Daily Report AM

These US airports are borrowing billions as passenger growth strains terminals

U.S. airports are in the midst of a borrowing boom as they race to modernize aging terminals and keep pace with surging passenger volumes,...

Roundup: Jobless claims / Venezuela / Housing market

Up slightly: U.S. filings for jobless benefits rose in the last week of 2025 but remain historically low, despite signs that the labor market...

Houston investors acquire Prairieville retail center along Airline

A pair of Houston investors have purchased the Oak Grove Plaza Shopping Center in Prairieville.  Tim Nguyen and Cathy Huynh purchased the retail center through...

Upskilling employees is the new company playbook for retention

Upskilling is one of the most overlooked competitive advantages in today’s economy, as companies grapple with rapid technological change and an accelerating skills gap,...

This popular Perkins Road bar is closing

Uncle Earl’s Bar, the Perkins Road nightlife spot perhaps best known for its annual St. Patrick’s Day bash, is closing on Jan. 15. Owner Jordan...

Mid City Ballroom seeks rezoning to obtain alcohol license

Mid City Ballroom, the intimate concert venue on South Acadian Thruway, has submitted a rezoning application as it looks to move away from its...

From first step to pipe dream: The decline of the starter home

The traditional idea of a “starter home” is becoming increasingly outdated as rising prices, larger floor plans and shifting buyer expectations reshape the U.S....

‘Capital Assets’ takes a closer look at what drives the region

Greater Baton Rouge is easy to underestimate. Drive through, and you might see a midsized Southern capital—government buildings, a big state university, refineries along...

Roundup: Venezuelan crude / Hiring rebounds / LNG tech deal

Deliveries to US: President Donald Trump says Venezuela’s interim authorities will deliver 30 million to 50 million barrels of sanctioned crude to the U.S.,...

What recruiters are looking for in aspiring CEOs

As companies increasingly rely on professional search firms and assessment specialists to fill top leadership roles, aspiring C-suite executives face a far more rigorous...

How data centers are making Americans rethink the power grid 

America’s AI-fueled data center boom is pushing the U.S. power grid toward a breaking point, forcing utilities and tech giants into a high-stakes standoff...

Why residents are continuing to exit Louisiana despite state’s economic wins

Louisiana remains the nation’s top “outbound” state for movers, even as political and economic leaders point to splashy industrial wins as evidence the tide...

Louisiana’s new modified comparative fault system, explained

As of Jan. 1, Louisiana has officially moved away from a pure comparative fault system and adopted a modified comparative fault standard for personal...

New Jersey company buys four Capital Region health care properties

Essential Properties Realty Trust, a New Jersey-based company, has acquired four health care properties in the Capital Region for a combined $28.9 million. The properties...

Roundup: Southern University / Venture Global / Venezuela’s new leader 

Presidential search: The Southern University System has launched its search for the next president, naming a broad-based committee of faculty, students, alumni, legal leaders...

Record $9.6M fine issued against Third Coast after Gulf oil spill

Pipeline safety regulators on Monday assessed their largest fine ever against the company responsible for leaking 1.1 million gallons of oil into the Gulf...

Rolfe McCollister: 20 wishes for Baton Rouge in 2026

In his latest column, Rolfe McCollister shares his wish list for the new year.  Most, he writes, will require us to think differently and disrupt...

b1Bank closes its acquisition of Progressive Bank

Business First Bancshares, the holding company for b1Bank, has completed its acquisition of Progressive Bancorp Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Progressive Bank, expanding...

Roundup: Warby Parker arrives / Theft settlement / Sticker shock 

Perkins Rowe opening: Warby Parker will be expanding into the Capital Region with a new retail store in Perkins Rowe. The location will occupy...

Who’s building and who’s buying in Greater Baton Rouge

Construction plans and real estate deals continue to reshape the region. Here are the latest permits issued and property transactions in East Baton Rouge,...