Northwest Louisiana Funding Boost: Louisiana’s capital outlay budget is sending nearly $200 million to Shreveport and Bossier City, including $25 million for LSU Health Shreveport and a new research facility at the former Sears building at Mall St. Vincent, plus security upgrades and $17.5 million for Northwestern State University’s Nursing Education Center. Flood Recovery, Step-by-Step: Agriculture Commissioner Mike Strain met flood-affected farmers in Opelousas, urging careful documentation of crop losses to unlock state and federal aid after catastrophic flooding. Healthcare Innovation in the Region: North Oaks Neurosurgery Clinic in Hammond added two neurosurgeons focused on robotic-assisted care and advanced tumor surgery, expanding local options for complex brain and spine conditions. Dementia Care Gets a Grant: Alzheimer’s Alliance Texarkana Area won nearly $63,935 to expand dementia respite services with structured, evidence-based therapeutic activities. Public Health Policy Watch: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled states can count mail-in ballots arriving after Election Day, a major shift for election administration. Food & Medicine Research Spotlight: “Food noise” is drawing major research attention, with new studies exploring how GLP-1 drugs may reduce the constant mental preoccupation with food.