Going green: Construction is complete on the new Repentance Park downtown. The fences are down and a formal ribbon cutting has been set for Tuesday, April 2, at noon, DDD announced today. Located adjacent to the North Boulevard Town Square and next to the Old State Capitol, the $3.9 million park features an arc walkway with seating, fountains with 750 jets, a sloping lawn and tiered steps. DDD says some Baton Rougeans are already frequenting the newly opened park and that already one marriage proposal has occurred there. DDD has more details on the park and ribbon-cutting event here.
Down in a hole: New natural gas pipeline construction sagged in 2012, with the nation adding its lowest total of new pipeline mileage since 1997, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Just 367 new miles of natural gas pipelines were added last year: roughly 18% of the more than 2,000 miles added in 2011. Although natural gas prices have fallen in recent years, the drop in building of pipelines appears to be a surprise, since large gas production is expected for decades at locations throughout the nation. The Houston Chronicle has more on the report here.
Spring thaw: Gains in housing and manufacturing propelled the U.S. economy over the winter, according to government reports released today, and analysts say those surges point to the resilience of consumers and businesses as government spending cuts kick in. U.S. home prices rose 8.1% in January, the fastest annual rate since the peak of the housing boom in the summer of 2006. And demand for longer-lasting factory goods jumped 5.7% in February, the biggest increase in five months. February new-home sales and March consumer confidence looked a little shakier. But the overall picture of an improving economy drove stocks higher today. The Associated Press has the full story here.
