AI Oversight: Trump signed an executive order to vet advanced AI models for national security risks before public release, aiming for “secure innovation” and faster review. Critical Minerals: DOE picked Louisiana and Oklahoma projects for $134M to extract rare earths from waste streams, including a Louisiana facility targeting rare earth output from bauxite tailings. Autonomous Shipping: Fleetzero, Thoma-Sea Marine Constructors, and Glosten announced a push toward long-duration autonomous diesel-electric vessels for commercial and defense use. Flood Risk & Policy: New research links wetlands loss to a $10B rise in flood insurance claims, warning Supreme Court rollbacks could worsen gaps as climate change intensifies storms. Hurricane Science: A new Gulf Coast hurricane map tracks more than 170 years of storms, quantifying which Louisiana parishes have been hit most. Public Health: Louisiana health officials report a surge in flea-borne typhus (17 cases in 18 months), urging prevention and early care. Local Tech/Infrastructure: New Orleans Mayor Helena Moreno created an advisory subgroup to guide Sewerage & Water Board reforms under expanded City Council oversight. Education & Reading: Educators warn of a “reading recession,” pointing to renewed focus on the science of reading and phonics. Energy & Industry: Samsung Heavy won a $2.7B order for an FLNG facility tied to a Louisiana-area LNG project. Healthcare Workforce: The Louisiana EMS Education Conference & Expo opens in Shreveport, spotlighting emerging tech and training for prehospital care. Food Transparency: Genetic shrimp testing finds ongoing mislabeling of imported shrimp in parts of the Gulf, including Baton Rouge.