Even Christmas trees are feeling the two-tier economy

Early indicators from Christmas tree sellers suggest U.S. consumers are still spending this holiday season—but with noticeably more caution, The Wall Street Journal writes.  Sales...

What dealmakers are saying about M&A activity for next year

Global dealmaking surged in 2025, and Wall Street advisers say the momentum is far from over, Bloomberg writes.  After racking up roughly $4.5 trillion in...

Louisiana’s LNG export boom means higher domestic utility costs. Here’s why

Louisiana’s rapid expansion as a global liquefied natural gas export hub is delivering investment and jobs—but it’s also pushing utility costs higher for households...

Why some East Coast wind projects are being paused over security concerns

The Trump administration said Monday it is pausing leases for five large-scale offshore wind projects under construction in the East Coast due to unspecified...

Roundup: Woman’s Hospital Foundation / New data center / Landry’s Greenland task 

Credit rating upgrade: Moody’s Credit Ratings upgraded Woman’s Hospital Foundation to an A1 rating with a stable outlook, citing strong financial performance, liquidity and...

Japan green-lights imports from this Ascension ammonia project

Japan has cleared the way for a major Louisiana-made clean energy export, The Center Square reports.  Japanese regulators have certified power giant JERA to import...

Fast-tracked power plants put Louisiana ratepayers on the hook, critics say

Louisiana regulators have approved a sweeping rule change that could significantly accelerate how power plants are approved for energy-hungry industrial projects, including large data...

Roundup: Baton Rouge General / TikTok / Drug prices / Christmas dining

Planting roots: Baton Rouge General on Thursday broke ground on its new Livingston Parish hospital, located in Denham Springs at the intersection of Juban...

How AI hiring systems may be oversimplifying ‘fairness’

As artificial intelligence becomes a near-default tool in hiring, new research warns that companies may be oversimplifying what “fairness” really means, the Harvard Business...

America’s manufacturing revival faces a workforce reality check

For years, U.S. manufacturing has been framed as an industry in steady decline, defined by offshoring and shuttered plants. But a new analysis argues...

Energy Transfer pumps the brakes on its Lake Charles LNG export project

Energy Transfer on Thursday announced it is suspending the development of its Lake Charles LNG export facility, Reuters reports. The facility is the first LNG...

LED celebrates a record year for economic development in Louisiana

The year 2025 has shaped up to be the largest for investment and job creation in Louisiana’s history, Louisiana Economic Development says. More than $61...

Roundup: Southern University / Barksdale Air Force Base / Medicaid

Interim president: The Southern University Board of Supervisors on Thursday selected Orlando McMeans, the chancellor of the university’s Ag Center, as Southern’s interim president....

Without touching sticker price, automakers are raising new car costs

Automakers are hiking prices on new cars, but in a way consumers are unlikely to notice, USA Today reports. The price hikes come not in...

This popular restaurant chain is opening its second Capital Region location

Dave’s Hot Chicken, the quickly expanding fast-casual chain known for its Nashville-style hot chicken, is opening its second location in the Capital Region. The brand’s...

‘LaPolitics’: Sen. Cassidy getting help from the U.S. Senate majority leader

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune will travel to Louisiana next month to headline a fundraiser for Sen. Bill Cassidy's reelection campaign. Thune, a South...

Why the final days of the year matter more to your team than you...

As the year winds down, many teams limp into January exhausted rather than energized. A new Harvard Business Review essay argues that the problem isn’t...

Feds pave the way for Big Tech to plug data centers directly into power...

Federal regulators will allow tech companies to effectively plug massive data centers directly into power plants, issuing a long-awaited order Thursday, as the Trump...

Roundup: UL Lafayette / Marijuana / Stock market

On the hunt: The University of Louisiana System on Wednesday announced the formation of the presidential search committee for the University of Louisiana at...

From secure to spooked: White-collar workers face rising job fears

White-collar workers are heading into 2026 with growing unease as layoffs, slower hiring and rapid advances in artificial intelligence reshape the professional job market,...