Recovering: The Saints say coach Sean Payton is out of surgery and is expected to remain in the hospital until Tuesday. Saints’ orthopedic surgeon Dr. Deryk Jones says surgery to repair a meniscus tear and fractured tibia in Payton’s left leg was successful. He says Payton should be able to return to work by Wednesday, but probably won’t be able to put weight on his left leg for about eight weeks. A full recovery could take three to six months. Payton was hurt during New Orleans’ 26-20 loss at Tampa Bay Sunday when he was caught in a tackle along the sideline. Payton has said he expects to call plays from the booth when the Saints host Indianapolis on Sunday night.
Lowe blow: Home-improvement retailer Lowe’s says it will close 20 underperforming stores in 15 states and cut 1,950 jobs in order to focus on more profitable locations. In Louisiana, the lone Lowe’s store slated for closure is in Chalmette. St. Bernard Parish candidate for District 103 Michael Bayham jumped at the chance to scold Lowe’s this morning, issuing a statement reading, “With well over 30,000 structures damaged or destroyed in Hurricane Katrina, the hardworking families of St. Bernard Parish and surrounding communities have faithfully utilized that (Lowe’s) location to help rebuild their homes. Sometimes corporate profitability needs to take a backseat to doing the right thing, and I urge Lowe’s to reconsider this decision.”
Good goods report: U.S. factories produced more goods in September for a third straight month. Factories made more airplanes, trucks and home electronics last month to meet rising demand, the Federal Reserve reports today. The 0.4% increase in factory output followed other promising signs in September. Hiring increased slightly, and retail sales grew by the most in seven months. Overall industrial production edged up 0.2% last month after being unchanged in August. Utility output decreased sharply, while mines continued to produce more. Auto output increased for a third straight month, home electronics production for a fifth. U.S. industrial production has increased 12.8% since June 2009, but remains 5.8% below its recent peak, reached in September 2007. Read more about the Fed’s report here.
