Sewerage & Water Board Overhaul: New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno signed an executive order creating PUMPS, an advisory group to shape reforms to SWBNO’s leadership, operations, finances and long-term future, as city leaders push for more local control after billing and drainage failures and major water main breaks. Hurricane Readiness & Home Hardening: Louisiana’s Fortify Homes Program opened its next lottery round with 3,000 grants, offering up to $10,000 for FORTIFIED Roof upgrades in more parishes, while state climatologist Jay Grymes cautioned that a below-average Atlantic season doesn’t mean Louisiana is safe. Energy & Critical Minerals: DOE awarded $134 million for rare earth element processing projects tied to Louisiana waste-to-value plans near Gramercy, aiming to strengthen domestic supply chains. Hydrogen Finance: Plug Power advanced its St. Gabriel hydrogen liquefaction strategy by monetizing federal ITC tied to the Louisiana facility. Local Infrastructure: Delta Utilities begins year-long Tchoupitoulas Street work for natural gas infrastructure with intermittent lane closures, and DOTD schedules I-20 westbound lane closures in Bossier City for major rehab work. Business & Jobs: Pelican Engineering in Lafayette named Justin Courville as CEO, and Rouses announced a new Chalmette store planned for 2027. Manufacturing/Tech: ExxonMobil’s Baton Rouge refinery case study highlights Meltio’s laser metal 3D printing approach to cut costs and lead times.