AGP Executive Report

Food Safety: Albertsons recalled four jalapeño-containing salsa and salad products supplied by Taylor Farms in seven states including Louisiana, citing possible salmonella contamination; shoppers should not eat affected items and can return for refunds. Public Health & Industry: Louisiana’s summer heat and Vibrio concerns kept health officials warning residents, while a separate national update flagged ongoing foodborne outbreaks tied to jalapeños and other produce. Energy & Transportation: The national regular gas average fell to $4.06 as crude prices eased, with Louisiana price reports showing pockets of cheaper midgrade and regular across multiple parishes. Local Infrastructure & Development: Residents and officials weighed what a proposed SpaceX spaceport could mean for Vermilion Parish, as the state finalizes the deal and environmental groups watch impacts. Construction & Compliance: Louisiana’s prompt payment law changes for construction projects and ongoing public notice requirements highlighted how policy shifts can affect contractors and transparency. Sports & Facilities: LSU volleyball pushed for an NCAA Tournament return, while Tulane debuted a new indoor practice facility—complete with a brief “bubble” brawl.

Offshore Energy Shakeup: RWE reached a $1.22B deal with the Trump administration to exit U.S. offshore wind leases, including off Louisiana, and redirect money into LNG and gas projects—another sign of wind retreat reshaping Gulf Coast energy plans. Local Energy Infrastructure: DeLa Express, a proposed natural gas pipeline project tied to West Texas-to-Louisiana transport, has been suspended after feedback and a shift toward intrastate routing. Manufactured Housing Oversight: Louisiana’s State Fire Marshal opened an investigation into mobile home problems in St. Amant, with reviews of licenses tied to the home’s construction and sale. Roads & Construction Impacts: Residents along South Boulevard say I-10 widening is pushing construction noise and traffic closer to homes, raising concerns about property values and whether the state will buy them out. Public Health & Food Safety: Louisiana heat risks remain under watch as officials report heat-related deaths; meanwhile, Walmart bakery rolls made with Pillsbury frozen dough are recalled in 19 states including Louisiana due to possible glass contamination. Higher Ed Leadership: LSU President Wade Rousse named a committee to select the next LSU New Orleans chancellor, with a finalist targeted for December.

Offshore Energy Shake-Up: RWE struck a $1.22 billion deal with the U.S. government to exit offshore wind leases off New York, California and Louisiana, citing no near-term path to permits; the company will redirect money into LNG, including a reported 16% stake in a Louisiana LNG project and a pipeline of gas peaker plants. Local Industry & Jobs: Louisiana Shakespeare Company brings “Hamlet” to Baton Rouge with its first onstage sword combat, while Rapides Parish is building a new Career and Technical Education facility at Buckeye High School for HVAC and sheet metal credentials starting in early 2027. Construction & Risk: A judge approved a $106 million settlement ending litigation over the 2019 Hard Rock Hotel collapse in New Orleans, with distribution overseen by a special master. Food Safety: A salmonella outbreak tied to jalapeños grown in Mexico has sickened 345 people across 27 states, prompting recalls and ongoing CDC/FDA investigations. Public Health: Louisiana reports heat-related deaths are down sharply, but officials still urge precautions for older adults and others at higher risk. Economic Development: LED cooperative endeavor agreements climbed to $463.3 million, with FastSites driving most of the recent growth. Governance: Jeff Davis Parish zoning commission backed a rezoning request to expand its sanitary landfill by 176 acres for heavy industrial use.

French Quarter Economy: Dirty Linen Night is set to bring foot traffic back to Royal Street, but ongoing Sewerage & Water Board construction has reportedly cut nearby gallery sales by about 50%, putting a spotlight on how infrastructure delays hit tourism and retail. Public Safety: A Slidell man was arrested after an FBI and St. Tammany investigation found volatile materials and explosive precursor devices; bomb technicians removed the materials safely for testing and disposal. Food Safety: A salmonella outbreak tied to jalapeños has sickened at least 345 people across 27 states, with Chipotle and Qdoba removing jalapeños; separate egg recalls linked to salmonella are also expanding, including cartons distributed into Louisiana. Energy & Industry: RWE agreed to surrender offshore wind leases off New York, California and Louisiana in a $1.22B settlement, and will redirect resources toward gas-linked investments including a Louisiana LNG stake. Local Power Politics: Louisiana’s debate over protecting ratepayers from data-center power costs continues around Meta’s Hyperion project and Entergy’s plans, with the Public Service Commission at the center. Courts & Construction: A judge approved a $106M settlement over the 2019 Hard Rock Hotel collapse in New Orleans, ending a yearslong legal fight. Business & Food Distribution: S&W Foods says its Hammond distribution facility hit a 910 on an AIB International inspection—its highest score to date.

Food Safety: A massive Salmonella egg recall is hitting five brands across six states, including Louisiana, with sell-by dates through Aug. 17 after nearly 100 illnesses and 26 hospitalizations were tied to Texas-produced eggs. Energy Policy: RWE struck a $1.22B deal with the Trump administration to surrender offshore wind leases off New York, Louisiana and California, redirecting money toward LNG and gas—another blow to wind development. Industrial Growth: CF Industries says it has permits in hand to start construction on its Blue Point low-carbon ammonia complex in Louisiana, signaling momentum for fertilizer-linked decarbonization. Port/Logistics: Louisiana’s LNG and shipping ecosystem gets a boost from broader infrastructure moves, including Louisiana LNG construction progress coverage and new logistics development chatter. Local Government: New Orleans’ Municipal Complex Advisory Committee kicked off work on options for City Hall and a New Orleans East annex, with cost concerns front and center. Workforce/Training: Bossier Parish Community College student Jailyn Guillory was named 2026-2027 SkillsUSA Louisiana Postsecondary State President. Courts/Construction: A judge approved a $106M settlement over the 2019 Hard Rock Hotel collapse in New Orleans. Public Health/Labor: Louisiana’s reliance on H-2A and H-2B seasonal workers remains a major staffing factor as employers plan for peak demand.

Nuclear Waste & Economic Pitch: The U.S. Department of Energy is moving ahead with “Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses,” signing deals with Utah, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Idaho to explore the full fuel cycle—while some Republicans argue the plan could spur advanced nuclear jobs and investment, even as “disposition” details remain murky. Oil Industry Legal Pressure: A climate-linked wrongful-death lawsuit in Washington state is clearing key hurdles, with plaintiffs targeting major oil companies over alleged decades of fossil-fuel emissions knowledge. Louisiana Energy & Infrastructure: DOTD will close the I-20 westbound exit ramp to LA 526 (Bert Kouns Industrial Loop) for about two weeks starting Aug. 10 for concrete pavement repairs and safety upgrades. Local Construction & Workforce Training: Livingston Parish’s new $22 million South Fork Junior High campus opens for classes, adding a maker space for engineering and STEM projects. Food Safety: A Salmonella Javiana outbreak tied to imported jalapeños has sickened people across 27 states; Chipotle and Qdoba removed the peppers. Retail & Logistics: Lamar Advertising reported strong Q2 results and raised guidance; Targa Resources posted record Q2 results, citing higher volumes and new Permian operations.

Construction & Ports: A 300-ton crane has been moved to Lafayette for the Our Lady of Wisdom Church steeple lift, with road closures still in place near UL and Girard Park as crews assemble the steeple on-site ahead of a Friday placement. Energy & Data Centers: Meta’s Hyperion data center expansion in Richland Parish is drawing louder calls for transparency, with advocates saying NDAs and limited public info are obscuring how Entergy Louisiana will meet massive power needs. Utilities & Costs: Entergy Louisiana backed away from a proposed $1.8B Texas gas-plant purchase after concerns about ratepayer costs, even as the AI-driven power demand race continues. Oil & Shipping: Oil prices swung on Red Sea shipping risk and shifting expectations around a potential interim accord to reopen the waterway. Coastal Litigation: In Plaquemines Parish’s Chevron fight, Louisiana AG Liz Murrill says the focus is whether the case stays in federal court and what happens to a state-court cleanup judgment. Agriculture & Food Supply: Louisiana’s SNAP rolls fell nearly 21% year-over-year, and state data says the drop isn’t tied to citizenship checks or work requirements. Fisheries: The Louisiana Shrimp Task Force recommended opening the statewide white shrimp season Aug. 18, with Terrebonne Parish starting later that day. Business Development: Louisiana Economic Development approved $1.4M for infrastructure at McLeod Business Park in Lockport to speed up commercial and industrial growth.

Louisiana Infrastructure & Policy: Louisiana’s new debit card surcharge ban took effect Aug. 1, forcing merchants like Drago’s to absorb fees and even rush point-of-sale upgrades to separate debit from credit. New Orleans Utilities: City leaders say fairness comes before revenue in a proposed Sewerage & Water Board parcel fee, after consultants’ revenue targets sparked pushback. Energy & Shipping: The White House is expected to extend the Jones Act waiver again to ease fuel shipping bottlenecks, a move tied to pressure on gasoline prices. Data Centers & Air Quality: Sierra Club says LDEQ’s permit changes for Meta’s Richland Parish Hyperion data center undercount emissions and should have required a stricter permit. Local Tech & Research: LSU Health Shreveport and Louisiana Tech signed a research collaboration agreement to blend biomedical and engineering work for federal grant bids. Construction & Growth: Louisiana-Pacific reported Q2 earnings of $26 million, while Louisiana’s building-permit data shows major early-2026 construction spending. Transportation Projects: DOTD scheduled nighttime lane closures for a major US 79 resurfacing job in Minden starting Aug. 9. Public Safety Innovation: Pennington Biomedical won an NIH SBIR to build a smartphone coaching platform for teen drivers with ADHD.

CDL Overhaul: New federal rules starting in 2026 will tighten Louisiana’s CDL enforcement, including stricter English-language checks and electronic medical certification requirements, which could change how drivers test, renew, and stay compliant. Research & Workforce: LSU Health Shreveport and Louisiana Tech signed a formal research partnership to expand shared labs, training, and joint grant work—pairing biomedical strength with engineering and advanced manufacturing expertise. New Orleans Water Oversight: Mayor Helena Moreno’s Sewerage and Water Board nominees face City Council confirmation as the city moves toward broader long-term oversight and reforms tied to reliability and public trust. Utilities & Data Centers: Entergy Louisiana paused its Cottonwood power-plant acquisition proceedings as regulators and investors question how data-center demand could affect resident costs. Construction Compliance: Jefferson Parish’s inspector general says the permits department mishandled third-party residential inspections, including accepting unregistered inspectors and missing required photo documentation. Coastal Resilience: Plans are advancing to rebuild Raccoon Island with Deepwater Horizon settlement funds, aiming to expand the barrier island to better protect Gulf Coast communities from storms. Energy Markets: Nat-gas prices slipped on bigger U.S. supplies and cooler-weather forecasts that may reduce power demand. Housing & Community Growth: Xavier University is opening a nearly $81 million, 7-story residence village for more than 800 students, easing off-campus housing pressure. Consumer & Labor: Walmart agreed to pay Louisiana $1.05M to settle claims tied to its Spark Driver pay and tip practices. Agriculture & Public Debate: Solar misinformation backlash continues in Cajun Country, with residents and officials wrestling over how to evaluate proposed solar projects.

LNG & Port Fourchon: Argent LNG formally submitted its waterway suitability assessment to the U.S. Coast Guard for its proposed 25 million tpy LNG export terminal at Port Fourchon, a key step alongside its FERC and DOE actions. Energy & Grid Politics: Entergy Louisiana’s plan to build gas plants tied to Meta’s AI data center drew pushback from utility watchdogs and advocates, who urged regulators to slow down and demanded more public information. Workforce & Training: SOWELA Technical Community College in Oakdale opened a new multipurpose training space and STEM energy showcase projects funded by ExxonMobil, expanding hands-on capacity for local learners and educators. Education Infrastructure: Pointe Coupee Parish replaced long-used temporary school buildings with new classrooms, added STEM learning spaces, and is rolling out a STAR Academy program plus a new welding shop. Sports NIL Oversight: Louisiana now requires athlete-agent and attorney registration for NIL representation, including background checks and mandatory training, with the law taking effect Aug. 1. Local Business & Permitting: Shreveport’s “Block by Block” revitalization and permitting reforms won international Bronze Excellence awards from the International Economic Development Council. Food Safety: In Shreveport–Bossier, six restaurants had three or more critical health violations in July 20–26 inspections, according to the state’s retail food dashboard. Industry Finance: Westlake and Westlake Chemical Partners reported improved second-quarter results, including higher net income/EBITDA and ongoing distribution coverage. Agriculture & Livestock: Louisiana’s 50th annual racehorse auction at Coushatta generated more than $6.2M in sales, with 329 quarter horses sold.

Nuclear Policy & Jobs: Gov. Bill Lee says it’s “too early” to pick sites, but Louisiana is among states in DOE’s Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus push—Idaho would have to accept spent fuel and high-level waste, while the federal plan promises major investment and job creation. Medicaid Fraud Crackdown: Louisiana Attorney General Hanaway backed the “STOP FRAUD in Medicaid Act,” urging Congress to expand state Medicaid Fraud Control Unit authority to pursue beneficiary and recipient fraud. Insurance Market Watch: Greater New Orleans Inc. reports homeowners insurance is stabilizing after 2024-25 reforms, with more carriers entering and rate decreases filing this year. Tourism Hiring: New Orleans & Company will host a free Hospitality & Tourism Job Fest Aug. 13 at the Joy Theater, connecting job seekers with major local employers. Storm Damage to Agriculture: Tropical Storm Arthur caused $112M+ in Louisiana agriculture and infrastructure losses, with Avoyelles Parish hit hardest. Road & Construction Updates: LA 34 in Jackson Parish will close Aug. 8-9 for cross-drain pipe replacement. Energy & Industry Finance: Westlake Chemical Partners declared a quarterly distribution of $0.4714 per unit payable Aug. 28. Local Education & Workforce: JS Clark Leadership Academy opened a $20M high school campus in Opelousas with allied health training and dual-degree pathways.

Coastal Resilience: State and federal officials are planning a major Raccoon Island restoration and expansion, using Deepwater Horizon settlement funds, with raised breakwaters and new living oyster reefs to protect nesting habitat and about 200,000 coastal homes from storm surges. Energy & Trade: QatarEnergy is buying Louisiana-produced LNG to keep Asian contracts on track after Middle East disruptions, underscoring how Gulf shipping chokepoints can quickly reshape global gas flows. Industrial Growth: Hyundai Steel says it will press ahead with its planned integrated electric arc furnace mill in Donaldsonville, Louisiana, targeting operations in 2029 despite weaker earnings and tariff pressure. Local Infrastructure Oversight: New Orleans is taking steps to shift control of the Sewerage and Water Board to the city, a move that could reshape how utilities are run and funded. Workforce & Safety: Athletic trainers and high school sports officials are urging heat-safety changes for football linemen after recent Louisiana and Arkansas heat-related hospitalizations. Food & Families: SNAP participation is dropping sharply nationwide, with more than 4 million people already losing benefits amid sweeping program changes—raising pressure on Louisiana households and local service providers. Education & Training: Northshore Technical Community College sets its Fall 2026 start for Aug. 19, with open registration through Aug. 18.

Workforce & Education: Northshore Technical Community College set Fall 2026 classes to start Aug. 19, with registration open through Aug. 18 across its Lacombe, Hammond, Bogalusa, Walker and Greensburg campuses. Public Health: Louisiana LDH confirmed Salmonella cases tied to a recall of 1.5M+ dozen shell eggs from Midwest Poultry Services, urging shoppers to check carton lot/plant codes and Julian dates and avoid affected eggs. Energy & Data Centers: Entergy outlined a proposed deal with Meta aimed at shielding Louisiana ratepayers from data-center infrastructure costs, projecting $2.65B in customer savings over 20 years while touting local jobs and tax impacts. Coastal Restoration: New Orleans’ annual helicopter “Christmas tree drop” program is credited with restoring marsh equal to nearly 200 football fields by trapping mud and helping wetlands regrow. College Sports Funding: A new Louisiana law routes sports gambling tax revenue to athletics programs, but spending details may be hard to track because reporting isn’t required. Agriculture (NWLA): A Caddo Parish produce-farm profile highlights how local growers run from harvest to farm-stand sales, showing the region’s niche produce business.

Agriculture in NWLA: Caddo Parish produce farmer Scott Ryan says his family-row-crop roots led him to a niche—Ryan Farms Produce now grows tomatoes, sweet corn, okra, peas, melons and more for retail and wholesale at the farm stand. Higher Ed & Sports Funding: A new Louisiana law routes sports gambling tax money to Division I programs, but spending details may stay murky because schools face no reporting requirements. Public Health & Industry Accountability: A Louisiana Illuminator/Floodlight investigation says toxic-air monitoring often misses major industrial sources along the Baton Rouge–New Orleans corridor, leaving residents in the dark. Energy & Data Centers: A Politico report highlights backlash to data-center deals, including claims that Louisiana officials offered Meta secret tax and land-use terms—fueling local distrust. Consumer Protection: Louisiana’s debit-card surcharge ban takes effect, expanding the AG’s enforcement power and giving customers a path to damages. Workforce Development: Meta’s America’s Workforce Academy is bringing paid, job-guaranteed training to Louisiana as data-center buildouts ramp up. Local Business/Community: Plaquemines Parish citrus farmer Ben Becnel Sr. dies at 83.

Data Center Backlash: A Politico report says Trump-backed AI data center plans are still triggering local revolt, with Louisiana officials’ reported secret tax and land-use deal for Meta cited as a trust-breaker. Consumer Protection: Louisiana’s debit card surcharge ban took effect, giving shoppers new rights and expanding the AG’s enforcement power. Auto Insurance Relief: State Farm will send Louisiana drivers $136 million in dividends, about $138 per vehicle on average. Energy & Industry Leadership: Gov. Jeff Landry named Chad Sonnier as Louisiana state fire marshal, promoting Bryan Adams within the Department of Public Safety. Agriculture Loss: Plaquemines Parish citrus and tomato farmer Ben Becnel Sr. died at 83. Workforce Training: Meta’s America’s Workforce Academy is paying older workers to learn trades tied to data-center construction, with Louisiana listed among training locations. Food Safety Confidence: A national poll finds low confidence in government food-safety oversight as Cyclospora cases top 20,000. Local Business Expansion: Parish Tractor acquired Crain Tractor in Mississippi, adding another equipment hub across the region.

Nuclear Industry Push: The U.S. Department of Energy picked Utah, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Idaho as the first potential hosts for Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses, aiming to build full nuclear fuel-cycle ecosystems that could include enrichment, fuel fabrication, waste disposal and even co-located power and data centers. Energy Reliability: A federal emergency order covers Louisiana and 16 other states as extreme heat strains the grid, giving the Southwest Power Pool authority to dispatch generation to reduce blackout risk. Agriculture Under Pressure: Louisiana rice farmers are battling tight margins as fertilizer and operating costs soar while rice prices lag, with growers in Acadia Parish pushing through harvest despite the squeeze. Food Safety: Louisiana is among states affected by a salmonella outbreak tied to recalled eggs produced in Texas, with health officials urging attention to symptoms and recall details. Consumer & Labor Enforcement: Attorney General Liz Murrill announced a $1 million-plus Walmart settlement over alleged misrepresentations in its Spark Driver delivery pay and tip practices. Industrial Expansion: Faith Technologies Inc. (FTI) broke ground on an $80M manufacturing facility in Ouachita Parish, targeting 200+ jobs for its Excellerate brand. Public Sector Oversight: New Orleans approved changes increasing City Council control over Sewerage and Water Board oversight, alongside new rules on debit card surcharges and balloon restrictions.