Shrimpin’ ain’t easy: Dozens of Louisiana shrimpers upset over low prices and farm-raised shrimp imports rallied today in downtown New Orleans to highlight their industry’s woes. The Associated Press reports the shrimpers spoke out at a meeting of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, a body of industry and government representatives which regulates fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. The group is meeting in New Orleans this week. Dressed in T-shirts reading, “Domestic Shrimpers Need Fair Prices For Quality Organic Shrimp,” the shrimpers chanted: “Demand Gulf shrimp!” The shrimpers say they’re struggling in the face of a flood of cheap farm-raised imported shrimp, market uncertainties, hurricanes and high fuel prices. Last year the price of shrimp was good, but shrimpers say they’re facing a dramatic price drop this year.
Going up: Louisiana’s state school board agreed today to boost day care assistance to low-income families. The Associated Press reports the plan that won support from the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education increases subsidies available to parents through the Child Care Assistance Program, using $10 million in available federal funding. Payments were cut when the program was overseen by Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration. Superintendent of Education John White, whose department took over management in July, says the number of children served has dropped from 40,000 to 15,000. The program is designed to help poor parents afford day care so they can work or go to school. The maximum annual subsidy per child will grow from $1,700 to $4,000. The changes are expected to take effect in early 2016. Read the full story.
On the road again: Four months after recalling all products from stores across the country, Blue Bell Creameries has announced via a tweet that their “trucks are back on the road,” USA Today reports. “And, yes, they are filled with Blue Bell Ice Cream,” the tweet said. Blue Bell ice cream has been off store shelves since April when it issued a national recall after its ice cream was linked to 10 listeria illnesses in four states and three deaths in Kansas. In the months since the recall, thousands of employees were laid off or furloughed. Earlier this month, the ice cream maker was given the all-clear to produce ice cream at an Alabama plant. In a subsequent tweet to the original announcement on Tuesday, the company said it’ll soon announce which stores will carry the products. Read the full story.
