Room to grow: Expecting a large turnout, the LSU AgCenter is moving its public forum on LSU’s proposed medical marijuana program to a bigger venue. The forum, which had been slated to take place on Oct. 28 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at the Digital Medical Center Theater, will now be held at the Bo Campbell Auditorium, 100 Gym Armory Drive. The theater can only seat 175, whereas the auditorium has room for up to 950. Registration is required to attend the forum, at which LSU will pitch its business plan to investors. On Tuesday, LSU said it will need at least $11.3 million in capital for a seed-to-sale production facility that will house the operations for its proposed medical marijuana program. Parking for next week’s forum will be available in the track and field facility lot at Nicholson Drive and North Stadium Drive. Register to attend.
On the drawing board: The Alliance Safety Council, a nonprofit dedicated to improving workplace safety, is adding a satellite training location at 29756 Walker South Road in Walker. The council says the 5,200-square-foot training center, which can accommodate 64 students, is scheduled to open in December, enabling the organization to offer more courses to workers in need of training. It will have a multipurpose training room and a computer lab. Gulf Coast Occupational Medicine, an industrial health and testing company, also will be located in the new building. GraceHebert Architects is designing the structure and Arkel Contractors is the general contractor.
Safety first: Federal regulators have fined PPG Industries in Westlake $92,642 for nine “serious” safety violations, The American Press reports. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration says the violations include failing to monitor air in confined areas, not inspecting piping safety relief valves and allowing equipment to be used without safety guards. An employee complaint sparked the investigation on April 11. PPG has until Wednesday to contest the citations and must submit proof that it has fixed each issue by Friday, Oct. 28. PPG spokesman Mark Silvey says the company “intends to communicate with OSHA to better understand its findings and resolve the matter.” He says PPG has a long history of treating its employees well. PPG’s Westlake facility treats silicas—a hard mineral found in rock—for use in industrial and consumer applications, such as tire manufacturing and footwear. Read the full story.
