What the records show: Richland Parish schools faced criticism for resisting a public records request seeking details about $13.76 million in employee bonuses funded by increased sales tax revenue from Meta’s $10 billion Hyperion data center. The district released the records after legal intervention, revealing that 183 employees, including teachers and Superintendent Sheldon Jones, received $50,935 bonuses, while 124 support staffers received $17,472. The dispute raised broader questions about government transparency and public scrutiny of data center development in Louisiana. The Center Square has the full story.
JetBlue joins list: JetBlue is introducing its new domestic first-class cabin, BlueFirst, as airlines increasingly invest in premium seating to attract higher-paying travelers and offset rising operating costs. The rollout, beginning next month and continuing through 2027, is part of JetBlue’s turnaround strategy as it works toward an operating profit in 2027, despite $8.4 billion in debt. The move follows similar upgrades by competitors such as Frontier and reflects airlines’ growing bet that demand for roomier seats will remain strong even as fares and operating expenses rise. CNBC has the full story.
Powering the boom: A BloombergNEF report warns that gas-fired power plants planned to support the U.S. data center boom could increase power emissions by about 10% above 2025 levels if all announced projects are completed. Developers have proposed roughly 181 gigawatts of gas-fired generation, more than 90% of it in the U.S., as they seek faster access to electricity than the existing grid can provide. Although many plants are intended as temporary power sources, favorable economics could keep them operating long term, potentially adding 345 million metric tons of annual greenhouse gas emissions. Bloomberg has the full story.
Who should bear the cost of road improvements needed for SpaceX’s planned Louisiana spaceport?
