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Round two: Louisiana Economic Development is launching the second round of its FastSites program, with $50 million available for infrastructure and site improvements designed to help communities compete for new economic development projects. Applications will open Oct. 1 and close Dec. 1, with projects required to be development-ready, able to begin construction within nine months, include matching funds and demonstrate a path to repayment. Backed by a $200 million state fund, FastSites aims to reduce the time, risk and cost of preparing sites while allowing repaid funds to support future development opportunities.
Consumers keep spending: U.S. retail sales rose a stronger-than-expected 1.2% in August after a revised 0.5% decline in July, with gains across categories including autos, clothing, furniture and online shopping. Consumer spending remained resilient even as gas prices climbed sharply, with the key retail sales control group rising 1.4%, a figure used to help gauge economic growth. However, economists and retailers warn that persistently high fuel prices and inflation could put more pressure on household budgets and challenge future consumer spending. The Associated Press has the full story.
Still catching up: Apple’s revamped Siri, released with its latest smartphone software, can now handle more conversational and complex tasks, bringing it closer to AI chatbots such as ChatGPT and Claude. However, newer AI assistants such as Instinct and Meta’s Muse are moving beyond chat by completing tasks online, including booking travel, managing calendars and filling out forms. The gap puts pressure on Apple to turn Siri into a more capable AI agent while balancing its emphasis on privacy and maintaining the value of the iPhone ecosystem. The Washington Post has the full story.
