Green relief: The new U.S. Congress today passed a $9.7 billion bill to help pay flood insurance claims to homeowners, renters and businesses damaged by Superstorm Sandy. The bill cleared the Senate following passage earlier today by the House. It replenishes the National Flood Insurance Program that was due to run out of money next week with some 115,000 Sandy-related claims as well as 5,000 from other floods unresolved. Votes are planned later this month on another $51 billion aid package.
By the numbers: First-time claims for unemployment insurance in Louisiana for the week ending Dec. 29 fell from the previous week’s total, mainly because the Christmas holidays cut a day from the work week. State labor department figures released today show the initial claims decreased to 2,505 from the previous week’s total of 3,495. The four-week moving average, which is a less volatile measure of claims, fell to 3,262 from the previous week’s total of 3,648. New claims and continued claims were both below the level of the same week in December 2011.
A safe bet: LSU safety Eric Reid will forgo his final season of eligibility and will make himself available for the 2013 NFL Draft, the junior announced today. Reid, a first-team All-America selection in 2012, is joining LSU junior linebacker Kevin Minter in making himself available for the draft. “I’ve been very fortunate and blessed to have been able to play football at LSU,” Reid says in a statement. The full story is here. Also, several media reports say LSU running back Spencer Ware, punter Brad Wing and cornerback Tharold Simon are also headed to the NFL Draft.
Montana in New Orleans: Tulane says it has received a national letter of intent from junior college quarterback Nick Montana, the son of Hall-of-Fame NFL quarterback Joe Montana. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound younger Montana threw for 2,652 yards and 22 touchdowns this past season at Mount San Antonio College in Walnut, Calif. Green Wave coach Curtis Johnson says bringing Montana in was among his top goals for what will be his second recruiting class.
