Gloves off: Syria spilled over into the Louisiana governor’s campaign Monday night in Baton Rouge during the final statewide TV debate before Saturday’s election with Democrat state Rep. John Bel Edwards and Republican U.S. Sen. David Vitter trading blows from the opening bell. As Gannett Louisiana reports, the Syrian issue bubbled up quickly after Gov. Bobby Jindal issued an executive order that would bar future Syrian refugees from settling in Louisiana following weekend terrorist attacks in France. Though both men staked out the same position in supporting Jindal’s executive order, voters might never realize it, given the way the men attacked each other. The crowd of 400 who attended the Nexstar Broadcasting debate at the Dunham School was as contentious as the candidates, cheering and jeering during Edwards’ and Vitter’s endless chippy exchanges, often so loud the candidates couldn’t be heard. Read the full story.
At the helm: Volunteers of America Greater Baton Rouge has selected Janet Hilliard Pace to serve as the charity’s new president and CEO, effective Dec 1. She assumes the role from Jane Shank, who will retire after 20 years with Volunteers of America, including 13 years as the Greater Baton Rouge affiliate CEO. Pace comes to Volunteers of America from the Foundation for East Baton Rouge School System, where she serves as executive director. She also previously held two positions with the Louisiana Office of the Lieutenant Governor and is a past president and CEO of Volunteer! Baton Rouge. She served as an East Baton Rouge Parish School Board member from 2002 to 2005, and has also been a board member for Boys & Girls Club of Greater Baton Rouge and Volunteers in Public Schools.
The bird forecast: Despite an outbreak of avian flu in parts of the upper Midwestern U.S. earlier this year, Louisiana shoppers should find plenty of turkeys in grocery stores for Thanksgiving, according to LSU AgCenter poultry specialist Theresia Lavergne. The avian flu outbreak that started last winter and continued into June eliminated nearly 8 million turkeys from being raised for market, Lavergne says. “Some reports are that turkey prices may be 20 cents to 40 cents more per pound this year,” Lavergne says, adding: “Usually, grocers sell turkeys at special prices around Thanksgiving and use them as loss leaders, so consumers may not see any noticeable price increase.” The LSU AgCenter has more details.
