T for Texas: The Shaw Group Inc. today announced it has been awarded a contract to provide its proprietary technology and engineering services for a new Ultra Selective Conversion furnace for Eastman Chemical Co.’s ethylene plant in Longview, Texas. Shaw says it will also procure the equipment for the furnace. The value of the contract was not disclosed. Shaw is also providing its proprietary technology, a process design package and front-end engineering design for a 1.5 million ton per annum grassroots ethylene plant for Chevron Phillips Chemical at its Cedar Bayou Plant in Baytown, Texas.
A change coming on: The Lafayette Parish School Board on Wednesday night approved Superintendent Pat Cooper’s reorganization plan by a 5-4 vote. The Advertiser reports the plan is touted by Cooper as the path to turn a “C” grade to an “A” within the next six years. Cooper says the plan, which focuses on changing responsibilities in the system’s central office, will streamline duties, increase efficiency and free up money to spend at the school level. Several board members have criticized Cooper for not clearly detailing the price tag that comes with the reorganization. For his part, the superintendent maintains the reorganization will allow the system to spend an additional $2.6 million in classrooms, primarily by eliminating duplication in the central office. Get the full story here.
Action! In Jefferson Parish, there’s construction work going on in the rear of a largely vacant lot just past Maine Street on Jefferson Highway, but it isn’t a makeover of the long-dormant Jefferson Plaza Shopping Center. As The Times-Picayune reports, workers are creating a Los Angeles street scene for a Seth Rogen movie being filmed in Jefferson Parish and New Orleans this summer. The movie is The End of the World, a look at how the apocalypse affects some of Hollywood’s most famous stars, according to published reports. And other major film projects are scheduled to follow this summer in Jefferson Parish, whose role in “Hollywood South” is continually increasing. Check out the full story here.
Today’s poll question: The Louisiana Public Service Commission is expected to vote next month on whether to eliminate annual delivery of the white pages telephone books and instead make them available by request only. How often do you use the white pages?
