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Isaias expected to strengthen to near Category 3 strength 

Watches are in effect from Louisiana to Florida.

News

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Tropical Storm Isaias" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2026/10/06/invest92l-gulf-forecast-hurricane-louisiana-isaias" data-vars-content-id="57637ff6-3850-4f01-ab57-fdd365813cdc" data-vars-headline="Isaias expected to strengthen to near Category 3 strength " data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2026/10/06/invest92l-gulf-forecast-hurricane-louisiana-isaias" target="_self">Tropical Storm Isaias</a> is rapidly strengthening in the Gulf and is expected to be nearly a Category 3 hurricane before making landfall this weekend near the Alabama-Florida state line.Why it matters: Hurricane and tropical storm watches are in effect from Louisiana to Florida.

Louisiana "committed" to continuing executions, Landry says

Landry made the comment after Tennessee's failed execution attempt.

Politics

Gov. Jeff Landry remains &quot;committed&quot; to Louisiana&#x27;s death penalty despite Tennessee&#x27;s recent failed execution attempt, he told <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Axios New Orleans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans" data-vars-content-id="132eb997-c905-4cbe-b93b-084ee30e8e0c" data-vars-headline="Louisiana &quot;committed&quot; to continuing executions, Landry says" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans" target="_self">Axios New Orleans</a> in an exclusive interview.Why it matters: Tennessee death row <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="inmate Christa Pike" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/10/06/tennessee-christa-pike-awake-failed-execution" data-vars-content-id="132eb997-c905-4cbe-b93b-084ee30e8e0c" data-vars-headline="Louisiana &quot;committed&quot; to continuing executions, Landry says" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/nashville/2026/10/06/tennessee-christa-pike-awake-failed-execution" target="_self">inmate Christa Pike</a> is awake and talking despite being administered two doses of lethal injection drugs. Louisiana also conducts executions using lethal injection.

Gulf system expected to become season's first hurricane

Residents from Louisiana to Florida should be on alert.

A tropical depression in the Gulf is expected to become the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="first hurricane" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2026/09/15/hurricane-season-atlantic-historic-no-storms" data-vars-content-id="72644985-cee6-4036-8698-0bb41da9e928" data-vars-headline="Gulf system expected to become season&#x27;s first hurricane" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2026/09/15/hurricane-season-atlantic-historic-no-storms" target="_self">first hurricane</a> of the Atlantic season.Why it matters: It could bring heavy rain, gusty winds and coastal flooding to the Gulf Coast, but it&#x27;s too early to tell how much <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="New Orleans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans" data-vars-content-id="72644985-cee6-4036-8698-0bb41da9e928" data-vars-headline="Gulf system expected to become season&#x27;s first hurricane" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans" target="_self">New Orleans</a> could see.

Hurricane Isaias forms, expected to rapidly intensify in Gulf

Landfall is forecast overnight Friday near the Alabama-Florida state line.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Hurricane Isaias" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2026/10/07/tropical-storm-isaias-hurricane-strength-track-louisiana" data-vars-content-id="8b6ee3ff-e530-494d-a2b2-faf5b9616f5d" data-vars-headline="Hurricane Isaias forms, expected to rapidly intensify in Gulf" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2026/10/07/tropical-storm-isaias-hurricane-strength-track-louisiana" target="_self">Hurricane Isaias</a> is expected to rapidly intensify in the Gulf and become nearly a Category 3 storm before making landfall late Friday near the Alabama-Florida state line.Why it matters: New Orleans is now outside the storm&#x27;s cone, but NHC says residents from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle should monitor Isaias closely.

Hurricane Isaias strengthens to Category 2 storm in Gulf

Life-threatening storm surge is forecast.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Hurricane Isaias" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2026/10/08/hurricane-isaias-forms-rapidly-intensify" data-vars-content-id="5a43b648-1509-4351-a31e-ff457ea7d01f" data-vars-headline="Hurricane Isaias strengthens to Category 2 storm in Gulf" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2026/10/08/hurricane-isaias-forms-rapidly-intensify" target="_self">Hurricane Isaias</a> strengthened to a powerful Category 2 storm Thursday on its track toward the Gulf Coast, the National Hurricane Center says.Why it matters: It&#x27;s expected to bring destructive winds and storm surge to parts of Alabama, Florida, Mississippi and Louisiana.

First look: Hut 8's under-construction Louisiana data center

The project should come online in early 2027.

Business

<figure><img alt="An excavator digs into a pile of dirt, viewed from afar. Behind it, a large under-construction steel-frame building." height="450" id="96c715a6-9c8f-4932-ac12-33bba6495f27" src="https://images.axios.com/fJkyOjkml6Z2u6BDawZxtm3UGOc=/2026/10/06/1791306256202.gif" width="800"/><figcaption>Hut 8&#x27;s River Bend data center under construction Oct. 5. Video: Chelsea Brasted/Axios</figcaption></figure>When <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Hut 8" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2025/12/19/jazz-museum-to-get-1-1m-revamp" data-vars-content-id="68e5399f-c3b4-43cb-b465-c9c8c19cd987" data-vars-headline="First look: Hut 8&#x27;s under-construction Louisiana data center" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/2025/12/19/jazz-museum-to-get-1-1m-revamp" target="_self">Hut 8</a> brings its West Feliciana Parish data center online early next year, the scale and size of the project will make it unlike anything Louisiana has seen. Why it matters: It&#x27;s one of four in-the-works <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="data center projects" data-vars-click-url="https://www.opportunitylouisiana.gov/data-center" data-vars-content-id="68e5399f-c3b4-43cb-b465-c9c8c19cd987" data-vars-headline="First look: Hut 8&#x27;s under-construction Louisiana data center" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.opportunitylouisiana.gov/data-center" target="_blank">data center projects</a> touted by Louisiana Economic Development and, though it appears on track to be the first to turn the lights on, it&#x27;s not the largest.

Map: Louisiana's planned data centers

The projects are primarily in North Louisiana.

Louisiana&#x27;s planned data centers are expected to have 9,431 MW capacity, according to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="records" data-vars-click-url="https://cleanview.co/data-centers/us" data-vars-content-id="20e555a0-1e60-459e-bb81-6cea432c28cd" data-vars-headline="Map: Louisiana&#x27;s planned data centers" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://cleanview.co/data-centers/us" target="_blank">records</a> analyzed by market intelligence company Cleanview.Why it matters: That would give Louisiana the 13th most capacity among states with data centers, Cleanview&#x27;s data show.

Fire ants are chewing up New Orleans traffic lights

Officials are trying to make the lights stop flashing in the rain.

Fire ants are partially to blame for flashing traffic lights in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="New Orleans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans" data-vars-content-id="4c63ffe3-b168-4534-83bf-93bf2c4250a0" data-vars-headline="Fire ants are chewing up New Orleans traffic lights" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans" target="_self">New Orleans</a>, a city leader said Monday.Why it matters: The city&#x27;s destructive critters were just one revelation from Monday&#x27;s three-hour budget meeting.

New Orleans will be among the last places in U.S. to see fall foliage

It'll be weeks before we get colorful leaves.

The leaves are changing. Just not in <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="New Orleans" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans" data-vars-content-id="ca2d8de3-2743-475f-884b-49d6708e1710" data-vars-headline="New Orleans will be among the last places in U.S. to see fall foliage" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans" target="_self">New Orleans</a>.The big picture: Peak foliage is expected to sweep south over the next several weeks, according to a map on <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Explore Fall" data-vars-click-url="https://www.explorefall.com/fall-foliage-map" data-vars-content-id="ca2d8de3-2743-475f-884b-49d6708e1710" data-vars-headline="New Orleans will be among the last places in U.S. to see fall foliage" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.explorefall.com/fall-foliage-map" target="_blank">Explore Fall</a>.

Dates to know for the Nov. 3 election in Louisiana

The deadline to register to vote online is Oct. 13.

Election

We&#x27;re in the final weeks of the race ahead of Louisiana&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Nov. 3 election" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/election" data-vars-content-id="30fd18f4-a051-4c0e-bead-6569937e7dcd" data-vars-headline="Dates to know for the Nov. 3 election in Louisiana" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/new-orleans/election" target="_self">Nov. 3 election</a>.Why it matters: Voters will make congressional picks, among decisions for other local matters.

News 🗞

Hurricane Isaias strengthens to Category 2 storm in Gulf

Hurricane Isaias forms, expected to rapidly intensify in Gulf

Louisiana "committed" to continuing executions, Landry says

Isaias expected to strengthen to near Category 3 strength

First look: Hut 8's under-construction Louisiana data center