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Approved: The Metro Council on Tuesday unanimously approved Mayor Sid Edwards’ 2026 fiscal budget, a plan that includes significant cuts across nearly every city-parish department as leaders brace for an expected economic shortfall. To help soften the blow, council members voted to cut more than 19% from their own operating budget and redirect that money to several key departments, including the district attorney’s office, public works, juvenile court, and the public defender’s office, among others. The move will provide just over $550,000 in additional funding that will be divided among those agencies. Read more from WAFB-TV.
Charitable giving: Author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott on Tuesday revealed she gave $7.1 billion in donations to nonprofits in 2025, marking a significant increase in her annual giving from recent years. Scott acknowledged donating $2.6 billion in 2024 and $2.1 billion in 2023. The gifts this year bring her total giving since 2019 to $26.3 billion. Read more from the Associated Press.
Annual growth decelerates: Annual growth in U.S. labor costs decelerated in the third quarter to the slowest pace in four years, adding to evidence that a softening job market is helping limit inflationary pressures. The employment cost index, which tracks changes in wages and benefits, increased 3.5% in the 12 months ending in September, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics figures out Wednesday. On a quarterly basis, the gauge rose 0.8%. Read more from Bloomberg. A subscription may be required.
