Local dealer: Toyota will do what it takes to keep customers

The general sales manager at Price LeBlanc Toyota says he's extending service hours to handle the barrage of requests to replace sticky accelerator pedals in eight of the company's most popular models. "We want to keep our long-term customers," says Johnny DeArmond, who has worked for Price LeBlanc for 25 years. The dealership will remain open until 9 p.m. on weeknights to handle the replacements, and any customers who are concerned about the safety of their vehicle will get a temporary model to drive until their car can be fixed. DeArmond says the fix for the gas pedals in the Corolla, Camry, Avalon and Tundra pickups involves installing a "shim," a metal washer, to prevent conditions that lead to unexpected acceleration. Reported cases of Toyotas speeding up were "very, very, very rare," but the automaker is still concerned, DeArmond says. "If anybody had a problem, that's not good news," he says. Despite the problems, DeArmond says customers have been supportive. Before the company halted sales of the eight popular models, Price LeBlanc Toyota was on track to be the top volume dealer in all of Louisiana. "Toyota has spent the last 50 years building the best cars in the world," DeArmond says. "We want to keep the confidence of consumers." —Timothy Boone

Toyota chief apologizes for global recalls

Toyota's president apologized today for the massive global recalls over sticking gas pedals as the automaker scrambles to repair a damaged reputation and reverse sliding sales. But Akio Toyoda, appointed to the top job at Toyota Motor Corp. last June, said the company is still deciding what steps to take to fix brake problems in the popular Prius gas-electric hybrid. Speaking at a hastily announced news conference that lasted an hour, a stern-looking Toyoda promised to beef up quality control. "We are facing a crisis," he says, publicly confronting the automaker's safety problems for the first time since the global recalls were announced Jan. 21. Toyoda says the company is setting up a special committee he would head himself. It would review internal checks, go over consumer complaints and listen to outside experts to come up with a solution to the widening quality problems. "I offer my apologies for the worries," he says. "Many customers are wondering whether their cars are OK." Toyoda, grandson of the automaker's founder, said the company was moving quickly on the global recalls covering 4.5 million vehicles that may have sticking gas pedals; about half of the affected cars are in the U.S.

LaPolitics by John Maginnis: Projected deficit may recede from cliff

It won't be reflected in the executive budget the governor presents next week, but the state's looming $1 billion shortfall could be almost cut in half, depending on congressional action in the coming months. The budget that the Obama administration sent to Congress this week extends the 80% federal Medicaid match rate for six months until June 2011 for all states. If that provision remains in the budget, it would mean $428 million more in Medicaid funds for Louisiana in its upcoming budget, according to the Division of Administration. The extension does not specifically address Louisiana's unique Medicaid match problem caused by a temporary post-hurricane average income increase, but it does cover for six months what the state would have lost.

—If Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu isn't elected mayor of New Orleans in the primary tomorrow, he figures to come close enough to be very hard to beat in a runoff. A Silas Lee poll this week commissioned by Entergy shows Landrieu at 54%, followed by Troy Henry and John Georges each garnering around 9%. An earlier Lee poll had Landrieu at 53%; at the same time, a WWL survey put him at 45%. So most observers believe it will take a portion of the 20% undecided vote to put Landrieu over the top.

—House Appropriations Chairman Jim Fannin has heard the complaints voiced by Streamlining Commission members of being "stonewalled" by state agencies asked to supply information on programs. Fannin, D-Jonesboro, doesn't anticipate it will be a problem when his committee starts going through the executive budget in March. "The difference between that committee and ours is that we have subpoena power," he says. "I suspect we will not have to ask twice."

(John Maginnis publishes LaPolitics Weekly, a newsletter on Louisiana politics, at LaPolitics.com.)

Air Products makes bid for Airgas

Air Products & Chemicals, which has a sales office in Geismar and several plants along the Mississippi River, has made an offer to buy Airgas for about $5.1 billion in cash. Air Products offered $60 a share in cash for Airgas in a letter sent to the latter company’s officials Thursday. If accepted, the deal would create the largest industrial gas maker in North America by revenue, reports The Wall Street Journal. While Air Products specializes in selling gases for industrial use, Airgas is a distributor of propane, oxygen and welding gases. Airgas has three locations in Baton Rouge and Geismar.

Local businesses specialize in offering the thrill of the grill

A man enters Goodwood Hardware and Outdoors and asks the salesperson for advice on a four-gallon outdoor steel fryer. Sturdy and mobile, the basket fryer on wheels seems perfect for tailgating or family fish fries. He asks for help halfheartedly, as though Tracie Comeaux couldn't possibly understand the attributes of a piece of equipment so masculine. Then she starts talking. She goes into smooth detail about how the product works, how grease can be strained or drained altogether, how the unit is cleaned and supplied with gas, and how it performs. The man quickly places an order. It happens like that at Goodwood Hardware and other homegrown institutions around town with a particular affinity for outdoor cooks. Lowe's and Home Depot might have scooped up a substantial portion of the national grill market, but Baton Rouge spots like Goodwood Hardware, Shenandoah Hardware and Casual Creations are chock-full of high-quality outdoor cooking products designed to withstand both the elements and lots of culinary action. To find out more about how you can take advantage of their homegrown expertise, and for more dining news for the Capital region, read 225 Dine by clicking here.

U.S. unemployment rate drops to 9.7%

The outlook for jobs remains bleak despite January's unexpected decline in the unemployment rate, which fell to 9.7% from 10% in December. A Labor Department survey of households found that 541,000 more Americans had jobs last month. But most of those gains were attributed to seasonal adjustments to the data. Without those adjustments, which account for reduced hiring during winter, the data show fewer people had jobs last month. A separate survey of businesses found that employers shed 20,000 jobs last month. Excluding the beleaguered construction industry, the private sector as a whole added 63,000 positions. The unemployment rate fell to its lowest level since August. John Silvia, chief economist at Wells Fargo, says the decline wasn't a result of a shrinking labor force, which has held the rate down in previous months. "It simply was, people found jobs," he says. But the department revised its past estimates to show that job losses from the Great Recession have been much worse than previously stated. The economy has shed 8.4 million jobs since the downturn began in December 2007, up from a previous figure of 7.2 million. That's the most jobs lost in any recession, as a percent of total employment, since World War II. Analysts think the economy might generate 1 million to 2 million jobs this year. And they say it will take at least three to four years for the job market to return to anything like normal.

Poll: Who dat say gonna beat them Saints?

Eighty-seven percent of people who responded to a Daily Report poll predict the New Orleans Saints will win the Super Bowl. Thirteen percent picked the Indianapolis Colts to win the game. More than 1,400 people participated in the survey. The Colts are a 5-point favorite, according to Las Vegas sports books, although the Saints are the sentimental favorite to win.

Today's question: Which of these events will have the biggest impact on New Orleans?

Nominations open for Technology Awards

Nominations are open for the Governor's Technology Awards Program. The program, a partnership between Louisiana Economic Development and the Louisiana Technology Council, recognizes companies that made innovative strides in 2009. Nominations will be accepted in the following categories: technology leader of the year, technology company of the year, university technology leader of the year, innovator of the year, and rising star of the year. For more information or to submit a nomination, e-mail mhansen@ltc-la.org. The deadline for nominations is 5 p.m., Feb. 26. The awards will be presented at a ceremony in Baton Rouge March 11.

News roundup: Pinnacle lists spending for B.R. casino ... Cao and family watching Super Bowl at White House

Company alters plans for River Road resort: Pinnacle Entertainment says it spent nearly $5.8 million in pre-opening costs last year for its planned River Road casino resort. That's down from the nearly $7.5 million Pinnacle spent in 2008, the year East Baton Rouge Parish voters passed a referendum to allow the casino development. Pinnacle says it is continuing title and design work for the $250 million resort, which will include a riverboat casino, 100-room hotel, restaurants and an entertainment venue. There have been some changes made to the orientation of the hotel on the 575-acre site, but Pinnacle says the overall project will be similar to the original design. The company has been given until March 31 to enter into a construction contract for the resort.

Who Dats in D.C.: U.S. Rep. Anh "Joseph" Cao is going to the White House on Sunday to watch the New Orleans Saints play the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl. President Barack Obama invited Cao—the Republican who represents most of New Orleans—Cao’s wife and their two daughters to the White House Super Bowl party. Cao says he could not "think of a better way to spend" his Super Bowl Sunday. Cao says he was pleased to hear Obama say he, too, is rooting for the Saints. "With this enthusiasm, we are sure to have a good time watching the New Orleans Saints win their first Super Bowl,” Cao says.