Wheelin’ and dealin’: As part of the April Bike Month activities, Bike to Work Week will take place April 16-20, and several downtown businesses are offering incentives to those who get to work on two wheels during the week. The YMCA Downtown is offering a free week of membership; Hotel Indigo is offering “buy one, get one free” breakfast, lunch and dinner deals; Zolia Bistro has lunch discounts; and Main Street Market is offering half-price salads and wraps, according to a news release from Mayor Kip Holden’s office. Friday, April 20, named Bike to Work Day will feature a community ride from Goodwood Park to City Park.
Cutting through the haze: Smoking would be prohibited within 25 feet of the entrance to any building where smoking already is banned, under a proposal heading to the full House for debate. The House Health and Welfare Committee today backed the bill by Rep. Frank Hoffmann, R-West Monroe, without objection. Hoffmann says he’s pushing the measure because of the dangers of secondhand cigarette smoke. Louisiana prohibits smoking in restaurants, public places, public buildings and many places of employment. Hoffmann’s proposal would extend the ban to within 25 feet of those buildings’ entrances and to wheelchair ramps. It wouldn’t apply to places like casinos, bars and private residences, which are exempt from the state’s smoking ban.
Expansions and additions: U.S. service companies expanded at a healthy pace last month and stepped up hiring. The Institute for Supply Management reports today its index of non-manufacturing activity dropped to 56 in March. That’s down from February’s 57.3, which was a 12-month high. Any reading above 50 indicates expansion. Economists say the slight decline isn’t troubling because the reading is still at a level that points to growth—and a measure of employment also rose to near a six-year high last reached in January. The two reports were encouraging ahead of Friday’s government report on March job growth. Many economists expect that will show the fourth consecutive month of strong hiring.
