Survey: Obama, Landrieu losing popularity in La.

President Barack Obama and U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu have seen their job-performance numbers slip among Louisiana voters, according to the results of a statewide survey. Forty-five percent of voters approve of the job Obama is doing, compared with 53% in the spring. Fifty-four percent of voters gave Obama a negative performance rating, due to opposition to the stimulus program, health-care reform and cap-and-trade legislation. Landrieu, a fellow Democrat, has seen a similar plunge since the spring. Her positive rating has fallen from 61% to 54% because of her backing of Obama's stimulus program. The poll warns that Landrieu could see her approval rating falls further if she backs a Democratic health-care bill. The survey of 600 voters was conducted earlier this month by Southern Media & Opinion Research Inc., at the request of Baton Rouge businessman Lane Grigsby. Grigsby says he is committed to doing a similar poll twice a year.

Other findings in the report:

—Gov. Bobby Jindal has seen a slight shift in his performance rating, going from a 67% positive rating to 64%. The poll notes that voters say they've seen progress on important issues, such as attracting new industry to the state, improving public education and boosting state finances.

—U.S. Sen. David Vitter, a Republican, continues to lead U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, a Democrat, in next year's Senate race, 48% to 36%. The survey notes that Vitter's opposition to Obama is causing his popularity with Louisiana voters to improve.

To see more of the survey, click here.

Metro Council to take up Spanish Town issue

The Metro Council is scheduled to discuss developer Richard Preis’ appeal Wednesday that he “demolished by neglect” several houses in historic Spanish Town. Preis is seeking to tear down the dilapidated houses to make way for the Capitol Lofts apartments, a complex the neighborhood is fighting. But in an effort to save the properties, the city’s Historic Preservation Commission cited him for demolishing the houses by neglect, which, if enforced, would require him to pay a fine and fix them up. Preis is expected to prevail in his appeal at the council level, but that doesn’t mean he will automatically be allowed to raze the three houses in question. Technically, he will need to reappear before the HPC to seek permission to tear them down, though he is expected at Wednesday’s meeting to challenge the HPC’s legal authority. The Spanish Town civic association, meanwhile, is considering legal options. For a recent Business Report cover story about Spanish Town and the battle over Capitol Lofts, click here.—Stephanie Riegel

Cassidy continues strong fundraising

Baton Rouge Congressman Bill Cassidy continues to outpace most of his freshman Republican colleagues when it comes to fundraising. Last week, lawmakers filed financial reports for the third quarter with the Federal Elections Commission and Cassidy came in second amongst GOP newbies with more than $680,000 in the bank, behind U.S. Rep. Erik Paulsen of Minnesota. The figure also places Cassidy atop the list of incumbents in Louisiana’s House delegation. He technically trails U.S. Rep. Charlie Melancon, D-Napoleonville, who has $1.8 million in the bank, but Melancon is running for the Senate next year. The incumbent that came closest to having as much cash on hand as Cassidy was U.S. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-Lafayette, who has about $440,000 in his campaign kitty. Of the nearly $200,000 raised during the third quarter by Cassidy, nearly 94% came directly from Louisiana residents, businesses and political action committees.—Jeremy Alford

New treat for dog lovers this Halloween

A new adoption initiative will throw homeless dogs a bone this month. Commercial Properties Realty Trust, kennel service Petz Plaza and other partners recently started Yelp BR, an effort to find permanent homes for adoptable dogs, with a kickoff event on Halloween at three sites in Baton Rouge. People can check out Spot, Fido and Buster from 8 a.m. to noon at Main and Fifth streets, across from the Red Stick Farmer’s Market; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Perkins Road and Acadian Thruway, in the Acme Oyster House parking lot; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Coursey and Sherwood Forest boulevards, at Lake Sherwood Shopping Center. The dogs, who stay temporarily at the East Baton Rouge Parish Animal Control & Rescue Center, will be checked by veterinarians, assessed for behavior, spayed or neutered, vaccinated and de-wormed, and each pup will have a microchip implanted. A second adoption day is scheduled Dec. 5. For more information, visit YelpBR.com, or friend the group on Facebook.

Local photographer gets top honor from deaf group

Tate Tullier, a local photographer, has been named as "Trailblazer of the Year" by a deaf and hard-of-hearing organization. Tullier was the leading vote-getter out of 10 finalists in the Dream Bigger Campaign and won a $10,000 award for the charity of his choice, the Louisiana School for the Deaf. Tullier also won an all-expense paid vacation to the destination of his choice. "I am overwhelmed and overjoyed that so many in the deaf community saw something special in me and selected me as their winner," Tullier says. For a recent 225 magazine profile of Tullier, click here.

Poll: Readers back a variety of solutions for increasing graduates

Respondents to a Daily Report survey backed a variety of steps as a way of increasing graduation rates in Louisiana high schools. Thirty-six percent of people who participated in an online survey say students should be offered technical classes that lead to careers, while 8% say there need to be more charter schools to allow for more innovation. Four percent say ninth-grade academies should be set up, while 3% say students should be allowed to earn college credits while in high school and 2% advocated for more money for anti-dropout programs. Thirty-four percent say all of those methods should be used, while 10% say none of the ideas should be used. More than 1,150 people participated in the survey.

Today's question: Should Keith Bardwell, the Tangipahoa Parish justice of the peace who refused to marry an interracial couple, be removed from office?

Eunice natural gas plant sold for $42 million

Philip Morris has sold its Eunice natural gas liquids processing plant for $42 million. According to the Dallas Business Journal, Crosstex Energy company bought the plant, which it previously managed. Crosstex will assume $18 million in debt as part of the deal. The processing plant is connected to Crosstex’s Cajun-Sibon pipeline.

News roundup: Mortgage rates still below 5% ... Auto theft rate falls to 20-year low

Staying down: The national average for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage slightly increased last week, but it still remains below 5%. The rate went up to 4.97% for the week ending Sunday, compared with 4.95% for the week ending Oct. 11, according to figures from the Zillow Mortgage Rate Monitor. The average for a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage also increased slightly, from 4.37% to 4.38%. Zillow reported the volume of mortgage loans dropped by nearly 10% in the past week.

Technology, police contribute to drop: The number of vehicles on the road may have doubled over the past 20 years, but reported auto theft is at half the level it was in 1991, according to the FBI. USA Today credits the decrease in stolen vehicles to sophisticated anti-theft devices and an effort by police departments to target organized auto theft rings. According to the FBI, 315 cars were stolen for every 100,000 people in 2008, compared with 659 thefts per 100,000 people in 1991. To read the story, click here.

Time running out for BRAC, Business Report survey

The Baton Rouge Area Chamber and Business Report are once again conducting a brief annual survey of local business executives and industry experts to assess the economic outlook of the Capital Region for 2010 and beyond. The survey, which closes Friday, should take five to seven minutes to complete. A summary of responses will be presented at the Baton Rouge Area Economic Forum 2009: Insights for Action on Nov. 3 and will also be published in Business Report. To participate in the survey, click here.