AGP Executive Report

Local Arts & Community: The long-awaited Raising Cane’s 9th Ward Stadium broke ground in New Orleans’ Desire neighborhood, with construction expected to finish next summer and a 3,700-seat venue planned for football, soccer, graduations, concerts and festivals. Entertainment & Culture: A movie theater is coming back to New Iberia—B&B Theatres says it will open a two-screen complex in Bayou Landing Shopping Center, bringing heated recliners, a new bar and expanded food options. Fashion & Spotlight: Shelby Bordelon, an Iberville Parish native and Southeastern Louisiana grad student, was crowned Miss Louisiana 2026 in Monroe, winning a $15,000 scholarship and pledging to tackle impaired driving through her nonprofit, Claire’s Promise. Arts Education & Preservation: Centenary College broke ground on the first phase of a multi-million-dollar renovation of the historic Mickle Hall Science Building, including an ADA-compliant entrance and structural upgrades. Kids & Well-Being: Louisiana ranks 48th overall in the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Kids Count report, with the state still last in economic well-being and 49th for health.

Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame: Joe Horn’s winding path to New Orleans stardom is getting spotlighted ahead of the Class of 2026 festivities in Natchitoches, with his unconventional route from the Chiefs to Saints glory. Recruiting Buzz (LSU): Parkway WR Gary Burney Jr. flipped from Houston to LSU after a Weekend at Tiger Town with Lane Kiffin, adding more momentum to LSU’s 2027 class right as a recruiting dead period begins. NFL Transition: Saints edge Tyree Wilson is settling into his “fresh start” after the Raiders trade, saying he’s learning a new coaching approach while trying to elevate his game. Entertainment (New Orleans): The Vampire Lestat is leaning hard into music, with composer Daniel Hart explaining how songs shaped scenes—and why “The Loneliness” hits so differently in the series’ vampire world. Local Events: New Orleans is gearing up with a packed week of happenings, including a Family Meal fundraiser, Siam Night Market, and more food-focused fun. Arts & Community: The Contemporary Arts Center is marking 50 years by connecting New Orleans artists with up-and-comers, with a new executive director at the helm.

Contemporary Arts Center at 50: The CAC’s new exhibit “Festival/New/Works” kicks off its half-century celebration, pairing established New Orleans artists with up-and-comers, and the center also welcomes a new executive director, Raelle Myrick-Hodges. Arts & community spotlight: The Contemporary Arts Center’s 50th anniversary programming leans into mentorship and local creative networks, with “Festival/New/Works” running through July 6. Father’s Day, Louisiana style: Audubon Zoo is turning dad energy into a full-on photo moment, while WVUE rounds up family-friendly video games for PlayStation and Xbox. Music with a message: Silent Planet performed live in Ukraine, sharing fan-shot video from Kyiv as the band wrapped up its European/UK tour. Sports in the spotlight: New Orleans’ Eli and Peyton Manning headline the 2026 New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame class, set for induction at the Allstate Sugar Bowl banquet. Local culture + fashion: Miss Louisiana 2026 Shelby Renee Bordelon was crowned, adding another pageant win to the state’s spotlight.

Louisiana Arts & TV: Louisiana Public Broadcasting brings back Cinéma Français with a six-film French cinema encore starting Sunday, June 21 at 10 p.m. Entertainment & Local Culture: Viral food fame hits Alexandria as the Mr. Porksteak Make-Em-Shake truck draws long lines for Louisiana-style pork steaks, gumbo, and crawfish étouffée. Pageants: Miss Louisiana Port City Shelby Bordelon was crowned Miss Louisiana 2026, earning a shot at Miss America in Florida this August. Music & Festivals: Shreveport’s Let the Good Times Roll Festival keeps rolling into day two with live music and community energy. Sports (New Orleans): NBA trade talk heats up for Ja Morant, with reports pointing to the Pelicans as a likely landing spot. Hobby Spotlight: Lake Charles hosts Louisiana Pokéfest, packing vendors and families into a growing card-collecting scene. Community & Safety: New Orleans police ask for help finding Kierra Aaron, last seen on North Rocheblave Avenue.

New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame: Eli and Peyton Manning headline the Class of 2026, joined by New Orleans native Bo McCalebb, with the ceremony set for the Allstate Sugar Bowl awards banquet at the Superdome. Arts & Culture: LPB is bringing back classic French cinema with encore broadcasts of “LPB Presents: Cinéma Français,” kicking off Sunday, June 21 at 10 p.m. Theater: “Hadestown” is headed to Newcastle Theatre Royal (June 1–5, 2027) and then Sunderland Empire (Nov. 9–13, 2027), bringing its New Orleans-jazz-meets-myths sound to the region. Music: Rod Wave announces “Don’t Look Down” (Aug. 28) and a North American fall tour. Community & Food: Pointe Coupee Parish volunteers are handing out hot meals after recent flooding at Heart of Worship Church in Lettsworth. Sports Biz: Kendrick Perkins is set to become Jackson State’s GM for the 2026-27 season, adding a major media-to-college basketball bridge.

Juneteenth in New Orleans: Congo Square drew big crowds for a Juneteenth festival with a second line, live music, food, and vendors—plus a pointed call to keep showing up for Black civil rights. Juneteenth across Louisiana: Lake Charles held a Juneteenth festival honoring radio trailblazer Faye Brown Blackwell, while Monroe’s Miss Louisiana prelims wrapped with winners heading into the finals. Storm recovery & safety: Tropical Storm Arthur’s remnants left flooding and power outages around the New Orleans area, with officials tracking suspected tornado damage in places like Avondale and Slidell. Arts & entertainment on the air: Louisiana Public Broadcasting is bringing back a French cinema series this summer with encore broadcasts starting June 21. Local food news: Carencro’s Pizza Amore is closing after 15 years, with final service set for Sunday, June 21. Music calendar: Oddities & Curiosities Expo is a creepy must-see this weekend in New Orleans, and Riverdance 30 is coming to Louisiana.

French Film Night: Louisiana Public Broadcasting is bringing back its “Cinéma Français” series with six classic French movies starting Sunday, June 21 at 10 p.m. Juneteenth in New Orleans: The city is marking the holiday with community events, including a major lakefront celebration and other gatherings celebrating Black history and culture. Music & Culture Calendar: Red Shift returns to Baton Rouge with “Parables” (June 20–21) and there’s also a fresh New Music Friday roundup for what to listen to this week. Local Arts Spotlight: Rize Event Center in Woodson Terrace is positioning itself as a true destination—built around art as a “healer,” with events like open mic nights and themed performances. Sports & Entertainment Buzz: Lane Kiffin is already making big promises for LSU, while Cash Money Records and No Limit Records announce a southern hip-hop arena tour with a Louisiana stop. Community & Safety: Baton Rouge police are investigating a drive-by shooting that wounded five juveniles at an apartment complex.

LSU x Hyundai Steel: LSU has signed a major research agreement with Hyundai Steel for the $5.8B Ascension Parish mill, aiming to help develop lower-carbon steel tech and train workers for the 2029 start. Irish Channel support: Neighbors rallied for a beloved Nick’s Supermarket clerk critically injured in a machete attack, as a GoFundMe surged past $12,000. Juneteenth + Gulf weather: Arthur’s “ghost” moisture is still driving dangerous flooding risk across the Gulf, including southeastern Louisiana, while today marks Juneteenth and the day’s history includes the 1865 arrival of Union troops in Galveston. Local arts + community: Ascension Parish council meeting donations sent $150,000 to volunteer fire departments for emergency response and CPR gear. Sports spotlight: Saints Hall of Fame Class of 2026 announced—Terron Armstead and Mark Ingram. Pageant buzz: Miss Louisiana prelims named talent and fitness winners ahead of Saturday’s crowning. Tech + kids online: Louisiana asked a federal appeals court to lift a block on its social media age-verification law.

Local Politics & Transparency: New Orleans-area levee board members met behind closed doors as lawyers argue the panel may have violated state open-meetings law while waiting on AG Liz Murrill’s flood-protection investigation report. Arts & Community: St. Charles Parish Library brings folk storyteller MaMa SaBa back to all six branches, mixing interactive tales, music, and movement for summer reading. Entertainment (New Orleans): The New Orleans Film Society hosts a Pride screening of George Dureau: New Orleans Artist, spotlighting local creative history. Sports (Saints): The Saints add UFL QB Hunter Dekkers and WR Jalen Moreno-Cropper, continuing roster shuffles ahead of the season. Public Safety/Weather: Tropical Storm Arthur’s remnants keep dumping heavy rain across the Southeast, with flash-flood risk lingering into the weekend. Human Interest: Louisiana Public Broadcasting will honor seven high school “Young Heroes” in a June 26 special. Culture & Food: Kroger’s summer solstice ice-cream giveaway returns with 100,000 free pints starting June 19.

Arts & Entertainment: Tank and the Bangas’ “The Last Balloon” lands as a joyful New Orleans finale, blending hip-hop, pop, soul, rock, and jazz into another earworm-ready chapter. Film & Local Culture: Shreveport’s film push gets a boost as Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson holds a town hall on G-Unit Film and Television plans, casting calls, and small-business opportunities. Music & Community: A new downtown Shreveport “Lunch & Discover” event spotlights local restaurants and shops with live music and “Lunch on Us/Shop on Us” coupons. Weather & Safety: Tropical Storm Arthur weakens but still threatens Louisiana with days of heavy rain and flooding risk; Lafayette expects light winds and a few inches of rain, while coastal areas face surge concerns. Sports Business: The Sun Belt is discussing higher exit fees (possibly up to $25M), signaling more realignment pressure ahead of major media-rights deadlines. Food & Lifestyle: “Snackpacking” is trending as travelers trade one big sit-down meal for a day of smaller bites across local spots—very much the vibe Louisiana visitors love.

Tropical Weather: Tropical Storm Arthur is the first named storm of 2026, bringing heavy rain and a flash-flood threat across parts of Texas and coastal Louisiana, with totals of 5–10 inches and isolated higher amounts near 20. Storm Prep: South Louisiana residents can grab sandbags now, with Lafourche and Terrebonne opening self-fill and permanent sites ahead of the worst weather. Juneteenth & Community Arts: Baton Rouge-area musician Michael Foster is bringing Juneteenth brass-band sets to L’Auberge, while Lake Charles residents are debating the fate of “Mary,” a historic live oak tied to the city’s storm recovery and tree-canopy goals. Local Culture Finds: “504 Rocks” keeps growing as a citywide scavenger-hunt style art project, and Rayne’s frog-and-mural identity helped it place in Parade Magazine’s favorite small towns contest. Entertainment on Screen: A new A&E crime series, “Swamp Patrol,” premieres with Louisiana bayou investigations. Sports & Pop Culture: LSU football’s brief Toosii stint is over, and Saints DE Cam Jordan is set for another season. Business/Jobs: Acadiana Regional Airport is moving ahead with a major hangar expansion backed by Louisiana’s FastSites program. Civic Watch: New Iberia approved a development district that could mean extra sales-tax costs for shoppers.

El Niño & Hurricanes: NOAA says 2026 could bring historic El Niño conditions, which may lower Atlantic hurricane activity—but Louisiana officials stress it’s not “out of the game,” so residents should stay prepared. Natchitoches Music Fest: Northwestern State University’s campus will host the new Top of the Boot Music Festival Oct. 16-17 with Lee Brice, Dylan Scott and more, with proceeds benefiting student-athletes. New Orleans Hosting Spotlight: A “Built to Host” look at how New Orleans pulled off Sail250 and North America’s 50 Best Restaurants with international visitors and nonstop momentum. Saints Football Notes: New Orleans marks the 60th season with a special jersey patch; Cameron Jordan returns for “one final season,” and a new kicker auditioned after a UFL title run. Mystikal Sentencing: The Louisiana rapper Mystikal was sentenced to 20 years for third-degree rape in a Prairieville case. Local Safety Watch: The North Louisiana Crime Lab warns about cychlorphine, a dangerous synthetic opioid showing up in multiple parishes. Mid-City Food News: Wakin’ Bakin’ is closing its Banks Street flagship July 15, while its French Quarter location stays open. Juneteenth Events: New Orleans-area listings include Operation Restoration, Wadada Day in Marrero, and Lafcadio Fest at the New Orleans Jazz Museum.

Local Arts & Culture: New Orleans photographer Paul Morse captured the “giant termite tent” fumigation of St. Elizabeth’s on Napoleon Avenue—an only-in-NOLA spectacle that turned a condo building into a Christo-style wrapped landmark. Music & Pride: Big Freedia and SOPHIE’s long-awaited collaboration finally drops as Freedia readies the Released At Last EP for June 19, with Pride picks and memories of those 2016 studio sessions. Live Music (Louisiana): Cash Money Records and No Limit Records announced a joint U.S. arena tour this fall, with a New Orleans stop and Boosie Badazz as special guest. Sports (LSU): LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson will appear on Tiger Rag Radio tonight (7:30 p.m.) to talk portal recruiting and the 2027 roster build. Weather/Travel: Potential Tropical Cyclone One could become Tropical Storm Arthur, with heavy rain and flooding risk stretching from the Gulf toward Louisiana and beyond—expect travel headaches. Community & Heritage: Vermilionville’s Father’s Day celebration (June 21) pairs a BBQ buffet and live Cajun music with Louisiana gift shopping. Local Governance: BREC is proposing major updates to Baker parks, including a multi-million-dollar ballfield rebuild aimed at attracting tournament teams. Entertainment (World Cup): The “Freddy” World Cup fan trail continues, with new NASA stops and more Louisiana sightings fueling the viral road-trip buzz.

Culinary Celebrations: New Orleans’ Dakar NOLA just won a James Beard Foundation Best Chef: South honor, adding a second major Beard win to the Senegalese tasting-menu spot’s growing trophy case. Local Arts & Culture: Baton Rouge’s Louisiana Folklife Center hosted “Fiddlin’ with the Finest,” spotlighting state fiddle champions ahead of the July 18 Louisiana State Fiddle Championship at NSU. Community Arts: Pass Christian Library kept its teen Thursday workshop going with a clay-dinosaur session, while Louisiana Christian University unveiled a new “community heart” art installation in Pineville. Music & Live Shows: Sweet Magnolia, the New Orleans brass-pop band, is set for a July 30 show at Raccoon Motel. Sports & Entertainment Buzz: Rod Stewart faces online backlash after attending a World Cup match hours after canceling a concert for health reasons. Louisiana Life/Policy: New Orleans extended non-commercial STR renewal applications to this Thursday midnight, and the Saints begin mandatory minicamp this week.

James Beard Awards: New Orleans has three finalists tonight in Chicago, including Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski (Outstanding Restaurateur) and E.J. Lagasse (Emerging Chef), putting local fine dining back in the spotlight. New Orleans Arts & Culture: Crescent City Auction Gallery is expanding with The Bellflower, a new antiques collective opening June 18 at 1400 St. Charles Ave, aiming to bring more brick-and-mortar energy back to the market. Music Loss: Preservation Hall Jazz Band trombonist/tuba player Ronell Johnson has died at 49, with tributes pouring in for his “larger than life” presence. Wearable Art: A New Orleans-set look at “Black Masking” culture highlights masquerade as wearable altar—memory, craft, and community labor stitched into beadwork and spirit. Local Youth & STEM: Anala Beevers credits hands-on STEM programs for her leap from gifted toddler to Howard STEM scholar and future cancer researcher. Sports & Community: Victoria Generals swept the Lake Charles Gumbeaux Gators 10-3 at Riverside Stadium. Weather Watch: A tropical system could form near the Louisiana coast by Thursday, with heavy rain and flash-flood risk continuing.

Local Politics: In New Orleans Criminal District Court, Gov. Jeff Landry’s move to shrink judgeships is triggering a high-stakes election scramble, with Judge Rhonda Goode-Douglas naming who she plans to unseat and Judge Simone Levine promising to fight back. Legal/Local Business: The Batture’s owners are locked in a lawsuit that could reshape the Uptown riverside park and even threaten the future of their real estate firm. Arts & Entertainment: Tulane’s annual Women’s Clinic returns July 28 at Yulman Stadium with on-field access, a fashion show, and a silent auction benefiting Green Wave Football. Music/Community: Donaldsonville’s 31st annual Juneteenth Music Festival drew big crowds to Louisiana Square, with organizers and local partners keeping the tradition going. Weather Watch: Forecasters are flagging a week of daily heavy rain and flash-flood risk across Louisiana, with totals potentially climbing in some areas. Entertainment Picks: Modest Mouse’s new album gets a spotlight, plus a streaming roundup featuring “Project Hail Mary” and “Sugar.”