Louisiana may be one of America’s cultural capitals, the birthplace of jazz, home to Mardi Gras, and a global destination for festivals, but when it comes to spending on live entertainment the state is tightening its belt. A new national study from Ticket Compare reveals that Louisiana ranks number four lowest in the United States […]
A Festival Cancelled, A Warning Ignored Kenner’s Hispanic Heritage Festival was supposed to be a celebration—a colorful affirmation of culture, music, food, and community pride in one of Louisiana’s most diverse cities. Instead, it became a casualty of fear. Citing low vendor participation and safety concerns after a highly publicized ICE raid at a construction […]
Donald Trump has dubbed it “one big beautiful bill.” But for many in Louisiana—and across the country—it looks more like a blueprint for deepening inequality. A new report from the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) offers a sobering analysis of the Republican tax-and-spending proposal. The findings bluntly show America’s poorest households stand to lose the most, […]
The Sales Tax Hike Has Already Hit, and It’s Bleeding Working Families In January 2025, the Louisiana sales tax hike and new tax structure went into effect, permanently shifting the burden of funding our state onto those least able to afford it. Politicians and their lobbyists dressed it up in the language of “modernization” and […]
Even as the economy shows deeper signs of strain, with tariffs driving up Cost of living in Louisiana and recession warnings flashing from economists across the country, working people are trapped in a system that has been failing them for years. The instability of 2025 has only pulled back the curtain further, exposing a reality […]
Louisiana is facing a long emergency. Storms are more frequent. Insurance costs are rising. Jobs are not keeping pace. Climate change and economy are deeply connected — and all of it is holding the state back. The Data Center’s 2024 report, Pathways to Prosperity: Louisiana, shows that while the rest of the country added jobs […]
New Orleans is more than jazz and jambalaya. It’s a global gateway. The Port of New Orleans, long overshadowed by the city’s cultural spotlight, is one of the most strategically significant and economically vital maritime hubs in the United States — and it’s time more people understood that. From cotton to crude oil, from bananas […]
Louisiana’s economy has always had a complicated relationship with tariffs. From the booming sugar plantations of the 1800s, shaped in part by sugar tariffs, to today’s steel and soybean industries navigating global trade wars, protective tariffs have shaped the state’s fortunes—for better or worse. As Donald Trump’s 2025 “Liberation Day” tariffs roll out nationwide, it’s […]
When the Federal Reserve and Louisiana middle class raises interest rates, headlines usually focus on Wall Street. But here in Louisiana, especially for working families, the Fed’s decisions hit a lot closer to home—from mortgage payments in Metairie to credit card bills in Baton Rouge. In this explainer, we break down what the Fed actually […]
Louisiana has faced significant economic challenges since Governor Jeff Landry took office. The state’s economy has been on a downward trajectory, and the deteriorating insurance market under his administration has exacerbated the housing crisis, making homes unaffordable for many and threatening family stability. The growing Louisiana budget deficit adds to these concerns, highlighting the urgency […]
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