LOUISIANA UNEMPLOYMENT
Louisiana jobless rate rises for fourth month
(AP) - Louisiana's unemployment rate rose in April for the fourth straight month, as fewer people reported having work.
While the labor force was basically flat, according to the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of people who said they had a job fell by nearly 5,000.
The jobless rate rose to 6.5 from 6.2% in March, though it remained below April 2012's 6.8% rate.
A separate survey of employer payrolls was more positive. Those numbers, also published by BLS, shows payrolls were flat from March, but continued to hover just below Louisiana's all-time high. About 16,000 more people had a job than in April 2012.
The number of unemployed Louisianans rose to 135,000 in April, up from 129,000 in March. About 142,000 people were unemployed in April 2012.
DALAI LAMA-NEW ORLEANS
Dalai Lama kicks off New Orleans visit
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The Dalai Lama has kicked off his first visit to New Orleans, bringing his message of peace and compassion to a city plagued by persistent street violence.
Before addressing a gathering Friday at the city's convention center, the Tibetan Buddhist spiritual leader told reporters that "nonviolence is the only way of solving problems."
The Dalai Lama arrived Thursday, less than a week after a shooting at a Mother's Day parade left 19 people wounded while another was injured trying to flee. He expressed his condolences to the victims.
The Dalai Lama is scheduled to deliver Tulane University's commencement address Saturday at the Superdome
He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his nonviolent struggle against Chinese rule of Tibet.
NATURAL GAS-EXPORT TERMINAL
APNewsBreak: Energy Dept. backs Texas LNG plan
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Energy Department has given conditional approval to a Texas company that wants to export liquefied natural gas, the second LNG export project the Obama administration has approved as it faces a wave of export requests.
The permit would allow Freeport LNG Expansion L.P. to export up to 1.4 billion cubic feet of natural gas per day from its terminal near Freeport, Texas, south of Houston. It is subject to environmental review and final regulatory approval.
The approval Friday follows Energy Department authorization for the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal in Louisiana in 2011.
Energy companies are seeking federal permits for 20 export projects that could handle as much as 29 billion cubic feet of natural gas a day as production booms as a result of improved drilling techniques.
NO AIRPORT
N.O. Aviation Board appoints female chair
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The New Orleans Aviation Board, which governs the city-owned Louis Armstrong International Airport, has picked New Orleans lawyer Cheryl Teamer to be its first female chairperson.
Teamer will oversee the launch of an $826 million overhaul the airfield that Mayor Mitch Landrieu has dictated must be done in five years.
She succeeds Nolan Rollins, who left the board in April to devote his full time to his new position as president of the Urban League of Los Angeles. He had been commuting between Louisiana and California since December.
The Times-Picayune Mayor Mitch Landrieu appointed Teamer in January 2012 to a 5-year term. She is the founder of the Teamer Strategy Group, an advocacy, government relations and strategic planning firm.
PINNACLE-AMERISTAR-NEVADA
Nev. regulators approve Pinnacle, Ameristar deal
LAS VEGAS (AP) - Nevada regulators have approved Pinnacle Entertainment Inc.'s buyout of rival Ameristar Casinos Inc.
The $869 million deal will more than double Pinnacle's size.
Pinnacle owns seven U.S. casinos and a racetrack, and has another casino under development. Ameristar has eight casinos in the United States.
The deal had the approval of the boards of both Las Vegas operators, but needed the Nevada Gaming Commission to sign off. The commission approved the deal Thursday.
Pinnacle Entertainment Inc. has said the acquisition would save it at least $40 million a year and boost earnings.
Pinnacle has casinos in Louisiana, Missouri and Indiana.
Ameristar's holdings include casinos in Missouri, Iowa, Colorado, Mississippi, Indiana and Nevada.
POWERBALL JACKPOT
Powerball jackpot increased to $600M
BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - The Powerball jackpot for Saturday's drawing continues to grow.
The Multi-State Lottery Association, which operates the game for 45 lotteries including Louisiana's, said Friday the jackpot climbs to $600 million, the highest ever for the game.
The cash value of the May 18 jackpot is $376.9 million.
Louisiana has had 14 Powerball jackpot winners since joining the game in 1995, most recently in July 2010 with a jackpot of $85.7 million.
The largest Powerball jackpot ever won is $587.5 million in November 2012, which was split between two winning tickets.
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