Congratulations: Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge has been named the 2013 Specialty Hospital of the Year by the Louisiana State Nurses Association and Louisiana Nurses Foundation. As Daily Report has previously reported, other local hospitals including Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center and Lane Regional Medical Center were also recognized by the groups recently with Hospital of the Year awards in other categories. The full slate of this year’s honorees can be found here.
Paper or plastic? Louisiana’s Department of Revenue is reminding taxpayers that they can request a paper check for their tax refunds this year. If a taxpayer doesn’t specifically choose the check or electronic deposit on tax forms, the refund will come on a pre-loaded debit card. The pre-paid Visa cards generated complaints last year when the Revenue Department introduced them and did away with paper checks. Some people said they didn’t understand how to use the cards or were charged fees when they did.
Something’s cooking: Nicholls State University officials say ground has been broken for a new 33,000-square-foot, $12.6 million facility for the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute on its Thibodaux campus, envisioned to accommodate about 500 students. It will allow the culinary program to grow in size and scope by expanding course offerings, Nicholls officials say. Construction is expected to begin in May, with an opening expected within two years. The project is being funded with $8.1 million in state funds and $4.5 million in private donations raised by Nicholls.
