Louisiana

The U.S. Department of Energy has chosen Utah, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Idaho as potential hosts for Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses, an initiative to store and reprocess spent nuclear fuel, support advanced reactor deployment, and expand domestic manufacturing. The project aims to attract up to $50 billion in capital investment, generate $10 billion in state and local tax revenue, and create nearly 25,000 jobs. The campuses would cover the full nuclear fuel lifecycle, including enrichment, reprocessing, and final waste disposition, and may also host data centers. The selection addresses the long-standing U.S. problem of nuclear waste storage, as the country currently lacks a permanent disposal facility and stores over 95,000 metric tons of spent fuel across 79 sites. The initiative aligns with the Trump administration's goal to quadruple U.S. nuclear energy capacity to 400 GW by 2050.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 29, 08:00 PM UTC

The Trump administration has initiated a new effort to address the long-standing issue of nuclear waste storage in the United States. The Department of Energy announced on Tuesday that it signed memorandums of agreement with five states—Utah, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Idaho—to explore the possibility of hosting nuclear waste storage facilities. This move marks a significant step in the administration's earlier indication this year to tackle the nuclear waste problem, which has been a major hurdle for the nuclear power industry. The agreements allow for preliminary discussions and feasibility studies, though no final decisions on storage locations have been made. The initiative aims to find alternative storage solutions as the nation's nuclear waste continues to accumulate at existing reactor sites.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 28, 05:21 PM UTC

The U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced a $46.5 million funding opportunity for 14 new Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) centers. The centers aim to help small and medium-sized manufacturers adopt advanced manufacturing technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence, automation, advanced materials, additive manufacturing, and biotechnology. Funding amounts vary by state and territory, with California receiving the largest share at $15.6 million, followed by Pennsylvania and Ohio at approximately $6.1 million each. Awards will be made annually for up to five years, subject to performance reviews and funding availability. Selected applicants must provide at least 50% in non-federal matching funds. The MEP national network includes about 1,400 advisors, 475 service locations, and over 2,100 partners. The program was created in 1988 under the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 28, 10:11 AM UTC

Meta has withdrawn from the RE100 corporate renewable energy initiative, a clean energy pact it had signed over a decade ago, as it increasingly relies on natural gas to power its hyperscale data centers for artificial intelligence development. The company, parent of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is backing multiple natural gas-fired power plants, including ten in Louisiana capable of generating 7.5 gigawatts of electricity. While Meta continues to match 100% of its annual electricity use with renewable energy through existing wind and solar projects totaling nearly 30 GW, it argues that renewables cannot keep pace with near-term demand projections. The move highlights a growing tension between Big Tech's clean energy commitments and the surging power demands of AI, which are expected to grow 10-15% annually through 2030. Rivals Apple, Google, and Microsoft remain in RE100, though Google and Microsoft have also invested in fossil fuel power. The International Energy Agency notes that data center demand is a significant driver for natural gas and even coal growth.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 27, 10:04 AM UTC

Meta is raising $12 billion for a new AI data center in El Paso, Texas, through a special purpose vehicle named Sopaipilla Investor, following a previous $27 billion bond deal for its Louisiana Hyperion project via Beignet Investor. Both SPVs are named after fried dough pastries. The bonds, offered through a BlackRock-owned vehicle, are seeing investor pushback as yields are demanded above 7%, with some investors seeking an additional 0.4 percentage points over the Hyperion deal due to growing AI exposure concerns. The bonds mature in 2048 and are secured by Meta's 20-year rent payment agreement starting in 2028, with strong protections if Meta abandons the deal. The naming rationale remains unclear as Meta and the SPVs did not respond to requests for comment.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 24, 04:52 PM UTC

Meta is raising $12 billion for a new AI data center in El Paso, Texas, through a special purpose vehicle (SPV) named Sopaipilla Investor, following a previous $27 billion bond sale for its Hyperion project in Louisiana via an SPV called Beignet Investor. Both names reference fried dough pastries popular in the respective regions. The bonds, managed by BlackRock, offer yields above 7%, but investors are demanding 0.4 percentage points more than the Hyperion deal due to growing AI exposure concerns and fears of an AI bubble. The Sopaipilla Investor bond matures in 2048, secured by Meta's 20-year rent agreement starting in 2028, with strong bondholder protections including a hefty fee if Meta abandons the deal. The naming trend remains unexplained as Meta and the SPVs did not respond to requests for comment.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 24, 04:52 PM UTC

House Speaker Mike Johnson lost his temper during a closed-door meeting with Republican lawmakers, shouting 'I'm sick of this shit' at Representative Anna Paulina Luna after she opposed a bipartisan veterans benefits bill. The bill, a party priority, was ultimately pulled due to opposition from a small faction of far-right conservatives who have repeatedly disrupted the Republican agenda. Johnson, known as soft-spoken, later apologized to Luna and knelt before a colleague's young son to express regret for cursing. The incident highlights ongoing dysfunction within the House Republican conference, where a handful of members have learned to hold votes hostage to extract concessions. The article draws parallels to the 2023 ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy by a similar group, warning Johnson could face the same fate.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 24, 02:52 PM UTC

House Speaker Mike Johnson lost his temper during a closed-door meeting with Republican lawmakers, shouting 'I'm sick of this shit' at Representative Anna Paulina Luna after she opposed a bipartisan veterans benefits bill. The bill, a party priority, was ultimately pulled due to opposition from a small group of far-right conservatives who have repeatedly disrupted the Republican agenda. Johnson, known as soft-spoken, later apologized to Luna and knelt before a colleague's young son to express regret for cursing. The incident highlights ongoing dysfunction within the House Republican conference, where a faction holds votes hostage to extract concessions, echoing the strategy used to oust former Speaker Kevin McCarthy in 2023. Several Republican lawmakers expressed frustration, warning that such infighting makes governing impossible.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 24, 02:52 PM UTC

House Speaker Mike Johnson lost his temper during a closed-door meeting with Republican lawmakers, shouting 'I'm sick of this shit' at Representative Anna Paulina Luna after she opposed a bipartisan veterans benefits bill. The bill, a party priority, was threatened by a small faction of far-right conservatives who have repeatedly disrupted the Republican agenda. Johnson, known for being soft-spoken, later apologized to Luna and knelt before the young son of Representative Gabe Evans to express regret for cursing. Ultimately, Johnson was forced to pull the bill, a strategy that has become normalized due to the party's razor-thin majority and the ability of a few conservatives to hold votes hostage. The article notes that similar tactics led to the ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy in 2023, warning that Johnson could face the same fate.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 24, 02:52 PM UTC

Saronic, a US leader in autonomous surface vessel production, and Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) announced a strategic partnership to accelerate the development of autonomy-capable maritime systems and strengthen America's shipbuilding industrial base. The partnership was unveiled at the launch of the Korea-U.S. Shipbuilding Partnership Center (KUSPC) in Washington, D.C., sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce and Republic of Korea's MOTIR. The companies will combine Saronic's expertise in autonomous systems and scalable manufacturing with SHI's experience in high-volume shipbuilding and vessel design. Collaboration will focus on advanced autonomy, AI-powered digital solutions, and robotics-based process automation across Saronic's shipyards. Saronic is building a multi-billion dollar next-generation shipyard (Port Alpha) in Brownsville, Texas, and investing $300 million to expand its Louisiana shipyard. The partnership aims to deliver technologically advanced autonomous vessels for government and commercial customers, support workforce training, and directly support U.S. efforts to rebuild maritime industrial capacity.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 24, 12:47 PM UTC

The article reports a salmonella outbreak linked to eggs produced by Midwest Poultry Services in Texas, prompting a recall of nearly 1.6 million shell eggs sold at Kroger stores in Texas and Louisiana, and Brookshire Grocery stores in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, and New Mexico. The eggs may be contaminated with Salmonella enteritidis, causing symptoms like cramps, diarrhea, and fever. This follows a cyclospora outbreak from tainted lettuce affecting over 12,000 people across 41 states, and a New World screwworm infestation in Texas cattle causing $1 billion in damages. The article criticizes the Trump administration and Elon Musk's DOGE for cutting monitoring and response programs that previously prevented such outbreaks, raising concerns about food safety.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 23, 08:47 PM UTC

Midwest Poultry Services is recalling nearly 1.6 million shell eggs produced in Texas due to potential Salmonella enteritidis contamination, the FDA announced. The eggs were sold at Kroger stores in Texas and Louisiana, and Brookshire Grocery stores in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, and New Mexico. The recall comes amid a series of food safety crises, including a cyclospora outbreak from tainted lettuce that has affected over 12,000 people across 41 states, and a New World screwworm infestation in Texas cattle causing an estimated $1 billion in damages. The article criticizes the Trump administration and Elon Musk's DOGE program for cutting monitoring and response programs that previously prevented such outbreaks, raising concerns about the government's ability to handle food safety issues.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 23, 08:47 PM UTC

The article reports a salmonella outbreak linked to eggs from Midwest Poultry Services, which recalled nearly 1.6 million shell eggs produced in Texas due to potential Salmonella enteritidis contamination. The eggs were sold at Kroger stores in Texas and Louisiana, and Brookshire Grocery stores in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Mississippi, and New Mexico. This follows a cyclospora outbreak from tainted lettuce that affected at least 41 states with over 12,000 possible cases, and a New World screwworm infestation in Texas cattle causing an estimated $1 billion in damages. The article criticizes the Trump administration and Elon Musk's DOGE for cutting monitoring programs and CDC response teams, linking these cuts to the recent food safety crises.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 23, 08:47 PM UTC

Hut 8, a crypto-miner turned AI data center operator, announced a second 15-year, $9.8 billion lease with an existing investment-grade tenant at its Beacon Point campus in Texas, fully commercializing the 1-gigawatt site. The deal covers 352 megawatts of IT capacity, doubling the tenant's footprint to 704 MW. Hut 8's total contracted AI portfolio now reaches 949 MW with $26.6 billion in aggregate contract value. Shares rose up to 15% on the news, with first Phase 2 delivery expected in Q2 2028.

18 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 30, 03:20 PM UTC

Plas Johnson, the acclaimed jazz saxophonist whose iconic solo on Henry Mancini's 'Pink Panther' theme won a Grammy, died on July 15, 2026, at age 94 in Los Angeles. Born in Louisiana, Johnson began his career in jump-blues and R&B before becoming a highly sought-after session musician. He was a key member of The Wrecking Crew, a legendary group of Los Angeles session players who backed countless stars including Frank Sinatra, Nat 'King' Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, and Barbra Streisand. Mancini specifically wrote the 'Pink Panther' theme for Johnson's nimble saxophone style. Johnson also spent 15 years in the band of The Merv Griffin Show. In a 2008 documentary, he reflected on the anonymity session musicians often faced, noting they sometimes went uncredited and unpaid while others fronted their work.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 22, 01:18 AM UTC

Rep. Cleo Fields (D-La.) announced on Tuesday that he will not run for reelection in Louisiana's 6th Congressional District, nor in any other district in the state. The decision comes after a GOP-led redistricting process made his seat more Republican-leaning. Fields stated that after 'a great deal of prayer and reflection,' he chose not to seek another term. His departure marks a shift in Louisiana's congressional delegation, as the redistricting effectively reduced Democratic representation in the state. Fields, a veteran lawmaker, did not indicate any future political plans but emphasized his commitment to public service.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 21, 09:00 PM UTC

Democratic U.S. Representative Cleo Fields announced on July 21, 2026, that he will not seek reelection to Congress after Louisiana's congressional map was redrawn, eliminating his majority-Black district. The Supreme Court had struck down the previous map as an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, leading the state legislature to adopt new lines that favor Republicans. Fields, who returned to Congress in 2025 after nearly three decades, will instead run for his old seat in the Louisiana Senate, which became open following the death of his successor. The new 6th District, which Fields currently represents, is now a majority-white seat in the Baton Rouge area that would have favored Donald Trump by 32 points. The National Republican Congressional Committee has added the district to its target list for the 2026 elections.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 21, 05:17 PM UTC

The upcoming U.S. midterm elections will feature 26 ballot initiatives on taxation across 13 states, giving voters a direct say in tax policy. While California's proposed 'billionaire tax' (Prop. 40) has drawn the most attention, the majority of measures focus on rolling back property taxes, which affect homeowners' most valuable asset. States including Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Wyoming have proposals to curb property tax expenditures through increased exemptions, new senior citizen exemptions, or outright prohibitions on state property taxes. Local officials, such as Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan, warn that these cuts could severely reduce municipal budgets, leading to cuts in roads, libraries, parks, and public safety. The article highlights the tension between lowering personal tax burdens and maintaining local government revenue, framing the votes as a test of voter sentiment on government spending.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 21, 02:15 PM UTC

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) added seven Democrat-held House seats to its 2026 target list on July 20, 2026, bringing the total to 36 districts. All new targets are in states that redrew congressional maps over the past year to favor Republicans, following a Supreme Court decision limiting the Voting Rights Act. The targeted seats include Alabama's 2nd (Rep. Shomari Figures), Florida's 14th (Rep. Kathy Castor) and 22nd (open), Louisiana's 6th (Rep. Cleo Fields), Missouri's 5th (Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II), Ohio's 1st (Rep. Greg Landsman), and Tennessee's 9th (open). Republicans could gain over a dozen seats under new lines in states like Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee. Democrats countered that the GOP's gerrymandering created opportunities for Democratic pickups elsewhere, such as California and Utah. The NRCC chairman framed the effort as holding vulnerable Democrats accountable for a 'radical socialist agenda.'

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 20, 07:00 AM UTC

The National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) added seven Democrat-held House seats to its 2026 target list, bringing the total to 36 districts. All new targets are in states that redrew congressional maps to favor Republicans, following a Supreme Court decision limiting the Voting Rights Act. The targeted seats include Alabama's 2nd District (Rep. Shomari Figures), Florida's 14th (Rep. Kathy Castor) and 22nd (open), Louisiana's 6th (Rep. Cleo Fields), Missouri's 5th (Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II), Ohio's 1st (Rep. Greg Landsman), and Tennessee's 9th (open). Republicans aim to expand their House majority in the midterm elections, while Democrats may gain seats in California and Utah under new maps. Primaries are scheduled in several states, with Louisiana holding all-party primaries in November.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 20, 07:00 AM UTC

This article from The Week highlights eight top restaurants in New Orleans for authentic Creole cuisine. It begins by explaining the historical roots of Creole food, which emerged in the 1700s from French, African, Indigenous, Spanish, and Caribbean influences, with key ingredients like tomatoes, roux, and the Holy Trinity of onions, celery, and bell peppers. The featured spots include Clancy's, an Uptown bistro known for French-Creole standards; Dooky Chase's Restaurant, a historic Tremé institution that served as a meeting place for civil rights leaders; Galatoire's, an elegant 1905 establishment requiring jackets; Guy's Po-Boys, famous for classic and creative po'boy sandwiches; Li'l Dizzy's Cafe, a lunch-only spot celebrated for its fried chicken and gumbo; and Neyow's Creole Cafe, which uses family secret recipes. Each restaurant is described with signature dishes and cultural significance, offering a comprehensive guide to New Orleans' Creole food scene.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 20, 06:00 AM UTC

This article from The Week highlights eight iconic New Orleans restaurants that exemplify authentic Creole cuisine. It begins by explaining the historical roots of Creole food, which emerged in the 1700s from French, African, Indigenous, Spanish, and Caribbean influences, with key ingredients like tomatoes, roux, and the Holy Trinity of onions, celery, and green bell peppers. The featured spots include Clancy's, an Uptown bistro known for French-Creole standards and unique dishes like fried oysters with Brie; Dooky Chase's Restaurant, a historic Tremé institution that served as a meeting place for civil rights leaders and specializes in Black Creole culture dishes; Galatoire's, an elegant 1905 establishment requiring jackets and serving classics like shrimp Creole and café brûlot; Guy's Po-Boys, famous for its classic and creative po'boy sandwiches; Li'l Dizzy's Cafe, a lunch-only spot celebrated for its fried chicken and gumbo; and Neyow's Creole Cafe, which uses family recipes for dishes like filé gumbo and the Neyow's Extravaganza Dinner. The article positions these restaurants as essential destinations for experiencing the rich, soulful flavors of New Orleans Creole cooking.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 20, 06:00 AM UTC

This comprehensive guide explains the concept of mineral rights in the United States, focusing on oil and gas. It details how land ownership is split into surface and mineral estates, with severance common in states like Texas and Oklahoma. The article outlines three common paths to ownership: inheritance, direct purchase, and retained ownership. It warns against scams such as lowball mail offers and fraudulent deeds, and provides guidance on valuation, tax advantages under 2026 estate tax rules, and key lease terms like bonus, royalty, and Pugh clause. The guide emphasizes that owning surface land does not guarantee mineral rights and advises consulting an attorney or title company to verify ownership.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 19, 07:00 PM UTC

This article from Yahoo Finance provides a comprehensive guide to mineral rights in the United States, explaining the distinction between surface and mineral estates, how severance works, and the legal dominance of mineral rights in oil-producing states like Texas, Oklahoma, and North Dakota. It outlines common paths to ownership (inheritance, purchase, retained rights), the leasing process, valuation factors, and potential scams targeting uninformed owners. The guide emphasizes that surface ownership does not guarantee mineral ownership and advises consulting attorneys or title companies to verify rights. It is intended for individuals who inherited mineral rights, received unsolicited offers, or are buying land.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 19, 07:00 PM UTC

This article from Yahoo Finance provides a comprehensive guide to mineral rights in the United States, explaining the distinction between surface and mineral estates, the concept of severance, and how ownership typically arises through inheritance, purchase, or retention. It highlights that mineral rights are often separated from surface rights, especially in oil-rich states like Texas, Oklahoma, and North Dakota, and that the mineral estate is legally dominant, granting access for extraction. The guide also warns about common scams and the importance of title searches to verify ownership. It serves as a reference for those who have inherited rights, received unsolicited offers, or are buying land.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 19, 07:00 PM UTC

This financial opinion piece argues for continued investment in Meta Platforms (META) based on three key reasons. First, Meta's structural cost efficiency in AI infrastructure, including a $50 billion Hyperion data center and $107 billion in supply commitments, positions it for long-term advantage. Second, beyond its core ad business (19% ad impression growth, 12% price increase), Meta is developing new monetization engines: a Model API priced 75% cheaper than OpenAI, business AI conversations growing from 1 million to 10 million weekly, and a $10 billion annual run rate for partnership ads. Third, Meta's vertical integration with custom silicon from Broadcom, partnerships with AMD, NVIDIA, and Qualcomm, and surging AI glasses adoption (tripling year-over-year) create unique competitive advantages. The article acknowledges risks including Reality Labs' $4 billion quarterly loss and youth litigation, but argues Meta's strong margins (41.44% operating, 82% gross), 30.24% ROE, and low P/E of 24 justify the bullish thesis.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 17, 06:39 PM UTC

Chinese organized crime groups are earning up to $1 billion annually through tap-to-pay fraud schemes targeting retailers and banks, according to U.S. law enforcement. Instead of physically stealing merchandise, fraudsters use stolen credit card information to purchase gift cards at self-checkout kiosks, often coached in real-time by Southeast Asian scam compounds via wireless headphones. CNBC examined nearly a dozen cases across the U.S., including incidents at Lowe's and TJX Companies. The digital theft method is considered low-risk compared to traditional retail theft, as it is less visible and can be executed remotely. Homeland Security Investigations and local police note the complexity of these cases, which often fall below federal crime thresholds, making prosecution difficult. The schemes exploit retailers' weaker security compared to banks, with stolen gift cards resold or used to buy high-value goods for shipment to China.

1 reports · 1 sources · Updated Jul 17, 01:12 PM UTC

Legal experts and commentators are criticizing Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito following his dissent in a recent ruling that preserved telehealth access to the abortion pill mifepristone. In a bonus episode of Slate’s "Amicus" podcast, host Mark Joseph Stern and legal scholar Madiba Dennie analyzed Alito’s reaction, describing him as visibly angry that blue states have successfully circumvented restrictions imposed after the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Dennie noted Alito’s frustration that abortion rates in states like Louisiana have increased due to telehealth access, suggesting his primary goal was ending abortion nationwide rather than restoring state sovereignty. Stern argued that Alito’s dissent reveals a selective view of federalism, where red states can restrict abortion but blue states cannot protect it. Dennie drew historical parallels to pre-Civil War era conflicts, arguing that conservative justices are attempting to impose restrictive laws across state lines. The Supreme Court issued the 7-2 emergency order to maintain access to mifepristone, rejecting attempts to ban its distribution via mail and telehealth.

1 reports · 1 sources

This article outlines major narratives shaping the upcoming 2026 national high school football season, focusing on historic individual achievements and coaching milestones. A central storyline features Landen Williams-Callis, a running back from Randle High School in Richmond, Texas. After accumulating 7,551 career yards and scoring 59 touchdowns in his junior year alone, Williams-Callis is poised to challenge for a spot among the top five most prolific runners in high school history and potentially break the all-time Texas state rushing record. Another significant plot involves John "J.T." Curtis, head coach at John Curtis Christian High School in Louisiana. His pursuit of the all-time coaching wins record faces complications due to thirty disputed forfeited games between 2013 and 2015. Without these wins, he trails John McKissick’s official record of 621 victories. The piece also highlights notable winning and losing streaks affecting teams nationwide, setting the stage for the August kickoff of the season.

1 reports · 1 sources

Virginia Democratic leaders have filed an emergency appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court to reinstate a voter-approved congressional redistricting map recently invalidated by the Virginia Supreme Court. The state court ruled the referendum process violated procedural requirements, nullifying a plan that would likely secure ten House seats for Democrats. This legal battle, part of a broader national partisan redistricting trend, raises urgent concerns about election preparations and judicial authority. The outcome could significantly shift the balance of power in Virginia’s congressional delegation and influence future electoral boundary disputes across the United States.

21 reports · 13 sources · Updated May 16, 07:23 AM UTC