Local flavor: Baton Rouge-based Capital City Chip Co. is launching a seed-oil-free kettle chip brand this Saturday at Southside Produce and Calandro’s Supermarket, with plans to expand into other Capital Region retailers. Founded by Steven Gottfried and Cody Dunham, the company will offer three core flavors, sea salt, Louisiana BBQ and garlic and vinegar, along with a rotating flavor, using avocado oil and carefully selected ingredients. The founders are taking a grassroots approach to building the locally made brand through in-store sampling and community events, with plans to eventually reach stores that carry Gottfried’s St. Bruno Bread Co. products. 225 has the full story.
Tesla shifts gears: Tesla plans to end Cybertruck production at its Austin, Texas, factory around mid-2027 to make room for increased manufacturing of its autonomous Cybercab ride-share vehicle, CEO Elon Musk announced. The Cybertruck has struggled with recalls, safety concerns and disappointing sales, with U.S. sales falling about 48% in 2025 to just over 20,000 units, far below Musk’s initial annual target of 250,000. The shift signals Tesla’s growing focus on autonomous transportation as it seeks to compete with Waymo, which already operates about 4,000 self-driving vehicles offering paid rides in 14 U.S. cities. The New York Times has the full story.
Cautious optimism: U.S. consumer sentiment rose to a three-month high of 51 in early November, up from 48 in October and exceeding economists’ expectations, as Americans reported modest improvements in their personal finances. However, affordability remains a major concern, with 57% of respondents citing high prices as eroding their living standards, while also expressing growing anxiety about a potential AI investment bubble. Year-ahead inflation expectations eased to 4.3%, and views on durable goods purchases improved. Bloomberg has the full story.
Should Louisiana actively recruit more AI data centers?
