Raising the stakes: Jimmy Sexton, the agent for Florida State football coach Jimbo Fisher, is upping the ante for LSU to acquire Fisher’s services, The USA Today Network of Louisiana reports. Two influential members of the Tiger Athletic Foundation, the fundraising arm of LSU’s athletics, tell the news network that Sexton has other demands, including a lucrative housing allowance, as there’s no state income tax in Florida as there is in Louisiana. LSU, through TAF and major donors, is prepared to pay Fisher $6 million or more and pay the $5 million buyout to Florida State. Negotiations with Sexton could reach a head on Sunday or Monday as Fisher’s No. 14 Seminoles end the regular season Saturday with a home game against No. 13 Florida. Meanwhile, the Tallahassee Democrat reports Florida State President John Thrasher says he believe Fisher is happy at FSU. Fisher is one of several possible candidates for LSU’s head football coaching gig. Read the full story.
A closer look: Some 25 visitors from Lafayette recently met with officials from Baton Rouge’s Downtown Development District to learn about the strategies behind the Capital City’s resurgent downtown. In a newsletter, the DDD says the Lafayette group included city officials, council members, Downtown Development Authority board members and staff, and Lafayette community and chamber representatives. A walking tour was arranged for the group, and downtown Baton Rouge representatives and Mayor Kip Holden spoke to the group about fundamental strategies and master plan recommendations that led to the current dynamic surrounding development in downtown Baton Rouge.
Level up: Oil prices earlier today rose to their highest level this month as a growing consensus emerged in the market that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries would overcome internal disputes to strike a deal that materially reduces crude output. Reuters reports Brent crude oil futures were up 22 cents a barrel to $49.12 at 6:12 a.m., having earlier risen $1 in a push against the $50 mark for the first time since the end of October. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures were up 14 cents at $48.38 a barrel. Prices were boosted by comments from a Nigerian official attending an OPEC technical meeting, which is trying to hammer out details of a deal, that it was likely all countries would be “on board” by the end of today. OPEC is trying to get its 14 members and non-OPEC producer Russia to agree on a coordinated cut in oil production. Read the full story.
