4,500-MW demand: Entergy Louisiana CEO Phillip May revealed that Meta’s planned Richland Parish data center is expected to require 4,500 megawatts of electricity, nearly four times the peak demand of New Orleans, with usage expected to remain near that level almost continuously. The disclosure came as May defended billions of dollars in new generation and transmission infrastructure Entergy plans to build largely to serve the data center. Critics questioned whether the investment exposes other ratepayers to financial risk, but May said Meta’s agreement requires the company to cover the infrastructure’s costs and adjust payments if Entergy’s costs rise or fall. The Center Square has the full story.
Not missing a beat: Loyola University New Orleans’ School of Music and Theatre Professions has been named to Billboard’s 2026 list of Top Music Business Schools, marking its sixth consecutive year receiving the recognition. The program has expanded its industry-focused offerings, including the student-run Wolf Moon Entertainment collective, a 4+1 MBA pathway and programs in London and Hollywood designed to provide real-world experience and professional connections. Loyola also has added prominent faculty, including Dawn Richard and Grammy-nominated vocalist Jaime Woods.
Cooling labor market: U.S. initial unemployment claims fell slightly to 197,000 last week, keeping layoffs at historically low levels and below 220,000 throughout the year. The unemployment rate edged up to 4.2% and long-term unemployment reached a five-year high. September’s weak job growth of just 29,000 jobs highlights the cooling labor market, though slower population growth and reduced immigration mean the economy needs fewer new jobs to keep unemployment relatively low. The Associated Press has the full story.
