Good morning, New Orleans.

New Orleans is set to see over $1 billion in hotel renovations this fall as New Orleans & Company announces 14 major convention events at the Ernest N.

Morial Convention Center expected to draw 225,000 visitors by the end of 2026.

Sixty New Orleans-area employers have been recognized as honorees in the 24th annual Best Places to Work program based on anonymous employee surveys + questionnaires.

The companies in small, medium and large employer categories will be featured in a special CityBusiness publication on Dec. 15.

Beignet Fest will return Nov.

7 at City Park’s Festival Grounds and debut The Porch where local chefs lead guided discussions hosted by Kevin Belton. Blue Runners (the event sponsor) offers early bird tickets until Oct. 3.

Louisiana Innovation secured $7.5M over five years (with over $15M in total investment) to expand its Innovation Labs, which will help small and medium manufacturers adopt advanced technology statewide.

The program will connect manufacturers with local university and industry experts to boost competitiveness.

U.S. Census Bureau data shows that nearly 20% of Louisiana residents lived in poverty from 2023 to 2025, compared to a 10.7% national average.

Gov. Jeff Landry touted economic growth through a planned Meta data center in Richland Parish and a new SpaceX launch facility in Vermilion Parish.

Richland Parish teachers received more than $50,000 from increased sales-tax collections driven by Meta’s Hyperion data center construction + rural leaders have asked Economic Development to help attract similar projects in their parishes.

The Queen Bess Island Restoration Project was named one of the nation’s Best Restored Shores for 2026 by the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association.

The $19 million project restored habitat near Grand Isle after the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, expanding nesting areas from five to 36 acres.

Louisiana’s new University Research Security Council requires state approval for partnerships with institutions from China, Cuba, Iran and Russia and mandates enhanced reporting for faculty; the council met for the first time this week and will hold its next meeting in November to review projects starting in January.

Vibrio vulnificus linked to oysters has caused 10 deaths in Louisiana and Florida this year.

Health officials advise covering wounds and avoiding raw oysters to reduce the risk of infection.

Nucleate New Orleans hosted a panel discussion on brain health innovation on Sept.

10 at the New Orleans BioInnovation Center. Leaders in neuroscience, health care, public health and biotech shared insights — supporting local efforts to build a specialized workforce.

About 290,000 Medicaid members on Healthy Blue must choose a new plan as coverage ends Jan.

1; the state will offer a special enrollment period from Oct. 15 to Nov. 16 (four other plans will continue without interruption).

New Orleans-based VPG Holdings acquired 200 Carondelet, a 23-story mixed-income apartment high-rise, for about $27.2 million + the firm plans roughly $2 million in phased improvements and may revitalize the historic banking hall to benefit downtown residents.

LSU and Ole Miss face each other today amid high rivalry tension as Lane Kiffin’s controversial move from Ole Miss to LSU prompts extra security in Oxford — a sign that both teams are aiming for College Football Playoff hopes.

The New Orleans Pelicans signed forward Saddiq Bey to a multi-year contract extension announced Friday.

Bey played in 72 games last season after missing a campaign due to an ACL tear and has 364 career games in five NBA seasons (contract details were not disclosed).