Help wanted: First-time claims for unemployment insurance in Louisiana for the week ending Aug. 29 increased from the previous week’s total. The state labor department figures released today show the initial claims increased to 2,442 from the previous week’s total of 2,414. For the comparable week a year earlier, there were 2,237. The wholesale trade sector had the largest over-the-week increase of claims. The four-week moving average, which is a less volatile measure of claims, decreased to 2,461 from the previous week’s total of 2,471.
Four more: Although the tally of active oil and gas rigs across the U.S. fell by 13 this week to 864, Louisiana gained four rigs, according to the weekly count by Houston-based Baker Hughes Inc. As of today, 75 rigs are actively exploring for oil or gas in Louisiana. The U.S. oil-rig count fell by 13 to 662 this week, breaking six consecutive weeks of increases. As The Wall Street Journal reports, the number of U.S. oil-drilling rigs has fallen sharply since oil prices headed south last year. The rig count dropped for 29 straight weeks before climbing modestly in recent weeks. Despite recent increases, about 59% fewer rigs are working since a peak of 1,609 in October. According to Baker Hughes, gas rigs were unchanged this week at at 202.
Guilty: A former director of a Baton Rouge rehabilitation and detoxification treatment center admitted in federal court that she surreptitiously used patient information to obtain and distribute thousands of prescription medications. U.S. Attorney Walt Green says in a news release that 49-year-old Shanta Barnes also obtained Medicaid reimbursements for the drugs. Barnes pleaded guilty Thursday to health care fraud and aggravated identity theft. U.S. District Judge James Brady did not schedule a sentencing date. Barnes served as program director for Louisiana Health and Rehabilitation Options, an in-patient center. Green says Barnes obtained nearly 6,000 oxycodone pills in less than a year.
Editor’s note: The offices of Business Report will be closed on Monday, Sept. 7, in observance of Labor Day and Daily Report will not be published. Daily Report will return on Tuesday. Have a safe and happy holiday weekend.
