Business News

For Louisiana businesses, the homeowners insurance crisis is no longer just a household issue — it is a workforce issue, a housing issue, and increasingly, an economic development issue. Governor Jeff Landry’s recent request that the Louisiana Workers’ Compensation Corporation (LWCC) explore committing a portion of its excess reserves to help fund fortified roofs signals a recognition that insurance affordability and economic competitiveness are directly connected. Louisiana’

By Rajesh P. Narayanan | Professor of finance, Louisiana State University After months of bipartisan negotiations, Congress continues to debate crypto market structure legislation, though questions remain whether common sense investor protections will be included in a new federal framework for digital assets. These proposals address fundamental questions aimed at providing needed clarity for digital asset markets, including around agency jurisdiction, and trust and confidence

Speaking Wednesday to the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge,  Louisiana Chemical Association  President and CEO David Cresson discussed the “hard truths” facing the state’s chemical industry—rampant litigation, high insurance costs and workforce shortages among them. But the point he spent the most time on was his desire to push back against what he described as “misinformation” about Louisiana’s industrial corridor, misinformation he said has tainted public opinion of one of the ke

Cohab executive director Jessica Schiele says at least once a month  in their CEO Roundtable group,  a business leader says “I thought only I was dealing with that.” That is rarely the case, she says, and it's one of the ways the CEO program can help. Over the next month, Louisiana Economic Development will take applications for its 2026 CEO program and they are looking for candidates.  Similar to the famous Las Vegas commercial, Schiele says conversations between the CEOs st

NEW ORLEANS (WAFB) - John Miller, founder of the Country Club of Louisiana, is pitching investors on acquiring Spirit Airlines and establishing a hub in New Orleans. Miller’s annoucement comes as the airline’s stock trades at less than 3 cents per share. Miller said the proposal would boost Louisiana businesses and tax revenue by attracting visitors who would not otherwise come to the state. “If somebody is visiting Louisiana and visiting New Orleans and they would have absol

President Donald Trump’s push to modernize America’s retirement and savings system reflects a broader and increasingly clear philosophy: long-term economic security comes from early participation, financial literacy, and wider access to the wealth-building tools that have traditionally been limited to institutions and the wealthy. Recent debate over expanding permissible 401(k) investment options, including limited exposure to private equity, private credit, and other alterna

(By Alton Wallace/The Center Square) – The next sale of oil and gas leases in the Gulf of America is set for March 11, one of dozens scheduled over the next 15 years as part of President Donald Trump’s push to increase domestic oil and gas production. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed by Trump in July, mandates 30 auctions in offshore waters in the Gulf and six in Alaska’s Cooks Inlet before the end of 2040. The March sale will open more than 80 million acres on the Oute

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