Jane Goodall, renowned chimpanzee expert and conservationist, dies at 91 3A
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T h u r s d ay, O c T O b e r 2, 2025
Parties play blame game as shutdown takes effect
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Economist projects BR to add 21,600 jobs by 2027 Rise in construction projects could contribute to growth BY IANNE SALVOSA Staff writer
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO By J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE
The West Lawn of the Capitol and the National Mall stretch into the distance as seen from the terrace of the Capitol on the first day of a government shutdown on Wednesday.
Debate continues over funding and negotiations BY MARK BALLARD and ALYSE PFEIL Staff writers
“All Chuck Schumer needs to do is get over the tantrum that he’s having with the results of the election from November, and vote yes to keep the government open.” HOUSE MAJORITy LEADER STEVE SCALISE, R-Jefferson
WASHINGTON — Congressional party leaders spent much of Wednesday, the first day of a government shutdown, pointing the finger at each other and saying they did not know just how long some government services will remain closed. Republican House leaders — Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Benton, and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-Jefferson — spent much of the day talking to the media. But real action, or lack thereof, was in the Senate. The House last month passed a resolution, on a largely party-line vote, to authorize government spending past the Sept. 30 deadline to Nov. 21. For the third time Wednesday morning, the Senate rejected the
“continuing resolution” on a vote of 55-45. Sixty votes are needed for passage of financial instruments, and Republicans hold only 53 seats in the Senate. “We need a handful of Democrats to join Republicans to reopen the government and once we do that, then we can talk about the issues that Democrats are raising,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said before the vote. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said the only reason the government shutdown is “because Republicans refuse to negotiate.” “All Chuck Schumer needs to do is get over the tantrum that he’s having with the results of the election from November, and vote yes to keep the government open,”
“What should be happening is negotiation, but that’s not happening yet.” U.S. REP. CLEO FIELDS, D-Baton Rouge
Thanks to industrial construction in Ascension Parish, Baton Rouge is forecast to be the thirdfastest growing metro area in Louisiana over the next two years. The region is projected to add 10,500 jobs in 2026 and 11,100 jobs in 2027, according to economist Loren Scott’s Louisiana Economic Forecast. Scott said more than $20 billion in projects are in motion; most are in Ascension Parish, home of the 17,000-acre RiverPlex MegaPark, a mixed-use development on the west bank of the parish bordering the Mississippi River. Scott, the president of Loren C. Scott & Associates, presented the report Wednesday at the Greater Baton Rouge Business Report’s Louisiana Business Symposium. Scott The report states that Baton Rouge’s nonfarm employment growth has been upward and steady since 1990, barring a drop during the pandemic. “You don’t probably realize how fortunate you are to be operating here,” Scott said at the symposium. With a projected 5% increase in jobs, the Capital Region ranks third in the state for percentage growth, behind Lake Charles and Monroe, which are tied for first, but notches the top spot in absolute growth. The RiverPlex MegaPark development will be anchored by the $5.8 billion Hyundai steel mill project, for which Gov. Jeff Landry and Ascension Parish officials committed $600 million to upgrade the MegaPark land with a wastewater treatment plant, road and rail updates and land purchases. The project will create 1,300 direct jobs. Other projects at the MegaPark include CF Industries’ $4 million blue ammonia plant and Linde’s $400 million air separation unit. Entergy is spending nearly half a billion dollars on its Commodore substation in Iberville Parish, which will connect two voltage systems to help power the MegaPark projects. Ascension Parish will also be home to Air
ä See SHUTDOWN, page 13A
ä See JOBS, page 11A
Louisiana private schools seek to delay new pre-K regulations
from his children to plead his case task force after the legislation he’d schools to obtain a day care center school accountability. But critics Leaders say rules to lawmakers. He testified repeat- championed, Act 409, had been license — a lengthy process involv- call the regulations excessive and excessive, unnecessary edly that private preschools, like signed into law. “This law is not ing background checks and site in- unnecessary given private schools’
the one where he says his daughter was harmed by another student, must be better regulated. Staff writer But when Williams returned to Roger Williams spent many long the Capitol in August, it was to celdays in the state Capitol this year, ebrate. taking time off work and away “We did it,” he told a child abuse
BY PATRICK WALL
WEATHER HIGH 90 LOW 68 PAGE 6B
just words on paper — it’s a shield for Louisiana’s children.” The sweeping 32-page law regulates hiring and training, child supervision and abuse reporting at day cares and preschools. It requires pre-K programs at private
spections — and allows families to sue for damages if their children are abused at school. Advocates like Williams tout the law, which the state Legislature passed unanimously this year, as a major victory for child safety and
existing safety protocols and warn that tuition might rise to offset the costs of compliance, including extra teachers, background checks and facility upgrades.
Business ...................12A Commentary ................5B Nation-World................2A Classified .....................6D Deaths .........................3B Opinion ........................4B Comics-Puzzles .....3D-5D Living............................1D Sports ..........................1C
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ä See PRE-K, page 13A
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