News roundup: Jindal catches flack for 'Obomney' slip … Louisiana 1st-time jobless claims decrease … Midnight runs to deliver stronger beer to Mississippi

Published Jun 29, 2012 at 3:00 pm (Updated Jun 29, 2012)

Tongue tied and twisted: In a brief slip of the tongue while discussing the Supreme Court's health care ruling, Gov. Bobby Jindal invoked the term "Obomney" care, a phrase that does Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney no favors, The Wall Street Journal reports. The slip occurred this morning as Jindal and Republican Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell held a conference call with reporters. "There's only one candidate, Gov. Romney, who has committed that he will repeal the Obomney, uh, the Obamacare tax increase,'' Jindal said, quickly adding: "He will repeal Obamacare as soon as he's elected." Read the full story here.

Work it: State labor department figures released today show initial unemployment insurance claims filed in Louisiana decreased for the week ending June 23 to 3,633 from the previous week's total of 3,806. The figure was also lower than it was for the comparable week a year earlier, when there were 3,804 initial claims. The four-week moving average—a less volatile measure of claims—decreased to 3,972 from the previous week's total of 4,135. Continued unemployment claims for the week ending June 23 increased, up to 35,070 from 34,698 the previous week. The four-week moving average for continued claims increased to 34,036 from 33,257.

One hell of a beer run: Louisiana brewers and distributors are among those poised to rush stronger beer into Mississippi early Sunday. That's the official start of a new law that allows higher-alcohol beer—up to 8% by weight, or 10% by volume—to be made and sold in the Magnolia State. Until now, the limit was 5% by weight. Brewers including Louisiana's Abita Brewing Co., Tennessee's Yazoo Brewing Co. and Mississippi's Lazy Magnolia Brewing Co. say they're sending trucks to wholesalers first thing Sunday morning. The wholesalers are also promising to deliver kegs and bottles to select bars and stores Sunday morning for celebrations.