Yes, we’re open: Because of the magnitude of special events surrounding the Super Bowl and a full slate of parades associated with New Orleans’ carnival season, state transportation officials say they are suspending lane closures on all bridges, freeways, expressways and arterial roadways near those activities. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development says the suspension will be in place from 8 a.m. Friday through 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13. The department says construction activity will continue and shoulder closures will be allowed during the affected time period.
Paper chase: The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid fell last week to the lowest level in five years, evidence that employers are cutting fewer jobs and may step up hiring. The Labor Department reports today that weekly unemployment benefit applications dropped 5,000 to a seasonally adjusted 330,000. That’s the fewest since January 2008. The four-week average, a less volatile measure, fell to 351,750. That’s also the lowest in nearly five years. More report details can be found in the full story here.
Building nothing out of something: Manufacturers have been using technology to cut blue-collar jobs for years. Now, they’re targeting their white-collar workers, too. Factory Automation Systems makes machines that help companies cut, bundle and load products faster and cheaper than humans can. But it didn’t realize how much technology could help its own business until the Great Recession hit. “I had to lay people off to survive; then I noticed it’s not such a big deal” to do things myself, company president Rosser Pryor says. Read the full story here.
Today’s poll question: Do you support Defense Secretary Leon Panetta’s decision to end the ban on women serving in combat in the U.S. military?
