Frozen out: Gov. John Bel Edwards declared a state of emergency in Louisiana today, as a blast of winter weather left major interstates closed, schools and universities shuttered and some local hospital branches closed. State workers have distributed 1.5 million pounds of salt throughout the state, according to Edwards’ administration, and officials are urging people to stay off the roads if possible. All the major interstates in the Capital City were closed, and officials warn that temperatures likely won’t warm enough during the day to clear any major thoroughfares of ice, The Associated Press reports.
Winner winner, chicken dinner: Business Insider has named Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers its “Retailer of The Year,” saying it was the best fast food chain it tried in 2017. “By focusing exclusively on chicken fingers, Raising Cane’s is able to perfect the form in a way few competitors can even dream of,” the website reports. In 2016, the Baton Rouge-based company was the fastest growing chain in the U.S., increasing sales by 25.9%. With 310 locations, the chain is still small compared with the competition. But, it’s growing rapidly, opening 59 new restaurants in the past year. Read the full story. Raising Cane’s was Business Report’s 2016 Company of the Year (100 or more employees).
Natural Joe’s: Trader Joe’s is removing controversial chemicals BPA and BPS from its register receipts, Bloomberg reports. The chemicals are widespread in register and ATM receipts, according to a new study out today. The U.S. has banned BPA in sippy cups, baby bottles and formula packaging. Some studies have shown the substance disrupts normal hormone functioning, particularly in younger people, while others have traced links to diabetes and obesity. BPA and BPS-free receipts will be rolling out at all Trader Joe’s stores as soon as possible, says vice president of product marketing Mark Sloan. Read more.
