citizens to share their priorities for East Baton Rouge Parish. The first two meetings are set for Feb. 4, from 4 p.m. until 5 p.m. at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 11441 Goodwood Blvd., and 6:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at BREC Headquarters. For the complete schedule, check brgov.com under “press releases.” Wicker will hold her first district town meeting at 6:30 p.m. on March 10 at the Metro Council chambers, 222 St. Louis St., with future meetings scheduled for June 9, Sept. 8 and Dec. 8. She has formed a District 10 Leadership Council, composed of civic association members, religious leaders, business owners, students from district schools and other residents. That group will meet for the first time at 6 p.m. on Feb. 10 at the Metro Council chambers.

Chamber PAC backs all Senate candidates

The Baton Rouge Area Chamber's political action committee says it is endorsing all three of the candidates in next month's special state Senate election. FuturePAC says it endorsed Republicans Laurinda Calongne, Dan Claitor and Lee Domingue because they support economic development in the Capital Region. "We are confident that whoever ultimately fills the seat will aggressively support the agenda of the Baton Rouge Area Chamber and work to secure the economic future of the Baton Rouge area,” says Jim Ellis, FuturePAC chairman. The primary election for the District 16 seat will be March 7.

‘Two nobodies’ craft winning Super Bowl ad for Doritos

Two unemployed brothers from Batesville, Ind., whose ad for Doritos as part of an online contest for amateurs won them $1 million, were the big winners in USA Today’s exclusive real-time Super Bowl Ad Meter. The off-the-wall commercial, “Free Doritos,” features a guy who shatters a vending machine with his crystal ball after predicting free Doritos for everyone in the office. As a result, Doritos displaced Anheuser-Busch and broke its Ad Meter streak. The brewing giant had won 10 in a row. "Two nobodies from nowhere," just walked off with one of the ad world's top honors, says 32-year-old Dave Herbert, who made the winning ad with his 33-year-old brother, Joe. To read the story, click here. To see the ads, click here. To see the Ad Meter results, click here.

N.O. Realtor launches campaign to raise homestead exemption

During the span of two weeks, the number of individuals signing an online petition to raise Louisiana’s homestead exemption has doubled to more than 44,600 names. Joshua Kahler, a New Orleans Realtor, launched PetitionOnline because he says the benefits of the homestead exemption and the need to increase it for inflation have never been more important. “Homeowner taxes continue to increase as property values increase while the amount of the exemption remains fixed at 1982 property value levels,” he says. “If adjusted for inflation alone the homestead exemption today would be over $160,000.” That’s the amount Kahler wants to increase the exemption to. Presently, Louisiana residents are not taxed on the first $75,000 of a home's value. As for who in Baton Rouge is paying attention, state Sen. John Alario, a Westwego Democrat, plans on filing legislation for the spring regular session to increase the homestead exemption to $150,000 or $160,000. While Alario has tried to do this in the past, it’s never happened in connection with a public push like the one being led by Kahler, who wants to have 100,000 signatures online by the time the session begins April 27.—Jeremy Alford

U.S. consumer spending and incomes fall; savings rise

Consumer spending fell for a record sixth straight month in December as recession-battered households, worried about surging layoffs, boosted their savings rates to the highest level since May. The Commerce Department says personal consumption spending, which accounts for the largest portion of total economic activity, dropped by 1% in December. That was slightly worse than the 0.9% decline economists expected. Incomes, reflecting a wave of layoffs, fell for a third straight month, dropping by 0.2%. Worried about the possibility of more job cuts, Americans boosted their savings rate to 3.6% of their after-tax incomes in December. That was the highest level since tax rebate checks temporarily pushed the rate up to 4.8% in May.

IEM receives diversity honor

IEM has made two national lists dealing with top minority-owned businesses. The Baton Rouge-based company, founded by Madhu Beriwal in 1985, was ranked 129th on the Asian American Owned Business list. IEM was ranked 281st on the Top Diversity Owned Businesses list. The company will be honored in April at the ninth annual National Multicultural Awards Ceremony and Conference in Orlando, Fla.

Poll: Macklin named favorite Tiger

Durand “Rudy” Macklin topped a Daily Report poll of all-time favorite LSU men's basketball players, coming out ahead of several NBA greats. Macklin received nearly one-third of the votes in the online survey. Pete Maravich, the leading scorer in college basketball history, finished second with 29%. Shaquille O'Neal, who has been a key member of four NBA Championship teams, was the only other player to poll in double digits, with 18%. More than 2,650 people participated in the survey. Macklin, Maravich and O'Neal were part of the 16-player LSU All-Century team, which was announced Saturday during halftime of LSU’s 79-69 victory over Arkansas.

Today’s question: What was your favorite Super Bowl commercial?

Nominate your faves for Best of 225 Awards

225 magazine is taking nominations for its Best of 225 awards survey. A ballot will be developed of the top nominees from more than 50 categories of restaurants, people and destinations. SCI Research then will conduct a random survey of 225 readers, with winners announced in the July issue. To nominate your favorites in one or all of the categories, click here.

News roundup: Groundhog sees shadow, so winter to continue ... Drop projected in Valentine's Day spending ... Dunn receives role model award

Better bundle up: The world's most famous groundhog saw his shadow this morning, predicting this already long winter will last for six more weeks. Punxsutawney Phil emerged just after dawn in front of an estimated 13,000 witnesses, many dressed in black and gold to celebrate the Pittsburgh Steelers' Super Bowl victory the night before. According to German superstition, if a hibernating animal casts a shadow on Feb. 2—the Christian holiday of Candlemas—winter will last another six weeks. If no shadow was seen, legend said spring would come early. Since 1887, Phil has seen his shadow 97 times, hasn't seen it 15 times, and there are no records for nine years, according to the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.

Love on the cheap: Valentine's Day spending is expected to drop by 4.8% from 2008, as cash-strapped consumers look for cheaper ways to show their love. IBISWorld says while sales of cards and candy are expected to increase, drops are projected for big-ticket items such as jewelry, expensive dinners and lingerie. Valentine's spending is projected to hit $28.6 billion this year.

One of the good guys: Warrick Dunn, the former Catholic High School running back who plays for the NFL's Tampa Bay Buccaneers, won the Bart Starr Award for his character and community leadership. Dunn, who has a foundation that helps single mothers buy homes, was presented with the honor during Super Bowl weekend. He beat out New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees for the award.