Editor’s note: This article has been updated to clarify that the incident happened at a SunEdison facility, not an Albemarle facility as originally reported by The Associated Press.
Explosion at chemical plant: Police say four workers have been treated for burns after an explosion and fire at a chemical plant along the Houston Ship Channel. The Associated Press reports that Pasadena police say the accident happened Friday morning and the fire has been put out. Authorities are trying to determine what sparked the incident at a SunEdison silicon plant. Pasadena police spokesman Vance Mitchell says there was no threat to the community. Mitchell says the injured workers were transported to hospitals for treatment of burns not believed to be life-threatening. SunEdison spokesman Gordon Handelsman says three workers were treated and released from a hospital. He had no details Friday on the fourth injured worker. Handelsman says efforts were being focused on the safety of employees as the company gathered information about the accident.
Next big thing: Geek Squad founder Robert Stephens believes the phone is going away and messaging between customers and businesses is the next innovation. During a speech to students at the University of Louisiana at Monroe’s Business Symposium on Wednesday, Stephens says he foresees a future where people don’t call a computer repair business when their laptop breaks, but they send out a message with videos and pictures, which allows anyone in the company to answer. The News-Star in Monroe has the story.
Imminent layoffs: Whole Foods Market has remained mum on possible layoffs for its Baton Rouge store amid company-wide cuts, but issued a statement saying it will reduce 1,500 jobs nationwide. Kristina Bradford, Whole Foods spokeswoman for Louisiana, declined to answer additional questions about the layoffs, says she cannot provide specifics about how the layoffs might affect any particular stores. “This is a very difficult decision, and we are committed to treating affected team members in a caring and respectful manner. We have offered them several options including transition pay, a generous severance, or the opportunity to apply for other jobs,” Walter Robb, co-CEO of Whole Foods Market, said in a prepared statement.
