Big spenders: Through the first six months of the year, consumer and business spending in East Baton Rouge Parish was 4.1% lower than for the first half of 2017, according to the latest monthly sales tax collection report from the city-parish. Roughly $94.3 million has been collected this year, compared to $98.4 million during the first six months of last year. Spending by category is mixed, however. Sales at retail trade and food stores—which accounts for more than half of all sales tax collections—is down 5% this year, while spending on services is down 6.6% and spending at restaurants and bars is off 3%. Only manufacturing was up by 3% compared to the first half of 2017. Read the full report.
Fish tales: Louisiana shrimpers Randy Skinner and Lance Nacio traveled more than 1,000 miles north to central Minnesota to share stories about how what happens along the Mississippi River is affecting their livelihood, Minnesota Public Radio reports. Every year, a dead zone about the size of Connecticut forms in the Gulf of Mexico. The dead zone is caused by excess nutrients from Midwest farming washing down the Mississippi River—and it has a major impact on the people who earn their living on the Gulf. Minnesota water advocates invited Skinner and Nacio to the Brainerd area to talk about that impact. Read the full story.
Post Katrina housing: Attorney Ron Austin says he plans to bring a lawsuit on behalf of some New Orleans residents against actor Brad Pitt’s Make It Right foundation, which aimed to build affordable housing in the Lower 9th Ward. Austin says residents have reported illnesses and headaches, in addition to infrastructural issues. More than 100 Make It Right houses were built in 2008. The foundation didn’t respond to a request for comment. Read the full story.
