Central LA
Central La. acute-care medical clinics take pressure off crowded ERs
An increase in the number of acute-care clinics in Central LA could open new ways for patients to access basic health care. Kisatchie Medical Center clinic recently expanded, a new walk-in clinic opened in the Pineville Walmart, Cenla Urgent Care recently opened, and the Loving Care nurse-led clinic opened at LA College. Full article.
USDA Rural Dev: Funding available for independent producers, farmer and rancher cooperatives, and producer groups
The LA USDA Rural Dev office is accepting applications for Value-Added Producer Grants for independent producers, farmer and rancher cooperatives, and producer groups. The service area includes 22 parishes. Rapides Parish is the only one in Central Louisiana. Funding is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the loan and grant agreement. Full article.
4 Central LA parishes to decide tax elections
Tax elections will be on ballots May 1 in four Central Louisiana parishes. Polls will open at 6 a.m. and close at 8:30 p.m. in the affected voting precincts in Beauregard, Evangeline, Rapides and Vernon parishes. No candidate elections will be held, only tax referendums. The only election to be held in Rapides Parish is a 6.14-mill, 10-year property tax renewal for the Ward 9 Recreation District. Full article.
Beads & Boos: For Central LA students, some help & a healthy challenge
Beads: To the Orchard Foundation in Alexandria, for developing the new Cenla Work-Ready Network, which is a program designed to provide students in nine Central Louisiana parishes with relevant job skills training and help them earn the National Career Readiness Certificate. BEADS: To area high school students who are participating in "Get Healthy, Cenla," a video challenge issued by the Rapides Foundation in Alexandria. Online voting is under way for the 30-second videos on the importance of healthy eating and physical activity, produced by students at 39 high schools. Full article.
Shift to service-sector employment seen in Central LA
Like much of the US, Central LA and the rest of the state saw the economy shift from one based on manufacturing to one based on services. Jim Clinton: "That's very much a part of what we have been seeing in the economy…Like other shifts, it leads back to flexibility in our work force, training and retraining so our work force can respond." On the national, state and local levels, jobs have been shifting from ones classified as "goods producing" to ones classified as "service providing" for decades. Full article.
An Important Message from the Chamber of Commerce of Central Louisiana, CLEDA, and Cenla Advantage Partnership
As you know, the Special State Legislative Session on Redistricting is underway in Baton Rouge. The redistricting of Congressional and state Legislative seats are of vital importance to the future of Central Louisiana. Therefore, the Chamber/CLEDA and CAP will provide regular updates about the potential impact of the process on our region. We encourage you to contact members of the Senate and House Governmental Affairs Committees to express your support for redistricting plans that provide fair and appropriate representation for our area. Redistricting legislation, including maps can be viewed at www.legis.state.la.us scroll down to Bill Number and enter the House or Senate bill number to access the proposed plans. Read Full Message
Central LA sees slight population growth
Central LA's population grew nearly 2.5 percent over the past decade, with the biggest increase in Rapides Parish, which added more than 5,000 residents. About 35 percent of the new residents in the area are of Hispanic or Latino heritage, making that easily the fastest-growing segment of the region's population. Full article.
Gas prices rise
Gas prices hit a spike recently as oil traded higher following unrest in Egypt and Libya. Prices are expected to rise, and consumers could be looking at a large spike in the coming months if the unrest spreads to other oil-producing countries. Fuel prices hit an average of $3.19 per gallon for regular unleaded, which is the highest price posted in February since 1990. Full Article.
Flu widespread in state, especially in Central LA
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently classified flu activity in LA as "widespread," the highest ranking it can give. The highest prevalence of the ailment is in Central LA, where flu symptoms account for more than 15 percent of doctor and emergency room visits. Full article.
Rice clinics scheduled for January
LSU’s AgCenter will conduct a series of rice clinics to help farmers prepare for the upcoming growing season, and two of the clinics will be in Central Louisiana. A clinic in Ville Platte is set for Jan 5 and another is set for Bunkie on Jan 11. Topics will include insect control, weeds, diseases, drill-seeding rice, updates on new variety development, fertility and the rice market. Full article.
