The next chapter: Former Gov. Edwin Edwards says he’s done with politics and has taken his first steps toward becoming a real estate broker. WBRZ-TV reports the 87-year-old Edwards, who was convicted in 2001 of racketeering and served eight years in federal prison, received a 7-2 vote today from the state Real Estate Commission approving his application to be tested for a real estate broker’s license. Edwards says he thinks the broker’s license will help as he works with friends who are trying to develop property along the Interstate 10-Interstate 12 corridor from Lake Charles to Slidell. Edwards, who served in Congress and as governor as a Democrat, held a broker’s license for about 20 years in the past. He ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in the fall 2014 elections but lost the race for the 6th Congressional District seat to Republican Garret Graves.
Tossing it out there: When his friends were battling the wind and sand during a game of beer pong on the beach, LSU student Todd Mashburn saw a business opportunity to change one of college’s oldest pastimes. The Daily Reveille reports Mashburn and his friends tried to create a wind-resistant alternative to the game by digging holes in the sand for cups, but the wind still swayed the ball. Mashburn noticed the popularity and simplicity of the game and sought to fix the issues players had to deal with when playing outside—creating a new game called MashBall in the process. He’s secured a manufacturer in China and is now seeking donations through crowdfunding platform Kickstarter. Read the full story.
Opening soon: Mississippi-based fast-casual chain Newk’s Eatery will open its first Baton Rouge location in Towne Center at 7201 Corporate Blvd. on Monday, March 9, company officials say. Newk’s had been considering the former Gatti’s Pizza space at 3332 Lake St. for its first restaurant here, but the opening of that location has been delayed a few months because of permitting delays. The two Baton Rouge locations are among four Newk’s is planning to open in Louisiana this year as part of its effort to grow the brand to 200 restaurants across the country by the end of 2018.
