Data-Center Power Rules: MISO has filed with FERC to set new reliability requirements for data centers and other “large loads” over 50 MW, including special rules for big IT-driven “computational loads,” aiming to improve grid visibility after FERC’s mid-June push. Local Construction Boom: Amazon’s Northwest Louisiana data-center buildout is already driving work for Shreveport-Bossier contractors, with officials projecting up to 2,500 construction jobs and more long-term demand. Rural Health Funding: UL Lafayette received nearly $2.1M from the Louisiana Department of Health to expand rural nursing capacity and build an AI platform to help clinics identify community health needs. Energy & Environment: Carbon sequestration is moving forward in Southwest Louisiana despite Gov. Landry’s earlier moratorium, as a project near Goose Lake faces local concerns about impacts to the Chicot Aquifer. Community & Business: A new New Orleans community bank, Nola Bank, is launching amid consolidation, targeting minority communities with a minority depositary institution push. Food Safety: In Shreveport-Bossier, 11 restaurants logged three-plus critical health violations in inspections from Aug. 31 to Sept. 6. Workforce & Growth: Grow NELA reports Meta-related activity boosted sales tax revenue in every Northeast Louisiana parish in the first half of 2026 vs. 2024.