Louisiana

Local leaders seek federal aid after storm damage plagues north Louisiana

Published

1 month ago

January 30, 2026

Local leaders seek federal aid after storm damage plagues north Louisiana

MONROE, La. (KNOE) – Local and state leaders are mobilizing resources and reaching out to Washington for support following the devastating storm.

President Donald Trump has already signed a Federal Disaster Declaration, a critical first step that opens the door for the state to access federal resources and recovery funds. This declaration sets the recovery process in motion and signals the federal government’s commitment to supporting affected areas.

Monroe Mayor Friday Ellis has been working the phones, staying in contact with House Speaker Mike Johnson and Congresswoman Julia Letlow to ensure his city gets the support it needs.

A significant development: the necessary paperwork has been filed to get the disaster classified as Category A Emergency Work. This designation is crucial for local communities because it means recovery efforts will be reimbursable at a higher rate—stretching federal dollars further and easing the financial burden on municipalities.

According to FEMA, Category A Emergency Work is focused primarily on debris removal, one of the most immediate and pressing needs following major storms.

Congressional Leaders Respond

Congresswoman Julia Letlow has made it clear that disaster response is a priority. Her office reports she has been focused on providing informational resources to constituents and maintaining open lines of communication with local leaders about the storm’s impacts.

Speaker Mike Johnson is also actively engaged with local officials. His office emphasizes that while aid is forthcoming, the approval process takes time—a reminder that recovery is a marathon, not a sprint.

Senator Bill Cassidy announced a major development today: nearly half a billion dollars in support from previous hurricanes in 2020 and 2021 is being directed to help Louisiana recover. He’s also personally committed to working with local leaders in the region.

“Today I spoke with West Monroe Mayor Stacey Mitchell and learned of their needs,” Cassidy said. “I’ve committed to work together with them. A delegation from the City of Monroe also spoke with us about what we can accomplish on the federal level.”

Efforts to secure additional support continue across the board, with local delegations meeting with federal representatives to outline specific community needs and identify federal resources that can be deployed.

The coordination between local and federal leaders demonstrates that when disaster strikes, government at all levels can work together to support recovery and rebuilding efforts.

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Louisiana

More Storms Monday – Severe Storms Possible by Midweek

Published

8 hours ago

March 9, 2026

Press Room

More Storms Monday – Severe Storms Possible by Midweek

(KMDL-FM) You might not have realized it, but you’re on a roller coaster. No, not the kind of roller coaster you look forward to riding, but the kind of roller coaster only Mother Nature can devise in the form of Louisiana’s annual up and down weather conditions, also known as spring.

READ MORE: Louisiana Parishes That Have the Most Tornadoes

Much of Louisiana was affected by strong storms with heavy rains and gusty winds during the day on Saturday and extending into Sunday morning. By later afternoon yesterday, conditions had improved, and it looked as though the work and school week would be off to a much calmer start.

Heavy Rain Possible in Louisiana To Start the Work Week

The start of the work and school day will be much calmer; however, the ride home on this first day of “extra sunlight” thanks to Daylight Saving Time will include a decent chance of showers and storms. Oh, and there are already reports of thick fog.

So, after a foggy start this morning, you could be picking up kids from school or driving yourself home from work in a torrential downpour. And you’ll get to do all of this while you’re mentally addled from the twice-a-year time change.

Rain chances are listed at 50% for this afternoon, but they do taper off quickly after the sun goes down. The Weather Prediction Center is forecasting a slight risk of an excessive rain event for portions of Louisiana later today. The area of concern is generally along and well north of US 190.

When Is The Next Threat of Severe Storms in Louisiana?

Tuesday should be a cloudy but breezy and warm day. Then on Wednesday, the rain chances and the next threat of severe storms will move into Louisiana.

weather.gov/lch

The Storm Prediction Center outlook for Wednesday’s severe weather potential suggests that the northern and central sections of the state might be more at risk for stronger storms than the I-10 corridor might be.

READ MORE: Who Is Appearing at Patty in the Parc in Lafayette?

We will know more about that potential later this morning when the SPC updates its forecast. The outlook for the remainder of the week, including the Patty in the Parc Weekend event in Downtown Lafayette, looks to be spectacular.

Patty in the Parc Entertainment 2011-2025

Gallery Credit: Dave Steel

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Louisiana

Tech companies could receive large tax breaks in Louisiana as data centers begin construction

Published

20 hours ago

March 8, 2026

Press Room

Tech companies could receive large tax breaks in Louisiana as data centers begin construction

RICHLAND — Tech companies could receive significant tax breaks in Louisiana as data centers break ground in the state.

According to a report by The Advocate, Meta officials told state officials in 2024 that they would need significant tax breaks while negotiating the $27 billion data center project currently being built in North Louisiana.

Based on projections of Louisiana’s tax exemptions and the expected expenditures of the companies, state and local governments could potentially give billions in tax breaks to the tech giants.

Several states, including Louisiana, have seen backlash to data centers as residents worry about potential rising electric costs and strain on water systems.

Virginia is currently debating whether or not to repeal tax exemptions for the tech companies, as it has cost state and local governments in Virginia $1.9 billion in 2024 alone.

The tax break exempts data centers from state and local taxes for multiple things data centers require, including servers, chillers, electric infrastructure and construction costs.

The scale of the data center projects, which include tens of billions in spending, coupled with Louisiana’s sales tax of 10%, means tax breaks could be worth huge amounts.

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Louisiana

Why tech giants could reap massive tax breaks in Louisiana as data centers break ground

Published

1 day ago

March 8, 2026

Press Room

Why tech giants could reap massive tax breaks in Louisiana as data centers break ground

Gov. Jeff Landry speaks at an event Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, at Shreveport Municipal Auditorium in Shreveport, La., held to announce that Amazon plans to build data centers in Caddo and Bossier Parishes. He is joined by Roger Wehner, left, vice president of Economic Development for Amazon, and Matt Vanderzanden, CEO of STACK Infrastructure.

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