AGP Executive Report

Tourism Push to Japan: Louisiana is pitching its food, music, culture, and hospitality in Japan with Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser and the Louisiana Office of Tourism, aiming to boost Mississippi River travel and promote IPW 2027 in New Orleans. Airport Perk for Locals: Shreveport Regional Airport now has Dripp Donuts inside the terminal, bringing sourdough donuts and local flavor to pre-flight waits. Fall Travel Safety: Thibodaux Police are warning drivers and farmers about sugarcane harvest season, when tractors and cane-hauling trucks increase and slow-moving vehicles share the road. New Orleans Budget Watch: Mayor Helena Moreno’s 2027 plan heads to the City Council with more than $77M in additional cuts as the city works through a lingering budget deficit. Baton Rouge Dining Expansion: Cheba Hut “Toasted” Subs opens a second Baton Rouge location Oct. 2 in Long Farm Village. Scenic Road Trip Idea: National Scenic Byway Day spotlights the Shreveport-Bossier Boom or Bust Byway along Highway 2.

River Road Levee Trail Expansion: Baton Rouge has reopened the last quarter-mile stretch of the River Road Levee Trail, extending walk-and-bike access from the Queen Casino area to downtown and connecting nearby neighborhoods to the Downtown Greenway. Local Sports & Community: St. Tammany’s fall concert series keeps rolling with an admission-free Sept. 30 show in Lacombe by Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes, plus West Feliciana is lining up a fall slate of events like a farmer’s market, cook-off, and trunk-or-treat. Family Travel Safety: Louisiana State Police joins National Seat Check Saturday (Sept. 26) with free child passenger seat checks in Baton Rouge and the New Orleans area. Transit Update: Cameron Parish’s new ferry is expected to enter public service within weeks after crew training and certification. Road/Travel Disruption: A statewide server outage is temporarily disrupting Louisiana truck permitting, with DOTD issuing temporary oversize/overweight authorization while systems are restored. Food & Culture: Neutral Ground and Cocoa Cafe team up for a West African cultural night and tasting fundraiser Oct. 2-3, previewing Neutral Ground’s new menu ahead of its Dodds Avenue opening.

Cultural Tourism: Guided tours are back for Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 in October, with the City of New Orleans partnering with the Preservation Resource Center for a revenue-sharing model that prioritizes preservation. Outdoor & Community: City Park Conservancy will host a volunteer waterway cleanup Tuesday (9–11 a.m.) as part of the statewide Love Our Waterways effort, with volunteers working from kayaks and along the shoreline. Local Travel Infrastructure: Baton Rouge’s River Road Levee Trail expansion is now open for the last quarter-mile stretch, improving bike and walking access between neighborhoods and downtown. Family Travel Safety: Louisiana State Police joins National Seat Check Saturday (Sept. 26) with free child passenger seat checks across the state, plus limited seat availability via registration. Shreveport Watch: A 2025 city audit found recurring financial-control issues, including problems tracking property standards debt and compliance with bidding rules. New Orleans Update: NOPD is investigating an attempted ATM theft in Gentilly captured on surveillance video. Weekend Ideas: Lafayette Cemetery tours, City Park cleanup, and River Road trail access all make for easy, low-cost plans.

College Football & Travel Buzz: Ole Miss stunned LSU 32-24 in Lane Kiffin’s Oxford reunion, pushing the Rebels to No. 4 in the AP Top 25 and keeping LSU at No. 10—another reason fans will pack Louisiana-to-Mississippi road trips this fall. New Orleans Events: L.O.C.A.L.S’ Fest returns Sept. 26 to Armstrong Park with three stages, food and vendors, and a new Block Party Stage for DJs and dance music. Air Travel Upgrade: United is rolling out live pro and college football on Starlink-enabled seatback screens, aiming to install on nearly 700 planes by February—good news for travelers flying in game season. Acadiana SpaceX Watch: A viral SpaceX “how far you’ll hear it” map is sparking debate across South Louisiana as residents weigh launch noise and possible impacts. Local Transit: A new Cameron ferry, the Holly Beach, is arriving and should enter service after training and certification, with operations shifting to a private operator. Sports & Community: Mandeville swimmer Avery Daigle earned a spot on the 2026-27 U.S. National Team after record-setting swims.

Local Travel & Tourism: L.O.C.A.L.S. Fest returns to Armstrong Park on Saturday, Sept. 26 with three music stages, food and drink vendors, and local makers—plus a new Block Party Stage focused on DJs and dance music. Transportation: A new Cameron Ferry, the Holly Beach, has arrived from Lockport and will enter service after a training and certification process estimated at about four weeks, with operations shifting to LabMar Ferry Services once contracts are finalized. Sports (New Orleans): The Saints beat the Ravens 24-17 in Baltimore, with Tyler Shough leading the offense and Chris Olave starring; Zay Flowers is ruled out with a hamstring injury. Road & Travel Planning (Acadiana): Lafayette will close a lane on E. University Avenue (Harding to Coolidge) Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 21-22, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., for Atmos Energy utility work. Weather & Planning: El Niño is here, and it could mean more Gulf Coast rain and travel disruptions—worth factoring into fall and winter trip plans. Community & Safety: Louisiana State Police issued a Silver Alert for a missing 67-year-old man from Alexandria.

Louisiana Travel & Tourism: Lafayette’s first Trader Joe’s opened to big crowds, long lines, and about 75 local jobs, with the store also set to donate unsold but edible food to community groups. New Orleans Culture: A Lower Ninth Ward “free store” is turning a hurricane-scarred building into a community lifeline, offering free clothing and household goods—no air conditioning, but plenty of help. Sports & Game-Day Buzz (Louisiana): LSU’s Lane Kiffin returns to Ole Miss in a top-10 showdown with heightened security and injury/in-game drama after Ole Miss’ Trinidad Chambliss led a dominant performance in the rivalry’s latest chapter. Road Safety: Louisiana State Police reported a fatal UTV crash in Vernon Parish, reminding riders not to use off-road vehicles on public roads. Space & Local Economy: Records show Louisiana’s Star Base deal involved nondisclosure agreements, as SpaceX plans thousands of launches and major investment near the state’s SpaceX site.

College Football (LSU-Ole Miss): No. 7 LSU heads to Oxford to face No. 8 Ole Miss in a primetime SEC showdown, with Lane Kiffin returning and extra security planned after a week of heightened emotion. Local Sports & Travel: Santa Fe Christian’s Eagles, led by Drew Brees, made a New Orleans trip that mixed football with a visit to the Saints’ training facility. Acadiana Retail: Trader Joe’s opened its first Lafayette store to long lines and big crowds, creating about 75 local jobs and promising food donations. Public Safety (New Orleans): Police are investigating a fatal pedestrian crash on I-10 West near the Morrison Road entrance, with lanes temporarily closed during the response. Public Safety (Silver Alert): Louisiana State Police canceled a Silver Alert after an 83-year-old Bogalusa woman was found safe. Road Safety (Statewide): Louisiana State Police reported a deadly two-vehicle crash in Stonewall on U.S. 171. Energy Watch: National gas prices rose to about $4.44 per gallon as crude stays near $100.

New Orleans Travel & Sports: The Saints kick off Week 2 Sunday in Baltimore, with kickoff at 12 p.m. CT on CBS (WWL 4 locally), as New Orleans looks to rebound from an overtime loss to Detroit and face a Ravens run-heavy attack led by Derrick Henry and Lamar Jackson. Ole Miss–LSU Weekend: LSU’s top-10 showdown at Ole Miss is set for 7:30 p.m. ET, with Lane Kiffin’s return driving major buzz—and heightened security—around Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Local Tourism & Roads: Bossier Parish marked National Scenic Byway Day for the 136-mile Boom or Bust National Scenic Byway along LA 2, and highlighted new archival finds tied to Barksdale Field. Family-Friendly Community: An Old Metairie home with an art-filled, vacation-style feel is drawing attention, including a billiards room and pool. On-the-Road Safety: A pedestrian was killed after being hit by a truck on U.S. 61 near Frank Drive in Ascension Parish; toxicology samples are pending. Campus & Clean Water: Adolesco Prep received a Keep Louisiana Beautiful grant for ADA water bottle filling stations at its shared-use campus.

Tourism & Hotels: New Orleans tourism leaders cheered State Bond Commission approval for the Omni Hotel at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, a major connected, thousand-room project aimed at boosting big conventions and events. Travel & Local Air Service: BTR and Baton Rouge’s airport both moved forward with grants to add or incentivize nonstop flights, including a $1M push tied to Chicago service. Sports & Travel Planning: Oxford is gearing up for LSU vs. Ole Miss with heightened security, including strict student-section rules for opposing apparel and a large law-enforcement presence. Community & Family Travel: Adolesco Preparatory Academy in Hammond received a Keep Louisiana Beautiful grant to install ADA-compliant water bottle filling stations—an easy win for campus visitors and reusable-bottle habits. Road Safety: A pedestrian was killed on U.S. 61 near Sorrento in Ascension Parish, and a separate three-car crash near Crowley left one dead. Outdoor & Wildlife: A Calcasieu Estuary fishing guide highlights fall redfish and other species across the region’s bays, marshes, and ship-channel waters.

Travel & Flights: Shreveport Regional Airport says it’s not expecting winter airline cuts to hit local travelers, noting strong September traffic and new nonstop service—Allegiant to Orlando (returning) and United to Chicago starting Oct. 25. Road Closures: DOTD plans a one-day I-20 eastbound off-ramp closure to Monkhouse Drive in Shreveport on Tuesday, Sept. 22, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., with detours and weather-permitting work. New Orleans Tourism: Local tourism leaders back an Omni hotel bond approval, signaling continued push for downtown lodging growth. Cruise Planning: A Greater New Orleans transportation provider shares embarkation-day tips for getting from hotels or the airport to cruise terminals smoothly. Swamp Wildlife Travel: Louisiana Tour Company recommends slower swamp travel to spot more wildlife—movement, listening, and patience pay off. Sports & Game-Day Travel: LSU’s Lane Kiffin returns to Ole Miss for Saturday’s big matchup, and Louisiana’s Cajuns host UAB at 7 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Stadium.

New Orleans Tourism & Hotels: The State Bond Commission cleared major financing steps for the $600M Omni headquarters hotel at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, a 1,000-room project aimed at boosting big meetings and major events like Super Bowls. Saints Injury Update: Saints RB Alvin Kamara says his knee is ahead of schedule and he’s set to return Sunday after beating the projected timeline for his MCL strain. LSU-Ole Miss Gameweek: LSU’s Lane Kiffin is expected to return to Oxford for the top-10 matchup, with added family-game logistics in the mix. Public Safety: Louisiana State Police report a fatal, unrestrained single-vehicle crash in Downsville where a driver veered off Mosleys Bluff Road and hit a tree. Family Travel & Events: Ronald McDonald House Shreveport-Bossier is hosting “Blue Jeans and Bubbles” Sept. 24 at the Capri Theater to support lodging for families during children’s medical care. Local Business & Tourism: Lafayette’s new Trader Joe’s opened with early lines and local-themed touches inside the store. Community & Sports Culture: Kim Mulkey will serve as celebrity captain for the 100th Natchitoches Christmas “Festival of Lights” Parade on Dec. 5. French Quarter Watch: New Orleans is pushing French Quarter small businesses to remove unpermitted sidewalk chairs and signs to avoid fines.

Travel & Tourism: Natchez is getting a major boost for Mississippi River cruising, with American Cruise Lines and the city breaking ground on a new cruise dock aimed at bringing more passengers and longer stays. Road & Transit: DOTD says the I-20 westbound on-ramp from Traffic St. in Bossier City will close Saturday, Sept. 19, from 6 a.m. to noon for cleanup work—use alternate routes. Coastal Resilience: A new USGS assessment finds Louisiana’s restoration projects (1984-2025) helped slow land loss by about 23%, but the state still lost roughly 540 square miles over the same period. Local Living Costs: Eunice tops a list of Louisiana’s most affordable cities, while New Orleans remains pricier—useful for travelers planning longer stays. Health & Safety: Louisiana reports six deaths tied to flesh-eating bacteria cases, with warnings especially around raw or undercooked oysters. Education & Workforce: LSU’s international student internship options may tighten as a new visa memo limits authorization to certain degree-linked internships.

Travel & Wellness: HIV.gov highlights AIDS Memorial Parks nationwide, including the New Orleans AIDS Memorial in Washington Square Park—an easy way to mix a walk with reflection and local history. Sports Tourism & Public Safety: Mississippi is gearing up for the LSU–Ole Miss showdown with its largest Highway Patrol presence yet—about 65 to 70 troopers plus special operations, air support, and enhanced traffic enforcement around Oxford, with Louisiana troopers assisting. Road Safety: Louisiana State Police report a deadly I-10 crash in St. Martin Parish where a 13-year-old Port Barre girl died after a lane-change collision; investigators are still looking into what happened. Health Alert: Louisiana is among states seeing cases of flesh-eating Vibrio vulnificus, with officials urging caution around raw oysters and warm brackish water. Culture & Community: Love Our Waterways kicks off a statewide litter cleanup push in September, aiming to stop trash before it reaches Louisiana’s waterways. Local Crime: An Abbeville man was arrested after allegedly traveling to Brusly and sexually assaulting two teens he met online.

Rabies Alert: Louisiana health officials confirmed the first canine rabies case in the state since 2014, a reminder for pet owners and travelers to avoid wildlife and seek prompt care after any bite or scratch. Road-Trip Planning: DOTD scheduled alternating lane closures on I-10 West at the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge (mile markers 123–127) Sept. 16–18, 6 a.m.–12 p.m., with possible delays for drivers and restricted oversized loads. Mardi Gras Music: St. Augustine Marching 100 alumni are invited to march in the Krewe of Bacchus parade for the school’s 75th anniversary—an easy reason to plan a New Orleans visit. Local Tourism Stays: Looking for something different? A roundup highlights seven standout Airbnb stays across Louisiana, from a river “fairytale” home to a unique tower in New Iberia. Travel Safety & Health: A New Orleans immigration court surge is drawing attention to how long waits can affect visitors and residents navigating hearings. Coast Restoration: Tulane’s “Glass Half Full” project says it has crushed more than 12 million pounds of glass into sand to help rebuild Louisiana wetlands.

Travel & Tourism Boost: Atlantic Bay Mortgage Group opened its first Louisiana branch in Baton Rouge, adding local housing support for homebuyers across the region. Road Trip & Safety: Louisiana Highway Safety Commission data links record seat belt use to the lowest crash injury totals in state history, even as fatalities rose with more alcohol-involved crashes. Local Attractions: Shreveport-Bossier’s historic Jimmie Davis Bridge is starting its makeover into Louisiana’s first linear park, with newly revealed truss painting as rehab continues. Big Game Security: LSU and Ole Miss are ramping up security for Lane Kiffin’s return to Oxford, including added mounted patrols and coordination with Louisiana State Police. Public Safety Alerts: Troopers investigated a fatal two-vehicle crash on I-20 west of LA 157 in Bossier Parish. Community & Culture: Henry Smith House in Picayune earned a statewide destination venue award for bringing visitors and outside dollars to a smaller community. Tech & Identity Risk: A major driver’s license scanning breach tied to a New Orleans-based ID verification firm is raising new concerns for travelers and renters.

Bluegrass on the Northshore: Covington’s Fuhrmann Auditorium hosts Del McCoury-era fiddle star Jason Carter on Sept. 25, with local opener Spring Chickens kicking off the 6:30 p.m. show. LSU-Ole Miss primetime: Texas A&M’s LSU game is set for Sept. 26 at 6:30 p.m. on ABC, and LSU’s Sept. 19 trip to Oxford is drawing major attention as Lane Kiffin returns to face his former program. New Orleans East budget push: More than 100 residents packed a town hall asking Mayor Helena Moreno’s 2027 plan to prioritize blight, commerce, and youth programs. Fall travel idea: Chemin-A-Haut State Park is highlighted as one of Louisiana’s best bets for peak fall color. Safety and roads: LSP is investigating a fatal Lafourche Parish crash that killed 74-year-old Chris Dufrene, and a Jeff Davis Parish crash left a 4-month-old with life-threatening injuries after an alleged impaired driver crossed the centerline. Fuel watch: GasBuddy reports the lowest midgrade and diesel deals across several parishes for the week ending Sept. 5.