Casino Expansion: PENN Entertainment is planning a $195 million move of Boomtown Casino & Hotel New Orleans to a new onshore Hollywood Casino New Orleans site, pending approvals, with an expected 2029 opening. Port & Trade: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers cleared the Louisiana International Terminal, a new Lower Mississippi River container port tied to Port NOLA and MSC’s TiL, positioning Louisiana for expanded global shipping. Infrastructure & Jobs: A new U.S. grid needs study points to rising electricity demand from data centers and industrial growth, boosting demand for construction and skilled power workers. Public Safety Tech: Livingston Parish is weighing a ban on privately owned Flock automated license plate readers on parish roads amid privacy concerns. Housing Affordability: A new report says HUD spending hasn’t lowered home prices and that homeownership is getting harder nationwide, widening the affordability gap. Veterans & Poverty: Louisiana ranks highest for veterans living in poverty, with 8.1% below the poverty line in 2019-23. Energy Costs: Gasoline is hitting record August highs near $4 nationally, with forecasts suggesting pain could last into winter. Local Watch: New Orleans police increased patrols around the abandoned Plaza Tower after a teen’s death, but the city says the owner must secure the building. Agriculture Supply: Moroccan phosphate is returning to the U.S. after temporary relief from countervailing duties, aiming to improve fertilizer availability for fall.