Business News

By Rajesh P. Narayanan, Ph.D., Louisiana State University The Credit Card Competition Act, sponsored by Senators Durbin and Marshall, aims to inject competition into credit card networks and lower costs for merchants and consumers. The legislation requires issuers with over $100 billion in assets to enable at least two unaffiliated payment networks and gives merchants control over transaction routing. Community banks are explicitly exempt from this threshold. Yet despite thi

Governor Jeff Landry used remarks before the Louisiana Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to reinforce a central theme of his administration: economic growth depends on expanding opportunity for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and workers across every community in the state. Speaking to business leaders from across Louisiana, Landry emphasized that Hispanic-owned businesses are an increasingly important driver of job creation and local investment. He highlighted the role small and

By George Caldwell/Daily Signal) – On Thursday, Congress could take a step toward restoring a now old-fashioned way of funding the government while eliminating a spending policy from  President Joe Biden’s administration. The House will consider its final batch of appropriations bills for fiscal year 2026 to fund several federal agencies.  Speaker of the House Mike Johnson,  R-La., on Wednesday said the spending process has been restored to a “committee-led, member-driven app

Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson is bringing a major entertainment investment to Louisiana, announcing plans to develop a large-scale film and television production complex that would further cement the state’s position as a competitive hub for creative industries. The project, led by Jackson and his G-Unit Film & Television banner, would transform a long-vacant facility into a full-service studio campus capable of supporting high-end film, television, and streaming productions. The

Louisiana has secured Business Facilities  magazine’s prestigious Platinum Deal of the Year Award for the second consecutive year, a first in the award’s history and a clear signal that the state has entered a new era of national economic competitiveness. In early January 2026, Business Facilities  named Hyundai Steel’s $5.8 billion investment in Ascension Parish as the Platinum Deal of the Year for 2025, recognizing it as the most significant economic development project ann

By Meghan Thacker Data Centers are coming and they are here to stay. McKinsey has forecast total capital expenditures of  $1.7 trillion  on AI data centers by 2030, excluding the IT hardware involved – which makes for a bigger number.  Louisiana is well-positioned to take advantage of this new industrial era thanks to the state’s robust industrial and energy infrastructure and pro-growth policies being implemented under the leadership of Governor Landry. In addition to the Me

(The Center Square) – A Louisiana jury last April determined oil giant Chevron owed $744 million for environmental damage to the state’s coastline. Chevron, seeking a rematch in a potentially friendlier arena, told the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday that a federal court should decide the case. Chevron’s argument centers on a federal law that allows defendants to move certain lawsuits from state court to federal court when the claims are tied to actions taken under federal autho

Louisiana’s job market showed modest improvement over the past year, but the state’s economy remains mostly stagnant, an  LSU Shreveport economist says. Louisiana’s unemployment rate fell to 4.3% in November, tied for 33rd among the 50 states and lower than the national rate of 4.6%, according to the U.S.  Bureau of Labor Statistics . The number of unemployed Louisianans declined to 88,684, down from 96,134 a year earlier, while the state’s labor force was essentially flat y

Business First Bancshares, Inc.  has completed its acquisition of Progressive Bancorp, Inc.  and its subsidiary, Progressive Bank, significantly expanding its presence in North Louisiana and pushing total assets to approximately $8.7 billion. The transaction strengthens Business First’s statewide footprint by adding nine North Louisiana branches and deepening its reach in a region that has become increasingly important to Louisiana’s economic growth. “We love this opportunity

At a ribbon-cutting in Vermilion Parish celebrating Cajun Broadband’s latest expansion, there were all the usual trappings of a public milestone: remarks from local officials, a video message from Jeff Landry , and a ceremonial cut of the tape. There was also seafood gumbo — cooked the night before by company co-founder Chris Disher. It was a fitting detail. Cajun Broadband has grown into one of Louisiana’s most important rural infrastructure builders, but it still operates w

Submitted by DK Willard Louisianans are no strangers to hard work. We consistently rank as one of the hardest working  states in the country, with many residents working overtime to pay down loans, invest in their first homes, and create financial stability for themselves and their families. Now, digital assets and new financial technologies are becoming integral to everyday investing, providing new tools to help Americans build financial security in ways previously thought t

Louisiana has secured another major industrial investment with national significance. ElementUSA’s decision to invest $850 million in a rare earth and critical minerals refining facility in St. John Parish marks an important milestone for the state’s economy and its expanding role in strengthening America’s domestic supply chains. The project is expected to create 200 direct jobs with an average annual salary of $90,000, nearly 30 percent above the average wage in St. John Pa