Virginia means business: Virginia’s economic development agency has risen to the top of a national site-selection ranking under the leadership of Stephen Moret, former Louisiana Economic Development secretary, The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports. Site Selection magazine awarded Virginia its Prosperity Cup as “the most competitive state-level economic development group” in the country, thanks in large part to winning the HQ2 sweepstakes for Amazon’s new $2.5 billion headquarters. Louisiana won the same honor under Moret’s leadership in 2011. Read the full story.
Coming up short: A proposal pushed by Louisiana’s oil and gas industry to let refineries and other industrial plants keep some environmental violations secret fell a handful of votes short of House passage Thursday, amid fierce opposition that it could hide the impacts of the state’s petrochemical industry. Lawmakers voted 46-40 for the measure, but it needed 53 votes to pass. Read the full story.
Smoldering: The House judiciary committee did not approve or kill a bill Thursday that would allow for recreational marijuana use in Louisiana, WAFB-TV reports. Instead, lawmakers sent it to the House’s criminal justice committee, where the concept faces opposition. Baton Rouge Democrat Rep. Edmond Jordan’s bill would allow the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry to distribute 15 industrial marijuana growing permits, and then sell it to dispensaries. Read the full story.
