LSU celebrates sixth baseball title

The front-page headline in today’s Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald proclaims the “Tigers on top” of college baseball. LSU won its sixth College World Series championship on Wednesday night with an 11-4 victory over Texas in the deciding game of the best-of-three finals. Jared Mitchell’s three-run homer in the first inning launched the Tigers to their first CWS title since 2000—tying them with Texas for second-most all-time behind Southern Cal’s 12.

A championship celebration is scheduled for 4 p.m. today in Alex Box Stadium. The stadium gates open at 2 p.m.; the victory party is free and open to the public. Fans will hear from players and officials, and a video recap of the team’s accomplishments.

Here’s what national media outlets are saying about the Tigers:

—CBSSports.com Senior Writer Dennis Dodd says all the deciding game of the CWS needed was a bit more humidity, some Spanish Moss in the trees and an RV armada, and we would have ourselves a fall Saturday night in Baton Rouge—thanks to several LSU football players who also play baseball. To read Dodd’s column, click here.

—ESPN.com Writer Mark Schlabach says LSU needed a proven winner to rebuild the program, which had fallen on hard times after winning its last national championship in 2000. Then-Athletic Director Skip Bertman, who had led the Tigers to their first five baseball titles—turned to Notre Dame’s Paul Mainieri. "Paul was one of the best coaches in the country," Bertman said. "If he had been coaching at a warm-weather school like Texas, Florida or LSU, he would have won national championships." To read Schlabach’s column, click here.

—Yahoo! Sports Writer Kendall Rogers says the Tigers’ national championship is something Mainieri will never forget. When his team was ranked No. 2 to start the season, Mainieri repeatedly said that he dreamt of being the coach at Rosenblatt Stadium to hoist the national championship trophy. To read Rogers’ column, click here.

—SI.com Writer Joe Lemire says the offensive catalyst for LSU was junior right-fielder Mitchell. After taking a changeup on the inner half of the plate for a strike early in his first-inning at bat, Mitchell hoped he'd see the pitch again. It came on a 2-2 count, and after a ferocious cut, the ball landed well beyond the right-field fence, seemingly halfway to the zoo across the street, giving the Tigers a 3-0 lead. To read Lemire’s column, click here.

—To read the Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald’s game coverage, click here. To read the Austin (Texas) American-Statesman’s game coverage, click here.

Jindal establishes control with vetoes

Gov. Bobby Jindal told lawmakers it was coming, but it still shocked many of them when it was dropped on their desks Wednesday, just 24 hours before the regular session convenes this evening. It was Jindal’s veto message on House Bill 1, the state’s operating budget. All told, the governor slashed more than 550 items, including a slew of what lawmakers call “member amendments,” Jindal has labeled “legislative priorities” and what good government groups decry simply as pork or pet projects. A quick glance at any daily newspaper will tell you this morning that Jindal removed the items because they were linked to a set of tax bills that he opposed and the House rejected. Sen. Rob Marionneaux, D-Livonia, chairman of the Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Committee, says legislators are going to add the member amendments to one of about a half dozen appropriation bills. "We're going to have to find somewhere to put all of them," he says.

Jindal, however, arguably took a stronger stance on his other vetoes. Senators had slipped in a last-minute amendment that directed the commissioner of administration “to develop a comprehensive study of the state workforce encompassing each department, agency and program of state.” The amendment also called for the commissioner to recommend further reductions to state employment based on the completed study. The administration would have been forced to submit its findings to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget by Nov. 1. The governor axed those plans, sending a clear sign to lawmakers that his office will control those kinds of decisions in coming fiscal years, when more billion-dollar shortfalls are expected. Jindal also vetoed another amendment that would have given the budget committee oversight of how departments move positions and resources as reorganizations become the norm.—Jeremy Alford

Terra says it will idle Donaldsonville ammonia plant

Terra Industries says it will idle production at its Donaldsonville ammonia plant beginning Wednesday because of weak demand. The company says it will restart production once market conditions improve. This is the second time this year the plant has idled; the facility re-opened in March after a nearly three-month-long shutdown. About 30 people work at the plant. Terra is the target of a hostile takeover bid from CF Holdings, which also has a plant in Donaldsonville.

CPEX receives honor from landscape architecture group

The Center for Planning Excellence has been awarded the Olmsted Medal for environmental leadership, vision and stewardship by the American Society of Landscape Architects. The award, named after Frederick Law Olmsted, the father of American landscape architecture and designer of Central Park, has previously been awarded to high-profile figures such as former President Jimmy Carter and Rosalyn Carter. CPEX won the honor for its efforts in leading planning efforts across the state. The award will be presented at the ASLA's annual meeting in Chicago in September.

Suns reportedly trade Shaq to Cavaliers

The Cleveland Cavaliers are close to acquiring center Shaquille O’Neal in a trade that would pair him with MVP LeBron James, The Associated Press reports today. The Cavs and Phoenix Suns have reached an agreement in principle on the deal, which gives Cleveland two of the league’s biggest superstars. O’Neal will join Cleveland in exchange for center Ben Wallace, guard Sasha Pavlovic, a second-round draft pick (No. 46 overall in tonight’s draft) and cash, said the two people who spoke on condition of anonymity because the league still must approve the deal. The Suns were a West-leading 34-14 when they acquired O’Neal in February 2008. He averaged 17.8 points and 8.4 rebounds last season and appeared in his 15th All-Star game.

Top 100 nominations close Tuesday

Business Report is asking privately-owned companies in the Capital Region to submit information to qualify for its annual Top 100 Private Companies list to be published July 28. Business Report ranks companies by gross revenue. Based on past numbers, companies with less than $15 million in revenue are unlikely to make the Top 100 list. For more information, e-mail jgennaro@businessreport.com. The deadline to submit information is 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Poll: Most predicted Tiger win

Eighty-eight percent of respondents to a Daily Report poll correctly predicted LSU would win the deciding game of the College World Series on Wednesday night. Twelve percent said Texas would win the game. More than 1,250 people participated in the poll. The Tigers beat the Longhorns 11-4, giving the team their sixth college baseball championship.

Today's question: Who is the better coach?

News roundup: Travelers say N.Y. favorite U.S. city ... National economy dips at slightly lower pace

They heart New York: New York topped a survey of travelers' favorite major U.S. cities, while Detroit was ranked as the least favorite. Right behind the Big Apple on the TripAdvisor survey were San Francisco, Chicago and Boston. Portland, Ore., was rated as the most underrated city, while Las Vegas was the most overrated. TripAdvisor, an online travel community, polled more than 3,400 people.

A slight uptick: The economy tumbled at a 5.5% pace in the first quarter, but appears to be doing better now. The revised reading on gross domestic product, released today by the Commerce Department, showed the economy from January through March didn't fall as deeply as the 5.7% annualized decline reported a month ago. Economists were predicting the government would stick with its previous estimate. The main forces behind the small upgrade: businesses didn't cut stockpiles of goods as much and imports dropped more sharply than previously estimated.