Naming names: The East Baton Rouge Republican Parish Executive Committee announced today its endorsement of businessman Barry Ivey in his bid to fill Republican state Rep. Clif Richardson’s seat in District 65. Richardson is resigning for health-related reasons. A special election will be held on March 2. Ivey is running against Republican Scott Wilson, who sits on the Metro Council. Ivey is “strongly pro-life and is a staunch defender of Second Amendment rights,” the EBR GOP says. “His priority is to cut the state budget to eliminate waste, fraud and low-priority programs.”
Shelter from the storm: President Barack Obama has signed a disaster declaration for Louisiana to authorize federal aid for 11 parishes affected by severe storms and flooding in January. Along with Livingston, parishes included in the declaration include Acadia, Catahoula, Concordia, East Carroll, Evangeline, Franklin, Jefferson Davis, Madison, St. Landry, and Vermilion. The declaration makes federal funding available to state and local governments and certain private nonprofit groups on a cost-sharing basis. The funds will pay for emergency response work and repairs to facilities damaged Jan. 8-17.
Bon appétit: After securing final permits on Thursday, Frankie Marcello’s is holding a grand opening of its new restaurant at Perkins Road and Essen Lane today, says Bunkie Hughes, who has partnered with a Mandeville-based restaurant family in the project. The family-style restaurant serves Italian fare, seafood and steaks. It’s located in a 3,600-square-foot space at 7520 Perkins Road that was formerly home to a short-lived Mexican restaurant, and before that, a Calendar’s. More details and a full menu can be found here.
