Victims of the recession: More full-service restaurants are eliminating busboy jobs as a way of cutting costs, the Wall Street Journal reports. The Bob Evans chain trimmed back on busboy jobs several years ago, and some T.G.I. Friday’s eliminated the positions after business slowed down, instead requiring servers to clear tables, refill drinks and stock napkins. Restaurant analysts say economics are driving the move; busboys earn minimum wage while servers who get tips are paid as little as $2.13 an hour. Read the story here.
Hard to breathe: Baton Rouge ranked 42nd in a survey of how difficult it is to live in 100 U.S. cities for people with asthma. The report, conducted by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, says Baton Rouge is helped by a low number of residents who have asthma and anti-smoking laws. But the poor air quality and large number of poor people without insurance hurts the city’s ranking. New Orleans finished 22nd, while St. Louis was judged to be the worst place for asthma sufferers.
Reading, writing, checking account: The LA DOTD held a grand opening for its branch at Scotlandville Magnet High School this morning. The student-run Hornet’s Nest Credit Union will be open two days a week and offer services such as savings and checking accounts, check-cashing and debit cards. School officials say they established the credit union as a way of teaching financial literacy. This is the fourth financial institution to set up branches in an East Baton Rouge Parish public school, joining an LA DOTD location at Starring Education Center, a Neighbors Federal Credit Union branch at Lee High and an in-school credit union at Capitol Middle.
