Money will fund expansion, create at least 500 jobs: Chennault International Airport in Lake Charles will get $14 million in state funding that will go toward the cost of building a new hangar. Gov. Bobby Jindal says the expansion will attract at least 500 new aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul jobs to the area. “This airport has been bursting at the seams with work, and with this $14 million investment, more facilities will become available for current and prospective tenants, providing space for the continued growth of aviation maintenance operations that will position the airport to attract hundreds of new jobs to the area,” Jindal says. The $18.5 million hangar will have four open bays, big enough to handle larger wide-body airplanes, like the Boeing 747 or 777 or the Airbus A340. Aerofame, which handles maintenance and repair for firms such as FedEx and US Airways, already has 300 employees at Chennault and is on track to hire 650 by 2013.
Hurt Hog: Arkansas running back Knile Davis is expected to miss the upcoming college football season because of a left ankle injury. The injury is a major blow to the preseason expectations for the Razorbacks, who were 10-3 and went to the Sugar Bowl last season. Davis suffered the injury early in the scrimmage portion of practice on Thursday and was carted off the field without being able to put weight on his left leg. Davis led all SEC running backs with 1,322 yards rushing last season, averaging 147 yards per game over the final seven games. He was a preseason second-team All-SEC selection and had also been named to the Doak Walker, Maxwell and Walter Camp Player of the Year award watch lists.
