Opening soon: Checkers will open on Sullivan Road in Central by mid-November, franchisee Ramsey Ali says. The chain, owned by Checkers & Rally’s Restaurants Inc., is returning to the Baton Rouge market after a two decades hiatus. It previously operated in Baton Rouge under the Rally’s flag. Checkers will be located inside the Wal-Mart Supercenter and share a space with Auntie Anne’s, which Ali also owns.
Moving on: Brenda Bertus is retiring from her post as the long time chief executive of St. Tammany Economic Development Foundation, effective Dec. 31. Bertus was hired to lead the foundation in 2002. Her career in business spans 40 years. Under her leadership at the STEDR, about 140 companies committed to locate or grow their operations within St. Tammany. They also committed to investing over $980 million into St. Tammany, retaining nearly 4,800 jobs and committing to create over 5,900 new jobs. Read more.
Calling a blitz: President Donald Trump has stepped up the pressure on the NFL over protests by its players during the national anthem by launching a petition and asking his supporters to show their patriotism by backing it, Reuters reports. The move came after NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell this week rejected Trump’s calls to punish players who kneel for the anthem to protest racism. The petition was issued on Thursday by the Trump Make America Great Again Committee, a fundraising organization for Trump and Vice President Mike Pence. It was published on the Republican National Committee website. Read more.
