Roundup: Oil inventories / Fleur de Lis Pizza / Fallen deputy

Above forecasts: U.S. crude inventories jumped 6.4 million barrels last week—far above forecasts—as domestic production hit a record 13.9 million barrels per day and...

What companies think the job market will look like for college grads in 2026

The job market for the Class of 2026 is shaping up to be the weakest in years, as employers brace for economic uncertainty and...

What Chevron’s CEO is saying about future LNG supply and demand

Chevron is forecasting steady global growth in LNG demand but warns the market could face lower prices later this decade as a wave of...

Argent LNG unveils plans for a new export terminal at Port Fourchon

Argent LNG is proposing a new multibillion-dollar export terminal in Port Fourchon.  The 25 million-ton-per-year facility, announced Wednesday, would position the company among the largest...

More American workers are turning to side gigs due to job insecurity

As workers face frozen salaries, inflation and fear of layoffs, some have decided to branch out from their traditional careers. They’re taking on side...

State subsidies for data centers are often concealed

A new Good Jobs First report warns that most states offering data center incentives conceal which companies benefit, limiting public oversight, Louisiana Illuminator writes.  The...

Roundup: Verizon layoffs / Jobless numbers / Mortgage rates

Getting slimmer: Verizon plans to cut about 15,000 jobs—its largest reduction ever—as it confronts intensifying competition in wireless and home internet. The carrier will...

Startup allows investors to buy shares in individual rental homes

A fast-growing real estate startup is pushing fractional ownership into new territory—building what it calls a “stock market for real estate,” CNBC writes.   Arrived, which...

Roundup: LSU transparency / NOLA’s $125M loan / LNG surge

Concerns raised: In a column, Louisiana Illuminator editor Greg LaRose argues that LSU’s handling of the University of New Orleans transition raises broader concerns...

Builders offering mortgage rates below traditional lenders to lure homebuyers

Homebuilders are increasingly using ultra-low mortgage rates to keep sales moving—offering financing far cheaper than traditional lenders and reshaping the economics of new-home purchases,...

State OKs sending Smitty’s oily waste to Jefferson Parish landfill

Louisiana regulators have approved an emergency request allowing a Jefferson Parish landfill to accept some of the millions of gallons of contaminated waste generated...

Due to the shutdown, October economic reports may never be released

The October jobs and inflation reports may never be released due to the government shutdown, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday.  As Bloomberg...

Chevron sees AI-driven electricity demand as a new frontier

Chevron plans to grow oil and gas production by up to 3% annually through 2030 while cautiously moving into the power sector, The Wall...

Roundup: Last penny minted / Atlanta Fed president / Fortified roofs

One-cent demise: The U.S. Mint in Philadelphia on Wednesday pressed its last penny, marking the latest step in the 1-cent coin’s demise. President Donald...

Food retailers also feeling the pain from SNAP benefit cuts and delays

Independent grocers and small food retailers nationwide are facing financial strain as the ongoing federal shutdown stalls SNAP benefit payments, cutting off a major...

Roundup: Mortgage demand / Government shutdown / $10B Toyota investment

Applications surge: Homebuyers made a surprising push last week as mortgage applications rose 6%—the strongest pace since September—despite slightly higher interest rates, according to...

What to know about the wide-ranging lawsuit against Smitty’s Supply

Louisiana and federal regulators have filed a sweeping lawsuit against Smitty’s Supply Inc., seeking potentially more than $1 billion in fines and penalties tied...

The Fed is divided over what poses the biggest threat to the economy

Federal Reserve officials are increasingly divided over whether stubborn inflation or a weakening job market poses the bigger risk, clouding the outlook for interest...

Roundup: Small business optimism / College enrollment / Denham Springs

Slipping: U.S. small business optimism dipped in October as profits and sales weakened amid higher material costs, labor shortages and the ongoing government shutdown,...

Shell appealing arbitration loss against Venture Global over LNG contracts 

Shell has filed an appeal in New York Supreme Court to overturn its arbitration loss against U.S. liquefied natural gas producer Venture Global, Reuters...