Animals’ best friend: The Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association has named Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Commissioner Mike Strain its Veterinarian of the Year. The association’s president, Dr. Dale Peyroux, says Strain has been a leader in both the veterinary field and in public service. He says Strain’s knowledge of and concern for animal health and safety transcends keeping the public safe. Strain is a past president of the association.
Ringing it up: U.S. consumers increased their spending in December at a slower pace, while their income grew by the largest amount in eight years. Income surged because companies rushed to pay dividends before income taxes increased on high-earners. The Commerce Department reports this morning that consumer spending rose 0.2% last month—roughly half the pace of the 0.4% increase experienced in November. Meanwhile, income jumped 2.6% in December from November. More details can be found in the full story here.
Cashed out: The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid rose sharply last week but remained at a level consistent with moderate hiring. Weekly applications for unemployment benefits leapt 38,000 to a seasonally adjusted 368,000, the Labor Department says. The increase comes after applications plummeted in the previous two weeks to five-year lows. Applications fell by a combined 45,000 in the second and third weeks of January. The full story can be found here.
