AGP Executive Report

Meta Trial in the Spotlight: A bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general opened a multi-week consumer protection trial in federal court, arguing Meta designed addictive, harmful features on Facebook and Instagram for kids and teens while misleading the public about safety. Port & Logistics Growth: The U.S. Army Corps cleared the Louisiana International Terminal in St. Bernard Parish to proceed, setting up a major deepwater container terminal build tied to freight by truck and rail. Local Procurement Fight: Baton Rouge sued major fire truck manufacturers and a trade association, alleging price-fixing and restricted supply for Louisiana municipalities. Amazon Data Center Push: Amazon announced a fast expansion in northwest Louisiana, adding a third Shreveport campus and boosting total planned investment to $18B. Food Safety Pressure: Walmart-linked soup and egg recalls expanded under FDA scrutiny, as researchers push for answers to prevent the next outbreak. Heat & Risk: New Orleans-area forecasts warned of sustained extreme heat with only scattered storm chances through the weekend. Construction Disruption: DeSoto Parish sheriff’s office work paused after the general contractor filed for bankruptcy, with officials saying the detention facility timeline should hold.

Port & Logistics: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers cleared the Louisiana International Terminal (LIT) for construction, a $1.8B greenfield container port on the Lower Mississippi River that Port NOLA says will expand U.S. export capacity and connect major rail and highway networks. Gaming & Real Estate: Penn Entertainment is planning a $195M onshore relocation of Boomtown Casino & Hotel New Orleans, rebranding it as Hollywood Casino New Orleans and targeting a 2029 opening. Energy & Construction Jobs: A new U.S. grid-investment push tied to data centers and industrial electrification is driving demand for transmission upgrades and a larger skilled construction workforce. Fuel Costs: Gasoline hit a record August high near $4 nationally, with forecasts suggesting drivers may stay stuck with elevated prices into winter. Heat & Public Safety: Webster Parish issued a mandatory burn ban amid extreme heat, joining other northwest Louisiana parishes. Maritime Infrastructure: C&C Marine is nearing completion of a large cutter suction dredger built for major dredging projects in Louisiana’s shipyard corridor. Tech Policy & Local Impact: New Orleans City Council President JP Morrell warned against under-regulating data centers, as the city weighs how to classify and manage them. AI Finance Watch: A Wall Street Journal analysis flags massive AI-related off-balance-sheet commitments by big tech, raising concerns about future financial strain. Food & Health: The FDA expanded recalls tied to salmonella risk, including Walmart soup kits and other egg-related products, with Louisiana among affected distribution areas.

Port & Logistics: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers granted a federal permit for the $1.8B Louisiana International Terminal in St. Bernard Parish, moving the Port of New Orleans project into construction execution; supporters call it transformational for Gulf container capacity, while opponents say they still have legal options. Energy Policy: The U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve fell to 293.4 million barrels, the lowest since 1982, as emergency releases tied to Strait of Hormuz disruptions continue. Food Safety: The FDA escalated a Midwest Poultry Services egg recall to a Class I risk, affecting about 1.59M cartons distributed to Louisiana and other states; separately, a Walmart Marketside tomato bisque soup kit recall is tied to possible Listeria. Public Safety & Utilities: SWEPCO is suspending residential disconnections for nonpayment through the end of the week amid extreme heat, while Louisiana foster caregivers will keep receiving medical mileage reimbursements through Dec. 31 during the Medicaid transportation transition. Local Business & Construction: Baton Rouge’s Lee Drive gets a quick pothole overlay before a larger overhaul, and New Orleans says Plaza Tower’s owner must keep the derelict high-rise secured after a teen’s fatal fall. Tech & Research: Louisiana Tech won a nearly $600K NSF grant to help translate AI models into specialized hardware, aiming to make AI chip development more accessible.

Heavy Haul Logistics: The AI data-center build-out is straining the US transport system, with more ports and rail bottlenecks as transformers and power equipment move to meet surging electricity demand. Energy & Reliability: Entergy Arkansas’ rate plan drew heat at a public hearing as residents questioned data-center-driven power needs, while Louisiana grid managers issued a resource advisory amid extreme heat and blackout concerns. Industrial Growth in Louisiana: Hyundai Steel’s $5.8B Louisiana mill in Ascension Parish is reportedly set for a Sept. 4 groundbreaking, with pre-construction trucking already underway and job-creation expectations tied to the RiverPlex MegaPark. Private Capital & Utilities: Baton Rouge’s Bernhard Capital Partners announced major utility and engineering acquisitions, signaling continued deal momentum and more infrastructure services fundraising. Food & Supply Chain: A multistate Salmonella jalapeño recall includes products sold in Texas and Louisiana, adding another layer of pressure to regional food distribution. Local Infrastructure: Shreveport-Bossier road work and lane closures begin this week, including LA 3132 eastbound off-ramp closures for pavement base and surface repairs. Workforce & Education: ULM is launching a “Food Is Medicine” program aimed at training students to cook healthier meals starting with a 2027 pilot.

Offshore Energy Policy: RWE’s $1.22B settlement to give up Gulf offshore wind leases, including off Cameron Parish, signals Louisiana’s offshore wind push is effectively stalled under the current federal stance. Local Energy & Industry: A proposed 4,600-acre solar project in North Calcasieu would route long-term support to DeQuincy schools, recreation, and fire departments, with payments to nearby landowners. Oil & Supply Chain Pressure: U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve levels fell below 300 million barrels for the first time since the early 1980s, raising concerns about future emergency response and storage caverns. Workforce & Safety Tech: A free Louisiana-focused webinar highlights practical AI uses in workplace safety, with emphasis on privacy, ethics, and human oversight. Transportation & Construction: Shreveport-Bossier drivers face Koran Doyline Road and Hackberry Lane work plus I-49 lane closures for pavement repairs tied to summer heat. Food & Health Compliance: FDA inspected Baton Rouge Regional Eye Bank (July 15) with no corrective action needed. Consumer Fraud Watch: Hornbeck logged a single BBB Scam Tracker report in July, while Louisiana cities continue to rank across the state’s scam-report lists. Fuel Prices (GasBuddy): Diesel and premium prices varied by parish in the week ending Aug. 8, with multiple lowest-price points reported across Beauregard, Winn, Pointe Coupee, Richland, and St. Martin.

Nuclear Power Watch: Louisiana’s Public Service Commission postponed a vote on a proposed “nuclear tariff” that would add a 20-cent monthly fee to Entergy Louisiana, Cleco and SWEPCO bills to fund early work on small modular and microreactors. Energy Security: The U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve fell below 300 million barrels amid the Iran war, raising concerns that future emergencies could be harder to manage. Utilities & Tech: Louisiana’s new QR-code vehicle registration system (HB 1085) replaces inspection stickers starting Jan. 1, 2027, aiming to cut hassle while keeping enforcement data accessible. Rail Safety: Amtrak’s Gulf Coast Mardi Gras route is showing strong ridership growth between New Orleans and Mobile, but deadly rail-crossing crashes are pushing regulators and partners to tackle safety risks. Food Safety: Walmart-linked Marketside tomato bisque soup kits were recalled over possible Listeria contamination, with distribution across 29 states. Local Business Moves: LSU New Orleans hired a Katrina-era public safety leader as executive director of safety and emergency preparedness and named a new police chief, while a New Orleans PR veteran launched a new firm. Agriculture Spotlight: Northwest Louisiana farmers continue to rely on cotton as a steady crop, even as operations and labor evolve.

Food Safety & Retail: FDA upgraded a Texas shell-egg recall to Class I, the highest risk level, with sell-by dates running into mid-August—Louisiana shoppers are urged to check carton codes and dates. Consumer Protection: Louisiana’s Act 751 (effective Aug. 1) blocks debit card surcharge fees, but retailers say the change doesn’t fully solve the cost problem because banks and networks still charge businesses. Energy & Costs: GasBuddy reports show Louisiana fuel prices easing in the week ending Aug. 8, with notable low points across parishes (regular as low as $3.20 in Concordia; diesel lows reported in multiple areas). Local Business Support: A spotlight on the Louisiana Small Business Development Center highlights no-cost consulting and training across all 64 parishes, including help with business plans and lender-ready financing. Workforce & Industry Tech: A new webinar on practical AI for workplace safety points to growing demand for safer, smarter operations—plus the need for privacy and human oversight. Heat Risk: Excessive heat warnings remain in effect across the region, with heat index values pushing into the low-to-mid 110s.

Food Safety: The FDA upgraded the Midwest Poultry Services egg recall to a Class I “highest risk” category, covering about 19.1 million eggs sold in Louisiana and several other states, after salmonella concerns tied to Texas farms. Local Business & Growth: Conrad Industries reported weaker Q2 net income but a much larger backlog, including a new U.S. Army Corps of Engineers contract for a deck barge. Energy & Industry: The U.S. Interior transferred a historic Calcasieu River parcel to support Venture Global LNG expansion in Cameron Parish, aligning with a push to add capacity at Calcasieu Pass. Construction & Infrastructure: Jefferson Parish and state leaders moved forward on a $70 million redevelopment of the former Hope Haven orphanage site, with an aquatic center planned as the centerpiece of phase two. Workforce & Education: Louisiana launched an overhaul of its roughly $4 billion school funding formula, with a new task force putting teacher pay, enrollment shifts, and local tax-base gaps at the center of the debate. STEM Pipeline: Southern University held an engineering “pinning” ceremony for incoming students in its Engineering Scholars Program, spotlighting academic performance and career readiness.

Food Safety Watch: The FDA escalated a salmonella egg recall to a Class I risk level, warning of a “reasonable probability” of serious harm or death; the recall covers about 1.6 million dozen eggs produced in Texas and distributed to states including Louisiana, with sell-by dates running into mid-August. Retail Recall: Walmart also pulled Marketside Tomato Bisque Soup Kits in 29 states, including Louisiana, after listeria concerns tied to a best-by date of Aug. 22. Pet Industry: Oma’s Pride issued a voluntary recall of frozen raw dog food in 11 states (including Louisiana) after FDA testing confirmed salmonella in a specific lot. Energy & Infrastructure: Entergy Louisiana kicked off a $270M Jefferson Parish grid resilience project, replacing or hardening 500+ poles along Veterans Boulevard and targeting thousands more to cut storm outages. Industrial Development: Hyundai’s $5.8B Donaldsonville steel plant is moving toward construction with a scheduled groundbreaking, aiming for major job creation and long-term supply for U.S. manufacturing. Climate Adaptation: Managed retreat is gaining momentum in Louisiana and beyond, with new opportunities for engineering, housing, and insurance as communities plan for relocation.

Water & Infrastructure: Opelousas residents are pressing the city council over water billing and drinkability concerns as the mayoral race heats up; the city’s CPI-linked rate hikes tied to a $20M loan are colliding with frustration over aging infrastructure and communication. College Sports Legacy: LSU baseball icon Skip Bertman, who built a dynasty with five national titles, died at 88. Food Safety: The FDA upgraded a multistate egg recall to its highest risk level after a Salmonella outbreak, with more than 38 million eggs affected; separate pet-food recalls also cite Salmonella risk. Energy & Gulf Leasing: Oil companies bid about $82.6M for Gulf of Mexico drilling rights in the latest lease sale, continuing a rapid pace of auctions. Maritime & Shipbuilding: The U.S. awarded $35.18M to 45 small shipyards to boost equipment and workforce training. AI & Research: LSU scientists are joining a federal “Genesis Mission” push that pairs particle accelerators and nuclear research with AI. Local Economy & Jobs: A Monroe luncheon highlighted major infrastructure progress and touted Meta’s data center impact on jobs and households. Public Works Disruptions: DOTD plans I-49 lane closures in Shreveport due to heat-buckled concrete repairs. Agriculture Support: Smith Family Farms donated 500 pounds of beef to the Food Bank of Northwest Louisiana. Governance & Schools: Baton Rouge school board elections could reshape power on a board with a long GOP and White majority. Data Centers Debate: A guest column argues data centers can be a net plus for Louisiana if energy and policy roadblocks are cleared.

Student Housing & AI: A new StarRez survey finds AI interest is rising in U.S. student housing, with 20% already using it in specific admin tasks and 57% exploring or piloting—while only 3% use it across multiple processes; LSU’s residential life leader says the biggest gap is still staffing for message response and documentation. Power & Nuclear Planning: Louisiana’s Public Service Commission postponed a vote on a proposed “nuclear tariff” that would add a 20-cent monthly fee to Entergy Louisiana, Cleco and SWEPCO bills to fund early work on small modular nuclear reactors and microreactors. Data Center Energy Fight: Louisiana regulators voted 3-1 to vacate a subpoena that would have forced Meta to turn over details tied to Entergy Louisiana’s plan to add generation and storage for a Richland Parish data center. Gulf Energy & Permitting: A Greenland drilling plan tied to Trump allies was delayed to 2028 after equipment was placed without proper permits, raising new scrutiny over compliance and climate concerns. Food Safety: The FDA upgraded an egg recall to its highest risk level after a salmonella outbreak, and Oma’s Pride recalled 639 bags of frozen raw dog food in multiple states including Louisiana. Local Infrastructure & Utilities: New Orleans advanced nominees to its Sewerage & Water Board governing board as the city moves closer to taking more control of the utility. Energy Workforce: Louisiana’s FUEL program invested $800K in community college training for the energy workforce. Agriculture & Community: Teche Growers Association announced “Harvest on the Teche,” a Sept. 12 festival in New Iberia celebrating local agriculture and food.

Energy & Industry: The EIA forecasts U.S. marketed natural gas output will hit a record 122.5 Bcf/d in 2026, with much of the growth tied to the Permian and Louisiana’s Haynesville play. Power & Data Centers: Louisiana regulators voted 3-1 to keep Meta’s Richland Parish data center details secret, a decision opponents say blocks clarity on jobs and future power costs. Infrastructure & Construction: Baton Rouge broke ground on a $28M Nicholson Drive widening near LSU, expanding the corridor from two to four lanes with safety-focused design; in Shreveport, DOTD announced intermittent lane closures on LA 3132 for a signage project. Flood Resilience: Livingston Parish drainage work is moving forward after a 2016 flood-related settlement funded modifications to I-12 median barriers. Food Safety: Whole Foods issued a salmonella recall tied to jalapeños sourced from Coast Citrus Distributors, with products sold across multiple states including Louisiana. Local Economy & Culture: Delcambre’s 74th Shrimp Festival runs through the weekend, spotlighting the shrimping industry that anchors the town’s economy. Consumer Policy: A Louisiana poll finds most likely voters favor regulating hemp beverages over banning them.

Energy & Offshore Leasing: The federal government’s Big Beautiful Gulf 3 lease sale brought in $82.7M in high bids for 59 Gulf blocks, with 16 firms submitting 69 bids—another sign of continued Gulf drilling interest. LNG & Coastal Impacts: Plaquemines LNG is seeking a major expansion under a fast-tracked “energy emergency” permitting process, with critics warning it could weaken scrutiny and harm wetlands and water bottoms. Power & Data Centers: Louisiana regulators declined to force Meta to disclose energy use and job-creation details tied to its $50B Louisiana data center, as Entergy’s plan for new gas plants faces growing public pushback. Infrastructure & Mobility: Baton Rouge broke ground on a $28M Nicholson Drive widening near LSU, and DOTD is moving ahead with a $7.2M US 79 repair project through Minden, with lane closures expected. Food Safety: Louisiana agriculture officials are urging residents to follow FDA guidance on crops exposed to flood waters from Tropical Storm Arthur. Coastal Restoration: One year after Louisiana restored 1,170 acres of wetlands in the Barataria Basin, shrimp, crabs, and red drum are returning to the habitat. Public Safety & Oversight: Shreveport police arrested a pastor again on contractor fraud tied to a home improvement scheme exceeding $310K.

Hard Rock Hotel settlement: A judge approved a $106 million settlement ending litigation over the 2019 Hard Rock Hotel collapse in New Orleans that killed three people, with funds to be distributed by a special master. Energy policy: Louisiana won in the 5th Circuit as Biden-era efficiency rules for gas and electric stoves and ovens were set aside, with the court saying the Department of Energy bypassed required public process. Flood resilience: Iberville Parish officials are exploring a regional floodwater pumping station near Bayou Sorrel Locks to address a bottleneck between the Mississippi River and Atchafalaya River system affecting multiple parishes. Local innovation: New Orleans students are turning discarded glass bottles into sand to help rebuild Louisiana’s sinking wetlands. Construction/roads: DOTD is set to start a $9.2 million Colquitt Road repair project in south Caddo Parish, with work expected to run into late spring 2027. Business growth: Louisiana companies landed on the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing businesses, including Reliant Mortgage, FabWorks, and multiple Baton Rouge and New Orleans firms. Health & food safety: A widening salmonella recall tied to jalapeños continues to ripple through retail supply chains.

Energy & Regulation: The 5th U.S. Circuit Court in New Orleans struck down Biden-era efficiency rules for gas and electric stoves and ovens, saying the Department of Energy bypassed required public comment steps—an outcome that could reshape appliance costs and compliance for Louisiana households and businesses. AI & Utilities: Louisiana regulators will decide whether Meta can keep key records about its Hyperion data center expansion in Richland Parish secret, as consumer and environmental groups push for clearer power and cost details tied to Entergy’s planned turbines. Food Safety: Louisiana agriculture officials are urging producers to follow FDA guidance on crops exposed to flood waters from Tropical Storm Arthur, warning that edible portions may be considered adulterated. Public Health & Food Service: Lafayette’s Buc-ee’s finally received a building permit for its $72.05M store, while multiple Lafayette-area restaurants faced critical health violations tied to pests and temperature control. Maritime & Energy Shipping: Trump extended the Jones Act waiver with a case-by-case review approach, a compromise that Gulf refiners and shipbuilders both criticize. Louisiana Agriculture: Louisiana’s seafood industry received a $27M recovery fund.

Food Safety & Recalls: Taylor Farms expanded a jalapeño-linked salmonella recall affecting ready-to-eat dips, salsa, guacamole and more sold nationwide, including Louisiana retailers like Walmart, Kroger, Target and Whole Foods, with a “Best If Used By” through Aug. 16 and consumers urged to discard affected items. Public Health: Louisiana health officials reported rising Vibrio vulnificus “flesh-eating” bacteria cases and deaths, warning swimmers with open wounds and people eating raw shellfish to take precautions. Infrastructure & Industry: La. 1 upgrades near White Castle are nearing completion, with drainage and pavement repairs tied to upcoming work for the Hyundai Steel plant in the Modeste/Donaldsonville area. Energy & Midstream: Williams agreed to acquire Momentum Midstream in a Haynesville-focused deal to expand gas gathering and transmission into Gulf Coast LNG and industrial demand. Local Governance: Caddo Parish issued a mandatory burn ban due to extreme heat and drought. Housing: New Orleans’ “missing middle” push moves forward with a $31 million, 80-unit Millennium Place apartment complex near La. 1, aimed at middle-class renters. Port/Offshore LNG: Delfin LNG awarded offshore survey work for the Delfin Deepwater Port Project to TDI-Brooks, starting geophysical data collection late August. Higher Ed Leadership: LSU New Orleans launched a 14-member chancellor search committee, with candidate interviews beginning Aug. 25.