Cleco Addresses Community Concerns Over Data Center Power and Rates. As debate over the Applied Digital Delta Forge 1 data center in Boyce continues among residents, Cleco moved this week to directly address concerns about electricity costs and grid reliability. The utility’s chief commercial officer stated that large industrial customers like data centers help reduce costs for existing ratepayers by absorbing infrastructure expenses that would otherwise be spread across the broader customer base. Cleco confirmed that Applied Digital will fund all additional power lines and substations required to connect to the grid, with no cost passed to residential or business customers. The company also addressed reliability concerns, noting that any infrastructure upgrades built to serve the data center benefit all system customers. Louisiana currently ranks fourth-lowest in retail electricity costs nationally, a standing Cleco said it does not expect to change as a result of the project.

Pollock Police Department Under Investigation Following Audit. Grant Parish law enforcement officials are investigating two Pollock police officers after a municipal audit found money missing from a donor transaction tied to the purchase of a police vehicle. According to the audit, a Pollock officer solicited $49,100 from an unnamed donor for a new law enforcement vehicle, but only $41,157 was wired toward the purchase, leaving approximately $7,942 unaccounted for. Auditors concluded the officer may have retained the remaining funds, characterizing the transaction as a possible misappropriation in violation of Louisiana law. The Grant Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed it received a criminal complaint and has opened an investigation. The story comes as Pollock Police Chief Chris Paul remains under separate charges of malfeasance in office, stemming from his April 2026 arrest for allegedly directing officers to patrol and make arrests outside the town’s jurisdiction near the Federal Correctional Complex in Pollock.

Tropical Storm Cristobal Forms — Central Louisiana Monitoring. Tropical Storm Cristobal formed in the Atlantic on Wednesday, August 12, as the National Hurricane Center continues to track two additional systems in the Atlantic basin, including one with an 80 percent chance of development. No watches or warnings are in effect for Louisiana at this time.

ASH Trojans Football Season Opens Under the Lights Despite Virtual School Start. Alexandria Senior High School’s football program is generating regional attention heading into the 2026-2027 season, with outside expectations placing the Trojans among the top teams in Louisiana. The team’s season opener is expected to proceed on schedule despite ASH students beginning the academic year in virtual instruction due to the ongoing asbestos remediation on campus.