BATON ROUGE — The House Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations on Thursday killed four bills seeking to raise the minimum wage through different approaches. Louisiana is one of five states that does not have its own minimum wage. House Bill 472, sponsored by state Rep. Tammy Phelps, D-Shreveport, sought to increase the tipped minimum wage. Presently, tipped employees, defined as those who make at least $30 per month in tips, can be paid as little as $2.13 an hour by thei

The Great Southern Wood Preserving lumber processing company in Mansura recently announced a $22.5 million expansion. The Avoyelles Parish company, known for its YellaWood® brand pressure-treated pine, is expanding the selection of wood treatments for residential, industrial and marine use produced at the facility, according to the Louisiana Economic Development (LED) office. The expansion will help retain 75 jobs and create 58 new direct jobs with an average annual salary of

In 1947, business people and forest landowners gathered at the Bentley Hotel in downtown Alexandria with the idea to form a group that would be a forum for disseminating information promoting good forestry among landowners and the general public. Thus on Sept. 30, the Louisiana Forestry Association (LFA) was born. Seventy-five years later, the LFA will celebrate its Diamond Anniversary when members meet Aug. 30 to Sept. 1, 2022, for its annual convention at the Golden Nugget

BATON ROUGE — Louisiana residents say the most common barrier to having broadband internet is the cost of the service, according to the 2022 Louisiana Survey, released Tuesday. The survey, sponsored by the Reilly Center for Media & Public Affairs at LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication, was based on online and phone responses from 508 Louisiana residents. In the fifth installment of the survey, 75 percent of respondents already had broadband internet service in their ho

An 18-year-old Kentwood man was arrested April 22 in connection with a Rosland arson investigation, according to the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry (LDAF), and expect other arrests to be made. Agents with LDAF has charged Noah Steptore with criminal trespass, simple criminal damage to property and fire-raising on lands of another by criminal negligence. Firefighters in February responded to a large grass fire on Bryce Hyde Road in Roseland. An investigation in

Join us for a free event for men and women who help shape children's future. The Louisiana Forestry Association's Educators Tour is set for May 25-27, 2022, and we're inviting you to learn more about why forestry is important to the state and why trees are Louisiana's No. 1 cash crop! The tour will incorporate all aspects of conservation including water, wildlife, and woodlands. These experiences will help you be a better educator about Louisiana’s renewable resources and giv