Secession: In a feature titled “The New Secession,” The Atlantic magazine brings local conflicts to a national stage by reporting about the efforts of residents’ in the southeast corner of East Baton Rouge Parish to become the incorporated city of St. George. In the article, The Atlantic refers to the St. George effort as a form of “resegregation.” Read the full story.
Shutdown: Dressbarn, the women’s clothing chain that’s been around for nearly 60 years, is closing all 650 of its stores, including three in the Baton Rouge area. Its owner, Ascena Retail Group Inc., says it wants to focus on its more profitable brands, including Ann Taylor and Lane Bryant. The company did not say when Dressbarn will shut all its stores. Dressbarn employs about 6,800 people. Read the full story.
Season changes: The official Atlantic hurricane season begins on June 1, even as many communities are still recovering from a destructive year in 2018, The Conversation reports. Early forecasts for 2019 have predicted a slightly below-normal season, with 13 named storms expected to form and two of them developing into major hurricanes. But as the forecasters warn, it only takes one storm making landfall to make it an active season for people in harm’s way. Read the full story.
