 BY VICKI FERSTEL | Staff writer In early December, Meta, the parent company of Facebook, announced plans to build a $10 billion AI data center in north Louisiana's Richland Parish about 30 miles east of Monroe. Once it's completed in 2030, the 4-million-square-foot facility — more than three times the size of Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport — is expected to employ 500 permanent workers and support hundreds of indirect jobs. Staff writer Stephanie Riegel takes us behind the scenes to see how Louisiana snagged such a tremendous opportunity.
Twelve years ago, Beyoncé wowed the Super Bowl crowd at halftime in New Orleans. The Baltimore Ravens took the second-half kickoff 108 yards for a touchdown. Then the lights went out. As the 2025 Super Bowl approaches, Entergy New Orleans officials say they’re confident there won’t be another Super Bowl blackout, thanks to upgrades to the Superdome. Click here for the story by staff writer Sam Karlin.
Here's some really good news: Baker High School — once one of the worst in the state for student attendance — has seen a major boost in its attendance statistics. With the help of LSU and special teams at the school, Baker High climbed to one of the top schools in the state for attendance. Staff writer Elyse Carmosino explains how that happened and the lessons other schools can learn from Baker High. | 
