On the road: The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development will host a public information open house on Thursday, Jan. 19, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Bass Pro Shops in Denham Springs to provide an update on Interstate 12 construction projects and other transportation improvement initiatives in the parish. Work to widen I-12 to six travel lanes between O’Neal Lane and Juban Road is slated for completion later this year. Meanwhile, ground was broken last month on a $21.9 million effort to extend the six-lane improvements beyond Juban Road to the Walker interchange. That project is scheduled for completion in mid-2013. The construction projects on Interstate 12 are part of the Geaux Wider program, a $315 million, multiyear DOTD initiative to increase capacity, improve safety and enhance mobility along a combined total of nearly 20 miles of Interstates 10 and 12 in East Baton Rouge and Livingston parishes.
Underground: The State Mineral and Energy Board reports it collected more than $2 million in its monthly mineral and energy lease sale in January, bring the total collected in the current fiscal year to more than $18.6 million. At this month’s lease sale, the board awarded 24 leases covering more than 5,517 acres, out of 50 nominated tracts covering more than 44,900 acres. The Board sold leases in Allen, Bienville, DeSoto, East Carroll, Evangeline, Iberia, Jefferson Davis, Natchitoches, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St. Landry and St. Martin parishes. Of the 24 tracts awarded, six were in north Louisiana and 18 were located in the southern parishes. See details of the January lease sales and fiscal year-to-date figures here.
Grain gains: A pair of rice varieties developed at the LSU AgCenter have been approved by the Kellogg Co. for use in the cereal giant’s products. Kellogg approved the varieties CL151 and CL 111, both Clearfield long-grain varieties, says Steve Linscombe, LSU AgCenter rice breeder and director of the Rice Research Station. Meanwhile, Randy Jemison of the USA Rice Federation says the Central Louisiana Rice Growers Association is being formed for farmers in Avoyelles, Rapides, Pointe Coupee and St. Landry parishes. Until now, rice farmers in the central part of the state have been represented by an at-large member of the Louisiana Rice Growers Association Board of Directors.
Today’s poll question: Should Congress give President Barack Obama the expanded executive power he’s asking for to shrink the federal government?
