Mortarboards and tassels: LSU’s 300th commencement exercises are taking place today, with around 1,900 students graduating. There is no main ceremony for December commencement, but every degree candidate’s name will be called individually at separate ceremonies for each college. Gov. John Bel Edwards will speak at the Manship School of Mass Communication ceremony. Read the full LSU announcement.
I.D. check: The minimum age to purchase cigarettes, e-cigarettes and other tobacco products will be raised to 21 nationwide under the spending bill passed by the Senate on Thursday in a provision aimed at curbing a surge in underage vaping, The Wall Street Journal reports. If signed into law, the new restriction would take effect in September. Altria Group Inc. and Reynolds American Inc., the two biggest U.S. cigarette manufacturers, both support the age restriction, as does Juul Labs Inc., the startup that health officials blame for the rise in teenage e-cigarette use. Read the full story.
Shopping: Americans increased their spending in November at the fastest pace in four months, and income growth rebounded to its strongest gain since August. The Commerce Department said this morning that consumer spending rose at a 0.4% annual rate last month, led by a jump in spending on durable goods like cars. It was up from a more modest annual gain of 0.3% in October, and it was the best showing since July. Read the full report.
