PAR for the course: The Public Affairs Research Council of Louisiana has released a new commentary supporting a proposed hybrid retirement plan for new state employees hired in 2020 and beyond through the Louisiana State Employees’ Retirement System, or LASERS. In the commentary, PAR says the proposal laid out in Senate Bill 14 by Senate Retirement Committee Chairman Barrow Peacock, R-Bossier City, “would be an improvement for employees, especially those who spend only a part of their career in state government.” It would also improve the sustainability of the retirement system, PAR says, adding it’s a “solid reform proposal that helps both state employees and state tax payers.” Read the full commentary.
In the spotlight: Louisiana Economic Development honored small business leaders from throughout the state on Thursday for their graduation into the LED Growth Network. LED recognized leaders of about 300 second-stage companies at the inaugural Spotlight Louisiana reception held at Old Governor’s Mansion. At the event, the Michigan-based Edward Lowe Foundation recognized the LED Growth Network and its supporting programs as a national model for small business success. LED Growth Network members represent over 10,000 full-time-equivalent employees and more than $2 billion in annual revenue. LED has more details on the event and the Growth Network program.
Top teens: Students from the Livingston Parish SADD chapter in Denham Springs have won a national contest sponsored by Students Against Destructive Decisions and The National Road Safety Foundation. The #DrivingSkills101 contest challenged teens in SADD chapters across the country to create a safe driving campaign about driving in the dark. The Livingston Parish students not only brought home the $2,500 top prize for their video, but they will now get to work with an Emmy Award-winning TV director—as yet unnamed—to produce another video that will debut at the SADD National Conference in Washington, D.C., in June. Get more details.
